Well Starship, looks like you're my only loyal reviewer :-P but here's a new chapter anyway.  I hope you enjoy!  This fic MIGHT raise itself to PG-13, not sure

"Nothing." I replied almost instinctively.  Don't let him know, he can't know. That will just make him worry. I thought to myself.  "Just thought I heard something."

            "Oh!  Well we better get back.  We don't want Phil coming to fetch me in a rage again." He laughed.  I smiled back at him as we headed back to the villa.  I couldn't help but feel like something was wrong, something I just couldn't figure out.  It was the same feeling you get when you are trying to remember something, you know that you can remember it but the memory just seems to fade away the more you think about it.  Get a grip already I silently scolded myself.

            We entered the villa and the strange feeling only intensified.  I struggled to mask my emotions, after living as Hades' slave for two years it had become easy for me.  While at times I wished I was able to show how I was feeling a bit easier, my instinct to fake my happiness prevailed.  Damn it Meg, move on, you know you love him and he loves you.  That's all you need, stop being such a child.  I whispered as I took a seat on the chair, leaning my head against the back oblivious to my surroundings.

            "Are you tired or something?" A voice called.  I looked up to see Herc looking at me curiously.  I took advantage of this and nodded my head.  He took my hand and began to lead me from the room when he tripped over something, bringing us both to the floor.  I couldn't help but burst into laughter.  I hadn't laughed in such an authentic way since I was enslaved by Hades; the sound was foreign to my ears. Is this real? Please don't let this just be a dream. I thought.   "You alright?" He asked.

            "I'm fine. What caused you to fall like that?" I asked with a grin.

            "Well I'm klutzy as it is, trust me this won't be the last time I fall flat on my face." Herc replied.   He helped me to my feet and led me to the room where I had slept the night before.  He kissed me goodnight and headed out of the room.  Most guys would insist on staying. He's so adorable, at least he respects me.  I thought with a smile.  I stretched and changed into nightclothes   I curled up on the bed, the blankets pulled up tightly against my body.  I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

            "Hey sweetheart." A familiar voice said as a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist.

            "Adonis." I said with a smile.  He placed a tender kiss on my neck, holding his lips there several seconds longer than necessary.  I didn't pull away however, for the feel of his lips against my skin sent chills down my spine.

            "Why don't we go back to my place?" He asked as he tightened his embrace.

            "I already told you, I'm not going to sleep with you." I stated bluntly.

            "Sweetie…"

            "Try as you will I won't give in."

            "Fine." He replied.  "At least let me walk you home, it's dangerous in the forest alone."  He said placing another kiss at the base of my neck where it met my shoulder.  He slid his arms from my waist and took my hand as we left the small café that we were in and headed off into the forest. 

            I felt extremely content, and I had no fear of the forest as long as I was with this man by my side.  Suddenly I heard a soft rustle, and something inside me told me that something was wrong.

            "Adonis . . ." I said, my voice somewhat shaky.

            "Don't worry sweetheart, it was probably just an anim-" He was cut off sharply as something swiftly flew by me and I heard Adonis cry out in pain.  I looked over to find him clutching at his chest, over where his heart lay. 

            "Adonis!" I screamed as I threw myself over him.

            "If I can't have you no one will." A voice that was all too familiar said.  I spun around just in time to catch a glimpse of his face.  It was Jason, a man who had said he loved me but to whom I never returned the affections.  I turned back to Adonis who was coughing up blood.

            "Don't leave me." I said as tears rolled down my cheeks.  "Please, I love you, you can't go." I wept.

            "Meg . . ." Was all he managed to gasp before his head lulled to the side.

            "No!" I cried.  "No! No! You can't leave me! Adonis please!" I sobbed.  I clenched my fists tightly, determined not to lose my lover.  "Hades!  Show yourself! Don't take him from me! Take me instead!" I cried out.  I repeated these words over and over again until he appeared before me.  My heart lurched but I forced myself to remain still.

            "I'll strike a deal." He said with a grin.  "You sell your soul to me and your boyfriend here will be revived. But if your feelings for him so much as dwindle your mine." He grinned.  I was irrational with grief and I was willing sacrifice anything to save him.  I shook hands with him and an overwhelming emptiness consumed me.  I looked over at Adonis and watched as the arrow dissolved and his wound healed.  He opened his eyes and looked at me as my face lit up.

            "Adonis" I whispered.

            "Meg, you . . ."

            "Shh." I said pressing my finger to his lips.  He sat up and threw his arms around me, his touch sending chills down my spine, and my skin felt hot where he touched me.

            The image faded and I found myself at a café by myself, as I ate lunch before I was to head over to a party where I would meet up with Adonis.  I turned around and saw him, but before I could move I saw him wrap his arms around another girl.  She was tall, blonde, thin, and rather pretty I must admit.  My heart felt as if it had been ripped from my chest.  A wave of pain rushed through my body, both physical and emotional.  My head felt as if it were going to explode as my chest contracted and I collapsed in my seat and wept uncontrollably.

            Again the image before me faded away and I was walking hand-in-hand with Herc when an arrow shot by striking him.

            "Herc no!" I shouted as I sat up sharply.  I found that my heart was being unnaturally fast, and my breathing was irregular.  I had beads of sweat on my face despite the cold of the night air.  "Ok it was just a dream." I said.  "Gods, why did I dream about Adonis?" I said aloud.  The very memories that I wanted to purge my mind of were plaguing me.  But the most distressing part of my dream was the part about Herc. 

            I knew that he was strong, but he had given up immortality for me and thus was a mortal, and his body although strong was still fragile.  I remembered how different I was before my enslavement to Hades.  I was your average girl, happy, and I had no trouble showing my emotions to those I cared about.  That was all changed during my time with Hades.   However, Herc was bringing that part in me out once again.  He was bringing out the happy and affectionate side of me that I almost never showed.   I placed my hands over my face before lying back down and falling back to sleep.

            "Herc no!" I cried as he fell to the ground. "Herc, please, you can't leave me." I pleaded, tears flowing down my cheeks.

            "Meg." He whispered as he brought his hand up and caressed my cheek tenderly.  "I love you so much.  You're so beautiful,  in every way possible.  I wish there was a way to tell you how grateful I am for you." He continued as desperate sobs escaped my throat.  "For every moment I was with you." He said.  "I love you." He said as his breathing all but stopped.

            "Herc please." I sobbed as I leaned over and placed a soft kiss atop his lips.  It was quite unlike Herc to speak in such a way, but I didn't care.  I leaned my head on his chest to listen to his heartbeat and I felt like I had died when I could no longer hear it's soft sound.

            My eyes jolted open once again.  "What's going on?" I said aloud.  I decided that I couldn't go back to sleep, in fear of what other dreams I would have and decided to walk around the villa.  It wasn't long until I stumbled across a room where the door lay partially open.  I peered inside to find Herc sleeping soundly.  I smiled to myself as I walked up beside him. I longed for his embrace, for the security I felt in his presence.  I slid into his bed and placed is arm around myself as I snuggled against his chest and decided to try and sleep again.  It didn't take long for me to fall asleep, and much to my relief I had no dreams for the remainder of the night.