A/N: Hello! I wasn't going to post this chapter until the end of the week but I'm so excited about this story that I just couldn't wait! So here it is! Thanks again to my lovely beta fostersb - this story would be pretty damn boring without your guidance and suggestions!!! You'll also notice that these chapters are getting longer haha! Lots of hugs to the people who are reviewing, I appreciate the honesty that you give me :) The next chapter will hopefully be up next week. If you are reading my HP fic, you'll be glad to know that I'll be updating that one shortly. Cheers!

Chapter Three

'You can't be serious.' Zeus was staring at Hades with his mouth hanging open.

Hades was reclined on a couch, strangely at ease. Ever since he'd seen Persephone he had felt incredibly happy. Almost buoyant. It was a bizarre feeling and he'd never felt anything quite like it before. Sometimes he would smile for no good reason. Other times he felt an odd desire to laugh.

He did so now, his voice deep and rich. He felt full of life these days. Oh! The irony! He laughed again and took a swig of nectar.

'Oh, I am very serious brother.'

'You cannot have her.' Zeus' voice was flat and his usually happy face was serious.

Hades' eyes sparkled with sudden anger. 'You do not give me your blessing?'

Zeus sighed. 'Of course I do! Calm down for Styx's sake! I would want nothing more than to give Kore to you. But really, Hades. Have you seen Demeter lately? She's worse than a hydra! Last time she was up here, she wouldn't let the poor girl alone for five minutes. You'll never get her to let go of Kore, she's so dependant of her…' Zeus' voice trailed away, but Hades grinned. It was a strange sight. Zeus couldn't remember the last time he had seen his brother look so mischievous. Suddenly, Hades turned thoughtful.

'Zeus?'

'Mmm?'

'You and Demeter…' It was a question. Zeus shook his head swiftly.

'It happened a while ago. Hera and I were fighting and…' He shrugged. 'I gave Demeter what she had wanted for a long time anyways.' Hades froze with a grape poised near his lips.

'What?'

Zeus snorted. 'You know what I mean. She wanted a child.' He rolled his eyes and smirked. 'Well, it backfired on her, that's for sure.'

The glare in Hades' dark eyes returned. 'What is that supposed to mean?'

Zeus considered carefully. 'Well…I think Demeter wanted the perfect child, it's what she dreamed of having.' He caught the look on Hades' face and quickly added, 'Not that Kore isn't perfect! She's a wonderful girl. Engaging, happy…it's just that…well, she isn't a child anymore.' Zeus looked unhappy.

'And Demeter's under the opinion that Kore will never grow up?' Hades finished.

'Well, she's certainly trying her best to keep things that way. You know, Demeter was never one to cope with change. Besides, there's the other thing…'

Hades sat up, his face creased with worry. 'What other thing?'

Zeus hesitated, playing with the fringe of his robe. 'I suppose you should know that Kore doesn't exactly live up to her job description all the time.'

Hades sighed in relief. He could guess this one. Besides, he'd heard it just the other day in the forest. 'She likes the dark.'

Zeus nodded gravely. 'I've never thought of it as a real problem as such, but, well, you know how Demeter is…. She worries about her…' He trailed off and looked Hades in the face. Hades smirked.

'Isn't it fitting, brother?'

'I don't quite…'

'Look, its simple. She's of age. I would make a perfectly decent husband. Do I really need to assure you that I would take care of her and make her happy? I can give her anything she could possibly want. Even better, Kore likes the dark. You know very well that's something I can give her, in boundless amounts.'

'But…' Zeus wavered. It was hard to dispute this simple logic, particularly with someone as manipulative as Hades.

'Do I have your blessing?' Hades asked in a smooth voice.

'Yes, but what does that matter if Demeter–?'

'I have a plan,' Hades interrupted. He popped a grape into his mouth and stood up. 'Just as long as I have your blessing. For the record…?'

Zeus was exasperated. 'Yes, Hades! But tell me what your plan is? What are you going to do?'

Hades laughed and there was the glimmer of a twinkle in his eyes that Zeus had never seen before. He leaned forward to clasp his younger brother's hands. 'I'm going to offer her a gift.'

00000ooooo00000

Demeter regarded her daughter with slight disdain. Kore was a pretty little thing. Her laughter was like music, her dancing as lovely as Aphrodite's. Her wit was equal to Athena's. So why couldn't she just be good and do what she was told? Why was it so difficult for her to sing and play with the nymphs? Why did she have to love the dark so much?

Demeter shuddered. It just wasn't natural, was it? Who ever heard of a goddess of spring that liked to make flowers grow in dark places? The issue was fast becoming one that needed solving, especially after what she had seen Kore try to do in the forest. Yet, she was hesitant to start an argument. There had been too many of those lately; little things that wouldn't have mattered not that long ago were suddenly argued over. Bickering was becoming a daily habit between the two.

Demeter was worried. As a mother, what could she do? It was important for Kore to remember her role as Goddess of Spring, but it seemed increasingly evident that she was bored of the job. She knew that those trips to the forest had been an outlet for her daughter, she just didn't understand why. Now that she had banned Kore from going there, the tension had grown even stronger.

Perhaps she could distract Kore somehow. Despite her strange love of the dark, Kore was as strongly willed to work as her mother. She needed a new task, something to keep her occupied. It would keep her mind off the forest…

00000ooooo00000

'A whole field?'

Demeter shook her head and laughed. 'No, no! I want many fields, Kore. Not just one.'

Persephone looked incredulous. 'But, why?'

'Because it has to be done. If you don't want to do it, I can always ask the nymphs…'Demeter trailed away. Kore took the bait.

'Alright, alright! I'll do it. What kind of flowers do you want?'

'Whatever you feel is right.'

Kore nodded. 'Okay.' Demeter turned to leave, satisfied.

The Goddess of Spring took a deep breath. Now came the hard part. 'But one more thing, mother.'

Demeter turned, the sun sending dazzling sparkles of red through her hair. It was a beautiful sunny morning, yet somehow, she still felt a chill run through her…it was something in her daughter's voice. Demeter couldn't place the tone. She hesitated. 'What is it?'

She could see Kore was also hesitant, by the way she fiddled with the material of her skirt. It was a trait she had picked up from her father. Finally, she opened her mouth and whispered, 'Mother, please don't call me Kore.'

'What?' Demeter was surprised. Where on Gaia had this come from?

Her daughter had found her voice now, and was trying to explain. 'I love you, mother. I respect you and always do my duty, even when I am denied my independence. You forget that I'm not a little girl anymore. Do you think I always want to be called the maiden?' She laughed bitterly, shaking her head. 'No, mother. You must call me Persephone now. That is my true name.'

Demeter frowned. She had hoped this sort of talk wouldn't be brought up again. 'What are you talking about? I named you Kore because that is what you are. You are the Maiden of Spring!'

'No,' Persephone pressed. 'I have the right to choose my own name, I should think! I've thought this over for a long time now and I have decided–.'

'That is enough, Kore!' Anger flushed Demeter's cheeks. 'I cannot believe you are saying these things! Again and again you prove to me that you are nothing but a child, Kore. Nothing but a child! I am your mother!' She shouted, her eyes fierce. 'I have raised you and cared for you; have even granted that you have your own title. Goddess of Spring, Kore! How many daughters of Zeus have such a title?'

'Oh, please! Mother, don't pretend you give father credit for anything. After all, it was his wish that I be named Persephone.' Demeter opened her mouth to interrupt but Persephone raised her hand for silence.

'Mother, please just listen to me. When have I ever questioned you before? Never! I don't want to argue with you. I just hoped you would understand…' She sighed. 'I will do this task for you because I love you and I love the sun and flowers. But I also love the dark – do not ask me why, even I don't know – and it is as much a part of me as the sun and soil.'

'No! No, Kore!' Demeter's eyes were wide, her head shaking frantically. 'Don't say such things! You do not, you cannot belong in the dark. Children do not belong in the dark,' she whispered.

Persephone met her mother's eyes. Reaching forward, she hugged Demeter whose tears were running silently down her face. 'It's time you understood, mother,' she whispered, 'I can't be a child anymore. I have to find my own way.'

The embrace ended. Demeter looked at her blindly, as though she couldn't recognise the face. 'No,' she breathed.

She watched her daughter turn and walk away, the gentle spring breeze lifting the brown curls around that young, pretty face. After a few yards, Persephone turned back with a hint of her usual cheerful smile. 'I'll see you later this afternoon, okay? The nymphs can help me with the fields. Remember, I love you!' She turned and kept walking.

Demeter stood alone for some time, arms half-raised beseechingly. Tears glistened on her cheeks.