Disclaimer: All characters based on Lore Olympus and greek mythology. So yeah.

I was waiting for a sad episode to post this so that I could perhaps cheer some LO fans up. But honestly, I loved chapter 35. I love Thetis and her messy drama. Anyway. Here's a cute thing for free.

Summary: I asked myself, what would have happened if Hades had managed to talk to Persephone at that fateful party. If fate (or Eros) hadn't intervened. What would that have looked like. So I present to you this little one shot.

One More Round

The music's volume blared so that Zeus had to speak louder, which was never a problem for Zeus. "Word on the street," Zeus' smile never left his eyes. "Is that your marksmanship is excellent but your brother's is still second to none."

Artemis' smile faltered, like a scratch on a record. She took a moment to let his words sink in then when she emerged back she hurtled forward. "Says who!" She poked Zeus' white suit. "I wanna settle this right now!" Her furry set her on edge but her peripherie narrowed in, closing in her sight lines. Zeus pointed in the direction he last saw her brother and she dragged Zeus by his suit collar behind her.

Well. Persephone tapped her glass and waited. She looked back over to Odysseus, the only other person that looked as uncomfortable as she did at the party. He did make her spill her drink and fall on the floor, but she'd never been around so many gods before. It was kind of nice to see a mortal face. She made a decision and walked towards the corner where he sat like a perfect wall flower. But she felt a presence behind her. She blinked.

She spun around. "Hello?" Her nerves gave way to a weird paranoia. Was that Hermes wings? For a second she swore she saw his mischevious grin. When neither Hermes or anyone else appeared from the mob of party people, she sighed. It would have been nice to talk to Hermes outside of the mortal realm. With a sigh, she swung back towards Odysseus, but she hit something.

Her hands flew up instinctively to protect her from whatever she bumped into. "Oof. Oh. I'm sorry!" She blushed, realizing her hands were patting squarely on someone's chest. A nice, broad chest, and an expensive tailored suit.

"No, my apologies. Are you alright?"

Persephone looked up into red intense eyes hiding behind glasses. "Oh yeah. I'm fine. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get in your way." He ran a hand nervously through his hair. Keep it together. He suddenly didn't know what to do with his hands anymore. Where do people put their hands? By their side? No. Maybe on a hip? Oh gaia.

"No, it's alright." She grinned up with squinty eyes. "I wasn't really going anywhere. My friend kind of ditched me."

"I thought I knew everyone here." Hades tilted his head. "I don't know you."

Persephone stuck her hand out energetically. "Oh. I'm Persephone, Godess of Spring!"

A smile sprouted on Hades lips. "It's nice to meet you, Persephone." He grabbed her hand, pressing his palm into hers gently.

"And you are?" She raised her eyebrow, expectantly.

He baulked. Then cleared his throat. "Hades. God of the dead." He answered slyly. "King of the Underworld." He pulled his hand back and grabbed his business card.

She collected it in both hands. "You're a long way from home." Persephone reached into her bodice. Hades gulped,and looked away. "So am I." She handed him her own card.

Zeus had wrangled himself away from Artemis and Apollo and went back up to check on his brothers. Poseidon was still nursing on his ale, observing below.

"Oh. Has Hades left?" Zeus raised his eyebrow when he only saw Poseidon. "I thought he'd be back by now."

"I can't believe I'm saying this." Poseidon took another sip. "But Hades is kind of killing it with Persephone. I think I know why." He pointed at the two of them down below. Zeus's eyes grew big watching them talk animatedly. "Persephone's kind of a major dork."

Outside in the parking lot, the muted music bleated out. Hermes had Eros in a headlock between two SUVs. "What in Tartarus are you doing?"

"What am I doing? What are you doing?" Eros spat, trying to get his head out from under his arm. Secretly, he didn't mind. Hermes had a certain musk, the perfect blend of windblown and hard work.

"Spotted some mischief." Hermes bent down to whisper in Eros' ear. "That's my game."

"There's no phone number on this." Hades flipped the card over.

"Oh. Um. Yeah. I don't have. . . a phone." Persephone reached up, as if to twirl a finger through her hair, but remembered too late that it was short.

"You don't have a phone?" Hades asked incredulously.

"Haha." Persephone's eyes slid to the side. "Hey, um. I spilled my drink. I was gonna head to the-"

"Let me get you another drink." Hades straightened up.

"Oh, no. Sorry. My mom - I mean, I should get my own drink." Persephone blanched. "Not that I don't trust you."

"Oh." A bead of sweat formed on his forehead. "I would never-. Uh, no you're right though. People on Olympus can be-." He didn't know how to finish without throwing this conversation in the garbage. "Let's go to the bar together." Cordially, he held out an arm. Persephone grabbed it enthusiastically. The crowd moved around them as they strode towards the drink station, giving way to the King of the Underworld. Persephone liked the space. Hades liked the closeness.

"It's a tie!" Artemis huffed, undoing the string on her bow.

"Nope. I won. Clearly." Apollo crossed his arms confidently.

Artemis leaned in to the target and inspected the arrow shafts up close. "It's a tie!"

"Fine. If that's what will help you sleep at night." He sighed then swung his arm up around her shoulders. "By the way, don't you have a new roommate?"

"Yes. And she's off limits." She poked her finger at his chest.

"Sure-sure." Apollo waved. "You're supposed to be protecting her aren't you?"

"Yeah, and?"

"You're not doing a good job of it." Apollo nodded towards the inside of the party. Through the large glass window, she could clearly see Hades leaning against the bar and Persephone laughing by his side. A drink in one hand. . . her other hand on his shoulder. Hades smiled and his hands balled up onto his lap, then nervously rang through his hair. She blushed and looked up through long dreamy eyelashes.

Apollo blinked and his sister was gone.

Poseidon siddled up to the bar. He waved his hand without looking at the bartender. "One more round." He ordered with a slow drawl. He caught his brother's eye. "Hey little lady." He called. Persphone turned around with wide eyes.

"Me?"

"Yes. You." Poseidon said before chugging the beer that was placed in his hands.

Steam rose out from Hades ears and a moth fluttered away from his shoulder. He mouthed behind Persephone's back. Not the plan.

Poseidon glanced outside meaningfully, hoping Hades would follow his gaze. "I saw you from the balcony." A dumb grin crawled up his face and he had to concentrate. "Come. Dance with me." He said directly. No formality. Didn't even introduce himself. "It is a party."

"Uh." Persephone hesitated. She knew she couldn't say no. "Oh. It would be an honor, but-" Before she could say anything Poseidon grabbed her forearm and pulled her behind him as he staggered towards the dance floor. He smashed his beer glass to the side and the crowd split like oil on water, creating a path for them. Then seeing Hades trailing after Posiedon, they inched even further away.

Fuming, Hades followed close behind. Reaching out, nearly touching her elbow, more for her safety in his brother arms. Then Poseidon stopped abuptly in the middle of the crowd of dancing guests. Poseidon cocked his head to the side, and the sea of people that parted suddenly crashed like waves back together, closing the path.

"What in Tartarus-" Hades began, his eyes glowered at his brother.

"On second thought." Posiedon said with his head still to his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, little lady. I just remembered something." He pushed Persephone's arm towards Hades.

"What?" Persephone blinked, trying to understand what on olympus was happening. The sudden moving and stopping and bubbly. . . she leaned on Hades for support.

"I just remembered that I have a wife. I always forget that." Poseidon barked out a laugh heartily. "I could use another, but why should I have all the fun." He clapped a hand on Hades' shoulder. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"That's really not-"

"Dance!" Poseidon grunted and pushed Hades and Persephone together. "Live a little." Ever laughing, he boogied away into the crowd and disapeared into the jirating bodies.

Persephone shook her head. "So. . . that was. . ."

"My brother. Poseidon. He's. . .-" He paused.

"A character."

"To put it nicely." He sighed and rolled his eyes. The music began to change to a slow dramatic ballad. "Well. Um." He looked around, feeling lost on the dance floor. "I suppose. . . since. . . we're here." A bead of sweat trickled down the back of his head. "Persephone, would you like to dance?"

"Really? I mean, sure. But," She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I- now don't laugh." Persephone winced and bit her lip. "I don't know how."

Hades raised an eyebrow. "You don't know how to dance?" She shook her head shyly. "Well, something must be done about that." He held out his hand. His heart skipped a beat when Persephone's soft fingers intwined with his. So soft. She accepted the invitation. Her eyes gave him the green light and Hades other hand gently curved to her waist. For a second he forgot how to breath.

She stepped closer. So close, she had to tilt her her to the side so she would have enough space to look up at him.

"Just follow me. You'll be alright." Hades smiled resassuringly.

"Okay." She breathed, instant trust shining in her eyes. He vowed then never to let her down. And then he whisked her to the right, one foot in front of the other, gliding across the dance floor. He made his movements known without a heavy foot, an easy guide with smooth transitions. Her feet barely touched the ground. She spun and lunged and stepped ever so delicately on her toes. He led so smoothly, the perfect angles supported by perfect posture. So grounded, but he gave her the space to twirl; curly loops to his straight lines; roots to her petals. This was a different kind of witchcraft. Flying without the fear of falling.

Eventually they settled into a steady rhythm and caught their breaths.

"You're lucky." Persephone pulled herself closer so that he could hear her.

He looked down to the top of her head, smelling the flowers pressed lightly against his breast pocket. "Lucky?" Hades thought about it. He certaintly felt lucky at this moment.

"You have brothers that love you. Annoy you. But love you." She opened up and twirled away from him. He brought her back spinning her so that she was pressing her back against his chest, her arms crossed in front of her.

"I suppose." He replied.

"I wished I had siblings." She spun back out and in, placing her hand back on his shoulder now.

"You say that." Hades tutted. "But you're also wishing for a real pain in the ass then."

Persephone laughed and Hades wished he could record it, make music of it. Have a whole self of albums dedicated to it. She took her hand away from his and he paused, thinking he must have said something wrong.

"Sorry, it's just. Well -" Hades stammered. Then Persephone reached both hands up to his shoulder, clasping gently at the back of his neck. "Ah, I suppose I let them get under my skin too much." If it weren't for them he wouldn't be having this conversation about them with the sweetest angel he had ever laid his eyes on.

"I never really had friends growing up. It-it would have been nice to share secrets with someone." Persephone sighed. "Have adventures."

"I didn't either." Hades nodded, understanding, but forceably stopping himself from accessing those old memories. "I still don't have friends." He clamped his lips shut. Self pity was not a good color on anyone.

"That's not true." Persephone shook her head and smiled up at him.

"Oh?"

"You've got your brothers." Persephone began to count, holding two fingers up behind his head. "Hera, I imagine. And Hecate."

"Hecate?" Hades raised his eyebrow. "How do you-"

"Am I wrong?"

He thought about it for a second. "I suppose not, but I wouldn't say they're exactly friends. They don't exactly come over or call me just because."

"Whose fault is that?" Persephone eyed him slyly.

He frowned.

"When was the last time you invited them to hang out? Or anyone? When was the last time you called Hera just to talk"

Hades pursed his lips. "Ok. I see your point. I just. . . I'm busy."

"Sure." Persephone nodded. They hadn't realized they had stopped dancing, but her arms were still wrapped around his shoulders and his hands held her waist. The rest of the dancers moved in cirlces around their still frames, orbiting their planet. "Trust me, I get it."

"Well, who are your friends?" Hades cocked his head to the side.

"Hmm. All my friends are my mom's friends." She sighed and then her eyebrows furrowed up. "There's. . . no one really that. . . I have. No one that. . . sees me."

Hades stared silently at her sad expression. He saw her in his mind, just moments ago. On the floor as he had seen her from the balcony. That's the sadness he witnessed. She felt forgotten. Unseen. Invisible.

"A bit dramatic. Sorry." Persephone shook her head.

"You know, I am the unseen one. If anyone was going to complain about that, it's me."

"I'm not trying to win the award of sadness."

"Good, because you'd lose." Hades grined mischeviously.

She laughed again. Persephone stepped to the side, and slowly they began to start dancing once more. The song ended and they found themselves on the outskirts of the dance floor.

"You know. I guess I can't say I don't have any friends." She backed away from him and appraised Hades solidly.

"What?"

Suddenly Persephone hugged him, pressing him to her. "Thanks for dancing with me." She smiled up at him, her cheek still shoved up on his suit.

"Any time." His expression matched hers.

"HEY!" Suddenly Artemis' towered over Persephone and she strode in between the tight space between her and Hades. "I've been looking for you. You said one drink."

"I had one more round." Persephone shrugged, taken aback.

"AND YOU." Artemis turned to Hades. Her finger rasied up accusatorily. "Don't you EVER lay a finger on her again or I swear I will-"

"Artemis!" Persephone laughed and she grabbed her roommates wagging finger and placed it back to her side. "Drop it. We were just talking."

"A likely story." She narrowed her eyes, still glaring at Hades.

"Come on." Persephone pulled on Artemis. "Let's go home."

"Fine." Artemis sighed and relinquished her stare.

Before she could say goodbye, Artemis led the way out of the party. As they reached the door, Persephone looked back. She could see Hades' tall outline in the crowd, motionless against the throng of movement. She grinned and waved. Like a shadow, he waved back.

The whole drive home Artemis ranted about how men were pigs, how kings were trash, how brothers were stupid and how they were all dicks. Persephone leaned her head against the cool window staring up at the night sky. Blissfully, her fingers curled around his business card.

AN: Hope you thought this was as cute as I think it is. With NanoWrimo coming up I'm not gonna have fanfic writing time. I do have many ideas for more LO one shots. I keep waiting for when I won't be obsessed anymore and it hasn't happened. Let me know what has been your favorite. Or just like, talk to me about Lore Olympus stuff in general. lol

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

xoxo - Goldie