A/N: I apologize for taking so long to get this out to you guys. Life throws crap at you, what can I say? A word of caution – there is a rather sexual scene near the end of this chapter, but it is short and not overly descriptive. The rating of this story will likely be changed to M sometime in the future, but for now I don't feel that it needs to be. Perhaps it does, and I'm just loose with my morals, I don't know.

Anyways, I'm back!

Please review!

Chapter 10: You're Not Real, and I'd Rather Not Make a Mess of Myself

CORA

Jim's face looks a little bruised.

He probably got into a fight.

I sigh, shaking my head. I watch him walk into the door of our apartment; we're on the first floor. I hear someone clearing their throat behind me and I nearly jump out of my skin. Who the hell is that?

"Cora?"

Oh, right – Hank. Trying to put a smile on my face, I turn around. The window of his car is open, and he's peering at me with what I think is curiosity, but I'm not sure.

"Sorry about that," I say, "I've been pretty absent-minded lately."

"That's understandable," he says. His face doesn't change.

I walk closer to the car and lean down towards the window. "Thanks for picking up Jim," I tell him. Thanks for saving his life; thanks for paying for everything. Thank you so goddamn much, I want to tell him. Instead, I say, "Thanks for everything," and smile at him. His lips curl up a little in return, and his thumbs start tapping the wheel of his car.

"He's a… good kid," he says, nodding towards the door, and I almost burst out laughing.

"Well, I wouldn't say "good", at least not right now, but…he's got a good heart."

"I can…See you love him very much."

I do laugh a little at that. "Definitely– what mom doesn't love their kid, right?" His eyes seem to twitch when I say that, but with the low light I can't be sure.

There's silence for a long moment, and he's just looking at me.

And I'm just looking at him too, taking in his features again in the low light.

The moment is long, and by all accounts it should feel awkward –

It doesn't, though. I know I've seen him before, and for one brief second – not even a second, actually; or even a half of a second – there's a wave of something that just hits me; so intense that it makes my heart flutter in my chest and makes my breath hitch –

I blink and the feeling is gone.

Where in the world did that come from?

"Cora."

I look back at him with some difficulty. For some reason I feel dizzy. I look into his eyes, and for a second I'm startled by how big his pupils have gotten, and – is he shaking? His breath his coming out in controlled puffs through his mouth, and the sound is really distracting me. I think he's asking me a question, but I don't catch it the first time.

I shake my head and blink my eyes a few times. "What's up?"

He chuckles, but it seems forced, like maybe…

Like maybe he's nervous.

He looks like he's got a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel.

"I was …" He looks like he's struggling to find the right word, 'Wondering'? Yes – wondering if you would like to…have dinner with me?"

Imagine an old vinyl record playing, and it suddenly skips or stops. Replace that image with what's going on inside my head, and you'll have a pretty good picture of what this question does to my brain.

I'm pretty sure my jaw is hanging open. Not a pretty sight. "D – d – d – dinner? Going out to dinner? Like a date?" I haven't been on a date since I was… God, it was before I was pregnant with Jim. 16 years almost. I can't just go on a date, I mean oh my God I barely know this guy and what about Jim and –

"No, not a date!…Well sort of –" I start to shake my head, and I notice that Hank's running his hands through his hair.

I'm shaking my head more. "Wait, no, it's just, ah –" He's starting to talk really fast. I can't go out on a date.

He takes in a deep breath and so do I.

Breathing out, he says, "Look," he looks up right at me, and Jesus, his pupils have dilated so much, that I'm actually kind of worried, "I… enjoyed your company at the restaurant…" I gulp. "And I've found myself thinking that it would be nice to be in your company again…" He runs a shaking hand through his hair, making it even more disheveled-looking. Is he nervous? He seems nervous. Then again, that might just be me projecting what I'm feeling onto him; I'm pretty sure my heart is about to burst out of my chest. A date? I can't go on a date! "So, I suppose… what I'm saying, is…I…like you," when he says "like" it almost seems like he wants to say another word; almost like it pains him to say "like"; almost like he has to drag it out of himself to say that word instead of another one, "so would you care to go to dinner with me?" His eyes are looking right into mine, and …God you look so familiar, Hank – I feel that intense feeling from before, just as brief, just as strong – recognition, familiarity, and something else I can't quite place – and then the feeling's gone, leaving me dizzy and slightly breathless.

What the hell is going on with me?

He keeps looking at me, and his brows are creased in worry. So nervous for being such a handsome man.

Maybe it's the scar.

Wait.

What?

Handsome?! What the hell is wrong with you?! Rach thinks he's handsome, not you! I shake my head again.

"….Cora?"

"…I…"

What would Rachel do?...Scratch that – she'd jump his bones first chance she got (if she didn't already have a boyfriend, that is – maybe even despite that). I can practically hear Rachel yelling at me. Go out with him, chica! Don't let that amazing piece of ass go by! Look at him – it's Rugged Amazingness! You ain't been on a date in 16 years – you best not let this chance go by, guurl. You'll never ever hear the end of it from me, 'member that. It's just one date, chica.

Just one.

Do it for me.

Pretty please?

Pretty please with a cherry on top?

"Okay!" I shout. Gotcha, chia I can hear Rachel's smug tone in my ear and I groan; I am so going to regret this. "Okay, okay…I'll do it," I say, looking up at him. His eyes light up, and his face kind of reminds me of an excited little boy. A little boy with a beard, I say to myself and I start to giggle.

I really can't believe I've just agreed to go on a date.

Maybe the world really is ending…

"Fantastic!" His voice shocks me out my stupor and he smiles at me. "I'll be here to pick you up by 6:30 on Friday."

I nod, stupidly. I really, really can't believe this is happening.

"Thank you, Cora," he says, turning on the engine of his car.

"Sure," I say. Sure? Sure?! The shock of all this has really made me dumb.

He nods at me, motioning me to back away from the car and he drives off.

I pinch the bridge of my nose as I walk into the apartment.

Another thought hits me then:

What in the world am I going to do about Jim?

HADES

As I park and get out of the car, I see a familiar face looking up to greet me from outside the brownstone door.

He appears young, with dark hair arranged in spikes and tanned skin and no shortage of piercings or tattoos; wearing black ripped jeans and a t-shirt with a skeleton on it.

"Sire," he says, giving a slight bow with his head.

"Thanatos," I greet in return, walking up the stairs. "Your clothes…When did you start…Dressing like that?"

He laughs and shakes his head. "Since the 1980s, sire. May we go inside? There are some matters I need to discuss with you." The 1980s? That seems like quite a while for me not to notice…

I nod, turning the keys in the door and opening it. We both step inside.

After turning his head to look around, he whistles and says, "Quite empty, sire. Is there no place to sit?"

"There are some… 'barstools'? I believe that's what they are called – in the kitchen." I point to the hallway leading to the right side of the house.

He sits down on one of the stools while I lean against the counter and wait for him to speak.

After about a minute, he does.

"There's a problem on Olympus."

Normally, this would not be something to catch my attention – there's always a problem on Olympus – but the way Thanatos says the word has me concerned.

"What sort of problem?" I ask, crossing my arms.

"Ares is missing, sire." Ares? Missing?

"Missing for how long?"

"Approximately four days." Four days…that's how long I've been in the mortal world. Something's not right.

"Aphrodite has not been seen either." Aphrodite. I remember her hands trailing down my arms; her soft and supple body against me; her fingers digging painfully into my leg.

I clench my jaw. "I've seen her."

Thanatos nods. "Hecate suspected she'd make an appearance, sire. You did not see Ares with her?" They're working together. The war dog never learns a lesson.

"I did not."

Thanatos nods again. "Be on the lookout for him, sire. We're not entirely sure what they're planning to do."

"Ares brings you and Eris wherever he goes; you have not seen him?"

"I am everywhere, in multiple places at once, and I have yet to run across him, my lord." That is definitely not good. I can feel my mouth pulling down into a deep scowl.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Death smiles at me. "Don't look so glum, sire."

"They will ruin everything," I say, gritting my teeth. I feel the monstrous anger and frustration I have been struggling to keep in check begin to slip out of the grasp of my control.

"Sire, you need to calm yourself." There's no touch on my hand or reassuring pat on my shoulder. Be patient. I breathe out, slowly. Be still.

"Apologies, Thanatos. My nerves have been rubbed rather raw, as of late." My eyes are tightly shut.

"My lord, you cannot simply stay in this house cooped up all day – it will drive you mad. Get out a little bit; explore the city. Live like a mortal." Live like a mortal?

I groan. "I hate this place. The people are loud and obnoxious, the streets smell, I can barely walk-"

"Sire, that's life! The sights, the sounds, the smells – this city has a heart that beats loud and strong, can't you hear it?" He lifts his hand to his ear in gesture.

"Death loves life?"

He leans back, smirking. "You are the master of Death – you tell me, sire." I suppose that it makes sense; the two definitely complement each other.

I frown. "I cannot simply go out at my leisure all the time, Thanatos. I have kingly duties to attend to – all that paperwork that you leave by the front door-"

Thanatos licks at one of the piercings on his lip. There are three. "Sire, if I may suggest something – forget about the paperwork."

My leg is throbbing. "Who will take care of it, then?"

He shrugs. "You could always ask Jefferson to do it."

"Jefferson?" Who in all of creation is that?

"One of the presidents. He acts as a judge, from time to time."

"Ah, right, right – I knew that." How could I have forgotten his name?

I walk to the large window in the front of the room and look out at the city.

"I can never see the stars," I say. I am not entirely sure why I say it; perhaps it is only said in observation.

"You haven't seen the stars since the last winter solstice you attended in 1919, my lord." I can hear his rustling movements on the seat. He sounds like he is standing up. "You're still troubled, sire." Looking out the window, I see dark clouds flash with strikes of lighting, and a low sound of thunder rumbles in the distance.

I turn back towards Thanatos. "I haven't been able to sleep."

He purses his lips and scrunches his brows together. "Is it Cronus?"

I nod. "Partially, but that is really nothing new. These are more of the…" I feel my face heat up, "Lustful variety." Luckily, the boy…Jim…only showed up when I was having a now-routine confrontation with Cronus. I would be mortified if he saw anything else. I am quite certain he would be as well.

He smiles and nods. "You let Aphrodite get too close, didn't you, sire?"

I sigh. "Yes." That was a big mistake.

He laughs loudly, slapping his thighs and chuckling. "Now you know how your brothers feel all the time."

"That's no excuse for them to act the way they do." I look back outside the window. "They're not young boys dealing with puberty, and neither am I," I grumble. "We haven't been that for a very long while."

Thanatos chuckles again. His voice is light and soft, like a young man's. He is anything but. "Sire, think about this – this is the first time you've been to the mortal world in almost four millennia. You've seen your queen, whom you love, for the first time in just as many years. And, sire, you are god – not only that, but a god who's been recently touched by Aphrodite. In fact, I'd be more shocked if you didn't have any trouble sleeping. Calm yourself; her spell will pass."

"It's not just my dreams, Thanatos. I saw Cora – Persephone – today…I barely felt in control of myself." I screw my eyes shut, remembering the sensations of wandering hands and searing touches – all imagined, all dreamed…All potent.

"My lord, the spell will pass all the same. You are not Zeus or Poseidon." There's loud, cracking thunder outside when Thanatos says their names, and I open my eyes. The lights over us flicker.

I sigh. "Are they fighting again?"

"When are they not fighting, sire?"

"Good point." I hear his footsteps getting closer until he stops right beside me.

"By the by, how is our fair queen, my lord?"

I smile. "We are having dinner together on Friday…" I trail off. How I managed to pull that off, with my body shaking in lust at being so close to her, I will never know. Still, it bothers me that I had so little control over myself…

"Sire, I know that look – Aphrodite's influence will be gone by then. Maybe… Probably."

"Maybe?" I flick my eyes towards him.

"Probably." He smiles wryly back. "You worry too much, sire."

I shift my weight slightly, and my leg screams in protest; pain shoots up the length of my thigh and I bite the inside of my cheek. "Damn this fucking leg!" There are days when I wish Zeus had just cut the whole thing off. I shift again, and the throbbing stops.

"The damage from that scythe is permanent." I would appreciate it if you would stop saying the obvious, my friend.

"I know!" I snap. I rub my left temple and I say, a little softer this time, "I know."

"My lord, this single-minded determination you have is going to make you ill. You cannot simply stay in this house and wait until you have your lady's beck and call. Or when you go out to let your chariot horses let off steam. You have to get out and do other things."

I narrow my eyes. "And what would you suggest I do?"

"Watch a movie, go to a Broadway show, hell, buy some furniture – live, my lord!" His voice is excited and perky. I can't remember if he's always been this way. And since when did he start to use the word "hell"?

"Live like a mortal." Hecate did tell me something similar.

Thanatos shakes his head and grunts. "Sire, if Zeus and Poseidon can attend mortal parties, and live as mortal men to pursue their mistresses, I'm sure you can do the same to pursue your queen."

"But –" Can I really live as a mortal? I shake my head.

He turns towards me. "Sire, you've experienced love, loss and pain. You rule over mortal souls. You're probably the most human out of all us-"

"Do not insult me," I sneer.

He puts his hands up – a placating gesture. "My lord, if you recall, you fell in love with a mortal woman once."

I blink in surprise. "…That was a long time ago-"

"Orpheus made you weep, sire."

I clench my fists. "….He was talented."

"Indeed he was, sire, but would have wept if you did not understand his pain?"

"I –" Thanatos, stop cutting me off.

"My point is, sire, that these people – these mortals – they're strong, and your connection to them makes you stronger." I don't feel strong. I feel far, far from it.

I squeeze the pummel of my cane. "Mortals are weak, Thanatos – you know that best. "

He pulls at one of the piercings in his right eyebrow. There are four. He flashes a grin at me, bone-white teeth gleaming. "I know you've never really thought much of them…but…living amongst them, I think they'll change your mind." Not likely, but this exchange has made me weary.

I breathe out, slowly and loudly. "Perhaps…perhaps you are right, Thanatos. I will…try." I suppose it may help to ease my boredom.

"That's my king." He lightly punches my shoulder. "Start with buying some furniture."

"…I was actually thinking about buying a television," I chuckle, lightly shaking my head.

He winks at me. "That's a great idea, sire." I lean against the wall. There is no place to sit. "I'll take your suggestion and buy some more furniture first, though."

His phone rings and he looks at it, gray eyes lighting up in surprise. "Well, sire, I must be going. I have a concert to go to."

I snort. "Concert? Thanatos, how do you get anything done?"

He winks at me and smiles, flashing his white teeth again. "The great thing about being Death, my lord, is that I can be in many places at once." He bows his head. "I'll tell Jefferson to start handling the paperwork." He starts to head out of the kitchen, and then I remember something.

"Thanatos, wait."

He turns around, looking puzzled. "Sire?"

" Could you please tell Morpheus to see me as soon as possible? It concerns Cora's –" I pause, "Persephone's boy." I really don't want him seeing anything he shouldn't, but Thanatos knows me well enough to allow me to let that last part go unsaid.

He nods, and his lips curl up knowingly. It's a bit of an odd sight, with all his piercings. "What?" I ask; his expression is puzzling me.

"I knew it."

I cant my head to the side. "Knew what, Thanatos?"

He points at me, and his fingernail is black and gleaming in the fluorescent light that is above us.

"You do care about him."

Come, now, Thanatos; I've had a long day. "Care about who?"

His grin grows wider. "The queen's boy, of course."

No. No, that is completely wrong. I do not.

"Don't be ridiculous, Thanatos," I growl.

He winks at me. "Try all you want to hide it, sire – it won't work."

I roll my eyes. "Don't you have a place to be?"

He gives me a small salute with his right index finger. "To business," he says, and he walks out of the kitchen and into the hallway, and I hear the sound of rain when he opens the door; hear it stop when he closes it.

"To business," I say, and my voice echoes throughout the empty house.

HADES

I open my eyes at the feeling of lips on the back of my neck, and hands on the front of my chest. I'm lying on my side. The clock on the nightstand next to the bed reads 2:30 am. A trail of hot kisses moves to the side of my neck and I shiver.

"You miss me," a voice – her voice – whispers in my ear. Her breath is warm.

I nod.

Her hands on my chest begin to unbutton my shirt, trailing her fingers across my abdomen and down my sides, lower, lower, lower, until she cups my groin and rubs me through my jeans, and I clench my jaw and grip a handful of the sheets in front of me.

I feel her soft lips smile against my neck. "You want me."

"I do," I say, my voice coming out as a breathless gasp as I feel one of her hands unzip the jeans and reach underneath the briefs, sliding her hand up and down my length. My eyes roll back at the sensation, and her touch makes me groan. "I love you."

I cannot allow this to continue.

"Then why do you not indulge your desires, my lord?" I feel her hand give me a light squeeze, and wave of pleasure rolls over me.

"Because, my dear," I say breathlessly, reaching my hand down and interweaving it with hers, bringing them both back up to my chest, "you are not real, and I'd rather not make a mess of myself."

She laughs against my neck and I smile. "Would you rather see your father?"

"No," I snort, "Though I suppose I do not have a choice in the matter." The walls around us begin to crumble and turn into ashes, and I sigh. "Perfect timing, as usual." She plants a kiss at the base of my neck.

"He is the Titan of time, my lord," she breaths softly against my neck.

I nod. "Do you have any advice about how I should go about courting you, my love?" I ask her, quietly. There are walls of black stone beginning to form around us now, and the smell of smoke is pungent in the air. Tartarus.

"Just be you," she whispers, fading away until her presence is completely gone. I sit up and zip my jeans. I roll my shoulders and pick up my cane – which has now changed back into my staff – from the foot of my bed and begin walking. Cronus will be waiting for me.

As I get closer to my destination, I hear distinct sounds of shouting – a young male voice. Getting closer, my suspicions are confirmed when I see a glint of dark auburn hair in the firelight.

"Listen here, you ancient-ass-motherfucking-" Yes, it's definitely Jim, alright.

Cronus is there, lying on a slab of rock and looking furious. He's managed to learn how to make himself appear whole in our interactions; it is just an illusion.

His gold eyes find me and he grins. "I never thought I could hate a being more than you or Zeus, or even Poseidon – but this mortal," he breathes out shakily and seething with anger, "This mortal definitely most irritating creature I've ever met." That may be the first time in my life that I have ever agreed with my father.

"Hey, who you calling "irritating", motherfucker? C'mere, I'll punch that grin off your face, you just wait!" The boy is his arms wildly; throwing his punches at nothing. He can't see.

"Just you wait and see, jackass!" He throws another punch and trips over a large piece of stone in front of him, and Cronus begins to cackle wildly.

"You're both fools," Cronus says, angrily.

"That's enough from you," I say, snapping my fingers and setting Cronus ablaze with green flames.

"Hades! Hades, that's hardly fair!" he screams.

"Enough." The flames die out, and Cronus disappears, for the time being. I shake my head and sigh. I walk over to Cora's son and bend down, grabbing him from underneath his shoulders and lifting him up.

"Lemme guess," he says, looking at me but not seeing me, "You're Hades. Underworld and all that shit." Shit? Did you just refer to my kingdom as "all that shit"? I'm starting to regret saving your life, boy.

I huff out in exasperation. "Yes, I am Hades."

He laughs, and it worries me because he sounds almost like he is on the verge of hysteria.

"What's so funny?" I ask him. He really is acting quite strangely.

"Hahaha, it's just you sound exactly like this crazy motherfucker I met recently."

I smirk. "This is a dream, of course."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he says, waving his hand dismissively. "But it's pretty fucked up for me to be dreamin' about you assholes again. I gotta stop eating before I go to sleep…"

Abruptly, our setting changes, and I feel my head spin as I attempt to take in our new surroundings. It's the small house that I had seen in Jim's dream before. I seem him clench his fists.

Well, well. This should be interesting.