Hercules' mother was lovely. She accepted me without question and I looked forward to her visits. They made me feel welcomed and like she wanted me to be there. His father, however, didn't say much more to me than he ever had to. It made me feel uneasy around him.

One weekday evening, Herc invited me over for dinner. His parents weren't at him and so I decided to broach the subject with him. He was busy cooking dinner- it seemed he enjoyed doing this so I didn't stop him- and he was telling me about some tournament Phil had booked him for that was coming up. He seemed pretty stressed about it lately and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why.
I interrupted his ramblings about it and said cautiously, "Herc…do you mind if I ask you something?" Hercules paused in making his soup- midstir- and said slowly, "Er…sure what about?" I sighed and shook my head, standing closer to him and mumbled, "I'm worried about your father." Herc forced a smile and murmured, "Which one?" even though he obviously knew.

I grimaced and whispered, "You know which one." He paused in his stirring and throwing in herbs. He turned slowly and stared at me, a little speechless. He sighed morbidly, "Meg…I'm sorry for the way my father's been acting. I think he's just worried…" I rolled my eyes and folded my arms huffily, "That I'm a a money- making woman who just wants you for that reason and that reason alone?" I raised my eyebrows sky high and he knew how I was feeling about it. He bit his lip (which I couldn't pretend I didn't find super sexy) and he replied cautiously, "Meg…I'm sorry I know he hasn't been the nicest to you. I just…" I sighed and shook my head, "Not the nicest is an understatement. You can see he hates me. I feel like I need to tiptoe around him!" I exclaimed and threw my hands up in the air in frustration.

Herc sighed and wrapped his big arms around me, "I'm sorry Meg. How can I make it up to you?" I shrugged my shoulders and whispered, "Ask him to talk to me about it? I really don't want your father to hate me. It's a horrible feeling." Hercules muttered, "He doesn't hate you Meg," and pushed a stray strand backwards. He murmured, "He's just…skeptical."

I lifted my chin off his chest and looked up at him, "Skeptical? He hates me…or completely distrusts me. Either way…I feel like I'm on edge constantly around him." Hercules sighed and shook his head, "I'm sorry Meg. I'll speak to him about it and ask him if he could try and get to know you." I stared at him and muttered, "But he'll know I complained about it then."

Hercules shook his head confidently, "No he won't. I'll just say I've noticed his inhospitality." I sighed and nodded, "Thank you. I'd appreciate it." Hercules smiled forcibly and kissed me on the head, "Anything for you Meg." The problem with this statement was that it was so true. He would do anything for me and that made me worry.

XXX

When we were having dinner, we ate in silence. Until Hercules said nervously, "Meg…I need to tell you something…and it's something I've been dreading telling you for a while now. But I can't put it off anymore." I put down my cutlery and stared at Hercules in contemplation, "Alright then…go on." Herc sighed heavily and then he took my hands in his. I suddenly felt my heart racing. What if he didn't want to be with me anymore? Had I done something wrong? Why was he looking so upset?!

Then in his next breath, he blurted, "Hades might not be dead." I swallowed harshly. That wasn't at all what I was expecting. I bit my lip in worry and asked in a tremble, "What does that mean exactly?" Herc massaged my hands gently and whispered, "It means there's been activity in the underworld. My father warned me about it. I've not wanted to worry you." I stood up, uncertain of how to react but feeling my mind go into a turmoil of a spin.

I paced up and down the table, not sure what to do with my arms and my legs, but knowing I had to do something. I turned to him again only when he grabbed hold of my hand and squeezed it gently, empathy written all over his face, "Well…say something," he said in a whisper. I stared at his worried eyes and whispered, "What does it mean…for me?"

Herc shrugged his broad shoulders and whispered, "It means like before that I'll keep you safe no matter what. Nothing will harm you again Meg." I wanted to believe him. I truly did. But instinct told me that Hades was angry. He was more than angry, he was furious. And when Hades was furious…there was no stopping him. I stared at Herc for a moment, figuring out how I could protect him. I didn't want him involved again. Not this time.

XXX

Later that evening, Herc took me for a walk around the gardens where we had our first "date." He had given me that rose and I had felt my heart fluttering in my chest for the first time in a long while. It had been a strange and unusual sensation for me. When I'd been with Hades…that had never happened. There was no emotional connection there and nor would there ever be.

I held Herc's hand in mine and we walked around the pond where he'd skipped a rock too hard and knocked part of a statue off. I smiled at the memories, as did Hercules it seemed. He reached for the big tree with white flowers and picked one off for me. I smiled in delight and then stood on the rim of the fountain so I was slightly taller than him.

Hercules chuckled as I leant closer and he held me steady, so that all of my body weight was pressed against him. I sighed and kissed him softly on the lips. He murmured against mine, "Isn't it funny to think about how far we've come since the last time we were here?" I nodded and wrapped my arms around his strong shoulders, feeling the mass of muscle there. I whispered, "Yeah…you've established yourself as a true hero and could have gone to live with your family…but somehow I was lucky enough for you to choose me…" I mused about it all. He shook his head and whispered to me, "It wasn't luck, Meg. I fell for you the moment I met you."
The things he said like that made my heart melt. I whispered, "Week ankles." He laughed and picked me up, which was not what I was expecting him to do…although I should have. Herc carried me over to the bench we had sat on and placed me on it so that I was lying down, staring up at the stars. His big figure hovered over me and I suddenly felt this unexplainable urge to kiss him.

So I did kiss him, with every piece of love I had to give him. He was gentle and sweet and kind as always, but I didn't want that right now as I shoved my fingers into his hair. Hercules shuddered slightly above me and I took the moment of vulnerability to slip my tongue in his mouth. We were never this physical, but I felt like if I didn't take the first steps, we never would. He froze for a minute, getting used to the sensations, but then he relaxed and I could feel his tongue move with mine. I wanted him to forget Hades for just one minute. He had plenty of other time to worry about it.

A/N: Hi all! I'm so sorry for my long absenteeism! I've been away on holiday and then I wasn't really feel motivated to write and then I did another course. But then all these amazing requests came in where you guys wanted me to continue! So here's the next chapter for you! I hope you like it? Please let me know thoughts!