Disclaimer: Property of A&E and ABC. Not Mine.

Hades sips at his coffee, the slate grey cup hiding his amusement as he watches the heroes squabble amongst themselves in the Charming's living room. They decided to hold an impromptu war council after breakfast this morning, and the disagreement over what to do about the stolen storybook is bringing out the worst in each and every one of them.

"We can't shut down the library. That's giving into fear. The town will be in an uproar if they think we can't handle this." This is from Charming, who has both heroic hands firmly planted on the kitchen island and appears ready to vault over it at any second.

"I don't know what reality you're living in, but we can't handle this," Regina growls back from across the counter. "It's been days since the break-in and we are no wiser than we were that night. We have to assume this is Hyde's doing, and he has magic on his side. Strange magic."

"Powerful magic," Emma chimes in. She and the pirate are sitting at the dining room table, facing her parents. "Strong enough to break through my protection spell."

"Could they have stolen a key?" Snow asks, hovering beside her husband. "Maybe one of the people that signed up to work with Henry…"

"No!" Regina snaps. "I told you, magic doesn't work like that."

"Well then, Regina, please enlighten us. How does it work?"

The Savior makes a play for diplomacy. "Does it matter? We need to focus on what to do next, not on what already happened."

"Aren't we all overthinking this just a tad?" Hook adds. "I realize that storybook is quite special, but without the boy and his quill, what else is it good for?"

Regina slams her hand onto the pale, aged wood. "That is exactly why I am not letting Henry anywhere near that library!"

"The library isn't the problem, Regina," David says firmly. "Besides, he has Rhye to protect him now. That sword will…"

"That sword will do nothing against a magical attack and you know it! I am not putting my son's life at risk just because you're tired of babysitting a bunch of outlanders in the woods!"

Said son is sitting beside Hades on the tiny loveseat with brows furrowed, his knee bouncing restlessly.

Hades leans over and whispers, "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"If you're thinking it's the Evil Queen that's helping Hyde, then yeah…" Henry replies quietly.

"Actually, I was debating which hero will go ballistic first. My money is on your mom. Betcha five bucks she takes out Charming. You in?"

"Be serious," Henry whispers harshly.

"Oh? You want the pirate then? I'll give you 7-to-1 odds she fries him with a fireball in the next ten minutes. You know Mongolian barbeque? This'll be Killian barbeque."

Henry's frown morphs into a pinched smirk. "Knock it off."

"Fine… yes, I am thinking exactly what you are thinking. I'm also thinking you need to tell them before this little pow-wow turns into Storybrooke's version of Fight Club."

"My mom… she's gonna freak out. They both will. Heck, they all will." The teen's restless knee fires off again, faster than ever. "Why don't you tell them?"

"Because they'll rip me to shreds. However, they adore you – which means the odds of ripping and shredding are much, much less. Now I recommend you quit the piston act with your leg and just tell them." Hades smiles. "I've got your back."

"You do? How?"

Hades tilts his chin towards the heroes. "You'll see. Now tell them."

The heroes are still hissing and spitting at each other when Henry stands and says hesitantly, "I might know who broke into the library."

Five heads turn. "What, kid?" Emma asks.

His voice grows stronger. "I think I know who broke into the library."

Regina's hostile tone subsides. "You do? Is it someone that you worked with?"

"No, it's…" Henry glances nervously at Hades, and he nods in encouragement. With a deep sigh, the teen continues, "It's the Evil Queen."

The heroes' jaws drop. Hades was certain that Regina would be the first to deny it, but it is Snow that pipes up first.

"That's impossible, Henry," she says in her kindly, talking-to-small-children voice. "She's gone." She glances over at her daughter. "We saw it."

Henry approaches his adoptive mother. "Do you remember what Hyde said to us when we first saw him in Storybrooke? That darkness wasn't so easy to destroy? Mom… I know it's hard to believe, but we think that…"

Regina's eyes narrow as she redirects her attention to Hades. "We?"

He rises and stands beside the boy. "Yes, Lady Regina. We."

"All right then, Mister Rhye," Regina purrs, sarcasm dripping like rain. "Please explain to me how someone survives after their heart is torn from their body and crushed to bits. Because that's what I did, and she and her heart turned to dust." Both Emma and Snow share a knowing look before nodding firmly in agreement.

"But yours did not, milady. It is you that carries the true heart and hence the living soul."

"Mom," Henry says pointedly, "she can't die as long as you're still alive."

Emma leaps from her chair, jade eyes burning. "Where in the world did you get that idea?" she hollers. She glares daggers at Hades. "What the hell kind of twisted horror stories are you telling him?"

"Mom…"

Hades puts a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'll explain. " He scans the room, addressing all the heroes. "When I fought Hyde, do you honestly believe I didn't try to kill him? Do I look weak and helpless to you? His wounds healed. Repeatedly. I attempted to trap him under the books, but he has inhuman strength. When I blew up the elevator, it didn't leave a single scratch."

He turns to Snow White and David. "Henry told me you encountered Hyde in my land. So you know what I say is true."

Charming's eyes dart to his wife. "He's right."

"I may not know a lot about this world, but I do know people. Hyde has no soul. His eyes are dead, vacant. The spark of life, which exists in all of you, is not in Hyde. He is a shell, and if he is one, then… I'm sorry Lady Regina, but so is your other half."

Regina's complexion is ashen. "No. There is no proof that she is the same."

Henry is indignant. "Mom, yes there is. Who else could break through the protection spell? Who else could cast a cloaking spell? It has to be her. It also explains why you haven't been able to find Mr. Hyde. She's helping him."

"There is no proof that she is alive," Regina states, "and there certainly is no proof that she would align herself with a psychopath like Hyde."

"I dunno, luv," the pirate says, peering up at her, "that rather sounds like something she'd do."

Regina snarls and whirls towards Hook. "Do not presume to be an expert on the Evil Queen, Captain."

The pirate glares back at her. "Someone needs to be, since you're apparently burying your head in the sand about it."

"I seriously doubt we'll need the expertise of a rum-soaked ex-pirate that can barely understand modern technology."

Hook jolts from his chair. "I don't need to understand this world's fancy gadgets to know that you're too cowardly to admit you made a mistake!"

Hades whispers quietly in Henry's ear. "Wow kid, you won. Pirate a flambé in three…two…one..."

Emma steps between the mayor and Killian. "Whoa… okay, that's enough. Regina, you're right, we don't know if any of this is true. I saw her turn to dust, too, remember? But Henry and Rhye's theory does hold water. Some. It wouldn't hurt to err on the side of caution here."

Regina is having none of it. "I refuse to believe that the Evil Queen is alive. Not when I'm the one who killed her. Henry, let's go. School starts next month and you'll need new clothes." She peers down at her son's jeans, the white of his crew socks showing. Facing the Savior, she quips, "Maybe you weren't aware, but we aren't expecting a flood in Storybrooke any time soon. If you won't dress him appropriately, I will." The brunette's eyes burn with cold, bitter fire as she turns to Hades. "Cancel all of Henry's appointments today. And clean up that library. The last time I was in there, it was a pig sty."

That's entirely untrue. Hades spent half of yesterday scouring it from top to bottom as part of his quest for reasons why Hyde might want the damned storybook. He stifles his ire as he nods, "Yes, Lady Regina."

"Good. Come, Henry."

The teen glances at Hades, his face echoing frustration and regret, before following his mother out of the Charmings' loft. The door slams shut with a bang.

"Well," Charming sighs, "now what?"

"Now, we have a problem," Snow murmurs. "If the Evil Queen is back, we're going to have a tough time differentiating her from Regina. Particularly if Regina won't cooperate."

She is more right than she knows. Hades didn't anticipate Regina's inability to accept reality. Her rejection of the Evil Queen's return will put Henry in danger. "I do apologize for creating such malcontent, Lady Snow. That was not my intention."

"Well," Emma grouses, "you should have thought about that before you had Henry prophesying your theories."

"They are not my theories, Lady Emma. Henry shares my opinion. Do you doubt his instincts?"

"No… but…"

Something deep within Hades crackles to life. "Why do you discredit your son? Each of you do this. Can you not see who and what he is?"

"Yes… but you don't know Henry like we do. He's young and impetuous... and easily influenced."

"Is he? He has been chosen as the next Author. He carries the Heart of the Truest Believer. He is the child of the Savior and the descendant of the most ingenious Dark One to ever walk the earth. By pure genetics alone he is destined for greatness, but when you add in the Author's pen and his already proven ability to influence the belief of others, he will become one of the most powerful men of his time." Hades blinks in exasperation as the heroes stare dumbly at him. "Surely you all know this."

Emma's tone softens. "What you say is true, but he isn't ready for all of that. He's barely a teenager."

Hades scowls so deeply he can feel his skin pinch above the bridge of his nose. When he was Henry's age, he and his brothers were slaughtering monsters and traveling wherever the wind took them. That might not be apropos for teenagers today, but Henry is not the average teenager. Why the heroes won't acknowledge and cultivate the boy's talents is mind-boggling.

"Look," she states firmly. "I know you and he have grown close, but you are not his parent."

Hades steps back, affronted. "I see. My apologies." He stares through her. "Surely you know what is best."

He and the Savior remain locked in a stalemate until the small clocks on Snow's white bookcase start to chime the nine o'clock hour. "We, uh, need to get to work Emma," Charming mumbles.

"As do I," Hades replies. He has definitely reached his quota of heroic disillusionment for the day. "Good day to you all," he says formally as he exits, careful not to slam the door. He will not lower himself to Regina's level. He plods his way down the stairs and stomps onto the streets of Storybrooke, silently fuming. The heroes are entirely too caught up in their own egotistical emotions to see things clearly. If he is going to protect Henry from Hyde and the Evil Queen, he's going to need to do it on his own.

But first, he'll make that damned library spotless. The dear mayor will regret implying he was slacking off on the job. She'll eat those words, right off the shining tile floor.

oooooooooooooooo

Two hours later, the entry bell of the library chimes softly as the door slowly swings open. Hades looks up from the computer monitor, and lo and behold, there's Zelena, her fiery hair clearly visible through the glass pane. He clicks the mouse to close the browser's search results. The best ways to clean and seal slate tile will have to wait. He leans back in his chair, propping his feet up on the desk as she peers around the side of the door. Pale blue eyes meet his, etched with uncertainty.

"Oh. There you are. Henry said I might find you here today."

Now that's interesting. It's been days since he poured his heart out all over her farmhouse floor, and he hasn't heard a peep from her since. He'd be lying if he said it didn't piss him off. It did. And now, here she is - beautiful and confused, looking for him. Why? And when the hell did she talk to Henry? The boy didn't mention anything at breakfast about Zelena stopping by today.

Hades folds his hands behind his head. "It's not a stretch, Zelena. I live here, I work here, I'll probably die here… you know - simple, boring mortal life."

Her gaze narrows. "I wanted to speak with you. About the other day... when you visited. Henry thought today would be good, given that he didn't have any appointments scheduled until this afternoon."

"He doesn't have any at all. Regina requested I cancel his appointments today."

"Oh."

Hades studies her, tilting his head. "So, you spoke with Henry about me?"

"Yes."

There's an opportunity here. He smiles at her with a lopsided grin. "Henry, the boy you tried to strangle in front of his parents? Whose father you killed? The same boy whose thoughtless behavior trapped you in the Land of Untold Stories? That Henry?"

"Yes, that Henry."

"Son of your heretofore most hated sister, your sworn enemy? The boy that is the one true lynchpin to all the heroes in this bee-you-tee-full town we live in?"

"Yes! Yes, I called Henry! Dammit, Hades – I came here to talk, not play Twenty Questions!"

He plants his feet on the floor and holds up one hand. "First, easy on my name. Second, well... I do most humbly beg your pardon, but I am just so surprised. You know, kind of like you were when I said he was my friend."

She eyes him warily, but her upturned grin betrays her hostility. Her nose crinkles in amusement. "You're something else."

"Just making a point, milady. So, what brings you to my humble abode today?"

"I wanted to talk with you," she tells her shiny, impractical shoes. "Henry said…" She fidgets with the pocket of her coat and Hades instincts flicker in alarm. Dear Henry better have kept his mouth shut, or Hades is going to throttle him until his teeth rattle right out of his skull.

"… he said you were trying to find a way to be yourself again."

Oh. "That's right. I am."

"He said you needed help." She looks up at him, her face swirling with a myriad of emotions he can't even begin to comprehend. She and the boy must've had one hell of a conversation. Hades can't recall a time when the pair said more than five words to one another. "I… I want to help."

Hades brows hit the ceiling. This is sudden.

Her voice wavers as her words come out in a garbled rush. "It's... it's my fault you're like this and I'm sorry and I know you must hate me. I still can't believe you're even alive... but you are, and I… I know what it's like to be trapped with no power. It's absolutely horrid and I cannot bear knowing I did that to you… I can't even imagine, so… I want to fix it." She lifts her head, resolute. "I want to help."

Hades says nothing. He knows her words are sincere, and it is validating to finally hear her acknowledge her mistake and apologize. But anger is still simmering in the back of his mind. He takes a deep breath, and the reason for his agitation becomes clear. Of course - they are so similar it is downright frightening. She's not doing this for him – she's doing it for herself. She's guilt-ridden, and it's eating away at her. But he doesn't want her pity. That's the last thing he wants.

"Zelena, you shouldn't feel you have to help me. It's not an obligation."

Her words are steel. "Yes it is."

Hades sighs. It seems the road to True Love is fraught with potholes. "Not if I don't want it."

She is so hurt. "You… don't want my help?"

"Actually, I do. But I don't want your pity, or your charity. Look, I know you feel guilty about what happened. Trust me, I'm the resident expert on guilt. But helping me so that you'll feel better is … well, it's self-serving. I want you to help me because you want to, not to ease your aching conscience."

He watches silently as the storm of emotions rage across her face. Anger, humiliation, regret. He holds firm despite the nervousness fluttering in his chest. Sweeping their problems under the rug, in the guise of love and forgiveness, will only cause them to fester and rot until they explode. That's exactly what happened with the heroes this morning, and he's not going to let his relationship with Zelena suffer the same fate.

She finally speaks, her tone flat. "You might be right."

"I take no pleasure in it, let me assure you."

She starts to pace around the library. "I wish I could explain it – the chaos in my head." Her face lifts to his, and it is shrouded in torment. "The pain. The anger." She stops and glares at him, eyes burning. "For days, I hated you. I hated what you did and what you made me do." Her voice quiets. "Because I loved you. I loved you and I trusted you and I wanted to be happy. I was happy! I had it all - you, my daughter, my sister, everything. But then I blinked and it was gone. It was all a lie. You didn't see how they looked at me that day. How they look at me now. Poor, delusional Zelena. I told myself you used me, that you never cared about me."

She meets his gaze again. "But that's not true, is it?"

Hades' heart is pounding. "No. I always cared about you. I still do."

"Then why… why did you do it? I never wanted to 'rule a kingdom', and you said that you didn't either! You stood next to me on that hill in the Underworld and said that you didn't want that any longer! You said it in Oz too! And it was all a lie!"

"I wanted to prove to you that I was worthy. That I wasn't an impotent half-god trapped in his brother's curse. I thought what I had to offer wasn't enough. It wasn't enough for me, so I assumed it would never be good enough for you."

She stares at him in disbelief. "You thought making me my own version of Storybrooke and being a god wasn't enough for me?"

"No. Not when I knew there was so much more I could do." He frowns, old anger resurfacing yet again. "My brother rules Olympus. He could have offered you a kingdom. He could have offered you anything. I could not, not trapped in the Underworld as some half-dead outcast." Hades' chest is hollow. All this honesty is taking a lot out of his mortal body. "Now I have nothing to offer you at all," he growls. "But… if I return to my true self and my power is restored, I will."

She takes a ragged breath. "I don't want it. Just like you don't want my guilt-motivated help, I don't want you ego-motivated kingdom." Her voice falters. "I never did."

"Zelena, I just want to give you everything you'll ever want."

"Do you? Because all I ever wanted is love. Your love. The love of my daughter. Of my sister, whom you tried to kill. Twice." She chokes back a sob. "Once I thought I wanted what Regina had. Rumplestiltskin chose her over me to cast his curse, just like my mother chose to raise her over me. I wanted to be the one chosen. I wanted to be the one that was special. That wasn't abandoned." She walks over to Henry's area, and sits in one of the small office chairs, her hands folded across her lap. "Then I had Robyn and everything changed. I never want her to feel the way I've felt. Because I'd do anything for her. I will always choose her."

She peers up at him. "And then there was you. You always chose me. You have no idea. A god, wanting me. I couldn't believe it. I didn't believe it… until you ripped up that contract. I wanted to believe in you, in us. I know you felt it because I felt it too." She wraps her arms around her chest. "But then you chose your own needs over ours. You chose your vengeance over my love." Her voice is merely a whisper. "Maybe it isn't you that doesn't have enough to offer, Hades. Maybe it is me."

Dammit. That's not true. She doesn't understand. He had to prove he was as powerful as his brother, since his father clearly thought otherwise. The minute his heart started, he had to prove it - to her, to himself, to everyone. His mortal insight spikes brightly, painting a different picture of the day they returned to Storybrooke. It uses a palette of new emotions: jealousy and insecurity.

Hades shakes his head. That can't be true. Just the idea is ludicrous. The Lord of Death: insecure. But there it is – sprawled across his psyche, plain as day.

He sighs and walks over to her. She looks so small and frail, curled up in the simple chair. He traces the back of his finger down the long pleat of her hair. "You're wrong," he tells her softly. "You were always enough, Zelena. I was just blinded by my own failings to see it."

She studies the floor. "I wish I knew how to believe that."

Hades kneels in front of her, taking her gloved hand in his. Fear is hammering within him, intensifying with each heartbeat. He has done this two times before, and neither time ended well. But he doesn't know what else to do. "Let me prove it you. Let me show you. That is, if you're willing."

His mind cringes the instant the Freudian innuendo leaves his lips. But when her blue eyes shift from watery periwinkle to smoky cobalt, his mortal body reads the signs loud and clear. Lust flares within him, burning through them both. Regardless of any residual anger he still has towards her, he can no longer deny what Fate has already decreed. They are True Love and it cannot be ignored. He does want to prove it to her. He does want to show it to her - wine her and dine her, touch her and kiss her, hold onto her and never let her go. But if he... if they... do anything now, what will happen when he returns to his true form? What if she prefers Rhye? He wants her to love the real version of himself, not his soul trapped in this weak and ridiculous carcass.

Chemistry is drawing them closer; two magnets unable to fight the physical pull. "Zelena…" he murmurs, "I…"

The library door swings open, and Hades never appreciated the phrase 'saved by the bell' more. Zelena's cheeks flush as she chirps, "Regina! Hi!"

Hades drops her hand like a hot potato and leaps to his feet. Shock and anguish are plastered across Regina's face. Zelena sees it too, because she rises calmly and says, "It's not what you think."

The brunette's eyes sharpen to topaz. "I should hope not."

"Lady Regina," Hades says in his knightly tones, "how might I help you?"

"Well," she snarls, "you could start by getting the hell away from my sister."

Zelena's tone is clipped. "Regina, that's uncalled for. Whom I choose to socialize with is not your concern."

"Right, because you did such a great job of choosing your last boyfriend."

Hades bites his tongue and tries to keep his fingers from balling into a fist. It seems Zelena doesn't appreciate the jibe either as she sneers, "If I recall correctly, you gave me your blessing. So who's the worse judge of character here?" She glances at him apologetically, and he nods slightly in reply. He knows what she's doing. Regina would go nuclear if she found out who he really was.

"What is this?" she asks. "You've been after me for months to 'get out there' and 'move on'. Maybe that's what I'm trying to do."

Regina's head droops. "I know," she sighs, "I just… didn't want you to actually do it."

Zelena's body stiffens. "You didn't want me to be happy?"

"No! I mean, I did! I do! Look, can we talk about this later? Without him around?"

"No, I think we bloody well need to talk about it now."

"You know," Regina growls at Hades, "I actually came here to see you. Henry convinced me to at least listen to your side of the story, despite the fact that it is completely impossible for the Evil Queen to be alive."

Zelena whirls towards him, the copper braid flipping over her shoulder to fall straight down her back. "What?"

Hades grins sheepishly. "Henry and I have a theory about who is helping Hyde. We shared it with the other heroes this morning over breakfast and… it didn't go over well."

"You have breakfast with them," she mutters, rolling her eyes. "Of course you do."

Regina studies them, one brow raised. "This has been going on for a while, this thing between the two of you… hasn't it?"

Hades stomach twists. If Zelena tells her the truth, he's the one that's going to be barbequed today.

"I told you Regina, whom I socialize with is not your concern. If there was something I felt you needed to know, I would tell you."

Hades' heart sings. Thank the gods! Take that, Regina! She chose me this time! Wait, what?

Hades barely has time to register the chaos in his head when the bell over the door clangs loudly. They all freeze when Emma Swan strides into the library. She pauses a few feet in. "Um… hello everyone. What's going on?"

All three of them respond as one. "Nothing."

"Well, that's obviously not nothing." She lifts her chin to Hades. "I… wanted to talk with you."

"That seems to be a common theme today," Regina scowls.

"You're here to talk to him too?" Emma asks. "I thought you had shopping to do. Because I can't adequately clothe my son who grows an inch in his sleep every night. Remember?"

"I… spoke out of turn this morning. Apologies."

"Accepted. So where's Henry?"

"In the diner with your boyfriend. I honestly didn't think I'd be here this long, but it appears we have to take a number. My sister was here first."

"Really?" Her blonde head tilts towards Zelena. "Really?"

"It seems they're dating… or something."

Emma's brows hit her scalp as Zelena snaps, "Talking, sis. We were talking."

The Savoir blinks in surprise when Regina mutters, "He was on his knee and holding her hand when I walked in."

Zelena looks like she wants to rip out her sister's tongue when Emma replies, "Wow. Way to ruin the moment, Regina."

Regina stares at her sister. "I'm perfectly fine with ruining moments that shouldn't happen, Miss Swan."

"I don't believe this," Zelena says, waving both hands up in the air in exasperation. "It was not a moment and it would be just brilliant if you all minded your own damned business regarding any moments I may or may not have!" Her cheeks immediately flush pink in embarrassment, and she flops down onto the office chair behind her, sliding it backwards. "Oh bloody hell. I give up."

"Definitely interrupted a moment," Emma mouths to Regina in a harsh whisper.

"I know," Regina replies smugly. "Can't wait to do it again."

Hades massages his temples in frustration. He feels like a piece of meat housewives are fighting over at a butcher counter. "Ladies, please forgive me - but I was speaking with Zelena before you both arrived. Perhaps you could stop by later this afternoon, some time after lunch?"

Two seconds later, the front door violently bangs open, startling them all. The overworked brass bell is ripped from its tether and lands with a sharp clang on the hard tile floor. Dammit. He liked that bell.

"Lunch is postponed indefinitely, people," the gritty voice of Granny proclaims. "We have a much bigger problem." The pirate is hovering beside her, awkwardly holding a raw steak against his left eye with a bloodied right hand.

"Killian!" Emma cries. "What happened?" She runs to his side and yanks the steak away, revealing a purpled eyelid nearly swollen shut.

"Ow! Stop Emma! I'll be all right. It's not me we need to worry about."

Emma steps away from him slowly. "No..."

Hades watches the blood drain from the Savior's face. Regina's and Zelena's features are frozen, the former's complexion also ghosting to white. He suspects he looks exactly the same. Dear Gods, it happened. Henry.

"Where is my son?" Regina asks, her voice faint.

Hook shakes his head slowly, wincing as he does so. One smoky eye, tinged with grief, peeks through strands of damp black hair. "Mate, I didn't want to believe you, but you were right. The Evil Queen is most definitely alive, and she has Henry."