A/N: And now, the chapter you've all been waiting for and I have been incessantly threatened by fellow authors to write…

VMorticia: Stop picking holes in my logic.

Crimson Fuchsia: Yes, your pyromaniac dancing starfish was the one who was threatening me, so this should keep it happy for a while.

Lady Genesis: Yes, I went to your site. Aww, family picture, family picture! Better get working on it now…

Melora: And here I was wondering where all the chocolate cookies went.

Hades: I panic-eat under stress.

Melora: How can you be stressed? Seph's the one having the kid, not you.

Hades: So I eat when I'm nervous.

Melora: You're actually worried? Aww, bless!

Disclaimer: I own Seph, her kid and Meg's kid. Anything else lies in Disney's fluffy, steel-like clutches.

/.../ denotes thoughts

I Won't Say It: Part 21

If a pregnancy felt like this in the final months, she would definitely think about trying for another kid. Maybe it was just the thought of the baby actually arriving, but Persephone was in a remarkably good mood.

Ok, so any form of bedroom intimacy was out of the question, bending down to pick anything up wasn't particularly easy and she did feel slightly nauseous, but hey! What good were minions unless they did any form of menial or uncomfortable task?

And boy, did Seph have enough of them.

Pain was almost certain he had lost about three pounds just running back and forth from the kitchens to the throne-room. Panic definitely had the easier job in his opinion. Fluffing pillows and keeping Cerberus's heads out of the windows was the good life. And he got to watch the TV as a bonus.

Wheezing and trying to balance a platter of fruit as he entered the double doors of the throne-room, the chubby purple imp cast a look at the goddess of rebirth as she flicked the remote onto Channel 8 and settled back to watch 'Sophocles's Choice'.

'A small snack, Your Maliciousness-ness.'

The small snack disappeared in about four seconds flat, as did the Tartarus Vision.

'Ok, bored now.'

Nearly bouncing up from her throne, Persephone stretched and went to stand by the window, scratching one of Cerberus's six ears.

In all truth, she was beyond bored. Hades was at one of his staff meetings, so there was no one she could otherwise annoy. Apparating on Olympus was out of the question since she was nearly due.

Torturing minions however…

Well, there was that new mace Hades had given her for their anniversary that just screamed to be used…

She smirked. At least it would keep her busy for a while.

'Pain? Panic? Could you boys just stand a little more to the left and start begging for your lives?'

Pain and Panic shared a resigned look. And started screaming.

Persephone smirked as she reflected on the little dose of carnage she had managed to rain down.

At least until she felt something warm running down her leg.

If and when something went wrong in the Underworld, it really was better not to know about it.

When it concerned the torture masters of Tartarus…yeesh. Those guys had ethics that would've raised eyebrows in the court of Agamemnon.

Maybe some imp torture would help.

'PAIN! PANIC!'

For the first time in over eight hundred years, the winged duo didn't come running at the bellow of the Lord of the Dead.

Someone was going to get very badly burnt for this. And whoever hadn't mopped up the puddle in the throne-room was so getting a pay cut.

Ok, something had happened. This little mess had a trail. Either the mutt had gotten into the palace again or…

Oh boy.

Puddle.
Seph.
Brat being born.
Brat being born now.

Hades instinctively disappeared in a rush of flames.

Persephone closed her eyes and dug her fingers into the sheets as she felt another contraction building.

Deep cleansing breaths. Deep cleansing breaths. Deep cleansing…

/Oh, balls to this…/ 'HADES!'

Timing was not exactly on her side as she yelled out for her husband. Especially since he had appeared right next to her right before she had screamed.

Hades winced and dug a finger into his ear in an attempt to regain his hearing. 'You bellowed?'

The goddess of rebirth relaxed and sighed as the contraction passed. 'Remind me why we chose to have a family?'

'Because of the way we get a family.'

'I had a feeling that was it.' Persephone managed to lift her lower body and shifted into a more comfortable position.

Well, as comfortable as you can get while in early labour and the newest member of the family is kicking your stomach to shreds.

'Where's the shrimps?'

'Getting my mom, Artemis and Illithysia.'

The Lord of the Dead groaned. 'Great. So in between fussing over you, I get beaten up by a semi-psycho overprotective goddess of the plants who blames me entirely for this little situation.'

'It's either that or having to suffer screaming pains around your gut for the next few hours until this kid makes its first appearance.'

The nonplussed look appeared. 'On reflection, I'll take the mother-in-law.'

She smirked despite her extreme discomfort. 'Good call.'

Conveniently, another contraction began.

'Ow…ow…owowow OW!' Gritting her teeth, Persephone grabbed the first thing within reach.

Which happened to be Hades's neck.

Illithysia, Artemis, Demeter, Pain and Panic turned up just as she started digging her nails into her husband's jugular. The plump green goddess made no attempt to prise her daughter away from the God of the Dead. In her opinion, getting the immortality choked out of him was the least he deserved for what he had done to her little Sephy.

The goddess of the hunt settled herself beside her goddaughter and managed to pull one of Seph's hands away from Hades's throat while Illithysia briefly examined her. 'Shhh, it's ok, keep focussing, you're doing fine…'

'Yeah…focussing on the fact I seem to be giving birth to a hippo.'

Demeter stroked her daughter's hair and smiled in recollection. 'It just feels like that. But you're doing brilliantly, sweetie.'

The contraction passed as the goddess of rebirth slumped back against the pillows and let go of her husband. Hades gratefully massaged his neck and glared at his wife.

'And you couldn't just crush my hand?'

Illithysia looked up from her pre-natal examination. 'She could've grabbed something a lot more painful. Just be grateful it was your neck.'

As one, the three males in the room winced and crossed their legs. The redheaded goddess of childbirth smiled and stood up. Her natural empathy took over as she leaned over and tucked a strand of hair behind her patient's ear.

'I know it hurts honey, but you'll be fine. There's still a while before your body's going to be ready to give birth, so just try to get as comfortable as you can.'

Persephone sighed. 'So how long until I'm ready?'

'Maybe a few hours, maybe a few days. It depends on the person.'

'A few days? Oh great. Just great.'

She glared at her husband. 'Look what you've done to me.'

'Pardon me?'

She nodded towards her very swollen abdomen and resumed glaring. 'Well?'

Hades raised an eyebrow. 'I don't wanna make a rush observation. Just give me a couple more hours.'

This earned him a fist in the face. More accurately, it earned him one hell of a black eye.

'Yeah, ok, fine, well, I deserved that.'

'Uh-huh. Since I happen to be having your child, could you just try being a little more supportive?'

'Supportive how?'

'Just…just don't leave me…'

For all of her attitude and cynicism, giving birth frightened Persephone a lot. If Hades left now…

Risking yet another fist in the face and choosing to ignore the fact that there were other people around, Hades pulled her into a loose embrace and kissed her forehead. 'Hey. There's no way I'd leave you like this, babe.'

Out of respect for the rulers of the Underworld, the various deities and imps looked away for a brief moment.

At least until the goddess of rebirth had another contraction.

Hades spent the next twenty minutes trying to regain the feeling in his right hand.

'So whose go is it?'

Pain grabbed the dice away from Panic. 'Mine.'

'Mine.'

'Nuh-uh! Mine!'

'Mine!'

'Guys, chill. Anyway…' With sweat pouring down her face from the last contraction, the goddess of rebirth leaned over and removed the dice from the grasp of the chubby purple imp.

'…It's my go.'

Two hours had passed and boredom had long since set in. And when five deities and two imps start playing Monopoly, tedium hits a new level.

'Ok, landed on…chance space…'You have won second prize in a beauty contest…'

Hades repressed a smirk.

'…Smash the imps over the heads with the bank.' Pain and Panic found themselves being violently attacked with several hundred wooden drachmas and the store of houses.

Demeter looked up at the sound of the squeals. 'It does not say that. Honestly…'

The Lord of the Dead read the parchment. 'Nope, she's right. 'That's what it says.'

Artemis joined in. 'Please. It's in red ink over the words.'

The goddess of rebirth winced and panted as she felt a contraction build. They had been getting stronger and more regular for the past half-hour. 'But we had to…change the rules 'cos…Monopoly's so boring!'

Panic retrieved a hotel embedded in his skull and searched through the rest of the cards. ''Congratulations. It is your birthday. You may set fire to Panic's bed'.'

Illithysia smirked and looked at the next card. ''Get Out Of Jail Free card. You may keep this card, sell it or shove it through Pain's skull'. Interesting concept.'

Hades shrugged. 'Hey. I conceptualise well.'

'Conceptualise this…'

Persephone gritted her teeth and grabbed Hades's hand. 'This contraction ain't passing…Mooooom!!'

The game was immediately abandoned as Demeter rushed to hold her daughter's hand. Artemis and Illithysia settled at the foot of the bed and ran a quick examination on the goddess. Pain and Panic opted to retreat to a safe distance.

The goddess of the hunt pulled a clean robe over her head and started massaging Persephone's stomach. 'Little one, you can now give birth.'

Hades rolled his eyes in sheer irritation. 'Whaddya think she's been trying to do for the last three hours?'

Illithysia knelt on the bed, ready to catch the baby once it emerged. 'I know, I know. Seph, now whenever you feel a contraction, I want you to push as hard as you can. Can you do that for me?'

'It…hurts…can't…do…this…' She was looking more and more exhausted.

The goddess of the plants squeezed her hand. 'I know it hurts sweetheart. But it'll all be over soon and we're all here for you.'

'…Yeah…aaaahhhh…aaaahhhh…AHHHHHH!' Tears leaked out of Persephone's eyes as she pushed, gripping onto her mother's and Hades's hands.

Demeter simply gripped back. 'That's it sweetie, just keep doing it…'

'Aaaaahhhhhhhh!' It felt like her whole body was being split in half.

'You're doing brilliantly, now another big push…' Artemis had moved to the business end of the operation, busy keeping an eye out for the head.

'AhhhhhhHHHHH… I swear Hades, if you ever do this to me again…!!' Between pushes, the goddess of rebirth managed to launch a tirade on Hades covering his ancestry, his personal qualities and the various things she intended to do to her husband given time and the right equipment (including, but not limited to; fire-ants, poison-tipped spears, a catapult, red-hot pokers and a good quality meat cleaver.).

'…And NAIL IT TO THE WALL!!'

Artemis gently squeezed her foot, ending her tirade. 'Ok, we need you to pant for the head; if you look down, you'll be able to see the baby emerge.'

The goddess of the plants and the Lord of the Dead managed to help Persephone into a sitting position and watched in amazement. As the goddess's body shook with exertion, a small dark head covered in flames started to emerge.

The goddess of childbirth carefully supported the head and looked up at Persephone. 'Another push and it's all over.'

Tears and sweat were now coursing down the goddess's face. But the sight of that little head somehow strengthened her. That was her baby…her little baby…

The last of her strength went into a final push.

She screamed.

But this time, another scream followed it.

'WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!'

Now that sounded good.

All Hades was capable of at that moment was staring. Any and all pithy comments totally failed him as he kept his arms wrapped around his exhausted and ecstatic wife.

That little bundle of blankets resting in Seph's arms was his child.

He had a child.

A living, breathing, loud, tiny baby boy.

A son.

His son.

He was a father.

After eight months of waiting and several hundred years of blind hope, he was finally a father.

He had helped to create that tiny little life. Pride didn't even come close to describing what he was feeling.

Persephone sighed in pure happiness and leant into her husband's arms. Despite being utterly drained of energy, she stayed awake to watch her baby boy. Her perfect little boy.

Jet black and gold flames covered his tiny head. His face looked exactly like his mother's, but with his father's light grey skin instead of deep red. She had only seen them once before he had dozed off, but his eyes were dark brown, just like hers.

Unaware of his parents' undivided attention, the baby sighed and curled up closer to his mother's chest. It would be a good few years before he would truly understand who he was.

And until then, Bremos, son of Hades and Persephone, Crown Prince of the Underworld and god of the undead, slept undisturbed under his parents' gaze.

TBC

Melora: Ok, what's wrong now?

Hades: …I'm a daddy…

Melora: Wait a sec…Are you crying?

Hades: No I am not!

Melora: You are! Aww, c'mere!

Hades: Get off me, you insane madwoman.