He guys! I'm back. Sorry this chapter is so short in comparison to what I usually write but like I mentioned before, I'm trying to find the inspiration and direction for this story and it's slow going. heh heh.

ooOoo

Hades thoroughly enjoyed giving his little goddess a complete tour of his palace. She had wanted to see his whole kingdom but he'd gently pointed out that it would require them to ride horses and he didn't think she was ready for that quite yet. Her tinkling laugh made his heart skip a beat.

"No. I suppose I'm not. But will you promise to take me when I'm healed?"

Taking her hand and threading his fingers through hers he grinned, "Of course."

They had instead wandered through every single room of his very large palace and he revealed in watching her eyes light up with each room unveiled. Hades was the God of the Dead, but he was also the God of Wealth. He had taken great pride in building his palace with the finest materials that could be taken from the earth. Each room had been meticulously designed and built with Hades over seeing everything. Nothing was deemed done until he deemed it to be perfect and Hades was a perfectionist. Fortunately he had had millions of souls eager to work off their sentence instead of being sent to Tartas.

They had stopped in the grand hall that could host the entire population of Olympus comfortably and Hades watched Persephone stare up at the mural of the stars on the ceiling.

"Hades this is stunning. You're whole home is stunning. I've never seen anything as beautiful as this palace." Looking back over her shoulder at him she smiled, "You better not show my father or he'll try to demand your palace too. I'm afraid I don't have anything to give him in exchange for that."

Hades laughed and moved to gently take her into his arms, being mindful of her sore back. Reaching down, he pressed their foreheads together.

"No one wants to come down to the underworld much less tour my palace. I think we're safe."

"Well it's their loss. Truly." Hades watched her look back around at the marble statues, large silk tapestries and drapes and mural paintings around the hall. "You have such an eye for beautiful things."

He hummed quietly. Yes, he supposed he did have an eye for beautiful things. After all, the queen of all beauty currently resided in his arms. She looked back up at him and he watched a blush stain her cheeks.

"What is it?"

Reaching down to brush his nose against hers he murmured, "You out shine this whole building Persephone and everything in it."

She grinned shyly and her blush deepened even as she boldly whispered, "Please kiss me Hades."

He didn't need a second bidding. Capturing her sweet lips with his own, he poured all of his love for this little goddess into that kiss. She sighed happily into his mouth and he swallowed it, eager to see what other sounds he could coax out of her. It really wasn't fair that the monster had had his fill of her body and Hades had yet to get a full taste. Trying to remember the welts on her back, he deepened the kiss. Gently swiping his tongue against her lips, he groaned as she opened her mouth and let him in to taste her. She tasted like honey. Which was absurd all things considered, seeing as how she hadn't eaten honey since arriving here, but it didn't even occur to him to question it. After all, he found everything about this goddess intoxicating. Why wouldn't she taste like honey?

The heat between them had grown to the point where Hades was very close to pushing her against the wall and run his hands over every inch of her body when a voice interrupted them.

"Forgive me your Highness, but the Lady Hecate sent me to fetch you for lunch."

Hades pulled away and growled, "Of course she did. That woman is going to be a menace until we're married."

Persephone giggled as Hades looked over at the shade standing there ringing his hands nervously.

"Yes yes. Tell her we'll be there in a moment."

The shade bowed low and scurried out of the room. He turned back to see Persephone gazing up at him adoringly, her pretty pink lips swollen from his kisses. By the Styx she looked good enough to eat and Hades really wanted to say to hell with it all and take her right there. She seemed to read his mind because she smiled a rather coy smile.

"I wouldn't wish to worry the Lady Hecate so we should head for lunch." Hades froze as she reached up to whisper in his ear, "However, you did show me you private chambers so there's nothing stopping me from visiting you a bit later when she's otherwise preoccupied."

Hades felt a shiver run down his spine and heat pooled low in his stomach at her words. He growled and captured her lips again. He only pulled away when he needed oxygen.

Pressing his forehead to hers he grumbled, "Damn it little one. I was doing my best to be honorable and wait until after we were married."

She giggled softly and reached up to nuzzle the underside of his jaw, "I think it's only fair seeing as Aidoneus has already has his fun."

Hades froze and pulled back to look at her in shock. "It… it spoke to you?"

She nodded with a sweet smile on her face. "Yes. When he saw the marks on my back. He told me that he'd never hurt me like that."

Hades stared at her for a long moment while she searched his eyes. It had never occurred to him that the monster he had created to kill the titans would be able to speak, much less be capable of gentleness and kindness. To even go so far as to tell her that he'd never hurt her specifically… well. At least he wouldn't have to worry about the monster in his shadow when it came to the spring goddess.

"He calls me little flower."

Hades watched her smile softly and reach up to card her fingers through his hair, and he nuzzled into the touch.

"I am glad he was gentle with you."

Persephone's clear, bell like laugh rang out as she turned to head back to the dining room for lunch. Glancing over her shoulder she teasingly said, "Oh I never said he was gentle." Before gliding through the doors, leaving Hades to wonder just what the hell had happened between the goddess and his monster last night.