Proserpine was in love. She knew it in her heart. Pluto had done more than save her life. He had stolen her heart. When they got back to the palace she had immediately crashed. While she slept, Pluto had filled all the empty rooms near her with anything she could want. She sat in the mini library. It was filled with adventure stories, romance, mystery, and even gardening books.
She stood and walked through the next doorway. It was filled with musical instruments, each made with precious metals and obsidian and inset with precious stones. Proserpine walked to the next room.
Huskies, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Australian Shepherds milled around. They yelped with delight when they saw her, knocking her over and covering her with kisses. She laughed uncontrollably, trying to protect her mouth. She sat and played with them for what seemed like hours.
Once they were exhausted, she stood and started exploring again. Another room was an artist's studio. Yet another was an art gallery. So far it had only a couple pictures and statues; all depicting her. Proserpine smiled. Pluto was going way out of his way. The next room over was her bedroom.
She walked in. There was fresh bread and butter on a plate on the dresser, but there was also a doorway. It had strands of glittering emeralds and pearls over the doorway. She left the bread there, vowing to eat it once she saw what was through this new doorway. She walked through, gems brushing her face, and gasped.
It was a greenhouse. Somehow, Pluto had found a way to bring sunlight into the room. He had also brought fresh, clean, beautiful surface air with him. The enormous room was filled with gorgeous plants.
In the middle, tables were lined up, all surface area covered by pots of flowers, mint, and other herbs. Trees and rose bushes lined the walls. By the doorway, there were two beautiful jacarandas, bursting with blooms.
"Do you like it?"
She whirled around. Pluto had come in through the doorway soundlessly. He was smiling at her shyly. She smiled back.
"It's beautiful. Thank you. For everything."
She studied him. His shyness was wearing off with her happiness. Why had she never noticed how handsome he was? He was handsome enough that she realized she had gotten tunnel vision and was ignoring the plants.
She walked over to him and embraced him. He started slightly, then put his arms around her. Proserpine breathed in his scent. Pine, musk, and just a hint of mystery. She adored it. She would have stayed forever in his arms, but a dead soldier ran in and chittered like a bat.
"I'm sorry my dear, but I have a visitor. I'll see what they want and come back."
He walked out with the soldier. Proserpine followed him to the doorway, then turned back. She glanced at the bread, then wolfed it down. She threw herself onto her bed and squealed into her pillow. She sat up, then snuck after Pluto. She had just hidden herself behind a column in the throne room when Mercury walked in.