A/N: Hello, my dear readers, I know I said I'd update in May, but I decided to give y'all a little treat for reaching the halfway point of the hiatus, and for all the lovely reviews from newcomers like Zabbie Q and Ebony Dove! Like I said, reviews are the best for motivating me to write ;)

Special thanks to Zabbie Q for being such a wonderful friend and reviewer! Please check out her stories! All of them. Seriously, go check her out they are so wonderful!

Oh and before I forget, please check out "When Hel Breaks Loose" a fanfic here on the Hercules' page. H'ckaHighwater is a relatively new author and certainly deserves more attention to their fic. If you like Greek and Norse Myths with a little Hercules' twist I highly recommend looking at that fic!

It's my own desire

It's my own remorse

Help me to decide

Help me make the most Of freedom and of pleasure

Nothing ever lasts forever

Everybody wants to rule the world

Everybody Want to Rule the World, by Tears for Fears

He was such an idiot.

Damn her, damn him- oh damn it all to here!

Hades stormed inside his office and threw the large stone map in the center of the room into the adjacent wall. Sending the marble figurines flying all across the room. Some of them were nothing but blackened soot as they made contact with the floor, save for a broken off arm or head if they managed to survive the full impact that rocked the room to its core.

Even the dark spiky chandelier that hung above all suffered the same fate as Hades' flames reached its metallic structure and began to twist and melt with the rest of the room. The god didn't care, he just let the flames roll off of him as the pieces and his life's work went up in smoke.

You'd think his office wouldn't have survived the last time when he had come crawling back shouting like a wounded dog, but this mess he left it in. Oh it was far worse.

He was ready to offer her anything- dammit the cosmos- heaven and earth if she asked for it, but she wanted the one ace up his sleeve- the one thing that was allowing him to keep his kingdom and not be sent to Tartarus for real. The flaming arch nemesis who threw him into the abyss! Flung down there to rot for eternity, and she was expecting him to comply?!

Hades' heavy breathing began to slow did his gait, as one particular figurine rolled out of nowhere. Persephone's little statuette though as whole as it had been as when he first crafted it had turned from its snow white color to the darkened grey that blended itself into the floor. It was a wonder how it managed to survive - much less notice it, but that was thanks in part to the red shiny ball-like object that had made it catch his eye.

Crouching down Hades picked up both items, and began to inspect them. Finding nothing of interest on the pomegranate- probably from that underworld fruit Persephone had grown and proceeded to chuck it out the window. The figurine on the other hand had quite the opposite effect.

Hades groaned, but with a snap of his fingers any errant flame in the room immediately went out and his anger with it as he stared at the aftermath of his outburst.

His infamous map of the world had been successfully rammed into the wall where a piece of it still remained; whereas, the other half of it had fallen to the ground with its last supports crumbled underneath its weight. The chandelier too was now in ruins lying in a heap on the floor thanks to the metal being exposed to such an extreme heat and had twisted into an even more diabolical shape. The little marble figurines that managed to survive were few and far between, but all of them no longer were shining white but that of ash. The very same dust that floated about the room.

He could see all of this destruction from where he stood in the center of his office.

It had been a long time since Hades had stood here, the world map having been here nearly as long as he'd been ruling the Underworld, but now it too was destroyed. Just like everything else in his existence.

Funny, the Olympus Takeover plans never caused him so many headaches until Jerkules was born, but he was still being a pain. He was dead- useless, he couldn't even intervene anymore, but even in death, the damned demigod was still causing him headache after headache. Even in a matter that he shouldn't even be involved with, but she-

Hades breathed in slowly as the feeling of exhaustion rocked him to his core as that heavy sigh issued out. His thoughts drifted back to her as it always did every time he saw her turn and leave him.

That moment back there where she had allowed him to touch her, to wipe away the tears that were falling down her face, he thought this was it. The ability to touch her without any sort of fear in her eyes and the desire she had for him to comfort her was true peace. He could still feel her skin underneath his hand, he could feel the softness. Almost like flower petals- no, exactly like them, but with warmth- warmth that rarely radiated off of any woman he had encountered.

He should have taken her right then and there. To not let his feelings for her continue to be clandestine to tell her everything. She'd be happy down here, much happier than she was currently on earth being at the demands of her mother and the whims of mortals, but how could he after she brought up the demigod?

She had become sharp with those pretty little words, the words that he had taught her to spin, but once placed would never leave her. It was simply growing inside her making her savvy and cunning, something he couldn't help but adore.

She needed to stay in the world above to figure herself out. Something that he could not do for her, much to his distaste, but that was okay. He'd gain her trust somehow, he just had to be patient, and trust him, he could do patience.

And maybe it was a good idea to practice that patience once again, considering his growing attraction with the goddess.

Every encounter he had with her, even if the latest one was unexpected, he knew that his desire- no his need for her to be beside him was growing. Despite it all, he still wanted her. Could he call it love? At least out loud he wouldn't say he's in love. That would just be bad for his image as the dread dark lord of the dead.

But would she have him?

All those subtle hints and clever wordplay was not getting to her and if anything she paid no heed to any of her natural impulses. Then again she wasn't too privy on the subject of such things. Even if he decided to give in to her wish and set Hercules go would she still be keen on the idea of allowing him to continue to visit her and attempt to woo her?

The only reason it seemed that she tolerated his presence was due to her trying to win the game, so what then? Hercules, no matter how much he despised him was his last tether to Persephone. If he gave up his wild card she'd have no need to allow the visits to continue and she'd tell her mother who has been seeing her and she'd probably overreact and would have Zeus lock him and- and she could claim her daughter's actions were because he forced her to- tricked her- whatever!

And who would be left in the dust? He would.

Hades found his stare drifting back to the world map he had destroyed. Maybe, it was a good thing he destroyed it.

He had tried- desperately tried to conquer the cosmos, but all of it blew in his face. Then when the Fates gave him a do-over with Persephone there and their relationship budding, he still chose power. It was no surprise she still couldn't trust him, she had put so much trust in him and he just threw it away. He used her in a way that was insulting to her intelligence, but now that he chooses her, she does not choose him. She wants him to fess up and be good when she can't even do the same. It was ironic in a sense, but one that he would not let go unnoticed. That and her now soot-colored statuette that was resting on his palm.

So she wants him to be on the straight and narrow? Maybe he should remind her that lying was not an attribute that contributed to that particular moral standard.

But she had gotten very good at it, Hades grinned wickedly.

If he was ever to continue in his takeover the cosmos bit, he needed her planning alongside him. If there was anything to take away with how clever she'd gotten it was how ingenious she could get when the two of them worked together, this time there would be no slip-ups.

"Uh, Mr. Hades?" Thanatos' voice piped up from where he sat cross-legged on the ceiling.

"Jeez Louise, kid," Hades visibly flinched at the sound of the godling's voice, but in his silent panic made the figurine in his hand disappear in a puff of smoke. "If you're gonna keep pulling that, I'm putting a permanent bell on you."

"Don't you know you're not supposed to see death coming- WAH!" Thanatos' snappy comeback turned into a yelp of surprise as he felt Hades' smoky grip pull him by the ankle to the ground.

"Ow!" Thanatos wheezed upon hitting terra firma. "Can ya give a guy a warning when you do that?" "Hello? Blindfold?!" He sat up in a rage.

"Hey, look," Hades slipped off the blindfold in one quick motion. "Problem solved," the god let the cloth fall on the boy's lap. "Any other particularly difficult problems you need me to look at?"

Thanatos gave his boss a deadpan look, but heavily sighed in defeat. "Hermes came by while you were…" he hesitated, but chose to say nothing. "Look, Mr. Zeus wants to see you."

"Ha, he can't make me go to Olympus," Hades began to walk away. He needed a nap and that was something he was going to get after not sleeping since the Competition.

"Hermes didn't mention Olympus, he just said the place, and that you'd know what he's talking about," Thanatos shrugged.

Hades froze. His hand that was holding on to the edge of the door slowly fell as the flames on his head flared for the slightest of seconds.

"Did he?" The god turned around slowly and eyed the winged god who was standing there looking at his boss expectantly.

The red eyes that stared back at him were killer for any mortal and morbidly unsettling to most of the gods, but to Hades, he still saw that confused little toddler who cried every time some mortal creature dared look into his eyes and fell down dead.

"Yeah, oh! Hermes also said… also said…" Thanatos drifted off as he tried to remember what else his ex-mentor said, but then he couldn't figure out which mentor said what. "… Rome? Now Hiring? Sorry everyone keeps brain dumping me info today. Like did you know there's something called winter? Cuz I had no idea."

"I get the picture," Hades groaned as a fresh mug of black coffee appeared in his hand. Looks like no nap today. "You do the tallying with the boys?" He took a long sip and surveyed the room, somewhat surprised that his two imps were nowhere to be seen.

"… Yes," Thanatos flashed him a weak smile.

Hades grumbled something unintelligible before downing the remaining contents in his mug. "I'd fire you if I had someone else to do this."

"I love you too."

"Oi, you are not the person I want to hear that from," Hades pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright gotta blaze."

"But you do want to hear it?" Thanatos snorted at his own joke, but suddenly felt someone cuffing him on the back of the head. "Fine, fine," he grumbled. "I'm going back to work, sheesh!"

There was a place in the land of Ancient Greece that was the borderline for three kingdoms, and of these three kingdoms, they were given to the sons of Kronos after dethroning their corrupt father and restored peace to the cosmos.

But to choose which son received what land, the three brothers decided it would be up to the Fates to see who got what. Zeus as the leader of three, the same one who gathered his brothers to usurp their wicked father did not want to unrightfully claim the sky, the greatest and grandest of the three. He decided this for the sole reason that he wanted to give his brothers a fair chance. It was not his fault that Mother Rhea decided to hide him of all his other siblings, and so he decided that if he was not the best of the three to rule the unstable cosmos, the Fates would make sure of it.

So the fate of these three brothers all rested in a game of lots. Whosoever pulled the longest would rule the sky, the second the seas, and the shortest lot would receive the Underworld.

And as the Fates would have it, three brothers gained their very own kingdom that day, two happy with their choices while the last one who drew the shortest lot- was not.

It would not surprise you, dear reader, who had drawn the shortest lot, and what has happened to him ever since then.

But why do I start off explaining this little story? Well to answer your question, dear reader, is that the location this story had taken place was where Hades was headed now.

It had been many years since the last time the three had met together, the last time as Hades recalled was when Zeus and Poseidon were trying to win a particularly gorgeous nereid, he honestly had no idea why he was summoned, but it was a waste of time watching the two go all out to see who'd get her.

In the end, no one did.

A prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi announced that the son of Thetis would be greater than his father and after that the two never even looked at her, and instead opted to marry her off to some brave fool. It was a good thing they did, though, considering the child that was born became the second greatest hero of all time: Achilles.

The whole situation was annoying to Hades considering there were more pressing matters in the cosmos than to see who's gonna do who, and these days that was all the meetings were ever for.

Figures.

On an island not far from the main land of Greece there stood a mountain that stretched to the sky. It would have been an idyllic sight had it not been for the smaller formation with an open jagged maw that concealed the river of lava that flowed between its cracks. It had once always spewed lava from its mouth, but with the constant waves breaking upon it, the lava had cooled down and began to harden, but still one could see the rivers of fire that were flowing along the cracks of the island.

This was where the three kingdoms met and it was the one place where the sons of Kronos met on equal ground.

Already his two brothers were waiting for him, Hades noted as he ascended from below, and they did not look one bit happy

Zeus and Poseidon refused to look at each other and from where Hades could see as he continued to climb the steep hill, he could see that the both of them wore matching frowns.

"What did I miss?" Hades relished watching the frowns on his brother's faces deepen at the mere sight of him. They invited him too, you'd think they'd expect him?

The lord of the dead inched toward the side where his and Poseidon's kingdoms met, and waved exaggeratedly at him. "Hey, Po-po- how's Amphitrite? Bet she got a real kick out of what you said at Cloud 33 about the whole Demeter thing, right? Slept in the dog house- sorry, dog fish house?"

"Why, you-" Poseidon's normally teal face became a deep purple as he lifted up his trident to strike him, but could not as the sacred accords that were set in place made sure that the brothers could not cross into each other's lands without being invited. This made sure no fighting would occur between the brothers, but that did not mean taunting was against the rules and it was that small detail that the flame-haired brother was using to his full advantage.

Hades smirked and only shot his brother a wink before turning to his oldest brother. "Or what about you, Zeusy? How's the kids? Can ya still keep track of all of them? I hate to brag, but it's a good day-"

"Hades, you just arrived don't start!" Zeus roared and with him the clouds above them began to roll with thunder.

"We did not gather together to quarrel," Zeus eyed both his brothers, and Hades couldn't help but feel that he wasn't just talking about him. "It has been decades since we last met, but now I have called you together, my brothers so we may settle our disputes. In whatever form they are in."

"He's talking about you," Poseidon loudly whispered to Hades, only for the god to respond with an exasperated groan.

Gods he had a dork for a brother.

"But first, Hades," the way Zeus seethed out his name brought a small smirk upon the aforementioned's face.

And a schmuck.

"Yes, Zeusy?"

"What are we to do with you…" Zeus shook his head in disappointment.

"I got a few ideas- one of them leaving this mock trial you're trying to set up."

"I say we chain him down where we imprisoned the Titans," Poseidon huffed. "Let the new blood take care of the Underworld."

"Uh-uh-uh," Hades wagged a cautionary finger. "You forget who helped you make that prison, bro-bro. Who's to say I won't break out? I got the Titans out, I sure as hell can do the same."

"By some miracle you got them out," Zeus reminded him. "You may have carved out the hole in the ground all those years ago, but you couldn't penetrate three gods' powers."

"Yeah," Poseidon chimed in. "You were scared of getting a little wet and waited for the seas to part! Darn, basic gravitational laws making my job look easy," the sea god muttered under his breath.

Hades couldn't stop the cold smirk that twisted his long face. "Scared, Zeus? All it took me was centuries of biding my time to get around both you and Po-po's power. Made you two look like chumps when I showed up at your front door. Didn't think your baby brother had it in you, huh?"

"I never thought you, the same brother who helped me imprison the Titans would be the same one who released them," the look of disappointment that flashed on Zeus' face made the smirk on Hades' face die.

"It happens when you don't got any reason to stay loyal," Hades bitterly snapped.

"Hades, you could have just said you were unhappy," Zeus scolded him in such a way that sounded like he was talking to a son. "It is a king's duty to listen to those beneath him."

Hades felt his fingers itch as red flames sprung from his clutched fists. Where were Pain and Panic when he needed them. "I did! You were just too swept up in Paradise to realize there's such a thing as hell. You! The guy who won't even let me have full say in MY Underworld! Weren't you the god who appointed your three sons to judge? Or the one who won't let me get into Elysium? Or made …" Hades stopped mid-sentence.

He'd be here another year listing all the reasons he hated Zeus, but his king and brother would never see his point of view, and frankly he didn't want him to understand.

"Yeah, but did you have to destroy half the countryside to get back at Zeus?" Poseidon piped up. "Things were in chaos trying to fix everything after the mess you left it in."

"It proved my point," Hades cooly replied, having finally regained his composure. "I showed that even Mr. High and Mighty can be taken down, and I may have caused a little ripple effect in the process." His eyes shifted towards his now squirming fish brother.

"Are you threatening me, Hades?" Zeus squared himself up.

Hades simply rolled his eyes as he continued to pick the dirt from underneath his nails. "Oh by no means, babe," he waved off. "I got a different sort of merger in the works, but let's just say, you're not in the position to tick me off," his eyes rose to meet the piercing periwinkle eyes of his brother.

"I got your kid, unyielding patience, and who knows, maybe, just maybe, you'll need me when the next little uprising happens, and believe me when I say: It. Is. Coming… but not from me," Hades grinned watching the hardened scowl of Zeus falter.

"And who knows, I might offer you a little help if you manage to sway me. Before another brother decides he wants your digs too."

Poseidon could feel his heart drop in his chest, his gaze never leaving Hades' cool form. How could he possibly know? Had Apollo? No, the boy was trustworthy, but if Hades should side with Zeus there would be no way for him to win. He didn't want the Olympian throne, never had, but after how well the cosmos were faring he felt strong leadership was required in making sure Greece didn't topple.

He'd seen the mortals fight off the Persians years ago, but who knows how long it would last until a more powerful and united empire took over Greece? Greece was almost a good metaphor for their gods, each one loyal to themselves like the city states, but once the opportunity arised, they would always try and outdo the other in a show of dominance. Hence the new war between Athens and Sparta, a civil war that would end in one superior city, and what then? An even more broken and unstable country?

Apollo saw it all on his sun chariot and it was no wonder why the sun god had approached him after that whole debacle with Kore and her bid for the Underworld throne. He had seen what was shifting in the populace and all thanks in part to the weak leadership Zeus had been displaying and had thought up a plan to depose him.

Poseidon had agreed after listening to Apollo's plan, having been fed up with his brother's missteps- both of them. He cared for them both, but with their attentions on things that wasn't there kingdom there needed to be new leadership instated, and he was more than happy to hear that Apollo was interested in wooing Kore so the two of them could become the next ruler of the gods.

With her, she'd be a powerful ally, and a good opponent to Athena should his hated rival side with her father, but Hades would always be watching, biding his time. Just like he was now with his ability to read the room and see what made gods tick.

He was cunning, and not in a way that made the sea god any bit comfortable. He did love him despite his shady dealings, and evil intentions, but Hades could always be counted on to be the most honest. Perhaps not the most loyal, so why would the lord of the dead suddenly offer fealty to his hated brother? Though he tried to disguise his offer of loyalty to Zeus in the form of a warning; something wasn't adding up.

"Hades, I know what you've been up to these past few days," Zeus admonished suddenly. The change in topic was not lost on Hades, though.

It was why he was called here in the first place wasn't it?

The lord of the dead never even flinched, holding on to that mask of innocence. "Oh you mean the job you so humbly bestowed upon me? Yeah, it needs work with me being gone for two months. It helps when a certain little Demi-brat decided to knock someone into the abyss, but hey, who keeps track with all these current events?"

"Hades, not that, I mean the other thing preoccupying your time."

"Other? Yeah, I don't think I'm catching ya," Hades shrugged. "I've been way too busy for anything else. Ya hear about that Sisyphus guy? Yeah, he held Nyx's kid hostage for a while. Let's just say I'm keeping him touring with the rolling stones for eternity."

Once again Poseidon watched his king shake his head impatiently.

Uh-oh Zeus got some sand on this guy.

"Oh, what he do, Zeus?" Poseidon asked, his gaze flitting at Hades as the god continued to brood with his crossed arms and ever increasing annoyance. He looked tired and like he had a thousand other places to be other than here, but Zeus' odd cryptic game was one that meant there was more to what was going on.

The thunder god began to chuckle as if someone had just told him a neat little joke. "Well it seems Cupid has claimed another victim, isn't that right, Hades?"

Hades snorted. "Puh-lease, tell me another joke. If you don't, I got one for you: THIS MEETING!"

"Wait, really? Oh who is it?" Poseidon sucked in an excited breath, his eyes glittered at the thought that his baby brother finally found himself someone to settle down with. Maybe that would finally cure the curmudgeon's foul moods.

"It's Eris isn't it? Or are you branching out to other Pantheons?" Poseidon gave his brother a sneaky wink much to the growing embarrassment of the seething lord.

"No- no- no, I'm not, oi vey," Hades began to flare up in frustration, but he attempted to compose himself. "I'm a bachelor to the end, kapiche? You know me- too hot to handle."

"Oh, so you wouldn't mind if a certain goddess of spring decided to marry Apollo? It's all the buzz on Olympus these days," Zeus' grin widened as his brother became a torrent of flames. "In fact I heard Apollo's already picking drapes."

Flaming freaking shist.

Use your imagination he used every curse in the book be it Greek, English, or Yiddish. Unfortunately, the author of this is too cowardly to recount it all for fear that younglings are reading this.

"That's what I thought," Zeus nodded in triumph.

"You can't prove anything," Hades snapped. "I've only seen her once when the babe tried to take my kingdom that day on Cloud 33. That's it. I never even met her until that day."

"I know for a fact that that is a lie," Zeus thundered. "You've been seeing her these past few days, a couple of the nymphs spotted you, y'know."

"Your bed warmers, huh? Hera would be so proud, big bro," Hades snided, not even bothering to hide the venom in his voice.

Zeus bit his tongue from revealing that it was not the nymphs who told him, but one of his children."Where I got my information is none of your business, baby brother, and all you need to know is that I know about your secret meetings with her. I can only imagine your intentions or the nature of your visits, but as her father-"

"-Whoa- whoa, hey, no, NO. Okay, we are not," Hades movements became erratic and yet so fluid as his hands rose and shook, but his flames couldn't help but show his rising anxiety as they grew and fluctuated in color. "Completely honorable intentions over here, you two should try it sometime, but wait you two are already taken aren't you? Does that say anything about yourselves or am I just stretching it-"

"Don't turn this around on us," Poseidon whined, bouncing up and down in excitement. "Give us details! She's sweet isn't she? Pretty too-"

"Yeah, yeah, she's cute," Hades cut him off, "but that's a personal matter I'm not sharing with either of you, bozos."

"Oh come on, not even a little detail?" Poseidon gave his brooding brother a wry grin.

"Oh shut up, will ya?" Hades shot Poseidon a dark glare.

"What? I just never figured she's your type, but then again you do have a thing for blondes, don't you, you old rascal?"

"Oi, you're such a freak," Hades simmered. He briefly wondered what was worse- that his two brothers knew about Persephone or that they were going to use that information to relentlessly tease him for it… or worse. They had what he'd like to call: leverage unless he played his cards right.

"So Hades it seems we each have a bargain," Zeus harrumphed, interrupting the flaming god from his thoughts. "My son for my daughter. Maybe that will give you some reason to be happy. After all, you'll finally have the wife you have been in want for."

Hades felt the flames on his head flare into a blinding white as his fists balled up in an attempt stop himself from lunging at the god. "Like I said," he mustered through the rage that was building. "She's cute and nothing more."

"Oh, come now," Zeus chuckled. "I think there's more to it than that. We saw you two that day before you left. You back tracked and kissed her hand, your own competitor. I thought nothing of it, but my source gave me something to think about that little scene, and the fact that you visit her… One can't help but imagine that your visitations are of the wooing sort. Stubborn, huh?"

"Oh I know that," Poseidon shook his head. "Amphitrite was stubborn, that's why I had a fin-man. Delphinus was the best, your two imps wouldn't help much. Cuz, hey, chicks dig animals- up top, Zeus."

When Zeus didn't high-five Poseidon's waiting palm, the fish god slowly lowered his hand and pretended it didn't happen.

"I can't believe this. Look, I ain't spilling any of my intentions-"

"Even though you keep giving out little hints? I know you want to marry her."

"You what?! Oh barnacles, you're in love!"

"Alright, who the hell's your source?" Hades turned on Zeus, choosing to ignore Poseidon's brazen statement. "You know way too much from a simple nymph."

"It matters not, Hades. But what I do know is that I finally have something that you want and you have something I want. My son means everything to me, Kore would be happy with you. Maybe not now but in time-"

"She's not. Yours. To give," Hades enunciated through gritted teeth. His face was in a deep set scowl, but the warning in his voice was enough to get Zeus to hesitate not expecting his brother to show his true colors so blatantly.

"… So how has your little meetings gone with her?" Zeus grinned in a way that could have been considered cruel. "She keeps turning you away, hmm? Keeps ignoring your advances and none the wiser for your true intentions with her- isn't that all correct?"

"That's my business, and I'm not having you interfere in the life of a daughter you didn't care for. So if you please-," Hades began to turn away, but Zeus would have none of it.

"You can't leave now Hades," Zeus' command made the god freeze in his tracks. "I can still punish you for trying to usurp me-"

"Fine go ahead, I don't give a damn anymore," Hades snapped. "I'm not giving up your kid even if you chain me in Tartarus. He made a deal with me for that mortal's life, and I find Jerkules' soul to be of far more value than her's."

"I'm being generous, Hades," Zeus reminded him. "Kore will not be available forever, in fact…"

"Oi," the god spun around, "don't you-"

"I'll decree that if she doesn't choose to marry by the end of the week she will take the vow of chastity, and I don't think you're interested in such a woman, hmm, Hades?"

"Zeus," Poseidon struck the rock beneath him with his trident. The wind immediately began to pick up and the seas with it. "You can't be serious."

"I am," Zeus declared in finality. The clouds above him rumbled with power, reminding both his brother's who was in charge here. "Here I was ready to offer my daughter's hand, but he slapped it away."

"I'll marry Persephone without having to trade your son's life, that is a guarantee," Hades exclaimed.

"She doesn't want you Hades," Zeus reminded him. "She's made that clear from what I've seen. I mean she even told you to never come back and see her- twice. Who's to say she ever had a-"

"Shut up!" Hades became a column of flame. "Okay?! I get it. I know, I screwed things up with her, but I can convince her to change her mind."

"Fine, but I'll give you this counter-offer since you won't allow Persephone to be spoken for. If she chooses to accept your proposal- Fates rest her soul," Zeus' eyes rose to the sky. "I will allow that for my son, you will not receive any such punishment for the Titan takeover and…" Zeus paused. "… I will speak on your behalf when Demeter protests."

Hades couldn't help but consider that offer before a smirk snaked its way across his face. "And the dowry?"

"Hades!" Poseidon stared dumbfounded at his brother. "You were just there protecting her honor-"

"Hey, I gotta get something out of this so-"

"How about a wife?" Poseidon shouted, but Hades chose to ignore him.

"- I want Elysium."

"I would never give you the Paradise for Heroes," Zeus crossed his arms in defiance.

"Alright, then give it to Persephone," Hades shrugged. "I want the Underworld in its entirety like it was promised to me when we split the lands, and if you can't trust me, you can at least trust her. Her name- my name- who the hell cares as long as it means you're out of the Underworld picture."

"That is reasonable, Zeus," Poseidon mused. "Kore could be counted on to make sure no heroes were sent Tartarus."

"But I think you're forgetting the purpose of this little gamble, baby brother."

"Oh? Sorry I was about to make you add that Hera's gotta support- bless it- whatever the hell she does- just y'know without having to show up to said wedding otherwise you're gonna find some way to annul it, kapiche?"

"Any other requests Hades, or are you just feeling generous today?" Poseidon deadpanned.

"Yeah, you wanna provide the catering?"

Poseidon groaned, but could not say anything because he walked into that one.

"Now, Hades, don't count this as a victory just yet," Zeus cooly warned his brother. "If the week ends and she marries someone else, you will regardless relinquish your hold on my son's soul."

"Oh yeah? How you gonna con me into that little wager, Zeus?"

"I can make this harder for you, I can tell Demeter that you've been visiting her, and she will make sure you never see her again."

Hades ground his teeth in frustration.

He was cornered.

Damnit, Demeter had lots of friends be it Nemesis or even Mr. Thunder bolt over there now. He'd make sure the task would be impossible and he needed as much time as possible. He wanted time for this, she needed time, but what choice did he have at this moment?

Oi vey, he better come up with a plan Beta if she says no.

"Fine, I'll take your bet. You get your son back in one week be it with my nuptials…"

"Or not," Poseidon finished since, Hades refused to even consider that possibility.

"You know, now that I think about it a week is far too generous, and far too long for the matters of the heart. Let's make it three days," Zeus decided, and couldn't help but enjoy watching his brother's face twist into rage. It was fun using his brother's tactics against him, he had to thank Hermes for that little helm-trick.

"What?!" Hades roared.

"Oh gods, you two are still tadpoles," Poseidon grumbled mostly to himself as he put his face in his hands.

"Afraid, she'll say no, Hades?" Zeus grinned triumphantly.

Hades felt himself sneer. "Trust me, I'll make her an offer she can't refuse."

"Then we have an accord?"

"Alright before we shake let me get this straight- Get Persephone to accept my proposal in one week-

"Three days, Hades," Zeus reminded him.

"-Fine, three days," Hades spat in disdain, "and if she does we get our blessing from your lovely wife, Elysium is given to her and you won't let a word slip to Demeter or anybody be they god, mortal, or what have you about my intentions and should the mother of the bride be against it- you'll deal with her. Oh and all my crimes against humanity and you will be wiped away."

"From history as well," Zeus nodded. "But if the time runs out and she has refused your proposal, regardless, you will return my son to me in the flesh. No Elysium, no name change, and your crimes will finally be put in to place."

Hades clicked his tongue in annoyance, "And if I don't?"

"Persephone as you choose to call my daughter will rule Elysium, and you will forever be reminded of your failure and watch her live while in the arms of another."

Hades felt himself gulp at that change.

Damn, this was really getting out of hand.

That was far worse than being left to rot in the River Phlegethon. The reminder of what could have been would weigh on him far more than anything else, but what about Persephone? It could act as a double-edged sword if she becomes unhappy with her lot.

"That sounds more like a punishment to her than to me. If she don't choose me you're gonna find her mother's gonna absolutely adore that her kid is gonna be next door neighbors with me," Hades sarcastically quipped.

"She is equally in trouble," Zeus exclaimed. "Thanks to her she created an enormous amount of collateral damage and now Sparta and Athens, the two most powerful city states of Greece, are at war."

Hades blissfully sighed, "What a babe, huh?"

"Zeus, I gave her the power to move Underworld waters," Poseidon protested. "It should be me-"

"Poseidon, you did what you deemed best. Persephone, on the other hand, should not have engaged the situation like she did. She should have waited for the guidance of Athena like was planned. Even now many areas are still recovering and her relations with the mortals is currently dismal, no one wants her in Greece. We all just have to find a way to compromise."

"Funny, you actually sound like you want me to sweep her away to the Underworld."

"If I can get rid of the both of you, the better," Zeus huffed. "Two birds with one stone, I say."

"Zeus, she's your tadpole, you can't possibly-"

"Okay, I accept on the condition you remove her crimes too," Hades cut off Poseidon.

"Hades, this is barnacles!"

"Hey, devil's in the details, Po-po. I'm not letting this one slip away," he wagged his finger and shot him a cool grin, but the fish god couldn't help but take note of the look of fear that was hiding behind his brother's golden orbs.

"Then the deal is struck."

Zeus and Hades hands met on the border of their two lands. With one powerful shake Zeus' aura and Hades' flames shined ever brighter as their promise was stronger than any oath sworn upon the River Styx.

Once they released their grip on each other, Zeus genuinely smiled at his baby brother. "Three days, Hades," he patted his brother's shoulder. "From tomorrow once the sun sets on the third day it is done. Do not forget."

"Oh, trust me I won't," Hades smirked. "And don't expect an invitation to the wedding!"

"Then all I can wish you is that you'll finally be satisfied," Zeus exclaimed almost mournfully as he watched his brother disappear in a column of flames.

"Thank you, for coming, Poseidon," Zeus beamed, turning to his last remaining brother. "I can always count on you. Do not forget the meeting tonight, though. We may know what is to happen on account of my son, but we'll keep it secret and play the part."

"Uh, sure thing, bro," Poseidon backed away from Zeus, refusing to make eye contact. "I'll see you at the Olympian meeting tonight."

"Of course, see you then."

An oncoming wave broke upon the stone ridge Poseidon had been standing on and once the wave receded the god was nowhere to be seen, leaving Zeus alone on the inclined plane.

The king of the gods sighed. Two angered brothers, a war brewing in the country that worshipped him, and the cosmos itself was rearranging. Now was when he needed his brothers more than ever, but perhaps it was time to prepare if another plot against him arose.

After all, a king without allies is how a king becomes dethroned.

A/N: Before y'all say you called it, yeah its a fanfic. But in terms of how the story has gone with Persy raising hell it was actually a pretty common thing in Greek Myth to marry off or get rid of a goddess who had become too troublesome. Except Eris, but she's Hera's daughter so she could get away with it.

I mentioned Thetis earlier in the chap, while she was powerful for a nereid Zeus knew she needed to get immediately hitched to avoid having the child go through the usurp their father theme. Metis, Athena's mom had the same prophecy, so Zeus had to get rid of her, and in some myths she was the one who helped him usurp their father by making and serving the potion that made Kronos vomit his kids. She was the titaness of craftiness and good planning, you bet Zeus didn't want her to pose a threat.

Now Thetis isn't the best example but one other goddess who was forced to be married off b/c they were too powerful or posed a threat was Aphrodite. As you all may know when she showed up Hera was all like, "Yo, Zeus if she don't marry someone there's gonna be an all-out war for her." And there was. Every god wanted to marry her, so Zeus had to do something otherwise everyone would go Trojan War on her.

Athena and Artemis were Zeus' favorite daughters, and being a favorite meant loyalty, so its never really a wonder to why they weren't forced into anything, they wouldn't turn on their dad… entirely.

Lol and yes both Po-po and Zeus used animals to marry their respective queens. Zeus tricked Hera into marrying him by disguising himself as a crow and to escape embarrassment that came out of that venture.