Chapter Twenty
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths!
Holy cats you guys, can you believe we're 18 reviews away from 200? Thank you guys so much! From the bottom of my heart, it means so much to me!
Just a friendly reminder that I will be on vacation from the 10th of November to the 15th as I will be in Paris, France! And then, starting the 21st of November I will be on hiatus for the holiday season. I will still be writing, but probably not able to update as frequently if at all.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Awww! It's a chaos trio that'll only grow when they meet Ben! :D
danifan3000: I honestly don't know how Zeus became the God of Law when honestly it would have made more sense for it to be Hades.
AmeythstDragon14: Yay! Exactly, what the pregnant lady wants, the pregnant lady gets! But yeah poor Elle! And poor Ariel and Eric! Hopefully she'll be okay! :D
twilightgirl587: I mean Hades keeps asking for Ben to have a DNA test to confirm he's Belle and Beast's kid, one of these days it might turn out that he's not lol
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Persephone sighed as she walked through her mother's fields a couple of weeks after the excitement in Auradon City with Princess Elle's birth, her fingers gently running over her stomach. As the days grew closer and closer to her own due date, her mother insisted that she do nothing that would stress her out.
That meant no chores, no toiling in the fields, nothing that might cause the baby harm. Persephone understood of course but could have done without the nymphs constantly asking her if she needed anything. Then again, maybe it was practice for motherhood? Regardless it was still rather irritating. Then again, so was still being pregnant.
Don't complain though, it could be worse, she told herself as her mind went back to Ariel, Eric, and Elle. The poor dear…not even on this Earth for weeks and already needing to undergo surgery…
Eric, to his credit, had immediately appointed Grimsby to be his regent as he didn't trust that he'd be able to adequately give Auradon the attention the kingdom deserved while still being able to be by his wife and daughter's side. An act the kingdom completely understood and supported if the countless gift baskets that were sent to the royal palace were any indication.
Hades had asked her to send something in his name when she had spoken to him on the portal that evening. Something Persephone hadn't expected in the slightest.
"Are you sure?" Persephone asked. "It's just…you don't usually talk to our family on this side of the bridge."
Hades sighed. "Yes, I'm sure. I don't know how much it'll be accepted, being from me, but I know if the situation was reversed…well don't want to jinx anything by finishing that sentence."
"Right," Persephone nodded. "What…what do you want to send them?"
"A note," Hades said. "It can be in your handwriting if it makes it easier but I just want to give them a note."
"And…and what would the note say?"
"Her life thread's strong. It is in no danger of being cut."
Persephone couldn't help but smile as she heard that. "I'm sure they'll be more than happy to know that. What made you decide to check?"
"Poseidon asked me when Zeus told him Elle was in surgery," Hades said. "He wanted to at least be able to reassure Triton if he couldn't talk to Ariel right away since he had said that news should be given face to face. Not over the link."
"That was sweet of him," Persephone said as she mentally wrote out the note she would give to Eric and Ariel. Oh she'd likely go through several drafts until it was perfect but at least this way, she'd have some idea of what she wanted it to say.
After all, she couldn't just write that Elle's life thread was in no danger of being cut. Okay maybe she could but that was a little too blunt for her liking.
"How's the pup?" Hades asked, pulling Persephone's attention back to the conversation at hand.
"Healthy and happy," Persephone told him. "And eager to meet their father."
"Did…did you talk to Zeus?"
"I did, with mother," Persephone nodded. "We actually talked to him today as a matter of fact."
"Today?" Hades asked, his eyes wide. "But…with everything that happened with Ariel, how were you able to get approval from—?"
"Eric stated that he'd go along with whatever we decided," Persephone said. "After that, it was a simple matter of telling Zeus that as the person who is pregnant, what I want goes. Mother was on my side and surprisingly Zeus wasn't as stubborn as I thought he'd be about the whole deal."
"That is surprising," Hades said with a small nod. "I would have thought Zeus would argue more about me being off the Isle and especially with me being on Olympus."
"Apparently the want of a pregnant Goddess is something that outvotes even the most stubborn of Gods."
"Lady Persephone? Is there anything you're wanting?" A nearby nymph asked, pulling Persephone out of her thoughts and back into the present day.
Persephone shook her head, trying to tamp down on the feeling of irritation as a spasm of pain ran up her back. It wasn't the nymph's fault, she had been under instruction from Demeter to make sure Persephone wasn't lacking for anything, but the constant questions were close to getting under her skin.
"No, thank you," she instead called back to the nymph; she figured the nymph would require a verbal answer, otherwise the nymph might have rushed to get Demeter out of fear something was wrong.
Never mind the fact that Persephone was, in fact, a Goddess.
Another small spasm of pain ran up her back and Persephone sighed, rubbing her stomach.
"You just had to make it so that mama slept in a weird position last night, didn't you?" She whispered. "Gods, I can't believe that the day will soon be here where you'll be in my arms."
There was no responding kick, only a slight cramping sensation before Persephone felt the front of her toga grow damp. Persephone knew at that moment what was occurring.
She was having her baby.
"Mother!" Persephone exclaimed as loudly as she could. Yes she could have used the mental link but she wasn't sure where her mother was and if she'd be able to get to her in time. Of course Persephone should have known never to doubt her mother, especially when one of her children needed her.
"Persephone?" Demeter asked a few minutes later, having teleported to her daughter's side. "What's wrong?"
"I…I think the baby's coming!"
To Demeter's credit, she didn't pause or ask Persephone if she was certain. What she did do, however, was turn to the nearest nymph and say, "take my daughter to Olympus. She's begun labor and I don't know how long it'll take."
"But…won't you be by her side Lady Demeter?"
"Of course I'll be by my daughter's side. However there's one person who is clearly missing from all of this and who should be here."
"And…and who is that my Lady?"
"My grandchild's father."
Persephone looked at Demeter in a look that could only be described as one part shock and one part gratitude.
"Oh no need to look at me like that Persephone," Demeter told her daughter but gave Persephone a loving smile. "You said you wanted Hades by your side when you gave birth and whatever my issues with him, I still love you. If you want your husband, then you will get your husband."
"But…won't you need Zeus?" Persephone asked, gritting her teeth as a contraction hit. "He…he reinforced the barrier after all."
"Zeus isn't the only God on Olympus, Persephone," Demeter said. "Now go! My grandchild deserves to be born on Olympus after all."
Persephone knew what Demeter was leaving unsaid: that if there were any issues like there had been with Elle's birth, the baby would not only be perfectly safe but that there would be no worry of anyone attempting to steal any ichor from them.
The nymph quickly led Persephone to a nearby chariot, something she had been halfway expecting as she knew no one would want to risk the baby by teleporting. However, she didn't expect the driver of the chariot.
"I'm the God of Medicine, you really thought I wouldn't be the one to transport you to Olympus?" Apollo asked as Persephone stared at him in shock. "Also, I'm pretty sure that with the exception of Artemis, I'm the only one with a chariot."
"Hades…has a chariot," Persephone told him.
"Not doing much good while he's on the Isle though."
"Don't…make me…hurt you." Persephone said, gritting her teeth as the nymph helped her into the chariot and made sure she was secure.
"…My apologies, that wasn't the best thing to say at this time," Apollo said. "Are you all set?"
Persephone nodded, opting to keep her mouth shut to prepare her for the ride up to Olympus. No matter what, she did not care much for heights and being alone with Apollo, even for a short period, would not encourage her want of conversation.
Labor only lessened her already deceased want to talk.
Apollo nodded and quickly got his chariot up in the air in order to make his way to Olympus. It wasn't long before Persephone reached the mountain and found herself being rushed into a private room by Poseidon.
"Your mother told me what was going on," the God of the Sea told her. "She's on the Isle right now getting Hades. He's currently instructing his minions on what to do while he's gone but he should be here shortly."
Almost as soon as Posideon finished his sentence, Demeter teleported in with Hades in tow.
"I…I thought that…the barrier was…reinforced?" Persephone asked, gritting her teeth as another contraction hit and Hades rushed to her side to help get her set up.
"It was," Demeter nodded. "Against the power of one God. For this moment, however, not even Zeus' magic could keep a worried husband or a determined mother from getting to your side. Don't worry, the barrier's still up. The combination of God magic and Fae magic makes it almost impossible for us to break it from mere teleportation."
"Good…good to know,' Persephone gritted out as another contraction wracked her body and Hades rushed over to her side. Before she could argue otherwise, he had already gotten her into the bed she'd been leaning against and was holding her hand.
"I'll go get Eileithyia," Demeter said as it became clear that Hades wasn't going to be moved from Persephone's side.
"I'll give you some privacy," Posideon nodded before resting a hand on Hades' shoulder. "Congratulations brother."
"…Thank you," Hades said after a minute. "And to you. I double checked before Demeter got me, Elle's life thread is still going strong."
"You…you checked?"
"I had a feeling I'd get the chance to tell you in person soon and wanted to be able to know for certain," Hades said. "The last thing I wanted was to give you false hope or be wrong in what I told you."
Posideon gave his older brother another smile and gently gripped his shoulder. "I'll talk to you again after Persephone gives birth," he promised. "I want to know about what you've been up to and the mortals you've seem to have adopted."
"How…how did you…?"
"Did you think…I wouldn't talk…about you?" Persephone asked, gritting her teeth as another contraction hit.
"I think there were more important things to talk about," Hades told her as Posideon quickly made his leave. "What can I do to make this easier for you?"
"Just talk," Persephone said, her voice soft as she worked to catch her breath after the contraction faded. "What's going on with the Hooks? The Smees?"
"Everyone's doing well," Hades told her. "Harriet and Jess have been acting like little Harry's guards almost non-stop and dragging Sammy into their insanity as well. Oh, Jess made a new alliance, or maybe it's just new to us. But her ally Henry's been over to the Underworld almost constantly. Steph, can you tell me when children stopped fearing me?"
"When you willingly brought in two families who needed your protection and did so without complaint," Persephone said, giving her husband a soft smile. "Face it Hades, your days as the 'Ooga booga' God of the Dead are gone. At least among the pirates."
Hades sighed. "Well…if it helps the kid get some food, I suppose I can accept the death of my rep. Jessica's been slipping Henry her lunch every time he visits."
"We'll need…to talk to…Ariel and Eric," Persephone said, groaning as another contraction hit.
"What you need to do is prepare to have a baby," Eileithyia said firmly as she came rushing through the door. "Sorry I'm late, mother was informing me about what all has happened. How far apart are your contractions?"
"Not far enough!"
"…Alrighty then," Eileithyia said as she sat down. "Looks like you're about…Persephone, you need to be ready to push. I don't know if it's the magic from Olympus or if you're just being blessed with an easy labor your first pregnancy but your baby's coming and they're coming now."
"What?" Hades asked as Eileithyia bent down to guide the baby. "Is…is that a good thing? Bad thing? Talk to me featherhead!"
"Hades, I will 'talk' to you when I don't have your child in my hands and I'm guiding them to be born," Eileithyia grit out. "Or would you like to be the one to tell my mother there was an accident during Persephone's labor and her grandchild was impacted?"
"…I'll be quiet," Hades said after a moment. He might have been a nervous father to be but he wasn't an idiot. Telling Demeter news like that would have been the equivalent of signing his death certificate.
"The…the baby's alright though…right?" Persephone asked, panting against the labor pains and Hades quickly took her hand once more. An act he slightly regretted as Persephone began to squeeze it as hard as she could. But he could worry about that later.
"Why don't you tell me, mama?" Eileithyia asked as soft wails began to fill the room. "Congratulations Persephone and Hades, you have a healthy baby girl. Let me just go ahead and get her cleaned up and soon you'll have her in your arms."
Hades nodded and kissed the top of Persephone's head as she slumped back. She'd done it. But more importantly Hades had been there to see it. Had been there to meet his daughter.
"Do you mind my asking what my niece's name is going to be?" Eileithyia asked after a few minutes as she handed Persephone the swaddled baby, the blue blanket not escaping Hades' notice but he elected not to say anything. No need to ruin the moment by possibly starting a fight after all.
Persephone smiled down at the infant in her arms, wisps of purple hair already beginning to come out of her head.
"She must get that from my side of the family," Hades said with a small chuckle. "After all Steph, you're a brunette."
"True," Persephone smiled as she gently ran a finger over the baby's cheek.
"Um…guys? Is my niece going to be nameless?" Eileithyia asked.
Persephone flushed as she looked over at her sister. "Oh right! Names…we had chosen a name…good thing she's not a boy because we hadn't picked out of the three—."
"Malinoë," Hades said, gently cutting off Persephone's rambling. "Malinoë Fleur."
Eileithyia smiled down at her niece. "Welcome to the family little Mali. It's a madhouse but you'll learn to love it. Because you're loved already."
Persephone and Hades looked at each other and smiled. That was certainly true. Their daughter had been loved since the moment they found out she was a possibility.
And that would never change.
