Chapter Four

"Up there is Pegasus. And if you tilt your head a bit, you'll see Orion next to him," Hades, pointing up at the sky. It was just before a dawn, a time when every villain was guaranteed to be sleeping. And Hades and Maleficent had taken to stargazing while lying on her roof.

"He's the hunter Artemis killed, isn't he?"

"That would be him."

Maleficent laughed. "Remind me why you're here and she isn't."

"She's Zeus's kid. They're own can do no wrong." The humor had left his voice.

Maleficent placed a hand on his arm. "We will get out of here one day. I swear it."

Hades just smirked. "Keep dreaming, Malie. Keep dreaming."

"I have a plan."

Hades raised his eyebrows. "Oh ho! Do tell."

"Not yet." She looked back at the sky. "Not yet."

And for once Hades decided it was okay not to know. If it let them lay on this roof together a little longer in a quiet world that almost never slept then he was perfectly happy.

Maleficent swung her door open to see Hades standing there, grinning like a fool. But instead of smiling she glared and yanked him inside before anyone saw

"What are you doing here?" she hissed.

"I can't just pop in for a visit?" he chuckled but stopped when he saw her eyes glowing with anger.

"It's noon! You could've been seen!"

"I know to skulk around, Malie, geez."

"I told you last time, we can only meet up at night," Maleficent shouted.

"Bit louder, don't think the north side heard you."

"Don't forget who you're talking to!"

"No!" Hades stood to his full height. "You don't forget who you're talking to. I'm a god, remember, you're just a fairy. And I don't really like you calling all the shots."

Hades spun around and left, slamming the door shut before Maleficent could call after him.

"I'm sorry."

Hades just stared at her standing in the rain outside his door, water droplets sliding down her horns.

"I know you're a god. I know you're powerful."

He looked at his feet.

"But I'm powerful too. And I want this to be an equal share of power. We can escape, you and I. We're the strongest villains here."

Still nothing.

"Hades. Please."

Finally, he met her eyes. And every good moment flashed in his mind. Star gazing, strawberries, darts, and shared stories. Shared defeats and shared scars.

"You gonna stay out there all night?" he asked and opened his door further so she could come in. Once she stepped over the threshold, he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply.

They didn't leave the house until the next night.

"It's a boy! Oh, how exciting. I'm sure all of Auradon is buzzing with the news of Meg and Hercules new arrival to the family!" Snow White chirped on the flickering tv as blue confetti fell around her. "Congratulations on such a wonderful Happily Ever After!"

Hades smacked his remote and the tv went black. Fire was raging in his heart, fury at the stupid heroes who had settled for a mediocre life. Hercules had turned down being a god, for Zeus's sake!

It wasn't long before he found himself at the tavern, well into half his weekly allotted drink. Lefou wiped down the counter as other patrons started to leave. Technically the place never closed but around 2am people started to go back to their shacks. But Hades didn't think he could face his hovel, not today.

"So…," Gaston said, sitting on the barstool next to him. "Your boy Hercules is gonna have a lad, huh?"

Hades ground his jaw together and said nothing.

"I get it. Belle is in her second trimester with that monster's baby. Wonder if it'll have horns."

"I didn't come here for conversation, Gaston," Hades growled, knocking back the rest of his drink.

"Just sayin'. Must sting to see that boy get everything you wanted. 'Hercules, son of Zeus, ruler of all of Greece!' And now there's another one on the way. I can't imagine any worse pain and trust me, I know."

The glass shattered as Hades smashed it against the bar. "I said. I didn't. Want. To. Talk."

Gaston just looked at the mess and smirked. "You owe me a new glass, Hades."

He stormed out of the tavern, punching every breakable thing he could find. Glass and wood shattered, people ran for cover. He slammed open the door of his cave and stormed inside.

And found Maleficent standing in the middle of the room.

"I'm not in the mood," Hades told her, knocking her shoulder as he passed her to get to his room.

"In the mood?" Maleficent asked, raising an eyebrow. "In the mood for what?"

Hades turned back, fury etched on every line of his face. "This! Whatever this is that we're doing. I'm not in the mood tonight."

"You were the one who wanted this, Hades," she coolly reminded him, crossing her arms. That just made him madder.

"No, this is what you wanted. You wanted to hide in the shadows, you wanted to bring me back to your house, you wanted all of this."

"You told me you were willing. You liked me."

Hades laughed humorlessly and ran his fingers through his hair.

"You love me."

"Love you? Now you've lost it."

Maleficent took a step forward. "Why else would you be mad about all the hiding. Say it, Hades. You love me."

She was infuriating and impossible and stubborn…and his heart had changed.

"Fine! I love you! Happy?"

She ran forward and kissed him. Every nerve seemed to come alive in his body and his heart skipped a few beats. He pulled her close…and felt a cold body pressed against his.

They broke apart and Maleficent looked up. She stared for a few moments before she swore.

"No….no, no, no!" she screeched, running to the window to look outside. Nothing had changed.

"What are you…?" Hades asked then his eyes widened with realization. "You thought…true love's kiss? You thought it would break the barrier."

"This shouldn't be happening." She smacked the window. "You love me. Why didn't it work?"

"Because you don't love me."

"What?"

Hades felt ashamed he hadn't realized her plan sooner. He had just wanted to feel something, to get something after all the heartbreak he'd been through. She'd been willing, she'd been daring…he'd been oh so stupid.

"True love's kiss doesn't work if you don't return the love!" Hades exclaimed. "But I guess you wouldn't know that, huh? You don't love anyone or anything."

Her green eyes bore into him as he stepped forward.

"Now get out. We're done."

She looked like she wanted to say something more, but she turned and left instead, slamming the door on her way out.

Hades slumped into his couch and closed his eyes. Who needed her anyway?

I know Hades said they got married but I don't think they did. Then everyone would know who Mal's dad is. So I think they were just keeping it disney clean.