"No! They didn't!" Hades laughed as he and Maleficent stood near the broken bridge that led to the mainland.
"Oh yes! They did!" The dark fairy replied. "For sixteen whole years, those simpleton goblin guards of mine have been looking for a baby!"
They laughed before Maleficent paused.
"Um… I just wanted to apologize for earlier." She awkwardly said.
"Eh, it's fine. I wasn't in my right mind anyway." Hades answered.
She chuckled before falling silent. "It's just that… I'm not accustomed to this sort of attention. The last time I gave my heart to someone… didn't really end well. He broke my heart and betrayed my trust, I was really hurt. That's why I don't trust a lot of men that easily."
Hades paused and gave her a sympathetic look. "I get it. My track record with women isn't all that great either."
"What do you mean?"
"Well… I was married before, but neither our relationship nor our marriage was healthy. Persephone and I? We were totally incompatible. I was not only ignored and yelled at, I was also beaten… pretty bad, just so she can get what she wanted. I was miserable. And to make it worse, she claimed that I abused her and she turned all of the other Gods of Olympus against me! That's why I decided to take over; well that, and I was super jealous of my brother Zeus. If everyone saw me as a bad guy, why not become one?"
Maleficent took a step closer to him. "I didn't know that."
"No one does, not even my own brothers." He looked down at her. "I've never told anyone else this story."
After a long moment of silence, Hades finally spoke up. "I'm sorry if I'm going too fast for you. I guess I'm just a little overexcited."
"It's okay. I really like you, Hades, but… a fairy and God?"
"Yeah, it's pretty crazy."
Then Maleficent had an idea. "I know. What do you say we just be friends for now? Until we can be in a place for something more?"
"Friends?"
"Is that okay?"
Hades paused and thought for a moment; should he be friends with the Mistress of Evil? He really liked her and she seemed to like him too, so why not? He looked at her again and smiled.
"Sure." He said.
Maleficent offered her hand. "So, friends?"
Hades shook it. "Friends."
They smiled before heading back into the Isle. They approached Maleficent's house, but just before she went inside, Hades stopped her and handed her a black glass rose. She took it.
"What's this for?" She asked.
"Friends can give each other gifts, can't they?" Hades asked.
"But I don't have anything to give you." Maleficent looked around and noticed a black scarf with silver skulls printed on it hanging on her doorknob. She took it and draped it around Hades' neck.
"For me?" Hades asked.
"Of course. I think it suits you." She winked at him.
He smirked. "Maleficent, once we finally get off this Isle, I am gonna show you a whole new underworld. I promise."
She giggled. "Can't wait."
They smiled before Hades turned and walked away, leaving Maleficent with the glass rose still clutched in her hand; he gave her a wink before disappearing around the corner. She looked at the glass flower and paused; her face fell.
"What am I doing? What's the matter with me? We just met. You'd think a girl would learn." She said to herself before going inside.
"If there's a prize for rotten judgment" She sang as she set the fake flower down.
"I guess I've already won that
No man is worth the aggravation
That's ancient history, been there, done that"
"Who d'you think you're kidding" She heard other female voices sing.
"He's the earth and heaven to you
Try to keep it hidden,
Honey we can see right through you
Girl you can't conceal it
We know how you're feeling
Who you thinking of"
"No chance no way I won't say it, no no"
"You swoon you sigh why deny it oh oh"
"It's too cliche I won't say I'm in love
I thought my heart had learned its lesson
It feels so good when you start out
My head is screaming "Get a grip girl
Unless you're dying to cry your heart out"
"Girl you can't deny it
Who you are is how you're feeling
Baby we're not buying
Hon we saw you hit the ceiling
Face it like a grown-up
When you gonna own up that you got got got it bad"
"No chance no way I won't say it, no no"
"Give up, give in, check the grin you're in love"
"This scene won't play I won't say I'm in love"
"We'll do it until you admit you're in love"
"You're way off base I won't say it"
"Get off my case I won't say it"
"Girl don't be proud it's okay you're in love"
She looked at the rose and sat down on her sofa, a tiny smile on her face.
"At least out loud I won't say I'm in love…" She fell back onto her couch, tightly clutching the rose; thoughts of Hades filled her mind and she smiled dreamily to herself.