Epilogue

After Belle finished getting ready, she joined everyone in the dining hall. When she entered the room, she was pleased to see that her father and Hades were already getting along. They were having a lively conversation about something, she wasn't sure what.

As she sat down, she finally heard what they were saying.

"Hades, tell me more about that toast thing you can do. I might be able to come up with an invention for it." Belle smiled. Of course, that was what they were talking about. What else would her father be thinking about this early in the morning?

"I think you should call it a toaster, sir. But I'm not sure it would sell." Hades responded.

"Of course, it would sell. I've had a few successful inventions." Belle stared at her father.

"Never mind, Belle's right. None of my inventions have been a success. But that doesn't mean that this one wouldn't work. Especially not if we work together. And by the way, you don't have to call me sir. Just Maurice is fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Hades, I'm sure. I'm sure it won't be long before we're officially family."

Hades looked away nervously. He hadn't proposed to Belle yet. He was just nervous. At least now he had Maurice's permission. And his soon to be father-in-law was right, he needed to make a move soon. Maybe today was the day. And conveniently, he had a ring box in his pocket.

"Belle, do you want to go somewhere with me?"

"Yes, but what about…" Belle looked over at her father, who obviously already knew what was going on.

"Belle, I think I'd like to stay here and talk with Rhea. You go on, spend time with Hades."

"Well, alright, Papa. If you're sure."

Hades held out his arm and Belle took it, and the two of them walked out of the dining hall and to the library. Hades put his other hand in his pocket and touched the ring box nervously. When they got to the library, Hades sat down on the couch next to Belle and held her hands.

"Belle, I know that we've only known each other for a year. But I feel like I've known you forever. And if you want, I'd like you to stay forever and be the light to my darkness. Belle, will you become my queen and marry me?"

Belle smiled and held him. "Oh Hades, I thought you'd never ask!"

"So that's a yes, then?" Hades teasingly questioned.

"Of course it's a yes!" Belle kissed Hades joyfully.

A week later, all the preparations for the wedding were finished. Neither Belle nor Hades wanted to wait any longer than necessary. They had already waited long enough. There had been lots of preparations though, such as fittings, cleaning (since the Underworld had still been a mess), Cerberus getting trained to be more housebroken (an assignment Belle had taken on and apparently been successful at), and the purchase of the official rings. That last part though, Hades had done differently. He made the rings himself, but it took longer than usual, since, according to Rhea, he was obsessed with finding the perfect diamond. Pain and Panic had been insistent that they were not going to be flower girls or bridesmaids or whatever, so they had been fitted for suits and ties, along with Maurice. Hades had his old suit fixed and mended from the night that they had danced together.

Rhea and Belle had been fitted for gowns. And neither of them had seen eye to eye on the wedding dress, even though it was technically Belle's choice, since it was her wedding. Belle had wanted a simpler gown, similar to the one she had worn the night of the dance and the transformation. Rhea thought that Belle should have a fancy gown with lots of lace and a long train. Eventually, they had compromised. Belle would wear a strapless dress with gloves and have a mid-length train and veil. Hades didn't know what the dress actually looked like though. Apparently, it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. As if he needed any bad luck right now, just when everything was going to be perfect. He hadn't actually seen Belle that entire week since he proposed. There was just too much to get ready for. As for the minister, Panic had decided to perform that, after Hades gave his minion some books to read and made him take a license test so it was official. Surprisingly, he had passed on the first try.

As Hades stood at the altar, he noticed that he was nervous again. When would he not be nervous around Belle? Oh well, of course he was nervous. He had never even been to a wedding before. When Zeus married Hera, he hadn't been invited. Something about being too gloomy for a wedding. What he would give to see Zeus's face now. His curse was broken, and he was getting married. Zeus would die of shock. If only. As much as he didn't want to wish harm on anyone, even his ex-brother, it was an old habit and would take a long time to break, if it could be broken. If not, he knew Belle understood his resentment. She had always lived in Meg's shadow, constantly being compared to her older sister. But unlike him, Belle didn't hate Meg. But ever since she got back to the Underworld, he knew that the two of them hadn't spoken.

As soon as he saw Belle standing next to her father, all negative thoughts vanished. Belle looked absolutely beautiful. The dress was simple, yet elegant, and she had a bouquet of red roses in her hand. It was hard to believe that someone like her was going to be in his life now. She was perfect, everything he could have ever wished for. He turned and looked at his mother. Rhea sat at the piano, and started to play the "Wedding March." His gaze drifted back to his bride as she and her father walked down the aisle. When Belle got closer, he held out a hand as she turned and faced him. Hades looked incredibly handsome in his suit and tie.

"I love you, Belle."

"I love you too, Hades."

"Ahem." Both bride and groom looked at Panic who was standing on a podium, so he could be taller. "If the two of you don't mind, I'd like to continue with the wedding. I still have a lot to read." Panic said.

"Sorry." Both of them said. But Hades flashed a small spark at Panic. He did want to marry Belle today, after all.

"You know, we can actually skip over most of this stuff and go right to the vows." Panic said. Hades smiled. The fire powers still had their advantages after all.

Both Hades and Belle recited their wedding vows. Neither of them had written very long ones. Finally, Panic was ready to conclude the ceremony.

"I now pronounce you man and wife. Boss, you may now kiss the bride."

"Glad to." Hades smiled and kissed Belle, deeply and passionately. Finally, they were married and at last he had a queen. The two of them walked back down the aisle together, but only had eyes for each other the rest of the day. The reception had been just as wonderful as the wedding. Pain and Panic had worked together to make a three-layer chocolate cake and had actually followed Hades' orders correctly. No worms (which he found he didn't have much of taste for now anyway), no scorch marks, and no early samples. That had been the hardest one for the two of them to follow.

When it came time to cut the cake, Hades leaned in too close and got frosting on his nose. Belle just laughed until he put some on her nose too. After all, there was nothing wrong with getting playful with frosting. The only downside of the reception had been when Rhea went up to speak about the couple, but shared embarrassing stories about Hades instead, with him turning red with embarrassment at nearly every story. Pain and Panic tried to remember what they wanted to say, but forgot and went back for more cake. The dance had been wonderful though. Hades had been a little nervous about stepping on the train, but everything turned out fine.

When the celebration was over, Hades lifted Belle into his arms and carried her across the threshold of his bedroom door. Traditionally, he knew it was supposed to be the door of their home, but neither of them were going to leave the Underworld. Hades couldn't anyway; he was still stuck here for all eternity, but at least now he had someone to share that eternity with. After he set her down, he leaned in and kissed his wife passionately again.

"I love you, Belle. I always will."

"I love you too, Hades. Forever." Belle agreed and kissed her husband back. It was perfect, just the two of them forever. But it wouldn't always be just the two of them.

A few months after the wedding, Belle became pregnant. A news that Hades definitely had not been ready for initially, but eventually accepted. Rhea and Maurice had been more than thrilled to become grandparents. Meg still hadn't had a child, so this would be Maurice's first grandchild. Nine months later, the two of them had a son, and Belle named him Aiden, using Hades' second name.