I finally have time to continue this story, so thank you for bearing with me and I'm sorry about not updating in a loooong time! Enjoy!

A few years past and Persephone adjusted to change of moving between the Underworld and earth quite well. It always surprised her how quickly each of the six months went by. When it was time for her to leave for the Underworld, Persephone almost didn't want to, but was happy with her new husband once she arrived. It was almost the same when she had to leave the Underworld and return to her mother.

Demeter adjusted, too, only she was increasingly growing angrier with the circumstances. She despised the fact that Hades had married her daughter and that Zeus did not protest against it.

Hermes, too, seemed to grow more upset with the whole situation. He was the god who led Persephone to and from the Underworld each year and every time he saw her, he could not help but to dwell on the unfairness of it all. He should have been the one to marry Persephone. She would not have even know of the god of the Underworld if she hadn't stumbled upon the entrance to his kingdom.

All in all, every god seemed to adjust to Persephone's circumstances, the changing of the seasons, and the marriage of Hades. Truth be told, many gods found Hades more reasonable nowadays.

Persephone, too, seemed happier. And she was happier. When she was in the Underworld, she felt important and needed. She was the queen and everyone knew it. During the summer months, she was free of her responsibility and spent much of her time with her nymph friends. It was quite relaxing and rewarding, really.

One day, while Persephone was alone by the creek, she her a faint whispering off to her right. She turned towards the noise and noticed Aphrodite half hiding behind a tree. Curious, Persephone stood and walked over the the other goddess.

"I've been trying to get your attention for ages," Aphrodite complained.

"Then why were you whispering?" Persephone replied.

"Look," said Aphrodite, "No one can know I was here."

"Okay…" Persephone was even more confused than before. Aphrodite looked around her and, content that no one was watching, opened her arm arms that Persephone now realized she was holding close to her body. In Aphrodite's arms was a baby, no more than six months old. Persephone gasped and almost dropped the child as Aphrodite placed him in her arms. "Who's child is this?" Persephone asked. Surely it couldn't be Aphrodite's. She would never trust Persephone with her own child.

"No one's," Aphrodite said hastily, "He's a mortal— Adonis— who's parents were killed. He's such a beautiful child, but I cannot be with him until he is older. Please, look after him for me."

Persephone eyed Aphrodite with suspicion. "Why me?" She couldn't help but ask. Aphrodite could have just given the child to another mortal family. She also had a feeling that the other goddess hadn't given her the entire story of her involvement with the child.

"I trust you. Please, just do this for me," Aphrodite begged, "You spend half the year in the Underworld. He'll be safe there. At least for now."

Even though Persephone was suspicious, she couldn't help but agree to help Aphrodite out. She seemed so worried for the child and so anxious to keep him a secret that Persephone couldn't very well say no.

Aphrodite hugged Persephone, whispered a "Thank you!" and vanished. Persephone stood in shock and looked at the child in her arms. He was an exceptionally beautiful child. Surely she could keep him safe for a few years…

Persephone sat by the creek for a while, just rocking the child in her arms: he was remarkably quiet for a mortal baby. She had no idea how to look after a child and she just sat there trying to think of a way to explain him to her mother. Aphrodite said no one could know she was involved, so what was Persephone to do?

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see the brilliant grin of Apollo looking down at her.

Persephone smiled back and did her best to hide the child from Apollo's view. This did little, however, because as soon as Persephone moved her arms, Apollo asked her what she was holding.

"Nothing," Persephone said, smiling innocently and trying her best to be convincing. As soon as she said those words, the child started crying.

Apollo looked at Persephone in shock while she was doing her best to quiet the child down.

"I have no idea how to take care of this thing…" Persephone whispered to herself. She heard Apollo chuckle and he took the baby from her arms and rocked it back to sleep.

"How did you do that?" Persephone demanded.

"I just have a calming presence," Apollo joked, but soon became more serious. "So, uh, where did you get the baby?"

"I can't say," she replied, "But he's not mine, if that's what you're asking. I'm looking after him for someone."

"He's a mortal child…" Apollo noted.

"Yeah, I don't know the whole story."

"Hm…" Apollo remained silent, still holding the child. "Does he have a name?"

"Adonis, I think."

Persephone and Apollo sat in silence for a while. Persephone watched as Apollo looked at the child thoughtfully. It startled her a bit when Apollo looked up at her and made a gesture to hand the child back. She took Adonis from him and gave a half hearted smile. Apollo still looked thoughtfully serious.

"Maybe I should get going," He said before standing up. He held out a hand to help Persephone up and she took it gratefully. "I'll walk you back to your mother."

"That might not be such a good idea," Persephone joked, "She already dislikes you and she might assume this baby is ours. She'd probably have you locked away in Tartarus."

Apollo laughed and gave a wide grin. "Seeing as how you're the Queen of the Underworld, I'm sure you could prevent that from happening."

The two laughed and started on their walk back to where Demeter was. They continued their banter back and forth and tried to figure out what Persephone was going to do with the child. She didn't know how to take care of it, so Apollo offered to help when he can and Persephone gladly accepted the offer.

A few months later and it was time for Persephone to return to the Underworld. Hades was more than thrilled to finally see his wife again. It got rather lonely during the summer when she wasn't there; he had only Thanatos for company, and the god of death always seemed like he was up to something. He was an unsettling man to be sure. But now it was nearly time for Persephone to return and he could finally have some pleasant company.

When Hermes first walked into the throne room to announce to Hades that he had brought Persephone, Hades noticed something off about the other god. Lately, Hermes had always been upset to be the one to escort Persephone to and from the underworld and he would say as little words as possible. Today, however, Hermes wore a smirk and seemed rather delighted with something. When Hades had asked him about it, he said nothing more and and fetched Persephone.

When Hades saw his wife, he was delighted, but his delight soon fell as he noticed the child in her arms. He walked over to her in confusion and asked "What is this?"

Persephone wouldn't meet his eyes and Hermes left the room with a wave of his hand and a whispered "I leave you two alone."

"Well?" Hades asked, patiently waiting for an answer. He kept his face as emotionless as possible.

"It's kind of a long story," she said quietly.

"I have time."

So Persephone told him about how someone had visited her and given her the child to look after. She wouldn't say who gave her the child and she didn't know for how long she would have to look after him. Hades was less than pleased with the situation, but was relieved that Persephone remained loyal to him.

"Apollo's been helping me care for the child. My mother, too." Persephone laughed, "I haven't the slightest idea what I'm doing.

Hades had to admit that he was rather jealous of the sun god Apollo. Persephone always spoke so highly of him, even if it was in a platonic manner. He knew Apollo's feeling for Persephone, however, were not platonic.

He placed his hand on his wife's shoulders and smiled at her reassuringly. "The child is always welcome here and I shall help you look after him." He felt like he was setting himself up for trouble, but the smile on Persephone's face made him forget his common sense that was telling him to keep the child out of the Underworld.

"Thank you," Persephone replied, obviously relieved. Hades put his arm around his wife's shoulders and led her to her garden, where she always went when she first arrived for the winter. He would decide what to do with the child later and perhaps speak with Demeter to get her opinion on the matter.