Winter came and it was time for Persephone to return to the Underworld. Hades had been in a bit of a sulking mood ever since her last visit during the summer. He hadn't expected her visit and he hadn't expected her to be so open with him. It nearly broke his heart to think of how desperate Persephone had been during their last meeting, but he just couldn't let himself forget how badly she had neglected him.
Now, however, Hades was ready to talk more with Persephone. He was past being angry and was in more of a state of emptiness. Not only that, but Hades missed Persephone greatly, despite not being able to trust her as much as he once had.
When Thanatos finally came into the throne room to announce Persephone's arrival, Hades followed him to the garden where Persephone waited. Hades was beyond nervous. He wasn't sure what would happen between he and his wife.
Persephone smiled when she saw him. Not weakly as she did the last time, but a real, genuine smile. Hades's emotionless expression softened and he almost smiled back. Thanatos left the two of them alone.
Persephone was the first to speak. After wrapping her hands around her husband's waist and pulling him close, she whispered, "I missed you."
Hades embraced Persephone back, keeping her close to him. He missed holding her in his arms like this. He missed this affection.
The two stood in the garden in each other's embrace for a long while. Words seemed unnecessary now. Time really had healed things between them.
That winter, everything was practically normal. The king and queen of the Underworld seemed happy once again and their bond seemed to have only grown stronger. Hades, although he rarely showed emotion around others, seemed much more reasonable. He smiled more (only around his wife) and was never thrown into a fit of range. Persephone smiled more, too. Her presence radiated life more than ever. Truly, everything was the way it should have been.
Persephone left in the summer in high spirits. She kissed her husband goodbye and allowed Hermes to lead her to her mother.
"You seem in much a better mood than the last time I saw you," Hermes said to her as they were leaving the Underworld.
"I am in a much better mood," she replied.
"I take it you and Hades worked things out, then?"
Persephone laughed lightly. "We're better than ever!"
Hermes smiled at that. Although he didn't quite like the fact that Hades had married Persephone, her happiness was still important to him.
The two flew out of the Underworld and before she knew it, Persephone was being strangled by her mother's embrace.
It had been about a month since Persephone had left the Underworld. Apollo had been sitting by the river with her, telling comedic stories about mortals. Persephone was laughing so hard, her sides began to hurt.
Apollo finally got her to calm down, his face almost hurting from smiling so much. He loved they way Persephone laughed. In actuality, he loved everything about Persephone. He had to keep reminding himself that she was married (somewhat happily) to Hades. Apollo decided he should leave before his emotions got the better of him, so he stood, holding out a hand to help Persephone up as well.
He pulled her to her feet, but the moment she stood, she collapsed. Apollo caught Persephone in his arms before she could reach the ground. He carefully laid her in the grass, desperately trying to wake her up. She couldn't be dead, he told himself, she's immortal. Even so, he checked for a pulse and made sure she was still breathing. He looked around frantically, forgetting that he was the god of medicine, and not knowing what to do. He sat by Persephone, cupping the side of her face in his hand. He looked at her face in sadness, not certain what had come over her. The whole ordeal worried Apollo greatly and called upon Hermes to perhaps offer some assistance.
When Hermes arrived, he found Apollo holding Persephone's motionless body in great sadness. He hurried over and knelt down across from Apollo, on Persephone's other side.
"What happened to her?" Hermes demanded.
Apollo shook his head then answered, "I do not know."
Hermes looked at Apollo in disbelief and slight anger. "You are the god of medicine. Why are you doing nothing to help her?"
"I can't heal ailments if I don't know what they are," Apollo replied sternly. "She simply collapse with no signs of weakness or injury."
"Perhaps we seek the counsel of the other gods," Hermes advised, "Something like this is very strange indeed."
Apollo sighed and stood, still holding Persephone in his arms. When Hermes was standing as well, Apollo passed Persephone over, saying, "Take her to Olympus. I'll be right behind you."
Hermes nodded and flew off. Apollo figured that he would seek out Demeter to inform her of her daughter's condition. He knew he would be on the receiving end of her wrath, but he figured it best that Demeter knew everything rather than waiting for her to find out on her own.
Up on Mount Olympus, Hermes left Persephone in the care of Athena and Artemis. Zeus had decided, since no one knew what had happened to Persephone, that she should be closely looked after. Demeter had come by, but Zeus had stopped her from seeing Persephone. He promised her (and Apollo) that Persephone was in good hands and that they would be informed of any updates to her condition.
Athena and Artemis had been with Persephone for about half an hour when she woke up. The two goddesses breathed a sigh of relief and Athena stayed with Persephone while Artemis went to fetch her brother.
"How are you feeling?" Athena asked calmly.
Persephone sat up and looked around, noticing that she was on Olympus instead of by the river. Her company had changed from Apollo to Athena as well, which she found odd.
"Confused," she finally replied, "and a bit light headed."
"You fainted," Athena explained, "While you were with Apollo. He and Hermes brought you up here. They couldn't figure out why you collapsed."
"I can't say I know for certain either." Persephone admitted. She couldn't recall feeling ill, but now that she thought about it…
Athena noticed the expression on Persephone's face and asked with worry, "Are you feeling alright?"
Persephone held a hand up to her mouth. "I feel like I might be sick," she said quietly.
"You should lay back down," Athena said and Persephone took her advise. The queasiness hadn't subsided, but she no longer felt ill.
Artemis returned then with Apollo.
Apollo was beyond relieved to see Persephone awake. He knelt by her side and cupped her hand in his.
"How are you feeling?" He asked with a mixture of concern and happiness.
"I asked her that already," Athena said. "Give her some space, Apollo. She feels rather ill."
"I have a suspicion," Artemis offered, "that I know the cause of Persephone's sickness."
"How is it that you know, yet I do not?" Apollo asked, slightly irritated that he couldn't figure it out.
"Because," Artemis said, "you know little about the health of women. I may not be as skilled as you when it comes to medicine, but I know mother-to-be when I see one."
The room became silent. Persephone sat up again and looked at Artemis with disbelief.
Artemis wore a smug look on her face, "I even spoke with Hera and she confirmed it."
"You're joking, right?" Persephone said weakly. She couldn't imagine herself a mother. Especially after that whole Adonis thing, she was certain she never wanted to look after another child again.
Artemis laughed and shook her head.
"I am not joking," she said. "Perhaps Apollo will be kind enough to take you back to earth. You should let your mother know that you are perfectly fine."
"Perfectly fine?" Persephone demanded, "You think I'm perfectly fine? I'm going to have a kid and I don't even know how in Zeus's name I'm going to explain the to Hades!"
"There doesn't seem much to explain," Athena said, slightly amused.
"Come on, Persephone," Apollo sighed, holding out a hand for her and helping her to her feet. He made certain she wouldn't collapse again and began leading her away from Olympus.
Persephone and Apollo were walking through the woods. Neither spoke as they mad the journey from Olympus, but Persephone soon broke that silence.
"What am I going to do?" she sighed.
"What do you mean?" Apollo put his arm around Persephone's shoulders reassuringly.
Persephone looked at the ground, dragging her feet as she walked.
"What if Hades isn't happy about this?"
"It's his kid, too, isn't it?" Apollo smiled at her, trying to lighten her mood.
"Yeah, I guess," she sighed again.
Apollo couldn't help but laugh at that. Persephone looked at him with bewilderment.
He laughed again at the expression on her face and noticed a slight smile forming on her lips.
"How can you 'guess?'" Apollo said at last, "I don't take you as the kind of goddess to go sleeping around."
Persephone punched him lightly on the arm and smiled completely. Apollo laughed again, glad that they were back to their usual banter.
Demeter's reaction to Persephone's pregnancy was a mixture of animosity and delight. She knew something like this was bound to happen sooner or later, given how Persephone was married to a man she almost loved. Demeter finally hugged her daughter, promising to help with the child.
Persephone was glad that her mother wasn't too displeased with her. She figured Demeter's reaction would have been much more severe, but all in all, Demeter was just happy that her daughter was well.
Apollo stayed with Persephone most of the day, making sure she felt in good health and wasn't too worried about her child. She reassured him that she was fine for the time being.
Apollo finally left and Persephone continued sitting by the river. She sat on the edge with her feet in the water. She talked with some of the Naiads for a bit, but they left as the sun sank below the horizon.
Persephone sat peacefully in the dark of the night, listening to the flow of the river. She didn't want to sleep. Not yet, anyway. She was too anxious and excited to sleep. Sure, she was terrified of what would happen with her child, but she had let the shook subside and was now thrilled as well. If anything, this child was sure to bring her and her husband closer together. She was certain of it.
Persephone closed her eyes and sat back, resting her weight on her hands. She sighed peacefully and allowed the sounds of nature to relax her. She was in total bliss.
Persephone felt herself starting to doze off when she noticed a presence beside her. She opened her eyes and looked to her left. Sitting beside her was her husband.
She smiled to herself, staring at him as he looked into the depths of the water, appearing lost in thought.
Persephone leaned forward so that she could better look at his face.
"Were you going to say hi," Persephone asked, "or just wait until I noticed you sitting there?"
Hades looked up and smiled softly at his wife.
"I thought you were asleep," he said in a gentle whisper.
Persephone scooted closer towards her husband and laid her head on his shoulder.
The two of them sat in silence for a short while.
"Is it true?" Hades finally spoke. "I received a message from Zeus that you are expecting a child."
Persephone giggled, her head still on his shoulder.
"I wanted to tell you myself," she said, although there was no resentment in her voice.
Hades chuckled. "And why was that?"
"Because I'm sure your reaction was priceless," she laughed into his shoulder.
He put his arm around her and held her tighter.
"If it makes you feel better, Thanatos got a good laugh from it."
Persephone laughed again. There was a brief silence before she asked, "How is it that you are here right now? I thought you weren't allowed to come visit me."
"Zeus gave me permission," Hades said, "as long as I am gone come morning."
"Hm," was all Persephone replied. It was strange the Zeus would agree to such a request from Hades, but she was glad for it nonetheless.
The two fell into another comfortable silence. No words were needed. Hades and Persephone simple sat together, enjoying each other's company under the warm summer's moon.