The next winter, Hades emerged into the aboveworld to swirling white bedlam. He could remember the indication of frost in this forest

whenever Demeter came to say goodbye to Persephone, but never this kind of deathly cold. There stood Persephone, a streak of red and

green in the wasteland.

Hades trudged through the spiky air towards her, who stood under a tree with branches like finger bones. Her hands were pressed against

the trunk, and from them spread a warm brown color, very different from the rest of the tree. Her eyes were just as frozen and lifeless as

the rest of the world.

Hades put his arms under her, not caring if Demeter was watching, and carried her back through the storm to the Underworld. Once near

the Styx, one of the only things in the Underworld producing some heat, they sat down. Persephone squeezed the melted snow out of her

hair, still shivering.

"Where was Demeter?" Hades asked. Tears quietly rolled down Persephone's cheeks. Hades took out a cloth, which resembled a

handkerchief, and handed it to her.

She roughly wiped her cheeks and explained, "She asked me if you treated me well, and I told her we were friends. I told her that she

might come to like you, and…the other gods could accept it too. She…said that she doesn't want anything to do with me anymore."

Hades swallowed uncomfortably, knowing that it was his fault the gods did not approve of Persephone.

"Hades, I am so sorry," she cried, and enveloped him with her arms hug. Her hair smelled of a strange mix of pine and bayberry. She

quaked against him, even covered in his cloak. He carefully stood up with her, and beckoned Charon to take them across the river. He sang

to her in his head as they went across, and soon the only memory of her tears was the warm dampness on his chest.

He told her about how Cerberus was teething, and how they used entire chairs for toys. Persephone giggled, sniffing away the tears.

"Thanatos should get them a bone or something."

Hades chuckled openly, hoping it would make Persephone happier, and they went right up to Hades' quarters to start a fire.

Persephone sat with Hades at the foot of the bed, taking solace in the hearth. Hades told her a story about the gods before bed every night.

It helped with Persephone's nightmares.

They laughed happily, and Hades felt the best he had in six months. Tonight Hades relayed the tale of Hermes's first delivery. He was

supposed to bring Poseidon an instrument that Hephaestas had made for him. But instead Hermes accidentally brought a tool with three

prongs on the end; a clumsy gardening tool. Poseidon, however, never knew the difference, and no one had the guts to ever tell him.

"Thank you, Hades. I'll go to sleep now." She stood and held out her hand, which he clumsily kissed.

Persephone grabbed his hand and entwined her fingers with his. She remembered doing this with her mother, but it was very different with

him. He looked surprised, as he was so often by her actions. But his fingers closed around hers too. Persephone felt a feeling rising in her

stomach, like she was hungry, but less urgent. It was more of a pleasant feeling that stuck in her throat and made her smile, oddly enough.

The goddess noticed something about Hades she hadn't seen before. His eyes were as black as night, but they sparkled with some

wondering and curious light. He uncertainly turned his gaze to the floor, his eyes smiling.

Any of the other gods in this situation would have taken advantage of Persephone. She recognized this, and she frowned.

"Hades?" she said. He looked up to meet her gaze. She didn't really know what she wanted to say, so an awkward pause ensued. "I… I

know you didn't mean to hurt me," she said softly.

Hades smiled sadly. "I admit, Seph, I have been cruel in the past, as I am the Lord of the Underworld. But where you are concerned, I

would never—"

"Lord Hades?" Thanatos interrupted. Persephone let go of his hand. Death stood in the doorway, conspicuously repressing a smile.

"What is it, Thanatos?"

"Your help is requested by King Minos."

"Yes, I'll be down in a minute."

Thanatos disappeared, leaving Hades quite a bit annoyed. He strung on his cloak and apologized to Persephone, and left her alone with the

fire.

After he had left, Persephone lay in bed, hands folded over her stomach. She knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep without him, so

decided she would simply wait.

"Lady Persephone?" asked Thanatos, smiling. "Are you lonely?" he purred, leaning against the doorframe. Persephone scoffed, got up, and

closed the door in his face, and listened as his disturbing laughter faded down the hall.

A/N- Thanatos, you scoundrel.

Almost finished!

Thank you, as always, for reading.

- A.Z.