After a long Hiatus, (I hate hiatuses.) I have returned. Now let's see if we can get this story up and running.

For those of you who are Greek mythology experts, this was done

And congratulations to those that guessed right on who Hades' son is; you know who you are.

Chapter 5: Aftermath

A stag poked his head fearfully through the bushes it was hiding in, looking around the area that was recently devastated. It peered to see if there was any sign of danger. Seeing that everything was calm, the deer cautiously walks to the meadow and begins to graze.

He never saw the fireball coming.

Hades stumped on the remains of the poor helpless animal that had only been minding his own business and headed straight to his chariot, stepping on the flowers in the process of getting there. He couldn't believe this! He had thought that his family had a little bit of kindness in them or at least some sympathy. After all, he was family too; one would think that meant something to them.

He shook his head at the thought. Who in His Home was he kidding; his family had always been selfish. True, he was no better, but he had at least always been loyal to his family while everyone else had tried to betray Zeus at some point.

Walking, he gave Olympus one last look. Despite his vow to never return, Olympus had been his home and he had always cherished every moment he ever had when he was visiting.

Now he could never go back. Ever.

"Hades, wait! Please stop!"

Hades paused and turned around, incredulous to see Zeus of all people trying to keep up with him. What did he want? Couldn't ol' Thunder-butt see that he did not want to speak to him? Even if he didn't know what had truly happened all these years ago, the outcome was the same and his son, His son, not Zeus', was gone. To this day, it still baffled many others that a god could be killed. Sure, he knew it was possible, but to actually hear about it and have be someone you know?

It was still all Zeus' fault, even if he hadn't known it until now.

"What do you want now! Haven't you and YOUR family systematically ruined my life already?" Hades shouted as he glared at his older brother.

Zeus panted, wondering when Hades could move so fast. He chalked it off on the lack of exercise on his part. He normally didn't exert too much energy because, when you're a god and all-powerful, you don't need to. A smite here and a miracle there and boom! People worship you and work for you. Reaching his younger brother, Zeus looked at his brother's face and flinched at the still at the expression of raw betrayal, rage and hatred.

"Hades, what is truly going on? Obviously, this is what started this whole misunderstanding. Please tell me so that I can help you." Zeus pleaded. No more petty infighting, no more power struggles and no more hidden agendas and conspiracies. This was not about politics or paranoia.

This was his brother, his baby brother.

Hades looked at Zeus like he had grown a second head. "Heeeeelp me? I'm sorry; did I get air in my ears while I was up in Olympus? Cause I could have sworn you said that you wanted to help me? You, of all gods, want to help me?!!" Hades exclaimed, disbelievingly. A minute ago, Zeus had been considering throwing him in Tarturus!

Zeus sighed sadly and tiredly. "I know you're upset me…." Hades once again exploded, frying everything flammable around him.

"UPSET!! WHO'S UPSET?!! I'M NOT UPSET !!I'M HAPPY, I'M ECSTATIC!! YA CAN'T GET ANY HAPPIER THAN THIS, PEOPLE!! NO SIR!! LOOK AT ME DO MY HAPPY DANCE!!" Hades shouted as he mockingly did a dance. Hades was acting in his most immature moments and at a time like this. But Zeus had seen him use this move way too many times to not see it as a shield. Hades was a lot more hurt then he originally thought.

"Hades, please tell me what really happened to your son? I know I messed up big time, but if you just tell me your side of the story……" He backed off when the fire around Hades intensified.

"MY SIDE!!! MY SIDE OF THE STORY?!! SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU CARED ENOUGH TO HEAR ME OUT?!!!" Hades spat out as he kept his hands to his sides, to keep from lashing out. He was barely seen from behind the fire surrounding his body and he was practically spitting fire from his mouth.

Zeus was stunned by that declaration. Did Hades truly believe that he did not care for him? Sure they had their differences, but Hades was his baby brother. He was always there for him and had always watched his back. They had fought together in the Titan wars and it was Zeus' strength and power and Hades' strategic mind that had help them win. They had always trusted one another and depended on each other when things became too much for them.

"I….. I do care…." Zeus was in turmoil, it was bad enough his brother hated him, but Hades actually believes that no one loved him either. But then, the attitudes and behaviors of the other gods had opened his eyes. But surely the love of his brothers would be enough.

"No you don't," Hades sadly sighed, his fire going out like a match on a windy day. "You used to care, but after you got married and became King of the Gods, you changed. You and Poseidon became different from the brothers I knew and grew up with. Okay, I'll admit I have changed, too. But even then, with the exception of mortals, I would never do anything to hurt you and Poseidon. Sure, we got into our fights, we often drove ourselves crazy, and often one of us would say or do something that would be regretful for us later. But there was always a line between us brothers that we never cross. You crossed it, Zeus. You crossed it when you and Persephone………….." he lowered his head and didn't continue. Zeus wanted to comfort his brother, tell him that he did still love him.

But he had the feeling that he was too late.

Hades looked away, trying not to let his brother see his tears. "How could you do this to me?" Hades' voice sounded cracked. Zeus looked up in shock. Was Hades crying? "I mean, sure kidnapping her and bringing her to the Underworld was not the most romantic of ideas, nor was tricking her to eat the Pomona apple seeds, but I loved her and you knew it. She was all I had and she was my light just like………..just like my…………….. You hid this from me and never told me what had happened. How could you, Zeus?!!"

Zeus looked up and tried to hide his despair. "I'm sorry Hades. I'm so sorry for everything."

Hades glared darkly as he subtly used his heat of his body to remove the tears from his eyes. "Apology not accepted. You are twenty years too late." With that said; Hades climbed in his chariot and rode off for what he hoped to be the last time.

*****

Down in the Underworld, the three fates were weaving the newest tapestry of the future. This latest future, though it didn't affect them personally, was still very troubling.

"It begins as predicted, my sisters." Clothos began as she pulled a thread from the tapestry.

"Yes, the mortals are starting to rebel against the gods. Soon, the serpent of them will release the devourer of Gods. The world will belong to the titans once again." Lachesis observed as she watched the tapestry unfold into a world where the mortals were killed and disasters caused by Titans from every corner can be seen.

"Their only hope in stopping it would be the brothers three. Hopefully, they will stop this new threat and save the cosmos." Atropos finished as she watched Hades return to his realm trough the Eye.

The Fates eyed one another as they prepared to seek out Hades and his brothers to inform them of what was going on. They didn't need to see the future to know how that outcome would be like.

*****

Pain and Panic feverishly cleaned the throne room before Hades returned and decided they would be used for target practice. If they were lucky, he would only decide to throw fireballs at them. That is, if they were lucky, though. Being in the well of souls didn't exactly improve Hades' temper.

If Hades was in a particularly black mood, he may just decide to maim them first.

They heard the sound of a chariot racing just outside the entrance. Pain and Panic knew who that was; no one else would have the gall to park near the palace.

"He's coming, he's coming, HE'S COMING!!! What do we do!" Panic panicked as he immediately prayed to any God or Goddess that was merciful enough to take pity on his poor soul. He just hoped they would save him from a very painful end. Pain, who suddenly wondered why his mother named him that, decided to wait for the inevitable explosion.

Hades walked past them without even so much as a murderous glance.

Blinking and frighteningly confused, both imps watched as their dark lord headed down a dark hallway like a ghost. Pain, feeling just a little bit brave, decided to follow Hades. Panic was still blinking in his spot and was wondering why Hades hadn't killed or even swatted them out of the way. Even in his lightest of moods, he would always hit them. Why would he ignore them this time?

His question was quickly answered when a stark-white Pain showed up with an expression that screamed terror.

"This is bad!!! No! This is worse than bad! This is the opposite of fantastic! Panic, they did something to Hades! I don't know what it is but it spells trouble."

Panic's eyes widened. "What happened? What did he say?"

"Nothing; He didn't say anything to me. I tried to get his attention, but he totally ignored me." Pain shuddered in fear. Why oh why didn't he take in life insurance?

Panic slumps his shoulders. "Then how do you know its bad?....." Panic reasoned. He wanted to believe that he was safe and Hades wouldn't hurt them for whatever went wrong in the hearing.

Pain gulped. "Because he went to his room."

Panic blinked. "So he decided to go to his room. At least, he decided not to kill us."

"NO! NO! NO! Not his own room! HIS room! You know; the one that no one, under the threat of pain and fiery death is allowed to go into, THAT ROOM!" Pain squeaked.

Panic's eyes had widened beyond dinner plates and thinking had left the building. That Room! Hades went into that room! But Hades hadn't gone to that room in years. When he did, it was only on the occasion………….

"What happened now?" Panic whimpered. What did the deities do to have Hades go on a new emo-rampage?

Suddenly, eternity was a painful existence.

*****

The room was completely different from any other room in the Underworld on the simple fact that it was completely white. Not a speck of dirt could be found anywhere and the lighting around existed in the dark Underworld only illuminated the room's brilliance. In addition, the oval-shaped room had all sorts of toys, board games and flower vases filled with everlasting flowers decorated it. Hades was sitting on the white pristine bed with his face buried on a small stuff skeleton. He could feel his dead heart actually breaking; the last time that happened was when 'He' had died.

'It's not fair! Why do my brothers, Twiddle-Dum and Twiddle Dummer, get to be happy? Why can't I ever be happy? Why can't the fates cut me some slack?'

Lifting his face up, he looked to the side of the painting and spotted a tapestry that was made a long time ago as a gift from Athena to his son. In that picture stood three deities in a beautiful background of a sunset. On it was Hades giving one of his rare smiles that was free of any maliciousness and cruelty. Leaning on his arm was Persephone, looking as Queenly as she was royalty in her Underworld garbs. Unlike the present, Persephone in the photo had a smile that was more brilliant then the sun and her forest-green eyes sparkled with joy and life. At the very center of the picture, just between the happy couple was a small boy in black robes found in the underworld. The seven-year old looking boy was the was the spitting image of his mother, from his pure mother of pearl white skin and sparkling green eyes to his bright smile and sunny disposition.

Looking at the picture brought back memories for Hades, where he had been more open and less dark, where the Underworld had been a less lonely place for him, where he and Persephone were closer together.

Where a child's laughter was no stranger to him.

Hades suddenly watched as the picture started to get blurry and realized that his eyes were filling up with tears again. While blinking them away, Hades whispered to the tapestry as if begging for its forgiveness.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I couldn't save you. I'm sorry I couldn't avenge you. I'm sorry that I'm such a terrible god and father that I couldn't protect you. I love you………….. Zagreas."

Hades found himself doing something he hadn't since his only son had died: he started to cry.

TBC

Basically sad, I'm going to have to work on some flashbacks between them so you know how close they were and how they became distant.

On the next chapter, Poseidon wonders what could have helped his siblings had he gotten more involved, Zeus suffers the loss of his baby brother and Hades is haunted by his own actions against Hercules. YAY!! We are introduced to the bad guys of the story! And can anyone guess who Hera is pregnant with?

Yeah, I know, I'm making you solve too much puzzles. But I can't help it. I'm a mystery lover.