I would like to thank anon goddess for being the first reviewer. It made my day to see it.

I do write romances, but the rating for this fiction is going to stay 'T'. I don't write lemons guys, but I will put romance in this so please, enjoy it! I would also like to thank Fuego reviewing not five minutes before I posted this. At least I thought it was hilarious. D There is some romance in this chapter, but not too much. Hades may be instantly in love thanks to an arrow, but that doesn't mean Persephone is. Poor girl, her life is hard.

If you have questions about this myth, I suggest looking it up on Wikipedia. It's very helpful and comes in many languages, seeing as English is my one and only language that I know fluently. I'm hopeless in Spanish.

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Hades felt a funny feeling develop and his stomach and he groaned softly in defeat. He turned annoyed silver orbs to look at the petite goddess in front of him. "And who are you to talk to me in such a familiar and disrespectful way." He watched as a blush spread across her face and he could see the faint outline of brown freckles dusted across her nose and cheek bones. She was small at least to him, barely coming up to the top of his shoulder. His cool silver eyes quickly surveyed her, making her blush harder. Why did it have to be this child like goddess? He was going to murder Cupid… Once he was done surveying this woman-child that his heart had picked. He rubbed the heel of his hand uncomfortably over the fresh wound, feeling his heart beat. Being the lord of the dead, his heart rarely beat, but in her presence, it was picking up speed, and he had to admit that it was very uncomfortable.

She felt embarrassment rise up and make her face flush and grow hot as her hands wrung behind her back. Now that she had his attention the fight went out of her, but she found herself strangely unsettled by the silver eyes that stared down at her. It made her gulp and the silver eyes followed the motion her throat made. She felt even more nervous and took a step back when he straightened and pushed off of the column. "I… I just… I, um, needed, uh…"

Hades sighed softly, looking away from the girl. It took great effort, but he managed to pull it off while looking bored. "You wanted directions. Where to?"

Persephone mentally shook herself and looked away as well. Her voice was softer and hade Hades glancing back at her at the movement of her head. "The meeting room… please." She tacked the please on after a brief moment of awkward silence. Hades thought about offering her his arm for a brief moment before shaking his head and crossing his arms over his chest. He was going to have Cupid hit him with an owl feathered arrow for indifference. He never offered his arm to a woman, much less this sprite of a girl. He moved forward in silence, his feet barely making a sound as the cape around his throat fluttered quietly in his wake. Persephone started and went after him, walking behind him respectively. He went down the main hall, turning left at the end of it and went down a few doors until he was in front of the familiar double doors that the meeting room was in. The arguing was still going on and he frowned in distaste. Did they have to yell at each other?

Persephone gently bumped into his back at the sudden stop and bit her lip when he stiffened. Had she offended him by bumping into him? Perhaps the rumors her mother had told her were true. Hades, the vengeful and unmerciful god who tormented anyone who got into his way. She opened her mouth to apologize when he turned around slowly, but the odd look on her face made her hesitate. She was expecting a cold look, but instead was met with an indifferent face. Looking harder, she saw the corner of his mouth twitch upwards. Was… was he laughing at her?! Persephone felt her face grow hot again, taking a step back when he turned around fully. His lips curved more and she gulped again, an unfamiliar feeling moving in her stomach. It sent up a thrill up her spine and she stomped it down, slightly scared of the unknown feeling. What was wrong with her? The maiden goddess frowned even more as Hades gave her a knowing look. What did he know that she didn't? Her mouth moved into another frown and his eyes followed the movement, glancing back up at her blue eyes. Another thrill had her stiffening as nervousness made her knees shake a little under the blue shift.

Hades watched the girl's face go through a range of emotions from annoyance to disbelief. One emotion that flashed over her face had his mouth curving even more into a rare half smirk. She was staring at his mouth. He watched her stiffen and then confusion arrested her features, making his mouth part to let out a soft sigh. Of course. She was a maiden goddess, she wouldn't know what chemistry was if it bit her. Looking around the area, he spotted a feathery appendage hide behind a pillar and he frowned. Cupid ducked his head out warily and froze, seeing he'd been caught. He quickly turned and fled into an adjoining room, making Hades scowl. He was going to get that boy. Later. He looked down at the small goddess next to him, his hand itching to reach out. He crossed his arms tighter to avoid touching her. Her mouth moved into a frown and he watched them move, and then looked back up at her eyes.

Persephone was confused. He sighed again, looking away towards the double doors. If he chased the girl it wouldn't only be a scandal, it would be a small war. She was a creature of the sunlight, if her tanned skin didn't give her away. It would never work. Impatience filled him and he rapped on the double doors. The arguing paused for a moment before starting up again. "Zeus, come back here, I'm not finished with you!"

The footsteps approaching the door turned around and the king of the gods raised his voice over the matron's voice, and the two were at it again. Persephone let out a sigh. "Would you like to go somewhere else Lord Hades? Perhaps somewhere more private?" Hades looked down at Persephone to see she was walking away and back to the main hallway. He glanced at the door then shrugged, following the small woman again.

They walked in silence for a moment until they reached the pillars and she took to leaning against one. Hades stood across from her, watching her quietly. "You have a name child?"

Persephone nodded her head, giving a quick curtsy in respect. "I am Persephone, daughter of Demeter. I know who you are."

Hades nodded once in approval, feeling something nag at the back of his mind. What exactly had she heard of him? "I see." Persephone rubbed at her chilled arms and Hades looked around. Seeing the hallways empty, he pulled at the tie to his cloak and unfastened it easily.

Persephone watched as the heavy cloak came off and his physique was shown. He looked fit and tall for a man who spent his life under the ground. "Here." Her eyes looked up as Hades turned the cloak inside out to the warmer part, using both hands to gently tie the cloak around her throat. He made a noise of approval when her shaking ceased and Persephone wrapped herself up in the huge cloak that looked more like a blanket then anything else.

Hades felt himself pause as the dying sunlight from the windows outside turned orange, giving her a golden glow. His hands lingered at the ties around her neck and he stepped forward as she leaned further against the pillar. She watched with innocent curiosity as he brushed her hair out of her face, hands brushing against the ivy crown carefully. "Lord Hades…?" Her voice came out as a soft question as the situation had changed and it felt like it deserved quiet hushes instead of normal tones.

His pale skin looked golden too as his eyes caught the dying sunlight, reflecting the sunset back down at her. She couldn't help but stare as the colors caught in his hair. Even when she had sat in the fields, she had never seen that happen before. The Neriads and nymphs kept her company while her mother did her duty, and she made forests re-grow. Truly, she had no real purpose or duty. Shaking her head, she looked away and towards the sunset. "It's beautiful outside, isn't it?"

The change in conversation had Hades glancing briefly outside before looking down at her again. Something was urging him forward, to lean in and see if she smelt as good as she looked. His jaw clenched as Cupid's grinning face flashed through his mind and he sighed. His face looked old and worn out for a brief moment before it carefully blanked again. He couldn't afford to show weaknesses, not in this place. "Yes, beautiful is the perfect word." Persephone turned to look back at him to see he was still close and wasn't looking outside but at her. A nervous feeling erupted in her stomach again and she smiled uneasily.

"I was talking about the sunset."

Hades looked up at her eyes easily, his hands toying with the curls that fell around her shoulders. "I wasn't." There was a cool sort of calculation on his face as he quietly watched her fidget. What would it be like to lean down and kiss her throat where the pulse he saw hammered so hard? Would the curls come undone in her hair if he pulled the ivy out that held up the intricate hair style? His mind wasn't thinking straight, one part of him screamed, but another, one he wasn't familiar with, wasn't thinking about anything but the woman-child in front of him.

Persephone shifted and his eyes caught her's, seeing she wanted to run away. And for the split second she'd looked up she knew she wouldn't get far if she did run. She wanted to scream, wanted to move, wanted to stomp her foot for those arresting silver eyes to hold her so still. Fear and something else in her stomach had her staring at him as he stared down at her and he leaned down. 'Just a taste' he thought. He hovered close to her face as the eyes he was so arrested by filled up with fear and he stopped. 'Slow down. Don't scare her off.' He bypassed her face and rested his head at her neck, breathing in her scent. She smelt so strongly of flowers that it was almost intoxicating. Her hands rested on his shoulders as he stepped closer, keeping her pressed against the pillar. "Lord Hades…?" Her voice hit a higher note when his hands cradled her head and neck. She didn't understand! What was he doing to her!? "Please, Lord Hades, my mother—"

Hades sighed softly against her skin, making her toes curl as she stiffened even more. "Your mother is preoccupied yelling at my brother. Do not worry." Persephone bit her lip and worried it with her teeth as he stayed at her neck, just listening to her pulse hammer underneath his ear. The sun had set by then and was casting everything in shadows, the torches lighting the hallways up. He recognized at least one feeling in his stomach, want. He forced his hands to stay on her shoulders and lightly brushed his mouth against her skin, to see her reaction.

Persephone let out a squeak at the sudden movement and squirmed, wanting free. His hands held her still and her eyes looked around for anyone who could help her, but saw no one. No, this wasn't awkward at all!! Her fear and something else escalated as she tried twisting around to look at the black head that was in the crook of her neck. "Lord Hades, please, someone will see!" How she wished someone would see and stop whatever it was he was thinking of doing! For a brief moment, she thought he might eat her. Was he a cannibal? She didn't understand what he was doing or why she felt this way. Her mother said she would never marry, so she didn't need to know what married people did or what couples did when in love. And whenever Aphrodite had visited for flowers to decorate herself with, her mother had kept her far away, calling the goddess promiscuous when she wasn't around.

Persephone didn't know what that meant, but apparently it was a deep insult. "Say my name again. Just my name, please. No titles." His voice was soft and for a moment, Persephone couldn't think of anything to say to make him let her go. She didn't want him to. She tried to turn her head to look at his face but it was hidden in her neck, not moving.

"I don't understand. Lo-… Hades…" He shifted a little when she said his name. He liked it. No titles separating their statuses. Not exactly in his right mind, he could feel the arrow's magic mingling in his body, making itself a permanent residence. He didn't kiss her neck again, but rested his head there, listening to the pulse beat. His hands moved to hold her still, a hand on either side of her rib cage instead of her waist or hips. What frightened her the most wasn't that he was keeping her in place, but that he was really close. And she liked it. That scared her. She stuttered out his name again on a breath when he shifted below her jaw line and his nose accidentally skimmed her jaw. Hades had made up his mind. Perhaps this arrow wasn't so bad after all. He needed a queen, didn't he? Feeling the small woman against him fit perfectly, he made up his mind. She would be. Love? Love wasn't needed, in his opinion.

"Just trust me." He felt her breath hitch and she squirmed a little bit, trying to twist her head to look at him.

"Hades, please, let me go. I must leave; my mother is going to be worried for me. I can not stay with you, let me go." As tempting as the thought was, he didn't do it, instead leaving her neck to her ear. "Never." Persephone's eyes widened a little as he took her wrists in his hands, pulling her hands towards him as he pulled his head back to look down at her. He watched her eyes widen when she realized that he was serious. He wasn't about to let her go.

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"Persephone! Persephone darling, where are you!? Perse—" Her mother's voice drew closer until it suddenly stopped and he looked to his right to see that Demeter was staring, open mouthed, at the both of them. Her eyes darted from her daughter's face to her brother Hades's face, and her own slowly started to turn purple. "Unhand my daughter you monster!"

Hades's good mood turned sour as his eyes narrowed and his hands tightened on Persephone's wrists. Persephone glanced between her mother and Hades nervously, not wishing for any argument to start over her. Hades frowned at Demeter, carefully releasing Persephone's tanned wrists. Demeter's hands flew out and grabbed Persephone, pulling her daughter forward.

Zeus turned the corner to escort Demeter to the gates only to see a slightly shaken Persephone, a furious Demeter, and an indifferent Hades. He mentally sighed. It wasn't going to end was it? This headache of a family of his. "What seems to be the problem Demeter, Hades?"

Hades glanced at his younger brother, barely inclining his head. "Demeter settled my problem for me. I came to tell you that I had an increased flow of souls from her province, and they told me that they all starved to death. However, I arrived to see that she was taking care of my business for me. Persephone was kind enough to keep me company."

Demeter's face turned from purple to blue almost as she sputtered indignantly. "You were ravishing my daughter in the hallway!" Zeus turned shocked eyes towards Hades and he held up a hand to keep Zeus's questions at bay. "He was! I saw it with my own eyes; he had her by her hands and was ravishing her!"

Hades idly glanced at Demeter, seeing Persephone's confused face. "If I was ravishing her, which I was not, I wouldn't lower myself to do so in a public place." He watched as Demeter's face turned an interesting shade of purple and blue at once.

"Persephone, wait for me at the gates." Persephone immediately fled the hallway as it filled with tension, and she felt a pair of eyes on her back all the way until she turned the corner. She didn't go to the gates, however, but stayed around the corner to listen.

Hades turned to Demeter, pulling the loose collar of his tunic down to reveal the fresh wound. Zeus frowned carefully. "Cupid was sent by the fates to hit me with an arrow. Persephone was lost in the hallways and I saw her, and no one else. She asked me for directions. I knocked on the door to get your attention, but you two continued to scream at one another." Demeter turned red, her jaw clenching in anger. Hades calmly looked at Zeus and saw the guilty look on his face. Hades's eyes narrowed. Zeus had known about the fates.

Demeter's train of thought seemed to be the same and she turned on Zeus, ready to throttle him if necessary. "I refuse for this monster to marry my child! She's mine! Mine I tell you, and no one else's!"

Zeus lightly shook his head. "Demeter, there is nothing I can do. The fates have written the tapestry, I can not unweave it." Demeter shook her head widely, panic seizing her.

"I will not let him near my child! You saw what he did to her!"

Hades frowned. "Demeter, I am your brother, not a monster. Do not treat me as such." His voice had turned ice cold and Demeter's mouth gaped open before snapping shut.

"You might as well be a snake, for that's what you are, preying on my innocent daughter!"

Zeus pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a head ache coming on. "Demeter, stop your petty squabbling. Hades…" He trailed off, trying to think of a way to satisfy both deities. Demeter wouldn't have it.

Demeter shook her head fervently. "He does not have my permission to be near her! I will not have this… this trash touching my daughter!"

Hades stiffened. His temper at its end, he straightened to tower over the small and plump woman. "It isn't like I have a choice in the matter, Demeter." He brushed himself off of imaginary dust. "Like it or not, the fates have decided." He sneered out softly before giving a mocking bow to Zeus. "I'm returning to my home. I will be back in a little over a week to pay you another visit Zeus." He nodded his head once at Demeter, scowling at his younger sister. How she could be so possessive of the girl, he didn't know. Then again, he felt possessive over her already. He turned and strode off down the hallway, heading for the gates.

Persephone heard his footsteps and quickly hid behind a huge potted plant, willing it to grow to hide her with its broad leaves. She crouched down behind it and Hades walked by without pausing. She waited until he was gone before she got up. Wait, if she wasn't at the gates, he'd know she hadn't gone and probably stayed behind in the doorway.

Persephone didn't like to swear, but she nearly did as she took off at a run for the gates. She took a different hallway then Hades, using the side she had explored earlier. She made it to the front gates seconds before he did and she tried to look casual instead of out of breath from running. Hades stopped at the gates where his chariot of four black horses waited. They pawed at the clouds, neighing as he drew near. He murmured softly to them and stroked each black head, their red eyes looking past him and at Persephone. She fidgeted under their stares and Hades glanced over his shoulder at her. "Would you like to come closer, little Persephone?"

Brushing off the 'little' comment, she started to draw near until Demeter appeared. She glared daggers at Hades before gripping her daughter's hand tightly. "Persephone, I forbid you from speaking to this man. Say goodbye."

A little bit cowed at her mother's furious look, she ducked her head as she passed him and they headed out of the gates. "Good bye, Hades."

He watched with silver eyes as they disappeared out the golden gates and returned to Earth in a gust of leaves. He stroked one of his horse's head thoughtfully before climbing into the chariot itself. She hadn't said his title. With satisfaction that his day wasn't completely ruined, Hades left Olympus.

Demeter, however, had plans. She'd hide her daughter away; perhaps send her to Poseidon for protection beneath the waves. He could grant her the ability to breathe underwater, right? She'd leave her daughter there until Hades gave up. Satisfied with her plan, Demeter glanced at Persephone. She wouldn't let her monster of a brother have her child, even if it was fated.

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Well? What do you think?

Lt. RaIQ