A/N: Before you guys start reading, here's a little disclaimer: there is a very short suggestive scene later on in the chapter. It's not super graphic, but you've been warned. Like I said, the rating will go up for this story, but I don't feel that I'v written anything yet to bump the rating up. That WILL change in the future, but not for a while. Anyways, without further ado, here's the story.

Chapter 10:

"The nerve of that man!"

"Mother, stop it! It's been two days already!"

Persephone throws her hands up in exasperation. Her mother had been complaining about Hades and Zeus for the past two days. Every hour she would hear some story or other about how Zeus had raped thousands of women while his brother sat idly by. Then she would hear stories about Hades' cruelty in the Underworld. Then she would hear about his cruelty in the pit of Cronus's stomach. Persephone had finally grown completely tired of it when she said: "Well, you did slap him three times." That had completely set off her mother though, causing her to go on a rage-filled tangent even more annoying than the past two days combined. Real smart, Persephone, real smart. She groans when she hears her mother say something to the effect of: "I can't believe that oily black-heart dared to lay a finger on you!"

At this, Persephone can't help but yell at her mother, "I kissed him! In case you can't remember, there was a whole circle of gods surrounding us. "

Demeter glares at her daughter, "I will not have you speak sarcastically to me, Kore. Do I make myself clear?"

Persephone crosses her arms and narrows her eyes, "Perfectly."

Demeter huffs, "Good. Now I have to finish my work for the upcoming harvest – the sun is starting to set already. You can join me if you wish, or you can play with the nymphs."

She looks at the ground with her arms crossed, "I think I'll stay with the nymphs, thanks."

Demeter narrows her eyes and walks away. As her mother begins to glow and vanish, Persephone says, "You can come out now."

When there is no response, Persephone sighs and sits down on the wet grass beneath her. She brings her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around her legs. She looks out at the slowly setting sun leaving streaks of red and purple in the clouds and begins to lean her chin against her knees. Staring out at the setting sun, she says, "I have dreams about you sometimes, you know…Of a black wolf covered in blood, snarling at all those who try to help him. I see you in pain, never at peace…" she looks up at the purple clouds above her, "You're always running after a golden eagle in the sky… but you can never reach him. And I know it's you…he has your eyes, Lord Hades."

She looks right where he's standing. She can't see me, he thinks, I have my helm on. How does she know I'm here? Can she sense me…like my father? He isn't sure what to do. He had come to make peace with Demeter, and now he's here talking to her daughter, and he's completely at a loss for words. He frowns under his helmet. This girl makes you lose your thoughts too easily, he thinks. He decides to stay quiet.

With still no response, Persephone pats the grass next to her. "You can sit next to me, if you'd like…Helios really makes the sky beautiful at this time." After waiting patiently for a few minutes she starts to get up. She stops and sits back down when she hears a rustling at her side and sees him take is helmet off with the corner of her eye. She doesn't turn to look at him, simply sits with her head on her knees. He sits and looks at the sky, really looks at it for the first time in over a millennia, and feels a sense of calm wash over him. After a few minutes, he turns his head and looks at her.

"Thank you," he says quietly.

She turns to him, a puzzled look on her face, "For what, my lord?"

He shifts beside her, scrunching his brow together as if think of what to say before finally deciding on what's appropriate. Finally, he says, "For letting me sit with you."

She sees his serious expression, dark hair falling in front of his pale blue eyes - the short, dark stubble on his face making their color pop out more in the fleeting sunlight. She imagines herself ruffling his hair, making it even messier. Would that make you blush, Lord Hades? I'd love to see you blush.

Instead, she smiles at him – one of those breathtaking smiles that makes his heart feel like it's stopping, only to wind itself back up and start beating again – and says, "You're very welcome, my lord." And that's when he notices that his side isn't burning. He looks her face, her kind green eyes overlooking the grass field, her dark auburn hair cascading around her shoulders, and he realizes something. Love? No, it can't be love. You barely know the girl…but as he looks at her smiling back at him – his heart fluttering in his chest – he decides that if it's not love, it has to be something. He slowly gets up to leave and holds out his hand to her. She stares at him for a moment before taking his hand to stand up.

When she gets up, she looks him right in the eye, "I hope you find the peace you're looking for, my lord." She kisses him lightly on the cheek. He touches his hand to his cheek as she turns to leave. Oh, Persephone, he thinks, I believe I already have. He puts on his helmet and vanishes, heading towards Olympus.

"Zeus, stop it!"

"I can't, my love. You're simply too ravishing."

The girl beneath him giggles, "Is that what you tell your wife-"

She moans as he licks the side of her neck.

"Your talking," another lick, "is making things less fun."

She continues to giggle as Zeus starts to spread her legs, putting himself in between her thighs. He runs his hands up the sides of her legs and hears her give a throaty moan. Just as he's about to get down to business, he feels a cold shiver pass through him. He sits back on his haunches and scratches his head. He gets up from the bed and puts his robes back on.

"Zeus, what's wrong-"

"Wait here," he says as he walks out of his chamber. He hears her give a frustrated growl and smiles. You'll get what you want soon enough. He walks into the meal hall and once again feels a cold shiver rise up his spine.

Through a shaky breath, he says, "I see you're feeling better, Hades. You do know that you're not welcomed here, right?" He turns around to see if his brother is standing behind him – he finds nothing in the shadows. He looks all around him and finds nothing. Raising his lightning bolt, he yells, "Hades, stop with this nonsense! Reveal yourself!"

Zeus barely keeps himself from making a startled yelp when his brother appears out of the shadows right in front of him.

He glares at his brother, "State your business, Hades. You are not welcome here save for-"

"Save for winter solstice, yes brother, I know. I've simply come to tell you something."

Zeus smirks, "And that is?"

"I'm going to take one of your daughters to be my queen."

Zeus stares at his brother in shock. Hades? Make one of my daughters his queen? He shakes his head and crosses his arms in front of his broad chest, "This seems pretty brash for you, Hades...And if I refuse this request?"

" This is not a request, Zeus. I'm going to do this. I'm simply letting you know."

Zeus's eyes widen as he sputters, "You - you can't just take one of my daughters, Hades-"

"I can, and I will. This is bigger than just me or you, Zeus. It has to be done."

"Really? Because it sounds like it's really just about you. Has it been so long since you've had a woman, Hades, that you need to steal one of my daughters to satisfy you? I have one waiting in my chamber, you can take her if you're in so much need."

Hades feels his anger rise up and his side begin to burn. Even as he thinks about it, he realizes that he hasn't been with a woman for…he can't even remember how long. His pain bubbles up more as he hears a sharp whisper in his ear – Hate. He shakes his head and curls his lips up in disgust, "As much as I, ah…like the offer, Zeus, I'm afraid I'll have to refuse. Just know that by noon tomorrow, one of your daughters will be mine." As he begins to blanket himself in shadow, he hears Zeus call out, "You won't even tell me who she is? I have many daughters, you know!"

As the shadows completely engulf him, Hades quietly laughs, "You'll know who she is soon enough." And then he is gone, leaving Zeus completely alone in the giant hall, a sense of foreboding tugging at his heart. This is not going to end well.

A/N: Ok, so this chapter was pretty fluffy compared to the last one. Fluffiness is cute, but I think it starts to get a little boring after a while. I was trying to go for a bit of a darker tone with this fic, but I feel like I'm failing completely. Grrrrrr. Well anyways, yeah. So leave comments and reviews, gaiz :D I wuv all of you who comment –it's really awesome when you take the time to do that. So thanks, gaiz :) P.S. I don't have a beta reader, but if you guys could please suggest one or would like to be one, let me know.