DISCLAIMER:

There is a sexytiem scene in this chapter. No, I'm not changing the rating. I've read worse in Gossip Girl books, but this is just a forewarning. Nothing is overly explicit – it's not smut, or anything. BUT – If you're like, 13, don't read it? Idk, you've likely read much worse. Anywho. :P You know your limits, so just skip it if that sort of content offends you.

Chapter 26:

In the days that followed the proposal, Persephone had found herself spending more and more time in her garden, exploring and experimenting with growing different things. She rarely saw Hades, except for the occasional dinner he was able to attend, as souls began to enter the Underworld in droves.

He began feeling weaker and weaker with each new soul he sent to Tartarus. And, despite his best efforts, Persephone could tell; could see.

Still, he did his best to make her happy, lavishing her with fine jewelry and clothes to make up for his absence.

She knew he was working hard, and though she was never one for wearing such fine jewelry – that was more Aphrodite's thing – she appreciated the gesture. As the days progressed, Persephone noticed more and more shades in the palace. She saw a shade moving around the pillows in the dining hall. He was carrying red fabric.

"What is all this for?" she asked him.

The shade gave her a low bow. "For your wedding, of course, my lady." Her face turned red. She decided not to ask any more questions.

The ceremony itself was simple, but for a whole day, the entire Underworld stopped, and all deities therein were in attendance. Both bride and groom wore red chitons, and the feast was grand, sporting wonderful wine, meats, cheeses and fruits. A shade played a lyre and sang as people feasted and danced, talking and cheering and being merry.

The two sat separated, with Hades entertaining the male guests.

Just as she was starting to feel antsy, Persephone felt a hand touch her shoulder. It was Hecate.

"I distinctly remember you saying that me you would never be this 'tyrant's Queen." Her smile was kind.

."…He…managed to change my mind," Persephone softly laughed. "I wish I could talk to him…I'm quite nervous, about, you know-"

Hecate sat next to her, and still touching her shoulder, whispered in her ear. "Do not be afraid, my lady."

Right now she's not sure if she's afraid or nervous. She suspects she's both. The celebration continues well after Hades and Persephone leave, him leading her by the arm.

He pauses when they reach the bedroom door, pushing them open with his other hand.

His side burns and his head pounds.

He hasn't done this sort of thing in a long time.

They walk towards his bed – their bed, now – and Persephone wonders if he can hear her heart beating rapidly.

She doesn't know it, but he's just as nervous as she is.

He turns to look at her, eyes serious and contemplative.

"I will wait, if you're not ready –" He's cut off when she pushes him down to a sitting position on the bed and straddles him, leaving a trail of hot kisses from his neck to his mouth.

His stubble tickles her face.

"…I'm ready, Hades," she says into his ear. Time to put those lessons Aphrodite taught me to the test.

He rolls so that he is on top, and a chaste kiss on the lips turns into something fierce and passionate; her hands tear at his clothes until his chest is bare. She trails her fingers over his sculpted chest and abdomen. She feels his stomach quiver as her hand moves just below his navel and then back up again. He groans when she lifts her hips, accidentally kneeing his right side.

"Are you alright?" she asks, running her fingers up and down the length of his back.

"…Yes." His voice is strained; his breath is hot against her ear.

He's shaking.

She rolls so that she is straddling his hips again, and she looks down at him. "Hades… Tell me what's wrong." When she places her hands on his chest, she feels his hands move to rest on her hips.

"I've been waiting to hold you like this," his hands begin to move slowly upward, "to kiss you like this," he sits up slightly, lightly kissing her and moving his hands up to her shoulders, "for so long."

His hands unhook and pull down her red tunic to her waist and she looks away from him, embarrassed.

"Persephone, look at me." She feels his hand on her cheek, turning her to face him. "Don't hide from me."

She looks in his eyes, clear and determined. "Don't hide from me."

She shuts her eyes, removes the rest of her clothing and crosses her arms over her chest.

"Don't hide," he says, his shaking hands lightly pulling her arms down, "you're beautiful. So beautiful…"

He sits up again, pulling her flush against his chest.

She feels his burning mark against her skin, hears him sigh in relief on her neck.

Keeping her close, his hands explore every inch of her skin; he hears her breathing becoming louder in his ear, her hips grinding against him. He moans at the contact.

"Make love to me," she says, breathlessly. "Hades, make love to me."

His kisses up her throat to her lips, rocking his hips with hers and holding her even tighter against him. "Yes, my lady," he says as she removes the last bits of his chiton.

And so he does; taking his time loving her; exploring her body with his hands, taking in her scent and feeling her holding him against her.

His mark soothes with her touch, her body fitted perfectly against his. He feels alive, feels truly alive, and she's here with him.

Touching him, kissing him.

Loving him.

When the time comes, they fall off the precipice together, holding tightly to one another and saying each other's names breathlessly.

She lays her head on his chest. "My king," she says, "I love you." I will not let you fall.

He wraps his arms around her tightly.

Sleep comes, restfully and peacefully.

"Hermes, I don't care how sick you are; you're going to the Underworld."

"But Father-"

"No excuses, Hermes. Demeter is killing the humans – Persephone needs to be here now. Get her back. What are you waiting for? GO!"

Zeus's voice leaves no room for arguing, and Hermes heads for the Underworld, despite his dizziness.

He greets Cerberus and Charon; both who eye him suspiciously.

When he reaches the throne room, he almost stops in his tracks at the sight of Persephone and Hades. He…actually did it. He married her.

He clears his throat.

"Hades, Zeus has ordered you to release Persephone at once."

Hades stands up, black robes billowing behind him. His face is furious. "Zeus cannot order me to do anything." This cannot be happening. I can't lose her – not now. Not after all of this.

"Hades, the humans are dying-"

"Why should I care if humans are dying? They give me no sacrifices or praise. Let them die." Black shadows swirl around him, and Hermes backs away.

Persephone looks at Hades, her eyes wide.

"They are dying because of Demeter. She needs to see her daughter."

His eyes narrow. He looks cold, calculating. "Let them die."

Persephone stands up. "Hades! How can you say that?!" she gasps. "The gods need human worship to live!"

"The humans don't worship me. Their deaths make my realm stronger." His voice his cold.

His eyes are colder.

"You know that isn't true, Hades! Why are you-"

Hades grabs her wrist and points to Hermes. "He wants to take you away from me!"

Hermes readies his staff. "Let her go, Hades!" His legs quiver.

Hades looks at Hermes, sending a spiral of green flames at him.

"Hades!"

His head snaps back to hers. "My mother needs me," she says, trying to make him understand.

"I need you," he tells her. He snaps his fingers, and a pomegranate appears in his hand. He gives it to her.

"Eat the seeds." I need you.

"Hades-"

"Eat the seeds."

"Hades!" She feels tears threatening to come out. She doesn't let herself cry. Not now. Not after all this.

"Dammit, Persephone, I love you! Eat the seeds!" His voice is raw and angry; his grip on her wrist is like iron. If you don't, he'll take you from me forever. "Please, eat the seeds." Don't let me fall.

She shakes her head, and her voice quavers. "Don't ask me to choose between my mother and my husband, Hades. Don't. Please."

"Persephone, don't!" Hermes' voice is strained. He's still trying to defend himself from the flames.

"She will never let you return…" he says. "You will never be able to come back to me."

"Hades, you don't know that-"

He laughs, mirthlessly. "I do," he says, "I do know that." He shuts his eyes and sits back down, clenching his jaw. "Go," he says. It was all a lie, he hears Cronus laugh in his mind. She never loved you; look at her now, leaving you after only a day of marriage. You have lost, my son.

"My king, I –"

"Leave, Persephone." His eyes are still closed.

She kisses him, and after a few moments he reciprocates, his hands clinging to her.

"Don't leave me. Please," he whispers.

"My king…I'm sorry."

Hermes grabs her and pulls her away. "You know what this means, Hades."

"Yes." Persephone sees him gripping his throne tightly through tears she doesn't dare let fall free.

Hermes escorts her out of the Underworld and back to Olympus.

She's in a daze. What have I done?

Her crying mother rushes up to her, squeezing her tightly in her arms. Distantly she hears voices.

They're all there to greet her: Poseidon, grinning at her, and Ares too, Aphrodite with a sad smile on her face, Dionysus, Hestia and even Hera.

"Zeus, look what Hades has done to my daughter! He's killed her, that's what he's done! She does not speak nor weep…Oh my poor child!"

"Enough of that, Demeter! Reverse what you've done!"

"I want Hades to be punished!"

"Demeter, we have taken away his wife-"

"She is NOT his wife – she is MY daughter!"

In her daze, she manages to find the guestrooms. Oh Hades, I'm so sorry. She collapses on the bed, and this time-

This time she cries.

And on the other side of the palace, four gods rejoice in the success of their plan.

Tartarus.

In his anger and pain, he finds himself there.

"Father!" he screams. He falls to his knees, clutching his side.

He hears Cronus's voice in his mind, Come to serve me, Aidoneous?

"I have!" he yells, his voice straining from the burning pain.

Burning fingers touch his face, lifting his head up. "How will you serve me?" The figure in front of him is a shadow, dark and shifting. The voice is sharp and deep. "Tell me how you will serve me."

"I will destroy Zeus," he screams, "I will destroy Olympus – I will destroy the gods!"

The figure makes a sound that almost sounds like a laugh. "Perfect, Aidoneous. Perfect."

Hades feels Cronus's shadow-fingers touch his side, and his mind goes blank.

He feels nothing anymore.

A/N:

Hope ya'll liked it. As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments and reviews. :P I know I changed the whole pomegranate thing, but ya'll know I changed TONS of things in this story so yeah. LOVE YA'LL – R and R, dudes and dudettes! J