Disclaimer: Property of A&E and ABC. Not Mine.

The grandfather clock in the hallway ticks quietly as Hades fidgets with the mottled button on his shirt cuff. One of the metal legs on his antiquated chair is slightly bent, and he shifts his weight restlessly against the plastic-covered cushion, rocking from side to side. His ornate bouquet is happily quenching its thirst in a clear vase on the counter, and the glass of water he poured earlier is sitting before him on the aged white tablecloth, barely touched.

Nervousness is rushing through his bloodstream. True Love notwithstanding, he has no idea what he's going to say to her. If he didn't know better, he'd think Zelena was also avoiding their conversation. But the muffled coos and murmurs from the far room indicate otherwise. She is engrossed with tending to her daughter, and socializing with her houseguest is obviously low on her list of priorities. Agitated, and slightly insulted, Hades takes it upon himself to investigate her quaint little domicile.

As quietly as he can, he peers into cabinets and cupboards, wondering why in hell Zelena chose a circa 1950's décor for her kitchen. He scans shelves and stovetops, yet beyond the matching emerald table settings and glassware, everything appears quite ordinary. Even her old fashioned refrigerator contains nothing but mundane foodstuffs. Zelena favors spinach over romaine in her salads, and Granny Smith apples are a favorite. There's a corner dedicated to all things baby, and her freezer is about six months overdue for a defrost.

Hades moves on to the next room, a small space furnished only with a chest of drawers and a mirror. The chest is locked, yet whatever is within is hardly used, given the coating of dust atop each drawer's ridge. The room beyond, however, is ripe for snooping.

The main living area is aptly furnished, unlike its Underworld counterpart. A faded crocheted runner travels atop the large wooden dining table, two chairs flanking each side. The runner's meager twin spans a square end table tucked next to a pale green wingback chair near the window. The children's book from the library, now adorned with a tasseled bookmark, is resting on the cushion. The floor lamp on the opposite side is shaded with darker green silk, the hints of gold reflecting its age. Two tall bookshelves stand against the longest wall. One is lined with dried herbs and potions, the other stuffed to the gills with literature. A narrow, unobtrusive table is angled between the window and the far corner; an open spell book, three brass alarm clocks and a few colored vials are aligned along the left edge. Tucked neatly beside the clocks is the Apprentice's wand. The remainder of the table is empty, yet deeply pockmarked and stained from use.

In the near corner to Hades' left sits a two-cushioned sofa, upholstered in the same fabric as the wingback. To his right is a modest and slightly warped fiberboard television stand, with a dated, dark grey cathode ray tube television perched atop it. Zelena does not watch a lot of TV, as both the set and the stand are buried in dust.

Hades is intrigued by both bookshelves and the allure of the wand, but it is the stone fireplace that commands his attention. Along the high mantle are some rather interesting items. On the far left is a simple framed photograph, newly taken of Zelena, Regina and the child. Their eyes betray their smiles. An empty cut-crystal vial with a teardrop stopper is stationed next to the gilded frame. On the opposing side of the mantle is a jet-black rectangular box with deeply curved sides. It is void of decoration beyond the golden band that traces the shallow oval lid where it meets with the squat cylindrical base below. The entire surface is smooth and sleek, suggesting high levels of premium lacquer.

However, it's what lies in the middle of the mantle that draws Hades' curiosity. Staged front and center is a slender opaque vase of white. Within it is the decayed flower he gave her in the Underworld.

Questions pepper his mind. How did she get it here? Why hasn't it decayed further? He brushes past the table and stares up at it. It certainly looks like the same flower. He reaches for it and right before his fingertips touch the withered leaves, he is hurled sideways, his shoulder sliding across the oak floor until his head slams into the wooden leg of the wingback chair. Ouch!

Her shriek pierces the air. "Get away from that!" Zelena is suddenly at his side, her body curved over him. "What in bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

Hades rights himself, rubbing the newly formed bump on the back of his head. He blinks in pain as he snarls, "Goddammit Zelena, can't you at least give me five minutes before you try to kill me again?"

"I wasn't trying to kill you, dolt. I was saving you. That mantle has a protection spell on it. My little love tap is nothing compared to what it would have done. Your sorry ass would have made me a nice, new window… right over there."

Her head tilts as she watches him stagger to his feet. "What do you mean… again?" Suspicion clouds her features as she takes a step backwards. The fingers of her right hand twitch at her side. "Who are you?"

He brushes the dirt from his clothes and faces her, stalwart. Yet the moment he opens his mouth, the words catch in his throat. "I'm… It's… I'm…" Hades, he repeats in his mind. I'm Hades!

But he can't bring himself to speak; her anger and trepidation are suffocating both his voice and his resolve. She's backpedaling towards the doorway with eyes of splintered steel. Long, elegant fingers start to curl and arc with the green of her power. "I've known for months that you aren't what you seem. It's obvious to anyone with a brain." She gestures haphazardly. "Clearly my sister and her horde of heroes are lacking in that department." Apprehension returns as she sneers, "You aren't really a knight, are you?"

"No, but … I won't hurt you. Zelena, please… "

"I knew it. Who are you?" Her body tenses when she glances up at the mantle. "Why did you want that?"

"I didn't… I was just…"

Cold shards of fear are glistening in icy blue. "Are you Zeus? Hades' brother?" Her defenses flare as the fireball ignites in her palm. "If so, you'd better leave now, because I don't care how powerful you are… I will not let you take him from me!"

Hades' heart skips in fear. "No! No Zelena, I'm not Zeus."

The flames remain, crackling in her hand. "Who then? Another god? A magician from another realm?" She squints, studying his face. "I don't know how you knew what happened that day… there's only three people in the world that could know what you know. I didn't tell anyone, Regina swears up and down she didn't, and the third…"

Hades manages a weak grin, wriggling his fingers in a small wave. He cringes when her skin sheets to white. The fireball evaporates right before both her hands fly to her pale face. "No…" she whispers, "no… it can't be…"

"I didn't know how to tell you." He reaches for her, but she jerks away at his touch. He yanks his hand back rapidly, curling his fingers as if they'd been burned. Moments pass as they both stare at each other, frozen in uncertainty.

Her gaze shifts towards the mantle again before returning to the floor. Her voice is faint and deathly calm. "So. What are you going to do to me?"

What is she talking about? "Do to you?"

"Well that's why you're here, isn't it? To get your revenge?"

"Zelena…no, I…"

She holds up one hand. "Don't patronize me, Hades. I know how you work. You forget, I was once just like you. I know how to manipulate people's emotions too." She looks up at him, heartbreak crashing against a sea of blue. "I never did learn not to trust you. My mistake."

"I'm not here for revenge, Zelena."

"Oh? So what then? We kiss and make up? Would that be before or after we talk about how I stabbed you through the heart with that bloody crystal and turned you into a pile of ash?" Anger surges through him, and she sees it spark in his eyes. "Didn't think you'd be so forgiving about that."

Dammit. Maybe he should just leave. Henry was wrong. True Love doesn't conquer all. He studies her. She is all teeth and snarls, yet he knows that beneath the hostility there is deep-rooted fear and, above all, pain. Henry's storybook captured her perfectly; her biting sarcasm and raging temper are all she knows when she's hurting.

The pirate's warning echoes in his mind. They aren't easy to love.

The vise around Hades' heart unclenches. Of course she's not easy to love. He's been looking at this all wrong. This isn't supposed to be simple. It's supposed to be real.

She's still glaring daggers at him. He takes a deep breath. "Zelena... I was wrong. You're right – I haven't forgiven you. I'm stuck in this pathetic mortal body and completely powerless – all because of you. But… I was wrong. I was so caught up in proving myself to you, and to everyone, that I lost sight of everything else." He lowers his head, his words riddled with shame. "I'm sorry I made you choose. We could have had it all. It's my fault we don't." He reaches for her hand, and she lets him take it, tears brimming against her lashes. "I'm sorry."

One tear crests and trickles down her cheek. "I didn't know what to do," she whispers. Another follows when he takes her other hand, both soft and limp against his fingertips.

"I know."

"You were going to kill her." She peers up at him, watery and defiant. "Don't deny it."

He squeezes her hands gently. "I won't. I was going to kill her. I wanted to kill them all." A part of him shudders at the thought. It just seems so wrong now. So pointless.

"And now?"

Her gaze is tethered to his, and he can see the hope flickering there. Despite everything, she still has hope. Whether it's for him, for herself, or for both of them is unclear. It doesn't matter; he'll take whatever he can get. He smiles and releases her, his thumb wiping away yet another tear as it cascades down her cheek.

"Now, it's different. I'm different. Perhaps you didn't know, but… I'm a hero." He steps back and spreads his arms wide. "Pretty impressive, huh? I get my ass kicked by bad guys and help all the other heroes with their silly pet projects." He wiggles his eyebrows at her. "I even have a sword."

Her head tilts to the floor, but she lifts her eyes to him. He can see the amusement dancing across her face. "I see." The levity fades quickly when she asks, "Is it real?"

He drops his bravado. "If I told you it was, would you believe me?"

"I don't know."

Her lack of trust hurts - deeply. But this must be his price to pay. For being the villain. "I understand."

Her voice cracks, "Do you?"

"I'd like to think I do. Zelena, I lied to you. You were terrified that I would disappoint you, and that's exactly what I did. I can't possibly expect you to forget everything that happened in the fifteen minutes since you've learned I'm … well, not dead. I don't exactly call this living – wearing a mortal's body has been decidedly unpleasant."

Her demeanor shifts, the anguish fading away. Moments pass before she asks, "How did it happen? I mean... how are you alive? And... well... him? Not that there's anything wrong with him... you." Her cheeks flush. "Sorry... if you don't want to tell me, I understand."

He grins. "I don't mind. But it's a long story."

Her head twists over her shoulder. "Robyn isn't due up for another hour." She walks over to the sofa and sits, patting the cushion beside her. "I'd like to hear it."

He joins her. "Just remember, you asked for this."

"It can't be that bad."

"Let me know if you still think that after I'm done. So… you probably don't know, but there's another realm, one that's empty, undeveloped. The Fates called it the Void. I don't know how long I was in there, but…"

ooooooooooooooo

Three hours later, Zelena is sitting in the wingback chair with her daughter in her lap as Hades pantomimes the swordfighting skills he's learned from watching YouTube videos, pretending to re-enact his battle with Hyde. The tiny girl is giggling hysterically at his antics, and Hades is having a grand old time making silly faces at her.

"And then," he states dramatically, "the brave hero turned and sliced through the 2.5 Farad capacitor and it went 'Boom!'" He waves his hands and she squeals with glee. "The bad man went 'Splat!' on the floor, just like this!" He drops to the floor, covering his face. She squeals again when he opens his hands and cries, "'Splat!'"

Zelena is smiling too, but it's not enough to hide her true state of mind. He knows this is new for her – he's been living with this mortal reality for months. He's learned to make the best of it. Yet for her… he can only imagine what she must be thinking, what she's feeling. He rights himself quickly, wiping off his pants. "Maybe we'd better call it quits for today, Miss Robyn." He leans over and tickles his fingers near the blue embroidered flower on her cozy yellow jumper. "I'll tell you how it ends another time, okay?"

His heart melts when her tiny hand clamps around his index finger, surprisingly strong. Babies are a whole new dynamic for him. Who knew they could be so much fun? When he pries his finger free, her lips pout. Zelena retrieves a favored toy, a small pink stuffed animal, and quickly hands it to her daughter. Disaster averted, her weary eyes meet his.

"I know it's a lot," he says softly.

"That's putting it lightly."

"You shouldn't… I mean, we don't…" He sighs. "What I'm trying to say is that you don't owe me anything. I came here today to tell you who I was, and... I did. Now you know. What happens, or doesn't happen, with us - well, it is up to you." His words cease but his mind continues, I still love you.

He wants this. He wants her and her daughter – a family. Robyn is a feisty, adorable spitfire. He was instantly charmed. He wants it all - her and Robyn, Henry, and Sunday dinner with the heroes at Snow's giant table with Neal and Robyn playing together while he and Zelena relax in the corner.

It doesn't trump having his body and power back – that's now become more important than ever. He wants Zelena to fall back in love with the man she knew, not this scruffy mortal with untamable hair and a permanent five-o'clock shadow. With his power restored, he can give her and her daughter anything they'd ever want.

He knows it might not happen. The thought drives pain deep into his soul - the same anguish he felt when he thought he might lose Henry. Yet this time it is heavier, more profound. The odds that Zelena will choose a mortal man embodied with the soul of the god she thought she loved, but was forced to kill, are slim. Nevertheless, the choice is hers, as it has always been.

Hades forces a smile he doesn't feel. "I should go."

"Yes, well… it's past her supper time. And tonight is bath night. And we have our story to finish and…" She trails off, running her hand over her daughter's arm, smoothing the child's rumpled sleeve.

"Of course," he states politely. "I won't burden you any longer."

"Oh, it's not a burden. I mean, you aren't a burden. It's… I'm… glad you stopped by." Her cheeks flush in embarrassment and Hades pulse quickens. There is hope here. Definite hope.

"Zelena, there's one thing I didn't mention earlier. It's important. The heroes do not know my real identity. For my own safety, I ask that you keep this between us. To them I'm still Sir Rhye the Knight."

She blinks up at him, doe-eyed. "You've told no one… but me?"

"Henry knows."

"Well then," she says smugly, "the gaggle of heroes knows, too."

"Actually, no – they don't. Henry and I agree that now is not the right time to tell them. Particularly your sister, Zelena. It's crucial that Regina doesn't find out, given her… current situation. She… well, I don't think she'd forgive me."

Zelena chuckles low in her throat. "I think not." Her eyes narrow. "And you're certain that Henry will keep his noble mouth shut?"

"I trust the boy. He… he is my friend."

Her lips turn up in a lopsided grin. "Regina's son is your friend."

"Yes. Is that so strange?"

"The God of Death… has a friend."

"Yes."

"The Author. The Truest Believer. The son of the Savior and cornerstone to all of Storybrooke – is friends with you."

"Yes, Zelena. I told you – things are different. I… care about him."

Her head tilts as her blue eyes widen, ever so slightly. "You're serious."

"I am." His tone hardens. "Extremely so. I know you choose to believe what you wish, when you wish, so I won't say it again. Henry is important to me. All I ask is that you respect that, and you honor my request to keep my true identity a secret."

With humor in her tone she answers, "Duly noted."

"Thank you." With a bow, he bids her and her daughter good evening as he makes his way to her door. She follows behind him, flipping on the driveway light as he steps into the muted shadows of early twilight. Once at the bottom of her stairs, he turns to wave good-bye, and she and the baby on her hip are reflected in silhouette by the golden light from within her home. The image traps his breath in his throat. She is beautiful; dignified and elegant – the epitome of what every man dreams he'll come home to each night. However, Hades sees more. He sees the softness in her; how much she has changed from the vindictive witch he met in Oz all those years ago. That Zelena is gone, most likely forever.

If they are to be True Love again, he will need to get to know her for who she is, and she will need to do likewise. He is not the same Hades that stood in Regina's office months ago. If he can find a way to prove that to her, she might change her mind, and if he's lucky, her heart.

ooooooooooooooo

Hades is lost in thought when he finally parks the beat-up Ford on the side street behind the library, the headlights illuminating the faint haze of dampness in the air. The slam of the door is muted in the darkness, and Hades' senses prickle in alarm. Something isn't right.

He curses himself for leaving his sword behind, but showing up at Zelena's doorstep armed for battle would have earned him a fireball in the face. He debates hurrying upstairs to retrieve it, until a flash of light from the street squashes that idea. His shoes flap against the pavement as he runs towards the front of the library. He skids to a stop right before the double doors because…there's nothing. The street is deserted save for a lone couple exiting Granny's. Hades heads to the diner, curious if any of the heroes are within. He finds Charming and Snow, the latter spooning pureed yellow glop into the tight-lipped face of her unwilling son. Across the booth is Henry, nose buried in his phone as always.

David notices him first. "Sir Rhye! So, how did it… err, how was your day?"

Real smooth, Charming. Way to honor Guy Code.

"My day was enjoyable, thank you," he says in his polite, knightly tones. "Might I join you?"

Henry is peering up at him, questions overloading his hazel eyes. Hades sits next to him and murmurs softly, "Later, kid." He focuses his attention on the Sheriff. "Anything unusual happen today?"

Charming's gaze doesn't leave his plate of chili cheese fries. "No, not really, why?"

"I just saw a flash of light out in the street a few minutes ago. When I went to investigate, there was nothing."

Snow's brow furrows. "It's never nothing in this town," she mutters. Turning to her husband, she states, "You'd better go check it out."

"In a minute," he replies. Sliding the greasy pile of heartburn-inducing slop towards Hades, he asks, "You want some?"

"No thanks." Hades stomach sours as he watches David inhale the remainder of the food on his plate. The blonde man stands and licks his fingers after finally polishing off the last cholesterol-laden morsel. It's official. Mortals are disgusting.

Charming nods to Hades. "Okay, let's go. Henry, you stay here with Snow and Neal, okay?"

"But…"

"No 'but's. Your mom and Hook are going to be here around eight. Stay and wait for them – tell them we're doing a little foot patrol in town. Rhye, you're with me. Show me where you saw this light."

Henry scowls and returns to his phone, tapping it rapidly. Hades can see enough of the screen to catch the words 'grandfather' and 'unfair'. He ruffles the kid's hair as he stands. "Life's not fair," he teases. "Better get used to it."

The teen snorts, tilting his phone away. Hades chuckles under his breath as he walks out the door. Charming bids farewell to his wife and son and follows him onto the street.

"We haven't heard a peep from Hyde all week," David says as they approach the library. "We think we found where he's staying – there's an old cabin in the forest that's been used recently. But ever since we found it, no one has returned."

"He probably has some kind of sensor, or someone out there keeping watch. A lot of people came through that portal."

"I know, I have to deal with them every day out in that camp of theirs." Charming sighs. "Sometimes I wish Henry would write faster. Just write them all into their proper lives so they wouldn't squabble amongst themselves out in the woods."

They come to a halt in front of the library and face the street. The eeriness Hades felt earlier returns, yet this time it includes the sense of being watched.

"Something's not right," David whispers.

"I know. But what? Where?"

Charming's hand hovers over the holster on this belt.

"I don't have the sword," Hades hisses softly. "It's upstairs."

"Don't worry about it."

There's another blinding flash, a split second where the entire street is bathed in light. They both whirl instinctively to the double doors behind them, seeing only their shadowy reflections in the darkened panes of glass. The streetlight on the corner flickers once with a loud, electric hum before the town grows silent again.

Charming presses his nose against the upper pane of the door and peers inside. "I swear that came from behind us. From in here."

Hades joins him, cupping his hands against the glass. It's pitch black in there. But… it shouldn't be. He should be able to see the shadows from the streetlights on the floor. He should be able to see the faint red glow of the 'Exit' sign.

He backs away from the door, slowly. "I don't see anything," he tells David in a falsely cheerful voice. "Let's head back."

They make their way to the front of the diner, Charming's brows buried in his scalp the entire time. "What is it?" he asks in a harsh whisper.

"Nothing," Hades replies. "And that's the problem. The inside of the library is completely dark and it shouldn't be." David's eyes widen in comprehension. He yanks out his phone and taps to make a call. "Get to the diner. Now. Come in from the back." He then gestures for Hades to follow him inside.

Snow is wiping off the last remains of dinner from her son's rosy cheeks, and Henry has finally put away his phone. "So, what's up?" the teen asks.

Charming ignores him and speaks directly to his wife. "Take Neal and Henry and go next door. Get Granny and stay with her."

Snow moves like the wind and before Henry can squeak out a rebuttal she has shuffled him and her son through the back of the diner to the bed and breakfast.

Charming goes from table to table, speaking softly to the few remaining patrons in the diner. They too exit quickly and quietly out the back. Hades is amused – this town is so used to villains creating chaos that it has become old hat.

Moments after the last civilian disappears, the pirate and Emma stride into the diner. The Savior beelines to her father. "What's up?"

"Someone's in the library."

"That's impossible."

"I know, but – they're in there. They blacked out the windows. With magic."

Emma whips out her phone and types on it. Seconds later Regina appears in a cloud of indigo smoke.

"What do you mean, the protection spell didn't work?" she snaps at Emma.

"I mean just that. It didn't work. Someone got inside the library."

"That's not possible."

Emma points at her father. "They say it is. Hyde could be in there right now."

"Well," Regina grins. "Let's go and say 'hello'."

The two women parade out the door with Hades, Hook and Charming following along silently behind them.

"Maybe you didn't teach it right," Emma mutters.

"Maybe you didn't pay attention," Regina growls back, her heels clomping against the pavement.

Both women pause in front of the double doors, poised for battle. Hades rushes to hand them the keys before they blast everything to smithereens. He sees beyond the women into the library and freezes.

The darkness is gone. Most of the library is still cast in shadows, but he can see the floor and the scarlet glow of the emergency exit.

"They're gone," Hades states. "Look."

All the heroes leap forward to see, like children in front of the F.A.O. Schwarz holiday display. Hades smothers his eye roll, and with a slight bow and 'beg your pardon, ladies', he scoots past Regina and Emma to unlock the door. He steps inside, and the library appears perfectly normal. He is about to turn on the main light switch when Regina's hand stops him.

"Wait," she murmurs. She turns to Emma. "Sense anything?"

The Savior crinkles her nose as she walks through the door. "It's… dirty."

"That, Miss Swan, is the aftereffects of a cloaking spell." She nods to Hades to flip on the lights. Wordlessly they separate, searching for any damage the intruder might have caused. Hades rushes up the stairs to his apartment, unlocking it in record time. He heads straight for the chest at the foot of his bed, withdrawing the metal box and waving his hand over it. It flips open and Henry's book, ink and quill are safely tucked inside. He closes it again, scanning the small room. Not a thing is out of place.

"Everything okay up there, mate?" the pirate calls from below.

"Yes. All clear." He pads down the stairs and joins the confused heroes by the circulation desk.

The Savior shakes her head. "We didn't see anything unusual. Rhye, can you check?" Hades nods and does a quick walkthrough. Everything seems fine, yet he can't shake the sense that things are just a tad different.

"I think whomever was in here was searching for something," Hades states when he returns. "I'll have to check over the next few days to see if anything is missing." He walks over to his chair behind the office desk and pauses, instincts flaring in alarm.

The desk drawer, the one where he keeps the books he's reading, is slightly ajar. Regina reads his expression first. "What is it?"

Hades doesn't reply as he slides the drawer open, his mind reeling with implications as he realizes what they were after. His copies of The Iliad and The Odyssey remain, but Henry's old storybook, the one with all the heroes' stories, is gone.