A/N: Merry Christmas! I'm sorry for the long delay. I know I said I'd have more frequent updates... and then my computer broke! I just got it back, and I worked hard to get you this chapter by Christmas! (It's still Christmas for another 2 hours where I live, so it totally counts!) The end is approaching, as you'll be able to tell in this chapter. We're not quite there yet, but it will happen!

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and followed this story despite my long absence!

Chapter 27: Taking a Stand

Needless to say, the lesson with Thanatos did not continue. Hades brought Persephone to the arena where they had riding lessons. He showed her a few defense moves, and encouraged her to demonstrate what she knew. It hurt his heart to see how nervous and jumpy she was. She wasn't afraid of him, but she'd been condition that these lessons brought pain. It was hard for her to get over that expectation. It would take weeks to undo the damage that'd been done to her.

Despite that, she was naturally light and quick on her feet, and agile as well. He felt like a lumbering beast next to a stinging fly. He did not attack Persephone—could not force himself to make a move toward her—but he allowed her to take the offensive against him. He was proud of how well she did. He was able to block her strikes, but her aim was true.

Eventually, Persephone was the one to declare a halt to their session.

"It's time for us to meet Charon," she reminded him, her face lighting up at the thought of the other god. Hades fought down a jealous surge. He knew he had her heart, but it was hard not to wonder at the evident bond between the two, especially given his own animosity with the ferryman. He hadn't seen Charon for years. He could happily go several more years without seeing him.

He briefly considered begging off to catch up on paperwork—anything was better than meeting with Charon—but the look on Persephone's face was bright and excited as she asked, "Can I be the one to tell him about us being together? He'll be so happy for us!"

Hades sincerely doubted that someone who spent all his time reminding people about the monster he'd been would be giving his felicitations. Nevertheless, he gave his consent. Anything to bring Persephone joy. He took them to the foggy bank of the Styx and waited for Charon's boat to arrive. Persephone was all by bouncing on her toes in excitement. It was hard to begrudge her that, even if Charon was the cause. He resolved to keep a civil tongue in his head and say as little as possible to the other man. In the future, he could relegate all interactions with Charon to Persephone, since she seemed to like the other god so much.

"There he is," she said eagerly as the boat landed on the shore near them. Hades felt a corresponding drop in his stomach. He didn't want to be here.

Persephone waved enthusiastically at Charon. He grinned and waved back, then blanched when he saw Hades. The Lord of the Underworld felt the same. Persephone took Hades' hand and tugged him forward. He followed reluctantly.

"Charon, guess what?" she called out. "Hades and I are courting!"

Despite Hades' dislike of the ferryman, Charon seemed genuine in his compliments.

"Congratulations!" Charon gave her a hug, then cautiously extended his hand to Hades. Hades stared at it for a long moment. Persephone looked back and forth between them, her smile fading. Hades kicked himself, and forced himself to take Charon's hand. It wouldn't kill him to be polite.

"Thank you," he said stiffly. They both let go quickly.

Persephone was already climbing into Charon's boat. "Here's the papers," she called. "This is what I do for Charon, Hades. I transcribe his stories."

"What?" Hades demanded, turning his eyes on Charon. He'd been prepared to overlook his love's friendship with the other god and the things he'd told her. But this… Charon didn't answer, staring down at his feet.

"You did this?" Hades challenged, his voice rising in fury. "When I have forbidden your stories from being written down?"

"It was my idea, Hades," Persephone hurriedly got off the boat and walked to him. "You can't blame Charon for this."

Hades turned disbelieving eyes on her.

Charon raised his head at last, his expression desperate and defiant. "It was my idea," he declared. "I suggested it, knowing you had forbidden it."

Hades felt his rage growing. How dare his vassal defy him so?

"Charon!" Persephone gasped.

Hades spared her a glance. She was staring at Charon with complete surprise. Upon seeing it, he knew which of them had lied. As much as he hated his tortured past written down for all and sundry to mock his pain, he had to admire Charon's attempt to protect Persephone.

"Why?" he gritted out through clenched teeth. "Why would you allow this?"

"Because I love you!" Charon suddenly burst out.

Hades reeled back in shock. He hadn't expected that. Persephone stared at her friend with wide eyes, as unknowing as Hades.

Charon sighed, hanging his head. "Not—not like she loves you," he explained haltingly. "Like a father, I love you. You have to understand, before you came here everything was pain and burning. And then you came, and you tamed this realm. You built it to be more than it was."

"I was a monster," Hades whispered, struggling to understand what Charon saw in him.

"You overcame it," Charon responded. "If all gods had a quarter of your restraint, there would cease to be wars between them. That's why I don't want to forget your past, Father. Because you rose above it, because you saved us all."

Charon sagged as of he'd lost his strength. He offered his wrists to Hades in an unmistakable gesture of surrender. Persephone looked at Hades, her face as shocked as his must have been. Her eyes pleaded for him to be lenient. All this time, and he never suspected that Charon told his stories not to belittle him, but to honor him. How could he not forgive that?

He stepped toward his ferryman. Charon flinched, expecting punishment. Hades gathered Charon in his arms, and held the… son he never thought he had.

"I have you," Hades said awkwardly. "I'm not… I can't be angry at you for that. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You were so opposed to any mention of your past… I didn't think you would understand even for those reasons. I look up to you. I always have."

And Hades had driven the man away relentlessly, horrified that Charon was set on repeating everything that Hades had reluctantly told him. Little did he know that it was out of admiration instead of scorn. Persephone came up to them and hugged them both.

"You should have said something," she said. "I could have spoken to Hades for you."

"I would have listened to her," Hades added with a chuckle. "She's prettier than you."

Charon smiled. "You listened now. That's what counts."

They straightened.

"I'll be on my duties," Charon said, heading toward his boat.

Persephone tugged on Hades' arm, but she didn't have to prompt him. They followed.

"We'll go with you," Hades said, climbing into the boat and helping his love in.

Charon made to shove off, but Hades stopped him and took the barge pole instead. The ferryman sat next to Persephone as Hades brought them into the river. She sighed and pouted at him.

"I was never strong enough to do that," she complained.

Hades and Charon exchanged a look. "It's not about strength," Hades explained. "It's about will. I do the motion because I enjoy it. Touch the river and ask it to take you to the other side." He pulled the boat to a halt.

Somewhat doubtfully, she leaned over and put her hand in the water. The boat rocked as the current caught it and began to guide it along. Charon's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"The Underworld has accepted her," Hades said with pride.

Charon bowed to Persephone. "My Queen," he said teasingly.

"Stop it," she laughed, pushing him to his balance wavered.

Hades shook his head at their playful banter, and resumed poling the boat across the Styx. They reached the far shore. Charon looked to Hades to see if the older god wanted to take precedence. Hades deferred to Charon with a shake of his head. The ferryman looked proud that his hero had deferred to him. He moved to the side of his boat and began collecting coins. As always, there were a few without coins, those who had not been buried with the proper rites. Usually Hades overlooked them; they were not his concern. But Persephone was watching them wistfully. He could feel her compassion for them, and it changed his mind.

He rose and stepped over the edge of the boat, landing in damp sand. The spirits drew back from him uncertainly. Charon and Persephone watched him. From his pockets, he drew over a handful of gemstones taken from his mines. They weren't coins as such, and were mere baubles, really. But they had worth, and he offered them to the spirits. They drew closer out of curiosity. He picked a small, pale blue amazonite and held it out to the ghost of a young boy. The child took it, but didn't seem to know what to do with it, until Hades gestured at Charon. The boy timidly passed the stone to the ferryman, who welcomed the young ghost onto the boat.

The other souls pressed forward, suddenly understanding what he was offering them: hope. Redemption. One by one they took a gemstone from his hand and presented it to Charon. None were greedy, seeking the largest gems or trying to take more than one. They seemed to know that this precious second chance could be taken from them as easily as it was given. Some of the ghosts were wispy things that had lain on the river bank for centuries, with barely enough substance to pick up the smallest stones.

Eventually all the souls were loaded, and Hades got back on the boat. There was an awed, hushed reverence over the crowd. Even Charon and Persephone stared at him in wonder. He felt rather embarrassed by it. He hadn't done anything miraculous, or world-changing. He'd only shown a bit of kindness to the stranded souls. It humbled him. If something that cost him nothing made such a reaction in others, what would happen if he made an effort?

Charon offered him the pole, and Hades took it. It was silent as he pushed off. Persephone looked from him to Charon expectantly. She was used to hearing a story at this time. Charon asked with a silent lift of his eyebrows if Hades wanted him to speak. Hades shook his head. His past was… painful, and there were many parts that he didn't want to revisit. But know knowing that Charon's stories were to venerate instead of vilify, he didn't mind them as much. And maybe, there were certain things he could say without causing too much pain.

The story he chose for this time was the creation of the Underworld. Not the burning, not the moments when he'd fought to punish himself as much as the realm. But after. When he'd begun to create. That he could talk about, and did. The boat listen with rapt attention, even Charon and Persephone. He didn't understand it. Surely they'd heard the tale before? Charon must have told it thousands of times while crossing the Styx. And Persephone must have heard him, perhaps had written it down. The only difference now was in the storyteller. He knew he was not such a good speaker as to hold them enraptured.

It came to him slowly that the reason they listened was because his story was the first. The original. He'd been there, had shaped these things with his own hands and will. This wasn't a story told of someone else's deeds. They were his, and somehow others attributed more worth to it because of that. It didn't seem to him that he'd done any great thing. They were making him a hero when he wasn't one. But maybe… it didn't matter what he thought of it. It was only important what they thought. And they thought he was… a god. Not a monster. Another scar of his damaged soul twinged in pain… as it healed. It was cathartic, and he felt lighter afterward.

His voice faltered for a moment, and his eyes fell on Persephone. She looked at him in concern. Was she determined to heal every part of his life? It was all her doing. Without her he would have never reconciled with Charon. Would have never learned to see himself as more than a monster. He was so profoundly grateful to her that his eyes burned with tears. Persephone rose form her seat and went to him. He let the river take them as he shipped the pole and wrapped his arms around her.

"I love you," he whispered, and kissed her sweetly. It wasn't passion; it was gratitude. She was his salvation. He held her tightly the rest of the voyage.

They crossed over a few more times that day. Each time Hades paid the passage for the less fortunate souls himself, and then he would select a relatively painless part of his past to speak about. He allowed Charon to guide them, in favor of holding his love against his heart. The stories he told were rambling and out of order, but no one complained.

When it was time for dinner, Hades and Persephone left the boat, and Charon prepared to go across again. Hades reached out with his shadow to stop the boat.

"You're having dinner with us," he announced firmly.

Charon's face brightened. "Truly?"

Hades took his arm. "I—We'd be glad to have you back, and I'm sorry to be the cause of your absence for so long."

Charon bowed his head. "Thank you, my lord. Thank you… Father."

Impulsively Hades pulled him close and kissed the top of his head. Charon looked both pleased and bashful. They went to dinner by way of Charon's coins. Hades could have used his shadow to move them, but he was still leery of using his shadow magic on anyone but Persephone.

When they arrived in the parlor, Hecate and Thanatos were shocked to see Charon with them. They looked from Hades to Charon at first in alarm, and then outright confusion as they saw that Hades was no longer at odds with the ferryman. For his part, Hades didn't feel like explaining everything that had happened on the shore of the Styx. It was enough that Charon was once again one of his trusted advisors, and that Persephone had brought it about.

Dinner was more boisterous than usual with the addition of Charon. His cheerful exuberance made a good counterpoint to Hecate's wicked laughter, and Thanatos' dour expression. He sat on Persephone's other side, and it was clear he brought out the best in her. Now that Hades had set aside his jealousy, he could see how their interactions were both playful and platonic.

There was one other important difference that Hades noticed in Charon's behavior: he was Persephone's friend first. While Hecate and Thanatos treated the young goddess with respect, there was a certain distance that precluded true friendship. With Charon, there was no distance. They spoke and teased each other, often breaking into laughter. She was more relaxed, more open with Charon present. She was more confident in herself. Furthermore, Charon was another person who would defend her without hesitation. Hecate and Thanatos would protect Persephone because she was important to Hades. But if they had to choose between her and Hades, they would choose him every time. Charon would pick her. It was a small detail, but a significant one. Hades cursed himself that he had wasted so much time with Charon, not only for his son's sake, but for Persephone's.

After dinner, Hades collected Persephone, and they went to his study. He sat on the couch and she lay against him. She was drowsy with contentment, her body warm and pliant against his. He held her in his arms, his hand stroking the silky softness of her skin. She stirred against him.

"Thank you for coming with me today," she murmured.

"It was my pleasure," he replied, meaning it. He was glad that he'd gone with her, that he'd gone with her, that he'd learned the rhythm of her day as she had learned his. He felt complete with her by his side.

It was like that for the next few weeks. Now that he knew what Persephone was doing during the day, they compared notes on what they'd done. She always had new questions to ask. Even though she had excellent teachers in the form of Hecate, Thanatos and Charon, Hades remained the foremost authority on the Underworld. He didn't mind her questions. On the contrary, he was delighted by them. Though he'd yet to propose, she was still preparing to take her place as his Queen. His joy in her was absolute.

And yet, other things tried to intrude on their happiness. The servants he'd sent out to find Demeter came back empty-handed. Every week, more and more people were dying form cold or starvation. Something was wrong with Demeter. Hades didn't try to hide it from Persephone. They both became worried about Demeter.

He sent out stronger spirits, and instructed them to look everywhere for the goddess. One by one, they came back exhausted and clueless. Weeks went by. It became harder to collect food from the mortal realm. Previously everyone at the table had enjoyed the bounty of mortal food, but now it was reserved only for her. Even then the offerings became spare. Hades hated seeing her dine on increasingly thinner broths, as if she was a prisoner here. She might not die from starvation, but it was hardly a comfortable thing for her to go without. Hades, thought the harvest from the Underworld had not diminished, also refrained from eating. She chided him about it, but he honestly didn't feel hungry when he saw how little there was for her.

What he felt was anger. Something had happened to Demeter. She wasn't dead, for that would have triggered a far worse cataclysmic event. He would have known if one of his siblings had died. So if she wasn't dead, she was otherwise affected. She might have done this on purpose, but he thought not. She knew where her daughter was. If she missed Persephone, or wanted her back, then she knew how to reach them. No, his instincts told him that his sister had been unwillingly detained.

She was one of the original six Olympians. There were very few that could hold the powerful goddess for any length of time. He had his suspicions as to who it could be, and his fury against them grew. He would, if need be, search every corner of the skies himself for the missing goddess, and he didn't particularly care who he pissed off in the process. He'd been a monster once upon a time. Persephone had largely absolved him of that burden, but he would become one again if needed to save the mother of his love.

He was almost ready to go off by himself, consequences be damned, when his last messenger returned. This one did not come back empty-handed. Indeed, they brought word of Demeter. She was found at last. Upon hearing the news his messenger had of the goddess, Hades wanted to fly into a rage. Only the fact that he'd need his wits about him to break into Zeus' sky palace kept him from giving vent to his anger. As it was, he ordered his armor made ready, and Phlegethon and Cerberus prepared as well. There would be Tartarus to pay. He went in search of the one person he knew who could calm him down.

Persephone was in the middle of her new self-defense lesson. He'd found a grizzled, old veteran of war who'd been willing to train others in favor of a listless existence in Asphodel. There were several people in the class, all women, most of whom had been abused in some way during their lives. These lessons in death gave them a sense of empowerment they'd died without. Persephone did a variety of mentoring and learning in the class. She did well with a better teacher, and was patient in teaching the timid spirits how to defend themselves. Hades had made it clear to the soldier that at the first hint of abuse or undo force against the women, and it would be the flames of Tartarus for him. Hades had watched the lessons over the last several weeks, bot openly and covertly, and was pleased with the soldier's methods. He didn't go easy on them, but neither did he seek to purposely hurt them.

Now Hades appeared by shadow-magic in the middle of the group. There were startled exclamations and hasty bows around him, except for one person. His eyes sought Persephone. She tossed her staff to another student and went to him. Her expression was fearful as she searched his face.

"What is it?" she asked worriedly. She bit her lip. "My mother—"

He forced his voice to be gentle as he said, "Let's go elsewhere."

She stepped into his embrace, and he brought them to his study. His armor was usually kept in his room, but it had been brought out for him. His shadow and Persephone took the place of servants as he began to don the armor. He told her about Demeter kept in Zeus' sky palace.

"But why?" she asked. "How could he do that and let so many people suffer?"

Hades had an idea of what Zeus would want of Demeter, but he kept silent so he wouldn't distress Persephone with his conjectures.

"I'm going to pull her out of there if I have to bring down the palace myself," he vowed. "Demeter has suffered long enough at his hands."

She blanched. "If you go against Zeus, it could be war."

"So be it," he said grimly. He'd let his younger brothers run rampant long enough. It was time someone opposed them.

"Hades," she cried, "Zeus has the power of the skies behind him."

"And I have the first of Tartarus," he replied grimly, trying to reassure her. He did not go off to war lightly, not when he had more to live for than ever before. Persephone, his love, the Queen of his heart, soon to be the Queen of his realm. But this was important. People were suffering, dying, and would continue to do so unless someone confronted Zeus.

Hades finished putting on his armor. It was made of metal that had been molten from the depths of the world, and hardened with the fires of Tartarus and the Phlegethon. It was blackened, scratched and scarred, but still strong and impervious. The armor conjured bad memories of its own, but he was resolute in his path. He held hands with Persephone as they walked down to the stable. Her fingers felt delicate in his armored gloves.

In the stable, Phlegethon and Cerberus had been fitted with barding of their own.

"Hades," Persephone called as he moved to mount his mare. "Be careful." She kissed him desperately.

"I will," he promised. "I'll bring your mother home with me."

"Just make sure you come back. I love you."

"I love you too."

With his lips still burning from Persephone's kiss, Hades vaulted to Phlegethon's back and took off, Cerberus running by their sides.