Chapter Thirty

A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney, the Greek myths, or in Rea's case, LotusQuil! They just let me borrow her for the sake of universe continuity! :D

Happy November you guys! Hard to believe we're almost done with the year, honestly it felt as if 2022 just flew by didn't it? I hope you guys enjoy the upcoming holidays if you celebrate!

Just a head's up, as I've posted on my other stories, but I will be offline starting next week as I will be in Paris, France the 10th to the 15th! I will try to post upon my return but I'll likely be going into my holiday hiatus around that time so no guarantees on updates.

Angel Cauldwell: Nope, Carlos is the last of the Original Four to propose!

danifan3000: Almost hard to believe we've gotten to this point! :D

AmethystDragon14: Yay! Yep Carlos proposed! Jarlos is the last couple to get engaged! And yeah, I'm so happy that Carlos can get some brother time with Clay! :D

Marcus Emrys: I'm so glad you liked the chapter! I can definitely see Chad and Jane as more or less siblings as well. After all, their parents come from the same story so it would make sense.

OceanBlueSeaEyes: I'm so glad you liked it! And in Ben's defense, the kids had a scary delivery and then had a photographer snap a photo in Stephanie's face. Can't fault him for being protective.

BAL4ever: Thank you!

twilightgirl587: Harry has multiple reasons for hating Gil lol! :D

Hope you guys like the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D

Hades shook his head as he looked around the party that was currently happening. It had been Poseidon's idea to have a family get together since their family had grown over the past months. Hades just thought it was a not so subtle way to meet the newest additions to the family but he wouldn't say anything.

If Mal wanted to bring the kids, she could. Though with everything that happened during the birth, Hades would be surprised if she brought them. Hell, he was surprised she elected to come considering her royal duties and the likelihood that Demeter would be attending even if Hades had yet to see his mother-in-law.

"Hades!" Hercules called with a small smile on his face as he waved to the blue haired God. Hercules had graciously offered to host the get together, claiming it would make things easier for Macaria as mortals couldn't be on Olympus and she'd be handling two kids. Never mind the fact that Mal would also be handling two kids but Hades wasn't going to argue about something that allowed Mal to bring her sunspot.

"Hercules," Hades said, nodding his head in greeting. He elected to not use a nickname, he didn't want to poison the younger sunspots against Hercules. And yes Hades knew that was rich coming from him considering he used nicknames like 'Wonderbreath' and 'Jerkules' in front of Mal and Hadie all the time when they were growing up.

However that was more of the way of the Isle than anything else. And Hercules didn't deserve to have his grandchildren turned against him.

He could wait until they were teenagers and did so naturally with their teenaged angst and whatnot.

"Thank you for hosting us," he added, knowing Persephone would probably be elbowing him in the side if she wasn't off with Rea, Hadie, and Mal as they introduced Mal's sunspots to Macaria's children, Gwen and Markos.

"It's our pleasure," Hercules said as he made his way over to his uncle as to prevent himself from shouting across the room. "We're just happy you all could come. Especially with Elle having her due date soon."

Hades nodded. Poseidon's great-granddaughter was in fact not there; neither was her husband as he elected to hover by her like a nervous hen. What was it that caused these Auradon princelings and Kings to turn into jello at the thought of being away from their pregnant spouses?

Speaking of which…Hades thought as he noticed Ben was almost hovering around Mal and the twins. Catching the sunspot's eye, Hades motioned for him to come over; figuring Mal would appreciate him not calling her husband out in front of the whole family.

"You wanted to see me Lord Hades?" Ben asked as he walked over.

"First off, kid, you don't have to call me 'Lord' all the time," Hades said. "You married my daughter, I think we're on a no title basis. And second of all, stop your hovering. There's being overprotective and then there's being suffocating."

Ben sighed but nodded, opting to not comment on Hades' use of the word 'kid' when addressing him. He knew Hades did the same for Harry and Jay, and that he'd probably think of them all as 'kids' for years to come.

Ben was fine being called 'kid'. Just as long as he wasn't treated like one.

"I mean…he's a new father," Hercules said. "I remember when Meg had Hyllus, I was probably just as nervous as King Ben is. Not to mention that unfortunate scene when Princess Stephanie was accosted by that photographer."

"Yes, thank you for that memory," Hades sighed before looking back at Ben. "Listen Ben, I can understand being worried that another attack is going to come out of the woodwork when it comes to your kids. I lived on the Isle, I lived that fear for years. But that doesn't mean you let it rule your life because at some point, your kids are going to grow up without your permission and not enjoy having their father around every corner."

Ben nodded again before sighing. "I just…I want them to know that I'll be there for them. No matter what."

"And as sweet as that is, you have to remember one thing."

"What's that?"

"They're babies."

Ben couldn't help but chuckle and Hades smiled as he heard that. Good. The last thing he wanted to do was bring the sunspot down because if he did that, then Mal would give him a lecture worthy of her mother.

And no, of course he wasn't afraid of his eldest daughter.

"I just…I know I don't have reason to worry because they're Godlings but with Maurice having his blood pressure drop when Mal was in labor and…and everything that happened with my own mother when she was pregnant with my sister…" Ben said with a sigh.

It was Hades' turn to sigh as he remembered what Belle had told him that day when Mal and Ben had told them all that they were expecting a child. About how she'd been pregnant a second time but lost the pregnancy. Yes Ben was only three but Hades wasn't surprised that he was trying to find ways to prevent another miscarriage or anything else from befalling his family.

"Kid, I know your heart's in the right place but you have to also remember that you're married to Mal," Hades said. "She'd turn into a dragon and torch whoever tried to hurt the sunspots before they got a chance to even look at them. As well, you've got the kids' Uncle Hadie who's quite handy with a fireball, their 'Aunt' Uma who'd drown whoever tried to hurt them. Well if her husband didn't freak out over the thought. Honestly Ben, Harry might be worse than you are when it comes to being overly protective."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Lord Hades," Harry said as he walked up. "Sorry to interrupt but Mal saw that you were talking to Benny here and thus sent me to save her husband from whatever intimidation attempt was going on."

"There was no intimidation attempt," Hercules said, shaking his head.

"Uh huh," Harry told him. "Come on Benny, Gil wants to know if you need anymore books for the twins' rooms. Apparently, Markos is an avid reader and wants new books all the time so they're running out of room in their house."

"Is it bad that I consider it ironic, the grandson of Gaston being an avid reader?" Hades asked.

"Only if it's ironic that Gil asked me the same thing, Lord Hades," Harry told him. "Being in Auradon's been good for him, had this been back on the Isle I don't think he would have known what the word 'ironic' meant."

"Be nice Harry," Hades said with a small chuckle.

Harry shrugged. "I'm always nice. I haven't hooked anyone yet have I?"

"That's because you know full well you'd end up being smote."

"Can you smite someone who's immortal?"

"Do you want us to try?" Hades asked, raising an eyebrow.

Harry chuckled. "In a rare moment of self perseveration I'm going to say no. I want to see my kid be born after all."

"Oh that's right, how's Uma doing?" Hercules asked.

"She's doing well," Harry said after a moment. "She's still trying to make it work with her trade route but the further along she gets, the more she likes to stay home. The last thing we want is for her to end up giving birth on a ship."

Which for a pirate captain would be alright but…I want to be there with my wife, like the Captain was for my mom, Harry thought. No matter what happens, I want to be by Uma's side.

Ben gently rested a hand on Harry's shoulder, as if knowing what the pirate was thinking. "It'll be okay," he said. "Trust me. We've married the two women who won't let anything stop them from achieving their goals."

"I dunno, Macaria clearly is another such woman," Harry said. "You do remember what she was like against Freddy right?"

"While yes, I also don't like to think about that night."

"Why? We won."

"I don't like thinking about instances where my wife got injured, Harry."

"Oh. Right, I forgot about that part," Harry said with a sheepish chuckle.

Ben shook his head, more than a little amused. "That's alright, you have an excuse. Wasn't that also the night the denial died for you and Uma?"

Ooh, well played Sunspot. Well played, Hades thought as he couldn't help but smile slightly at the shocked look on Harry's face.

"I think you've been around Mal a bit too long Benny. I never was in denial when it came to Uma," Harry said, shaking his head.

"That's not the way Mal tells the story," Ben said with a small snort. "How do you think she'd react if I said you were denying ever being in denial?"

"…You wouldn't."

"Oh wouldn't I?"

Harry shook his head. "So this is what fatherhood does to people huh?"

"You forget Harry that not only am I currently married to Mal but my older brother's Chip and my best friends are Akiho and Emir," Ben said and then paused. "Speaking of Akiho, shouldn't he be here? I haven't had a sandwich forced into my hand all party."

It was Hercules' turn to shake his head. "Ariel said Elle was going to be checking into the hospital today."

"What? Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Hercules said, holding up a hand to stem any concerned questions that looked to be coming from Ben's direction. Truthfully, he had to admit he was a little shocked that Ben didn't already know about this but Hercules was going to chalk it up to the stress that only came from being a first time parent.

Never mind being the first time parent to twins and also ruling over a kingdom.

"You're sure? Forgive me but people usually don't go to the hospital because they're fine," Ben said, working to keep his voice down as to not startle Mal or Uma or Macaria.

Hercules chuckled. "Elle's going to have a water birth, according to Ariel. They wanted to check her into the hospital a few days early just to prepare. After all, with her chair…they want her to be comfortable and with the amount of time it'll take to get from their castle to the hospital, no one wants her sitting in a wet chair while they make their way to the hospital while she's in labor."

"Oh…okay," Ben nodded. That made sense now that he thought about it. He remembered rushing Mal to the hospital and how much time it took getting ready before they were able to leave. Mainly because Mal had still tried to insist on a home birth before the first contraction took hold and she ended up begging to go to the hospital. The last thing he wanted was for Elle to be sitting in a wet chair waiting for everyone to get ready while she was in labor.

Harry shook his head. "Normally I'd tease you about overreacting Benny but I'm just glad the lass is okay and that there's nothing wrong with her guppy. Speaking of which, has there been any talk about the gender of the guppy?"

"This from the guy who's refusing to learn the gender of his own kid?" Hades asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not refusing," Harry said. "Uma and I are just doing it like we would if this had happened while we were on the Isle."

"Harry, you and I both know that if you had gotten Uma pregnant while you were both on the Isle that the Rats would have had a party that would have lasted throughout Uma's pregnancy because it would have meant the death of your denial."

Harry sighed and shook his head. "Why does everyone keep saying we were in denial?"

"Because you were," Ben and Hades said at the same time.

Hercules couldn't help but chuckle. "Hey if it makes you feel any better Harry, Meg was in denial about how she felt toward me. At least you didn't wait until a stone column fell on you because you pushed Uma out of the way of it to admit your feelings."

"You know I can hear you right Wonderboy?" Meg called from her spot next to Macaria.

"…Now I do," Hercules said, having the good sense to at least look sheepish.

Meg shook her head before turning her attention back to her grandchildren and choosing to ignore whatever insanity the guys were planning over in their little huddle. Well all the guys sans Gil, Hadie, Markos, and Maurice as Gil had taken Markos to get changed and Mal was feeding Maurice while Hadie watched Stephanie.

"Should we be worried about those four?" Macaria asked, glancing over at where her father, great-uncle, and cousins by marriage were standing; the guys having gone back to their conversation.

"Nah," Meg shook her head. "You'll quickly learn Macaria that the only time you truly worry is when there's complete silence."

"I thought that was with kids?"

"Kids and husbands."

Mal snorted as she walked over to join the conversation, Maurice in her arms. "I feel I should ask what's going on but I'm almost afraid of what I'll find out."

"Dad, Ben, Harry, and Great-Uncle Hades are having a secret huddle over there and mom was just saying that the time to start worrying is when you hear silence," Macaria explained as she began to bounce Markos in her arms.

"Ah…why is my father huddling with my husband and one of my best friends?"

"Your guess is as good as mine is Mal."

Meg shook her head, more than a little amused at the direction the conversation had turned. "You know you can always go up and ask right?"

"When it comes to my father, sometimes it's better not to know," Mal said.

"…You have a point there," Meg told her. "I mean I worked with Tex over there and I can tell you, sometimes it's better not knowing what goes through his head."

"You know I can hear you right nut-Meg?" Hades called.

"I wouldn't have said anything if you couldn't hear me Hades," Meg called back, shaking her head in slight exasperation. "That's the whole point of calling you odd within your ear shot."

"Touche nut-Meg. Touche."

Mal shook her head as she gently bounced Maurice in her arms. "Is your grandfather being weird?"

"Mal, you've known me your whole life. Have I ever been 'weird?"

"…Do you want a serious answer or an answer that doesn't embarrass you in front of the family? Cause I can do either one but you need to give me some guidance as to what you're looking for, dad."

Hades shook his head but smiled as his grandson seemed to coo in delight. Life off the Isle was alright by him if it included his family. Yes, that even included Zeus—after all they had buried the hatchet and the young ones didn't need them making things awkward.

And yes, he was aware of how odd it was for him to think that. But all in all, this was a pretty good life. One he didn't think he'd get a chance to have, one he didn't think his children would get a chance to have for that matter. And he would always be incredibly grateful that they did.

"…Where's Rea?" Mal asked.

"Where's Hadie?" Uma added, looking around for the wayward Godling. "Doesn't he also have Stephanie?"

Hades sighed. "I think your brother might be teaching his niece and sister in the ways of mischief. And I'd like to point out that Herkie is nowhere to be seen either."

"Well, this party turned interesting," Uma chuckled.

"Aren't all our family get togethers?" Mal asked as she shook her head.

"Touche Mali."

Hades snorted as he proceeded to look for his son, daughter, and granddaughter. Oh and great-nephew as it was safe to assume Herkie was wherever Hadie was. And even though he was prepared for chaos, he still wouldn't trade this life for anything else.

Freedom with the chance for chaos was better than peace because of imprisonment after all.