Chapter Twenty Eight
A/N: I do not own anything with the exception of my OCs. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek myths.
*ducks projectiles* I know, I know, I went out of order this round! But you see, I wanted to write the most recent chapter of Choosing Home. The chapter I'm working on for The Last Bridge remains a blank word doc. Hence why you're getting a new chapter for this story!
Smh, guys, we're only twenty five reviews from 700! I swear every time I turn around to update this story, it seems we're hitting a review milestone!
Tracie Adams: Well I mean, that's actually tame compared to my family. Two members once stopped talking to each other for two years over a TV!
Marcus Emrys: Oh yeah a talk is in their future for sure! I never understood why they'd retire magic. Half of all Disney pairings wouldn't have met without the use of magic!
AnniexLove: I'm an only child so the whole sibling rivalry thing is new to me, though I've got a cousin who's practically my sister but we never had a rivalry. I'm sure a break will be soon!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Your help is always appreciated! :D Yeah, it's definitely a sad chapter but it won't last long!
Urmimala Hazra: That's a good point but Hadie's a kid who's never known his sister to hate him. So that's got to be jarring and not to mention all she hated him for was being born a boy.
61394: I'd be surprised if that one isn't in a museum in Auradon somewhere!
CrystalKaroui: I can tell you right now that it won't be long before the four of them have a talk to sit down and hash things out. As for your theory…I like it! I honestly didn't have that in mind but I do like it! As for Leah, that is very descriptive and I applaud!
ScoutGinevra: All will be revealed soon! :D
Guest: I'm thinking that's more than likely!
billyandkimfan1994: He most certainly does—and no worries!
Heroesweardogtags209: Oh thank you so much! I'm so glad you're liking that!
Guest: I want to say…three chapters?
miranda88: I mean it's a stressful time for the parents but I can see how it might have come across that way.
danifan3000: Wow, that stinks! And I love TLM2! I don't know why it didn't do well in the box office!
TheGirlofManyFloods: Maybe, hopefully he gets something like it.
Katir2911: I'm glad you're enjoying the story! It'll be interesting to see if Mal chooses a new nickname for Hadie or if they stay with Storm Cloud.
Katt Kiki: So close indeed!
Ghrumfwggrvjdafbhs: No worries! Glad you liked the chapter though!
JaclynnM: Yeah I probably should have now that I think about it!
Anonymous Reader: Because of my dislike of friendly characters fighting—and because of what'll happen in a few chapters—I don't think it'll take that long for Hadie to forgive Mal. Plus a good talk with their parents could get things into perspective for him.
shortanamx: I think the conversation is going to come soon!
InuKagLove22: I'm so glad you're still enjoying the story!
Guest: I hope you like it!
Dance love 2007: Thank you so much!
Guest: Yeah I don't see Persephone allowing that.
lilyflower101: This is very true!
quil . theimperial: Okay so confession time: Hadie was supposed to be six years younger than Mal. I had it planned out that way when I wrote Choosing Family. And then Mal's sixth birthday happened with no indication that Steph was pregnant and I realized that I dug myself into a hole there. So…yeah…author being bad at planning resulted in this age mixup. I just decided to play it off as if the bad planning never happened. I completely agree with the rest of your review!
twilightgirl587: Trust me, I get teased all the time because I'm short. I once got carded buying a video game so I feel Mal's pain. Estelle's the best dog isn't he? I love dad jokes too! A break is coming!
jedblack1997: He's more than likely the Captain of the Flying Dutchman and I can definitely see Beckett and Davy Jones on the Isle.
Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Persephone quickly unfurled the scroll. She knew Mal hadn't resented Hadie for too long after he was born but she hoped this scroll would show that. Otherwise the talk she was going to be having with her kids was going to be a very awkward one.
"You want to tell me why you're not talking to Uncle Hades?"
"Oh thank Gods, someone's addressing it," Emir sighed in relief.
Mal sighed as she put the swords away from the sparring session they had just had. It had been about three weeks since she 'moved' out of the Underworld and set up in the clubhouse.
"Three weeks?!"
So that's six weeks she hated me, Hadie thought with a small sigh.
She missed her home there more than she thought she would but the last thing she wanted was to watch herself get replaced.
Hadie rolled his eyes once more. Gods, were these scrolls just going to always have a reminder of how his sister hated him?
Avoiding her dad and Steph had been easier than she thought, considering there was only one way in and out of the clubhouse and Steph knew where the clubhouse was.
"Yeah, that is a good point," Harry nodded. "How'd you avoid getting caught?"
"You'll see," Mal sighed. She wasn't exactly proud about how she avoided her parents back then.
Granted, Mal figured they didn't think she'd crawl under the bed upon hearing the gate open like a Boreadon prissy princess.
Hades sighed and shook his head. "I thought I heard something under the bed when we went up there."
But that was the rule of the Isle-always keep 'em on their toes. Besides, they couldn't drag her back if they couldn't find her.
"…she's got a point," Lil Shang said though it was clear that he didn't want to agree with the concept of hiding from ones parents.
"I don't know what you're talking about Uma," Mal said, turning back to the task at hand.
"Uma won't fall for that," Jay shook his head.
"Yeah right," Uma scoffed. "You've been sparring with Harry more and more, to the point where we have to get the orders to go when we get lunch at Uncle Hades. Of course, whenever we get lunch at mama's shop you're fine with cutting your match short."
"Are you sure it wasn't so much concern for Mal that you were talking to her about this and more because you wanted your sparring partner back?" Jay teased.
"Can't it be both?" Uma shrugged. "Besides, Harry was your sparring partner Jay. Don't tell me you weren't tired of Mal hogging him."
"Seriously Uma, you're imagining things," Mal told her, plopping on the bed and petting Estelle behind the ears.
"Uh huh," Uma said, rolling her eyes. Harry and Jay had already left for the day, Harry needing to go man the counter at his father's fish shop and Jay still needed to complete the quota assigned to him by his father.
Honestly James, he was too young to do that, Milah thought, shaking her head a little. I know you thought the shop would keep any kids we had out of trouble but to put them to work at six years old?
"Honestly Uma, there's nothing to—"
"So if I said let's go to Uncle Hades right now, you'd have no problem with it?" Uma asked. "Cause Aunt Steph should be back now and yet you haven't said a single thing! You normally never shut up when she gets back from Boreadon."
"It's true," Uma nodded. "Sometimes she'll talk about Aunt Steph being back while we're sparring!"
"It's called multi-tasking Uma," Mal said, shaking her head.
"She's gone and come back twice since I've known her. Can you really say I never shut up?"
"You know what I mean," Uma said.
Mal sighed. "Steph gave birth," she muttered, petting Estelle as if to have something to do with her hands.
Demeter smiled. Despite the seriousness of the scroll and the fact that her granddaughter had felt the need to run away from her home, the thought of her daughter with another child of her own just filled her with joy.
"Mali, that's great!" Uma beamed. "Come on, I can't wait to meet my little cousin!"
"At least one of the Captains was excited to see me," Hadie muttered. Referring to Mal as her title of 'co-captain' made her hatred hurt less.
Uma made her way to the door but paused when Mal wasn't following her. "Um, hello?" Uma said as she turned around. "Let's go!"
"She gave birth to a son," Mal muttered, rolling her eyes.
"So?"
You don't get it Uma. You spend all the pregnancy excited about getting one younger sibling and then when the opposite happens…Harry thought. After all, the Captain had spent all of his mom's pregnancy with CJ telling Harry the joys of having a younger brother.
Yes, he still remembered that despite being two when his mom was pregnant. Sue him.
"So? So?!" Mal exclaimed. "I wanted a sister Uma! Someone who would look up to me! Someone I could teach the important things to! But all he is is a replacement."
"You can still teach Hadie the 'important' things," Kitty pointed out.
"Not all of them," Lucy said. "You know, the joys of womanhood?"
"Oh…right…Hadie's lucky he doesn't have to deal with that."
"Mali, he will still look up to you," Uma told her. "Boy, girl, doesn't matter. Any sibling would."
Mal shook her head. "No. All he is is a replacement. After all, he's full God, someone who's Steph's kid and not the dragon's. Dad doesn't have to worry about the storm cloud getting taken from him if Maleficent changes her mind about raising him, like she did me."
I do have to say, if I'd come back from my tower and from Gothel to see my parents with another kid, I'd have probably thought the same thing, Rapunzel thought to herself.
"Okay, I'm getting the sense that you feel betrayed—"
"Yes, well, that's one of the unpleasant side-effects of betrayal," Mal muttered.
"You didn't get betrayed! Gods, my past self was dramatic," Mal sighed and shook her head.
"Was?" Uma, Harry and Jay asked in unison.
Uma sighed. "Mal, I'm going to ask you two questions okay? And give me honest answers."
"We're VKs Uma. Since when do we do honest?"
"She's got a point," Harry nodded.
"Yeah well we don't lie to the crew," Jay told him, giving the First Mate a look.
"Shut up and let me talk," Uma sighed. "Okay, first question. Have you spoken to Uncle Hades or Aunt Steph about this? Second question, have you ever actually held your brother?"
"Uma, why are you asking something you already know the answer to?" Harry asked. "No and no."
"You're not exactly one to talk Harry," Uma said, giving him a look.
"No, why would I talk to them about this?" Mal asked, crossing her arms. "They're too busy with him. And why would I ever go near that little storm cloud?"
Because he's your brother, Kitty thought as she glanced over at Chad. She couldn't help but wonder where her brother went. The one who used to check under her bed for monsters and help her with her sword work. It wasn't necessarily expected in Charmington but their father didn't want any of the kids to be unable to defend themselves if needed.
"Mal, when dad told me about Celia I wasn't very happy either," Uma said as she shook her head. "You were there that day in my mom's kitchen, you've listened to me rant constantly about how Celia would be useless. But when dad handed her to me, from that first moment she was mine and under my protection. Hadie may be a boy but he's still your sibling. Just think of him as someone who's yours."
Zeus looked over at his great-niece. "Have you ever thought about going into politics? You're a very good speaker."
"I'm a Captain. You don't get to be Captain by being bad at public speaking," Uma said, her voice flat as she glared at her great-uncle.
"It's not the same Uma," Mal told her. "Celia wasn't a replacement, she's just your sister. Why would I want to think of the storm cloud as mine when all he's here to do is ruin my life? For all I know, dad and Ste—Lady Persephone are getting ready to ship me back to Maleficent now that they have their own kid."
Oh…I…I never thought about that. The fact that Mal had to deal with the Dragon always looming over her shoulder, Hadie thought as he bit his lip. Still though…I was a baby! Why blame me? All I did was be born!
"Mal, the entire time Aunt Steph was pregnant, did they ever even for one second make you feel like you were being replaced? No. You were involved in everything, we both were—from painting the nursery to getting Aunt Steph the foods she wanted. You were there before the baby was born and when you thought he was a girl, you were counting the days. I know you still have the countdown tallies on the last page of your sketchbook. For Poseidon's sake, your brother's not a replacement. He's just a sibling—but maybe it'd be better if you heard it from your dad."
"You got Lady Persephone the foods she wanted? I thought she spent most of the pregnancy in Auradon?" Ben asked Mal.
"The first couple of months were spent on the Isle," Mal told him. "Mom didn't really have 'cravings' if that's what you were wondering. She mainly just asked for dad's chicken."
"Garlic crispy chicken specifically," Uma added. "And yet we're amazed that it's Hadie's favorite too."
Mal glared at her cousin and sat crossed legged on the bed. "I'm not going anywhere near him or the storm cloud Uma. If dad wants to replace me, that's fine. That doesn't mean I have to stick around for it. The club house is a good enough place as any to live as long as I have Estelle with me."
"The clubhouse doesn't have a way to store food long term," Harry pointed out.
"Plus what if you ran out of kibble for Estelle?" Uma asked.
"Jay," Mal said simply.
"You think Jay could steal a fridge?!"
"You think he couldn't Uma?"
Even if I do miss dad, seeing him wouldn't be worth the pain of being replaced, Mal thought with an inward sigh.
Dad wasn't replacing you, past-me. You could have gone and seen him, Mal thought.
"Now you're just being stubborn and stupid. Maybe you're really Uncle Zeus' kid," Uma told her, grabbing Mal's arm and began to drag her toward the clubhouse steps.
"Hey!" Hercules exclaimed but the small smile on his face eliminated any negative feelings from the exclamation.
Uma was slightly taller than Mal even if they were both short, and Uma was prepared to use that to her advantage.
"Ooh, can I get a copy of this scroll? We have it in writing people, Cerberi and Leah! I am taller than Mali!"
"One inch! You're taller by one inch!"
"That's still taller!"
"We can come back for your stuff later, don't think I didn't notice that bag underneath the bed. Estelle, are you coming?"
"Uma, let go!" Mal exclaimed as Estelle followed Uma, wagging his tail. "I told you. I'm not going back there! Not while the storm cloud is still there!"
"…you didn't notice the bag?" Meg asked Persephone and Hades.
"Again, we were a bit distracted," Hades told her. "Besides, we didn't think to check under the bed. If we had, this scroll would be about something else entirely."
"Thank me later Mal."
Thank you, Mal thought to Uma.
Don't mention it cuz, Uma thought back.
"Why would I thank you when you're asking me to accept my replacement?" Mal asked with a small glare.
"No. I'm asking you to accept your sibling."
"Uma's right," Emma nodded. "Hadie's not a replacement. Just because the family grows to include someone else doesn't meant there's less love for the remaining members."
"The day I recognize that storm cloud as my brother is the day we all get off the Isle!" Mal declared. "It'll never happen!"
Hadie couldn't help the small smile that pulled at his lips. After all, some of the VKs did get off the Isle. So clearly his sister grew to like him—actually he knew she did.
So…why didn't that make him feel better?
"Mal, I'm telling you! Just talk to Uncle Hades and hold your brother just once. It might change your mind," Uma said as they made their way down the stairs.
"You're not going to let me go until I agree to this are you?"
"Nope!"
"Uma's probably more stubborn than Mal," Jay said with a small chuckle.
"Get used to disappointment then, Uma!" Mal exclaimed but Uma just kept dragging her cousin down the stairs and through the streets of the Isle. Mal, though, knew she would never like the little storm cloud. Not just for replacing her but for all the pain he had put Steph through! She would never get Steph's screams of pain out of her head!
Persephone sighed and Hadie looked down slightly. It was harder to be mad at Mal for hating him when she was mad he'd caused their mom pain.
He knew he'd hate anyone who hurt their mom!
The two of them made their way to the Underworld in silence, Mal every so often attempting to break free of the iron clad grip Uma had on her wrist.
"That's the problem with squidlings, they've got a grip even dragon fire can't break," Mal muttered and Uma smirked in amusement.
If any passersby thought this was an odd sight, they didn't comment. Not after catching sight of Estelle. You really don't stop to question someone with a Cerberus even if they were seven year olds.
"I think that's a good rule to live by," Akiho nodded. "No second guessing a Cerberus."
Upon reaching the door to the Underworld, Uma stopped and turned to look at Mal. "Mal, I'll make you a deal," she said softly.
"Just like your mother, always a catch," Mal growled but Uma ignored her.
"Dad likes making deals too," Celia pointed out.
"Don't remind me," Naveen muttered. "I'd just gotten the image of Facilier and Ursula out of my head…"
"You go in there and talk to Uncle Hades or Aunt Persephone and hold the baby just once. If nothing changes, if you still don't like him like you do right now…you can go back to the clubhouse and I'll never bring it up again."
Hades nodded. "Fair, doable…even if I don't like the idea of my daughter staying in the clubhouse, that was a good deal Uma."
Uma couldn't help the small grin that formed at her uncle's praise.
Mal sighed. She hated to even consider being close to the storm cloud but fair was fair. "Okay," she said softly. "But don't count on anything Uma."
At least she was willing to try, Hadie thought. And you know she loves you now. I just…I was born! I didn't ask to be born a boy!
"Okay," Uma nodded as she led Mal into the Underworld. Mal sighed as she stepped foot into her home for the first time in weeks.
All because of my stubbornness and stupidity at thinking I'd been replaced, Mal thought to herself.
"Uncle Hades? Aunt Persephone?"
"In the den Uma!" Hades called back and Mal scowled slightly. The little sunspot must be there too unless Pain or Panic were watching him. There was no way her father would risk waking his precious son up.
Is sunspot better or worse than storm cloud? Hadie thought with a small frown.
"I believe I have someone who belongs to you," Uma said as she made her way into the den, tugging Mal behind her. "Mal has something she'd like to discuss with you."
Zeus hoped the slight feeling of jealousy didn't show on his face. All he knew was that he would have loved if someone had brought Hercules back to him when he was a child.
"Mal?" Hades asked, looking at his daughter in shock and delight.
"Hi dad," Mal muttered, keeping her eyes on Estelle who was sitting right next to her.
"Well this isn't awkward at all," Akiho muttered to Emir.
"I'll leave you guys alone," Uma said, ducking into the kitchen.
"Mal?" Persephone asked, her tone gentle. She longed to rush over to Mal but didn't want to potentially scare the young girl off. "Would you like me to leave so you can talk to your father alone? Or would you like me to stay?"
"Wouldn't a talk like that be better in private?" Snow White asked.
"I'm her mother," Persephone stated. "But it was Mal's choice."
Mal shrugged, still looking at Estelle who was still by her side; giving his usual puppy grin and wagging his tail.
You know it's got to be nice to be a dog, Mal thought. Nothing bothers you, not like it does when you're human.
"You can do whatever you want Steph. You'll probably hear it anyway," she muttered.
Before Persephone could respond, or do anything other than smile at hearing Mal call her Steph again, a small cry from the nursery could be heard.
I guess we've both got bad timing when we were babies, huh Mali? Hadie thought, not realizing he'd called his sister by her nickname.
"I'll go check on Hadie," Persephone said softly.
"Right," Mal muttered, biting her lip. Of course the little storm cloud would have to worm his way into this too. Persephone got up and went to the nursery, leaving the father and daughter alone in the den.
"Okay, that wasn't fair," Mal said with a small sigh and looked over at her brother. "I'm sorry Hadie."
The silence grew almost overpowering and Mal couldn't take it anymore. "Dad, I'm going to ask you a question and I don't want you to lie to me okay?"
"I never lie to my kids Mal," Hades said, shaking his head.
"Okay Mali," Hades nodded.
Sighing, Mal looked at her father for the first time since she arrived in the Underworld "Is Hadie my replacement?"
"On the one hand, that could have been said a bit more tactfully but at least there was no beating around the bush," Phillip Jr. said softly.
Hades wasn't going to lie, he had not been expecting that question. In all honesty, it felt like a slap to the face.
Every father in the room nodded in unison. They knew hearing that question from any of their kids would probably feel the same.
"No. Mali, of course not," Hades said, sliding off the sofa and getting down to Mal's level. "He's your brother and of course I love him very much but that doesn't mean I love you any less. Why would you think that?"
"Six years of living with the Dragon?" Uma muttered a suggestion. Mal never told her exactly what Maleficent said when she went on her rants against Hades and Persephone but Uma knew they were a thing.
"Maybe because he's full God and not half? Maybe because he's part Steph? Maybe because he's a clean slate and isn't someone who's half psychotic dragon? Maybe because he's a boy? Take your pick," Mal muttered.
"Hey I'm half psychotic octopus woman and you don't see me questioning whether or not Celia's replacing me because of it," Uma stated.
"You're just doing it now to get a rise out of Naveen aren't you?" Tiana chuckled.
"Oh that's just a benefit," Uma smirked as Naveen began muttering once more.
"Mali, trust me," Hades said with a small sigh, "none of those things matter. You are my daughter and no matter how many kids Steph and I have, you are always going to be our eldest. I don't care whether you're a girl or boy Mal. I just cared that you were healthy when you were born—which you were thankfully."
"I think that's something every parent is thankful for," Belle said with a small smile as she looked at Ben.
"What about Gaston?" Carlos asked.
"Sorry, let me rephrase that. Every good parent."
Mal leaned over to Hades. "Do we like her?"
"Jury's still out," Hades whispered back.
Mal gave him a small smile, the unspoken truth lingering between them. If Mal hadn't been a healthy baby, who knows what Maleficent would have done to her?
"And that's something we're not going to think about," Persephone said firmly.
"You know Steph and I have been going out of our minds, hoping you were okay and wondering if you had Estelle with you?" Hades asked gently, trying to rid the awkwardness from the room.
"But…wouldn't you have seen the dog bowls in the clubhouse when you went to check?" Phillip Jr. asked.
"We may not have been paying attention to the surroundings there," Persephone sighed. "Our daughter was missing and was somewhere on the Isle, it was the only thing we could think about."
"Of course I had Estelle," Mal said with a shrug. "I was in the clubhouse. We have a bed there so it's not like I was sleeping on the floor or anything. As I've said before dad…you don't have to worry about me."
"That's not going to happen," Persephone shook her head. "If you've ever met your father Mal, you know he's going to worry about you and Hadie and Uma and Virgil and—."
"Steph, if you listed all of Mal's minions and compatriots, we'd be here for an eon," Hades said.
"And as I've said before Mal, I'm your father. It's my job to worry about you, and no matter how many siblings you have, that will never change. We will always love you, we will always worry about you and we will always care about you."
"It's called being a parent," Kristoff said as Anna wrapped her arms around their son.
"It never goes away," Aladdin nodded.
"Even if you end up having a hundred kids," Eugene added.
Mal sighed and crossed her arms softly over her chest. "Dad…how can you love him after what he put Steph through?" Mal asked, her voice a near whisper. "I've had her screams in my head for the past few weeks."
Eugene sighed. "That is one of the downsides of having multiple kids and being a royal. Granted I wouldn't trade my kids for anything but sometimes you don't have the time to talk to them when something's bothering them."
Hades sighed. He hadn't realized that Mal had heard Steph's screams the day Hadie was born.
"…seriously? I mean she was camped outside the door. I'm pretty sure she'd hear some of those screams," Chip said, his voice dry as he looked over at Hades.
"Come here Mal," Hades said, opening his arms and bringing his daughter in for a hug. "The pain was Steph's body's way of making sure Hadie could be born safely. The pain was temporary but Hadie, though, is forever."
"Like your father said, it was temporary. One day you'll learn that when you hold your child in your arms," Persephone said gently.
"I'm never having kids though," Mal stated. "Sorry mom but Uma and I made that decision a long time ago, growing up on the Isle."
Uma nodded. "Yeah Aunt Steph. Mal and I stated that we're not putting kids through that."
"But—"
"Mali, when you're a parent in the far, far, far, far future, you'll learn that despite any pain your children put you through, you love them unconditionally," Hades told her.
"I did not know about the vow Mal made," Hades stated. "That being said, Mal, I wouldn't mind grandkids in the far, far, far, future."
"I make no promises dad," Mal said with a shrug.
"Guess it falls on you Hadie," Hades said, turning to his son. "But again, far, far, far, far, future. Like when you're thirty."
"Even if they run off with their Cerberus without leaving a note?" Mal asked softly, backing up a little and breaking from the embrace to look at her dad as a little bit of her doubts began to fall away.
"Gotta say, that was a very specific hypothetical question," Uma said with a small smirk.
"Even then," Hades said with a small smile.
Mal bit her lip. "Dad, are…are you sure Hadie's not replacing me?"
"You know, if they were going to replace you, they would have just had another kid after Maleficent took you and not tried to get you back."
"My brother, the King of Tact everyone," Kitty said, shaking her head. "Though…he has a point."
"Isn't that one of the signs that the world is ending? Chad having a point?" Lucy asked.
"Girls," Cinderella warned.
"Mal, I am absolutely positive because you could never be replaced."
"No child can ever be replaced," Belle whispered to herself, thoughts of her daughter flashing through her mind. The daughter she never got a chance to know.
Mal knew then in her heart that her father was telling the truth. Launching herself back into her father's arms, Mal whispered, "I'm so sorry dad."
Is it better that I have no memory of this? That every time I think back on my childhood with Mal, it's only been happy memories? Hadie thought to himself.
"It's okay sweetheart," Hades said gently, lightly kissing the top of her head as he softly rubbed her back. "It's understandable, after all you're still going to the dragon's castle once a week and you're seven. With the poison she's most likely feeding you, Steph and I should have expected it. I just wish you had told us you were feeling this way before now—we could have had this talk ages ago. You were so excited when Steph told you she was pregnant."
"She's a child of the Isle of the Lost, lives with Maleficent once a week, and has basically been taught for most of her life that showing weakness is a bad thing," Mulan pointed out. "Unfortunately I don't think Mal would have talked about it had it not been for Uma."
"I like her," Uma said.
"We always did cuz," Mal reminded her. "Breaking the biggest rule there is, being a master strategist, not being a prissy princess, and just plain kicking butt like that? Who wouldn't like her?"
"And she did the 'butt kicking' in a dress," Evie pointed out, shrinking back a little at the glares. All she wanted to do was remind Mal and Uma that being 'feminine' once in a while wasn't a bad thing and that they were surrounded by the prissy princesses they hated. Evie wasn't going to lie, Mulan was one of her favorites too—even though she wasn't crazy about the fighting part, the lengths Mulan went to to protect her father…Evie couldn't help but wonder how she had the courage to do it.
"She's got a point," Jay told them.
"Doesn't mean we have to like that she does have a point," Uma muttered to him.
Mal sighed. "You and Steph were always so busy with the little storm cloud…I mean Hadie that there was never a right time to have the talk," she said softly, trying to get over her feeling of resentment toward her brother.
At least she's trying, and it could be worse. She could have kept hating you like Harry hates CJ, a little voice in the back of Hadie's brain rang out.
"When Steph was pregnant and I thought I was getting a sister…she'd be someone who could look up to me. Dad, when you think of the Gods, it's you, Uncle Zeus, and Uncle Poseidon that first come to mind. The 'Big Three'. None of the Goddesses. I just thought…with Hadie being a boy…"
Poseidon and Zeus looked at each other as Hera nodded.
"We could start reminding the mortals that Gods other than the 'Big Three' exist," Demeter nodded.
"Or that there are the female 'Big Three'," Persephone added.
"There are?" Ruby asked.
"Lady Hera, Lady Demeter, and Lady Athena I believe," Ben spoke up.
It was Hades' turn to sigh as he looked down at his daughter, still wrapped in his arms. "While the Gods are old fashioned, they are changing. You know Jerkules has a daughter? Born around the same time you were. According to Steph, Zeus won't shut up about his grandkids—both the grandson and the granddaughter. Poseidon keeps trying to get updates about Uma from Steph when he can but she hasn't given him anything since that's Uma's business. As for me? I just care that my kids are happy and healthy. You're one of the best parts of my life Mali, of both our lives. Never doubt that."
Macaria gave her grandfather a grin while Uma looked over at Poseidon, as if trying to determine if he had really asked about her or if her uncle Hades was just trying to make Mal feel better.
Mal smiled slightly. "I…I really am sorry Dad. I never meant to worry you. I just…I didn't want to be around if I was being replaced."
"Gee, and if you'd just talked to dad instead of—."
"Hadie," Persephone warned. "I understand you're upset and you have every right to be but I won't allow you to continue to attack your sister for something she thought when she was a child!"
"Mom," Mal shook her head. "It's okay."
Hades gave her a small smile as he gently continued to rub her back. "Mal, do you want to go say hello to your brother?"
"I..I don't know dad," Mal said, biting her lip. "I don't know how to hold a baby…at least not one that young. I'm more used to someone Celia's age."
"She's only a few months older than me!" Hadie exclaimed.
"It's okay Mali, Steph and I will be there. If you want, you can sit with me and I'll help you hold him?" Hades suggested with a small smile.
Mal nodded slowly, a small smile forming on her face.
"Holding your sibling for the first time is the best," Chip said, nodding his head.
"Chip? You're the youngest of your siblings," Ben told him.
"I'm nine years older than you Benji, you really think I didn't hold you?"
"Okay, stay right there and I'll go get them," Hades said, putting Mal on the sofa. "Be right back okay Mali?"
"Okay dad."
"You know why even have a nickname for a nickname?" Audrey asked, brushing a bit of hair out of her face. "None of us have—."
"Benji," Chip said instantly.
"Chaddy!" Alexandria said with a grin as Chad flushed slightly.
"Also, Audrey, a parent can call their child whatever they want as long as the child wants it," Phillip Sr. told his daughter.
Hades smiled and walked over to Hadie's nursery where Steph was waiting. "Please tell me you heard all that?"
Persephone nodded quickly, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
"Of course I did, everything echoes in the Underworld after all," Persephone said.
"Oh Hades. Why didn't she come to us sooner? If I had known what her wanting Hadie to be a girl so badly meant…"
"You also could have asked…"
"Zeus, you're probably the worst person or God to be speaking right now," Hades told his little brother. "Even Beastie would have been better."
"I know," Hades said gently. "But she's here now. We can show her she could never be replaced. She's our daughter."
"And she always will be," Persephone said in a gentle yet firm tone. And Maleficent has just given me another reason to rip her head off, she thought.
"And we get front row seats when that happens right?" Uma and Harry asked with grins.
Persephone shook her head. "Ask your mothers."
"Mom—?"
"What was my answer last time?" Milah asked.
"That was Lord Hades, this is Lady Persephone," Harry argued.
Milah chuckled. "And my answer is the same. No."
"Can you bring Hadie out?" Hades asked. "She wants to meet him but she's a bit nervous about holding him. Understandable considering I doubt Maleficent would ever willingly hold a baby or teach Mal how to do it either, so Mal's going to sit with me and I'll help her."
"The day Maleficent willingly holds a baby without looking like she's going to toss the baby from her balcony is the day Leah becomes a likable person," Harry stated.
"Of course," Persephone smiled and picked Hadie up out of the crib. "Are you ready to go see your sister?" She asked Hadie, who cooed softly causing Persephone to smile.
Oh to be that young and not even know Mal hated me, Hadie thought with a small frown. He wished he could go back to then, to go back to a time before he knew his sister had hated him for a part of his life.
"What, no awws?" Uma asked, crossing her arms. "You all cooed over me and Mal, coo over Hadie Gods damn it!"
"Language Uma," Persephone warned.
"Yes Aunt Steph," Uma nodded, smiling as she saw the smile on her younger cousin's face.
"Let's go then."
They head back to the den and Hades was thankful to see Mal was still there. She hadn't left.
"Mali?" Hades asked, his voice soft. "Are you ready to say hello to your brother?"
"And that will never change," Mal said softly, looking at Hadie. "You may hate me now but I will always be your sister."
"Okay…" Mal said, her voice as soft as her father's.
Hades went and sat down on the sofa before picking Mal up and putting her on his lap. "Be sure to mind his head," he said as Steph handed Hadie to them. "Have your arm around his head like this…that's it, good girl…and the other hand can go under his back…there you go."
"I swear I was so worried I was going to drop Rachel when she was born after all the instructions they gave you on holding the baby," Eugene said.
"Eugene, you refused to let her go for an hour after the nurse handed her to you. I had to beg to hold my daughter," Rapunzel told him.
"Because I was so worried I'd drop her!"
Mal nodded and positioned her arms and hands the way Hades had instructed. Mal looked at her brother, trying to imagine him as hers the way Uma had said to.
Hadie couldn't help but hold his breath a little. It was stupid, he knew how it would turn out. And yet…
Hadie stared back at her, Steph's blue eyes looking at her with a mix of innocence and curiosity shining in them. Mal had expected to still feel resentment toward Hadie but now…seeing those eyes, the eyes that had only stared at her with love and kindness, the resentment seemed to melt away as Hadie softly cooed at her.
"I wish I had blue eyes like mom and Hadie," Mal sighed. "Instead of having the Dragon's green ones."
But your eyes are beautiful, Ben thought with a small frown.
"Hi Hadie," Mal said softly, giving him a small smile. "I'm Mal. I'm your sister."
Hadie continued to softly coo at Mal, tilting his head as he looked at her. Mal couldn't help but give a small giggle at the sight.
"Alex did that once, when Chad was holding her," Kit said with a fond smile.
"More than once if I remember correctly," Cinderella nodded.
Dad said I used to do that too, she thought as she continued to look at her brother.
"Growing up here isn't going to be easy," Mal said softly, not noticing the slightly hopeful look Hades and Persephone gave one another. "But don't worry. Me and Uma'll keep you safe—you're under my crew's protection and no one messes with your big sis."
"Well no one who's smart that is," Uma corrected.
"Yeah Freddy and Zevon still haven't figured it out yet," Harry nodded.
Hadie would have to deal with the natural chaos of the Isle, what with the lack of food and the never getting to leave but in terms of being evil that was something Mal could control. Her baby brother was not going to be a villain. Not if she could help it.
"That goes for Celia too," Uma said firmly.
"Dizzy as well," Evie spoke up. "I…I know I'm not her sister but she deserves so much more than what the Isle—."
Whatever the blue haired girl was going to say was cut off by the hug Dizzy ran up to give her.
Honestly, it was hard to believe that almost an hour ago, she was vowing that she would never like her brother. But as she looked at him now how could she not? This was her brother and if anyone tried to harm him, they'd have to answer to her.
"Hey Ben, guess that means that you'll have to take the kids off the Isle!" Emir teased.
"Oh no, what a shame," Ben joked, grinning from ear to ear. That was his plan anyway, to get all the kids off the Isle. In a strange way, Mal's vow may have just helped him with that.
He's so innocent, Mal thought. And hopefully he can stay that way. No. No hope necessary because he will. If Uma and I have anything to say about it, he will—and I'm sure the guys will agree too! Even if they don't, I'll just make it an order!
"You did make it an order," Harry said. "That's when we implemented the 'don't talk about our flings around the under fifteens' rule."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Mal said with a slight smile.
Before long, Hadie started getting a little fussy. "What did I do?" Mal asked, looking at Hades with a slightly fearful look like he was going to get mad. Gods, did I just ruin everything? Mal thought.
"Babies get fussy," Rachel said. "It doesn't mean you did anything."
"Trust her, she's an old pro by now," Rowyn 'whispered' to Mal.
"Nothing at all sweetheart," Hades said reassuringly. "He's just hungry."
"Oh," Mal said softly. "Do…do I have to stop holding him?
"Not if you don't want to Mal honey. I can get his bottle and you can feed him?" Persephone offered.
That's probably the best way to cement a bond between siblings, Rapunzel thought. All of her kids had fed their younger sibling—well Evan didn't but he was the baby of the family after all.
"Okay," Mal said softly, giving a small nod.
"I'll be right back," Persephone said with a smile. She quickly made her way to the kitchen to get a bottle for Hadie.
"How's it going in there?" Uma asked from her spot at the counter. "I don't hear any screaming. Which may or may not be a good thing now that I think about it."
"No screaming is always a good thing," Emir stated and Ashaki nodded her head in agreement.
Persephone couldn't help but smile. "Mal's holding Hadie," she told Uma.
"Good. That's all I wanted her to do," Uma said, her voice a near whisper with a slight smile on her lips.
"Babies have that affect," Jasmine nodded. "Once you have one in your arms, nothing else matters. That's a very smart tactic Uma."
"Well thank you Uma," Persephone told her. "It's nice to have Mal back."
Uma nodded. Like she had told Mal, she had gone through the same thing with Celia so she knew what it was like.
"Well not exactly the same thing," Celia said. "You didn't run to your clubhouse."
"Yeah well I didn't have a Cerberus either," Uma told her. "Plus dad put you in my arms like the minute you were born. Your mom was the only one to hold you before me."
"I'm going back out there so Hadie can have his bottle if you want to come," Persephone said. "No reason for you to be exiled to the kitchen."
Uma shrugged. "I didn't want it to be awkward out there with me just standing there while Mal and Uncle Hades had their heart to heart."
"If you think it won't ruin the moment, Aunt Steph," Uma said with a small smile.
"It's up to you Uma," Persephone told her, "but I'm sure Mal would want all her family there."
"Mom was right about that!" Mal stated. "But not all my family was there. Harry and Jay were working."
Uma gave her aunt a smile before following her out to the den.
"Here you go dear," Persephone said, handing the bottle to Hades.
"Do…do you think he'd take it from me?" Mal asked softly.
"I'm sure he would," Hades said gently and handed the bottle to Mal. "Let me know if you need any help Mali."
"She won't," Uma, Harry, and Jay said instantly.
"Look who's talking. I swear I'm allies with some of the most stubborn people on the Isle," Mal stated.
Mal nodded and started to tentatively offer the bottle to Hadie. To her delight, Hadie opened his mouth and started taking his bottle.
"Good boy," Mal said with a smile.
"Woof," Hadie couldn't help but snark, giving his sister a small smile which she returned.
Estelle gave a small yip from his spot on the ground.
"Not you this time boy!" Mal giggled.
"Don't worry Estelle," Uma said with a chuckle as she pet him, his tail wagging in delight. "You're always a good boy."
"He's the best," Mal said firmly.
Turning to Mal, Uma couldn't help but smirk slightly. "I was right wasn't I?"
"You know, no one likes a know it all," Mal told her but had a small smile on her lips. Uma smiled back at her cousin.
"Oh I don't know, I'm rather fond of them," Chip said with a chuckle as he wrapped an arm around Ben's shoulders and shot a smile to Belle.
"He's mine," Mal said softly.
"And he always will be," Uma nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. Mal smiled and continued to hold Hadie as he took the bottle.
"It means he trusts you," Elle said with a small smile. "Babies won't let just anyone feed them after all."
"He looks like you dad," Mal said softly.
"Yeah he kinda does," Hades nodded. "Has Steph's eyes though."
"And what's wrong with that?" Mal teased, faking offense on Persephone's behalf and causing Hades to chuckle.
"Yeah Uncle Hades, Aunt Steph has nice eyes." Uma nodded.
"Why thank you girls," Persephone said with a smile.
"Yes she does," Hades said, smiling over at his wife.
"Why thank you," Persephone said with a chuckle, walking over to give Hades a kiss. She wasn't going to lie, she loved this. Her whole family together again. She was dying to snap a photo—the image of Hades, Mal and Hadie on the sofa? That would be a perfect picture.
"It is the perfect picture," Persephone corrected her past thought as she thought about the picture that hung on their fridge. She was just fine with not being in the shot—she'd much rather take the photo anyway.
She walked back to where she had been standing, giving a small sigh. If only she had her camera but she'd left it in the kitchen.
"Here Aunt Steph," Uma whispered, as if she'd read Persephone's mind. "I thought…in case you wanted a picture or something.
"Cue mind reading joke…now," Harry said with a smirk as Uma smacked him on the shoulder.
"Thank you," Persephone said softly, taking the camera from Uma. Uma smiled and stepped back as Persephone quickly took the photo; none of the subjects
even noticing.
Huh…I've always loved that photo, Hadie thought. It's almost hard to believe that was Mal's first time holding me…the first time she let herself like me…
This was all she had wanted when she found out she was pregnant, her two children together.
And hopefully I can help mend this riff these scrolls have caused, Persephone thought with an inward sigh.
Mal smiled as she continued to hold Hadie, until a smell wafted up to her nose. "Um, dad? Hadie's kinda smelly."
Hadie flushed as some of the older kids chuckled.
"Oh like you didn't do the same thing!" Celia snapped, glaring at them.
"Yeah!" Dizzy nodded.
"We were chuckling at Mal's reaction," Emir told them. "Why would we laugh at a baby going to the bathroom?"
"I'll take him honey. He probably needs changing," Persephone said as she took Hadie from Mal's arms. "You sit with your dad for a bit."
"Okay Steph," Mal said softly as Persephone left, taking Hadie with her. Mal leaned back into her father's chest and smiled a little.
"Welcome home Mal!" Emir and Akiho said with a grin.
Mal chuckled and leaned over to Uma. "You're getting Nick and Jake vibes from those two aren't you?"
"I was thinking more Harry and Jay," Uma whispered back.
"Gods help us all if that's the case."
"It's good to have you back Mali," Hades said with a smile before leaning down to kiss the top of Mal's head.
"It's good to be back dad," Mal whispered with a small smile of her own.
And I'm never leaving again. Not until you lot have to practically force me to go to Boreadon, Mal thought.
"Promise me that if you ever start having doubts about your place in this family that you'll talk to us before taking off again?" Hades asked and Mal nodded, causing Hades to smile and pull her closer to him.
"Remind me to hold her to that," Hades muttered to Persephone.
"Good. Now, on to happier topics. What do you want for dinner?"
"Anything new? Or am I picking from old favorites?" Mal asked with a grin.
"If you want to pick from your favorites Mali, go ahead," Hades said, a grin of his own on his face. His daughter was home, that's all that mattered to him.
"Honestly you could have picked anything and it would have been good," Harry said.
"Yeah, Uncle Hades is an amazing cook," Uma nodded.
Mal took a moment to think. There was only one thing that came to mind, even though it was a fairly recent development.
"Garlic crispy chicken?" Mal asked softly.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Jay asked with a small chuckle.
"Because you know Mal," Uma said, shaking her head.
"Coming up," Hades said with a smile, kissing her forehead and causing Mal to smile.
"Great!"
Hades chuckled before looking over at his great-niece. "Uma, will you be joining us?"
"I wouldn't mind," Uma said with a small shrug.
"You're more than welcome," Hades told her. "I'll make sure there's enough for four people."
Thank you brother, Poseidon thought to Hades. Knowing that there was a member of the family looking out for his granddaughter…
…You never need to thank me for looking out for Uma. I may not have a relationship with Ursula but Uma didn't ask for that. She didn't deserve to be born on the Isle. None of the kids did. Hades thought back to him.
Uma nodded. "You don't have to do that Uncle Hades. But I appreciate it."
"You're family Uma, it's what we do here," Hades said with a smile. "Steph says Boreadon has a motto—family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. I think that's something we can steal for us, don't you?"
"I think that'd be something we'd be willing to share, Lord Hades," Belle told him.
"We actually have sort of a variation of that as our motto for the crew," Mal told him with a slight smile.
"Oh really?"
"Yep. 'Ruthless but loyal'," Mal told him. "We kick the butts of the people who mess with us but we don't abandon the people in the crew or under the crew's protection."
"We mainly kick Freddy's butt," Harry said with a grin. "Good times, good times."
"That's a good motto," Hades said with a smile. "Just don't go looking for trouble Mali."
"When do I ever?"
Hades and Uma chuckled, causing Mal to smile. Life was looking back up. At least she wasn't being replaced like she had feared.
"I honestly think that's what every older sibling fears at least once," Emir told Mal. "Especially when the younger sibling is of the opposite gender."
Hades sighed. "I…I think it might be a good idea if we take a short break."
"But it's only been four scrolls!" Lonnie pointed out. "We normally take a break after seven."
"Lord Hades is right," Shang said. "A break would be a good idea."