"Is this an audience or a mosaic?" Hades drawled. "Long time no see, you two! Ye gods, it's been dreary waiting for my big entrance." He ghosted across the atrium to them, and Hercules pushed Megara and Harmonia behind him.

"You weren't invited, get out!" Hercules snarled.

"Relax, I'm not here to hurt anyone," Hades said with what almost looked like a genial smile. "I'm a great-uncle now, and it's about time I was a great uncle, don't you think? Didn't do so well the first time, but there are second chances all around!"

"You're not funny, and you're not welcome!" Hercules reached for a sword he wasn't wearing and cursed under his breath.

"Language! You wouldn't want your daughter picking up any nasty habits, would ya?" Hades asked. "Besides, I'm here to call a truce. As the de facto Lord of the Underworld, so I own everything beneath the earth's surface. That means I'll inevitably have dominion over your adorable little cherub and my sassy little ex-secretary. So why rush? There's no need to be enemies, and hey, I'll take good care of them! I've already got Megara's brothers in top-shelf positions down there. She should come see me some time." He leaned around Hercules's shoulder. "Or, are you too scared to talk to me anymore, my little Nutmeg? Such a shame. I remember what a lovely conversationalist you were!"

Megara bit her lip.

Those eyes had haunted her waking life and her nightmares equally, and now they were fixed on her again.

It was like he could read her every secret fear and would reflect them back at her thricefold at his first opportunity.

"Screw off, you old bastard," Megara said, hoping that would get him out of her face.

"Is that any way to talk to your oldest friend here?" Hades smiled and gestured around the room. "Well, aside from your brother, obviously. But who else here has really known you, anyway? I mean, you really got to shine when you had a career with me. I bet all your talents are going to waste now."

Hercules grabbed Hades by the throat and shoved him away. "Get. Out."

Zeus finally stepped in but not to do anything anyone expected. "Now, now, let's be civil. This is a family event, and Hades is family. He's pushing promising reforms in the Underworld, and look! He's made all kinds of progress!"

"Dear," Hera said, "he was at Hercules's Amphidromia, and he was kidnapped that night! We shouldn't allow Hades anywhere near baby Harmonia!"

"He shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Harmonia at all!" Hercules shouted. "Father, we need to get him out of here!"

Zeus held up his hands. "It's obvious he's changed! He's still my brother, and after all, who else will rule the Underworld?"

Hercules's aura radiated rage. "He's been trying to kill me ever since I was a baby, and now he's here to menace my baby! For once, be a grandfather and think about the consequences of negligence! Right here, in front of everyone, make it obvious whether you can take an active role in rulership or if all you want to do is sit back and let things happen without any interference while you hoard glory that you've done nothing to earn for millennia!"

"Herc, Wonder Boy," Hades started, but Hercules halted him with a hand.

"I'm gonna stop you there; nicknames are for friends. Get out of my face, or I'll punch you in yours! How did you crawl out of that vortex?"

"Funny thing about that vortex, it resets a person to their natural state, then spits you back out again!" Hades said. "And hey! Now I can be the generous, kindly uncle you always wanted! I'll bless all your children, and when they pass on, I'll take good care of them, too! Have all the kids you want! Have a dozen! I've got rooms for all of them!"

Megara pressed herself back against the wall with her arms crossed over Harmonia. The baby had started fussing, but Megara was frozen and fearful, and she couldn't think of how to soothe her. Her knees were buckling under her, and her mind was going blank.

"Not a chance!" Hercules snapped. He'd backed up close to Megara with his arms angled to her sides to block anyone from approaching her or the baby. "I'm not playing along with your little reform act! Get away from my family!"

"There's no need for violence," Hades said, unheeding the other gods who had crowded in behind him. "I've changed! Meg can tell ya all about the reforms I'm pushing in the Underworld. It's had a whole remodel, and there's even a cushy palace job waiting for her when she dies."

"Get out!" Hercules roared, and his fist pistoned forward to punch Hades. Hades vanished, leaving Hercules with the momentum to topple himself over. He caught himself on his hands and knees, then hopped back up into a fighting stance.

"You'll be seein' me soon," Hades's disembodied voice promised. "Sleep well!"

Hercules rushed back to Megara and Harmonia and wrapped them in his trembling arms. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"I can't believe you'd allow that traitor back into our midst!" Ares shouted. "I worked with him for years, and he still put me in chains! What kind of uncle does that?"

"Hades was destined to be the king of the Underworld," Zeus said. "Now that he's back, nobody has a greater claim than he does."

"A new coat of paint won't save a leaky ship from sinking," Athena said. "We cannot allow him to maintain power."

"Um, excuse me, was I the only one who heard him say he gave Meg's brothers jobs in the Underworld?" Aphrodite asked.

Megara looked from the goddess to her ashen-faced friends, among whom stood Megarion.

For years, Menoikeus and Haemon had been nothing but memories. But now, Hades was no longer content with letting them be mindless shades. What was he doing with them? Could they believe his report that they'd gotten luxury jobs in the Underworld?

Megarion reflected those same questions back at her. He was leaning heavily on Cassandra, and his face was the color of ashes.

"You know what? I don't even know what to believe," Hercules said. He caught Megara in his arms, which was good luck since she'd been swaying in place. "All I know is that rat bastard was here on my daughter's naming day, and nobody stopped him. I'm calling for immediate action. I've waited long enough, and I've been distracted, but we needed to address this a long time ago!"

"I agree," Rhea stood over Zeus. "As your mother, I hold the most ancient power, and I can give or take it from those who misuse it." She set a hand on Zeus's shoulder. "Hades is my son as much as you are. We will see to it that he behaves himself." Rhea turned a smile on Megara once Zeus was cowed. "Rest assured, we will not allow the sacrifices you have made to be in vain."

Hercules snuggled Megara and Harmonia deeper into his arms. "I officially have Meg and Harmonia under my protection. No god can undo that. If Hades comes creeping around again, I'll do whatever it takes to get rid of him, and not a single one of you is allowed to have a problem with it."

"Agreed," Hera said. "We will handle this on Olympus straightaway. Join us when you're ready."