Chapter Twenty Six


A/N: I do not own anything with the exceptions of my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to Disney or the Greek Myths!

Okay so this chapter officially gained a mind of its own because originally it was just supposed to be Mal/Hades/Steph bonding cuteness but then it grew to what you have before you! Still cuteness but a different kind of cuteness.

And in all honesty? I don't mind the change—I think it might have turned out too close to chapter four of Choosing Family if it stayed just Mal/Hades/Steph and I'm glad it can be its own chapter!

AmethystDragon14: Yay! Oh I'm so glad you liked it! And of course Harry had to meet Mal and vice versa! One half of the Rotten Four formed! And yep, Morgan's in the picture—off screen though but I'm sure she'll show up at some point.

OceanBlueSeaEyes: Of course! Uma without Harry or vice versa just doesn't make sense!

danifan3000: Well…maybe Steph brings one of those plastic potties to potty train Mal and Harry?

marianyeilisbeth: Thank you!

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


Hades smiled as he saw Persephone sitting on the couch with their daughter; Milah and the Hook boy next to them. He wasn't going to lie, Hades was happy that his wife had another 'mom friend' as the mortals called them.

He was glad she had someone to talk to, someone who had gone through this before.

Oh sure, he would have gladly been an ear for his wife but the fact remained that Hades had never given birth before. Had never had a child before. He wasn't Zeus, gallivanting across the known world and producing children.

Granted, he couldn't gallivant around the world since he was stuck on the Isle but that was besides the point!

"Hades, are you going to linger in the doorway all day or are you going to come sit with us?" Persephone asked, having noticed the blue haired God in the doorway.

"Hmm, I would but that would take away my view," Hades said with a small chuckle. "Your pink hair looks ravishing by the way. Have I told you that?"

"You have…but I still enjoy hearing it," Persephone said, giving her husband a small smile as their daughter cooed in her arms.

Hades chuckled as he heard his daughter coo. "Okay, okay Mali. I'm coming over to sit with you, don't you worry."

"I think she's become a papa's girl," Persephone teased.

"Normally I'd say there's no such thing as a 'papa's girl' on the Isle but the Hooklings have proved me wrong," Hades said. "Where are the Hooklings by the way?"

"With their father," Milah said. "Apparently Harriet wasn't happy that Harry's crib was in a different room than theirs so she attempted to move it to her's and Jess'. Claimed it would make it easier for her to help out with Harry."

"Your daughter does know she's a toddler, right?"

Milah shook her head. "It doesn't matter to Harriet, she sees herself as a captain in miniature. Of course James doesn't exactly help with that but I can't fault him for wanting the girls to embrace their heritage. At some point, if we're ever off this rock, they're going to need to know how to use it for their advantage."

Harry cooed softly and Milah smiled.

"Oh I'm so sorry my darling, was I leaving you out of the conversation? I didn't mean to do that," Milah said, keeping her voice gentle as she brushed a bit of black hair out of her son's eyes. His hair was growing longer and thicker but Milah didn't mind. It meant he was growing up, it meant he was growing strong.

It meant he would likely survive the Isle.

Malinoë cooed softly, breaking the silence and causing Persephone to smile down at her daughter.

"I think someone isn't a fan of silence," Hades said with a small chuckle.

"Well then she's in the right place," Milah said. "Silence is a rarity both here and on the Jolly Rodger. If it does grow silent, then something's about to happen that odds are, we're not going to like."

"That's ominous," Persephone told her.

"That's life with toddlers," Milah said, shaking her head. "I think that's why James has been taking the kids to the ship more and more, even though I know Harriet wants to be here to help with Harry."

"Why doesn't she stay then?" Hades asked.

"She says twins shouldn't be separated and Jess likes being on the ship," Milah said and Harry cooed softly.

Persephone gave Harry a small smile before looking over at Milah. "From what I understand of birth order coming from Auradon, it might take some time for Harriet to adjust to the new order. She's been so used to being the younger 'twin' that she might just not want to seem like she's 'failing' at being an older sister. Hence the insistence on helping."

"Plus you know the fact that we've been saying she's three when she's four," Hades pointed out and both moms looked over at him. "What? She'd be four now right? Harriet was born in May after all and Harry was born in April…and you're still looking at me like I stole your soul right in front of you."

"I…I need to talk to James," Milah said, shaking her head. "We…we didn't honestly forget Harriet and Jess' birthday…did we?"

"I mean, you've been understandably under a lot of strain," Persephone said. "With the new baby…"

"That doesn't matter!" Milah said and Harry cooed softly, looking up at his mom as if wondering why she was upset. "I mean…I know it's the Isle and there's not much we could have done but my daughters deserve to not have their birthdays forgotten!"

"Jessie and I wanted you to though," Harriet's voice came from the doorway and all the adults turned to look at her.

"Harriet? What…what do you mean sweetheart?" Milah asked, shifting Harry to her other side so she could more easily sit Harriet on her lap if the young girl wanted to.

"I…the Isle doesn't let us have birthdays, not according to some of the other kids," Harriet said softly as she walked over to her mom. "Jessie and I didn't want you to—."

"Now you listen here Harriet, if I want to give my little captain and her sister one of the best birthdays they've ever had, then that is my duty as a parent," Milah said as she scooped up her daughter and placed her on her lap.

"But—!"

"Ah ba ba ba!" Milah said and Harry cooed softly, as if copying Milah's words and causing Harriet to giggle softly.

"Seems like Harry wants his big sister to have a birthday too," Persephone said. "And I think that's a great idea. You know, I might be wrong but I think there may be some presents from Auradon in my bag for you two girls. Let me put Mali down and we can go and get them."

"Really? Jessie and I have loot?" Harriet asked, her eyes growing wide.

"Well we missed your birthday, and birthday girls get loot," Persephone told her. "Isn't that the case Captainess?"

"I believe you are correct, my Lady," Milah nodded.

Harriet scurried down from Milah's lap. "I gotta go get Jessie! I can't have my loot without her, it's her birthday too!"

The adults smiled as they watched the young girl run off before Milah sighed. "I have to wonder how Harriet got the idea that she shouldn't have a birthday just because we're on the Isle," she said softly. "Even if other kids were saying that...she and Jess have to know we would never purposefully overlook them."

"Speaking as someone who's been the older sibling, it can be a lot to take in at times," Hades told her. "I remember…when Posideon was born, it was a bit of an adjustment period to get used to being responsible for another person."

At least Harriet has it a little easier than I did, Hades thought. Hook didn't eat her after all. Though…considering she's growing up on the Isle, maybe the little Hookling and I have more in common than I thought.

"Come on mama!" Harriet said as she reappeared in the doorway, bringing Hades out of his thoughts. "Jessie and papa say we can't open loot until you're here too!"

Milah chuckled softly and shook her head. "Very well then, give me a moment to get my bearings and I'll be right with you Harriet."

"Okay mama!" Harriet said with a grin before running back off. Hades had to assume, judging by the excitement in the Hookling's voice, that she was going off to find Sammy.

Milah shook her head and looked down at Harry. "Please be more sane than your sister. Thankfully Jess seems to have avoided inheriting the Hook insanity."

"You know you just cursed yourself there Milah," Persephone chuckled as Harry looked up at his mom; his blue eyes shining with questions he couldn't yet ask. And yet, everyone seemed to know what they were without the boy having to say a word.

"What do you mean?" Milah asked, though she had a feeling she knew.

"By asking your son to be more sane than his sister," Persephone explained. "Especially knowing who you're married to? I'd be surprised if James didn't have young Harry here swimming before he was a year old."

"Normally I'd say you're exaggerating but knowing James the way I do…" Milah sighed.

"Milah!" Hook called, as if he knew he was being talked about. "I've got two very excited daughters yammering about 'loot' I know nothing about. If you could be an amazing wife and explain what it is our girls are excited about?"

"Coming James!" Milah called back to him before shaking her head. "I guess I should go help him."

"We'll be right behind you," Persephone said as she and Hades also stood up. Milah gave them a small smile before walking out. Persephone would have followed her had it not been for Hades' arms wrapped around her waist.

"Hades?"

"It's rare we get a moment alone like this," Hades said, nuzzling his nose in Persephone's hair. "I missed you Steph. And before we know it, you'll be off in Boreadon again."

"But I'll be back before you know it," Persephone told him. "I always am, and that's never going to change."

Malinoë cooed softly, causing both parents to smile at her.

"I think she's saying that she'll also be back before you know it," Persephone said, looking back up at her husband with a loving smile.

"I know," Hades said and tried to return the smile. It's just…she'll be so much older when you guys get back. She might be walking…or talking…and I know I saw those milestones with Jess and Harriet and I'll get to see them with Harry but…it's different when it's your own kid.

"Hey," Persephone said and Hades looked over at her. "You know both Malinoë and I will be on the portal every day right?"

"I know," Hades said with a small sigh. "But that doesn't mean I won't still miss you."

Persephone smiled and went up on her tiptoes to gently put a kiss on Hades' cheek. "I know, and I miss you every day that we're apart. Maybe mother and I can convince Eric to allow you off the Isle for Malinoë's birthday. After all, it wouldn't be fair for you to miss her first birthday."

"Steph, didn't you say it took both you and Demeter to twist Zeus' arm to just let me off the Isle to see Malinoë's birth?" Hades asked with a small sigh. "I don't think Zeus will agree to let me off the Isle once a year, even if it is for my child's birthday."

"You just let me and mother worry about that," Persephone said. "Mother has ways of convincing Zeus to do what she wants after all."

"Don't those ways include introducing winter to the mortals?"

"Well yes…"

Hades shook his head but before he could say anything, a very annoyed little girl stood in the doorway.

"We're waiting on you Unca Hades! Auntie Steph! To quote papa, get the lead out of your pants!"

Persephone chuckled. "I guess it does make it hard to get your loot when the person giving the loot isn't there, isn't that right Harriet?"

"Uh huh," Harriet nodded and gave Persephone a big grin.

"Well then, let me hand Mali to her papa and then I'll go and get your loot and Jess' loot," Persephone said, returning the smile.

"What about Harry's loot?" Harriet asked.

"It's not Harry's birthday is it?" Persephone asked.

Harriet shook her head. "Well no…but he won't know that! He's just a baby, he won't know why Jessie and me get loot and he don't."

"Well then it's a good thing Queen Ariel gave me a shark plushie to give to Harry," Persephone said with a smile. "Now he won't be upset seeing you girls get your loot. And yes, there's also loot for Sammy."

"Yay!" Harriet said and ran off, presumably to tell her best friend about her incoming loot.

"You know you didn't have to get loot for the Smeeling," Hades said as he took their daughter from Persephone's arms.

Persephone gave Hades a look. "And how could I call myself a good 'Auntie Steph' if I only got loot for two of the girls? It wouldn't be fair for Sammy to not have anything."

"It's the Isle Steph, nothing's fair here."

"That doesn't mean I have to be unfair to the girls," Persephone said as she walked out to get the aforementioned loot. Hades shook his head before looking down at his daughter.

"Well Mali, how about you and I head out of here before we're dragged off by a very excitable toddler? Wait…can four year olds be toddlers?"

Malinoë cooed softly, which to Hades either meant 'you said so earlier' or 'why are you asking me?'

Which, in his opinion, were both equally valid answers to his question.

"Right you are Mali, right you are," Hades nodded and the two of them made their way out of the room to see what potential chaos the loot distributing would bring. Because if there was one constant on the Isle, well other than the grey sky, it was that there was always a chance of chaos in the Underworld.

"Unca Hades!"

"I do believe we're being summoned, don't you think so Mali?" Hades chuckled and Malinoë cooed in what Hades could only think was pure amusement. Hades would deny it if asked of course but he found he picked up his pace while in the back of his mind, he couldn't wait for the day where he was hearing 'papa' be used to summon him instead of 'Unca Hades'.

Not that he minded the usage. No, he found he didn't mind it one bit.