Chapter Twenty Seven
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths!
Woo! Another chapter for the record books! Apologies if it seems like I'm just cranking 'em out, but I want to give you all as many chapters as I can before I start my new job (oh right, I didn't tell ya'll—I got a new job! Starts July 10th!)
danifan3000: Not sure how Hook'll manage it but if anyone can, it's a Hook allied with Hades!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! I know, the fluff is so cute! I love writing fluffy :D And yeah, Milah and James would never forget their kids!
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Ooh I like the sound of that! Give Mal all the parties!
Hope you guys like the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Hades smiled softly as he watched Persephone lay their daughter down in her bassinet for the evening; the two of them about ready to head to bed themselves. It was truly exhausting being new parents, even if they did have tiny helpers clamoring to do just that.
Honestly, Hades was more worried of tripping over the little Hooklings than he was he'd hurt his daughter. Hence why nine times out of ten, the child watching duties were given to Virgil much to Harriet's displeasure. It didn't exactly please the always anxious toddler either but Hades also knew he could trust the half-imp to stay in one spot.
Harriet was like one of those bouncy balls Persephone had brought back from Boreadon and while Hades knew it was no fault of the Hookling's (she was after all a toddler and mortal toddlers apparently had no 'off switch'), he still felt better having the less energetic toddler watch over his daughter.
"There you go Mali, all nice and comfy," Persephone cooed as she wrapped a blanket around their daughter. "You get some shut eye, mama and papa will be right here if you need us."
A small coo was the only response the young Godling gave but it was all either parent needed. Persephone smiled as she crawled into the bed next to Hades, the older God wrapping his arms around her and holding her to him.
"It feels weird to think about so many citizens of the Isle becoming parents," he murmured.
"What do you mean?" Persephone asked, looking up at her husband.
"Well, you already know about Ursula giving birth to her squidling," Hades said. "But then there's young Harry of course, rumor has it Gothel's got a kid—."
"Another one?"
"Another…oh you're referring to Cassandra?"
Persephone nodded. "Of course, she's the only other volunteer to come to the Isle other than Daniel."
"Funny you should mention him," Hades said.
"Hades, what did you do?"
"Why do you assume I did something?" Hades asked, tilting his head slightly as he looked down at his wife.
"Because that's usually what you say before you say something that you think I'd disapprove of," Persephone told him.
Hades chuckled and shook his head. "While that's true, I promise, I haven't done anything to Evil Queen's boy toy. It's just he fit the topic of Isle residents becoming parents."
"He…Oh, Regina and Daniel had a child?" Persephone asked, a smile coming to her face.
"I'll never understand how you learned Evil Queen's first name but yep," Hades nodded. "They've got a little sunspot. A girl, actually. She was born in April, a few weeks before Harry."
"Oh that's great! Malinoë will have an ally outside of the family," Persephone said.
Hades shook his head. "As much as I want her to have allies outside of the family, I wouldn't go near EQ right now."
"Why not?"
"We're entering into another round of Evil Queen attempting to take power from Maleficent," Hades explained. "I don't want Malinoë to potentially be impacted because we decided to make allies with Maleficent's arch rival. I know we can take anything Maleficent can dish out because, well, we're Gods and she's a powerless lizard in a human form, but still. I'd rather not risk our daughter."
Persephone smiled and gently reached up to kiss Hades on the cheek. "That's very sweet Hades."
"Not only that, but it might put the Hooklings and Smeeling at risk as well," Hades added. "I'm not about to risk our alliance with the Hooks and the Smees just to add an alliance with Evil Queen."
"And to think, you didn't want an alliance with anyone when this all started," Persephone teased.
"Yeah, yeah," Hades chuckled and leaned down to kiss his wife. "I'll admit, the idea of sharing my Underworld with anyone but you and the idiots was not one I was fond of. But it's grown on me, I won't lie."
"Good," Persephone told him. "I like the idea of you having people here, Hades. Especially when I'm in Auradon. It's not healthy to be on your own."
"Steph, I'm a God. I doubt there's much that can take me down."
"You and I both know there's more than just physical health that you have to be aware of," Persephone told him. "Honestly, I'm a little surprised you living alone even for six months was approved. The mortals have begun to realize how cruel solitary confinement can be."
"Yeah well, you and I both know it wasn't the mortals who designed my punishment," Hades said, shaking his head. "Zeus can be cruel when you commit a crime against him. Remember when he turned Poseidon mortal?"
"Wasn't that when Poseidon trapped Zeus in a net because some of the Gods believed there should be a different ruler of Olympus?"
"Yep."
"Why didn't we follow through with changing the leadership?"
"Zeus promised he'd do a better job leading, I believe."
Persephone shook her head. "Clearly he fell back on that promise. A leader should lead with his head, not punish with his heart."
"Eh," Hades shrugged. "I've got you, I've got Mali, and I've got the Hooklings and the Smeeling. Not to mention the adult Hooks and Smees. I'm fine with just harboring my grudge toward my brother who I'll never see again in silence."
"Well as long as you have a plan," Persephone told him as she shook her head. Her husband could be rather strange at times but then again, it was the Isle. They all had to be strange at times because otherwise, they'd lose their sanity.
And if Persephone was honest, she found she preferred the more laid back, open style communication of the Isle than the politics of Auradon. Oh sure, the kids had to repress their emotions in order to not be seen as weak but if anyone had an issue with someone else, they could just say it.
They didn't have to tip toe around the issue with their words. There were days when she was in Auradon that Persephone just wanted to scream. And there were days where she actually did scream. Granted it was into a pillow so Persephone wasn't quite sure it counted but still.
She wished it could be possible to combine her two worlds, which was why Persephone loved it when Ariel would invite her over for tea just the two of them. She couldn't do it too often because, as High Queen, Ariel didn't want to make it seem as if she was favoring one subject over the rest of them.
Of course now that Malinoë was born, they both had a built in excuse to have extra get togethers. No one would criticize two cousins getting to know each other would they?
"What are you thinking about?" Hades asked, pulling Persephone out of her thoughts.
"How much I wish I could have both worlds," Persephone told him. "I love the sun and the freedom of Auradon but there's a freedom here too. A freedom to be snarky and sarcastic and frank with other people."
"Yeah, something tells me that wouldn't fly with the Boreadon elite," Hades snorted.
"Yes well," Persephone said, shaking her head. "You're sure you will be alright when Malinoë and I go back to Auradon?"
"Steph, I'll be fine," Hades promised. "Yes I will miss our daughter, just like I miss you every time. But you always manage to come back to me don't you?"
"Of course Hades."
"So why would it be any different now that we have a child?" Hades asked, shoving the slight fear that Persephone would elect to stay in Auradon down into the pit of his stomach. After all, no mother would want their child to grow up on the Isle if they had the choice of Auradon. And especially not when the child in question had family across the bridge they could rely on.
Persephone smiled softly and gently kissed Hades' cheek once more, as if knowing what her husband was thinking. It was tempting, she wouldn't lie. But it wouldn't be home.
Malinoë began to fuss softly, pulling both parents out of their thoughts as they looked over at her.
"Oh Mali, what's wrong?" Persephone asked, getting out of the bed to go to her daughter. "Not a fan of being all alone?"
"Steph, as much as I love our daughter, do not put her in the bed with us," Hades said. "Look at us compared to how small she is, what if she gets hurt?"
"The Hooks let Harriet and Jess into the bed with them."
"Two four year olds do not equal one baby. And they certainly don't equal my baby! When the Hooks let Harry into the bed with them, then I might reconsider but even then I'm not sure! "
Persephone smiled and shook her head at her husband's antics. "Is your papa being silly? Well, since he won't let you join us on the bed, let's see if Cousin Ariel's lullaby will settle you down," she cooed to Malinoë.
"…Ariel has a lullaby?" Hades asked.
"Of course," Persephone chucked before clearing her throat. "Oh the waves roll low and the waves roll high and so it goes, under a bright blue endless sky…waves try to measure the days that we treasure…wave hello and wave goodbye."
Judging by the fussing still emitting from the basinet, it was clear that Mal was not a fan of the lullaby.
"Just out of curiosity, did the lullaby work on Malinoë back in Auradon?" Hades asked.
"Well…no," Persephone sighed. "Maybe she's hungry?"
"Didn't she have a bottle not too long ago?"
"Well that's the only thing I can think of, Hades. She doesn't feel wet to me so she doesn't need to be changed…maybe she wants to be held?"
Malinoë's fussing seemed to stop as she heard that and she cooed softly.
"Oh was that it? Were you just wanting to be held?" Persephone chuckled as she picked up her daughter. Sure enough, the fussing stopped and Malinoë seemed to be her regularly calm self.
Hades shook his head. "Okay, I can see the writing on the wall. She can come into the bed with us…but she has to be back in her bassinet before we fall asleep. I mean it Steph, I don't want to accidentally roll over onto her during the night."
"Hades, when have you ever rolled?" Persephone asked with a small smile as she got back into the bed; Malinoë firmly secured in her arms. "Nine times out of ten, I'll wake up to your arms around me but that's about it."
Hades couldn't help but smile as Persephone handed him their daughter; Malinoë's head resting on his chest.
"I figure you should have as much bonding time as you can before we have to go back to Auradon," Persephone said, her voice soft as it was clear as day that Malinoë had fallen asleep on Hades' chest. Seemed what she really needed was her papa.
I'm not going to ruin this am I? Hades thought to Persephone, opting to talk through the mental link as to avoid waking up his daughter. You know as well as I that I didn't have the best example of a father—.
Now you listen here Hades, Persephone thought back as she laid down and rested her head on his shoulder. I would not have had a child with you if I thought you'd be a bad father. And the fact that Malinoë loves you so much and feels at ease to sleep on your chest should tell you something about your parenting. You are not your father and I know you would never treat Malinoë the way Kronos treated you.
You're sure?
Here's how sure I am, Persephone thought as she gently laid a kiss on his lips. I wouldn't do that to someone who acted like Kronos, now would I?
I'm going to go out on a limb and say no, Hades thought with an inward chuckle.
You'd be right about that, Persephone told him. I know being a first time parent can be scary, there's no guide to make sure you're doing it right. But we're a team aren't we? Meaning no matter what there'll always be the two of us making sure Malinoë has the best possible life. And it won't just be us. She'll have James and Milah and William and Mollie looking out for her. She'll have Jess and Harriet and Sammy and Virgil and Harry and Henry to run around with. Oh and Uma, you should establish more contact with Ursula's daughter—.
Steph, I love you but you need to breathe.
Sorry, Persephone thought with an inward chuckle. Guess I got a bit carried away. But do you get what I'm trying to say?
Our daughter will be fine?
Exactly, Persephone nodded and Hades smiled as he wrapped one arm around her; keeping the other arm around Malinoë to keep her secured on his chest. Him and his two girls. What could be any better than this?
