Hades watched Zeus and Demeter walk into the throne room. They glanced around as though they questioned his choice of interior decorating. When they both saw him, sitting on his throne- Zeus' stare was expectant but Demeter's lips curved into an angry frown.

"Brother! Sister!", Hades smiled at the both of them, "welcome"

Zeus smiled but Demeter hissed under her breath, "where's my daughter Hades?", she asked coldly.

Hades rolled his eyes, "in her room", he said, "she should be out soon"

Just then, there was a loud gasp and Hades looked behind him to see Persephone.

"M-mother?", she stuttered as she walked towards them.

Demeter ran towards her daughter and pulled her into a tight embrace, "Persephone, are you okay?", she asked as she released her, taking her hair in her hand and examining it, "did he hurt you?", she glanced at Hades and frowned at him.

Persephone smiled tiredly, "I'm fine mother", she said, "what are you doing here?"

Zeus and Hades glanced at each other and then back at her. it was clear they both had the same thought in mind. Persephone should have been happy to see her mother. She was being held against her will, after all. Demeter did not seem to notice the change in her daughter's tone.

"I'm here to take you home of course", Demeter said sternly. She grabbed her daughter by the arm and pulled her towards the exit. Hades' heart beat frantically. It was only a matter of time before they noticed and she would be all more than willing to go back with her mother.

"Home?", Persephone stopped in her tracks, "I can't go home mother"

Hades stood from his throne and Zeus arched an eyebrow at him as he walked down. Demeter frowned at her daughter.

"What do you mean you can't go home?", she asked.

Persephone glanced at Hades and she gave him a sad smile. He frowned at her. What did she think he was doing? She turned back to face her mother and took a deep breath.

"He fed me his seeds", she said, "he snuck pomegranate seeds into my ambrosia"

Zeus' eyes opened wide and Demeter let go off her daughter's arm immediately. She stared at her with horror etched on her face and then she looked at Hades.

"You bastard!", she screeched, running towards him.

Hades couldn't move. He was sure Demeter would not be able to harm him even if she wanted to. He was frozen in place because he realized now that she had known. She had known about his plan to link her to him somehow and she had let him carry out the plan without even trying to stop him. He wanted to ask her why, but he was ashamed of himself, because it did not matter what his reasons for tricking her were- he had done it anyway.

Before Demeter could get close to Hades, Zeus grabbed her by the waist and pulled her away, "No!", he yelled, snapping Hades out of his thoughts, "not like this Demeter", Zeus said.

"You will pay for this Hades!", Demeter threatened.

"Enough!", Zeus' thunderous voice filled the room, "we need to decide what to do now. There is no point in fighting"

"We don't have to do anything!", Demeter spat as she released herself from Zeus' grip, "my daughter is not staying in this place", she said, "she has a duty as a goddess"

Hades could see the look in Demeter's eyes. It was hate, anger and a part of him could tell she would have killed him on the spot if she could. He had always wondered why people thought the way they did of him, a tiny part of him had always cared as well since he wasn't any of the things they said he was but as he stood before Demeter, her piercing gaze resting one him, he didn't seem to care about what she thought and how she felt- as long as Persephone was in the room.

"Do you realize what you've done?", Demeter asked him, "you have ruined her life!"

"No mother", Persephone said. He stared at her. She refused to meet his gaze and turned to face her mother instead, "this doesn't mean I can't follow you back"

Zeus nodded, "the girl is right", he said, "she can go with you to the upperworld but she has to return her to Hades"

Hades like the way it was said that she would return to him, as though he were her home.

"I've never asked you for anything Zeus", Demeter said, "but please don't let this happen"

"I'm afraid we can't do anything right now", Zeus said, "you know this is how it has always been"

Persephone held her mother by the shoulder and smiled encouragingly at her, "I'll go with you today",

Zeus took a deep breath, "very well, it is settled. Persephone will spend some time in the upperworld and then come back to Hades- ", Zeus glanced at his frozen brother, "-who's her husband now"

Persephone glanced at Hades, "how long will I spend up there?"

"Six months", Zeus said, "and then another six months down here"

She nodded and held her mother by the hand, "let's go"

Demeter stared at Hades one last time and he could see the same burning question. Why? The answer was simple, because he loved her. it had to be a good enough reason. Love. It's always easy to use it as an excuse to do anything- kill a person, kill two people, burn a bridge and then a city as large- as long as it's for love, it will never seem as bad.

Demeter and Persephone walked out of the throne room and as soon as they left, Zeus turned to his brother.

"Hades", he said.

"Six months", Hades mumbled to himself.

"You knew what would happen when you took her", Zeus said to him, "what were you thinking brother? Were you really planning on keeping her forever?"

Hades looked up at Zeus, "I would do anything for her", he said, "and she will be back"

"Hades..."

"Goodbye Zeus"

Cerberus moaned and placed one of his head on Hades' lap. The other he rested on the god's head and Hades petted the third head lovingly.

"I know", he said, "I miss her too"

She had known. It was the only thought on his mind for months, she had known what his plan was and she had gone along with it. He wasn't sure what her reason was but he settled for the only one that made sense to him- she wanted him just as much as he wanted her and the thought of that being true made him happy.

He stared at the tulip in between his fingers and placed it close to his nose. The scent reminded him so much of her and he missed her smile, her innocence and the way his heart skipped a beat every time he saw her. He smiled to himself but it wavered quickly as Charon ran into the throne room.

Hades frowned at him, "what is it, Charon?"

"I came here as fast as I could, my lord", Charon bowed his head, "I heard some information you might want to hear as well, while transferring souls across the river Styx"

Hades adjusted himself on the seat, "Go on"

It seemed like forever but at the same time, it passed by quickly and soon Persephone was back in the underworld. However, her return was not as she expected. When she arrived, she met Charon by the river Styx and then Cerberus by the palace. She fed the hound fruits from the last harvest and he seemed to love them.

The throne room was empty and so was Hades' chambers. She felt somewhat disappointed so she stayed in her room and buried her face in her hands. Demeter was not proud of her daughter's decision to go back to the underworld but it couldn't be helped- Persephone was linked to the dark lord. She felt sorry for her mother, she had been raised by her side but in the underworld, she felt wanted. She had been abducted and the time spent away from the underworld should have been enough to stop thinking about Hades- except it didn't work

The door opened and she looked up. He walked in, his dark hair ruffled and his eyes darkened as he turned to her. He smiled as she stood to face him and walked slowly towards her. He pulled her in for a hug.

"H-hades", she stuttered.

The cold scent of darkness and death didn't irritate her anymore. In fact, she missed it and it was enough for her to be sure.

He released her and sighed, "I'm sorry"

She frowned, "sorry about what?"

"The seeds"

"No", she cupped her hands around his face, "I knew what was happening"

"It doesn't matter", he shook his head, "it was still deceitful"

She dropped her hands and looked away from him.

"How are you Persephone?", he asked.

"I'm as great as the goddess of spring can be", she said softly, "and as the queen of the underworld"

Hades could feel his heart racing again. she considered herself to be his queen but as he looked into her eyes, he remembered his conversation with Charon and his smile wavered again.

"Is something wrong?", she asked with a worried look on her face.

"No, my queen", he took her hand in his, squeezing it gently, "there are just certain issues that need to be taken care of"

"Like what?"

"All in due time", he shifted a lock of her hair and pushed it behind her ear.

There was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?", Hades called grimly.

"It's me, my lord", Charon said from outside, "it's all set"

Hades nodded grimly, "very well, I'll be there"

Persephone frowned as she listened to Charon's footsteps walking away, "what was that about?"

"Nothing important", Hades said softly, "do not trouble your mind, my dear", he kissed her forehead, "you always manage to leave me enthralled"

She squinted her eyes and studied him, "hmm"

"I'll be back soon. Get some rest", he said as he let go off her hand and walked towards the door. He opened it, took one last look at her and smiled before walking out of the room.

She sighed and frowned. Hades was keeping something from her and she had to figure out what it was.