Small Twists of Fate

Chapter Sixteen

Before Persephone knew it, it was the last week or so of March and it was time once again to return to Auradon and Olympus.

"Are you going to be okay?" Hades asked as they made their way to the portal. Persephone already had said her goodbyes to the others, and even promised Milah that she'd make sure to bring a baby blanket for the new baby. Even though they had two baby blankets from Jess and Harriet, Milah wanted the baby to have something that would be theirs.

Persephone had already made the promise that the blanket would still be red, no matter what. Okay maybe she only made the promise to herself but she still made the promise. The color red was the color of the Hook family and she wouldn't take that away from the new baby.

"I'll be fine Hades," Persephone said, giving her husband a gentle smile. "And I'll be on the portal every day so you'll always see me."

"I know," Hades said with a small sigh. "It's just..."

"I get it," Persephone said and she hoped her smile was reassuring enough for her husband. "You want to be there with me. But I promise, mother and I will work to make sure you're there for the birth."

"What if Zeus refuses the request?"

"Then I'll go to Eric and Ariel. The last thing they'd want is for a pregnant woman to be stressed about this. Plus mother can always just threaten another winter like the first one she gifted the mortals. Both Zeus and Eric would jump through hoops to avoid that."

Hades sighed but nodded. "Okay, I get it. But that doesn't mean I'm not still worried though. The baby's had a majority of its gestational time on the Isle and under the barrier. What if that prevented their development?"

"Then the baby comes later than we thought. Mother's made me an appointment with the Baymax robot when I arrive and then I'm to go to Olympus."

"I still think you should see a doctor who's not robotic as well."

Persephone couldn't help but give Hades a small smile. "And you should check in with Ursula. You know she gave birth last week."

"I'm aware, yes," Hades nodded. He'd asked the Fates to keep an eye on the squidling's life thread while Ursula was in labor. Not out of any familial bond with his niece but because he knew that Posideon would feel guilty if Ursula suffered any loss while on the Isle.

And Hades hated making Posideon feel bad, even if it wasn't anything Hades had done.

"You know, you didn't have to go visit Ursula as soon as you got the news," he told Persephone. "Especially not—."

"Hades, if you said that I shouldn't have gone because I'm pregnant, then I will...I don't know what I'll do right now but you'll regret making me do it," Persephone said. "Besides, you know as well as I that Posideon would want a picture of Uma."

"My brother is strange," Hades said, shaking his head.

"I think it runs in your family," Persephone teased before gently kissing Hades on the cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too," Hades said and gently returned the kiss before helping Persephone through the portal. He nodded at Demeter who was on the other end, gently helping Persephone through to the other side.

"I'll let you know as soon as I have a true due date," Persephone promised as she turned around to look at Hades in the portal. "And I'll talk to you every day."

"Not every day," Hades said. "I don't want you to stress about getting to the portal, Steph. Your health matters more right now."

"Hades, I'm a Goddess," Persephone said, not noticing the slightly surprised look on Demeter's face.