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An unknown tradition of Olympians is the farewell journey for a child. When a child of an age passes, we gather to celebrate them and encourage them for their journey to the Underworld. Hera and I guide them through the line, as we walk past the gods and goddesses, wishing them a sweet and joyous afterlife. This was something I usually did without my queen. I held their hands throughout their journey and judgment and personally escorted them to Elysian Fields where they enjoyed their never-ending childhood.

Today was supposed to be the same, I prepared myself for the emotional burden I would hold that day as I made my way to Demeter's Domain, even more, concerned as she told me this one would be different. That's when she walked over to a small timid child, who hid underneath her robes. I knelt to be leveled to her." Hi, my dear. I'm Hades and you are?" I asked gently. We waited for a few seconds before I looked up to Demeter." She barely even talks to me, and I've had her for a week." I nodded and cleared my throat." My dear, are you scared of something?" I asked. The outline of her head nodded quickly up and down." You can tell me what it is you're scared of, I promise I won't be upset." She sniffled softly, as her voice came as a squeak." I was told you were an awful man. That you had scary claws, now jaw, and that you took small children to eat." She mumbled. I chuckled to myself." These rumors have only gotten worse." I smiled and reached out." Well, I can assure you that I have no claws and I look just like you." Demeter reached down and gently stroked the girl's head." Just look at his hand first and you can come out after ok?" She said in a hopeful compromise to move along the process.

The small girl slowly lifted up Demeter's robe to look at his hand, finding a completely natural hand to be in front of her. She then looked up at Hades' face, the look of fear leaving her face." You look normal." She said looking at him." Most normal looking out here my dear." I said with a smile. I watched as she ran over, hugging me and hiding her head in my robe. She mumbled something against her chest. " What did you say?" She looked up at me, and that's when I saw it. She resembled my wife in ways I couldn't explain. It was her eyes, her hair, and the smile she gave us. She looked like she could be the child that my wife would bear." Oh, my heart." I whispered, pulling her close to my chest.

Hera walked over to us, confused about why we hadn't made our way over to them yet." I can't take her." I explained." I can't take her down there. Pers will see her and her heart will ache. It's taking everything in me not to take her home." Demeter looked over at Hera. They had this way of talking without words, and I always just that was a sister thing." There's nothing against taking her home... The only issue is that she will age, but she will never be able to leave the underworld." Hera told me. I looked down at the small child staring up at me with the same blue eyes my wife had. I gave her a smile." I would have to talk to Persephone first, I'll see what I can work out." I said standing up, keeping the child pressed against my chest." Me and my dear will be heading down to my domain." The small child sighed looking at him." My name is Ophelia!" She yelled at me." I'm not a deer." She frowned. I chuckled and ruffled her hair." I apologize Ophelia. Do you want to go meet my wife?" I asked her. Ophelia gave me a look as if she was thinking before she nodded." If she's nice like you, yes please."

It took us longer to get back to the castle as I wanted to show Ophelia around her possible new home. By the time we arrived to our living quarters." My Highness." I called out as we went inside our home. I walked Ophelia to the living room." Stay here for a bit, I'll be back." I said, setting her on the couch with the TV remote. I made my way back to the greenhouse in our home, where I saw my wife, Ising a vine of ivy as a ladder." Baby, would you please be careful." I asked reaching a hand to her waist to steady her. She lowered herself and smiled." I always try my best." She kissed my cheek as she settled on the ground. She turned making her way towards the hall that led to our living room." Pers wait." I said quickly, pulling her back to me." We need to talk." I told her. She gave me a serious look." What's the matter?" She asked. I sat her down on a bench and held her hand. I looked at her as I tried finding the words, but I couldn't so I just blurted it out." I brought home a human child!" I said quickly looking at her. Her eyes widened before her brows furrowed. " Ok... So why did you bring her home?" She said softly." So we could raise her as our own." Persephone stared at me as if I were crazy, and it was well deserved.

" My dear King, you didn't think this through. Yes, children is something we won't and we can provide for one... But we can't bring shades home, they have a home in the fields." She told me. " I know, but she's different. I see ourselves in her and the best place for her is in our home with two loving parents." She sighed at my reasoning." Where will she go while we're working?" She asked, finally giving in to keeping Ophelia." She will stay with the other children, watched over by the nymphs." I said with a bright smile."Is she here?" She asked." In the living room." I watched as my wife stood up and made her way out into the hallway and went down to see her. I watched her stand there, not going any further into the room. I went behind her confused by her hesitation. That's when I saw Ophelia, holding onto one of our dogs. Laying on his back as he walked around." That part of her is all you." I laughed as I went to pick her up."Princess Ophelia of the underworld, met your new mom Queen Persephone, goddess of the spring and the underworld." Ophelia giggled and waved." Nice to meet you, mama!"