His one love.

Chapter 2

Out of all the things Hades could be doing today- babysitting his children while his lovely Maria went to the markets was not on his list. Although it beat listing to Charon whine about wanting a pay rise. Hades must remember the smite him when he gets back to his kingdom, or give him a very frivolous job like cleaning up after Cerberus- it would kill two birds with one stone, he has been meaning to have someone pick up the dogs...unwanted business from the fields of Asphodel.

"Daddy!" Bianca whined, "you're not listening!" She waved her little blonde haired doll in his face before crouching down and holding the doll close to the one he's being forced to touch. "Your dolly is meant to dance! Cause she's going to the ball to get a husband and then marry him and have babies!" Babies? Should a six-year-old be thinking about babies and marriage? Gods, he is not cut out for this...raising of mortals Surely Maria is more suited to handle this kind of thing than he is. Why that woman left him here to suffer in the company of his children is an atrocity in itself. "Perhaps," Hades started, "she can stay single and live out the rest of her life in solidarity...like a nun." Bianca blinked up at him, her blank expression and dull russet eyes were enough for him to realize that she had no idea what he just said. There was still time for Hades to convince his daughter that the life of a nun is not a horrible one, or perhaps he could just vaporize any and all boys that look in her direction. That would surely be more productive and It would eliminate the need for useless conversation.

"Daddy!" Bianca screeched, again. She was right in his face this time. Her chubby cheeks were puffed out and red- she looked like a chipmunk with a mouthful of nuts. Her eyes seemed to swim, the shadows weaving through her dark orbs. "Yes, my dear?" Hades leaned back to get a better look at the small spit fire. She was holding both her dolls in her small fists and her shoulders were hunched over in an eerily familiar way- it was the same posture Hades himself exhibits when he becomes tired of his wife's angry rants. "You're still not listening! Mum said you would play with me but you're not-you are boring!" Before Hades could open his mouth to respond Bianca had turned and stormed off into the next room. She pulled out one of the dining room chairs and heaved herself onto the plush cushions, all the while keeping her back to him. Bianca may have her mothers looks but she had his temper, it's unnerving, to say the least.

Hades heaved a sigh. He is not cut out for children. Speaking of children, the other one is still staring at him. Since Hades arrived several hours ago Nico has done little more than stare at him. He has remained sitting in the same spot with his teddy bear clutched in his lap and stared- Hades isn't even sure if the kid has blinked since he arrived. Bianca may be unnerving but Nico is down right creepy. "What are you looking at?" Nico said nothing. "Staring is rude you know." Again, he said nothing. Just blinked. "Why don't we make a deal, kid? You turn around and stop staring at me and I'll give you all the Chocolate cake you can dream of." Nothing, not even a twitch. Kids still like chocolate cake, don't they? Gods know all of his other previous demigod children have. "He doesn't like cake!" Bianca called from the other room. Hades drew his eyes away from the stoic child to glance at his little princess. Her back was still turned to him. "Then what does he like?" he asked.
"Brussels sprouts." She answered simply. Who in Gods name likes brussels sprouts? Even Hades, a God, knows that brussels sprouts are disgusting.

Hades turned back to Nico, the kid's eyes shimmered with interest. What a strange boy. He held out one of his bony, white hands and a plate of steaming brussels sprouts appeared. Hades had to lean away to stop himself from breathing in the stench. "It's all yours, on the condition that you stop staring at me." It was silent for a moment as Nico pondered this. His tiny, chubby fingers twitched against the brown bear that was perched in his lap. His dark eyes flicked between the plate and Hades face, once, twice and a third time before the boy leaned forward on his equally chubby legs and snatched the plate from Hade's hands. If the other Gods could see him now he would be the laughing stock of Olympus.