Pat Twice

Chapter 10

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Rain fell hard against the window, creating it's own song in the early morning haze. Hades heard a distant crack of lightening, then watched it light up the bedroom. I wonder what is making Zeus so upset this early in the morning.

He rested his head on top of Persephone's. Her pink hair obstructing his view, but he didn't mind. He listened to her breathe in and out, deep and consistent. The arm that was under her had fallen asleep, but he didn't want to risk waking her up. She was perfectly peaceful next to him. He snuggled his face a little deeper into her hair, smelling what was probably her shampoo. Sweet, like a mix of flowers in full bloom.

She shivered lightly in her sleep, making a small noise. Hades' brows furrowed as he pulled the blankets up higher around her shoulders. She started squirming, quietly moaning in her sleep.

"Persephone?" He asked softly, brushing her hair back gently.

"Hmm?" She responded sleepily. He smiled a little bit, unable to stop himself. Why is she so adorable?

"You're safe, Kore," he whispered to her, hoping that he will be able to coax her back to sleep.

"I'm not having a bad dream..."

"Oh. Then what's wrong?"

"I never sleep on my side, and now my shoulder is killing me," she said, still half asleep. Hades couldn't help but chuckle. He pulled his arm out from under her, and she rolled over to her back.

"I think that this bed is the comfiest place I've ever slept," she said while yawning, stretching her arms over her head.

"You mean more comfortable than a grassy field outside?" He replied jokingly, his smile only getting bigger. She froze mid-stretch and looked over at him, sticking her tongue out.

"I'll have you know, your highness, that grassy fields are very comfy!" She sassed him back, rolling to her side again to look at him. He put one arm under his head, giving her a sideways glance. His smile turning into a little smirk.

"I'm familiar with sleeping outside. I'll have you know that I use to stay out under the stars all night long with Zeus and Hera and Poseidon. Many, many years ago. When times seemed different..." he trailed off, getting lost in his own memories. Late nights with his brothers, Hera asking him about what he saw in the future. All his hopes and dreams...

"Do you still see them as much as you used to?" Persephone inquired, pulling him back to her.

"Well," he sighed, turning onto his side to look at her directly, "we see one another at parties. I have brunch with my brothers. But we all have jobs to do now. They have wives and families to spend time with," Persephone watched Hades as his eyes dropped when he said 'families'.

"May I ask you something personal?" She asked cautiously. Her curiosity drove her more than her manners.

"Is it something incredibly rude? Because I have a feeling you'll ask anyway," he joked, ready to tell her everything she wanted.

"I was just wondering... have you even imagined what your family would look like?" She said quietly, her cheeks becoming hot. Hades' eyes widened, his heart dropping to his stomach.

"Oh..." he said, unsure how to answer her. Of course he use to imagine his ideal life... but that was a long time ago when he had hope.

"I didn't mean to-."

"No, it's okay... yes. I have pictured what my family would be like," he turned to his back again and stared at the ceiling. He let his mind wander to a place he forgot about ages ago, "I have three children, two boys and a girl. I would never tell them, but the daughter is my favorite... I would spoil her, but not too much. I would have them do work in the mortal realm, to understand the balance between here and there. I would send them to school in Olympus, but secretly hope that they would live in the Underworld when they grew up. I would give them chores... I wouldn't have to walk all those damn dogs," Hades laughed, thinking about his children dragging around Cerberus.

"What about your wife?" Persephone probed, causing Hades to lose his smile.

"My wife," he said slowly, as if testing the phrase out on his tongue, "She is strong, but full of love. She protects those that she cherishes, and fights those who threaten them. She's beautiful, intelligent, adventurous... but also keeps me grounded. She is my entire world," Hades feels his eyes become watery. All he sees is Persephone, no imaginary woman. Their pretend shared life of walking dogs, getting married, having babies, sleeping in on the weekend, and everything in between.

"She seems amazing." Persephone replied in a small voice.

"She will be," Hades cleared his throat, trying to recover from his thoughts.

"Enough about me, what about you? What is your future?"

"Oh, me?" She laughed nervously, causing Hades to smile again.

"I had to bear my soul, Kore. The least you can do it share some of your hopes?"

"Fine, fine! My future... I suppose I want to finish my studies at school, that's number one. I would like to imagine that I will live between the city and the mortal realm, because I don't want to be far from mama. I mean, she needs me, and I think that I need to be near her too. Perhaps she'll give me more freedom when I return, but who knows? Of course I'll take care of the spring, full-time. I think that's really it-."

"Not good enough," Hades interrupted her, snapping his head to look her in the eyes.

"What?!" She said laughing, her jaw dropping.

"I told you my deepest, darkest desires; and you're telling me you want to get a full-time job that you already have? Not enough, I need more heart. I want to know something that you want that no one knows. I told you something that no one knows, not even my brothers or Hera. Now that's personal," Hades raised one eyebrow at her, trying to bait her. She scrunched her face, attempting to hide her huge smile.

"Agh, Hades! This is so unfair!"

"Now, now, little goddess. You started the questions, I'm just returning the favor," his smile spread form one ear to the other. His heart felt light and free.

"Okay... now you can't tell anyone this. But... I guess something that I have always wanted since I was young was to be a um... a mother," Persephone lowered her eyes, avoiding Hades' eyes. Now it was his turn to drop his jaw in shock.

"I know that it doesn't exactly make sense with the lifestyle I have chosen. But throughout my childhood, I pictured someday being a mother. I used to think of the things I would do differently with my own children..." Persephone rambled, feeling like she said too much. Hades watched her, unsure of how to process what she said.

"So then why are you in training to be an eternal maiden if you want to have your own children?" Hades asked in a confused tone, trying to wrap his head around everything.

"Well... mama wanted me to join. And I believe that she had my best interest at heart, so I didn't question her decision."

"You didn't join yourself?"

"Um..." she mumbled, starting to feel fidgety again. Hades gently put his hand on her cheek, pulling her face towards his; and forcing her eyes to meet his.

"Kore, no one should tell you how to live your life. Not even your mother. You have to decide how you want to live because trust me, eternity is a long gig," Hades watched the corner of Persephone's mouth turn up, as if she were going to smile.

"I know you're right, I just-."

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Hades' phone rang loudly at them, causing Persephone to nearly jump out of her skin. Hades moved his hand from her cheek and rolled to see who it was.

"Who in the world is up this early?" He grumbled to himself, annoyed that his conversation was interrupted.

HE'S COMING

"Who is it?" Persephone asked the back of Hades' head.

"It's Hera... but I'm a little confused."

"Why, what did she say?" Hades rolled back over to Persephone.

"She said 'He's coming'. I don't know what that means..." Hades looked up from his phone into Persephone's eyes. Her entire face was now dimly lit.

"Oh gods..." she said quietly, looking over his shoulder. Hades slowly sat up in bed and turned behind him towards the window.

Off in the distance, the sun was beginning to rise over the horizon.