Victoria was beet red. She had been since Hades had her against the gate of the gardens.

They were sitting beside the beautiful fountain that lay in the middle of the greenery. Hades sat across the table from her, looking the most relaxed in their two day acquaintance. Even in his armour.

Speaking of which.

"What is it?" He asked. He had been watching her, like a big cat lazing in the sun, gold goblet in hand as he leaned back in his chair.

Victoria's face felt hot. It always seemed to be the case whenever she was around the god. How did he pick up that she wanted to ask a question? Was he able to read her mind?

She flushed again. Praying that he couldn't see or hear what she had been thinking about everytime they were together.

With that thought in mind, Victoria picked away at the leaves of the strawberry she was holding.

"I was just wondering why you wear your armour so often." She mumbled staring at her task at hand, suddenly very focused on not looking at him.

Hades laughed and took a drink before answering.

"It is my uniform. I have been in council meetings all day. I wear my armour when I am working."

At his words, Victoria sank in on herself. So he was working right now? Did he view spending time with her as part of his job?

Don't get so upset Victoria, she scolded herself, you've known him for less than two days. Don't get attached.

Of course he would. It wasn't as if he was truly interested in her, she thought glumly, it must've been a horrible surprise to find out that your intended was a mortal.

A God and a human as each other's intended. What a horrible concept.

He was better than her in every way. Literally.

Why on earth was she chosen for him? It wasn't like she was anything special. Her life up - until the current point - had been entirely mundane. Victoria lived an average life, a happy childhood with loving parents, good grades in school and in university. Nice friends and a sweet boyfriend who seemed to have cared and looked after her.

Calum.

Guilt washed over her in tidal waves at his name again. Before she could stop herself, she opened her mouth.

"I would like to return home."

She was met with silence. Only the sound of the fountain's trickling water met her ears as the air grew tense.

Victoria built up her courage and looked up at him. Hades' face was emotionless, passive. Cold.

If felt like an eternity before he replied. She sat there, hands clasped together.

"How so?" He asked. His voice had an eerie calmness to it. Or maybe she was just imagining things. Her eyes search him and landed on how tightly his hand was holding the goblet.

"I just-" Victoria gulped, "I don't belong here. And- and I have a life to return to."

And I need to tell Calum what has happened. How I've betrayed him.

Victoria was overcome with the need to get away. Away from this world that was so unfamiliar. Away from people addressing her as 'lady'. Away from this god who made her melt in once glance and terrified the next.

"Your life is here. With me."

"But it's not, Your Majesty." Victoria saw him tense, fingers tightening even more around his drink until the stem seemed to have moulded due to the pressure. Fear began to thread its' way through her veins. "I'm not built for this place. This world of gods and goddesses. I was kidnapped from my home, my life that I had built for myself. And forced into one where people address me as if I'm royalty and told that I am intended to somebody I don't know."

Victoria felt her throat close up as it all suddenly hit her at once. She had been so confused since her arrival, after a horrid day of processing, confronting her situation and her feelings, it suddenly became too much for her.

"Please send me home." She whispered, staring down at the table again. Unable to hold eye contact anymore.

"Is this how you have felt the whole time?"

Victoria felt her eyes beginning to moisten, she stayed completely silent. Unable to speak.

She felt Hades leave his chair. He knealt in front of her on one knee and he took her hands in his. It was enough for her to start crying.

Pulling her hands out of his and covering her face.

A soft kiss was placed on her head and she suddenly felt herself being lifted off the chair. His scent enveloped her and she cried harder at the thought of never seeing him again. It was terrifying. She had only known him for a couple of days.

Her mind was a jumbled mess.

Victoria felt herself placed on Hades' lap as he sat on her chair. One of his arms around her waist, the other came up to her face and softly wiped away at her tears.

He kept placing soft kisses all over her face as he waited for her to stop crying.

Eventually, Victoria managed to calm down. Though her hands had started shaking.

"I knew this would happen," Hades muttered, "I fought against the decision to bring you here in the first place. And my actions have not helped either."

Another kiss was placed on her brow.

"I'll make this all okay again. I promise." He murmured against her skin.

Victoria's mind was still reeling. All of this emotion had poured out of her so unexpectedly. His words had suddenly floored her and she was defenseless against the pull that drew them together.

She grabbed a fistful of his beard and pulled him down to her lips. Hades made a sound in surprise before they melted into the kiss.

Every nerve in her body seemed to thrum with energy. Like a sports car rearing and impatient to go. Both of her hands grasped at him, one in his hair, the other at the collar of his armour.

Hades had frozen in surprise. And then he immediately caved in and sank into the kiss.

A moment later he groaned and forced himself off her.

"No Victoria. I won't take advantage of your situation."

Humiliation flared her cheeks red again.

He picked up the shawl and carefully wrapped it around her again. Once insured that it was secure, he carefully removed his chest plate and took her hands in his. Led her hands under his shirt and chuckled at her confusion.

"Your hands are freezing My Lady. And since you want to touch me so badly, my body's purpose is to serve your every whim." He then summoned a thick cloak and wrapped it around them, so Victoria was smothered in his warmth and in his scent. An arm came around her waist again to keep her secure, another reached toward the table.

A piece of strawberry was on the fork he placed to her mouth. Obviously intent on feeding her again.

Victoria could do nothing but stay quiet and let him do so.

This was entirely unexpected. She half expected him to fly into a rage, the other half for him to not care at all and immediately send her back.

But not this. He was surprising her again. Contradicting everything she had assumed about him.

"You may feel overwhelmed due to a lack of sleep and lack of food." Hades spoke to her softly as he placed a grape at her lips. Victoria - now realising how hungry she was - eagerly accepted and marveled at the sweet juice popping in her mouth as she chewed.

One second she was in a full breakdown, the next she was in heaven.

Was it truly all because of this god?

A glass of water was not at her lips.

"Drink." He commanded softly, once she began gulping at the water, he seemed to have relaxed a little. "Once you get some sleep, we can discuss what to do next. Whether that be you staying or returning to the mortal realm. I only ask for you to ponder over it seriously."

Victoria nodded in response. She had been unaware of her body's needs. In the midst of her thoughts throughout the day and in the heat of the moment, she forgot how hungry she was, how her body needed water and how cold she had been as the shawl had slid off her shoulders. Not to mention the hangover she had been nursing.

Now. In Hades' arms. Surrounded by his warmth, his scent. Hearing the melody and deep timbre of his voice, the calming sound of the fountain. Victoria felt safe and content.

The last sensation she felt before her eyes closed was a light kiss on her forehead.