"WHY, I DO BELIEVE THEY GET FEISTIER BY THE DAY," CHARON CLICKED HIS DUSTY TONGUE.

"Shut up," I snapped at him. "It's not even funny."

Around us, the last boat of spirits for the day was finally ashore, full to the brim with horrified, protesting souls. Charon sank his oars into a corner of the inky black rocks, tipping his hat to Persephone.

"My Queen," he rasped, a tiny smirk curling on his lips. "More souls for you to judge. Very fresh."

"Why, thank you," she shot him a gracious smile, cheeks turning the colour of an autumn rose.

"No greetings for me, old man?" I cut in, slightly annoyed at watching another make her blush so.

"Why, my Lord. Of course not. Unlike my lady of the undead, your face ain't lovelier than the rising moon," he chuckled, his tongue clicking in a series of annoyed rasps. Persephone let out a mirthful laugh, joining the ferryman.

"I-"

"You may continue your flirting in private quarters, men. I have work to do," she muttered, slipping out of our locked embrace, moving to the boats.

The screeching of the wailing souls quietened as she approached, the glittering waters of Charon's rivers lapping at the hem of her robes like an obedient puppy. Even the trembling ripples of the water seemed to part for her as she approached the boat of waiting spirits.

"Please - please..." one of them shuddered, his face a moving swirl between smoke and flesh. "Please..."

"Shh," Persephone cooed, her voice a soft lullaby. "It's alright. It's okay."

"Please..." the young man clutched at her hand, weeping fitfully, voice breaking in gasps. I hurried to her side as she cupped his chin, tipping his face up to meet her eyes. "Please... my lady. Leave me go - my mother - my mother has no one to provide for her. She will starve," he whispered.

"The plague took him," Thanatos got off the boat, removing his leather gloves. "The mother is bedridden - no one to look after her."

Persephone's hand was gentle on the boy's cheek.

"I will take care of her," she promised. "She will not want for nourishment. I give you my word," her voice was heavy and sincere, each word honest.

"Perse-," I began softly.

"I am your Queen, my lord," she turned to me, the grene of her eyes more vivid and tender than the first shoots of spring grass. "Trust me on this."

Smitten as I was, I relented with a resigned nod. Alright.

We spent the next couple of hours at the gates, reassuring the frightened, calming the head - my hands on their brow, taking away all their fears. But they were scared. Scared of my hand, my fingers, the paleness of them. The coldness of them. But Persephone - no. They adored her. They worshipped her. They fell to her feet, confessing to their sins, begging for mercy. Her touch was a balm, soft and deadly and gentle - like a restful night's sleep.

I watched as she coaxed the unmoving spirits out of their boat, her voice enchanted. Feather light and gentle, but unmoving in determination. She knew what must be done, and why. And this time, she used her caring nature for helping, instead of opposing me.

My heart swelled with pride.

When the last of them were taken away, I looped my arms in hers, pressing an urgent kiss to her delicate lips. She giggled, cupping my jaw in her hands, her face that of an avenging, reverent goddess.

"Your tactics will not work on me, Polydegmon. Have you come to beg for mercy?"

"For mercy, and for release," I smirked, my fingers tracing the outline of her jaw, as if admiring a work of art. "Will you fulfil my demands, wife?"

"Hmm," Perse pretended to consider, her gaze bright. "Perhaps," her voice dripped with sarcasm. "But I will require an offering," she drew me closer, hands lost in the waves of my hair. "Grant me an offering and your wishes may come true, husband..."

She nipped at the bottom of my lip, delight colouring her cheeks as I gasped.

"Tonight." Her eyes sparkled like young diamonds.

"Tonight," I murmured in her ear, my voice silkier than the night.

Persephone threw back her head and laughed again, a few stray strands of her luxurious hair framing her face like a halo. She skipped a few steps ahead of me, turning back to give me another of her killer smiles.

"Catch me, my Lord. I bet you can't."

I smirked once, chasing after her with an easy speed as she ran. Not in any hurry, I let her dance away down the gilded corridors and marble halls, over the rolling gardens ensconced by night, over the ebb and flow of the Lethe, and farther and farther into the fields of Asphodel. She ran and ran and ran, her footsteps lighter than the wind, softer than a whisper - before coming to a stop at the shores of the Lethe, her feet digging into the plush white sand of the isle's shores.

"Ooo. Soft," she squealed.

"Caught you," I grinned, slipping my arms around her waist, feeling her heart racing, fluttering like a bird. She chuckled, turning around to nip at my lip, cheeks flushed. The warmth of her melted away at the ice thawing in my veins, and I hardly even realised how broadly I had been smiling before Persephone shook me once, and then again.

"You're grinning like the devil, Hades."

"How ironic," I murmured even as she took my hands in hers, interlocking the fingers together.

Her eyes - her eyes were so bold, so wild, so restless - fiercer than a forest fire yet mightier than a vast ocean. I could see the universe reflected in the green of those eyes. So beautiful. So breathtaking. And mine.

Lethe was sitting around a blazing fire, humming a sleepy song to herself. She was watching the flames intently, endlessly fascinated as always. A half eaten peach sat in her hand, delicate pink robes flitting about in the cool air.

Persephone smiled at the river spirit, who lazily gave her a dreamy glance before going back to her quiet singing.

Soft footsteps on the sand made me turn around. Hypnos bowed courteously, extending an arm to his cave in invitation.

"My Lord. My Lady. I would ask you to supper in my humble abode, if it please you," the god whispered, his voice a calming lilt.

I glanced at my wife, who nodded eagerly, her smile gracious.

"We would love to join you and Pasithea, sir."

"Excellent," the deity murmured. "Follow me."

We spent the next hour with Hypnos and his family in the cove, sitting beside the stream as it cast a million coloured lights against the rock ceiling. Persephone's excitement was infectious, even as she exclaimed over the softness of the ginger shortbread, the taste of the mulled mead, before finally finishing off with freshly toasted marshmallows over Lethe's bonfire.

"Humble fare," Phantasus had smiled abashedly, his cheeks full of colour, eyes twinkling. "But it's honest work."

"Nonsense," I told him. "This is delicious."

"Much better than anything at Olympus," Persephone exclaimed. "I have never had anything half as delicious."

After supper, we retreated to the ivory white beaches, watching the moon rise into the starry heaven.

"Walk with me, my Queen."

"I would like to do that again," she whispered, looping her arm through mine, fingers interlaced. "Marshmallows under the sky. Mead by the fire. Court by day. I never knew life could be so full of meaning, Hades."

"Life..." I muttered. "Is made by those around us. I've had these same comforts for centuries, but it never meant much to me. Until you came around."

"So I am your saint, love?" her red lips quirked, blooming like a rose.

"You are my salvation, Persephone."

"Ooo. Fancy," her cheeks bloomed with crimson, finger twirling around a curl of her hair. She leaned over, plopping down beside me into the porcelain white sand. The moon hung low over the western sea, its luminosity filling the sky above our heads.

"If it were not for you, Polydegmon... I would never have known. Known what it is to live. You have given me a new life. Thank you," she hugged me, burying her face into my neck. I put an arm around her, drawing her close - knowing that I would always do whatever I need to protect her. To make sure she always felt safe.

"You know. The first time I got you here - I was so afraid you would spit in my face and walk out in the middle of the night. Not that I didn't deserve it - I kidnapped you. I stole you," I admitted slowly, not daring to meet her eyes.

"You did steal me," Persephone's voice drifted into my ears. "But I would have faced worse if you had not intervened."

"Apollo and Hermes are spineless creatures," I gritted my teeth, fists clenching and unclenching. "I would have done the same for anyone else-"

"That does not matter," Persephone was adamant. "What matters is that you did. You saw a person in need of help, and you stepped in. You didn't even know who I was, Hades," she cupped my jaw, turning me to face her. "The Olympians may call you names, call you monster - but Hades - I will always remember you as the person who saved me from another monster."

My throat was so tight, I thought I would burst.

"Not that you need saving," I choked out, watching her lovely face lit up in the moonlight. "Not now, not ever."

"Because of you," she whispered. "And you only."

And far above us, the deathless trees stretched miles high into the cloudless night, disappearing in the spaces between the stars.

"Hades," she murmured into my ear, her voice like velvet. "You make me so happy." Tears glimmered in her ocean eyes.

"So do you," I whispered, cupping her cheek. "Do not weep for me, Persephone. Laugh for me, if you must. I love you, Perse. You are my life."

She smiled back through her tears, a most lovely smile.

"I love you too, Polydegmon."

And then I kissed her again.