Persephone strode into a beautiful room with Hades by her side, she craned her neck back to get a good look at the cove ceiling that had an intricate painting carved into the tiles, she had seen a similar painting back home. In the court of Heaven, the throne was painted strong and sturdy with her mighty father seated upon it boldly and his lightning bolt tight in his grasp. However, this ceiling was dark and sinister, there was a throne, but it was made out of bony carcass and Hades was leisurely seated up on it, the architect even got the small cocky grin accurate. The rounded room was surrounded by seats and colossal pillars holding the structure with great support.

They were greeted by all sorts of demonic creatures and they respectfully bowed to their King and Queen, she was amazed at how graceful and sophisticated they were, nothing like the tales she had heard.

When they approached their seat, she noticed that the thin pale pieces which were stitched together to make the throne looked terribly uncomfortable, she gave a disapproving look to her husband but reluctantly took her seat without any comments, she silently grimaced at the rigid carcasses she sat on, however she swallowed her discomfort and focused on the task at hand.

A murky demon stood up from the seat next to Hades, he had huge arched horns growing out of his head and glowing red eyes, but when he spoke, he unexpectedly had a calm voice and a gentle smile.

"My King and Queen," he began. "For the issue we discussed yesterday about the troubled souls, we have come up with a few solutions."

Persephone listened to the resolves and how Hades responded to them, but for some reason, her mind wasn't at ease. She shifted in her seat uncomfortably and leaned herself back, but unlike the soft moss beds she's used to this felt like thorns and rocks, she grumbled and gripped the arms of the chair hard enough until her knuckles turned white, she took a deep breath and let the sweet pollen float from her fingers, everyone was too immersed in the discussion that they didn't notice the thick greenery sprouting in between the bones. Persephone finally took a breath of relief and sank back snuggling into the dark thick moss blanket and the large sweet white gardenia surrounded her with a pleasant perfume.

"Now, that's better," she sighed in comfort, when abruptly, a thought crossed her mind; if souls needed to be calm and relaxed to pass on then all they needed was a little bit of comfort.

"Hades," she whispered.

"Yes."

"I have an idea," she stated. "But I'm going to need some souls though."

His head tilted slightly. "Coal," he called out. "Bring in some souls," Hades told the demon in front of them.

Gradually five souls wandered in quietly; three kids and two women. They looked to Hades and then to Persephone, their faces were completely blank and lifeless, her first reaction was to sprout some life into them like she did to her flowers.

They had this grey cast over them that made her golden one look even brighter, she lifted from her seat and tread down the steps to get close to them, she had only reached the bottom step when the small children eagerly ran to her side. She spotted Hades about to move closer and all the court members too, but she held her hand up, silently ordering them to stay back and to just follow her lead.

She put her arms around the small kid's slender shoulders that were icy cold compared to her warm touch, she felt no heart beat which made her remember the hard truth all mortals must face when the end is close, she pushed past those gruesome thoughts and patted the kid's backs nudging them onward, she held their hands and smiled at the two young women behind her, who immediately drew near her warm-heartedness and followed willingly.

-Hades POV-

Hades watched with amazement, the five souls followed Seph without any use of words or force. She had grabbed the kid's small hands and with a gorgeous smile motioned all of them to follow; a smile crept his lips and he quickly got off of his throne.

He stayed close to his wife because souls could get dangerous anytime they felt threatened, and he knew first-hand what it's like to fight a disturbed soul; he didn't want anyone hurting her.

Seph had just exited the court, when all the demons and witches jumped out of their seats and quickly followed their Queen out of pure fascination. She was leading them down a windy dark path, and Hades put the pieces together as he recognized the route and the smell of wildlife masking any other scent in this corridor. Seph released the children's hands and they ran in clapping from delight, their grey faces filled with smiles and their eyes shining with wonder, Hades noticed the two women tottering inside the cave cautiously, but soon enough, even they began to enjoy the garden.

Seph strode with the women, her hands dripping with the golden light that made all the flowers yearn for her touch, like him. She suddenly looked back and smiled sweetly, his heart began to hammer greatly but he composed himself. Seph sauntered her way towards him; finally, he thought.

"That was a genius plan," whispered Hades.

She put her hands on her hips and watched the souls explore. "Thank you," she said. "But the garden needed more visitors anyways," said Seph.

"You wouldn't mind visitors in your garden?" Hades asked.

She smiled warmly and met his gaze.

"Do you see these flowers?"

He nodded when she gestured towards the tulips that were the shade of sunlight.

"When they heard those kid's sweet laughter they couldn't help but blossom more brightly" -she eagerly pointed to the other side- "and those roses, they began to dance when those two women came to enjoy its fragrance," she said. "Hades, the masterpiece you have created here should be enjoyed by everyone," she put her warm hand on Hades cheek, and looked at everyone standing behind them, they silently watched the souls become ready to pass over; and they did.

"Thank you, my Queen," one of the witches exclaimed.

"This was the fastest we've healed souls in a while," said another bull-like demon.

"I'm glad, and that's why I've decided," she began. "The garden will be open for scheduled healing sessions, which I will plan for the souls. It is also open for anyone who wants to enjoy the garden, is that understood!" she said trying hard enough to sound as stern as possible, but they all just smiled and answered with an energetic "Yes."

-Persephone POV-

They walked off bowing to them as they went to their daily duties but that wouldn't stop them from whispering about the Queen's clever and gentle actions from today.

Hades led Persephone to the oak swing that was hanging down from a large heavy branch, they swayed back and forth quietly. She innocently snuggled closer leaning into his sturdy body feeling safe and secure and loved, her gut uncoiled and her mind laxed.

"Seph," she heard his soft voice whisper her nickname he had given her, but she just mumbled her reply.

"Thank you," he said.

Her eyes locked with his sincere stare.

"You really did take a huge burden off my shoulders."

She laced her fingers into his large palm that completely drowned hers. "Isn't that what the Queen's for."

Hades smiled sweetly before leaning in towards her, but instead she swiftly jumped off the swing.

"That'll have to wait till tonight," she said.

Hades stood towering over her. "And why is that exactly?"

Persephone's heart fluttered when he approached her slowly, as he took a step forward she took one back. "Er- well I have work to do you know," she quickly retorted.

"Really," he said. "And what might that be, the meeting's over."

She motioned around them. "The garden, silly."

His dark gaze lightened and grew playful. "Of course," he said before following her through the thick heavy bushes.

-Hades POV-

Hades stood leaning on the trunk of the great willow tree and watched his wife heal the needy flowers and herbs. He laced his arms and enjoyed her light humming echo through the cave, and just as it lifted his spirit, so did it for the garden.

Hades couldn't ignore his enchantment with her at all anymore, he had fallen too deep to let her go now, but something in his heart laid unsettled and he knew exactly what it was, Seph's mother. He wasn't afraid, no not at all. But he was worried for Seph because at some point she was going to have to choose between them, and his gut churned from the outcome that might result from when the time comes.

But was he acting selfishly? He puzzled silently. Seph was his wife, but did he have the right keeping her away from Demeter.

"Stop worrying," her voice suddenly rang through his ears, he finally snapped back to where he was standing.

"Uh- what are you talking about," he groaned at his failed attempt to play it off.

She laced her arms. "You think I don't know what you're thinking about," she remarked whilst reading through everything he tried to hide through his eyes. "I will handle my mother when the time comes."

He let out a long weary sigh. "How do you do that?"

She smiled and tilted her head to the side. "Do what?"

"Stay so-" he hesitated, "bright."

Seph's amber eyes glistened like gold. "It's much easier when you're with me," she revealed.

He grinned before snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her close, fitting her luscious body to perfectly fit into his. Hades opened her thick bun revealing her soft silky hair that was the colours of autumn; gold, red and orange all swirling together as it spilled around her shoulders. Her hair tempted him to play and never stop touching it, so beautiful and soft as the curls sway near her lower back and the smaller pieces cup her face, Hades laid a soft kiss to his lovely wife's pink lips- just like he wanted to do every time she smiled at him or giggled at his teasing.

She patted his cheek and went to her duties.

Hades lingered, and he was glad he did, when he sharply sighted his wife's bare foot slipping against the moist boulder next to an ominous orange tree.

They both lay still on the grass.

"Hades!" Seph squirmed under him to get his attention. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," he grumbled at the stinging burn on his palm, but he ignored the throbbing sensation and got them both on their feet. "Honey, you really need to start watching where you put your step."

She grimaced. "I know, clumsy me," she said with a pout. "Are you sure you're okay?"

He nodded, but when he tried to wipe the wetness from his palm, he groaned loudly. Hades looked to the source of the aching pain excepting to see nothing, but when did the universe ever prove him right.

Seph gasped at the sight of his bloody palm, even he was taken aback, there was a massive sharp thorn jabbed into his palm, carelessly he grabbed the end of the thorn that was sticking out and pulled as hard as he could.

"Are you crazy!" Seph's voice thundered in his ear.

"Why, what's wrong," he flicked the bloody thorn on the ground. "It's just a thorn."

"A Honey locust thorn!" She said it like it was supposed to mean something to him, but he had no idea what she was talking about. "These thorns are extremely deadly, and not to mention, they're hard as nails."

Seph examined the bloody palm.

"It's fine," he said. "It'll heal in no time."

She glared at him, so he just kept his mouth shut for a little while.

"I'm going to have to seal the wound," she turned away towards a field, she quickly browsed and stopped in front of the flowers that resembled daisies, but they were purple and pink that sport a prickly seed cone. "This will do," she mumbled.

Hades noticed her rip some of the magenta petals off only to throw it in her mouth, she chewed on the petals without worry, and after a few seconds, she picked up the green leaf from the plant and placed the paste precisely on the centre.

Seph then quickly untied the sash around her waist, and to his surprise, she tore the silky fabric in half like it was paper. "Come here," she ordered.

He stuck his palm out obediently, she glowered but began to apply to ointment she improvised, she flipped the leaf over and messaged the balm on his wound, frankly it didn't hurt but he enjoyed watching his wife fuss over him. She concentrated whilst wrapping the silk fabric around his palm and binding it nimbly.

"All done," he teased.

Seph speedily squeezed his palm making the wound sting dreadfully. "Ow!"

She smiled harmlessly. "All done."

He chuckled. "Oh, how I love you," he sighed with a smile.

-Persephone POV-

She finished wrapping the fabric over Hades hand, although he was smiling she could still sense his weariness. Persephone knew exactly why he was worried, and truthfully, she was too. Persephone wasn't bounded to the underworld, so technically nothing was a hundred percent sealed and guaranteed. She silently began to dwell on what to do to fix this predicament, but nothing came as of yet.

Author's Note

Hope you all are enjoying so far, please VOTE and COMMENT!!

I truly love this story, so I'm having a lot of fun writing it for you guys, hopefully it stays good and you fall in love with Hades and Persephone, Like I have!!