#i had this image in my mind of Persephone waking up to hades calling out for her but she quickly realizes that he's not looking for her

[happyk44]

Nico waking up and he doesn't know who he is. He asks Hazel where he is - where's his kid, where's his wife. Hazel sits with him and assures him he's fine while everyone watches confused. He was sick for a bit, she tells him, and now he's just recovering. He'll get to go home soon.

She is comforting and warm and he relaxes a bit. Minutes pass by, turn into hours, and his memories come back. The knowledge that he is him. He is not the dead man who left behind a wife and child after being robbed at knifepoint. He is not the little girl choking to death with asthmatic weak lungs that won't inhale and a mother who doesn't care. He is not the old woman wondering where her husband is.

He is Nico. Son of Hades and Maria di Angelo. He is not dead, not yet. He is not survived by anyone, not yet.

Hazel holds his hand the whole time and he comes back to her weary smile and sighs shallowly as the edges of her face bloom back into his memory. Hazel, his sister. There are other people on the periphery but he focuses on her. Her brown skin. Her brown eyes. Her thick curly black hair. Her warm hands. The bracelet on her wrist.

Her voice beckoning him back.

"His wife looked like you," Nico says. "A little taller though. Older."

He was twenty-six. She'd been in his life since they were five, playing in the sandbox. She'd screamed at another kid for taking her shovel and he'd fallen in love immediately. Nico's heart holds onto that love, twenty-one years, even as the man's world fades. Slowly the love seeps away too, and he's just left with a strange longing for a life that wasn't his.

A life that doesn't exist anymore.

"Is he okay?" Hazel asks.

He closes his eyes and exhales shaky. There's a vicious pain in his abdomen. Another lingering ache in his throat. Screams still echo even as the world fades into wispy colours and a strange man telling him it's time to go.

"He's okay," Nico says, because there isn't any other answer he can give.

The man is dead. The man who lived twenty-six years and had a wife he loved from childhood and a daughter whose young hands never left his own as he laid bleeding on hot tarmac. The man who heard crying and pleads to stay just a little longer, to just hang in there, and couldn't. Try as he might, as hard he wanted to, he couldn't stay.

It was time to go.

[moony-2001]

Lore Olympus ep. 255 critique

Boy oh boy.

No remorse and tonal whiplash

We open this chapter with Persephone waking up not dead, total shock in Hades' arms, asking him if what happened was all a bad dream.

When Hades responds that what happened was not all in her head, we as the readers would expect Persephone to react with shock, remorse, something. Nope. Instead, we get this:

"Oh dear" with the most expressionless face ever. Our empathetic, caring protagonist everyone.

Now maybe I'm being too harsh. However, I feel like most people upon being confronted with the fact that they caused mass destruction would be pretty upset, if not incredibly so. But that's just my 2 cents.

We immediately transition into a party that's being set up for Persephone by all her friends and cohorts. We're then treated to this lovely image:

Thanks Captain Obvious.

While Hermes and Megaera argue over whether or not carrot cake is good, Thanatos pulls Hecate aside and notes about the massive uptick in incoming deaths which confirms what I said in my last critique post. While initially denying it, Hecate quickly realizes that something is very very wrong and that's when Hades and Persephone burst through the doors. Persephone bursts into tears and we get the most tone-deaf sentence ever:

Wow. Haha so funny. Comedy. Given the context of what just happened, this attempt at humor fell so flat.

I feel like the first third of this chapter kind of speaks for itself in terms of the writing and art, which is not good. There's just no emotion at all. I get the feeling that we're supposed to feel bad for Persephone and I just... don't. I don't have a whole lot more to say about this portion of the chapter; just that when I read it, I strained my eyeballs from rolling them so hard.

Hades tries not to make everything about himself challenge: Impossible

We transition into the post-party disaster cleanup where Persephone is hiding out in a greenhouse and Hades and Hecate are inside. Hades takes this opportunity to make everything about himself.

First of all, you're not and you're not.

But on a more serious note, this is not the first time we see Hades take a situation that has either nothing or almost nothing to do with him and make it all about himself. In fact, this is something he does frequently throughout the comic. Hades, in my opinion, very much has a "me, me, me, it's all about me" mindset.

One instance that comes to mind is this scene that happens in early s2 after Persephone opens up about her childhood and AOW. She barely has had time to share and process her traumatic experiences when Hades decides that this is the perfect time to dump 2000 years' worth of pent-up trauma onto a girl he's known for maybe 2 weeks at that point. Yet, he refuses to actively seek help during his time before meeting Persephone and even calls his therapist a hack.

Another instance is when Persephone confronts Hades about ripping out Alex's eye in s1 (when she was still somewhat empathetic to nymphs and whatnot).

Hades, when torturing Alex, very quickly shifts from the mentality of "you could've really damaged Persephone's reputation" to "I'm going to punish you because I view Persephone as my property and how dare you do this to me?"

Hades even outright admits it when confronted. He took a situation that had nothing to do with him and completely made it about himself.

Another instance is when Persephone tells Hades about what Apollo did to her and Hades flies off the handle and makes her trauma about himself. About what he is going to do even though that is not his decision to make.

It baffles me how conceited Hades is despite claiming to care about Persephone. I don't understand how you can look at a person who is going through a hell of a time and think "Let's make this about me". But that's a whole other post for the future

Zeus and Apollo

Skipping to the end of the episode, Apollo calls Hades (with Zeus' phone?) and tells him that he wants to take Persephone off Hades' hands.

Straight up, I don't like Hades and Persephone either as characters or together as a couple. I think they bring out the worst in each other. But Persephone is not some dog that needs to be rehomed and frankly, the whiplash Rachel is giving her audience in regards to Apollo's character is going to put me in a neck brace for life. She keeps flip-flopping between trying to make Apollo this sad, sympathetic anti-hero and the most egregious villain to walk the earth. You can not be both Zuko and Azula Rachel. You need to pick a lane and stay in it.

Apollo reveals that Zeus is in a coma and Hermes conveniently has the news up and running so we as the audience can be greeted with this:

"Attempted murder" you say? Of a being that literally can't die? Rachel, do you even know what attempted murder means?

"The defendant took at least one direct (but ineffective) step towards killing another person" and "The defendant intended to kill that person (malice aforethought)" -> California Law and Sentencing

While both of these are true in the fact that Apollo took the steps to kill Zeus and also intended to kill Zeus, they're gods. You can't murder a god. In order for murder to be attempted, or to even happen, the person in question has to be able to die. But then they're a human, not a god.

I feel like a more accurate report would be something along the lines of "Zeus has fallen victim to what seems to be a violent coup that has left him seriously incapacitated." Maybe that's not the best sentence to ever grace the writing scene, but hopefully my point is clear.

Also, how are people still oblivious to the fact that Apollo is, at the very least, incredibly suspicious right now. I mean his father has just been announced to be "dying" and instead of taking the time to mourn or even appear upset, he immediately slides into the position of power as King of the gods.

This chapter definitely wasn't as bad as 254, but it did make my brain hurt. Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Holidays to those of you who don't celebrate Christmas. See you all soon.

[anyoneseenadam]

Home: Chapter Six

azriel x reader (acotar)

summary: (y/n) is a daughter of Persephone, still recovering from the trauma of her fall into Tartarus and doesn’t have time for a stupid, handsome, annoying, stunning, injured man. But now they’re stuck together in the middle of nowhere and there only chance of getting home is if she can heal him, and fast.

warnings: big spoilers for mark of Athena and house of Hades, also for the acotar series, eventual smut, blood, PTSD, graphic descriptions of violence, injuries and torture, enemies to lovers so az is a bit of a dick to start, swearing, THIS PART HAS SMUT YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED but it is very soft 

word count: 3.2k

dress featured: x

a/n: this part was gonna be super fluffy and lovely but of course i cant do that so it��s quite angsty lol sorry. BUt Percabeth make an appearance and we love them so I think that evens it out :) I also apologise if there are any mistakes I wanted to get this out ASAP because I have exams coming up :( pls comment it genuinely makes my day i get so happy when people comment, anyway enjoy!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Azriel wasn’t entirely sure he would ever get over ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, or any other Marvel movies for that matter, having cried when Bucky was revealed, or when Pietro died making you practically piss yourself with laughter as you muttered something along the lines of “Just wait.”

When the sun began to rise you had turned the laptop off, pulling him in tightly as you pulled the thick duvet over you and proceeded to snore softly with your head pressed over his heart and your other hand reaching out and clutching your favourite soft toy. He thinks he maybe got three hours of sleep, but he laid with you the whole morning, addicted to the heat emitting from you and the way the whole room seemed to be resting as you slept, the breeze swaying the curtains matching that of your gentle breaths and the plants drooping as they too relaxed.

When you did wake, Azriel found his way between your legs, determined to wake you up properly. Your soft cries were like music to his ears, and he made you cum three times before you were pushing his shoulders away, shaking from over-stimulation, and climbing on top of him, sinking down slowly, letting yourself feel every inch. As he sat back, his hands resting on your waist to guide you when you became breathless, holding tightly and occasionally thrusting up into you when the pace became to slow for his taste. You reached a hand to his wings as his thumb found your clit, and you kissed sloppily as you searched for release.

Soon, you fell on top of him as he grunted, hips stalling as you whined into his open mouth. He slowly pulled out and wrapped his arms tightly around your middle, the two of you laying silently simply enjoying the others presence. You soon looked up at him and gave him a breathless smile, pecking his jaw, before swinging your legs over the side of the bed and grabbing a robe of the floor. You made your way to the record player and filled the room with the sound of the Bee Gee’s, Azriel closing his eyes and letting the foreign sounds consume him. You sat down at your vanity and started putting on your jewellery, all the movements practiced, and he cracked open an eye watching you string necklaces with crystals hanging from them around your neck. He laughed as you sang along to the song, flirty eyes catching his as you swayed from side to side.

“More than a woman…” you sang softly as you pulled lacy panties up your legs and rubbed fruity lotion into your legs and hands, waving your hands to dry them before pushing of numerous rings. He sat up in bed, watching you intently as you moved to your wardrobe and pulled out a pretty off-the-shoulder, white dress with frills and faint flowers decorating it. You dropped your robe and pulled on the dress, shaking your hair out and turning to walk over to him. The golden light from the window coated you and you look like you belonged in the Day Court as your skin was cast in the glow, it seemed to weave around you alike a halo and he was struck by how angelic you looked.

“I’m gonna go wash my face,” you said, pressing quick kiss to his lips and giggling sweetly when he tried to chase your mouth for more, pulling away and leaving the room, blowing a kiss in his direction.

He stood, a love-drunk smile on his face as he went about finding his boxers from the night before and pulling them on, grimacing at the tight fit, before he wandered to the drawer you had pulled them from, laughing when he found men’s joggers as well and pulling them on. When he turned to find a top he was instead greeted by a middle-aged man in running gear. He reached for truth-teller, moving into a fighting stance, his shadows swarming around him menacingly and silently begged that you would stay in the bathroom to avoid seeing any blood.

“At ease Azriel, I won’t hurt you.” The strange man said, not actually looking at him and instead typing furiously on his phone.

“How did you get in here?” Azriel asked gruffly, assessing the man to see if he had weapons.

The man waved a hand through the air dismissively, “You are not supposed to be here you know.”

“What do you mean?” He was still uncomfortable at the fact the man knew his name, and now he was insinuating that he knew that Azriel wasn’t from this world.

“Stupid Aphrodite and her hopeless ideals messing up the routes so you could meet (y/n). The fates won’t be happy if you don’t return soon, and even worse Persephone will lose it if she thinks her daughter has been dragged into any messy situations like this, so you boy, are going home, come on.” He beckoned to Azriel, but he didn’t budge.

“Who are you?” He demanded as the man rolled his eyes.

“Hermes, messenger God, now come on I don’t have all day.”

“What did you mean by the fates?”

Hermes sighed deeply, muttering something about a pay raise under his breath before he finally looked up at Azriel. “Some soulmates simply just aren’t meant to meet I’m afraid, why do you think we wrote so many tragedies. If a Greek is born lucky enough to have a soulmate they will likely be from another world, and that means they cannot be together. I know you think she is your mate, but she must stay here, she’s not even immortal it would be cruel. I told Aphrodite to not let you two meet and that it would just end in heart-break, but she didn’t listen, felt bad for the girl or something, but either way you need to leave now.”

Azriel opened his mouth to reply but couldn’t find the words, you really were his, his mate, but now he was being told that he couldn’t be with you. He tried to reply again but before he could you were floating back into the room, smiling widely when you saw Hermes.

“Hermes, long time no see. What calls you to my humble abode?” you asked, moving to Azriel’s side and laughing when he still didn’t put down his dagger, “It’s okay Az, Hermes is actually one of the nicer ones.”

Hermes laughed at the compliment, but sadness shone in his eyes as he looked upon you.

“You look happy,” he said, a regretful look suddenly over-coming his features, yet Azriel couldn’t feel any sympathy for the man that was going to hurt his mate.

“I am.” You said, gazing up at Azriel with soft eyes, and Hermes placed his buzzing phone in his back pocket.

“My child, it’s time for Azriel to leave,” he said softly, your head whipping around to look at him.

“What?” The sharpness of your tone surprised Azriel. He had grown used to your soft side that spoke to flowers and baked homemade bread, but now he was remembering the broken part of you that was part God and build walls up in seconds. He placed a hand on your lower back as the room suddenly shuddered under your power, all plants awakening.

“You two were never meant to meet, Aphrodite just wanted you to meet him after your fall, but she forgot that he would have to return, I’m so sorry.” Your eyes filled with tears as you tried to make sense of what was happening, snarling at the God.

“No but this has nothing to do with the Gods, it- he got here on his own, we met by chance,” You were shaking as you tried to explain, sadness and confusion battling anger, and Azriel thought he could hear his heart break.

“I’m sorry child, I have to take him back. He only got here because of Aphrodite.” You were shaking your head, tears flowing freely now, gripping his arm and Hermes approached.

“NO, no there must be another way, please don’t take him from me! I need him, I love him, please don’t do this!” Hermes, shockingly, also appeared to be close to tears as he rested his hand on Azriel’s shoulder, his body going numb as he was pulled from you, unable to fight back.

“(y/n), baby, I’m sorry, I’ll figure this out okay I promise. I’m not leaving you here.” He didn’t think he would ever feel this much pain again as he watched the woman he loved sob, trying desperately to hold onto him as he was pulled from her world, the image of her collapsing to her knees as he was wrenched from her grip becoming imprinted in his mind.

--

He was gone. He was gone and you were alone again.

The scuffed wooden floor below you was cool as you pressed your forehead against it, sobs racking your body. You pushed yourself up and sat against the wall, checking the time on the clock. 15 minutes. You would cry for 15 minutes and then you would get him back. To many times you have just accepted your fate, but you couldn’t this time, you and Azriel met for a reason there had to be something. You wouldn’t let the anger and fear swallow you again.

When 15 minutes had past you forced your self to stand, wiping your eyes with your hand before searching for tissues. When you had blown your nose, you found an old notebook and grabbed your pen. A list, a list would organise your thoughts, you could find a loophole something had to work. You wrote down every theory you had, every book you would have to look in and every person you had to ask, sniffling, and rubbing the tears from your eyes. When you were done you found the backup burner phone you kept for emergencies and found Annabeth’s number. She picked up on the third ring and you took in a shaking breath.

“I think I need your help.”

--

Hermes left Azriel on the outskirts of Velaris, strangely back in his Illyrian leathers, he had apologised again, true sadness shining in his eyes, but Azriel just growled as feeling returned to his limbs. Hermes looked as if he wanted to say something but decided not to and with that left.

As Azriel shot off the ground he was struck with a sharp pain in his chest, as if being apart from her was physically paining him. He flew over his home, the city he had grown to love but even the feeling of coming home couldn’t distract from the cold that was seeping into his bones. He would destroy the Gods themselves before he let them take you from him and he fought a snarl as he pictured the hell he would make them pay for making you cry.

He landed outside the town house but before he could even open the door the wind was knocked out of him as Cassian barrelled into him in what was either a really rough hug or a tackle, it was hard to tell with Cassian sometimes.

“WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN IT’S BEEN WEEKS?!” he winced as Cassian yelled right in his ear, shoving him off him as the rest of his family, minus Amren, surrounded him. Feyre was next to hug him and he returned his High Lady’s embrace, when she pulled away he met Rhysand’s eyes, and he saw the sadness in Azriel’s, shocked as Azriel rarely let any emotion show on his face.

“C’mon lets go inside,” Rhys said, outstretching an arm for his wife. Mor, holding Nyx, followed them in and Cassian who was still glaring at Azriel grabbed his arm and tugged him in, grumbling under his breath about how Azriel hadn’t even sent a letter.

When they were all sat, including Amren who apparently just couldn’t be bothered to come greet him as she knew he was coming her way anyway, Feyre asked him what happened. His eyes instinctively found Elain where she sat huddled in the corner of an armchair, and as he took in her spectacular beauty, all he could think of was how no one compared to you. No one compared to your callused hands that had seen many fights and handled many weapons, or your scarred back that only proved how strong you truly were. No amount of beauty could ever compare to you when you had completely stolen his heart, it didn’t help that you were also the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

He paused, a small part of him wanting to keep you a secret as he feared Cassian’s flirting and the prospect of losing the woman he loved again, but as he looked upon where Cassian sat with nothing but worry for his brother in his eyes, Nesta perched next to him, back straight as usual but a hand in his brother’s, he realised he was being ridiculous. He rubbed his temples and took a deep breath, fiddling with his hands as he told his family everything.

--

Percy had forgotten how much he loved (y/n)’s cottage. It always smelt of cinnamon in winter and roses in summer and it usually had the second-best homemade goods her had ever eaten, their only flaw being the lack of blue food colouring. But he didn’t have time to dwell on how he had missed the house too much as Annabeth pulled him through the door and into (y/n)’s kitchen where she sat staring with the blank look on her face that Percy knew meant something had gone horribly wrong. She looked up when they entered and stood, practically falling into Annabeth’s arms, hugging her tightly before Percy tugged her into his own, a hand resting protectively on her head. She had always been like a little sister to him even though she was only a few months younger than him, and consistently beat him in training exercises. The first few months after they escaped Tartarus, he had brought her meals and held her when she sobbed and threw up due to nightmares, helping her through the trauma and trying not to throw up himself when Annabeth applied the ointment Will had given you to her back. When she told him of the fraught relationship she had with her father he decided that she needed someone who would be like family and had practically adopted her after they defeated Kronos, the seven, Nico and Will becoming the loving family she had always wanted.

When she pulled away, he nudged her to sit down as Annabeth started preparing chamomile tea for her in the hopes of relaxing her.

“What happened kiddo?” he asked softly, and she huffed a laugh at the nickname. He smiled when he remembered her reaction when he first said it.

“We’re literally the same age!” She threw her hands up as he laughed at her reaction.

“Doesn’t matter you’re technically younger than me.” He argued as she glared at him playfully before waving her hand, laughing when he was strung upside down by a thick vine encircling his ankle.

“Right that’s just unfair!” he laughed before adding “kiddo,” at the end, flipping her off when she rolled her eyes and let him fall and land in a heap, sitting up and rubbing his elbow.

“Rude.” He muttered but she just laughed, picking up the swords she was training with and moved to continue with her training.

They sat and listened as she explained what had happened, taking small sips of her hot tea as she went. When she finished Percy let out a soft curse.

“So Hermes just took him?” Annabeth asked, her eyebrows furrowed in a way Percy knew meant her mind was going a million miles an hour.

She nodded sadly, “there has to be something I can do right? I was finally making progress; I watched all three Iron Man movies with him.”

“That’s a lot of red,” Percy noted, and she bit her lip, nodding sadly.

“What if I never see him again?” She asked, the way her voice broke hit something inside him as he remembered how much it sucked being separated from Annabeth.

“You will.” Annabeth said with such certainty, Percy expected this faerie boyfriend to appear in the seat next to him. Annabeth lifted her bag and started pilling the books she had brought with her and (y/n) stood and moved around her living room, grabbing ones of her own.

“I figured old myths of my mum might help, y’know forbidden love and all,” she said the joke not quite reaching her eyes, but Annabeth nodded.

“I thought the same, but I also figured maybe something to do with Eurydice and Orpheus given he went to the underworld to get her back when they were separated.”

“Didn’t they both die at the end?” Percy asked and (y/n) laughed sadly.

“Shush,” Annabeth said, passing him a book and highlighter. He groaned.

“Why did I agree to this?” He asked but no one answered, and he looked up to see the two women already reading, determination covering their features, so he instead cracked his neck and picked up his own book.

--

Almost 10 hours later you slammed your book down in frustration, wiping your eyes roughly.

“Nothing, there isn’t one thing here. Either I do something stupid and we both die, or I need to find a way to be allowed to live in his world half the year and this one the other half.” Your shoulders slumped, “And that’s presuming I ever get to see him again, and then! Even then, I have what 70 years with him if I’m lucky. That’s nothing to him, he’s fucking five hundred years old.”

Annabeth looked up sympathetically, one hand woven in Percy’s hair as he slept with his head in her lap.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t think this has ever happened before. We might have to start looking elsewhere.”

“I just miss him. I know it’s not even been a day, but he was my soulmate, Hermes said so, he thinks I didn’t hear, but I did and now my chest actually hurts now that he’s gone. He’s gone and I don’t think he’s coming back.” You didn’t know how you had any tears left but they were flowing down your cheeks, hot against your cold hands as you wiped your face.

“You will, I promise we’ll figure something out, even if we have to go to the Gods themselves.” Annabeth smiled at you.

“WAIT!” Percy jumped up suddenly, surprising you both, given he appeared to be sleeping. “The Gods, (y/n) you never got your reward.”

“What?”

“After the battle and the fall, you were offered a reward, but you said no because you sensed you would need it in the future. This is the future you need it now you can be with him!” Percy was practically running circles around your living room, gesturing widely as his arms flailed but Annabeth had gone wholly still, doing the math in her head.

“He’s right, that could work.” You felt hope rise in your chest as Annabeth spoke, “But you would have to be specific, if we’ve pissed off Zeus he’ll try trick you, he’s kinda like a genie.” You let out a genuine laugh.

“I think I need to visit my mum,” you said, eyes bright with hope.

“But it’s September.” Percy said, and you gave him a pained smile, grimacing as you realised where you were going.

“I think Nico and I are overdue for a family dinner.”

[pomegranates-and-blood]

νοσταλγία (Chapter 29)

νοσταλγία Masterlist

Pairing: Ivar/Reader

Word Count: 4.1k (I’m sorry)

Warnings: The usual

A/N: I know today was supposed to be a PoV update day, but I am struggling with those atm, so for now I’ll post every Saturday and Tuesday, and if I write and want to post an Ivar PoV or smth, I will do so out of schedule. I’m so sorry, but otherwise I’ll just stress myself out.

There’s a bracelet mentioned in this, I had this one in mind. Pretty, innit?

And just an fyi, (I haven’t done these in a while, damn): Falcons are symbols of Freyja, who has stories referring to how she cries tears of gold at the absence of her husband from her side. Bats are symbols of Persephone, and in my canon I’ve always portrayed her as a woman of dark skin and blind eyes. Oh, and snakes are symbols of Hades.

Taglist: @youbloodymadgenius​ @heavenly1927​ @toe-vind-ek-jou​ @xbellaxcarolinax​ @pieces-by-me​ @angelofthorr​ @samsationalwilson​ @peachyboneless​ @1950schick​ @punkrocknpearls​ @ietss​   @itsmysticalmystery​ @revolution-starter​​

The air around you is strange, a mix of warm and cold that doesn’t quite manage to be lukewarm, each second the breeze changes from a welcoming moment in the sun to the biting winds of a coast. Even the sky looks wrong, somewhere between night and day, the sun shining brightly one moment only to turn cold and distant the next.

You can almost see the silhouette of a woman standing in the distance, and because you know you must, you walk to her.

She extends a hand, her smile vicious but her eyes warm.

For a moment, when you blink, the blind eyes disappear and pale eyes look back at you, crying tears that shine like gold. Her lips aren’t stained by the red tint of pomegranates and blood anymore, but she still smiles, a mother beckoning a child into her embrace.

It is not the face you have come to know, yet she’s still familiar, and their voices when they whisper your name sound like one.

You reach with trembling fingers, try to reach her, and for a moment you can almost feel her warmth, burning like the fire that was once all you could feel. But the moment your hand finds hers, the moment the tips of your fingers touch hers…the cackle of a falcon, the screech of a bat by your ear, and she is gone.

All you have left is the cold that seeps into your skin and the certainty they have heard you, and answered, each and every time you’ve prayed.

A murmur of your name brings your attention to the youngest son of Ragnar, forcing you to return your attention -your mind- to the here and now, to the city that starts to wake up, to the streets you are supposed to be walking.

You answer the question written in Ivar’s eyes with a smile.

“I’m fine,” You promise quietly, “I have been having trouble sleeping, that’s all.”

“Dreams?”

“Are you to trust dreams as visions?” You ask, a little life returning to your voice as you tilt your head to the side.

“You told me yourself that your Goddess’ form appears in your dreams.” Ivar argues.

It wasn’t just her.

You refuse to admit to the son of a Viking seeress that you have dreamt of Freyja. If by chance some of Aslaug’s gift remains with Ivar, you dread to hear him decipher the meaning behind the form you saw in your dreams. So, you keep that to yourself.

“But you do not believe in my Gods.” Is what you argue with instead.

He shrugs with his arm not on the crutch, “I believe in you.”

You stop in your tracks, stunned into silence. Your eyes are glued to Ivar’s back as he continues walking, and a tremulous smile starts lifting at your lips, aided by the fragile hope and foolish emotion blossoming in your chest.

Ivar turns to you when he sees you are not coming, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly at your surprised and commoved expression.

“Don’t overreact. You were never wrong about your…dealings with your Gods before.”

Shaking off the surprise and the foolish hopes and feelings that have no place here, that cling to your mind like cobwebs, you skip the space between you, offering him a smile and a nod.

“I still appreciate the trust, Ivar.” You tease, skimming bold fingers over the back of his hand, a smile on your lips.

He regards you in silence for a few moments, not walking anymore, and you see in his gaze that he ponders with himself whether to say something that’s in his mind or not.

“Let’s go eat, woman.” He finally huffs, turning his attention to the path ahead. You bite down your disappointment at him swallowing whatever his words were to be, and walk at his side.

The thralls that greet you when you enter do so with a smile, although their eyes linger on your hair for a few moments, and move cautiously about as they set the food in front of you both and take their leave.

“You keep confusing them, you know.” Ivar starts casually, already focused on his food but still demanding that you sit at his side while you eat your bread and drink your herbal tea. You have no idea how these people manage to eat so much so early in the day.

“Me?”

Sucking his fingers clean, a gesture you shouldn’t be following with your eyes the way you are, Ivar lifts his gaze to focus on you.

“You refuse to let them braid your hair unless we make a deal, you reuse that old dress every chance you have.”

“I like my hair this way.” You quip, rather obstinately.

Ivar’s eyes go to the gentle twirls and the delicate updo holding the hair away from your face, studying the style for a few moments. Finally, he shrugs in response.

You have an inkling that’s the closest you will get to receiving a compliment, so you let yourself enjoy the victory as if it were one.

“You still get cold in that dress. You keep trembling when night falls, woman, it’s annoying.” He mumbles.

“It’s…mine.” You offer as explanation, smiling down at your infusion as you watch the herbs swirl and smell the familiar scent of red clover and chickweed.

When you lift your gaze from the swirling herbs in your cup, you catch his eyes on you, but he adverts his gaze to his food once again when he speaks, “You have dresses in our room. Those are yours.”

“They are not mine, they are clothes you had people bring to me.” You insist, fingers tracing the worn Byzantine thread with care.

“You can ask them to bring you the ones you like.”

“I don’t want to take it from them, they…deserve compensation.”

“Would it be better if you bought your own, then?” He offers, and even if excitement bubbles in your chest and into your lips in a small smile, you still refrain.

“I don’t have any gold.”

“I can give you all you need.” Ivar sentences, and although for a moment your mind lingers on the meaning you think he intended behind those words, you soon find yourself with a smile on your lips and only thoughts of the peplos and chlamys you had back in your home before it burned down.

It has been so long since you have had time -or coin- to make some dresses.

“I don’t want to be in your debt.” You insist, even if you have to bite your lip to keep from smiling.

Ivar regards you silently for a few moments, resting his elbows on the table between you and challenging your eyes with his, his expression asking you why you decide to be so difficult about everything. You offer a shrug in response, wondering if he sees the hypocrisy in complaining about you being difficult to deal with.

“Think of them as…gifts, then.”

“Alright.” You murmur, your gaze holding his for once not feeling like it’s a duel, but an encounter. When it is a genuine one, however rare they are, Ivar truly has a lovely smile, you realize.

When you are done with your meal and murmur your goodbyes as you prepare to head for the apothecary home, Ivar interrupts you, sly smile on his lips and a shine in his eyes that, were he to be any other man, would make you think he is flirting.

“I like red.”

You smile in response, bending down to press a kiss against his cheek. Ivar grumbles his way away from your affection, but the shine in his eyes, the faint color in his ears, give him away.

“Come with me to the market and I’ll see what I can do.” You offer, already knowing you are triumphant.

____

“Oh, this is fun.” You laugh, dangling your feet over the chariot’s end as you watch the ground quickly move underneath them.

Ivar grunts something in response to your enthusiasm, and you can almost tell he is exaggeratedly rolling his eyes as he faces the horse and guides it through Kattegat’s roads.

You say nothing, still beyond thankful he agreed to come to the market with you, aware as you are of how…uncomfortable he is walking around the people of Kattegat. If his words the day you witnessed first-hand what happens when his eyes get that blue tint to them are anything to go by, and you know they are; it is evident he hates the reminder, for himself and especially for others, that he is disabled.

You’ll never know what life was -is- like for him, you know you couldn’t fathom the pain, the anger, the resentment. But what you can do is try to understand him, understand his rage and his hunger.

I spent most of my life crawling around in the dirt, having to look up at everyone, like I was always kneeling in front of them.

And again, the part of you that is soft and foolish wants nothing other than to give him the happiness, the certainty, the safety, the love some may say he does not deserve but you would gladly give freely. And the part of you that is cruel and angry wants to watch him conquer, triumph, wants to stand by his side and see the world that pushed him to the ground burn.

A voice that sounds so alike his whispers there’s no reason why only one of those things has to be possible.

Still, in your mind lingers the image of a younger Ivar, heartbroken and hopeless at the seemly inability to fight, to earn his right to Valhalla; and it sends a pang of pain through your heart.

You know the stubborn King would only call it pity if he were to know, so you keep your tone light when you say,

“Thank you for this, Ivar,” He only answers with a huffed ‘hmphf’, so you add with a side smile, “I hope you know I will ask for chariot rides way more often.”

“For the right price, I’ll give you anything you want.” Ivar finally answers, and you catch a glimpse of his blue eyes turning to you for a moment.

“Dare I ask what the price might be?”

You could swear you hear him chuckle, and before long the market is in your sights, bubbling and colorful, and your attention is stolen by the wares and chanting vendors.

As you walk eyeing every little trinket and odd curiosity, you cannot keep the nostalgic smile from your lips.

“When I was a child my mother and I used to walk markets just like this one. She…she had this tradition, bought a new dress or a new piece of jewelry each time my father was to return from a campaign.” You recall with a watery laugh, fingers caressing the hanging necklaces of colorful beads you walk by.

“Campaigns? Like raids?”

“Yes, she…she used to say it was so he would have some surprise to return to, and my father would joke it was her way of keeping him in Eleusis, a threat that if he left us too frequently she would spend all our coin on pretty things,” You answer softly, running your hand over a piece of cold blue cloth, “Our temple looks over the sea, and I would sit with her on the steps, waiting for my father’s ship to return. He used to say our smiles guided the navy home,” You laugh. The smile in your mother’s lips as the sea reflected in her burdened and yet loving eyes is brought forth in your mind, and you cannot keep the next words from stumbling out of your lips, “I think…I think those are the only times I remember her being…happy.

She fought so much, through her noble title and the title of wife of a Strategus, through her worship and her strong voice. And yet she perished amongst flames, her death cheered by her own countrymen.

The cold hand of fear grips your heart, and after being once so close to ending your tale the same way, for a moment you refuse to expose yourself to that bitter and barren end, no matter the cost.

You shake off the dark thoughts, and focus on the market and the life bubbling within it.

“I don’t think I ever said this, but Kattegat truly is beautiful, Ivar.” You offer after a while in silence, the sharp focus of his blue eyes setting on you at your words.

“My mother turned Kattegat into a trading hub, allowed the town to prosper through commerce. When I became King, I…wanted to honor that.”

“Did Queen Aslaug teach you of trade?” You ask curiously, your lips still smiling as your eyes rake over the stands of so many different colors, of the offered spices and cloths and pets. It all is beautiful, loud, and with pieces of everywhere in the known world scattered throughout.

It feels like the Silk Roads. It feels like the first home you knew.

Ivar huffs, a combination of amusement and maybe regret, “No, she didn’t. I did not care for it, but my older brothers learned from watching her rule,” He explains, and remains silent for a few moments, for so long that you think he’s not going to speak again, until he takes a deep breath, “Hvitserk has been the one dealing with commerce and foreign trade, and he has done…good for Kattegat.” He says finally, the praise towards his brother gruff and carrying the bite of rancor, like admitting the other man’s success irks him.

“You should tell him that.” You murmur as casually as you are able to, pretending to eye a display of metal bracelets.

Your fingers trace over the snakes on one of the intricate metalworks, and you are reminded of the altar in the forest of Eleusis: Persephone, sitting in her throne with a scythe, symbol of Demeter, held in her hand to demonstrate her pledge to her mother, and snakes, symbols of Hades, curled around her body as proof of her husband’s love.

“Do you like it?” Ivar asks, ignoring your previous words and looming over your back as he regards the delicate bracelet you hold. Not waiting for your answer, he motions for it and talks to the man behind the stall in his own language.

You place your touch back on the King’s arm, but this time is a call for attention, “Thank you, but I couldn’t, I don’t need it.”

But he shakes his head, lips pressed into a line, “I asked if you liked it, not if you needed it.”

“Must we argue about everything?” You sigh, exasperated as you watch him pay for the bracelet with curt words.

When he turns his gaze back to you, he does so with the arrogant and maddening smile you have learned to hate, “I don’t know. Shall we argue about that?”

You just huff in response, striding your way to a stall with bright linens and leaving him -and his bracelet- behind.

“Sure, make the cripple chase after you.” He growls, the bite in his voice paired with shame that even with your back turned to him you can sense, making you falter. A moment regret pangs at your stomach, but you will not apologize. Instead, you move to one somewhat empty passageway, so you can speak freely,

“I don’t like that word,” You grit out as you turn to watch him approach, “Rather, I don’t like how you use it.”

Ivar stands in front of one of the more secluded alleys, and you can sense the tension in his frame, the shame and despair, but say nothing about it.

He is quick to fire back, “Well, I don’t particularly like being a cripple, wife.”

“Oh, for the love of-…” You growl as the word rings in your head, and you pace away from Ivar for a moment, running a hand through your hair as you roll your eyes. When you turn back to the King, you face his angry and defensive gaze with your own, determined and fierce, “You are much more than your legs, you are what you made out of yourself past them, because of them,” Shaking your head but keeping your voice down and the people from hearing, you hiss, “It would have been easy for you to wallow in pity and let the world look down upon you, but you didn’t. You are dedicated, and strong, and brilliant, and…and many more things; and you chose to show them to never underestimate you, you made the choice to fight.

His eyes look into both of your own, the movement of the Greek-Fire like irises hinting at a desperation, a hesitancy, a fear, you once would never have believed Ivar would be able to show.

You reach with impulsive, careless, stupid fingers to trace the scar that has mesmerized you for so long, that runs right over his cheekbone, under his eye. He jumps at the touch, although not as violently as the last time you were this stupid, and keeps silent as his eyes, his mesmerizing eyes, jump between yours with a thousand questions written in them.

With a deep breath and refusing to move your gaze from his, even if you feel as exposed as he is, you continue,

“And it wasn’t easy, was it? It wasn’t and it is not fair. And if you use that word like…like they use it, you prove them right. And we both know they are not right about you.

With one last caress of his jaw, you lower your hand and press a vulnerable palm over his armored heart, looking up at him with determination.

Ivar regards you in silence, surprising you at his lack of defensiveness, of bite, of cruelty. But his guarded, so tightly controlled expression that it almost looks fragile makes something within you relent, something within you soften.

And your voice is just as quiet as before, but this time lacking the bite when you say, “So…stop using that word like an insult, because you turned that word into so much more. Because you are so much more,” You say, the fervor in your voice surprising you. After a beat of silence, you add in a mumble, “Like an insufferably stubborn man, among other things.”

He says nothing in response, only stubbornly offering you the bracelet with a clenched jaw. You roll your eyes, but extend your arm and allow him to put it on your wrist, trying to dispel the electrifying effects his warm touch has on your skin.

With his fingers still on your wrist, Ivar tugs and draws you closer. Surprised, your feet clumsily cross the space he demands to be crossed, and you look up into his eyes, those alluring eyes that both threaten and adore.

Ivar says nothing for a few moments, before finally moving forward, and your heart skips a beat, your breath leaves you. For a moment that lasts an eternity, you think he will be the one to give in.

But Ivar only leans close to speak by your ear, a murmur of your name. A moment, and you hear him again, quietly, barely a breath, “Thank you.”

“Don’t,” You warn, just as quietly, “I did not say those things expecting gratitude, I said them because they are true.”

Uncertain fingers trace one last hesitant caress along the skin in your wrist, right over the bracelet he gifted you with, and it is a silent agreement between you that you both return to browsing the market.

“Almost as fine as Byzantine silk, I swear on it,” The woman promises, offering you a display of soft and flowing linens. “Fit for the Gods, even.”

You laugh as you shake your head, “I am far from divine, good woman.”

“Because you lack my silk,” She insists with a toothy smile, and another light chuckle leaves your lips as you look over the different colors of the silk she offers, eyeing the varying colors and trying to decide on a good one for a formal peplos.

A rough hand grabs one of the dark red pieces before you can make your choice.

“I like this one.” Ivar says, and even if his tone makes it sound like an order, you still nod your approval and ask the vendor for the needed linens.

Later, after spending part of your day browsing the dresses and cloth offered in the market so tirelessly your feet now ache, you relax in your bed with a warm cup of milk and honey in your hands, watching as the pale sun settles over Kattegat’s horizon.

The warmth of the fire, the safety of the house around you, the rhythm of this city; none of this should feel as familiar, as comforting as it does.

Drawing your knees to your chest, hiding bare and cold feet under the furs, you set the cup down and keep your tired eyes on the horizon, even if the sun’s light is quick to blind you.

When you blink past the light, you find yourself looking into eyes as blue and as burning as Greek Fire, and a small smile pulls at your lips. He extends a hand, offers you a bracelet.

You roll your eyes, but accept Ivar’s warm touch as he places the bracelet around your wrist. Proudly keeping your place at his side, you walk with him through the street.

A woman keeps her dark eyes on you as you walk her by, and when you offer her a small smile and a nod in recognition, she offers you a smirk.

“Snakes curl at your feet. They bind you to this realm.” She says, her Greek harsh, only slightly better than Ivar’s. You swallow past the knot in your throat, and turn your gaze once again to the path ahead of you, jaw set tightly.

“Not for long.”

She laughs, darkly, hungrily, knowingly.

“You should know better than to say that, chosen of Persephone.”

You stop dead in your tracks, something off about her flawless Greek startling you. She holds your gaze, a challenge shining in her blind eyes. You blink, trying to see what changed of her face that unsettles you so, but you cannot seem to focus.

The woman lowers her face, a dark laugh echoing around you as darkness consumes the once vivid and loud streets. You turn around wildly, looking for…for…

The woman appears in front of you, face bare and blood dripping down her full lips. She extends her hand, offers you a red veil.

A gasp makes its way out of your lips as you sit up in the bed, eyes frantically searching for…her, as if she is to still be here.

You cannot shake from your mind the snippets of the dream -Vision? Message?- from your mind, and when you straighten from the fire you were occupied with, you catch sight of the clothes and linens you bought today and are startled by the amount of red you can see.

The color of a bride’s veil. The veil she offered you.

When you lift uncertain hands to run through your loose hair, you catch a glimpse of the bracelet Ivar gifted you on your wrist.

A shackle. A snake to curl at your feet and bind you.

Trying with all your might to dispel such thoughts, you return to your seat with the now cold cup of milk and honey in your hands and close your eyes tight.

Try as you may, each time you manage to shake off the images of your dream, behind closed eyes you see the countless dreams that came before it, the countless times you saw a figure that wasn’t quite mortal lurking in your dreams.

All the times before and after your return to Eleusis where you saw clearly in the distance a pair of thrones, though you knew one would remain empty for quite a while. Even after finding yourself shackled and bound in Kattegat, the dream of the snakes that slithered around you, only to then make you trip and fall, only to let Ivar move over you, promise you a kingdom against your lips.

Gods, the vision of…of the woman that cries gold, the motherly smile, the armor covering her chest. How you could blink and see blind eyes and dark skin instead, bloodied lips and still the same warm and welcoming smile. Both hands extended towards you, of which you found yourself unable to hold on to neither.

You never believed it to be a curse, to be a woman born destined to be close to the Gods.

But your eyes fill with tears, your heart grows heavy, and you cannot help but think how life could have been so much easier, how you could have been so happy, if only you had never known both of the Seer and the Oracle, of Freyja and Persephone. Of Kattegat and Attica.

And how you wish for a life where you don’t feel Fate tearing you in two.

____

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you liked this chapter!

Also, yes, I made a Phantom of the Opera reference lol

[iridescentxstars]

twist of fate — kim jongin

➳ published: 27.08.20 ➳ moodboard by @bbyunz​ ➳ gods!au || genre: smut || fantasy || rated: m ➳ pairing: kim jongin x helena x kim kai ➳ summary: When the Gods gave up their immortality, Fate decided to add a twist - a twist that causes them to relive their most fabled tales over and over again. ➳ word count: 3.6k ➳ warnings: infidelity, a modern twist on the story of aphrodite and adonis feedback is appreciated and welcomed​

Once upon a time, the Gods were worshipped by the humans they watched over. Their temples were filled with offerings and gifts to please them, to ask them for a safe travel or bountiful fields; but as the centuries passed, these prayers, offering and gifts to gain favour became less and less until they were left in the past.

Forgotten by those who cried their names for help.

At first, they were angry, hurt, by the insolence thrown to them and Ares acted out, starting wars and fighting among them. Poseidon created tsunamis and storms, causing humans to fear the oceans. Hades started to refuse souls, even against Persephone’s pleas, causing lost souls to wander the Earth. They wanted the humans to suffer, to fear the Gods once more and come back to them but their efforts were in vain. The function of the temples became a thing of the past and they were nothing more than a legend told by historians when they spoke about the ancient times.

One by one, the Gods started to leave, giving up their immortality to live amongst the humans – but the Gods are dealt different cards when it comes to death. Fate was one of the few Gods and Goddesses left, burdened to remain while everyone she knew faded from the Heavens to be born again. In a cruel twist, she cursed the Gods to repeat history’s long forgotten tales with every life they lived.

Helena wakes up, taking a deep breath of morning air as she feels for her husband, Kai. “My love.” She calls, opening her emerald green eyes. “Where have you disappeared to?” Kai walks out of the bathroom, towelling his blonde hair and smiling at his wife, whose eyes are still glazed with sleep. “You have to leave so early?”

Kai chuckles as he hangs his towel over his shoulder and walks towards Helena. He’s still naked, his perfectly muscular body on full display for her hungry, tired eyes; his golden skin still glistening with a few droplets of water that drip from his damp hair. “You’ve had me to yourself for an entire week, you insatiable minx.” He kisses her crown and gazes upon her covered silhouette still tangled in the white satin sheets. He always remembers the way she would writhe with pleasure under him, her cries of pleasure and how her nails would dig into his back as she came undone; the images made clear in Kai’s mind are enough to rile him up. “I guess I could be a little later, if my Goddess wants me to serve her.”

Helena loves the pet name; Kai says it fits her perfectly. Her beauty is unmatched and even on her worst day, she can put models to shame. She once thought about becoming a model herself but Kai can be a jealous man with a temper; he’s never controlled her and often lets her do as she pleases but she can see the way his jaw tenses when other men fawn over her. Helena can’t say she’s any better, Kai is a devilishly attractive man and while in his uniform, he gains plenty of attention from both men and women; she has scared off the odd brave soul who thinks they can try and sway her husband. Kai always laughs about it because he’s well known among the troops for having a bad temper when someone tests his patience and yet, it’s his wife who bites harder than he does – though she does it very rarely.

They fit each other like a match made in heaven and she’s always felt like she knew Kai in a past life – little does she remember that they were married in their very first, long, immortal life and that they were fated to always find each other.

Helena opens her arms and Kai buries his head into her chest, lips nipping along her collarbone as his hands pull the sheets away and spreads her thighs so he can lay between her legs. “Stay another day, they can do without you.” She breathes out, running her fingers through his hair and sighing when his lips find her nipple.

Kai gently tugs on the nipple, tongue circling the sensitive areola while his fingers tease her folds and he pulls back, looking down at her with mischief in his eyes. “You know I have to attend the meeting today.” She groans in frustration when he kisses her quickly on the lips and rolls off her, leaving Helena glaring at his back.

“How can you leave your Goddess unsatisfied and wanting the touch of her God?”

Kai begins to get dressed and looks at her with a crooked smile as he buttons up his shirt. “Goddess, you know that I never leave you unsatisfied.” Helena pouts and Kai shakes his head at her, knowing that if she continues to look at him like that then he’s going to struggle to leave without giving her what she’s wanting. “I will be home for dinner, let me make it up to you with a lovely wine and dine.” He winks, licking his lips as he places on his cap, “and dessert.”

“Chocolate sauce?” She sits up, eyes glistening with excitement as she thinks about lying him down and licking a sweet trail down his toned abdomen.

Giving himself a once over in the mirror, Kai turns to his wife and straightens his jacket. “Whatever my Goddess desires.” She squeals in happiness, rolling off the bed and walking towards him. She loves admiring him in his uniform but not as much as she loves taking that uniform off his delicious body. He’s a General in the military and Helena always worries when he’s been sent away but after finishing his previous tour, he no longer has to go abroad and works from the closest base. “Any clients today?”

Nodding, Helena grabs his discarded towel and some clothes from the closet. “Two. Jessica is coming over but she will be finished with plenty of time for me to spruce myself up for dinner.” Kai wraps his arms around her waist before she departs into the bathroom, planting a kiss on her cheek and nipping her earlobe. Helena giggles, swatting him away and wishing him a good day.

She loves her life, she has a loving, handsome husband and a job that fits her perfectly; there is nothing that Helena could possibly want more – or so she thought.

There are many variations of the legend, the story about Aphrodite and Adonis, and they lived thousands more since. The cruellest twist that Fate decided to do was make sure that the Gods could never recall their past lives; they will always cross paths, fall in love and yearn for each other but as much as they feel that connection – they will never truly remember what they once meant to each other. Like Helena, the reincarnation of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty, and Kai, the God of War. Helena would never dream of betraying her husband and Kai put her above all else but what would happen if Fate threw a wrench into their happiness? How much has Aphrodite changed that one of her most famous lovers couldn’t cause her to stray?

And how well would Ares take such a betrayal?

As Helena greets her friend, Jessica, she looks across the road to see what the noise is. For the past hour, there have been raised voices, objects being moved and a mess placed on the front lawn. “Looks like you’re getting a new neighbour.” They watch for a moment, hoping to catch a glance at who will be the news of the week. “Oh wow,” Jessica lets out a low whistle, nudging her in the ribs, “is he one of the movers because all of a sudden I need help moving some furniture around the house?” Helena laughs, playfully slapping her friend’s arm but she’s not able to disagree with Jessica’s statement.

Soft brown hair that hangs in his eyes, gorgeous bronzed skin that looks like molten caramel in the sun, and his body proportions are sure to make any woman green with envy. She’s absolutely taken with his beauty, unable to look away as he helps carry a couch from the moving truck into the house; his muscles bulge with the weight but it doesn’t look like it's too much for him to bear as he shows no sign of strain as he walks backwards.

She doesn’t know how long she’s standing there watching the door in which he walked through, hoping for just another glance before Jessica snaps her fingers in front of Helena’s eyes. “Girl, you are married, need I remind you.”

Shrugging, Helena closes the door behind her. “There is nothing wrong with window shopping as long as I don’t make a purchase.” Jessica raises an eyebrow which causes her to laugh in disbelief, “you don’t believe I would really sleep with a complete stranger? I would never do that to Kai.”

Pulling a face, Jessica grabs a towel and heads behind the screen. “I’m not saying you would but I’m just saying that you had a look in your eyes that I’ve never seen before.” Helena scoffs, rolling her eyes as she prepares for Jessica’s routine. “You looked like you were ready to jump his bones, like he was a delicious snack and you were starving. Like-”

“Yes, yes,” she interrupts, waving her hand dismissively, “I found him attractive. Am I wrong, though?”

“Oh, definitely not.” Jessica smirks as she lays on her stomach on the table. “He was most certainly attractive; a blind man could see that.”

“Then why is it such a big problem that I was looking?”

Looking over her shoulder at Helena standing beside her, Jessica shakes her head and sighs in exasperation. “Kai. If he ever saw you looking at another man in a way that you look at him, he would probably kill him.”

Helena snorts, trying to refrain from a full outburst of laughter but finds it a struggle as her shoulders shake with the force of the laugh. Jessica lays there, waiting for Helena to stop laughing and she cannot believe that she started laughing so hard that she began to weep. “Seriously? Oh my God, Kai is a General in the military, there is no way he would kill a civilian over something so petty as me checking out a guy.” Jessica shrugs her shoulders, knowing that Helena would defend her husband no matter how much she points out Kai’s jealous tendencies that have caused Helena to lose a few male friends.

Kai is well aware of how beautiful she is, he’s well aware that she turns heads wherever she goes but he also knows that his wife is faithful. Or, in this life, she has been nothing but a faithful spouse.

It had been a month since Jongin had moved in across the road; Helena had learnt his name after a week of him living there, a bold move on her behalf because she wanted to ‘welcome’ him to the neighbourhood. It started off innocently enough, a casual wave good morning or even a smile if they happened to see each other around, but Helena couldn’t keep away from him no matter how hard she tried – and she really did try in the beginning. She reminded herself daily that she was a happily married woman, that she didn’t need some fling with the new neighbour to make herself feel young again, but with every passing day, Helena couldn’t help how much she wanted Jongin.

Jongin couldn’t help how badly he wanted Helena, either.

Knocking on her door, Jongin could feel his heart racing. He had watched as her husband had driven away and rushed across the street to ask her what he spent all night practicing to say. “Would you be my muse?” He blurts out the moment Helena opens her door. “I have a project coming up and we are encouraged to use live models for our pieces.” Jongin is an art student, in his final year at college. The house that he lives in is owned by his Uncle and as a struggling art student, Jongin has been given free rent in exchange for keeping the house maintained while his Uncle is overseas. “We need to submit three different pieces and I do have an idea on what to do but I need a model.”

He bats those long eyelashes at her and Helena knows she would give him anything when that move is accompanied by his soft, puppy eyes and pouting lips. “Of course, Jongin.” He perks up immediately, heart racing with the way she says his name. “What do you have in mind?”

“Like this?” She asks, the white silk robe open at her chest, revealing the dark peaks of her plump breasts, as it modestly covers her nether regions. Jongin swallows thickly, standing from his seat and walking towards Helena. He doesn’t know why she chose to do this here; they’ve been working from his home the past week and suddenly she decides that she would find it more comfortable to be in her own home.

Jongin has been painting her in various positions, outfits and places. His focus is on a woman’s beauty and Helena is the perfect muse for it because she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on. Her soft strawberry blonde hair that reaches her round behind, the curve of her hips and shapely legs, those stunning green eyes that captivate any man who dares to look at them, supple lips the twitch with the hint of a smile, but nothing appeals to him more than how her personality reflects the beauty that she is. Innocent, demure and almost like a mystery waiting to be solved.

He adjusts her hair, fingers curling the locks and styling them to cover the erect nipples that have hardened from the cold air. He hears the softest of sighs when the backs of his fingers brush over one and he suppresses a shuddering breath. “You-you look perfect.” He mutters, eyes slowly scanning over her frame before resting on her face, eyes watching him and dancing with desire. Tugging at the collar of his black, paint splatter tee, Jongin clears his throat which only causes Helena’s lips to quirk up at the corners. “I think if we…” Jongin tilts her head back, placing one of her hands on her throat before placing the other against her thigh. It looks spectacular but doesn’t help his own needs from becoming evident. “Are you-” he clears his throat again, “are you comfortable?”

“Perfectly.” She whispers, playing the position up as she closes her eyes, parts her lips in a sigh and adjusts her hands slightly to give the impression that she is most definitely comfortable.

Picking up his brush, Jongin begins to paint the canvas with soft colours, focusing on capturing her beauty in the way he sees it and he’s never been able to give so many details so quickly. He’s so immersed in his art that he doesn’t feel Helena’s eyes on him, admiring his beauty in a different manner to how he’s appreciating hers. This position is extremely erotic, taunting her with her own touch rather than his and she shivers as she imagines Jongin’s fingers brushing over her breasts, teasing the inside of her thighs while his breath is hot and shaky in her ear.

“Helena?” Jongin’s voice breaks through her daydream and she turns her head to face him. His cheeks are flushed, a smudge on paint on his neck from where he’s scratched it and his hair falls into his eyes, pupils dilated from his own sex driven thoughts.

“Jongin…” She breathes out, a tingling sensation sending a warm heat to the pit of her stomach. “I think I need a break.” He looks at the hand on her thigh, ears beginning to turn the same shade as his cheeks because her hand has shifted since he began. As the minutes ticked by, as imagination ran rampant in their minds and they forgot themselves, Helena’s hand had moved towards her core, fingers teasing her with thoughts of him while Jongin imagined the sounds she would make as his hands caressed the dips and curves of her body.

“Do you need a glass of water?” He asks, feeling thirsty himself but unsure whether it is water that he needs to quench his needs.

Shaking her head, she sits up, gazing at her fingers before placing them into her mouth and looking at Jongin through her lashes. “No, I think I need you.”

A spell almost befalls him, causing Jongin to practically fall to his knees before her, worshipping her as Helena cups his cheeks and gets him to look up at her. They know this is wrong, that they shouldn’t be considering the thoughts that make their hearts race and mouth water but as she looks down at the young man, captured by his soft, brown puppy eyes, Helena can’t find it in herself to push him away. She should, she’s the older, the more mature, adult but the way Jongin licks his lips as his eyes follow the curve of her neck down to the valley between her breasts, has her body shaking in anticipation.

“Helena,” Jongin’s lips brush against her sensitive skin, his hair tickling her chest as he leans forward, “we shouldn’t.” His words contradict his actions, fingers untying the robe and revealing the rest of her shapely body to him as he places wet kisses across her breasts.

She swallows, fingers running through his soft brown hair as she gets comfortable and pushes his head lower. “I know, Jongin but…” She releases a small gasp when Jongin’s lips press below her navel, “I can’t help myself.”

It’s true, they can’t.

Like two magnets, Helena and Jongin were fated to come together no matter what situation she was in – and she was always going to be married to Kai. In their previous lives, Kai and Jongin had been twins, something Fate found quite amusing as the brothers fought over their lover like two children fighting over a toy. In their next life, who knows what Fate has in store but she knows that there are so many games she can play with the former Gods but forbidden love, betrayal, and adultery have always been her favourites.

“If your husband finds out…”

“He won’t.” She shushes his worries as he spreads her legs and lowers his head to taste the sweetness that calls to him.

Wouldn’t that be too easy, to allow them a moment of ecstasy without a care in the world? Wouldn’t it be a fun twist to have the husband come home earlier, catching the young student with his head between his wife’s legs as she tugs at those luscious locks? Oh, how cruel it would be but that’s the point, isn’t it?

Jongin flattens his tongue, testing the waters as he watches how she reacts. He wants her to feel good, better than good, he wants to feel like she’s in heaven. He watches every change in Helena’s expression, adjusting his technique to make sure she’s enjoying every second and soon enough, he’s figured her out.

His thumb slowly rubs circles over her clit while he buries his tongue deep into her velvet walls, fucking her with his tongue as she rides his face. “Ahhh, Jongin!” Her cries echo off the walls, music to his ears as he groans at how delicious she is. Her nails scrape along his scalp as he changes tactics, inserting two fingers and curling them to massage her sweet spot, and Helena tugs on his hair as his lips attach to her throbbing nub, so close to exploding in another orgasm. “I’m so close, don’t stop. Oh, God baby, don’t stop.”

He doesn’t want to stop, her nectar as sweet as a freshly picked fruit, he doesn’t want to waste a drop of the juices that coat his chin – not until she can’t feel her legs.

His free hand travels into his pants, releasing his aching cock as he continues to ravish her dripping cunt. “It’s so hard.” He whimpers, the slightest touch having his thighs shake, “please, can I…”

“Yes, yes, God, yes, please fuck me.” Even in a dishevelled state, her hair in disarray, cheeks flushed and sweat beading on her forehead, Helena looks like a Goddess and Jongin is lucky enough to be welcomed into her arms.

Arms that are meant to welcome only one man, lips that should only be crying his name, and skin that should only be tasted by his lips.

Kai stands in the hallway, hearing his wife call another man’s name – a younger man’s name. He had come home early to surprise her but is met with her infidelity instead. His chest rises and falls with his growing rage, a fury inside him burning him up in ways he’s never felt before. Kai is the reincarnation of Ares, the God of War, and so it would be out of character if he didn’t seek his revenge on the man who stole his wife.

As the sound of skin slapping against skin resonates through the hallway, Kai clenches his fists and his nostrils flare as he breathes out. He’s never been so consumed by his anger before, never wanted to hurt someone so badly and Kai never thought he would ever fight over a woman before. But this isn’t just any woman – this is Helena.

Aphrodite.

And once Ares is done with him, Adonis won’t live to tell the tale of how he stole the God of War’s wife but their story will forever go down in history.

[gasp-iwrotesomething]

I Get to Love You (SFW)

Summary: It’s an early morning and Hades is awake, stuck between the promise of more sleep and admiring his dormant wife. When she wakes, however, how will the rest of this blissful morning pan out?

Word Count: 3,284

Genre: Fluff (SFW)

Warning(s): mushy, feel-good, early morning fluff with the gentlemanly Hades :)

A/N: This is based off of the song I Get To Love You by Ruelle and is dedicated to the lovely @fan-girl-2 who requested this song-fic for Hades. I hope you enjoy!

Also (ironic, ik buuuuuttttt) thank you for your patience. I admit, my motivation’s been slacking off like crazy lately :(

but i’m better for now, so we’re good :)

Hades woke up to frivolous brown hair snaked against his face, the silky strands gently caressing his skin as he moves his head a little. The same scent of a coconut home graces his nose and the god snuggles closer, his strong arms swindling the brunette agent. He’d grown accustomed to mornings like this, where the first of his awakening senses were drowned with his wife. Any day that began with that simple blessing was sure to be one of Hades’ favorites. Mindlessly, his fingers drift through MC’s hair, catching on newly woven knots that seemed to unravel under his touch. The action was simple, uncomplicated, allowing Hades to sink into his mind and peacefully think. About their situation, about life, about MC... about anything that came to mind first, honestly. Of course the woman beside him was the first; there were hardly ever times where she wasn’t nowadays. Gently, he braces his weight on his elbow to peer over her arm. Her face was peaceful, features set into a sedate countenance, with her long hair draping over her cheeks and curling on her forehead. She looked the splitting image of beautiful and already, in the dawn of the day, Hades’ heart ran wild in his chest.

One look at you My whole life falls in line

Against his chest, Hades could feel the heat of her back pouring into his skin and the soft friction she creates with him as he shifts ever so slightly. He never would get tired of waking up with her like this, would he? Because almost every single time, Hades was mesmerized just by her sheer person. Everything, from the warmth her body radiated to the general air her presence gave him. A taste of home, something so alien to him that it swept him up off his feet each time he experienced it. Times like these, sprawled out in bed with the love of his life, made Hades wonder how he lived all those years with no MC by his side. It seemed like such a surreal time frame now that he had MC to himself. Was he even alive all those centuries? As in, what kept him from being a brooding god, unable to find joy in even the simplest things in life? 

Well, to be fair there was rarely anything except kin that kept his lips feeble to smiles. Persephone, for one. Her good-natured fun and free spirit were surprisingly very appealing to the God of Underworld; she was a beacon of light that Hades couldn’t help but admire. Then there was Cerberus, Nemean, and Orthrus. They and Persephone were alike, save for their boyish mischief that the three brothers loved to engage in; they were a lot of fun to be around, no matter how Hades felt. All people who he loved dearly; who he’d give anything for. Yet, there was something different with MC--something that diverged from the bond he shared with his family. An itch works its way into the back of his mind, picking at his thoughts. Hadn’t Hades, at one time or another, hoped for a bond like the one he shared with MC?

I prayed for you Before I called you mine

In his arms, MC stirs. Hades doesn’t dare move in fear of disturbing her sleep--if she wasn’t waking up at that moment. She heaves a deep sigh as she nuzzles further into her pillow, the ends of her hair tickling his chest as MC falls back into her deep slumber. Seconds drip by, practically tangible, before the god relaxes back against MC. He did this often, especially whenever he was thinking a lot like this. MC was incredible awake but the lure of enjoying her peaceful, unaware form appealed to Hades greatly. Nothing could compare to a morning laid out just for Hades to appreciate his wife. The God of the Underworld had seen and felt an abundance of things all over the spectrum, but there was something truly magical about thinking how lucky he was to have fallen for such an incredible person. Just the notion alone made happy tingles recoil in his chest--it was simply unbelievable at times.

Oh, I can't believe it's true sometimes Oh, I can't believe it's true

It was a little ironic. All his life, Hades had heard romantic lines similar to the one entangled around his thoughts shared between mortals and immortals alike. The god had never expected it to be something he’d engage with; he always found the wordplay to be too over-saturated and cringy. For the life of him, Hades had never been able to see the pleasure in saying those to another person. But now those words came organically and he had no such issue with stating them to MC. It was strange how quickly his view on romance and love had changed just with one woman. Maybe it was a common way of thinking but Hades truly believed that if he had never been able the privilege to love MC, then he would’ve never known the true beauty of love.

I get to love you,

Why was it an offense to have common thinking? It was a nice sentiment to hold, both in his heart and mind. He got to love MC--a person so incredible that Olympus seemed not as beautiful as it was when she was around.

It's the best thing that I'll ever do I get to love you,

That fact was the opposite idea that turned the tables and made the offense a compliment; and a flattering one at that. As his fingers strum through strands and her scent encompasses him, Hades fades off into an even deeper paradise of deep thoughts and unrequited love realizations. It was almost like falling in love all over again. But to be fair, that was how the god felt anytime MC did anything of even the smallest proportions. He guessed that his mind had gotten used to every little quirk she had and reigned in their bland yet endearing nature. Damn, he was more in love with her than he had know, wasn’t he? Hades didn’t mind; he’d made a promise to love her for as long as he was able, and he had no plans to reverse his vows.

It's a promise I'm making to you

He shifted a little closer to MC at that. Maybe it was the early sun that was branding his chest this warm, but it didn’t feel like a natural emission of heat. It felt natural but in the less traditional sense; like a habit plucked from everyday life, or a feeling that was born with you. More importantly, it felt unmatchable. Hades had the strongest inclination that a feeling this intense and incredible would be one that couldn’t be man-made; an nonrenewable resource that once it ran out, there was no way of replenishing it. Just like before, it didn’t matter if it was nonrenewable--Hades knew that those feelings he harbors would still exist regardless. He’d choose his wife’s heart above everything else, no matter the repercussion.

Whatever may come your heart I will choose,

But who was to say that their love would last forever? Certainly no one, but it was a beautiful thing to imagine. Especially with someone equally as beautiful, Hades believed.

Forever I'm yours, forever I do

The God of the Underworld would still get to love her and, to him, that was enough.

I get to love you (2x)

Just then, MC stirs again in his arms a little. It’s a slow movement, tractable yet predictable, that evolves into a big stretch. He knew she was waking up now, so the god cradles her closer against his body. MC takes the offered affection in stride and leans into him, capitalizing on his enticing warmth and loving embrace. 

The way you love,

There’s a phantom of a smile lacing her lips as she speaks. “This is a nice thing to wake up to.” Hades could feel the way her back heaved slightly with a barely repressed giggle and it his heart fluttered all the same. The reasons were rapidly blurring together these days; all he knew was that he loved her a lot.

It changes who I am

“Only the best for the best,” Hades’ trademark smirk bubbles up as the fingers treading through her hair fiddle with a particular lock, “a fair treatment, don’t you think?” MC’s back presses square against his chest as she snickers quietly. The hand resting on her hip is lapsed by her soft, smaller hand. The gesture has a swarm of butterflies flapping around dazedly around his stomach. How many times was that now?

I am undone, I thank God once again

“I don’t think I’ve ever agreed with anything more,” MC pledges, her fingers mindlessly drumming against his on her hip. Hades chuckles and silence follows; a comfortable silence that dressed them in a sense of trust and contentment. More thoughts cross his mind and for the millionth time, Hades asks himself what exactly brought her into his life. A generic question, but an emotion-ridden one.

Oh, I can't believe it's true sometimes

“You know, you’re too diplomatic with me sometimes, Hades.”

Oh, I can't believe it's true

Hades raises his head a little at that. “What? I am?” The God of the Underworld was stunned by this. He thought the morning was at a beautiful start but with the sudden critique... maybe this was taking an indirect turn. “More than you know,” MC adds, “but I guess that’s just who you are, you know? All your life you’ve been formal, so the inclination has been ingrained in you. It’s not like I don’t like it, I’m just not so used to something that isn’t so... casual in relationships.” Casual? Hades thought everything he said was casual, nothing bordering on professional language. But then again, he was a little biased--the god was talking about himself, after all. Hades felt a bridge of gratitude connect in his chest. Maybe her input was curating a better him day by day. Or maybe it was just her affection that patched him up. Either way, there was a sense of appreciation and it was there for her.

I get to love you, It's the best thing that I'll ever do

Hades opens his mouth to speak only to be cut off by MC once again. “I actually really enjoy it now that I’m thinking about it. It feels nice to be appreciated so regally by the man I love.” She turns on her side to peer at Hades, her eyes slightly puffy and glazed with sleep. There it was again--that uptick of beats as strong as a thunderstorm’s roar. The attention she set on him was uplifting and settled anything that might’ve set him off in the moment.

I get to love you, It's a promise I'm making to you

He could feel a margin of a smile collect on his face as he watches her eyes warm. “I’m glad that I can make you feel that way,” Hades sweeps some fallen hairs away from her face, his small smile beginning to turn wry, “and regally? I had to show my devotion to my queen in some way or another.” On his skin, Hades could feel her warm with embarrassment, physical representation of just how he stokes her fire. His head projected an image of her rosy cheeks, her face shying away to hide the color. But Hades always managed to catch a glimpse that still sucked the breath from him each time; just discreetly. “See, that’s what I’m talking about Hades,” she huffs, though her grip on him doesn’t lessen, “you and your agitating smooth talk...” Her bashfulness gets the best of her and her sentence trudges off, more a shy compliment than an aggravated complaint. Hades fought against a chuckle. She was too cute like this, sheepish and quiet with only her muse there to further burn that fuse. 

Whatever may come your heart I will choose,

Wanting to see how far her wick can shorten, Hades buries his face into the crook of her neck, his face grazing tufts of hair that had fallen slack. Some tickle his nose and subsequently his love as well. MC feeds him encouragement with a giggle, her body snuggling into the shape of his like a puzzle piece finding its destination. Warmth was braided together and hearts shared a full beat, the simple movement a conjuncture of so much more in the height of their adrenaline. Adrenaline... why, in the many occasions of intensive dangers he’s faced, did Hades’ heart not race as hard as it did in the comfort of his lover’s arms?

Forever I'm yours, forever I do

“What about it? I thought I was doing a pretty good job thus far.” His breath is muggy and hot as it caresses her nape, a touch that summons a rush of tingles down her spine. Hades could tell from the jerky way her back arches into him. “Yeah and that’s the issue,” half of her retort is swallowed by the pillow she turns her flustered face into, “how am I supposed to combat things you say when you say things like that, Hades?” She still feels hot but MC whirls around to face him, her waist twisted on her side. A few strands tumble down the side of her cheek and her jaw nudges his temple. Stubborn, Hades remains engulfed in her. “You have your ways of redemption, dear.” 

The god’s words intertwine with his arms squeezing her affectionately, doubling the effect into something that was reassuring. He didn’t think it was possible for her to be so unknowing of how she affects him; years in the making of their love, all sculpted and cooled with countless opportunities to grow and learn one another, and yet MC still didn’t know the half of the way she makes his heart sing. Hades sort of wished she did, just to pronounce evidence that could aid her when he struck. But another section, a broader and more wry selection, is thankful that she doesn’t know--so the upper hand is still in his possession... most of the time. Even that wasn’t of the greatest warranties with this marvelous woman.

An idea clicks on in his head; a light of love and a shadow of misbehavior.

I get to love you

“I mean, do correct me if I’m wrong, but you have many more... assets to use against me, MC.” His tone turns provocative and his touches become more sensual, driven. Hades nestles into the hollow of her collarbone, his lips smoothed to her pulse. He could sense the rapid jump and skip of her heart rate and he smiles, cuing her to giggle and nudge him slightly. “Assets? What assets? If anyone has assets, it’s-” she taps the tip of his nose a little awkwardly, their position the wrench in their exchange “-you.” Hades laughs, low and sweeping, crisp against her flesh as he relocates down an inch, then another, and another, and another...

I get to love you

“Maybe but you have the loveliest by far,” Hades’ mouth was now destined in the crook of her neck, drifting even lower until she shudders and he grins. She relaxes in his arms and slants towards his gentle touches, allowing his gradual adventure to continue down her shoulder. “You know how difficult it is for me to look at you all day and not be able to do this,” he presses his mouth to her shoulder blade for emphasis, smirking, “without losing it and taking you into my arms?” MC doesn’t answer but her skin feels hot and the tips of her ears beam red. “Hades...” MC whispers softly. 

I get to love you

Hades takes her quiet response as permission to venture further, down her arm to the crook of her elbow and finally at her wrist. He pauses to kiss the inside of her wrist, right over her pulse, before drifting to her fingers. MC sighs, content, as her husband decorates her fingertips in his lovely, ginger lips. “I feel the same way about you, Hades.” Her sentence is muted and timid, suppressed by her shyness, and he smiles against her. It made his heart float happily when she said things like that.

I get to love you

“I’m glad we share that feeling, love.” Hades says, muffled by her flesh to his mouth. He felt whole, his heart heavy with his passion and his mind tipsy and light with thoughts of her. One final brush of his lips and Hades releases her hand from his grip, allowing it to fall back to cradling the arm surrounding her waist. Their fingers furl together and a cozy silence blankets them. He holds her close while she embraces his touch and smiles into her pillow.

And they say love is a journey,

Hades couldn’t help but feel this... epiphany glow in his chest, matching the staccato of her heart and the purpose of his lungs as he inhales her sweet scent. She smelled like fresh-picked flowers in the arms of an infatuated lover. She smelled like home, a calming aroma that once perceived makes the levels of stress and worry disperse. MC smelled like comfort and love and empathy all wrapped with ribbons and fancily tied bows that made you want forever. Hades never wanted to wake up to an empty spot beside him on the bed, bankrupt of the intoxicating scent of MC. Hades wanted every morning to start as this one does, one swell of affection to power and influence Hades through the rest of his day until he can reunite with MC and find... home. 

I promise I’ll never leave

MC squeezes the fingers curled around hers. “I love you,” she murmurs. Like a sun climbing the sky at dusk, Hades’ chest beams with the declaration even though he had heard it thousands of times before. Still, hearing it manufactured the sense that he was cherished and loved just as he did to MC. “I love you too.” Hades reciprocates, treasuring the warmth curled into him. 

When it’s too heavy to carry,

Another spout of comfortable quietude consumes their space and soon enough, after a few more minutes of snuggling and teasing quips, Hades grows drowsy as his eyelids begin to become heavier to lift. He drinks in her achingly sweet warmth and the reassuring scent that wafts off her, some culminated with the berry-flavored shampoo she washed her hair with. Hades reigns in her like a king to his throne and sighs, content with the sunshine soaking him and the dazzling woman in his arms adding to the sun’s warmth. Soon, the gentle rise and fall of MC’s chest indicates that she’s fallen back asleep too, coaxing Hades in after her. Things were peaceful, uncomplicated, the layers peeled by the simple lack of complication. Just... them, lounging in their bed, trying to shake the final tendrils of sleep off before they tug them under again. Obviously they were failing at that, but still. Just them.

Remember this moment with me

Hades drifts off all too easily,

I get to love you

Falling into a dream about something wonderful.

I get to love you

The setting was unclear and the purpose wasn’t something he was cognizant of,

I get to love you

the only thing certain being the woman swathed in his embrace and her musical laugh tinkling in his ears; the woman he got to love for as long as they prospered. 

The God of the Underworld wouldn’t have it any other way.

~THE END~ 

Oh and before you go, show your support for @vowtogether!!

[bottomaziraphale-ao3fanfic]

ABO Ineffable Wives Hades and Persephone AU

Aziraphale and Crowley already married ruling Hades together already so happy and so so in love. A group of underworld lords and some of the gods above being unhappy with this union so they plan against them and when Crowley leaves to check on the souls of the rotted they pounce. Pretending to want to visit their baby sister they go to hades and wait till Aziraphale drinks the memory loss potion they poured in her wine before knocking her unconscious and stealing her to the upper world. She never at the fruit of the underworld because Crowley always wanted her to have a choice in leaving if she ever wanted too. Cerberus senses what's wrong and tries to save his precious queen but he is no match for two minor gods and a major one. So he runs to his master in warning but he doesn’t make it half way before collapsing. By this time Crowley has long since felt something wrong. The minute she felt Aziraphale knocked unconscious through their soul bond she sped through hades to get back to her home only to find her servants scared and his guards murdered and her wife's wedding ring and crown on the floor.

Twenty years pass and both seemed to have withered away into almost nothing. Crowley became a ghost if who she used to be and ruled with an even tighter fist than before. Shes colder, meaner with a tongue meant for a verbal lashing at anyone who gets on her bad side. Aziraphale was a ghost with no memory of who she was. She didn’t remember the pleasures of life that once brought smiles and laughter to her face. She hollowed out with a constant ache to her soul that always seemed to remind that something important was missing. Shed ask her brother Michael and Sandolph but they would just give her empty smiles and assure it's because of her nerves for her upcoming wedding with gabriel which in every sense of the word felt so wrong to her. As if every cell in her body shook in rage and disgust at the thought of marrying him, not when her heart and soul screamed that she belonged to someone else. That she already had the most perfect alpha the heavens could ever make for her. But she did not understand this. So she lived her days as a ghost her powers never came to her and she was always so weak and frail that she was on constant supervision.

One day Sandolph and Michael are both called to mount Olympus. They both gave her strict instructions not to go anywhere or invite anyone in and that they would be back as soon as they can to get everything ready for her marriage the upcoming week. It was so clear to her they didn’t love her and trust her the way they should like in the books she read and it was so obvious to her that Gabriel didn’t like her, let alone love her. He always acted like a villain from her books instead of the dashing hero meant to save and love her. She was so tired of this. Twenty years of misery and felt like death the moment she woke up in her bed to cruel eyes looking at her smiles that denied the questions she asked.

Before she used to be so afraid of the consequences if she disobeyed but now she could feel herself on the brink of death, any day now she would wither away to nothingness and end up in hades. It may have been to late for her to change her fate from death, but it wasn't too late for her to live as much as she can before she died. She’d prefer to die than live in this empty existence anyway, especially if she was going to marry the cruelty that was Gabriel the Mighty. She would take death over him any day. So she made the decision to run away and the fates have given her the perfect moment to get away.

With her favorite book, she ran as fast and far as she could and reached a dark forest that immediately gave her entryway and stumbled upon a meadow with night colored soil, bluminest water, and star filled flowers. It was the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. So beautiful, so peaceful, so familiar. She felt safe here and happy that she gave the world a first genuine smile that hasn't been seen since she woke up.

Her smile slowly morphed to a frown as she gasped and dropped her book. Her head was swimming in pain and her vision swam. She stumbled to the closest tree and wondered if this was where she was gonna die. She took a ragged breath, and closed her eyes. Her heart was finally beating with life at the shelter she found in this dark forest, that she didn’t seem to mind the darkness clouding her vision. She was happy to find a place that brought such happiness to her, that she welcomed death with a smile for giving her this, this much before taking her away. So she closed her eyes and her body fell limp against the tree shading her from the sun.

Memories ran across her eyes like film and she dreamed of rose colored hair and wine stained lips that always stretched in a smile around her. She dreamed of their first meeting, their first kiss, the first time Crowley showed her the underworld and all the wondrous magic she held. She dreamed of meeting Anathema and Newt, she dreamed of giving Cerberus belly rubs, she dreamed of sneaking into the kitchens with Adam to eat sweet treats, she dreamed she dreamed she dreamed. Most importantly all about Crowley, her most important person, her other half, her heart and soul. Oh her poor crowley must be all alone and sad without her now, she must wake up right now to-

"Aziraphale! Aziraphale!" Her eyes slowly opened and she groaned. Her vision gave a blurry image of a man that slowly cleared away to reveal gabriel who held annoyance in his eyes and wore a displeased frown. Immediately her blood boiled at the sight of him.

"We've been looking all over for you! You were told not to leave! Made us all run around in worry when all you were doing was napping insufferable brat! Let's go you've caused enough trouble for one day."

There would've been tears at the words he struck against her except she wasn’t the person who blindly ran away to this safe haven withering away praying for death. She was who she always had been, Persephone- Goddess of Vegetation, Spring, and the Underworld. She was not one to be trifled with.

He went to grab her and she snarled "don’t you dare touch me!" He jumped and leaped back at the ferocity from her voice.

His eyes widen in confusion "what has gotten into you today??!! First you run off like a child and now you're talking back-

"Shut up" she regarded him coldly and stood up carefully still weak from her collapse.

She took a ragged breath "you've treated me like a cockroach to be crushed beneath your feet ever since I came to existence. Now you've stolen me from my home, my alpha. I've bitten my tongue too long for you lot since you were my family and I loved you all despite your treatment towards me. Not anymore. You hurt my alpha by hurting me and now you shall have to answer to her and I will not vouch for any of you a moment longer. I am going home.”

Gabriel stared at her in shock before laughing and her body shook in rage at the gesture.

"Oh sunshine you think we'll let you go back after all the effort it took to get you here? No ones going to let you leave and look at you! You're one breath away from withering into dust. You can’t do anything! You're weak and useless, you need us, you have no choice but to stay with us."

Vines quickly sprouted around gabriel and tightly wrapped around him to the point he couldn’t breathe. He choked from the one around his neck that made him face her in all her rage. For the first time ever in his immortal life, he felt afraid of Aziraphale, who tightened the vines around him and made him gasp in pain.

"You," she snarled "have no control over me. You never did and you never will. I never needed you nor will I ever. You forget what they named me. Persephone! The dread queen of the underworld." She took a step forward towards him, "Peresphone, to destroy," vines tightened and he gave a silent scream, “to murder."

She smiled coldly at him, "yes I am kind but I've been told I can be a bit of a bastard. Lucky for you I have no intentions of killing you. You are nothing to me and I couldn’t care less about your putrid existence. Let this be a warning to you Gabriel, you come after me or any of my family in the underworld and not only will you have to answer to me, you will have to answer to my Alpha who will rip you and everyone else limb from limb and cast you all down to tartarus.

"You. Would. Start. A war!" he gasped out.

"You started it the moment you took me." She replied coolly.

She snapped her fingers and a dog whistle appeared in her hand, she brought it to her lips and gave a long whistle. Seconds later the ground shook and out came the hound of Hades who growled with all heads snapping until they saw who summoned them. Immediately their tongues lolled forward and their tail wagged in excitement. They made to leapt at her until they saw the condition she was in and whimpered.

She gave them a large smile and rubbed all their heads. "Oh you good boys you've all grown! You've immediately came when mama called, such good babies! I promise you'll get a big treat when we see your other mom!" She cooed.

Cerberus kneeled down and let Aziraphale settle on him before standing on his legs. She glared at gabriel and let the vines release him, dropping him onto the floor while he gasped for breath. "Tell the others what happened and remember my words Gabriel. Come after any us, and we will destroy you."

Gabriel tried crawling towards her, but Cerberus growled and snapped his teeth in warning. She petted all his heads before whispering in his ear, "take me home" and they disappeared.

They sped through the underworld with the wind nipping at her skin, her eyes watered and the world blurred around her. She was so tired, especially from using her once forgotten powers, but she had to keep going just a little while longer. Cerberus sensing the state of her master, sped faster rushing through the guards guarding the palace, destroying the entrance and everything in his path until they reached the throne room.

“Cerebrus what the hell do you think you're doing!"

Aziraphales heart races at the sound of her alpha. She leaned her body away from cerberus and raised her head to her shell-shocked alpha who couldn't seem to believe she was here.

The throne room was deathly quiet and aziraphale felt such an ache tears sprung from her eyes. She gave a wobbly smile "Crowley" she croaked and a cough shook her frame and she gasped from the pain of it. No, no please she just got here! Just a little while longer please! She begged in her mind to Thanos who lurked in the corner of her eye.

Immediately Crowley was at her side taking her in her arms. Aziraphale sobbed at the comforting scent of her alpha. She forgot what she smelled like, oh how could she forget.

Chaos ran around them but all Aziraphale could register was Crowley. Her face, her scent, her touch. Heavens she missed her so much! She nearly choked on a sob and took a ragged breath. She could feel herself getting weaker and weaker.

Crowley who seemed to sense this patted her face with urgency to make her stay awake. "Angel please you have to stay awake just for a little while longer. Anathema is on her way. When she says it's okay, then you can sleep, but you have to wait for her word first, sweetheart please!" Crowley begged with desperation.

Oh her Alpha, her poor alpha looked so tired and aged she wished she could do something for her other than lay in her arms, dying. Tears kept streaming down her cheeks, she was so so happy she could see her Alpha one last time, she was so tired. She heard voices in the background as her vision spun to darkness but all she could hear was Crowley who begged her to stay awake, to stay by her side, to never leave her. With a deep pang of regret she realized for once she might not be able to listen to her love. She was really going to die. She prayed to anyone and everyone for Crowley to find happiness and love after her, as much as it hurt that she couldn’t be there by her side. Tears clogging her throat she mouthed I love you one last time before her hand in crowleys went limp and fell against her side.

Her body ached and she was in pain from what felt like the worst hangover shes ever had. She groaned when she opened her eyes and light filled in. Her vision blurred before clearing and it took her a second to remember what happened. She quickly sat up looking for her alpha who immediately fled to her side from the chair across her bed.

"Easy love, you're alive, you’re safe, you're here in my arms. Nothing will ever take you away from me again I promise you this."

She sobbed against Crowley's chest who rocked her in her lap on the bed she slept on and patiently waited while stroking her hair.

Her alpha whispered quiet reassurances until a few moments passed and Aziraphale stopped crying. She sniffed one last time before raising her eyes to her alpha who looked as wrecked as Aziraphale felt.

"Darling, what happened?"

Crowley took a deep breath and threaded a hand through Aziraphales hair, quietly stroking through it. She waited patiently as Crowley quietly got her bearings together.

"Love, you've been poisoned. The potion they've been giving you for the past twenty years was made of the darkest black magic to suppress our souls bond so we couldn’t feel or sense each other at all. The effects of it were poisoning you slowly," Crowley took a ragged breath "angel you nearly died" she shook as tears fell down her cheeks and she grit her teeth.

"I thought you died," she choked out, "these past twenty years I thought you died because I couldn’t sense you. But then I searched every inch of this place and I couldn’t find or sense you at all! I nearly went mad with trying. All this time you were alive and you could've died any moment and I wouldn't have known!" crowley shook and Aziraphale immediately pressed Crowley’s head against her scent gland who immediately inhaled her scent to assure herself Aziraphale was still with her, alive and still breathing.

"Darling," Aziraphale whispered with love, "Do not for a second blame yourself for any of what has happened. I know in my heart that you've raised heaven and hell to find me. I do not blame you, so don’t you dare blame the love of my life for crimes other people have committed against us. It is not your fault. Do you understand me my alpha?"

Crowley sniffed against her scent gland before raising her head and pressing it against Aziraphales. "Yes, my love. My omega."

Aziraphale knew it would take far longer for Crowley to believe her words, but that's alright. She was here now by Crowleys side, and she would remind her everyday until her alpha believed her.

They stared at each other letting moments pass just basking in each others presence and enjoying every touch and caress they offered each other.

"Love, I know you've just woken up, you must still be exhausted and in pain, and I will wait until you are ready to tell me, but I must know what happened to you the moment you were gone."

Aziraphale hesitated for a moment wondering if there was a right time to tell her before deciding there would never be a right time. So she told her about Gabriel, Sandolph, Michael, Hastur and Ligur, inviting themselves for dinner spiking her wine with what she assumes was the memory loss potion. How they knocked her unconscious and when she woke up they told her she was in an accident. How they kept her on a tight leash and belittled her for breathing every second of the day till she reached the point of praying for death. They wouldn't let her do anything but read, they almost never let her step foot outside. They never let her eat or drink anything but a glass of wine that she now realizes must of been the soul poison. She tells Crowley everything from how Gabriel told her she was finally ready to be his obedient little wife to the confrontation with him at the forest where Crowley and she first met and then running away with Cerberus with her memories regained and intact.

She didn’t realise she was crying until Crowley gently pressed her head against her scent gland urging Aziraphale to inhale her scent to which she gratefully did and immediately calmed down.

They stayed there pressed against each other, holding each other in comfort until Aziraphale felt Crowley shake.

"They took you. They hurt you. They made you pray for death. I will destroy them and tear them limb from limb and let cerberus chew on their bones. Never again angel, I promise nothing will ever hurt you or take you away from me again." Crowley swore and there wasn’t an ounce of doubt that Aziraphale held for her. She believed every word.

[totentanz]

And Will He Not Come Again?

For Jonerys Week “The North and the South.”

Rhaegal left just after dawn.

Daenerys was already awake. She had never been one to laze in bed when there was work to be done, and there was always work to be done - petitions to hear, disputes to settle, rebuilding efforts to oversee. But even on the rare days when she could afford a bit of idleness, she never slept much later than the sunrise. Two years after she and Drogon had flown over the smoking wreckage of King’s Landing to the Red Keep and found Jaime Lannister kneeling over the body of his sister, bloody sword in hand, visions of green fire and the screams of children still stalked her dreams. Their cries of anguish - myhsa, mother, why didn’t you come sooner? Why didn’t you save us from her? - dragged into her wakefulness, her cheeks wet with tears and her heart pounding so hard it was difficult to breathe.

Jon could keep the nightmares at bay, when he was with her. But while the blood of the dragon ran through her husband’s veins, he was still a creature of ice and snow. He’d died and been resurrected in the far North, in the shadow of the ancient magic that had raised the Wall, and the North still claimed him as its child. Too long away from it and he began to fade away, going still and quiet, his eyes turned toward something only he could see. It had terrified her at first, when she touched his hand and he didn’t turn to look at her with that smile she so loved, the one that made the corners of his eyes crinkle and her heart flutter. She called his name and hadn’t so much as twitched, and the image of Drogo, lost to fever and unable to respond to her pleas for him to just live a little longer, my sun and stars, please don’t leave me here flitted through her mind and stole her breath, left her cold as stone.

But Rhaegal had known what to do. Rhaegal had swept down and bathed Jon in warm, sulfur-scented breath, given him the strength to climb on to the dragon’s back and follow the summons of the North’s ancient gods away from the south, away from Daenerys. She might have wept, if Drogon hadn’t nudged her with his immense head and crooned softly, the sound rumbling through her body. Do not despair, the dragon seemed to say. All will be well.

She ran her hand over the empty sheets next to her, allowed herself one more moment to wish she were touching Jon’s sleep-warmed skin, then swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. There was no use in trying to sleep longer. Better to go outside and let the stiff ocean breezes clear her head.

Most of the sky was still dark, but the eastern horizon was touched with streaks of rose and orange. She walked past the slumbering heap of dragon wings and tails to the cliff’s edge, and stared out over the sea. The ceaseless pounding of the waves against the stone resonated deep in her bones, as familiar to her as her own heartbeat. She had been born on this island, drawn her first breaths here, and some primal part of her had never forgotten that. She felt grounded here, on this rocky soil, in a way she never was in Essos. She knew it was expected that she’d return the monarch’s seat to King’s Landing once the Red Keep was habitable once more, but the thought of doing so brought her no pleasure. That place was full of ghosts. She’d rather stay here, in the place of her birth, where Rhaegal and Drogon could fly freely over the ocean.

The sky grew brighter, and the curve of the sun appeared and limned the waves with gold. Sunlight raced across the waves, up the rocky cliffs, and across the windswept grass until it illuminated the dragons’ scales. Rhaegal lifted his head and shook his wings free, ignoring Drogon’s rumble of irritation, then walked to the precipice. He paused for a moment, his tongue flicking out to taste the air, then sprang aloft, his powerful wings catching the air and bearing him northward.

She shaded her eyes and watched his flight. She wasn’t sure how exactly Rhaegal knew when it was time to leave, whether it was some distant summons from Jon, far away in the lands north of North, or her own yearning to hold her husband in her arms, or if the dragon himself simply missed his rider. She liked to believe that Jon summoned Rhaegal to him, that he ached for her as much as she ached for him and wanted to return; it also brought her comfort to think that if Jon were ever in dire need, the dragon would know and rush to her husband’s aid.

“Bring him back to me,” she called, the sea breeze catching her words and bearing them aloft. She watched Rhaegal until he was nothing more than a speck in the brilliant blue sky, then turned and made her way back toward the keep, her heart lighter than it had been when she first woke up.

It wouldn’t be long now, not long at all before Jon was in her arms once more.

* * *

                            Until the Red Keep could be sufficiently restored, Daenerys chose to hold court in the ruins of the Dragonpit. Even though the Iron Throne itself had proved too cumbersome to move, the pit was large enough for Drogon to crouch behind her seat and fix his burning eyes on all who approached, and his presence a more potent symbol of queenship than any chair could hope to be.

It also meant she could arrive and depart on dragonback, a piece of pageantry that brought her no small measure of delight. She savored her daily flights from Dragonstone, when she soared high above the sparkling waters of Blackwater Bay with the wind whipping through her hair. On dragonback she felt most like herself, young and free with all the world before her, and Drogon’s answering exultation spilled into her own mind until the two of them were almost one. She’d heard that Daena the Defiant once that said she was born to ride a dragon; it was a sentiment Daenerys Breaker of Chains understood.

Seven days after Rhaegal journeyed north, she and Drogon flew out of the Dragonpit into the kind of evening that made her want to fly forever. The air was just cool enough to be pleasant, the western sky was painted in vivid shades of orange and red, and Drogon’s body was warm and strong beneath her legs. The day had gone well - the new vines planted in the Arbor were flourishing, the restoration of the Sept of Baelor was almost complete, and a fleet of trade ships from Meereen had arrived, their holds full of spices and silk. Her realm was at peace, recovering from the years of constant warfare, and she had everything she’d dreamed of as a lonely girl wandering through the Red Waste with nothing but a ragged khalasar and three newly hatched dragons barely the size of cats, everything except -

Off in the distance, a dragon roared.

Drogon’s answer split the skies, and Daenerys’ heart leaped in her chest as she spotted Rhaegal up ahead. She tightened her hold on Drogon’s spines and leaned forward, urging her mount to fly faster.

“Onward,” she whispered. “Let’s catch them.”

They met just south of Dragonstone. Drogon and Rhaegal circled around each other in greeting, drawing so close that Daenerys could see Jon’s smile in the twilight. She smiled in return, and the joy bubbling through her veins made her feel like she didn’t need a dragon’s wings to fly.

The dragons danced, and the sky faded to a deep blue speckled with silver stars. Daenerys caught a glimpse of Jon’s expression, equal parts of delighted and mischievous as he urged Rhaegal to fly higher, and she sent Drogon after him. The two dragons soaring so high that Dragonstone’s mighty Keep seemed no larger than a child’s toy; and then, just as her lungs started to burn in protest of the thin air, they plummeted downward, speeding faster than arrows shot from the great weirwood bows used by Northern archers.

Daenerys gasped in delight, and the sound was immediately snatched away by the rush of wind. She felt no fear, even as the dark waters of the bay rushed closer and closer. She had complete faith in her mount, and when the dragons pulled up at the last second and raced across the water, their wings barely skimming over the waves, she threw her head back and howled her exhilaration to the skies.

“Again,” she cried, and Drogon and Rhaegal sped skyward. “Again!”

By the time they turned toward Dragonstone, Daenerys was out of breath, her hair was tangled from the wind, and the blood burned hot in her veins. She felt gloriously, intoxicatingly alive. Drogon had scarcely touched the ground before she slid from his back and raced toward her husband, eager to touch him, kiss him, exult in feeling him beneath her hands once more.

Jon waited for her with outstretched arms, the smile she loved stretching across his face, dark eyes sparkling with warmth. She threw herself into his embrace, and their lips met in a kiss. He tasted of the North, of ice and snow and the sharp scent of pine, but when she caressed the nape of his neck, the skin was warm.

When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against her and closed his eyes. “Dany,” he murmured, and brushed his fingers gently against her cheeks. “Dany.”

And let the North have him for six moon turns in the year, if it kept Jon from fading away entirely. Let the cold mountains winds have their time with him, if that was what it took to restore his spirit and prevent him from falling back into that endless slumber. Because he might be ice, but he was also fire, and her fire called to him as surely as the Northern snow did.

“I’m here, my love,” she whispered in reply, and their lips met once, twice, three times. “I have you.”

(Yes, the idea here is that Dany and Jon have a Hades/Persephone vibe going on, where Jon needs to return to the North for a certain amount of time each year to keep his resurrection juice going. Yes, that sidelines R'hllor. No, I do not care.)

[lilacmoon83]

Dreaming Out Loud

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 115: Only You

Imagine a world where everything you thought to be fiction or myth turned out to be real. Imagine a world, larger than life, where Gods ruled, a simple kiss from a Prince really could wake a Princess, and the lines between good and evil were not as defined as one might think. Imagine that all the stories you think you know so well turned out to be much different than you thought. Imagine if magic was as real as science. Imagine if you didn't have to imagine any of that and it was all true…

"This is what you have so far?" Greg asked, as a barrage of real footage they had collected and images they had captured played on the screen after Landon's voice over ended.

"Yeah...it's great, don't you think?" he asked.

"It looks like a movie trailer. No one is going to think it's anything other than that," Greg complained, as he paced the room.

"I can't believe that three years of work and this is what we have," he growled.

"Hey...this is good. We have some really damning footage of real magic being performed and real life depictions of actual people that are thought to be fictional characters," Landon admonished.

"That no one will believe!" Greg argued.

"After three years...we have nothing! My father's bones are buried in the FBI crime lab, because no one cares about a thirty-three year old crime! And you've just made a fancy movie trailer that I'm sure any Hollywood studio would love to fund, but I have nothing!" Greg raged.

"Calm down...we can take a different approach with the footage. Maybe I got a bit cinematic with the voice over," Landon agreed.

"You think?" Greg snapped. Landon sighed.

"The crime lab is still our in with all of this. I know it's been a long time, but they will get back to us. They'll get a match. They may already have, but opening a cold case will have to go through proper channels. But that's good for us," he continued.

"How?" Greg asked.

"Because if they do match your DNA to the remains and identify him as your missing father...that will attract the attention of some of the higher ups. Opening a cold case that's over thirty years old doesn't happen every day," Landon replied. Greg sighed.

"Fine...just do something about that silly voice over," he said.

"Relax…I'll get rid of the voice over and turn on the regular audio. Maybe if we just go with the bare bones footage, people will see that it's completely unedited," Landon replied, as they watched some of the unedited footage.

"I just want her to pay…" Greg growled.

"I mean...she killed my father, but they allowed her to remain free and move on. All this bull about how she's redeemed herself and even found love! It's ridiculous! She deserves to be in prison!" Greg ranted.

"I agree with you...and maybe we can take a different strategy," Landon said.

"Like what?" Greg asked.

"Well...we've managed to acquire a few beans without them knowing over the years. Hell, they've grown so many that they'd never miss them even if we took a bushel. Maybe it's time to go to the FBI and make them listen. Maybe it's time to find a way to make her confess. We get her outside Storybrooke...there's no magic there to protect any of them," Landon replied.

"How are we going to do that?" Greg asked.

"She has a son...she has someone she loves now. We can use them to get her to do whatever we want," Landon replied.

"We'd have to lure them away from the rest," Greg reminded.

"Not easy...but not impossible either," Landon surmised.

"Okay...let's do it. Let's make her confess and then take her to them," Greg agreed.

"Great...in the meantime, I'll shop this tape around the Internet. No credible documentary company will pay it any mind. But on the dark web...that will be a different story. If we can get people talking about it...then eventually, it will go viral," Landon said.

~*~

Snow's emerald eyes opened and she smiled, as she found herself firmly ensconced in her husband's arms.

"Good morning," he said in a husky tone, as they shared a kiss.

"Good morning handsome," she purred back, as he held her close and they heard some babbling coming from the baby monitor.

"Sounds like someone else is awake," she mentioned. He smiled and kissed her cheek.

"I'll get her," he said, as he ventured off to the adjoining nursery. She heard their bedroom door open at that point and smiled at the sound of tiny feet beating it toward the bed. She leaned over and pretended to jump in surprise.

"Boo!" little Xander exclaimed and Snow gasped, as she helped him climb onto their large, King sized bed.

"Good morning sweetheart," she cooed, as she settled him in her lap and kissed his blonde haired head.

"Morning mommy…" he cooed in return, as he was focused on playing with the toys he had brought with him. About that time, David returned with their baby. Ten months ago, Snow had given birth to their third child, a little girl they decided to name Iris. While their son had inherited David's coloring in hair and eyes, their second daughter had very fine raven colored hair like Snow and David's blue eyes as well.

"Daddy!" Xander called, as David sat down on the bed with them and let the baby crawl between them, while his son jumped into his arms.

"What do you have there, little man?" he asked, as he noticed the toy horse in his hand.

"Horsie," he replied, as his baby sister had crawled into Snow's lap. David had changed her, but she was ready to nurse. He helped her settle down in bed and she began to nurse their daughter. These were their typical mornings, spent quietly together, before their daily routine would set in. They ruled together equally. David spent much of his time overseeing the defense side of their Kingdom and Sheriffing all the Realms with Emma, which he greatly enjoyed. Snow handled the day to day tasks on the diplomatic side, though there were many meetings they attended together, especially when military officials visited from other Kingdoms.

During the day, Ruth, Serafina, and Robert happily watched their grandchildren, as did Hades, Persephone, and Eli when their ruling duties allowed it. But Snow and David's children weren't the only ones keeping their six grandparents busy. There had been many changes to their family and it had grown in more ways than one.

"You go ahead and clean up first. And then we can switch," Snow said.

"You sure?" he asked. She nodded and cuddled the baby and their son, who was very occupied with his toys.

"Okay...then I'll get the munchkins dressed while you clean up. Then we'll go get breakfast," he said, as he kissed her tenderly.

"Granny's?" Xander asked. David chuckled.

"Yeah...we'll go to Granny's," he agreed.

"I want pancakes," he announced.

"Mmm...pancakes sound good. With blueberries," Snow said.

"No...chocolate chip, like Emmy has," Xander replied, making them chuckle.

"Okay...chocolate chip it is," Snow agreed, as he smiled at them and went to shower.

~*~

James looked out over his Kingdom from the balcony of the King's bed chambers. It was almost mind boggling how much his life had changed in the last three years since he had been miraculously resurrected. He was sure now that if Cronus knew for certain that he couldn't count on James' loyalty, he probably wouldn't have chosen to bring him back. But the God of Time had much bigger problems than him. He didn't know much about Cronus' original plan, except it had involved eliminating Zeus and then claiming the power of the skies. But that power had chosen Persephone as its new champion and had almost guaranteed that Cronus would never rise to power. He had settled into ruling his own Kingdom for the last three years and while they would always be leery of him, he was not the biggest threat out there.

After Leopold unfairly took back his own Kingdom, James had opened his castle to Regina and Henry, giving them a place to stay close. While they could have returned to the mansion in Storybrooke, Regina knew Henry wanted to be close to his biological family and Regina was sincerely working on repairing her relationship with Snow; much to his sister-in-law's delight.

It was a surprising thing to see Regina and Snow become good friends, especially after all the bad blood between them. But Regina had really committed to becoming a better person, for herself and for Henry. He understood her journey better than anyone, so it probably shouldn't have surprised them when they fell in love. But they did and after the shock had worn off, they had entered into a loving relationship, one like he had never had and never expected to have. And one she like she hadn't experienced since Daniel, except for what she found with James became far more powerful. With Daniel, it had been true love, but quite innocent and unburdened. But with James, they both still had darkness in them and would always struggle with it. But among all that, they had found kindred spirits in one another and ultimately a love neither of them expected or was even looking for, or so they thought.

"Why are you up?" Regina complained sleepily, as she put her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back. He smirked and turned so he could put one arm around her.

"Sorry...you know I get this way before we have big diplomatic meetings with the other Kingdoms," he said.

"Yeah...I kind of miss the days where I could just storm in and they would agree to whatever I want," she mused.

"This democracy thing definitely comes with more bickering than I like and having to be in a room with Midas and Leopold for hours makes me want to drink," he agreed. She smirked.

"Well...we still have a while until we have to be ready. I can give you something to think about during the meeting," she purred. He smirked and turned to her, as they engaged in a passionate kiss.

"We're supposed to meet everyone for breakfast," he reminded, as she led him back inside.

"Henry is with Emma and Neal so we can be a little late," she replied, as he eagerly followed her back to bed.

~*~

Henry sat in front of the television that morning in their sitting room, playing video games, while his parents shuffled around. The blonde baby girl in Neal's arms fussed a bit, while he dug through her diaper bag.

"Henry...have you seen Tallie's stuffed unicorn?" Neal asked.

"Nope," the teen replied and Neal rolled his eyes.

"Then stop playing the game and help me look. You know how fussy she gets without it," he said. Henry paused the game and started to look around, before finding it behind the sofa.

"Hey...big brother to the rescue," Neal said, as he showed their six-month-old daughter the stuffed toy. She grabbed onto it with chubby hands and calmed down, allowing him to put her in the stroller, as Emma came downstairs.

"Okay...let's go have breakfast and then we'll get you off to school, kid. Do you have your homework?" Emma asked.

"Yep," Henry replied, as he grabbed his backpack and turned the television off.

"Hey sweetheart...are you giving Daddy a rough time?" Emma cooed to their daughter.

"Like her mother," Neal deadpanned.

"Please...you love it," she said, nudging her fiance.

"Yeah...I do. I probably should have my head examined," he joked.

"Wouldn't do any good. No doctor can fix you," she joked back.

"Haha," he mocked sarcastically.

"Are we going or not? I'm starving," Henry complained.

"You're fourteen. You're always starving," Neal quipped, as he pushed the stroller out and they walked through one of Hades insta-portals, as they had come to call them, and arrived in front of Granny's for breakfast.

~*~

"Okay sweetie...there all cleaned up," Belle cooed, as she blew a raspberry on her little boy's tummy and he giggled. Rumple smiled from the doorway of the nursery in their castle.

"Everything in order?" he asked.

"Oh yes...we just had a bit of a diaper emergency. I don't think we'll be having anymore strained apricots for dinner anymore," she replied, as she finished dressing him and picked him up.

"You know, I could have cleaned him up with a wave of my hand," he quipped. She shot him a look.

"And I told you I don't want you changing Gideon's diapers with magic," she chided.

"Fine...but can I at least get rid of the dirty one?" he countered.

"Now that would be okay," she agreed, as the dirty diaper disappeared. She looked at him suspiciously.

"Where do all those dirty diapers go when you poof them away?" she asked. He shrugged.

"Who says that I don't just disintegrate them?" he answered with his own question.

"Because the other day, when we were at Snow's and David's, you made one disappear and Hades seemed to think it was funny," she responded. He smirked.

"Do you really want to know?" he asked. She rolled her eyes.

"You're right...it's probably best that I don't," she replied, as she handed their son to him and got his diaper bag. An insta-portal opened and they stepped through, arriving in front of Granny's.

~*~

"Ohhh...there they are. Come to Nana…" Persephone gushed, as Snow and David arrived at Granny's with the little ones.

"Nana!" Alexander called, as he rushed to her and she lifted him into her lap.

"Hello my handsome boy," she cooed, while Hades poofed a stuffed three-headed dog for him to play with you.

"You three spoil them rotten," Snow admonished, as she hugged her father.

"That is what Grandparents are for," Eli said, as eagerly took his tiny granddaughter in his arms. Snow shook her head in amusement and sat down beside her husband. Since her father's royal role these days was simply as an adviser, he had been very happy. The stress she had seen upon him while she was growing up, at least in the alternate reality, was gone and for that, she was very happy for him. Surprisingly to some, Hades was happy ruling beside her mother and gladly maintained his supportive role to her. He had naturally worried about his former Throne and who was taking care of the dead. It was very big job and one he took seriously. He regretted the years where he had ruled unjustly, but when they managed to learn that Prometheus had exited Elysian to take up the mantle, that had been a relief to him. Prometheus was a fair man and had always been an ally to mortals, being that he had gone against Zeus long ago when he gave fire to mortals. He had paid for it dearly, but had been rewarded a hero's afterlife in Elysian by Hades, centuries ago, much to Zeus' chagrin.

Persephone had proven equally that her new role as God of the Skies was very well suited to her as well. The last three years in the United Realms had yielded peace and for that, Snow was incredibly grateful. There were still conflicts, crime, and the normal day to day strife that any society faced, but peace had mostly reigned.

"Hey…" Emma called, as they were the next to arrive.

"Hey sweetie," Snow said, as she hugged her parents, while David eagerly lifted Tallie out of her stroller.

"Hey there peanut…" he cooed and patted his grandson on the arm.

"Oh...that reminds me," David said. Snow smiled and dug out some comic books from the pocket on their stroller.

"Wow...thanks Gramps," Henry said, as he accepted the gift.

"And Nana and Papa didn't forget you, sweetie," Snow cooed, as they presented her with a new stuffed sheep.

"You seriously just lectured us about spoiling our grandchildren," Hades mentioned. Snow smiled at him.

"Well, like you said...it's what grandparents do," she mused.

"Grandparents usually don't have kids the same age as their grand kids though," Emma teased.

"You shush and Iris got a new stuffed toy too when we picked out one for Tallie," Snow replied, as Rumple and Belle were next to arrive with Gideon.

"Hey…sorry, we're a bit late. We had to change clothes already this morning," Belle mentioned. Snow winced.

"We've had those mornings too," she replied. Gideon and Iris were only about a month apart. Snow and Belle had gotten pregnant nearly at the same time and being pregnant together had made them even closer friends. It had served to do the same for David and Rumple as well.

"Sorry we're late…" Regina said, as she and James finally arrived and she kissed Henry on his head, as they sat down.

"It's okay...our order is already in," Snow said.

"How do you know what I want?" Regina replied.

"Apple pancakes, mom...you're kind of predictable," Henry teased, making James chuckle in amusement. She nudged him.

"Very funny, you...new comics?" she asked. He smiled and slid one over to her.

"Yep," he answered, as she opened it to read, while they waited on breakfast and conversation flowed effortlessly as usual when they all managed to get together. Robert, Ruth, and Serafina arrived last, completing their family gathering, just as breakfast was delivered.

~*~

Ravenna paced in the secluded chamber of her palace, where Claude Frollo had conducted his work and experiments for the past three years. It was painstaking work and she felt no closer to any of her goals. If she didn't hold control over him, then she might think he wasn't doing what she asked. But unfortunately, the particular thing she was asking for was not easily accomplished.

Originally, she had wanted to find a way to curse her former step-daughter. She wanted her to suffer a fate worse than death, but she had quickly learned that there was no curse that existed that true love could not overcome. It became clear that death was the only thing that true love could not save her from. And so the search to find the perfect way to kill Snow White began. She wanted her to suffer and she wanted those around her to suffer losing her. She was so tired of her being the one that all the Kingdoms adored. She had everything. True love with a handsome, loving husband, who thought the sun rose and set with her. Three beautiful children and a large family full of people that would do absolutely anything for her. In addition to that, most of the people in the Kingdoms, particularly her own adored her and still called her the fairest of them all.

Her jealousy had steadily grown and her hatred with it. Hans had implored her to let it go, as he could see nothing good coming of it for their Kingdom. His older brothers agreed as well, but with Arawn still imprisoned for war crimes, Ravenna was next in line and had ruled flippantly. Her own interests were first, while the people did without. She was a very unpopular Queen and their own people constantly discussed how much better the rulers of some of other Kingdoms were. Snow White was always mentioned among them, which only further enraged their sister.

But Ravenna refused to work for her people in favor of fulfilling her own interests. She was always harshly criticized at the United Realm Council meetings and Hans was sure today would be no different.

"We may finally be onto something today," Frollo said.

"You've said that before and it always goes up in smoke," Ravenna retorted.

"And without this cauldron, you may never have gotten this far," he argued.

"Fine...do you have it then?" she asked.

"Not yet...but my research has revealed one crucial ingredient we need for success. Unfortunately, it is not available in our Enchanted Forest," he replied.

"Then where can we get what we need?" she demanded to know.

"Another magical forest...across the ocean," he answered. She had heard of this place and could even see it in the distance from her vantage point. It was still a mysterious place and the only place that had not sent a dignitary to join the United Realms Council. Very little was known about it still and there were even plans to send a group of diplomats there to make contact. No one was certain of why no one from this land had sent their own individuals out, but they had so far respected their obvious desire to remain isolated. If they still planned to send a team, she knew they would never choose to send her. They were always claiming she was too volatile and had an irresponsible rule. But that would not stop her from going there if the ingredient she needed was somewhere in that forest.

"Then we will leave for this new land, in secret, after today's Council meeting," she decided.

"Yes, my Queen," Frollo agreed, though he had little choice. As long as she held the Promethean flame, the very first and famed flame the God Prometheus had given to man, she would be able to control his every move.

~*~

Breakfast was finishing up and they paid their checks, while preparing to hand off all the little ones to Ruth, Robert, and Serafina, who were happily watching all of them, while they were attending the monthly Council meeting that morning.

"Okay kid...bus is pulling up outside," Emma said, as she hugged him and Regina did as well, as she kissed him on the head. He and Neal bumped fists, as he headed out to the bus

"Have a good day sweetie," Snow called, as he waved to his family. Just as they prepared to head back to the castle, Emma's phone rang.

"Sheriff," she answered, as she listened to the complaint on the other end.

"All right...we'll be right there," she said, with an eye roll.

"Another active bar fight at the Rabbit Hole," she said, as she put her jacket on.

"I'll give you a hand," David said, as he kissed Snow quickly.

"I'll catch up to you at the meeting," he promised. She nodded.

"Be careful," she called to both of them.

"Need an extra hand?" James asked.

"Couldn't hurt," David agreed, as his twin kissed Regina and followed them out. Snow smiled, as she watched her husband and daughter do what they did best. Helping and protecting people. She kissed her little ones and Ruth smiled at her.

"Off to save the day again, those two," she said fondly.

"As always. Thanks for watching them," Snow said.

"You know we love it," Seraphina replied. To have the three of them to help out was invaluable. Snow was not a fan of hiring a nanny and since her children had so many grandparents to help out, such had not be necessary.

"Well, I guess we better get to the Council meeting," she said, as they left the diner as well. She couldn't say that they ever accomplished a lot in their meetings, but they were still important to get all the leaders together in order to discuss the issues. She always hoped for less arguing and more solutions, which she did not always receive. Thus was the reality of politics. David usually got even more annoyed than her, for her husband was always one for action. But the diplomacy and this process were important and necessary, even if the results were slow to be realized most of the time. But she felt that the future had never been brighter as far as she was concerned and she only hoped that their relative peace continued to reign...

[lilacmoon83]

Dreaming Out Loud

Also on fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 101: And Wake Up Where the Clouds Are Far Behind Me

The years passed quickly, as Rumpelstiltskin secretly trained Regina in the ways of dark magic. It had been very difficult for her at first, but her overwhelming rage at her mother and sister had changed her and facilitated the needed changes in her to mold her into the woman he needed to cast his curse.

Over the years, Arawn had assimilated many Kingdoms under his rule. George and Midas were allowed to remain on their Thrones as mere figureheads under Arawn's complete control. King Hubert and his Queen had been too resistant and were executed, while Hubert's most trusted Knights saw to it that Phillip was sent east into hiding.

King Stefan had folded to Arawn as well, allowing him to keep his Throne, much to his daughter, Princess Aurora's chagrin. Knowing that the late Queen Briar Rose would be horrified, the fairies that had been her allies eventually whisked Aurora away into hiding.

King Stefan tried to appeal to the other King's thirst for power by telling him that they should invade Maleficent's castle next and kill the dragon woman. But Arawn refused. He was known for avoiding magic that he wasn't completely sure he could overpower her and thus Maleficent's castle was left untouched for the moment, as was the Dark One's castle for obvious reasons.

Next, Arawn had moved south to a small Kingdom ruled by Lord Maurice. Arawn was well aware of the deal the man previously made with the Dark One, who ended the threat of the ogres in exchange for the man's beautiful daughter, Belle. But all that had done was pave the way for Arawn to easily assimilate Maurice's Kingdom next without any ogres in his path.

After that, Arawn seized the maritime Kingdom, forcing Prince Eric to flee to the east to avoid execution. The Prince's ailing father had just passed away months ago, but there would be no coronation for Prince Eric.

Regina's Kingdom was one of the only ones left standing on its own, save for the mysterious Arendelle. And magic was definitely the reason for that. Neither Frollo or Arawn were completely sure they could combat the magic of Queen Cora and her daughter Zelena. But Arawn was not giving up. He was a patient man and if he could not overtake Leopold's Kingdom, then he planned to appeal to his and his Queen's greed by proposing a merger when the time was right.

As for Arendelle, Princess Elsa had finally come of age and her coronation was underway. He had sent Hans into get a scope of the Kingdom and hoped to hear good news from his youngest brother soon.

Snow White still eluded them, but there had been sightings over the years. He suspected though that Hades and Persephone had kept her sequestered in the Underworld most of the time. Eli was in hiding as well and there were rumors that he was living somewhere near the city of Athens, well known to be protected by Athena, though there had supposedly been sightings of him in Thebes as well. But that did not bother him too much. He was still confident that he could capture the wayward Princess and use her to his advantage. His Kingdom would continue to grow and soon, he knew he would rival the power of the Gods. Especially if Frollo's research and experimentation yielded the results he soon hoped for.

Arawn entered the top spire of the castle that was formerly George's and spied his Vizier at the infamous Cauldron that had come into Arawn's possession many years ago. While the Cauldron's past was lousy with black magic, these days, Frollo used it for his scientific experiments and dabbles into alchemy.

For years, Frollo has been attempting to change ordinary metals into valuable ones like gold. But more importantly, he was on a lifelong quest to use science and the cauldron to create an elixir of immortality. Arawn shared in his quest for immortality, but he had employed Frollo to explore another avenue on his path to immortality for him.

In the ancient scrolls from his homeland, the texts spoke of a creature and a mountain that could give him what he wanted. If the creature deemed him worthy, he could essentially take on the powers of this supposedly dormant creature that was known in the texts by a few names and one of those being the black god. This creature was said to be far more powerful than any God on Olympus and even mightier than any of the Titans. But the location of this mysterious, supposedly cone shaped bald mountain was unknown. However, through his assimilation of Kingdoms, he had finally found a clue in one of the oldest libraries in Lord Maurice's Kingdom. It was in a dead language that no one he knew of could read, but fortunately, Frollo was attempting to use the Cauldron and science to translate the map they had found.

"Any luck?" Arawn questioned.

"Not yet...but I may be onto something," Frollo responded, as the cauldron boiled with a sickly green liquid. Frollo added a drop of some unknown ingredient, making the room smell even fouler than it already did. Frollo carefully filled a vial with the liquid and poured one drop on the encrypted map. It gave off a faint glow, as the sorcery rippled over it.

"Did it work?" Arawn asked.

"It did not decipher the map...however it has left us another clue. One that could make translating the map irrelevant," Frollo said, as the sorcery on the parchment took life in front of their eyes in the form a dancing broom, which then morphed into a hat with stars on it.

"What is it?" Arawn questioned.

"I've seen this only once...in the ancient pagan texts back in the Cathedral. It is the magical hat worn by the mysterious Sorcerer. The legend says that no one knows the identity of this great Sorcerer and the hat is in the possession of his apprentice," Frollo recalled.

"What does this mean?" Arawn pressed, as he watched the image of the hat fold into a dormant form in that of a circular box with stars atop it. Then the transparent image fell to the map and to a mountainous region in the northeast that was known to be quite barren and scarcely populated.

"It means we can find the hat in this region and then it is the hat that will decode this map, leading us to Bald Mountain," Frollo responded.

"Then you will take a few of our men and find this hat by any means necessary," Arawn ordered. Frollo bowed to him.

"At once, My King," he obeyed.

~*~

David wiped the sweat from his brow, as they paused for a beat in their practice duel. His family and Snow's family were all enjoying a brief respite at Persephone's summer cabin in her meadow near the ocean. Over the years, Persephone had added two more cabins in the meadow, one for his family and one just for him and Snow.

There was a brief lull in the war recently and they had taken full advantage of the opportunity for a visit. They were a bit worried about what Arawn's attention might be on, because of the lull, but they did not let it mar their time together.

During the warring years, Eli had taken the opportunity to sharpen David's swordsman skills and Hades usually joined the teachings when he was able to. The Underworld had been sadly a very busy place in the last few years, but thankfully, he was enjoying a lull too. They had long ago taken well to their future son-in-law, for he made their little Snow very happy and had decided one of the few things they could agree on was they wanted him to be exceptional in his skills so he could protect their little girl. David had welcomed the training, wanting to be able to protect her against anyone as well.

"You're getting very good…" Eli mentioned, as the younger man parried his strikes.

"If it means protecting Snow...then I want to become a master swordsman," David replied, as they continued the duel. Eli smirked, as he heard Snow huff from the sidelines.

"Daddy...don't you think that's enough for today?" she asked impatiently. Patience would never be his little girl's forte.

"I suppose so...he is here, after all, to see you, sweet pea," he answered, as they ended the duel. Snow smiled and put her arms around her beloved, kissing him passionately.

"I'm all sweaty," he warned, as she pressed herself flush against him.

"I don't mind," she replied, with a coy smile. Persephone handed her daughter a picnic basket with a smile, as the young couple joined hands and began to stroll toward Stardust.

"Have fun!" Ruth called, with a smile, as they rode off.

"Don't you want me to clean up first?" David asked. Snow smirked.

"Oh, I think I can clean you up myself in the ocean," she replied. He grinned.

"That sounds like fun," he agreed, as they rode off for a romantic rendezvous.

"Don't pout," Persephone scolded her ex.

"I'm not pouting...she's just all grown up and needs me less and less," Eli lamented.

"She still needs you...she needs us all. They both do," Hades reminded. He nodded.

"David is a good man. I couldn't have hoped for better for her," he agreed.

"That's what happens when Athena etches your love in the stars. Their love will save us all," Persephone said, though she knew that meant that her daughter and her love would face insurmountable odds and stare down evil to do so. But she was confident that love would prevail.

~*~

Zelena cackled, as she used her spell to create a storm that she unleashed upon an unsuspecting village.

"You're getting very good, dear," Cora complimented and the devastation seemed to have no affect on them.

"This is just the beginning, Mother. When I cast the Dark One's curse, they all shall be under my thumb, even the powerful King Arawn. He'll be nothing compared to me," the redhead boasted.

"Yes...the time draws near, doesn't it Rumple?" Cora questioned.

"It's too early for the curse. I'm not ready yet," he replied. But this angered Zelena.

"Well, I am!" she shouted.

"I am tired of this land and King Arawn's rule! I should rule, mother! But you won't allow me to unseat him!" she shouted.

"His Vizier, Frollo, is much too unpredictable, my dear. If he was able to nullify Midas' power, than he may have a way to counter ours. It's too risky right now," Cora admonished.

"Which is why we need the curse! What exactly are you waiting for?" Zelena questioned her Master.

"That's my business," Rumple hissed in return.

"Why is it always about what you want?! What about what I want?!" Zelena argued, as Rumple looked at her.

"Careful dearie...you may think you're in charge here, but you'd be mistaken. I may be providing you with the means to cast a great curse and rule over all the lands. But make no mistake...I'm in charge," he warned.

"Well, I don't accept that. I'm more than confident that the student has surpassed the master," Zelena hissed. Rumple let out a giggle of amusement.

"Oh you'd be wrong there, dearie," he boasted, as he disappeared and appeared behind her, much to her surprise. Zelena growled and turned to him, effectively blasting him with her green magic.

"Why won't you give me what I want?! I've done everything you've asked!" she cried psychotically.

"Zelena…" Cora chided, but the out of control redhead batted her mother away, much to Cora's surprise.

"I'm more powerful than you both! And I'm going to cast this curse now!" she demanded.

"Go ahead and try...but you'll fail," Rumple responded in a sing-song voice.

"Rumple...what are you talking about?" Cora questioned.

"I've decided to alter our deal," he confessed.

"What?" Cora questioned.

"You've done a very exceptional job in raising a daughter that loves nothing, which is the opposite of what I need," he responded.

"Love is weakness," Cora proclaimed. He giggled at her.

"Wrong again, dearie...it's actually quite powerful and extremely useful when you know how to use it. She can never successfully cast my curse. Read the last ingredient," he prodded, as Cora looked at the tiny scroll.

"The heart of thing you love most…" she recited and then looked up at him, as realization dawned on her. He giggled.

"I see you've finally gotten it. You raised the perfect, heartless monster...in your image no less. You must be so proud," he said distastefully.

"The problem is that I need a monster that still has a heart and fortunately for me...you actually didn't fail to give me one," he responded dramatically.

"What are you talking about?" Zelena demanded to know. He giggled again.

"Your mother created you in her image. Heartless, full of hatred, and you wouldn't know love if it smacked you in your green face," he poked fun, which only enraged her more.

"You're wrong...I love power! It's the only thing that matters!" she refuted.

"According to your short sighted mother...yes, but love is what makes the world go round, dearie. And true love...well, that is the rarest of all magic, but that's a story you don't need to know about," he added.

"However, your mother and you have created another monster as well; one that you don't even realize," he said cryptically, as Regina emerged from the shadows.

"Regina?" Cora asked in shock.

"Hello Mother...Zelena," she greeted with a smirk and then showed her power by lighting a tree on fire.

"You...you've learned magic," Cora uttered in surprise and slight dread in her voice.

"Well...when you took Daniel away from me, I knew I couldn't let you get away with it," Regina responded.

"Darling...I did that for your own good. I was looking out for your best interest," Cora claimed.

"You were looking out for yours!" Regina snapped.

"After all, you couldn't have one of your daughters marrying someone without royal blood. So when he offered me a path to revenge for what you both did to me...I took it," she added.

"You see...she's the monster you created, but she's far more dangerous than this one, because she still has a heart. She knows love, while this one only knows envy," he said, with disgust, as Zelena's skin slowly turned completely green.

"Regina will cast my curse...and she will do it when I say," he stated.

"No!" Zelena cried.

"This was to be mine! I am supposed to rule and have everything! But you're giving it to her?!" Zelena cried in outrage.

"That's right," he said nonchalantly. Zelena growled and unleashed her green magic on her sister, but Regina was ready with an immobilization spell. She knew if she let Zelena get the upper hand that she might be evenly matched or even overpowered by her more experienced sister.

"Yes...I will be Queen and cast this curse, but you don't get to come. I'm going to cast you out for what you did! You destroyed my future with him and you did it on purpose!" she snarled, as she summoned another spell, while Rumple watched on with a pleased expression and Cora in one of awe. Zelena cried out in horror, as a twister came down out of the sky and snatched her up.

"Enjoy oblivion...witch!" Regina cackled with glee, as the twister carried her sister away to another realm.

"Regina...what have you done?" Cora cried.

"Aren't you happy, mother? I've become evil...just like you always wanted," Regina responded, as she approached the older woman.

"My revenge against you will be very sweet for what you did to Daniel. Now run home to your disgusting, degenerate husband and count your numbered days, because I'll be coming for you both," she warned. Cora looked at her former master, her eyes flashing with betrayal and she saw the smug look on his face. He was enjoying his own revenge against her. With no other choice, Cora disappeared in a puff of magenta smoke.

"That was fun," Regina commented.

"Yes...and there is more to come. The time for my curse will soon draw near. But there are still a few things I need that must happen," he replied. She shrugged.

"I'm in no hurry...it gives me more time to craft the perfect punishment for my mother. But tell me...does everyone else have to be miserable in this curse?" she questioned. He smirked.

"It's whatever you want it to be. But they all must fear it, so you need to sell it as their certain doom or they won't take it seriously," he responded.

"Easily done...as long as my mother and Zelena pay, that's all I care about," she replied. He giggled with glee. Things were going very well for him now.

~*~

Prince James dueled an onslaught of Arwan's best soldiers in an exhibition for the mighty King. George had insisted he showcase his talents when Arawn announced to the Kingdom that they were having a problem with a truly monstrous beast that threatened to destroy his entire army. The beast guarded an important mountain pass that was crucial to have control of in the next phase of the war. So Arawn had called for only the best to lead an onslaught on this dragon beast and slay it for him. James hated the idea of doing anything for Arawn and even mouthed off to his father about how he should make his stupid Sorcerer Vizier find a solution or the God Deimos, but that had gotten him a smack to the back of his head. Despite being grown now, his father never missed an opportunity to inflict abuse as his means of correcting him.

"Impressive…" Arawn stated, as James defeated all the soldiers quite swiftly.

"Yes...James is the best swordsman in all the Kingdoms," George boasted.

"Then he will lead a battalion of men and slay the beast that blocks our passage through the mountains," Arawn announced. James pushed down the urge to flee at that. The mission that Arawn was sending him on was certain suicide, but he didn't see anyway out.

~*~

Snow mewled into his kiss and panted in impassioned gasps, as he made love to her in the sand. The tide was coming in and washing over them. He kissed at her neck, desperately, as they chased the height of pleasure that was building between them.

"David…David…" she sung wantonly, as he pumped hot and deeply, their hips colliding with a euphoric feeling.

"Snow…" he rasped, as his lips worshiped her body. Snow raked her nails along his back, as she neared her climax, bringing him pleasured agony. They finally reached completion together, nearly simultaneously in an incredible wave of ecstasy, before they collapsed together, limbs tangled and water beading on their bare bodies.

As their skin quickly began to cool in the ocean water, they wrapped themselves together in the very large blanket they had brought with them and rested together against a rock, while they watched the sunset together. They kissed tenderly and cuddled, enjoying an afterglow that was just as euphoric as their lovemaking had been.

"I love you so much, my darling…" he whispered. She smiled at him, her emerald eyes sparkling with love.

"I love you too, my Charming," she replied, as she nuzzled her nose to his.

"Let's not wait any longer," he whispered to her.

"Any longer for what?" she asked.

"To get married," he responded, as she looked at him in surprise.

"But...the war isn't over yet," she reminded.

"And it may not be for years, Snow...I want to marry you now. Not then or whenever this war is done. I'm tired of that heartless King being the reason that you're not already my wife," he said. She smiled gently and he knew she felt the same.

"But we still might have to be separated sometimes," she reminded.

"I know...and as much as I hate it, at least I know you're safe from those lunatics in the Underworld and I will cherish every moment we're together and think of you every moment that we're not. I just want to be your husband while I do," he confessed passionately. A tear slipped down her cheek and she sniffed.

"I want that too...more than anything," she agreed, as their lips met again in a smoldering kiss. He smiled brightly back at her.

"Let's go tell our parents," he suggested, but she smirked at him slyly and tackled him to the sand again.

"Later…" she whispered, as passion overtook them again.

~*~

Rumple returned to his castle that evening and noticed with mild interest that his new maid was carrying out the duties of which he had ordered of her. The first few weeks with her had been tedious at best with a lot of crying, but she had eventually settled into a routine. As expected when he returned, she had the tea readied and poured it for him. Curiously, the cup she had chipped days ago was still there as neither of them could seem to toss the silly thing.

"How...how was your lesson?" Belle asked curiously.

"What do you know of my lessons?" he questioned.

"You always take spell books with you on this day and since you don't seem like the type that still needs a book to do magic, I deduced that you have a student," she replied, as he stared at her with scrutiny.

"Very observant," he finally said after an unnerving pause.

"And this one was more productive than usual," he commented, as he enjoyed his tea and that somehow brought a smile to her face. Which was curious, for she knew whatever he was teaching his student probably wasn't good. But the fact that he was pleased brought her a sense of comfort for him.

There had been a lot of development today. Now that his curse was securely in Regina's hands and Zelena was effectively no longer a problem. That meant that once the Savior was conceived, his plan would be accelerated. And there was still one thing he needed, he reminded himself, as he went to his potions cupboard. He had something in every slot, except for the one with the heart.

"What potion goes there?" Belle asked curiously.

"If you must know...it's true love. It's the only magic I haven't bottled," he replied.

"How can you bottle true love?" she asked.

"There is only one true love worth bottling and I've been waiting three hundred years for it to finally come to be. The time is finally at hand...but that's none of your business," he snapped. The time was finally drawing near. He would bottle the true love shared between Princess Snow White and her charming shepherd, the Savior would soon be conceived, and then his curse would be cast. Then he would find his son at last…

~*~

The next morning, all of them, except Snow and David were up early as usual, preparing for a family breakfast. Their children had come home very late and so they were letting them sleep in.

They were surprised though that morning to get a visit from Apollo. Ruth, Sera, Robert, and Eli hung back, as Persephone and Hades greeted him. The last time he had come directly to them was a few years ago after he had tried to show Arawn and Frollo the proof that Snow as framed for Ravenna's murder. And they both knew him coming to them personally could only mean bad things.

"Do you have news of the war?" Hades questioned.

"Yes...Arawn is attempting to move east with his conquest. A great and fearsome dragon blocks his path through the north eastern mountain ridge. He's already lost an entire battalion to this creature, but presses on to find someone to slay it," Apollo reported.

"If he invades the eastern Kingdom and manages to somehow overthrow their Emperor...his army's numbers will quadruple," Persephone feared.

"I believe that is his goal," Apollo confirmed.

"That's a huge undertaking, even for him. The Emperor's army is nearly five times as large as Arawn's, even with all the armies he has assimilated. There's no way they could overtake them, not without some serious advantages," Hades argued.

"Word has it that they are forcing peasants to work assembly lines and mass producing that weapon that Frollo created," Apollo replied.

"You mean the one that David was hit with?" Snow chimed in, as she and David came out of their cabin, hand in hand.

"Yes, I'm afraid so, dear niece," he confirmed.

"But I fear that is not the most disturbing news I have," he continued.

"Of course not," Hades muttered bitterly. He had a feeling his lull would be ending soon and he was going to be very busy once again.

"Frollo has found a map. He can't read it yet, but it the map to Bald Mountain," Apollo revealed, as he met Hades' eyes.

"That's not possible...I destroyed every map to that place," the God of the Underworld growled.

"There is a very old library in Lord Maurice's Kingdom that still had one...in a dead language, but Frollo has used his sorcery to give him a clue. He's traveling east as well in search of the hat," Apollo revealed.

"He cannot get that hat…" Hades growled.

"What hat?" David asked in confusion.

"The Sorcerer's hat...it's very powerful and will lead Frollo to an evil, demonic creature. He has a name I'd rather not speak, but we also used to refer to him as the black god," Persephone explained.

"The Black God?" Snow asked.

"Yes...a Titan that was so evil that your mother and I sealed it away in a volcanic mountain after the Sorcerer, who was supposed to guard the hat, got himself sealed away in a freaking tree," Hades said in frustration. She nodded.

"Originally, this demon was sealed away in the hat itself, but once the sorcerer was trapped, it was freed. It took all of us, including Zeus to seal it away in an enchanted volcanic mountain," Persephone explained.

"If Frollo gets the hat and finds the mountain, he can not only use the hat to release the creature, he and Arawn can control it too," Hades added.

"Then we have to stop Frollo," Snow stated.

"She's right," David agreed.

"You two aren't going anywhere close to this," Hades refuted.

"Yeah...no way in hell," Eli added.

"And not that you need it, but that goes triple from us," Robert agreed, causing the young couple to collectively roll their eyes.

"He's right...but we will be going to stop him," Persephone said. Apollo nodded.

"If they release the black god...then Arawn and Frollo will become unstoppable," he warned.

"Are you leaving right away?" Snow asked, as she and David exchanged a glance.

"We cannot delay much, snowdrop...but we do have the advantage of being able to magic ourselves ahead of Frollo," she said.

"Good...because before you go…" Snow said, as she addressed all of them and then looked at David.

"We want to get married," David finished her sentence, as they gazed at each other with love and eagerness. And no one present could help but smile, including Apollo.

"And I shall be glad to officiate such a destined union," he agreed, as preparations ensued.

[lilacmoon83]

Dreaming Out Loud

Chapter 13: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Graham awoke with a start and shot up in bed, before swinging his legs over the side. He put his head in his hands and took in deep breaths of air.

"Is everything okay?" Regina asked, as she rolled over.

"Uh...yeah, just a weird dream," he muttered. She gave him a long gaze and then got out of bed.

"Henry will be up soon. You should go," she suggested. He nodded and got dressed, as Regina went into the bathroom to shower. The weird dream had not been a lie, but it was more like a nightmare of things that didn't make sense. He hated waking up here, but somehow he had ended up here again, despite initially telling Regina no. He quietly hurried out the door, but stopped dead in his tracks, as he spotted a wolf in his path, staring at him intently. It seemed to look through him and then ran off, leaving Graham feeling oddly stunned with memories of the nightmare searing his memory.

Oz

Approximately 3 Years Before the Dark Curse

As Zelena sat upon the bicycle with Hades, she studied him for a moment.

"Am I that interesting, my dear?" he teased. She smirked.

"I'm just wondering why you're here romancing me. Aren't you married?" she inquired. He smirked.

"If you want to get technical," he responded.

"And your Queen doesn't mind that you're here, romancing another?" she challenged.

"She prefers it, I assure you. She doesn't exactly return my...affections. She never has," he confessed.

"If you don't love her and she doesn't love you, then why keep her around?" she questioned.

"There was a time, centuries ago, when I was quite infatuated with Persephone. And in my more volatile youth, I didn't take no for an answer. Persephone was fairest of all and so I made her my Queen. She was mine...then she betrayed me," he explained.

"She cheated on you?" Zelena asked. He nodded.

"With a mortal of all disgraces. And that wasn't the worst part. She gave birth to his halfbreed spawn and her meddlesome mother put a protection spell over the child, preventing me from laying a hand on the little wretch," he explained.

"How dreadful," she lamented.

"That's why I employed my loyal nephew to find the child. When she was born, Demeter took her and hid her away. Unfortunately, he has failed to find her and it's been over twenty-five years," he continued.

"And the only way to truly make your beloved Persephone pay for her betrayal is to destroy her child," Zelena deduced. He smirked.

"I do love the way your devious mind works. You were truly meant for me, my love," he cooed.

"I do not play second string to anyone, especially not some fairest goddess," she refuted.

"Persephone may be the fairest of all, but she lacks your wickedness," he purred and she giggled, as something he said struck her.

"Persephone is called the fairest of all, yes?" she asked.

"Yes...a term coined by her sanctimonious mother," he replied.

"Why?" he asked, noticing the pensiveness on her face. She smirked.

"It's just not the first time I've heard such a term. There is a mortal princess whom the same moniker has been coined for her. My sister seeks to destroy her for getting her true love killed. Perhaps such a moniker is not a coincidence," Zelena suggested.

"But Persephone's daughter would be half immortal…" he said, as he trailed off for a moment.

"Unless…" he started to say.

"Unless?" she questioned.

"Can you show me this princess?" he asked. She looked at him for a moment and then nodded.

"I have a way to see the Enchanted Forest from my palace," she confirmed. He smirked evilly.

"Take me there. We may still make chaos together yet," he said gleefully.

For the most part, Graham had been able to carry on his day as normal. He didn't really want to face Emma, having woke up again in Regina's bed, so he texted her, offering to take early patrol. The strange dreams played through his head though like a movie.

There was a forest and he was there, looking down at Mary Margaret. Except it wasn't Mary Margaret exactly. This woman looked exactly like her, but with long raven tresses and the most innocent face he had ever seen. He was horrified, for in his dreams, he was going to end her life. She forgave him and was waiting to die. But he couldn't do it and let her get away.

That's when he saw the wolf again, standing in the middle of the road on the back roads of town. He slammed on the breaks and stared into the wolf's eyes, as more flashes assaulted him. This time he wasn't asleep though, so how they could have been dreams, he had no idea. But they were becoming more clear and these new visions were frightening.

He saw himself enslaved to Regina, his glowing heart in her hand. Despite that, he defied her and helped the Prince escape his execution. Therefore, Snow White was awakened with true love's kiss and Regina lost.

But she wasn't about to accept her defeat and cast the Dark Curse. And this place they had been living in for the last twenty-eight years was that curse.

His eyes widened, as it all came rushing back to him like a stream of images in his head.

He remembered everything...because things were changing in Storybrooke and all because of the Savior. Snow and Charming's daughter...Emma.

"Emma…" he uttered, as he did a sharp u-turn and sped back toward the station.

After leaving the library, they stopped into Granny's for something hot to drink to take with them on their walk. They still drew a lot of attention when they entered the diner together, her hand hooked on his elbow. There were whispers, but Mary found she was able to pay them less mind than before. They could talk all they wanted, because what she and David had was between them.

"Well...if it isn't Storybrooke's newest item," Granny mused, making Mary blush.

"What'll it be?" she asked.

"Two hot cocoas with cinnamon," David replied. The elderly woman smiled at them.

"Coming right up," she said, giving them a cheeky look, as she went to make their drinks.

"You'd think they'd have better things to do than stare at us," she muttered.

"People love gossip," he agreed. It was true in this land it seemed, just as it had been in their land. The other royals and nobles of the court loved to gossip, especially about them. A marriage based on true love in royalty was an anomaly. He and Snow had begun a trend though. They were one of the first royal marriages in many years that was not arranged and based solely on true love. Thomas and Ella followed their example, though King Christopher was a bit more open to this kind of thing. Abigail and Frederick had been next, though Midas was reluctant. Frederick wasn't a royal, but being that he was a Knight, the King allowed it, though Charming doubted Abigail would have let her father stop her.

While Thomas' kingdom had accepted a former peasant as their Queen, Charming knew that Snow's much more conservative court, still loyal to the long dead Leopold, might have put up much fuss if they had known he was not the real James.

He knew Snow would never allow them to tell her who she could or could not marry, but he was well aware of the uproar it might cause if it were to become public that he was raised as a poor shepherd.

It seemed not much had changed in that respect. They were still under scrutiny, though they had never let it bother them. They had always been too absorbed in their powerful, passionate love to let the opinions of others factor into their lives. And he was determined to keep that trend, as he leaned down and kissed her, probably with a little more heat than was appropriate in public.

She gazed up at him in surprise, as their lips parted.

"What was that for?" she asked. He smiled.

"We might as well give them something to stare at," he replied. She bit her bottom lip, a clear tell that she was turned on and leaned her head against his arm, just as Granny returned with their finished drinks.

"Thanks Granny," he said, as he paid her. She smiled at the pair. There was definitely something about them. Together, hot cocoas in hand, they joined their free hands and left the diner for their walk. Wilby had waited outside and now trotted alongside them.

Regina unlocked the box and picked up the glowing heart inside. She had been keeping it locked in her office, but stopped there to get it, before coming to her vault. She was too paranoid to leave it unattended any longer, especially after her jarring run-in with a defiant Dr. Hopper.

She decided to come survey what little magic she had left, for her curse was unraveling faster than she could ever have imagined. She had to keep Graham close. She had a very big problem in Emma Swan. Add to that, those two idiots were so ridiculously in love, it made her sick. She had heard all the gossip how David Nolan was shacking up with the pretty, shy schoolteacher and literally sweeping her off her feet.

And if that wasn't irritating enough, there was Gold, who was far too cocky with his little bookworm around. Belle was the leverage she had been keeping for a rainy day and with that gone, it gave him far more control than she was comfortable with.

She needed a triple strike against all of them. If she was lucky, sending Damon after the two idiots again would take care of that problem. In addition, as soon as she knew all there was to know about Emma Swan, she'd be able to proceed with destroying her. That just left the bookworm and a devious smile spread across her face, as she opened her potions cabinet.

"You may have prevented me from putting David and Kathryn in a fake marriage by manipulating the false memories I gave her, so I would say turn about is fair play," she hissed, as she picked up a matchbook from the Rabbit Hole and picked up a blue vial of potion. She put a couple drops on the matchbook and smirked gleefully.

"Let's see how smug you are when your precious Belle becomes a trashy barfly," she mused. She pocketed the matchbook. Of course, first she would need someone extra to plant doubt of her identity in Belle, before she planted the false memories. And that would require a visit to a certain flower shop owner. Yes, she was feeling very good and so she picked up Graham's heart and then dialed his number.

"Not now Regina," he answered.

"Excuse me, is that any way to talk to your Mayor?" she asked.

"I'm busy," he said.

"And I don't care. Meet me at my house," she ordered.

"No...I have much more important things to do," he replied, as he hung up on her. Regina's mouth dropped open in disbelief. He had never so blatantly refused her. Even with his heart in her hand, he was resisting. And the last time he had refused her so utterly had been...back in the Enchanted Forest. When he had his memories. If he was remembering, he could ruin everything in one fell swoop.

But how was he remembering? It wasn't possible...was it? She pursed her lips, her rage barely contained. All the recent problems with her curse could be traced back to one Emma Swan. She hoped to hell that Damon came through with that information. She needed to know why one woman was unraveling everything she had worked for. But if Graham was remembering, then he now a very big threat. A threat that had to be neutralized. She hurried out of her vault and to her car. She had to get to the station.

Emma jumped in surprise, as Graham ran in, practically crashing through the door at the station.

"Where's the fire?" she asked, as she took in his appearance. His eyes were wide with wonder, as he gazed upon her. He was disheveled and looked like he hadn't slept much in days.

"Emma…" he uttered.

"Yeah...what's going on with you?" she asked.

"Emma…" he repeated and she raised an eyebrow.

"Yes...I think we've established that I'm Emma. Me Emma. You Graham," she teased, with a smirk. But he seemed too distracted to be amused by her joke.

"I remember…" he stated.

"What?" she asked.

"I remember...and this is going to sound nuts...but you're the Savior," he replied. Her eyebrows were in her hair at that point, but it was her turn to shock him.

"Yeah...daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. The Savior, destined to break the curse," she stated, in a matter of fact tone. His eyes got bigger, if that was possible.

"You...you know?!" he exclaimed. She smirked.

"Long story...but yeah I've known since I was old enough to understand. You really remember?" she asked, hope in her voice.

"Everything...I was the Huntsman. I...I tried to kill Snow White," he said regrettably.

"My Mom tells it a bit differently. She says you made a different choice and defied the Queen, knowing very well that you were probably forfeiting your own life," Emma replied, enjoying his surprise even more, as he closed the distance between them.

"Regina...she has my heart," he uttered.

"I know...I've been trying to figure out a way to get it back. I think she's keeping it close to her," she replied.

"I...I can't believe you know…" he stammered.

"I'll tell you how, but first I think we need to get this," she replied, as she touched the spot on the center of his chest. Their eyes locked and they stared at each other for several moments.

"Regina...I never…" he started to say, but she stopped him.

"She forced you...I know that now," she replied. And with that, he closed the remaining distance and pressed his lips to hers.

Unbeknownst to them, Regina glowered at the picture of them from outside the window of the station. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but their body language spoke volumes. And then when their lips met, the rage burning inside her became too overwhelming for her to ignore. This woman...this interloper was ruining everything and she had to teach her what happened when you crossed her. She extracted the glowing heart from her pocket and thought about his rejection. If he was remembering, he was a very big threat, but his rejection is what stung the most; that he would choose this woman over her. He had defied her for the final time and he had to pay. With no more hesitation, she squeezed his heart and crushed in into diamond dust that floated away in the wind, before stalking away. The gloves were off and she was declaring war on her enemies. When she finished, nothing but dust would remain of them all if she had her way.

Their lips parted and they shared a smile.

"I guess we have a lot to talk about," Emma mentioned. He smiled. They did, but he wasn't too interesting in talking at the moment. He leaned in, about to kiss her again, when he paused.

"What's wrong?" Emma asked. The pain was sharp and excruciating. Instinctively, he knew what was happening and he should have known all along that a happy ending was not something in the cards for him. It nearly broke him, but he knew she'd go on without him. She was destined to break the curse and defeat Regina. She would avenge him. So he said the only parting words he could.

"I love you," he uttered and then collapsed to the floor. Emma cried out and crashed to her knees beside him. She shook him violently, but she knew what had happened.

"No...no...no...no…" she cried repeatedly, as she searched for a pulse. But he wasn't breathing and would never again, for she knew his heart was now dust. The Queen had done this...she had killed him. Emma sobbed against his chest, her fists clenching his shirt. Her eyes glistened with fury, as her shoulders racked with sobs and her expression was pure rage...rage for the woman that had caused all of this.

She had terrorized her parents, cursed them, forced them to give her up, forced her to grow up without them, at least when she was awake. She had her son and would do anything to keep him away. She had sent a monster after her parents and would do so again. She had killed a man she was falling in love with; the first man she had let close to her since Henry's father. The gloves were off and she was declaring war on the Queen. And when she finished, Regina would finally lose, once and for all.

She sniffed and tried to wipe her eyes in an attempt to gather herself. But it was no use. She needed the only two people that could possibly comfort her in any way right now. She picked up her phone with shaky hands and dialed her mother.

Mary Margaret leaned her head against his arm, as they walked through the woods and over the Toll bridge. Wilby was ahead of them, but not too far, quite enamored by all the wilderness and wildlife. They stopped in a clearing and were stunned by the sight of a mother deer and its baby. The doe looked at them curiously for a moment and then relaxed when she decided they weren't a threat. He gazed at her, loving the awe on her beautiful face.

"Such a beautiful sight…" Mary uttered.

"Yeah…" he agreed, though he was referring to a different sight of beauty.

"You are not even looking at the deer," she teased, as she nudged him in the ribs.

"Sorry...they are beautiful, but definitely the second most beautiful thing I've seen today," he replied. She looked at him, almost in disbelief, as he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. As their lips parted, Mary gazed up at him and the love in his eyes took her breath away.

"I keep pinching myself to make sure you're real," she mentioned. He smiled.

"Maybe I should pinch you," he teased and she gasped in surprise, as he pinched her rear. He chuckled at the look on her face.

"David…" she said, as she blushed.

"What? You can pinch me too if you want...in fact, I'm sure I'd enjoy that," he replied, as he wriggled his eyebrows at her playfully.

"Maybe I will…" she challenged.

"By all means, Ms. Blanchard," he challenged back, as their lips met passionately.

"Mmm...there is so much more I want to do than pinching right now," she purred. He smirked, as she took his hand and started leading him back over the bridge.

"Come on Wilby…" he called, as he slipped his arm around her waist and she smiled up at him, her eyes shining with love. As they reached town again, they decided to pick up take out from Granny's, but that's when Mary's phone rang.

"Hi Emma," she answered. But a stifled sob made her frown.

"Mary?" she asked.

"Emma...what's wrong. You're crying," she said in alarm.

"Um...it's Graham. He's dead," she sobbed.

"What?" she asked in disbelief, as her knees almost buckled. Luckily, David was there to hold her up.

"Where are you?" she choked out.

"The station. The ambulance is on its way...but it's useless. He's gone…" she said.

"We'll be right there," Mary said, as she hung up and looked up at David with a tearful gaze.

"Is Emma hurt?" he asked, as fear seized his heart. He had to try and remember that to everyone else, Emma was just his friend. But if his baby girl was hurt...he didn't know if would be able to keep up that charade.

"It's Graham...he's dead," she cried, as he took her in his arms and held her, as she cried.

"Emma needs us…" she sobbed. He nodded and they changed their direction toward the station. He huddled Mary close to him and knew her tears were still falling, as they hurried to the station. Emma needed them.

By the time David and Mary arrived at the station, Emma had already called the hospital to tell them she needed the coroner, but they hadn't arrived yet. So David and Mary found her knelt beside Graham's body and it was a heartbreaking sight.

"Emma…" David said, as they knelt down on either side of her. Mary gently pulled her into a hug and David rubbed her back.

"What happened?" Mary asked. Emma sniffed and looked at her father over Mary's shoulder. He knew what had happened, but she couldn't exactly tell Mary that the Evil Queen had crushed his heart.

"He...just suddenly collapsed," Emma said. It wasn't untrue, as it had happened in a blink of an eye.

"I'm so sorry," Mary said, choking back a sob. Emma held onto her tightly and then pulled back, as the paramedics arrived. She quickly started wiping her tears away. Mary and David sat with her, while Graham's body was loaded into the Coroner's van.

"I know there's nothing we can say to make this better, but why don't we go home?" Mary suggested. Emma nodded.

"I'll run to the diner and be right behind you. I know grilled cheese and hot cocoa won't make it better, but it will at least be something warm in your stomach," he said. Emma managed a nod, as he saw them off toward Mary's apartment, while he headed for the diner. He took out the phone in his pocket and found a text from Emma. It read words that Emma couldn't tell him aloud.

Graham remembered everything. He told me and then he died.

That stunned him, but if he had been remembering, then it meant it worried Regina enough to eliminate him.

He went to his contacts and picked the number he wanted from the names Emma had programmed into the phone for him. He pressed the green button and then put it to his ear.

"Hello," Jefferson answered.

"Graham's dead," he said bluntly. He heard Jefferson blow out of low whistle.

"Let me guess...she finally did it, didn't she? She crushed his heart," Jefferson said.

"I think so. Emma said he just collapsed and was gone, just like that," David replied angrily.

"She's getting scared," Jefferson said.

"Emma told me he remembered. She must have thought he was enough of a threat to kill him," David replied.

"Yeah, because a healthy man his age just doesn't keel over. Even the hapless people in this town might ask questions," he mentioned.

"Too bad they'd never believe the truth," he said with a sigh.

"We need to be careful. This is just her first strike, you know. She's probably busy plotting away right now," Jefferson warned.

"I know...I need to get back to Mary and Emma. Can you call Gold? He should know," David replied.

"Sure...be careful out there," Jefferson warned.

"You too," he said, as he hung up and went into Granny's.

Regina crinkled her nose, as she stepped into Damon Tromera's club. She hated this place; this eyesore in her town. Sleazy was being too nice when used to describe this establishment. The carpet in the whole place was blood red and tacky as hell, but then Damon didn't remember exactly why he had such a penchant for red. It was late and there were only a few patrons, drinking and they paid her no mind, for the scantily clad girl on stage held their attention. She barely looked legal and under normal circumstances, not even she would let this kind of thing go on under her nose. But Damon was her means to making her stepdaughter truly pay.

"Madam Mayor...welcome. Can I interest you in a drink?" Damon asked, without taking his eyes away from the girl on stage. It was no wonder why he had hired this one. Long raven curls, green eyes, red lips and fair skin.

"This isn't a social call. I'm here, because you have yet to hold up your end of our deal," Regina said. He smirked and put his drink down, before retrieving a file from underneath the bar.

"Oh, I think this will satisfy you," he said, as he handed it to her. She eagerly opened the folder and started reading. And what she took in made her blood run cold, but suddenly made frightening sense.

"This is legitimate?" she asked. He nodded.

"Seems she was abandoned on the side of the road as an infant, not far from here. Quite a coincidence," he replied. Oh, but the Queen knew it was no coincidence. It all made perfect sense now. Emma Swan wasn't just an ordinary orphan. She was the Savior...daughter of her enemies. Her protectiveness of those two idiots was no longer puzzling. She had found her parents and was chipping away at her perfect revenge, day by day.

"Now that you have that, I expect you to return the favor," Damon said.

"Mary Margaret and her...coma patient have been frequenting walks in the woods lately. Getting the drop on them shouldn't be that hard, but that's up to you," Regina replied. He smirked.

"That's excellent news," he said. But she ignored him and took the file with her, as she left quickly. Her curse was in more danger of unraveling than she originally thought...