Page 24 of Persephone

Hades's tiredness faded as fury turned his ichor molten. "That fucking piece of shit."

Hermes smiled. "You see that reaction? That's how I know you are going to be a good father. You protect those under your care. It's why I used to spend as much time down here as I could. Even when I was bat shit crazy and broken, you and Persephone took care of me and didn't give up on me. You are already good parents to all of us," Hermes said, squeezing Hades in a half hug. "You saved all of us and gave us a home. You got this, uncle. Trust me."

Hades let himself be comforted and sipped his drink. "Will you wait with me?"

Hermes nodded. "As long as it takes."

Hades must have dozed because when he woke, it was to Isis's soft touch on his arm. Hermes was snoring softly beside him with Cerberus curled up at their feet.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Hades murmured, rubbing his face.

"Nothing is wrong. Your children are waiting to meet you," Isis whispered.

Hades got up slowly to avoid disturbing Hermes and followed Isis back to the nursery. His hands were shaking, and he couldn't remember being so nervous.

"We will leave you to be with your wife. We have given her something that will speed up her healing, and combined with her natural abilities, she will be fully well again after a good sleep," Isis said, opening the door. "Congratulations, Hades."

"Thank you, Isis, for coming when you promised." Hades opened the door to the nursery and walked over to where Persephone was propped up on the bed.

"Hades, look how tiny they are," Persephone whispered. Hades climbed into the bed beside her and kissed her.

"I'm glad you are okay."

Persephone snuggled closer to him, and he finally dared to look at the tiny gods suckling at her breasts.

One was a boy with dark hair and a streak of blonde in his forelock. The other was a fair-haired girl with a streak of black. Hades went through a thousand emotions he couldn't name.

Hades wrapped an arm around all of them before gently kissing their sleeping heads. "They are perfect, just like their mother."

16

Persephone ran her fingers over the soft, dark blue fabric of her dress and double-checked her breasts hadn't leaked any milk on it. Her body felt strangely unbalanced without the weight of the twins inside of her.

Thanks to Isis's potion, she had woken up after a long sleep without any pain lingering in her body. Hades had still been with her, staring at the babies with the same kind of shock, awe, and love she had seen the night before. Persephone knew precisely how he felt.

"You know you don't have to do this if you want to keep sleeping," Hades said. He was sitting in front of the baby's basket where they were both sleeping.

"I have only seen the inside of this room for days. I need to get out and see my family," Persephone reassured him. She put her arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek.

"If you get tired or you want me to tell them all to fuck off, I will. I don't care who else shows up," Hades replied. They had already received word from Thoth that the other Egyptians would arrive soon. Persephone was happy that Isis had decided to stay to see them. They had all missed her, and Persephone could see why. She felt better as soon as Isis walked into the nursery. She could make you feel like everything would be okay no matter what.

There was a soft tap on the door before Hermes stuck his head in, looking nervous. "Is it okay to enter? Or are you still in a smiting mood, Aunty?"

"Come in," Persephone said, laughing softly. She moved across the room to open the door wider. She hugged him tight. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."

"Don't be. I wanted to see that you were feeling okay. I can give you a check over with the caduceus," Hermes replied, the golden staff appearing in his hand. He was trying to help, so Persephone gave him a nod. Hermes's golden magic tickled over her, and the lingering twinge she had in her lower back disappeared.

Hermes winked at her. "Good as new."

"Do you want to see them?" Persephone asked, looping her arm around his.

"Only if Hades…"

"Get over here, Hermes," Hades demanded without any heat in his voice.

Grinning, Hermes dashed over to Hades's side and peered over his shoulder.

"They are pretty damn cute, I can admit. Damn, it's been such a long time since I sired anything that I forgot how small they are," Hermes cooed. He brushed the blonde forelock on the little boy's head. "I like this. They both already have such attitudes. What are their names?"

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