for the one and only @mphades
Spring has come, and life’s just begun to thrive again in Persephone’s smile. The spell of winter gloom is so yesteryear the goddess doesn’t even know if it really happened, or it’s just her mood swing at its best. Back then in the Underworld, winters were still harsh, but usually not to the point where it could pose a real threat to her physical and mental health. It’s all alright now, because Hades and his love are still beside her, and their marriage could bring her nothing more than bliss and contentment. But the goddess knows there’s something still missing.
She misses home.
“I miss our home,” she confesses to Hades one peaceful afternoon, while they are lounging on her husband’s favorite couch, their fingers intertwined and her head resting on his shoulder. It feels like she’s spent a whole lifetime on Mount Phoenix, even though just a couple of years passed by since the first time she stepped on the land of this magical island. At Mount Phoenix, she found Hades, most of her divine family members, got to know and befriended quite many new faces. Then, just quite the same amount of individuals walked out of her life, she lost Hades, lost all of hopes, and almost lost herself. And guess what? Life’s found her once again, just to put everything back on her hands.
“We’ve been away from the Underworld for quite a while, my dear, much longer than I’ve planned it to be.” A sigh almost escapes Persephone, but she doesn’t mean to be sad. Just homesick, that should be the right word for it. Looking into Hades’ eyes, she unknowingly squeezes his hand in her dainty fingers, as if she was afraid that he would reject what she’s about to suggest. “Should we go home, Hades? I need you, and our Cerberus, and our Underworld, all together again. We can always come back here whenever we want, and if you want to go alone, I would never stop or doubt your intention, I promise.”
[...] “It is but a word, my beautiful wife,” he tells her softly, lifting their entangled hands so he can brush his thumb past her cheek. He continues to smile, because there has never been a more peaceful moment than right here with her. “We can come back whenever we want, together or separately. There is nothing forcing you to stay here or for us to be apart. If you want to go home…” He breathes out the warm amusement at his own thoughts, before he continues. “…then home is where we’ll go. Cerberus won’t know what to do with himself, so excited he will be.” He brushes his thumb over her lips and then lowers their hands again so that they rest on his chest once more.
“I’ll have Hermes bring our stuff down to us,” he says then, tilting his head lightly to motion for her to get up if she wants, and he will make them a portal and they can go to where he knows he, too, has been yearning to be again. All of them together. The little family he has come to call his own and has come to love more than anything else about his life, however long it has been. “We can just go.”
She knows, always knows, that Hades will say ‘yes’ to her request; not only this particular one, but whatever requests she might have, even the most nonsense ones. What else can she ask for? Absolutely nothing, to be frank. His tender kiss on her forehead, his confirmation, his love, everything about him has reassured her belief in their divine union. Nothing else in this entire universe can convince her that their love wouldn’t last forever.
A radiant smile blossomed on her face as the mention of Cerberus. Even though they could always call Cerberus to the Upperworld, it can’t compare to the joy of spending time with that little beast in where all three of them belong to. A soft chuckle escapes her when Hermes’ name come up. “Always the best companion we have, isn’t he?” Excitement brightens her whole face, and when Hades beckons them to get up, she’s already two steps ahead towards the kitchen, “Just give me five seconds, my dear, I need to get this one thing.”
The goddess of spring comes back to her husband after exactly five seconds, a huge jar of newly-baked cookies is secured in her embrace. “I hope Cerberus will love this!” She shows the jar to Hades, like a mother who couldn’t wait to give her child a gift that she’s made herself. Persephone takes another moment to look around the apartment, the beautiful place where they have shared so many memories together, in silent gratitude. She’ll miss this place, this island, and for sure, all of its citizens. Her eyes suddenly get watery from the tidal of emotions, but because this shall not be their very last goodbye, she doesn’t let the sadness of farewell dominate the joy of coming home. Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, she looks back at her dear husband, eyes still full of love and trust as always, with an peaceful smile. “I’m ready, Hades. Let’s go home!”
