Arts and Crafts

"Zelena, have you seen—?" Hades stops in his tracks, his hands stopping the rhythmic movement of tie-tying, at the sight before him.

Zelena's sitting on the floor of their living room surrounded by heaps of craft supplies—construction paper, sparkle glue, stickers, scissors, Popsicle sticks. A mirror hovers before her which is displaying their little Helena, all of her six-year-old cuteness beaming at the sight of him.

"Um...can I ask what's going on here?" He steps closer and raises a quizzical brow.

"Helena's got an art project due tomorrow," Zelena explains with a smile. "Robin and Regina are currently occupied but Regina's opened a mirror portal so I can help her." She lifts up a very-enthusiastically glitter-spattered piece of pink paper to emphasize her point, and sticks it into the portal so Helena can grab it.

"Hi, Hades!" Helena waves vigorously as he plops himself next to Zelena.

"Hi, sweetie," he smiles back. He loves being able to see her when it's not their week to have her with them. "What are you working on?"

Helena launches into a fast-rambling explanation of what she deems a 'glitter sparkle palace' and Hades sees Zelena's eyes positively light up with mirth. His heart flips a bit when she catches his gaze and grins, taking his hand in hers. After all these years, she still has the ability to take his breath away.

"Neal says his race car is going to win but I said no because mine's going to be magical and magic always wins," Helena finishes haughtily and Hades laughs.

"Using a bit of cheating now, are we?" He smirks at Zelena and she swats at his arm while trying to hide a guilty smile.

"Mommy's helping me win," Helena corrects him and he holds his hands up in surrender.

"Okay, okay, fair enough." Like mother, like daughter, he thinks wryly.

Zelena's green magic swirls around two more components of Helena's 'castle' and she hovers them through the mirror. "I think that should do it, sweet pea," she says.

Helena eagerly snatches the pieces and disappears for a moment to collect the rest. He has no doubt the project is already assembling itself, thanks to her mother's efforts. Zelena shifts closer to him and leans into his chest with a contented sigh.

"I know it's not exactly what we planned on doing today. Regina just looked positively stretched thin and I knew we'd be able to reschedule that reservation...it's your restaurant, after all." She chuckles and he can feel the vibrations against his neck.

Hades drops a kiss into her hair. "Nothing else I'd rather be doing than this." And it's the complete truth. He'd gladly give up a thousand reservations if it meant spending an evening at home with his family.

Helena rushes back into view, squealing with delight at the castle that's now fully assembled and quite the glittering monument at this point. She points out all the key features and demonstrates the drawbridge for them and Hades can't take the smile off his face to save his life.

He'll never get tired of this—of the warmth of the woman at his side and the bright smile of their child. This is all he needs.