Persephone spent the next three months with her mother, explaining to the mortals about the change of the seasons and teaching them how to store their food. At the end of those months, my Persephone came back to me, healthy and happy. She settled into the Underworld much better this time around, partly thanks to her new handmaid and friend that she brought with her to take the place of Aspasia: Hekate, who declares that the Underworld is better suited to her than anywhere in the Upper World ever was. It has certainly became a more pleasant place for me. Persephone adds her own touches to it, making it into the home it had never been.

I lost my bitterness towards Zeus over time, with Persephone's help, though she and I still avoid going to Olympus unnecessarily. We prefer to stay in the Underworld with each other for company.

Nine months later, Persephone went to spend her time with Demeter. They were, after a very long time of talking and arguing, able to forgive one another. Demeter is more attached to her daughter than ever before and never stops trying to get Persephone to spend more time with her, or, "if Persephone insists," stay with her indefinitely. Persephone hasn't accepted her offers yet, but threatens me that she will when I won't give her her way. It usually works, and I cave into her requests.

We soon had a child, a girl we named Melinoe. She was born with thick hair and beautiful eyes. She is truly a child of both the light and the dark in her physical appearance. One half of her hair is black, and the other is the same shade of gold that her mother had. She also has a dark eye, like mine and Persephone's, and one that is a very pale blue, like her grandparents on her mother's side. Though she is as beautiful as her mother, she is a true daughter of the Underworld at heart, with my personality.

Every other year, she accompanies her mother to the world above. She does this even though she prefers being in the Underworld with me, but I know that Persephone wants her to go, so I send her anyway.

When she is back in the Underworld, Persephone often teases me about becoming soft, since I tend to intercede in the judgements of young girls with gold hair. I just laugh with her, because she's right. Her presence in the Underworld has changed everything for me.

Persephone has also changed. She is a true Queen of the Underworld: stern and terrible when she wants to be, but she still has a soft side that she lets out, especially to me and Melinoe.

She has expanded her garden and works in it with Melinoe. That is, whenever Melinoe isn't riding around with me, exploring the Underworld. She has lit up our world so much. I tend to be a tad overprotective, but Persephone is always careful to give her a lot of freedom to do what she wants and be her own person.

Life, of course, isn't perfect, but sometimes I feel that it is very close.

Thank you so much to everyone who has read, favorited, or reviewed the story! It means so much to me, and I'm glad I was able to share a little bit of my writing with you :)