Decided to split this away from my Roots and Petals: my collection of One Shot because this isn't a one shot.

Hope you enjoy!

Solitaire

Chapter One

Water poured from the kitchen faucet into the ceramic tea kettle. Persephone spun in the tiny kitchen, sliding in her socks as she opened up the fridge and pulled out some left overs from yesterday. Music played on the living room speaker and she sang along to the words with no worry in the world. No mother to harp over her. No roommate to be considerate of. The water in the kettle spilled over the brim. Quickly Persephone turned the faucet off and poured out the excess, then set it on the stove. While it heated, Persephone continued to dance to the living room, holding her hand up like an invisible microphone and jumped up on her couch.

(A few weeks ago)

The party was going along swimmingly. Everyone had wine and drink. The music kept the people on the dance floor. Even Hades arrived and wasn't dragging down the vibe or off sulking somewhere. Poseidon hadn't punched anyone in attendance. Aphrodite danced with her new fling, too busy to meddle with others. The conversations were lively. No one felt excluded. Everyone got along and they were all having a great time.

This simply wouldn't do.

"You know who I haven't seen?" Hera turned to Zeus carefully.

"Who?" He smiled, unknowingly. "We've greeted just about everyone at this party."

"Persephone." She said the name like dark curse, taboo and full of power. The air shifted around Hades and Minthe, but which direction no one could tell. Hera smiled. Good, she thought.

"I didn't realize she was here." Zeus said. If he had, he wouldn't have pushed Hades over to her by now.

"I think I saw her go into the garden a few minutes ago. She's a shy one, that one." Hera turned towards the door. "I'll go find her."

"Find who?" Persephone asked, appearing from a branch that had grown behind them by the water feature. As she splashed down into the shallow pool, the branch flicked flowers up around her. It was a crime, honestly. How could someone just be so picturesque all the time. Her flowing hair dripped down past her waist, flower petals catching on her flyaways. She walked through the water towards them. Hades didn't have the only jaw that hung loosely.

"Oh." Hera's eyes shot up. Something seemed different about her. She was radiant, her movements much more self assured, more confident, full of divine power. "You! I was just looking for you."

"You're not going to try to set me up with any more guys are you?" Persephone ran a hand through her hair and sat at the edge of the fountain.

Hera laughed nervously. "What?" She eyed her glaring husband. "No? I would. . ." She cleared her throat. "Never. No. Someone has been wanting to meet you for a long time. Hebe, Hebe!" She called. "Persephone is here."

Hades smiled warmly as Persephone knelt down to the ground and his favorite niece ran up to her, instantly trusting her, and wrapped her arms around her neck. Pink butterflies fluttered around them. Giggles erupted and Hebe climbed up into Persephone's lap. After a moment she whispered something into her ear. Persephone blushed, her eyes darting to Hades, then back to Hebe. She shook her head and booped Hebe's nose.

"You look really happy." Hades finally scrounged up enough nerve to say. It bubbled out before he could really filter himself.

"I am." Persephone said pensively while Hebe practiced braiding in her hair. "Now." She clarified and something strange shifted in her voice. He couldn't quite tell what it meant.

Before he could question further a scream interrupted them. The kind of scream that makes you freeze while your body considers its fight or flight response. Lights turned on in the back garden. Soon people were running to the back to look out at whatever caused the scream. Zeus and Hera launched into the air above the crowd to observe for themselves.

"No, no." Persephone turned Hebe's face back to her. "Let's just keep braiding, yeah?"

(Back to present)

Exhausted from dancing, Persehphone plopped down on the couch and kicked her leg up on the coffee table. Her work clothes were strewn about, piecing it off one after one in the living room, not bothering to put it up in her closet. Her bra dangled from a dinning room chair. She twisted in her seat and opened the curtain. Lights shone brighter in the darkness. Speckles like starlight in the streetlamps flickered at her. The music changed and in response Persephone rolled off the couch in an erotic manner (at least in her head) and continued to dance like no one was watching. Because no one was.

Solitary confinement wasn't so bad.