I'm sorry this took so long. I redid it, but then it just wasn't working so I redid it again, and now you're seeing the first one. I figure since I can't find the right ending, I'll use the one I have. It's not perfect, and there's no major battle like scene which I had been writing, but its sweet I think, and I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Twenty

The Unfinished End

(Now)

For awhile after Persephone woke up from the dream of her rape, Hades kept away, in his mind giving her space. To Persephone he was abandoning her, leaving her because once again she had been used. She sought comfort in Hecate and Melinoe, never saying a word about what bothered her, but instead attempting to laugh and act as if nothing was wrong. Melinoe turned out had a very sarcastic and dry sense of humor, which didn't surprise Persephone in the least. She was Hades' child after all it seemed, staying in the back with her arms folded and only saying something when needed. She had dealt with so much, having to help Hades run the Underworld when Persephone was kidnapped. She wasn't made for the job, she had never been fated to handle such a responsibility, and yet she had handled it as best she could. It had taken its toll on her though, and now she was wiped out, leaving her old Goddess duties of running around Greece with souls alone. Hades had always disliked her leaving the Underworld in the first place, and didn't encourage her to go back.

"What do you think of us taking a break from the Underworld and just… walking around outside?" Persephone asked as her, Hecate, and Melinoe stood around in the kitchen doing various things. Hecate was eating some bread type thing Persephone could only guess at the name and reading a magazine, Melinoe sitting on the floor reading, and Persephone sitting on the counter sipping her coffee.

"Yeah because that would go over well," Melinoe scoffed, "Lets all go up to Hades and say 'Hey Hades we all want to leave your kingdom hope you don't mind. Oh don't worry we wont loose Persephone again, honest, her mother is only insane and on a rampage, but really what's the worst that could happen? We could loose her again? Ah, no biggie we can handle it a second time.'"

Persephone gave Melinoe a look saying she didn't appreciate the sarcasm, "We wouldn't say that."

"It doesn't matter what we say, that's what he'll hear," Melinoe shrugged.

"Or we could not tell him," Hecate pointed out.

"Have you ever heard of someone sneaking out of the Underworld? Because I haven't," Melinoe pointed out.

"You're young!" Hecate waved her hand and turning the pages of the paper catalogue.

"Well I have some say here, don't I?" Persephone said defending her cause, "I can leave if I want!"

"As long as Hades is there," Hecate said.

"He doesn't care if I leave or not," Persephone laughed.

Hecate and Melinoe looked at each other with raised eye brows, "Are we talking about the same Hades? Because if we are, then you're wrong. That man spent years running all over the world looking for you."

"For his queen," Persephone said pointedly, "That's all. So what do you say?"

"I say you're insane," Melinoe yawned.

"I say I'm leaving," Hecate said standing up, "Need to make some God some potion so they can do some…thing."

"Clever," Melinoe said dryly.

"I try."

Hecate left the kitchen and then hastily went to find Hades.

"Alright Mr I'm- going- to- ignore- my- wife- and- not- understand- what- I'm- doing- wrong, what's the deal?"

Hades was sitting in his study, and looked up from his papers, glasses hanging at the end of his nose, a sign he had been reading for too long. He blinked a few times and took the glasses off, letting them vanish in his grip, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't give me that," Hecate snapped, "You've both been moping. How about instead of just waiting around passively, you do something? That's your problem Hades, you've always been too passive when it comes to Persephone's feelings, you have to act!"

"What do you expect me to do?" he shot back, "She doesn't remember me! She remembers that night, but she doesn't remember me!"

"She's over it Hades, it happened hundreds of years ago! You want to know why? because you helped her through it before, just by being there. But you're not there for her now, and she's already let it go because of how her memory is used to it. It's not about wanting to give her space, it's about you. You never got over it."

Hades bristled, "Get out."

"Instead of waiting around for her to remember you, do something. Make her fall in love with you all over again."

Hades turned away from her and she let out a sigh of exasperation, "Fine then, be that way, ruin your marriage!"

Later in the early evening Hades knocked on Persephone's bedroom door.

"It's open," she called from her vanity table, brushing her short but growing hair, "Oh, it's you," Persephone said flatly, "What do you want?"

"I was wondering if you would like to go out tonight."

Persephone gave him a suspicious look, "Why?"

"Well if you don't want to…"

She glared at him, "Fine."

"Perfect. Let's go."

"Hold on let me get dressed!"

She went into her large walk in closet and Hades sat down at the foot of her bed waiting she went through clothes.

"You look fine now," he said loud enough so she could hear him.

"I'm wearing sweats," she responded.

"Oh. Well they look nice on you."

"Hm."

Hades shuffled his feet waiting.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" she asked sticking her head out, a spaghetti strap falling down her shoulder.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been avoiding me," she said and then went back into the land of clothes.

"I thought… I don't know. I thought you would want to be alone."

"Well I didn't."

"Yeah," he sighed.

She stepped out, dark jeans and a creamy sweater, brown boots and a loose belt. She spun around, "Is this okay? You didn't tell me where we were going."

"You look beautiful," he said standing up, "And it's a surprise."

"Fantastic," she sighed and looked at his own clothes, all dark as usual.

"Are you ready now?"

"What about my hair?" she asked innocently.

"It's short," he answered, "It's adorable. Leave it."

She rolled her eyes and together they left.

"Is this it?" Persephone asked hesitantly as they walked up to a front of a club, music pulsing, people dancing together in waves, the less clothes they wore the easier it was to get in.

"I'll kill Apollo," Hades mumbled.

"Um…" Persephone started.

"We don't have to go in…" Hades offered.

"Thank Gods," she laughed letting out a breath of relief, "Not that it was a bad idea! It's just…"

"Next time Hecate says 'Apollo had a wonderful idea' I'll go with my first instinct and ignore her."

"Smart thinking."

They walked down lamp lit the dark street together in silence. Hades sighed and pulled out his pack of cigarettes.

"Don't you dare," Persephone warned.

"It's not like I can die from them."

"You could shorten the lifespan of people around you!"

"Because the Underworld is full of life."

"Hades!"

"You have a tattoo, I smoke, I think it makes us a pretty badass couple."

She glared at him, "Hades," she said in a low growl, "No."

He gave her an amused look, "As you wish my queen," he threw the pack away, for the second time.

Suddenly the air in front of them moved and a beautiful Goddess who was completely dark blue with what seemed to be diamonds in her skin appeared.

"Hello Hades," she said in an echoing voice.

"Nyx," Hades nodded.

"It's nice to see you two out," she smiled, "Like the old days."

"Nyx used to keep a look out for us," Hades explained, "She's the goddess of night."

"Nice to meet you…again…"

"We've never actually met," Nyx said, "Not officially."

"She tends to keep away from people," Hades said.

"Except for you Hades," Nyx bowed, "Always a pleasure to help my king."

"Thank you Nyx," Hades said.

"It was nice meeting you my Queen," Nyx said bowing again, "I must go back into my darkness. Good night."

She left leaving Persephone confused, bust she refrained from asking too many questions.

"So what do we do now?" she asked.

"Whatever you want," he smiled.

"Well we could always get ice cream," she grinned bumping into him playfully.

"As you with my love," he smiled and turning down a street the ventured forth towards ice cream.

After leaving the shop Persephone looked at Hades vanilla ice cream, "That's not very adventurous of you."

"I've had enough adventure," he smiled slightly, "Besides your sherbet is enough adventure for me just looking at it."

She stuck her tongue out at him and he tipped her gone so it smashed up against her mouth.

"Hey!"

He laughed, "You still look beautiful."

"Don't say that," she said in a quiet voice searching for a napkin.

He raised a brow, "Why?"

She shrugged, "Do you have a napkin?"

"No," he said, "Why can't I call my wife beautiful?"

"I don't know it's just weird!" she snapped, "I'm going to get sticky," she went to wipe her mouth off with the back of her hand but Hades grabbed her wrist tightly.

"You," he said leaning closer, "Are beautiful."

She felt her stomach clench, a tingling feeling spreading around her arms.

"If you say so. Ha, you're not to bad yourself. Come on I need to get this stuff off my face, no thanks to you," she laughed nervously.

He leaned closer, "I can help."

Very carefully, very gently, he placed his mouth to her cheek. She gasped, her face reddening, "What are you doing?"

He smiled against her cheek, "Getting the stuff off your face."

"Oh," she said weakly.

"Unless," he said pulling away, "You don't want me to?"

"I… I mean…"

"I understand," he said somewhat icily, and the pain in his eyes made him want to cry, and with a flick of his hand, napkins appeared, "I might have had some lying around."

She blushed and wiped her face off, "Thanks."

"Of course," he nodded and began to turn.

It was the way he turned away from her, or they way his hair moved with him. She wasn't sure. The small gray patch at the corner of his head gleamed off in the light. Whatever it was it made her reach out her hand and put it gently on his arm.

"I think," She said slowly, "I might have… might have missed some?"

He looked at her, no emotion but very slowly bent closer, "I can help with that."

His lips met hers softly. It was only last week at Olympus he had kissed her, but not it felt like it had been forever. It brought heat flowing from her lips to her toes, her eyes closed instinctively. She leaned into him, her hands on his shoulders, his on her elbows. He pulled away and in a small whisper he said, "I love you Persephone."

Something snapped. She didn't know what it was, she didn't know why, but she wanted to be closer to him. As close as she could get. He had never said those words to her. In her limited memory. Oh he had said 'my love' and such, but never had he said the entire sentence. He loved her and she didn't know what it was about that but it made her need him.

She wrapped her arms around her neck and pressed her mouth to his. He wrapped his around her and pulled her in, their mouths working with each other. His were warm, hers were soft. Hades back was pressed up against a building wall, a dark corner away from sight. He turned to Persephone was against it, surprised at this she pulled away slightly.

"We shouldn't," Hades said in an admitting tone.

"It's not that," she said shaking her head, "We're just so exposed…"

He laughed deeply and immediately the black smoke enveloped them, hazing things, covering her sight.

When it evaporated she saw Hades bedroom.

"Sorry," he said starting to step back, "I didn't think-"

"Oh shut up," she rolled her eyes and brought his head down to hers.

The night continued, and Persephone was surprised to find she remembered this. Not exactly in memories, but instinctively she knew Hades melted when she wrapped the single loose curl on the back of his head around her finger. She knew by biting his lip it drove him insane, she knew that kissing him just below his ear made him want her more. She felt him press her into bed, heard him muttering, "Shouldn't do this… shouldn't do this…"

"You talk too much," she growled, "Stop thinking."

She felt the heat of their skin brush, her chest filled with desire. They wanted each other they needed each other.

Suddenly Hades pulled away violently out of her grasp.

"No," he shook his head, "I won't do this to you."

"Do what?" she asked outraged, her lips still swollen.

He sighed and taking her shoulders kissed her gently and whispered against her lips, "I missed you."

She nodded.

"But you can't say it back to me," he sighed, "Because you don't remember me."

"I'm sorry!"

"I know," he smiled sadly and kissed her cheeks, "I know," he stood up muttering something about taking a shower. At the doorframe of his bathroom he called back, "And for Gods sake put your shirt back on, I'm only a man."

She shuffled to the bedroom door and opened it. It clicked and Hades voice met her, "You don't have to leave."

"Oh," she said quietly, and she looked at the hallway leading to her room, or Hades' bed. She hesitated before taking a step towards the hallway, and then immediately spun on her heel and closed the door, "Okay."

Hades went back into his bedroom, still drying his hair with a towel and saw Persephone in her pajamas, sleeping under the covers quietly hugging the pillow. He smiled slightly, still disappointed, but relaxed. Slipping in next to her he untangled her arms and let her latch on to his. He sighed contentedly and went to sleep.

He woke up the next morning to the sounds of cupboard slamming and exasperated sighs. Finally the sink turned on violently and he heard the obvious sounds of someone brushing their teeth. He sat up, "Persephone?"

"No it's Cerberus."

"You're not funny," he yawned leaning in the door frame.

"Well who else is it supposed to be?" she asked waving her brush.

"My bedroom is so busy you know…"

She glared at him through the mirror, "Hmph."

He wrapped his arms around her middle, "Sorry."

She finished brushing her teeth and once again began to dig through drawers.

"What are you looking for? You've been going through things since you got here."

"No. Since…" she trailed off, "Um. I don't know. Never mind."

"What?" he asked with an amused face, his silver eyes crinkling.

"I was wondering what… like…" she picked up his hand and pointed to his wedding ring, "Where mine?"

His face went blank. Very slowly he pulled a slim silver ring, encrusted with diamonds from his pocket. He took her hand in his and slipped the ring on her finger. She gasped, and the sound echoed within the bathroom walls. She kept staring at his hand placed upon hers, her ring glaring in the light. She looked up under her lashes and saw Hades watching her intently.

"I really do love you Percy."

Percy.

He hadn't called her that since the last time they had been together.

Her mother had been over, they were returning to Earth, and Demeter was waiting impatiently by the cave entrance.

"You be careful," he said kissing her cheek.

"I always am," she grinned.

He gave a distrustful glance at Demeter, "Hmm."

"Leave my mother alone," Persephone pushed him lightly, "She's trying to make it better."

"You've said."

"Hades, love, I'll be back. I'll meet you tonight, okay?"

"Promise?"

"Of course," she laughed and kissed his check, "Good bye."

"Good bye Percy," he said, "I love you."

There was more. Memory after memory, feeling after feeling, so many sensations hit her at once, and she didn't even feel herself falling. Hades caught her in one arm, his face covered in worry, "Persephone? Persephone!"

He was laughing, he was playing with a younger Melinoe, tossing her in the air. He was dancing with her, kissing her, loving her…

She inhaled, and suddenly she saw Hades differently. He had changed since the last time she had officially seen him. His face hung above hers, his eyes full of worry and care. She had never felt her chest fill up with so much love before; it hurt just to look at him, this was her husband, forever.

"Are you alright? I'll go get help-"

"Wait," she said grapping Hades' arm, and something in her voice made him stop. Her eyes held something new, something he couldn't place.

Her hand rested on his cheek, and she seemed to be analyzing him, taking him all in. Her hand traveled to his hair when she smiled.

"You've grown gray hair," she laughed, "What have you been doing since I was gone?"

His breath caught, "Percy…"

She laughed again, softly, tears staining her eyes, "Hades, I'm so sorry. I didn't know, I didn't know…"

Hades folded her in his arms, holding her against his chest, "Shhh. It's not your fault."

"I missed you," she said, "So much. I love you, I swear, I love you!"

He tilted her chin and kissed her gently, "I know."

Suddenly nausea over took her and she crawled to the toilet in a spastic manner and threw up.

"Not from you kissing me, I promise," she gagged.

He held her short hair as she continued to throw up and then lay weakly against the aluminum.

"That sucked."

"Indeed," Hades nodded.

She brushed her teeth again, weakly, with Hades hovering over her. She still felt sick, but she wanted to be with him more then anything. She counted in her head quickly, she'd been gone for one hundred and fifty seven years.

She didn't realize she said it out loud until Hades added, "And five months."

"Not that you're counting."

"If I was I would have added in the seventeen days."

She gave him a quizzical look.

"I'm joking."

She paused, feeling sick again, but stopped, "Why am I all disgusting right now?" she said slightly pathetically.

"You're never disgusting," Hades whispered putting his chin on her shoulder and looking at her with desire in the mirror, "Sick yes. It's the river water."

"I felt like this would be a more dramatic moment," she sighed.

"After you're done getting ride of Lethe," he said and kissed her throat, "Remember what I said when you first came here? If you remembered I would take you to bed immediately."

"And I would try as hard as I could to keep away," she joked.

"Of course not, we agreed you would submit immediately."

"I don't remember agreeing to that."

"Strange, I remember it perfectly."

She lurched for the toilet again and the destruction of the river water came back.

"I can go get some potions," he muttered.

"You're leaving me?" she said trying to seem funny, but only gagging again.

"Of course not," he said sitting down on the floor next to her and taking her hair in one hand, and her hand in the other, "I'm always going to be here next to you, as long as you want me, I'll always be here."

"I'll always want you. Even when I don't remember I want you."

He twirled the ring around her finger, "Percy and Hades," he sighed.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, "Eternally."