Disclaimer: I don't own Disney's Hercules ™. I just like it. A lot :D

A/N: This fic starts pre-movie, and goes a little more in depth about the relationship and interaction between Hades and Meg during her time of service. But then (!) it goes AU at the end of the movie (!!!) So, hope everyone enjoys it, have fun.

***

Creon, the love of her life, was dying.

"There's nothing you can do to save him, Megara."

"Why, Ma?" Tremulous. "There has to be something that—"

"Child, no one can stop death."

That was when Meg got the idea.

***

She stood before the Lord of the Dead, and felt no fear.

"I'll do anything."

A pause. His fiery eyes widened and travelled up and down her body.

"Anything, huh?"

A grin filled with sharp teeth and bad intentions.

***

"C'mon toots, don't tell me you actually thought that he loved you? I mean, c'mon. Get real, babe." His voice insinuated itself through the door she'd slammed behind her.

"LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE, YOU ASSHOLE!"

She was ashamed to hear her voice crack mid-scream.

"Nice to know you're enjoying your little reality check, sugar. Gotta say, you have to love the irony. Ain't it a bitch?"

Meg could hear Hades' cruel laughter echoing through the Underworld.

***

It never stopped hurting. She just learned to hide it better.

"Finally deigned to come out of your room and honour me with your presence, hmm?"

"Go to hell, Hades."

"Already there, babe, or haven't ya noticed?"

***

Sometimes, when he kept his damn mouth shut and stared into the swirling waters of the Styx, she could almost feel sorry for him. Almost.

"It… it isn't fair that they made you do this, live here. You didn't ask for it," Meg said softly, watching the souls of the dead float by.

"Yeah. Unlike you, Miss Self-Sacrifice."

Almost –until he brought that up again, which he inevitably did.

***

She wasn't sure how she got into shit like this. The Chimera had left her suspended over the cliff, where she dangled… desperately trying not to look down.

Without warning, she felt arms of smoke lift her to safety with surprising gentleness. She shivered and told herself it was with disgust.

He smirked, looking down at her. Of course: his imps had brought him to rescue his monster-bait.

"My my, another five years added. Hey, if I didn't know better, I'd say you enjoyed being my little slave."

"How was I supposed to know it was female?!"

"Point taken."

He still added five years on. And if she didn't know better, she'd say he wanted her around.

Good thing she knew better.

***

Megara only broke down once. Hades got to see it this time, though.

"Creon's engaged to the girl he cheated on me with. They'll marry in June." Meg's expressionless voice echoed in the dark chamber. "She's pregnant."

"I'm not really that interested to tell ya the truth, sweetheart. Don't you think I've got more important things to think about than mortals' trivial, insignificant—"

And that was when she turned around to face him, and he saw the tears shining in the ghostly glow of the Underworld.

He stopped. For the first time in his long existence, he didn't know what to say.

***

Meg loved Herc like a brother, a best friend.

Unfortunately, she realised this fact on the marble steps of Olympus. She realised it as she watched his glowing, golden form surrounded by cheering gods.

Wonder Boy had realised his dream and found where he belonged, and she'd never been happier for him. Maybe one day, he'd forgive her for letting him go.

Meg smiled and let the storm clouds take her back to reality.

Since Hercules was still alive, her soul still belonged to the Ruler of the Underworld.

Some promises can't be broken, nor deals unmade.

***

The Underworld was in chaos.

Departed souls were trapped in eternal purgatory, unable to move on without the guidance of their Lord. Their screams and shrieks, flying into the shadows, made her wince.

Vaguely, she wondered where Hades' little minions were. They must've done a bunk. It didn't surprise her, but little did anymore.

In the distance, she heard a succession of barks and whines, and knew what to do.

***

She rode on Cerberus' back as the giant dog swam through the whirlpool. The poison didn't affect her, but then again – she'd already died once.

A dark shape floated in the distant green water, and something inside her faltered in indecision. The three-headed dog swam on with the young woman astride it.

Up close Hades looked curiously… vulnerable, asleep. His eyes were closed—his face blank and lifeless. Seeing him like that filled her with a confusing mix of emotions.

For an instant, she was unsure she really wanted to do this.

But only for an instant.

END

A/N: Should I continue? This particular style of writing is new for me, and I'm not really sure I like it. Still, I thought it would capture the amazingosity of Hades/Meg best. I wrote it all really fast, so maybe it's not perfect but hey, what is. Anyway, as always: Reviews = oxygen!

Q