"Love is a choice," he muttered. His eyes widened, confused that she would say he was more important.

He tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. Hades backed off when Hermes pulled his shield, Persephone, away from him. Even though he was trying to shrink into himself, he was one of the three main powerful gods, and he was certainly larger than Persephone and Hermes. Although it was clear from the way his head was down and he seemed hunched, he was also a large individual. He had the capacity to look intimidating. The questions in Hermes' eyes were apparent, and Hades began to regret hanging around. Hermes would want a good talk with Persephone alone. It was probably why he had come at such a time, so Hades was merely the intruder.

Say hi his thoughts whispered at him. Be polite. There is a reason they think that you hate everyone, and it’s not just because you remain isolated down in the Underworld. Smile, if you can’t do anything else. Instead he became stiffer. He felt like he was freezing over, and he couldn’t find any words to say. He began to break out in a sweat and bead along his brow. The look Hermes was giving along with what he said next didn’t help. What authority did Hermes have to take Persephone away? Hades had done nothing wrong being here, and Hermes often saw Hades, when he carried messages. A cold claw crept around his heart, as he thought of Persephone leaving, because Hermes thought that he had done something terribly wrong. Hades began to look around for an exit. The easiest way was pushing past Hermes for the door and letting the ground swallow him up. Unlike many people who wished to disappear through the ground, Hades had that ability. He wanted to leave, but he couldn’t move as long as the other male was looking at him directly. It was like his gaze chained him where he was.

As Persephone mentioned that Demeter hadn’t stopped them, he felt a little encouraged. This wasn’t Hermes’ home, so there was no reason Hades couldn't visit, because he had been welcomed to some extent by those who dwelled here. He flinched at Hermes’ “oh boy.” He supposed he should be glad that Persephone had such a staunch protector, but all he felt was fear. He was very capable of hurting her, because he was stupid and fearful. He had trouble keeping people around unless they were dead. However, he reminded himself. He was the god of the Underworld. He was steady, consistent, and constant. There was no way that the flighty Hermes could do more than annoy and inconvenience him.

His face had paled and he gave her a wan smile, hesitantly reaching out a hand wanting to envelop hers in his. He stopped, when she leaned down to whisper to him. "I do think I had better be going. I don't want to annoy your friend any longer. Can I come again soon?" he kept his voice quiet and undertone. Perhaps he'd ask her what had passed between them while he was gone, if he was allowed to come back soon. He stared after her wondering if he should have stayed for the next meal. Keeping one eye on Hermes he arose and snuck out. Back outside, he felt safe, since he was touching the earth. It would be simple enough for it to part ways and he make his home back down under.

~~~~~

It was a week before Hades regained his courage enough to consider going back and visiting. Everytime he started heading for the surface, Hermes' judgemental stare bore through his imagination and into his heart. This time he would scout out the area and make sure no one other than Persephone or Demeter were home. It took him a whole day to settle his affairs, so that the Underworld could function without him for a little while. The next day that he planned to go visit, he spent the whole day sprucing himself up. There wasn't much that could be done to improve his appearance, and it was mostly a waste of time. On the next day, he took half of the day to make sure everything was running smoothly before he took his charriot out and asked Charron to let him cross on the ferry.

Steadily, on his way toward Persephone's place, his horses halted nearby. Would she like to go for a ride with him? Was he trying too hard to show off? Was this his way of looking tough or cool? "Persephone! Persephone! Are you home?" Properly, he was supposed to wait in his charriot. Even though he was excited and anxious, he maintained his manners. It seemed awful quiet around here, and he slowly began to feel a deep dark sinking feeling. In a quieter voice he called, "Hermes?" This was odd. He'd give them another minute or so, another shout and wait before he would get down and investigate the area.

It was rather sunny and would begin to burn his delicate pale skin, if he stayed outside for too long. Not too long ago they had gone swimming to cool off. Already his most recent memories of her were becoming some of the most pleasant memories he had in his mind. At least the most cheerful ones that directly belonged to him and not someone who lived in his mansion. Finally, he decided he had waited long enough for propriety's sake and headed for the door. "Demeter?" he whispered trying to peer through the entrance. "I don't see Persephone around here."

(Let me know if you need more)

Hades barely held back a sigh at her lack of enthusiasm as he popped in. He flinched a little not expecting the rather harsh answer from Demeter. It hurt more than he had anticipated or would admit. Slowly, his mind became less defensive, as he realised it was an exceptionally hostile greeting. He sensed that something was different about Demeter’s home. What has changed and why? He tried to calm his mind and make sense of the information he did have. It was his only real hope to help her.

He jerked back from her stabbing tone. How could it be his fault? What had he done? “What?” His brows furrowed. He felt like a rag doll, as she slammed him into a solid wall. “What can I do? How did this happen?” he managed in between while she rattled him. He gently patted her back surprised as she began to hug him. Her mood swings were hard to keep up with, and he found himself blinking, as if that would help him process. He supposed he should have guessed what she was going to say, but it hit him in the heart, and he felt cold dread begin to swarm over him. Should he have known that leaving her alone was dangerous? Who would bother a god to kidnap her?

His mouth dropped a little. “What?” he knew that he was repeating himself, and it was a very weak response. “Why would someone bother her? Do you have any idea how this happened?” He supposed he could see why she had been so mad at him, and then gave up. “What can I do to help Demeter? You know I want to find her. I could release some of the spirits and have them look for her. Between us we can ask the animals to report back to us and spy around.” He was throwing out suggestions without too much thought. Now was the time for action. “How far could they have taken her? What methods have they subdued her?” he muttered under his breath. “That’ll help us determine how far from here she is.” He added to himself and how worried they should be. She looked like a mature girl or a young woman. How could somebody do that to her?

The questions circled again. Why? How? Why? How? He tried to think of other things that would be more helpful for the moment, but his mind kept going back to those two short simple questions. “Are you going to go to Olympus?” People didn’t like him around. He wasn’t sure if there was more chance of them helping Demeter or himself. He had a more frightening persona, so they might be afraid not to help him, but they also wouldn’t want to be around him. Their help would be distracted and not as thorough. There was no reason for them not to help Demeter, but she wasn’t considered the most powerful goddess. “Hermes is her friend. He might know something. Or Eros. Perhaps he’s taking revenge on something.” He shrugged helplessly, feeling like his suggestions were useless. He felt his hands wanting to tremble and shake.

"You should go to Olympus. They'll help you." He added as a second thought. People tended to do whatever they could to avoid him. "I can talk to Eros." As he had broken Demeter's daughter's heart, he might be able to get more out of him. He also thought that Demeter might be too angry to let him speak any. He also realized that it would be weird for him to do the interrogating. Perhaps they would both have to go together. The god of love wouldn't want to get into more trouble with another goddess, especially an overprotective mother. He wasn't sure who was the best person to interogate Hermes, so he hoped that Demeter would have a suggestion. Persephone must be very frightened. Would she try to escape?

"I recently heard that Eros has been banned. I can go find him. I have Cerberus." Or, as he would actually prefer, he could send out one of his underlings to bring Eros to the Underworld where he had much more power and control. However, Hades realized he had to do this job on his own. He wasn't sure if he could put away the control freak fears, but he knew that he had to be the one to find Eros. "Or maybe you can find him. I'm sure that while you care for plants, that you get more experience traveling the earth, so you will be able to find him. Or Hermes. He's known to be quite the traveler."

He traveled back to the Underworld to fetch Cerberus. He trusted that his nose would lead him to Eros. Being immortal left a dinstinctive scent for his large hellhound to follow. He looked at Demeter waiting to see if he would be doing the searching or if he would have a companion. Cerberus was hard to manage even if you were Hades, and much more challenging if you weren't. He had been a little concerned that spirits would escape the Underworld or strangers would find his world without Cerberus there to keep them in or out, however, it was a risk he was willing to take. There was the river Styx, which he expected would keep out many intruders. Dying would be halted, although the three hags of fate would be very angry with him. Hades didn't want Charon, the ferryman of the river Styx, transporting people without Hades there to approve their arrival.

Hermes was most commonly found on the rainbow bridge in between Olympus and earth. Although he was continually moving, he had many friends that he kept in contact with, so he should be easier to track down. "Shall we split up so we can spread more ground? I really do think you should go to Olympus. Hermes will probably show up there, and I've got Cerberus. We'll try to follow Persephone's scent, and if that doesn't work, we can go search for Eros or anyone else who you might think would be of interest." Why did he think that Eros would know anything? Persephone didn't want to have anything to do with him...right?

Demeter didn't mean to be harsh with Hades. She is just stressed that her daughter has been kidnapped and she has no idea who could've done it. Persephone has always been loved by practically everyone, so she doesn't understand why someone would just take her. It isn't like Persephone has ever been rude or ruined someone's life because of something she did. She never has and never will. It's like someone thought the worse of her and what she could potentially do in the future and thought that doing something about it now is better than waiting.