A/N: Here' the last chaper of our saga. I had a great ride writing this story. Hope you all like the ending!

Chapter 8: Eternal Damnation

When spring was set to come, Hermes came down to the Underworld to collect Persephone. She was of two minds about leaving. On the one hand, she was eager to see her mother and grow flowers for the mortals and live back on Olympus. But on the other hand, she didn't want to leave Hades and she knew she would miss him terribly.

Hades kissed his beautiful wife goodbye. "Won't be the same without ya, Seph. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. But I'll be back before you know it." She gave him a big hug.

Hades whispered in her ear, "I love you."

Persephone was slightly stunned. He had never said that before. She turned and left with Hermes to go back up to Olympus.

Hades was left in the Underworld alone with Pain and Panic. She didn't say it back. Oh I'm such a schmuck. What made me do that? he wondered. In his distress, he went to feed Cerberus, knowing that he could take all his frustrations out at once if he brought the minions with him to light on fire.

Weeks went by and Persephone kept herself busy with her spring duties and helping her mother. Demeter was a bit worried about Persephone. She seemed…different. And she was. Her skin may have regained its sparkly tan and her hair may have returned to its former honey hue, but Persephone was no longer just the sweet, helpful, aloof Goddess of Spring everyone knew. She was also getting sick.

Persephone couldn't go through the entire day without needing a nap, or stopping due to nausea. It wasn't until she couldn't fit into her chiton anymore that everyone realized what was happening. Persephone was pregnant!

She freaked out. Persephone couldn't believe it. She was going to be a mother to a child of Hades. Oh no. Hades! she thought. What will he do? He said he loved me and I didn't say it back. Maybe he'll think I don't love him and change his mind about me!

Demeter saw her daughter's distress and went to comfort her. "Darling, everything will work out. You are Hades wife, however terrible that fact might be, and it is your duty to bear his children and support him in that dreadful Underworld."

Persephone knew her mother was right. And even though she was terrified of what would happen, she still longed to return to the Underworld. Hades did love her. She knew it even if he didn't tell her ever again. She would bear his child, and continue to reign beside him. Olympus didn't feel like home for her anymore. In the Underworld, she had power: power over souls, power over demons, and even power over Hades at times. Here in the mortal world, she made the flowers grow. She once loved her duty, no matter how unfulfilling it was. Now it just seemed silly.

Throughout the summer, once Persephone's springtime role was finished, she lazed about on Olympus, caring for her ever-growing belly. Every glance at it and every touch on the tiny immortal forming inside her reminded her Hades, her husband waiting for her return to their subterranean domain.

Finally, autumn began to chill the air and Hermes collected Persephone for their journey back down to Hades. Demeter gave a tearful goodbye to her little girl. The next time they met, Persephone would be a mother. Everything would be different.

Hades was anxious for his bride's arrival. The last words he spoke to her had been "I love you," and they had elicited no response from her. He wasn't sure how to greet her. Perhaps those last six months apart had turned her feelings against him. Hades knew it was far too much to hope for that she had missed him as much as he missed her.

Charon's ferry came into view. Persephone's golden skin and blonde hair came into view, paling and darkening, respectively, as she crossed the River Styx to meet him.

Hades couldn't help but smile when she stepped onto the shore. She returned his eager grin and rushed into his arms. Her bulging middle hit him before the rest of her did, causing him to balk.

"Whoa babe! What's this?"

A nervous flush crept to her cheeks. "I'm pregnant, Hades. I have been since I left here. And I must say I'm very glad to be back. It wouldn't be right for your son or daughter to be born outside the Underworld."

"So…I'm gonna be a father?"

Persephone nodded, not being able to meet his eyes. He tipped her chin up with the tips of his blue fingers and smiled. "Sounds like we've got a little family starting down here."

Persephone giggled and kissed him sweetly. "So is that alright with you?"

"I told you before you left, Seph. I love you. Even if you don't love me, I love you and our child and any more that join us. I missed you like crazy, babe. I'm glad you're back, and I can't wait for our family to grow." He kissed her again.

Persephone looked deep into his fiery eyes with her slender arms around his neck. "Hades, you've given me an incredible life here. I have power like I never dreamed. And who would have ever thought that a kidnapper would be so sweet and wonderful? I love you, Hades. I'm so excited for our baby!" She kissed him with all the passion she could muster.

Two months later, Persephone gave birth so two beautiful girls, Macaria and Melinoe. Twins could not have been more different. Macaria was pale with Persephone's green eyes and Hades' blue fiery hair. In temperament she was like her mother, cool and calm and severe. She later became the Goddess of Blessed Death, whom the Greeks feared and respected. Melinoe had her Persephone's flowing black hair with Hades' dark eyes and blue skin. She was full of humor and trickery like her father and became the embodiment of mysterious spirits in the night.

Each spring, Persephone was duty-bound to leave her husband and children to aid her mother on Olympus. But each autumn, she returned to her family who were always pleased to see her.

Persephone smiled at her sleeping daughters, so adorably macabre. She went down the hall to join her husband in their black silk sheets. He was waiting for her with his familiar devious smirk. "Hey babe. Kids ok?"

"They're fast asleep. How was your day?" she asked, climbing into bed next to him.

"Oh you know, same old, same old. You? Any interesting souls meet your judgment today?"

"I finally decided what to do with Tantalus, that horrid man. He's in Tartarus now, getting his just desserts. Or not, depending on how you look at it," she laughed.

"Who'd have thought that the cute girl dancing with the flowers in Sicily would end up so great?" Hades pondered aloud, stroking her cheek.

"And who'd have thought that the vicious kidnapper would turn out to be the best husband and father a girl could ask for?" She kissed him and snuggled into his chest to go to sleep.

Hades couldn't believe it. The Fates had been right. He found a queen who always had to leave but always to return. Together they did create new powers, two lovely little girls whom they adored and doted upon. Eternal damnation was sweet.

A/N: To think that this all starting with me thinking that Hades could use a girlfriend. Now he's got a wife and two lovely little girls. And the daughters of Hades and Persephone are accuate (according to Wikipedia) so I've got that going for me. Please review! Oh and brownie points for anyone who gets my Tantalus joke :)