"Hades is in love with you, I'm not.Give it another couple of hundred years."
"Hey, I'm standing right here," the other man said, making me realise thatthiswas Hades.
Hades and Persephone.I was standing in front of the King and Queen of the underworld.I groaned.
"Are you okay?"Poseidon asked.
"I just got the name of the club."
Hades chuckled."It took you less time than it did for Don.What was it?A decade?"
Poseidon cleared his throat."It wasn't that long."
"It's a great club," I said to the couple."You must be pleased with it."
"Very."Persephone looked at her husband and smiled affectionately."So much so that Hades is opening a second one on Earth."
"Did you call that oneThe Earth?"I asked.
"The Pomegranate," he responded."ButThe Earthmight have been better."
Persephone rolled her eyes."No, it wouldn't have been.Anyway, nice to meet you, Laila.I hope we see you again soon."She waved and moved her husband further into the room, presumably so that they could go talk to someone else.
"She seems nice," I said.
Poseidon laughed."Persephone is Persephone.She's good for Hades, though, and that's all I really care about."
"It must be nice to have been with someone that long," I said, looking after the couple.
"Is that what you want?"
A seriousness fell over him as I looked back at him properly."A long relationship?"
"Yes."
I took a deep breath."Yes, that's what I want."
"With me?"
I laughed."I wouldn't be telling you if you weren't the person I was considering it with," I pointed out.
"Good."He stepped closer and pulled me to him, leaning in."Because I want a long relationship with you."
My heart skipped a beat as he leaned in and kissed me.It wasn't just the kiss that was thrilling, it was knowing that he was doing it in a room full of people he'd known for hundreds of years.People he wasgoingto know for hundreds more years.
We broke apart, and I could feel the grin spread over my face."So, out of interest, do I get to introduce you asmy boyfriend, Poseidon, now?"
"I would like that," he said."And I wish we'd had this conversationbeforeI'd introduced you to a load of people so that I could try it for myself."
"I'm sure there are lots more introductions to come," I said.
"True."He looked past me and groaned.
"What is it?"I asked.
"Food service is about to start," he responded."So I'm going to have to leave you."
"That's okay, I'll be here when you're done."
