The Immortal Heart

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, guys! Hopefully this chapter will satisfy your curiosity on what happens to Hades and his child.

Chapter 17

Hades was not sure what woke him up just a few hours later; the nausea or the pain. It radiated out from the small of his back down into his legs in pulses seemingly matching the beats of his heart. Hades struggled to sit up, felt another wave of dizziness pass over him, and was forced to lie back down to stop himself from vomiting.

“Zeus…” he whispered, nudging anxiously at his sleeping brother. “Zeus, please wake up… There is something wrong with me… I think I am sick…”

Zeus did not immediately respond, even though he recognized his brother’s voice almost straight away, until he heard the last word on Hades’ lips. He bolted upright in bed and turned frantically toward his brother, who even in the dim light looked beyond sick. Zeus quickly lit a nearby lamp and saw the dull, bloodless nature of the older god’s skin and the wretched expression. Only seconds later he was on the floor near his brother’s side of the bed, holding the chamber pot in front of him.

“Here, brother,” he said, indicating the pot. “Use this.”

Hades felt increasingly dizzy if he so much as moved, but he crept over to the edge of the bed, hanging his head over the pot in case he needed to vomit.

“I think…” Hades said with each heavy breath, “something… may be wrong…” As he spoke he mentally demanded of himself that he would not panic. Losing control now would only make him sicker. But at the same time, he was dangerously close to getting hysterical. What if something was seriously wrong with him… or his baby?

Zeus was too busy rambling on words which he hoped were reassuring, until he heard his name called out impatiently.

“Zeus… hold back my hair…”

The youngest Olympian managed to grab his brother’s hair and pull it aside just in time as Hades threw up. Hands full, Zeus wished he was able to do more to comfort his older brother, but for now he could only hold Hades’ hair behind his head and keep the chamber pot within range.
When Hades finally knew he was finished vomiting, he weakly lifted his head, eyes watery and red.

“Get… our sister…”

Zeus was torn between obeying his brother’s command and staying put. He knew Demeter would have the best chance of knowing how to treat whatever illness this could be, but he also did not want to leave Hades’ side. What if the older god fell out of bed… or passed out in a pool of his own vomit?

Deciding that Hades needed their sister’s expertise and also was in no position to be left alone, Zeus lifted the shivering, miserably whimpering god into his arms, still wrapped in the sheet that covered him in bed. Hades groaned loudly at being lifted up, afraid he would vomit against Zeus’ shoulder, and also in a lot of pain.

The younger god did not bother wasting any time on dressing himself before exiting his quarters and heading to find Demeter.

Upon reaching his sister’s door, Zeus did not have any free hands to open the door with, so instead of letting himself in, he alerted the goddess of his presence by directing a hard kick to the door, practically sufficient to make it rattle in its hinges. A terrified cry sounded from within, most likely as the rude sound awoke Demeter, and Zeus called out to her.

“Sister, we need you at once! Hades is sick; I don’t know what ails him. Let us in this instant!”

The door opened just a moment later, and Demeter, now looking as anxious as Zeus himself, ushered her youngest brother inside.

“How long has he been like this?” she asked as Zeus hurried to place the pregnant god, now covered in a sheen of cold sweat, on her bed.

“Only a few minutes. I came to find you as soon as I became aware of his condition. What do you think is wrong with him?”

Demeter frowned, turning to examine her older brother. Her greatest concern was that Hades’ body was rejecting the child and going into premature labor, but of course she could not be sure.

“Brother,” she said, speaking softly to Hades as she stroked his damp hair back from his face. “I need you to tell me about this pain you are experiencing. Do you feel contractions?”

“What?” Hades, in his pain and sickness could hardly understand what Demeter was talking about. Contractions? All he knew was that he hurt.

“Where is the pain, dearest?” she elaborated. She placed a hand over his stomach. “Here?”

“Y-yessss…” he hissed out in pain. Demeter’s lips became a thin line and her jaw tightened.

“Is your stomach cramping?” Her hand remained where it was, partly out of comfort, and partly to inspect it for the telltale signs of labor.

“I…” Hades grimaced and a tear rolled down his face. “I don’t know… it just hurts… all around… Demeter, am I losing my child?”

Demeter wanted to immediately say of course not. She wanted to tell her brother he was being silly and worrying for nothing. But her only experience in pregnancies was with animals and this was a god she was treating. In the back of her mind a wicked little spirit of doubt was fighting to break free and take hold of her rational thought, to tell her she had no idea what she was doing, that she had been wrong all this time.

“Please, please, just tell us,” Zeus pleaded, waiting anxiously for an answer when none came.

“Zeus, I will need some time alone with him,” she finally said. “I cannot be sure of what is going on yet, but this room requires peace and quiet. Hades needs to be as relaxed as possible so that I may understand what is happening to him.”

“How can you simply tell me to leave!” Zeus bellowed. “I am not going to stand outside like a stone while Hades is all alone in this room, afraid and in pain.”

“He will NOT be alone,” Demeter snapped, not looking behind at her youngest sibling. “I assure you that I know what I am doing, and...”

Zeus was about to yell at his sister that she certainly had not been implying that she knew what she was doing, but Hades interrupted the both of them by heaving himself to the edge of the bed, frantically reaching around the floor for a chamber pot.

“Darling, here,” Demeter said, quickly procuring the pot and placing it below Hades. He promptly threw up.

“Perhaps it is just something completely unrelated to his pregnancy,” Zeus said, hovering over Hades and trying desperately to convince himself that he was right. “Can it be, sister?” he asked, looking almost pleadingly at Demeter.

“It can be,” the goddess replied, but she was still just as worried.

Hades, meanwhile, had managed to drag himself back into bed and bury his face in the pillow. His hair concealed most of his features, and though his siblings could not see his expression, they were comforted by the fact that their brother at least was not crying out in pain.

Demeter peeled the sheets back from Hades’ form and gently placed both her hands on his belly. The child was definitely moving within him, likely distressed by its mother’s illness, and Demeter soothingly stroked the skin beneath her palms, trying to communicate a need to calm down.

Zeus had not left the room despite his sister’s demand that he do so. Instead he climbed onto the bed to join Hades, and Demeter could have sworn she saw tears in his eyes when he leaned over his mate to kiss him and whisper reassuring words in his ear.

“How are you feeling, dear brother?” the goddess asked. “Is there anything we can do for you?”

“The pain… has lessened somewhat…” Hades murmured. “I am… so tired… May I stay here and sleep?”

Demeter automatically answered with “of course”, though her brother would be sleeping in her bed. Zeus would doubtlessly be joining him as well, taking up what space was left. Looking to her right, Demeter glanced at a long chair which did not entirely hold the length of her body.

Unless she curled up on the furniture without moving, she would be sleeping with her legs dangling off the edge. But as she gathered up a blanket for her own use and gazed down at Hades in his fatigued, despondent state, she reprimanded herself and knew she could bear to sleep uncomfortably for the night.

“I suppose you will want to remain as well, Zeus,” she said, giving her youngest brother a knowing glance.

“I would have it no other way,” he readily replied.

“Well, this should be convenient in case Hades experiences another similar incident,” the goddess stated as she prepared herself for bed. “But I would hope that it does not repeat itself.”

“I agree,” Hades muttered sleepily, his head already heavy once more. Zeus brushed his brother’s hair aside to kiss his neck, just below the ear.

Like a hawk observing a mouse, Demeter watched Hades’ sleeping form with great intent, worried he would suddenly cry out in his sleep and his pains would occur all over again. But the goddess found herself drifting into the same realm as her brothers had, lulled into sleep whilst Hades remained silent and peaceful, his breathing soft and his sickness quiet.

*

Demeter awoke before her two brothers, drawn into wakefulness by the sunlight falling onto her through the window. Hades seemed not to have moved from his spot, and neither had Zeus, who was curled around his brother’s form with one arm protectively thrown around his waist. Both male Olympians were still soundly asleep, judging from their breaths.

Demeter carefully approached the pair, not wanting to disturb their sleep, and leaned in to have a closer look at her older brother. Part of Hades’ visage was still obscured by his hair and the pillow, but she could see that already his skin was a healthier color, and not the livid grey it had been when Zeus brought him to her chambers last night.

The goddess smiled to herself. Even if Hades was not completely recovered from his illness, he was definitely headed in the right direction. Demeter placed her hand on the swell of his stomach just in case, feeling for anything out of the ordinary. Soon the kick of a small developing limb against her palm assured her that Hades’ child was out of danger as well, and she left her quarters to prepare her brothers a breakfast in bed.

Soon after she had stepped out into the hallway and was heading for the kitchen area, Demeter came across Hera. She greeted her sister with a simple nod and would have continued on her way had Hera not grabbed for her arm.

“I heard commotion in the hallway last night,” she said, her face expressing worry. “It sounded like Zeus was very upset about something. Do you have any idea what it was about?”

“It was awful,” Demeter replied. “Hades was suddenly quite sick, without any warning. He awoke in pain and was vomiting.”

“No!” Hera exclaimed, hoping her shock sounded believable. “What was wrong with him??”

“I have no idea… Zeus came to my door with our brother in his arms. It was the strangest thing… I could not ascertain what the source of his illness could have been. But I feared it meant he was miscarrying.”

“How horrible.” Hera suppressed a smile, knowing her façade would be ruined should she show the slightest hint of joy over Hades’ plight.

“Thank goodness the pains stopped,” Demeter replied. “Otherwise I fear he could have almost lost his child.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful news,” her sister chimed in without pause. Internally however she was cursing her predicament.

“I cannot help but wonder if it was my fault,” Demeter said ruefully. “Somehow I could have made a mistake in my tea… I was in a hurry to prepare it last night… oh, what if I’ve done something terrible?”

“Be glad it only caused him discomfort,” Hera answered. She was going to have to reconsider her methods if she wanted to avoid being found out. The eldest goddess knew now that the ergot worked, but if she was going to continue to slip it into her brother’s tea, it would have to be in smaller doses. If not, a pattern would be detected and the concoction would no longer be served… and Hera would have to formulate another plan.

“If it was the tea,” she advised, placing a hand against her concerned sister’s shoulder, “take more care into the preparation. Although I doubt it was truly to blame. After all, Hades is no longer female. It cannot be easy for his child to thrive.”

“Of course not,” Demeter mumbled, staring at the floor. “Thank you for the reassurance, sister.”

Hera smiled, secretly pleased with herself. “It was my pleasure.”

*

When Demeter returned to her quarters with the breakfast tray, Hades was awake and sitting up in the bed, whilst their youngest brother had not yet risen and lay immobile beside him.

“How are you feeling, dearest?” Demeter immediately asked and hurried to set the tray down somewhere so that she could use her hands to properly examine Hades. “Are you still in pain?”

The pregnant Olympian shook his head. “The pain is gone. And I no longer feel nauseated.” He yawned. “I still feel a little lightheaded, however.”

“You should lie down and relax,” Demeter promptly urged, attempting to press her brother back into a supine position. “Stay in bed until—”

Hades resisted, shoving her hands away from himself. “I cannot stay in bed until my child is due,” he objected. “Perhaps that is even the cause of my illness. I need to move around more, not stay in one spot as if I were completely immobile.”

“You are still weak,” Demeter insisted. “You might fall and injure yourself, brother. Or your child.”

“I need some fresh air,” Hades said. “I think I am well enough to go outside.”

“Zeus will never allow that. What if something happens and there is no one to—”

“Allow what?” Zeus grunted from the other side of the bed, raising his head and peering toward his sister through locks of tangled, dark hair.

Hades knew making his argument with his temper flared would get him nowhere, as Zeus had a worse temper than him, and he would quickly lose his point. Instead, Hades tried to look as meek and innocent as possible.

“Our sister will not allow me to get up and walk,” he answered. “I only wish to stretch my legs and wander the fortress. That is not such an outlandish request, is it?”

Zeus glanced inquisitively at Demeter, who simply rested her hands on her hips.

“And our brother is still lightheaded,” she retorted. “I am sure neither of us would welcome him to fall and hurt himself.”

“I am not that far-gone,” Hades argued, annoyed. “I only wish for fresh air and I worry that staying in bed at all hours may be a deterrent to my health… as well as the health of our child…”

“And after an incident such as last night, you would risk exerting yourself to—”

“Who said I would exert myself?? I only—”

“ENOUGH.”

Both siblings went silent as Zeus interrupted their increasingly heated argument. He rubbed at the center of his brow, hoping he would not develop a headache. He finally gave a heavy sigh and announced his verdict.

“If it will make Hades happy, then he may be allowed to ‘stretch his legs’ as he put it… BUT, he does run the risk of coming to easy harm in his condition, so he shall be appointed an escort.”

Hades, ever solitary and never having wished for his independence so fiercely as he did now, did not like this idea one bit. “But, brother…”

“This is how it shall be,” Zeus said, his tone patient but commanding. “We do not want to risk you hurting yourself. As much as you resent your predicament, you are in a more… delicate state.”

He put his hand, warm and gentle, against the curve of Hades’ belly. A hand or foot knocked against him as though recognizing his touch. “In time you will no longer have to worry. But for now, please be patient. It is either an escort or confinement to your bed.”

Sighing, Hades mulled over the options. “Alright. If it means I may have some fresh air…”

Zeus nodded.

The leader would also not let Hades go anywhere without some food in his system, and thus the two gods and the goddess proceeded to share the breakfast Demeter had brought in earlier. Hades ate a small piece of bread along with some berries, but his stomach could still not be trusted, and he declined offers of more food from his siblings, despite their arguing that he had to eat to nourish himself and his child.

“I wish to go outside now,” he said. “I feel restless.”

“I can accompany you later, but not right now,” Zeus replied, stretching. He came to realize that he had come to his sister’s quarters not wearing anything at all, although the idea of walking around in the nude did not bother Zeus at all. He knew, however, that it would bother Hades, especially now that his body had undergone such major changes.

“Perhaps you could borrow one of our sister’s gowns,” he suggested, wanting to be helpful. “That is, if she has anything you would still be able to fit in.”

Hades went beet-red at the idea, gathering the sheets closer to himself. “No thank you…” he muttered. He had been against dressing like a goddess even after Zeus transformed him into one, and he most certainly did not want to start now.

“How long do I have to wait until you can accompany me?” the older god asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep the accusatory tone from his voice.

“Darling, I can escort you on your walk,” Demeter offered, stroking back her brother’s hair. “But perhaps you ought to get dressed before we go…?”

“The weather outside is very hot and humid,” Hades replied. “I really don’t mind.” In truth, he was worried that his siblings might go back on their promise to let him outside in the first place unless they got to it immediately.

“But… a sheet?” Demeter asked, eyebrow cocked.

“I may be modest, but the heat will also be relentless,” Hades said stubbornly. “This sheet is light and it will cover me just fine.”

Rolling her eyes, the goddess finally gave a wave of her hands and a simple “fine,” and set off to cleaning up the remnants of the breakfast. “I will take care of this and we will be off in no time.”

What Demeter did not tell Hades was that she had saved the leftovers from breakfast and placed them in a small satchel, in case her brother became hungry. Watching her brother all but bounce from impatience on the edge of the bed, she laughed and announced they were ready to commence. Smiling broadly, the god stood – without help as requested – and took his sister’s hand.

“My apologies for being so confrontational this morning,” he said as the two siblings wandered the halls. “I have become so frustrated with my limitations lately. The last thing I desire is to become bedridden.”

“You might drive yourself mad if then,” Demeter suggested. “I understand your frustrations, dear brother. I just worry so much… we all do. We do not want to see you get hurt in the state you are in…”

“I know,” Hades admitted, sadness detectable in his eyes. They reached the main doors of the fortress, and Demeter insisted on opening them herself. Soon they were outside and Hades felt better already when he inhaled the fresh air and enjoyed the light breeze against his face.

“You are all simply trying to help. I know I am not the only one at risk anymore.”

Demeter smiled, leading her brother to the shade of several large trees. Hades’ body heat was already increased by the presence of an extra form within him, and the sunlight would be overwhelming in no time.

“We love you, Hades,” she said. “We all do.”

“Not Hera…” Hades murmured quietly. “She hates me.”

“Our sister can be… resentful,” Demeter began, unsure of how to express herself. “But I ran into her this morning, and she was actually concerned for you.”

Hades raised an eyebrow. “How was Hera even aware of my illness?” he wondered.

“She told me that she had heard commotion in the hallway last night. Zeus was quite upset when he brought you to me, was he not?”

Hades’ memories of last night were hazy to say the least, but he could very well imagine his youngest brother behaving in a way that made a lot of noise, especially in the distressed state he was in.

“And do not tell him that I told you this, but…” Demeter leaned closer to her brother, as if to whisper in his ear, even though no one was within earshot. “When Zeus and I were watching over you last night, I believe I saw him shed a tear. I have never seen him do that before.”

Hades, instantly moved by the news, almost started crying himself in response. “I could never have guessed I meant that much to him…” he murmured. “Unless the child is what he truly cares about.”

“I can assure you that it’s not,” Demeter told her brother. “Has Zeus not discussed his feelings with you at all? Everyone can see that he loves you dearly.”

Hades turned his head away from her and wiped at the tears which threatened to issue from his eyes at any moment. He took a few seconds to compose himself before turning back and speaking. “I suppose I never presumed him to be of the sentimental ilk.”

Demeter placed a hand against her brother’s neck, feeling the pulse there as she attempted to provide comfort. “Zeus can be difficult at times, he really can,” she said. “And he can be stronger than he means to be… and a lot of his thinking comes from down below…”

At this last statement, Hades laughed with his sister. The goddess was glad she could bring a smile back to his face.

“But he does love you,” Demeter continued. “Everyone can see that. He loves you among all other things on earth.” She smiled sweetly. “And you deserve that, sweet brother.”

Hades stared at the ground, which was difficult since his stomach now in the way. Demeter, thinking her brother was deliberately looking at where his child grew within, reached forward and tugged the sheet aside, exposing the other’s burgeoning midsection. It was pale as the rest of him. Demeter glanced up at her brother’s face. For once he was not blushing.

“It is very active,” he said, letting go of the sheet entirely. He tenderly grasped her hands and guided them to his belly. “Feel.”

The goddess did as she was asked, happy to once be touching Hades with her brother’s expressed consent rather than examining him to make sure the child was doing well.

“Your baby does seem very spirited,” she said, smiling broadly as she caressed his stomach and felt the tiny kicks against her hands. “Do you believe you will miss having it inside you once it’s born?”

Hades scoffed. “I think not,” he said. “It’s not that I do not enjoy having everybody pampering me… But I look forward to having my body all to myself again.”

At this, the goddess could only laugh. “Your child will continue to feed from you for some time,” she informed him. “Surely you have noticed that your chest is adapting?”

Hades crossed his arms over his chest when he was reminded of this great inconvenience, and suddenly he was feeling rather self-conscious again. “Perhaps we should go back inside? I need a bath, anyway.”

Demeter picked up the discarded sheet and placed it around her brother’s shoulders, rubbing at his back. “Of course, if you wish so.”

*

Later the same evening, when Demeter went to prepare Hades’ tea, she took a careful look at the roots before mashing them and adding them to the potion. Indeed, they smelled differently and upon close inspection, she could detect what appeared to be remains of fungal spores, although she could not tell which kind.

“This is odd,” the goddess said to herself. Had the roots started to grow moldy? No, this did not smell like mold. Odd.

Surmising that the spores had been the cause of Hades’ averse reaction to the tea, she threw away all the roots, promising herself that she would go out to find new, fresh ones in the morning. It meant that Hades would not be getting any tea this evening, although she also suspected that her brother might not grieve over such a loss.

*

Meanwhile, Zeus walked into Hades’ chamber without knocking as he often did, and saw his brother was asleep. The younger god quietly stepped back a few paces, surprised he had not awoken the sleeping god upon entering. The door to the older god’s living quarters still ajar, Zeus leaned against it, simply watching his brother sleep.

Hades lay peacefully sleeping as though no foul dream could ever invade his mind, his arms stretched out gracefully and his expression of absolute calm. Though he had thoroughly enjoyed his freedom of walking about and enjoying the fresh air, his condition had left him exhausted afterwards, and shortly after returning to his bedchambers and taking his bath, he found himself quickly sinking into the realm of sleep. Nonetheless, he planned to continue going out for a stroll on a regular basis, and he did not care what his siblings thought of it.

Some unknown reason caused Hades to twitch in his sleep, as though he were tickled under the chin by some invisible hand, and Zeus smiled, observing a few minutes more before quietly venturing to his brother’s bedside. He took a seat at the edge, leaning over and carefully brushing aside a tiny wisp of hair, likely the reason for his brother’s unconscious fidgeting.

Hades did not wake, but instead sighed softly in his sleep. Zeus could no longer resist, and he bent down and kissed the older god’s nose.

“Mmn…” Hades stirred and finally awoke, peering at his surroundings until finally coming to Zeus. He gave a tiny smile, stretched his limbs, and reached up for his youngest sibling. Zeus took his brother’s hand, kissing it.

“Did you enjoy your outing?” he inquired.

“Greatly,” Hades replied. He yawned and moved to sit up, assisted without request by Zeus, who quickly arranged the cushions behind him so that the elder god was as comfortable as his leader could manage.

“Thank you,” Hades said. He knew he would have to become accustomed to his brother’s gestures, as much as they were centered more on their baby instead of Hades himself, but Zeus was trying to be useful. He was trying to show he cared. Hades had to admit he appreciated such behavior.


TBC...

A/N: For those who're interested, you can view two illustrations for this particular chapter here:
http://henrikas-ravings.com/preggo_hades.png (Hades and Demeter)
http://henrikas-ravings.com/preggo_Hades2.png (Hades and Zeus)