"Well, Demeter, don't cry. I can try to bargain with him."
Demeter's tears lessened and she looked up at Zeus. "Please."
Zeus nodded, stepped into his chariot, and began the journey to the underworld.
* * *
"Hades." Zeus greeted him.
"Zeus."
"Listen, give Persephone back to us."
"I'm afraid I can't do that. She is mine now. Hypnos will show you the way out."
"Her mother is frantic!" Zeus bellowed.
Hades was silent, and then smiled suddenly. "Okay, you can have her. But only if she hadn't eaten anything from this place."
"Okay, fine." Zeus said, knowing Persephone would never do such a thing.
"Persephone! Would you come here please?" Hades called for his queen happily, knowing that she became incredibly hungry and ate some pomegranate seeds he gave her.
Persephone spotted her father as she skipped into the room. "Daddy!" She ran into his arms.
"Aw, baby! I'm so glad to see you!" Zeus enveloped her in his arms.
"Enough!" Hades' voice boomed.
Zeus released Persephone.
"My queen, did you eat anything while you've been here?"
Persephone looked at her father. She knew what was going on, and she desperately wanted to go home, but her innocence forced her to tell the truth. She nodded her head. "Yes." She whispered. "Pomegranate seeds."
Zeus sighed. Hades released his breath in relief and smiled.
"So, brother, are you satisfied?"
Zeus, looking gloomier than ever, blew a teary kiss to his daughter. "I suppose so." He tried to steady his voice. "Can I say goodbye?"
Hades nodded, suddenly ashamed of what he had done to his brother.
After a tearful goodbye, Zeus allowed Hypnos to escort him out.
"Wait!" Hades boomed throughout the underworld.
Zeus stopped, lifted his head.
"Wait, brother." Hades said quietly. Zeus waited for him to say more. "I'm ashamed of myself. We shouldn't treat each other this way. Zeus, you and Demeter may have Persephone for six months out of the year. I, on the other hand, have her for the other six. Your six months begins at sundown."
Hades couldn't believe that he was giving up his queen for a half year. Zeus hugged Hades and took Persephone by the hand, out of the land of the dead.
* * *
Persephone looked at her surroundings as she remembered days gone by. She glanced at the River Styx with all of its frozen dead beneath the surface. She saw the ferry transporting the dead to Hades over the river. Persephone cried silent tears.