The next morning, Kore wake up alone in the bed. She turned to face the other side and found light coming from the adjoined room. She got up with the blanket wrapped around her shoulders and strolled over to the office.

"No rest for the wicked?" Kore asked, leaning against the door frame as she watched him work.

"You're awake," Hades greeted her with a smile.

Kore walked up closer and Hades leaned back to allow her to sit on him. She sat sideways on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She tightly kissed his cheek before he turned in to kiss her properly.

"Sleep well?"

"Better than ever before," Kore winked and Hades laughed.

"You have to work, even today?"

"A God's day is never done," Hades reminded her, swiping a scroll off his desk.

"I see. And what exactly is a goddess of spring supposed to do down here if you're always going to be working?"

"Whatever she would like to do," Hades smiled as she played with his hair. "This will be your home for some moons. I suppose the Underworld could use a touch of spring."

"I can work with that," Kore smiled.

After leaving Hades, Kore went out to explore her new realm. She had seen the interior of the castle far more than she had the outside, so decided to start there. Kore found her way to the two ceiling high doors and pushed them open, letting in an eerily pleasant yet heavy breeze.

The outside was dark, only lit by the torches sparsely lining the palace grounds. The illumination was brightened by what seemed like clouds atop the path that wound upwards. There was also a way spiraling downward, but the dark red flames-were they flames?- emitting from that direction scared her.

Ignoring either, Kore walked straight, strolling beside the river. Not long after, she met company.

"Hello, Cerberus!" Kore turned to face the beast. The three headed beast was always an intimidating sight to see. She took a breath and convinced herself it was only an animal, and she was good with those. Kore stiffened and smiled as she reached a steady hand towards them. The three heads leaned in, hot pants almost blowing her down as they sniffed at her. Satisfied, Cerberus sat down in front of her.

Kore laughed. "Will you take me on a walk? I'd like to get familiar with my new home."

The dog perked up at the offer and was ready to lead. Kore placed a hand against one of its front legs as she walked around the Underworld. At last, they found a spot of light coming from what looked like a cave. Kore left Cerberus and went towards the light, regretting it immediately. The Guardian of the Underworld was immediately in her path, growling at her till she stumbled and fell back.

"Bad Cerberus!" Kore turned to find Selene approach. She helped her new queen up onto her feet. "You know she's not going to leave any time soon!"

Cerberus whined and sat down in front of the cave.

"How do you like your new realm, your majesty?"

Kore smiled hearing her new title. "I'm not sure. I haven't seen it all yet."

"Oh but I bet you've seen all of what you truly wished to conquer," Selene winked at her.

Kore blushed. "Well, we are wed, you know?"

"I'm very well aware. So, when is my feast?" Selene inquired.

"A feast?"

"Well, you are queen now, Kore. It is your duty to keep your subjects pleased."

"I see," Kore mused, clasping her hands behind her back. "How about the coming Sunday? We shall gather and be merry!"

"I look forward to it. Any how, how do you suppose you'll keep up your talent while you're underground?" The moon titan asked the goddess of spring.

"I suppose everything about me has to adapt. Let's make new flora, shall we?" Kore mused. She called for some of the nearby dead vines, phasing them through the river before she made them drill and dig into the ground. Kore felt around-by extension-for space and made the vines take root.

Any regular seed she could think of couldn't survive the harsh conditions of the Underworld, so she made a new one. The new seed was tapered and harsh, safe from the rough terrains in which it would grow. Satisfied with the form of her new creation, Kore made a bucket with other vines and collected water to pour over her new seed.

"Need a light?" A new voice-which happened to belong to Helios-aptly asked

"Perfect!" Kore beamed, and Helios came closer, glittering some of his rays where Kore had planted the seed. Underground, each layer of the conical seed shot up. First, the stem, which then unleashed branches in tapered step: few at the top and more below.

"Cool," Selene commented on the new creation.

"Does it have a name?" Helios asked.

Kore hummed before it came to her. "I shall call it, Evergreen. For it shall be so for all seasons long!"

"I like that idea," Helios was elated, and it gave more light to the plant. It grew before their eyes; tall and green, still conical with tough green bristles lining the branches.

"Woah!"

"Smells fresh."

"I know, right?" Kore gleamed with pride. "We can have one at the feast!"

"What feast?" Helios missed.

"Our queen is hosting a feast in her honor," his twin informed him.

"I'd like to be there!"

"You're all invited, silly! Oh, what's that?" Kore looked down the way of the river and saw the boat approaching. "Ah, new souls! We should have something to greet them with!"

Selene scoffed. "What do you suppose we give them? Reception flowers?"

"Great idea, let's do that indeed," Kore got busy making rings of vines decorated with branches of the Evergreen. "There. They look nice enough," Kore mused at the new wreath.

"And they smell good, too!" Helios added.

By the time the boat approached, Kore had made plenty more.

"My Queen," Charon bowed and Kore curtseyed in acceptance.

The boatman stepped aside and let his fare pass. It was a group of varying people.

"Welcome to the Underworld," Kore greeted them. "I shall lead you to the court of Lord Hades, where you will await your fate. But first a gift for my new subjects." One by one, Kore received each soul by putting a wreath around their neck, starting with the youngest. The little ones were excited to see her and gave her hugs.

"Let us proceed," Kore said once everyone had a wreath on.

Throughout their procession, some souls reacted badly to the new plant. They scratched at their throats as the bristles pierced their skin. Drops of their blood caught on the branches and bloomed, growing leaves around them. By the time the court doors opened, some souls were screaming.

Hades was finishing with his latest soul when he heard screams outside. The court doors opened to reveal his new wife and he immediately jumped to his feet, curious but ready to defend her. Kore saw her husband standing worried and ran to him. He received her with open arms.

"Are you alright?" Hades asked as he fixed her hair, eyes scanning her face with concern.

"Oh, yes. I'm fine. I made a new plant," Kore told him eagerly.

Hades stared at her.

"Are you surprised?" She asked, curious of his reaction.

Hades smiled and shook his head. "You amaze me, my dear. I can't believe you made a plant in the Underworld!"

Kore was pleased by his compliments. "I suppose not everyone likes it as much."

Hades's attention went to the souls waiting in court. He frowned at those annoyed with the gifts his queen had bestowed on them. Then, he smiled.

"Well, I guess that cuts my work in half," Hades smiled at her. "Thanatos!" He called and motioned to the Souls already in agony. Thanatos nodded and stepped forward to claim his victims.

"Do you want the honors of walking the innocent to the Elysians? I think you know the way now, don't you?"

Kore playfully smacked his chest. "Are you trying to pass off your responsibilities?"

Hades pecked a kiss. "The faster I get done with work, the quicker I can be yours."

Kore kissed him back. "Then I shall be back soon!" She left his embrace and returned to the souls. Out of the basket one woman was holding, Kore scooped out a baby. She held it up right, pressing its face to her chest as she kissed its head.

Hades could only stand and watch her leave. If he didn't have souls to deal with himself, he would've taken his Kore to bed that instant. In all his life-which was a long one- he had never dreamed, let alone imagined a life of his own. But watching his wife pick up and caress a child stirred in him the courage to dream.

His hand was rubbing over his collar, calming himself. His fingers happened to slip farther over his shoulder, absently grazing his scars. The second the tip of his fingers touched the start of his cut was enough to snap him back to the present. Hades thumbed at his ring, spinning in on his finger, and went back to work.

By the time Kore came back from dropping the souls at the Elysians, Hades had retired to their home. He was in the parlor, going over some scrolls when she joined him.

"What are you doing now?" Kore asked as she sat beside him.

"Reading the human reports," he told her as he returned one to his pile.

"Have any new stories for me?" She asked.

Hades looked through his stack and found a long scroll. "I think you'll love this one!"

Kore got excited. She lifted his hands and placed her head in his lap. "You may continue," she smiled.

Hades chuckled and kissed her before beginning to read the story of Niklaus, the bishop of Myra. He was a young man known for his generosity, love for children, and general concern for his neighbors. While reading one of his many acts of goodness, Hades came across one that Kore especially liked.

"...one day, the poor man's daughters hung their stockings on the mantle to dry. Hestia took pity on the girls and arranged for their dowries to be filled. She made the fire in their hearth grow big and bright, which caught the attention of Niklaus who was happening to pass by. The bishop peeked in through their open window, and saw the stockings hung on the mantle. He took his sack and filled each sock with gold, and went on his merry way. When the girls woke the next morning, they knew not of what had passed in the night, and went to pick their stockings to wear. But when they removed them, they found their socks filled with gold, each enough to pay their dowries. The legend spread around town, and so did the act. Each night, people would hang their stockings to dry at the mantle, and each night Niklaus would leave some gold for them. However, Hestia knew better than the mortal, and turned some gold to coal for those whose souls were just as black."

"I think I might do so as well!" Kore exclaimed.

"Gifting mortals?" Hades asked.

"Perhaps not. But we are to host a feast for our union, and now I have the perfect idea for what gifts to give our friends!"

"Do share, wife mine," Hades waited for her explanation.

"I shall make stockings for all our friends; write their names on it too! And I'll hang them on our mantle, and you can fill them with gold!"

"As you wish, my little sapphire," Hades smiled at her and leaned over to kiss her. Kore kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down over her. Their parlor couch was next to witness the power of their love.

Over the next few days, Kore spent found herself busy. The queen of the underworld had duties to fulfill. She would start her day making Evergreen wreaths to welcome new souls, then escort them to her husband's court. Kore would then walk the innocent to the Elysian Fields, and stay to pick food for her upcoming feast.

If she was home, Kore was busy knitting stockings for all her friends, or decorating the palace for the party. The Evergreens added greenery to the otherwise black palace, but it still needed more color.

"Why do you sigh, love?" Hades asked her once when he caught her sighing at the tree in their parlor.

"I miss flowers. How colorful they are! However hard I try, this plant won't grow any!" Kore complained as she yawned.

Hades came to stand beside her. "Why don't you rest, sapphire. You'll want to look your best at the feast tomorrow. We can find you color some other way."

Kore rested her head on husband's shoulder. "I suppose you're right." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Take me to bed?" She pouted.

Hades smirked and scooped her into his arms. "Always," he kissed her, and took her to bed.

When Kore was asleep, Hades returned to the parlor to continue his work. He was sorting stones when he realized he could use them as color on her tree. Hades first tried placing different colored stones around the tree, but they kept falling off. Then, he added hooks to them, so they could hang on the bristles, and shaped then into bigger orbs so they could be seen through the dense branches.

Hades stepped back to examine his work: the green tree was now adorned with colorful hanging orbs from bottom to top. It still was missing something, he felt. Hades shook his head and laughed. How had he never once thought of colors before Kore came into his life. He made a yellow quarts, pulling out five legs from the center of it, and placed it at the top of the Evergreen. Now it was good! But there was still one more task to do.

Kore woke up alone in bed the next morning. She woke early, excited for the feast. She wrapped her robe around her, and went looking for Hades. She found him, and his deeds, in the parlor.

The couch burned to ash as Hades was roused from his sleep by his wife's scream. He looked around to find her, and saw her standing by the tree. He smiled at her glee.

"You like it, I suppose?" Hades asked her, subduing his fire as he approached her.

Kore turned to him. "Oh, it's beautiful! You did this!?"

Hades wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Mhmm. You were missing colors, so I took the liberty to make some ornaments. And then I made you a present, and it got away from me, and I made presents for everyone!"

Kore laughed. "Oh, how much I love you, Aidonius!" She took his face and kissed him.

"I love you too, Kore," Hades smiled. He took them to their room and after some lovemaking, they got ready for their day.

They started their day fulfilling their Royal duties, receiving souls and delivering them to their fates. Over the day, they ran into their friends, who were looking forward to the feast tonight.

Finally, the day was done, and Hades hosted his friends to dinner celebrating his long awaited marriage to the love of his life. They had dinner first, then went to the parlor to exchange gifts. Everyone loved the celebrations so much that they decided to make it a yearly thing.

"Happy Holiday!"