There was a knocking on the door to the di Angelo house one afternoon. Hazel was laying on her stomach and using a twig to "paint" with ash. She like using the twig to swirl the ash into beautiful shapes: clouds, sheep, gods — they all took form under Hazel's eyes. She looked up as the noise continued, but it was Nico who answered the door.

     Hazel had just stood up and was brushing ash from the skirt of her chiton as Nico let Frank into the house. He caught sight of her and shyly grinned, his brown eyes as warm as the cracking fire on the hearth. "Frank," Hades said, standing up to greet him. "This is an unexpected visit."

     Hades offered his hand and Frank shook it. "My mother wishes to invite your family over for dinner tonight," he said.

     Hades' dark eyes lost their warmth. "Does she think we will beg for the scraps of your table?"

    "No!" Frank exclaimed, stepping back. "It was my idea and only because I enjoy the company of your family."

   Hades' face relaxed a bit, but he was still frowning. "My entire family is invited?"

   Frank nodded. "We'd like to thank you for being such great neighbors."

    Hazel smiled. Frank was no shabby diplomat. Hades lips were still downturned though. "What is the price of this?"

     "We only wish to extend xenia to your household," Frank replied.

    "Then why not invite another household?" Hades asked.

    Hazel wished she could scream at her father to shut up. This was the first time in years that anyone had invited them over. Why was he rebuffing Frank's kind offer? Frank blinked at Hades. "I am a good friend of your children," he answered. "They were my playmates in childhood and I still hold affection in my heart for them."

    At last, Hades nodded in affirmation. "Thank you, Frank. We shall see you tonight."

***

    Maria and Hades has a fight after Frank left. "Why were you being so rude to the this kind, young man?" Maria asked.

    "He probably will ask for a favor later," Hades said dourly. "We can make it on our own."

     "Your children are hungry," Maria said. "Swallow your pride because it feeds none of us."

     Hades sighed. "My brothers both managed to make it big and I — well I'm a farmer who doesn't even own his land— despite being the eldest."

     Hades was on bad terms with both of his brothers. His younger brother, Zeus, was a petty tyrant over some small polis, while Poseidon was the wealthy landlord of the Zhang family. Their father had been a wealthy man, but he went mad and accused his sons of trying to kill him. For that, they had all been forced to flee and had to make their fortunes on their own.

     Maria put a hand on her husband's shoulders. His dark eyes were chunks of obsidian, carved and polished with tears. "Hades, I have stood by you as your wife," she said, "but I will also tell you when you do wrong and today you were rude to Frank."

    Hades' shoulder dropped and he sighed. "Yes, but what can I do of it now?'

"Be kind to the Zhang family when we meet them," Maria suggested. "

Hades smiled. "What would I do without you?"

Seeing them like that, Hazel wondered if Hades had loved her mother. And if he had, was it equal to the love he showed Maria? She sighed and shook her head; there were some things she'd never know.

***
Frank's mother laughed as he helped peel and chop up leeks. "I've never seen you so excited about cooking. Does it have something to do with a certain shepherdess?"

Frank avoided her gaze, his face burning like the hearth fire. Frank's grandmother looked up from her the cloak she was mending. "It's about time Fai learned some of the family recipes."

Frank nodded. Normally, women did most of the cooking, but he had no sisters and besides, men often helped prepare meat. They had rubbed the meat for tonight with dried rosemary and thyme and it roasted on a spit over the fire. Emily adjusted its position from time to time and the meat was cooked enough that its savory aroma filled the air.

Frank helped cook all afternoon and into the early evening. They were just finishing when there was a knock at the door. Frank ran from the hearth to the door, tripping over his own feet in the process. His grandmother opened the door as he stood up, his cheeks flushed. "Welcome to our humble home," Frank's grandmother said.

Maria smiled broadly at her. "We thank you for your kind invitation."

Frank hadn't told his family about Hades' initial refusal, but the man didn't know that and he seemed nervous as he stepped into the threshold of your house. "Dinner smells great," he offered.

Emily smiled at the di Angelo family. "Sit down."

They did, relaxing on cushions on the floor. The house was crowded and Frank found himself sitting opposite in the circle from Hazel. Emily handed clay plates to each person and heaped meat, cheese, leeks, and olives onto each plate. They all began eating and Emily told the story of how Frank had caught the deer.

Hazel turned to him. "Was it really like that?" she asked.

Frank shrugged. "A little less action and more patience."

Hades smiled. "A fine young man you have for a son."

Emily returned his smile. "He sure is. I heard your eldest daughter is a priestess now?"

Hades drew himself up in pride. "A priestess of Artemis."

All tension left the room now as each parent boasted of their children. Frank and Hazel engaged in a silent conversation of covert looks. There was much blushing and many smiles exchanged between the two. After the du Angelo family finally left (taking some of the leftovers home once Emily pressed them to), Frank's grandmother turned to face him. "Hazel would make a good wife for you."

Frank tried to sputter something, but she patted him on the back and continued, "You're like your father m. You need a strong woman by your side."

Frank didn't argue. He couldn't think of a rebuttal and besides, he didn't want to.

Author's Note: Frank is not lactose intolerant in this AU.