Hades had entertained Z's ruthless schemes before. There had been many; from the childish games designed to make Hades look like the villain, to constantly denying Hades's requests for visitation rights to Olympus. Z had become creative in his responses over the years, so Hades knew his brother would try to coerce Lexi into joining him in Olympus; the promise of her own palace, unlimited access to her family, a flying horse with matching chariot. But this he had not foreseen.

Did Z believe inviting Clary to spend the weekend in Lexi's family home would tempt him into bed with her? They had not seen each other since she left the underworld. Over thirty mortal years ago. Or was Z counting on Lexi's jealousy to do the work for him? Hades knew Lexi was not easily fooled, and Z knew this too. Surely, she was interpreting this surprise invitation as a dirty trick perpetrated by her imperious father.

As they reached the entrance of the estate, the doors swung open, and Lexi's brother, Dion, greeted them with a smirk and a flip of his overly-groomed bangs. "If it isn't the lovebirds. Remember, this ain't an orgy."

Lexi threw her arms around Dion's neck, giving him no chance for a follow-up. "Shut up, Dion, before I tell everyone how many times I've beaten you at croquet." She turned and gestured to the small group of gods standing behind her. "I brought you some gods to annoy."

Dion greeted Z and Mnemosyne with a familiar wave, but when his eyes landed on Clary, his Adam's apple dropped, and he attempted twice to swallow past it. "Hey."

"Hello, Dion. It's good to see you again," Mnemosyne said, grinning as she picked up on Dion's quandary. "I believe you have never met my daughter. This is Clary."

Clary lowered into a half curtsy and inclined her head politely, a gesture Hades remembered well. Her grace as a goddess was only surpassed by her... Well, Hades remembered her grace clearly. "It is lovely to meet you, Dion. I have heard good things about you and your family, and I am very much looking forward to our visit."

Once Dion had collected himself, which took another two swallows, he welcomed them into the estate, and Lexi's parents, Lilith and Charles, were quick to greet them. When everyone had hugged and kissed and told each other how wonderful they looked, Lexi grabbed Hades's hand and hauled him across the great room.

"I'm going out to see Jackie O," she announced. "Don't hold up drink service for us."

The room turned deathly quiet, and Lexi stopped in her tracks, yanking Hades to a stop with her as she surveyed the frozen faces of her family. "What gives? Why is everyone so quiet all of a sudden?"

"Sweetheart, Jackie O has..." Lilith's voice faltered, and Lexi squeezed Hades's fingers as she stiffened next to him. "Well, she has not been herself since you left. I wish we had been able to communicate with you, but..." She shot Z a harsh glare. "I know it's difficult under the circumstances."

"What's wrong with Jackie O? Is she here? Is she at the hospital?" Lexi glanced through the back door, looking ready to bolt.

"We think she's lamenting the loss of her best friend. She hasn't been eating. She doesn't want to leave her stall. The vet has given her IV fluids, but she only responds for a short time before..."

Lexi let go of Hades's hand and ran to the sliding glass door, muscling it open and bolting toward the stable. After politely excusing himself, Hades followed on her heels. He knew how much Jackie O meant to her. Lexi spent time with his horses every day, telling them about her best friend back home. Neither of them expected the feeling of loss to be mutual. Or, perhaps, it was only he who had not expected it.

It didn't take much for Hades to catch up to Lexi, and they entered the stable together. "Where is she?" Lexi gasped as she raced for Jackie O's stall, swinging the gate wide, and tears started flowing as she dropped to embrace Jackie O where she lay in the straw. The horse's body was emaciated, withered to skin and bones, and it seemed to take all her strength to whinny at the sight of Lexi.

"Jackie O, I missed you so much." The words choked from Lexi's throat, and Hades knelt next to the pair, stroking both their heads. "I have been so selfish. What have I done to you?" Lexi looked at Hades, her eyes pleading through a fountain of tears. Was she asking him to heal Jackie O? Did she know that was not within the realm of his gifts? Or was she asking him to do what he had promised? To make her visit a happy one?

"See if there are any carrots in the treat bag, please Hades."

Her command gave him something to do besides lament alongside her, and he dug his hand into the bag, coming up with two carrots that were probably just put there. He handed them to Lexi and she coaxed Jackie O with them.

"Please eat, Jackie O. We need to get you standing, and you need your strength to stand. Remember how much you begged for carrots when we first met? You didn't want the apples, you wanted...the...carrots." Lexi sobbed against Jackie O's neck, and her horse blew air through her lips, as if she knew just how Lexi felt.

Finally, reluctantly, Jackie O lifted her head to accept the food, and Lexi sniffled as she encouraged her friend with praise. When the carrots were gone, Jackie O attempted to stand, and, together, Hades and Lexi helped her up. After a few minutes of finding her feet, Jackie O stepped determinedly up to her trough, which had been recently filled with fresh hay, and Lexi fed her by hand.

"Good girl," she crooned. "I'm here now, and I won't leave until you're back to your spunky self again. I promise."

As Hades listened to Lexi comfort her horse, a terrible foreboding came over him. Perhaps Z did not have to go out of his way to discourage Lexi from returning to the underworld. Lexi's compassion could prove to be Hades's undoing, but he had a duty to fulfill to his beloved, which meant assisting the reunion of these friends.

"I have an idea," he said. "But it will take me away from the stable for a few minutes. Will you ladies excuse me?"

Lexi nodded mutely, and he brushed a kiss across her forehead, wishing he had more to give her than sympathy. When he reached the house, Lilith saw him enter, and he gestured her discretely away from a conversation the group was having on weather predictions.

"Lexi has decided to hunker down in the stable," he told her. "Can we accommodate her and Jackie O and bring the family together at the same time?"

"Of course. I will have the wait staff set-up a buffet table in the stable. That's a wonderful idea. Thank you, Hades. Your insight is uncanny."

"A side-effect of eternity, I suppose." He turned to leave, but Lilith stayed on his heels, waiting until they were away from the others to speak again.

"I hope you don't think we're angry with you," she said. "Zeus has kept us separated from you and Lexi. I think he had hoped she would bargain for her freedom if she was totally cut-off from her family. He's taking full credit for making this occasion happen. It's sickening."

"I am very sorry, Lilith. I know what we did was terribly impulsive and irresponsible. But, please know this. I am completely enchanted by your daughter. She is witty, kind, and she challenges me at every turn. If anything, she has made me a better god."

Lilith offered her understanding with a smile. "Please don't apologize. I remember what it's like to be in love for the first time, and Lexi seems happier than I have ever seen her. She's practically glowing, and I thank you for that."

"I will not take credit for the glow," he offered. "She had that when I met her, and I hope you don't think Lexi isn't free. She can choose to leave the underworld any time, and she knows this."

He reached for the door, and Lilith let him escape back outside. He had noticed the moisture collecting in her eyes, and he didn't want to be responsible for making two females cry in the same day, but he had meant every word he said to her. Lexi had become the kindling to his fire. The dawn to his dusk, and he watched the sun set on the horizon as an image of Lexi danced in the foreground of his mind, teasing him with wonderful possibilities. Whatever it took to keep her dancing there, he would do it.