Hermes made a sound in the back of this throat, offended. “It’s like old man but snowman. Duh.”
Silence followed his explanation. Hermes folded his arms over his chest, shining suit squeaking with the movement.
“I don’t know why either of you celebrate Christmas. You are both such curmudgeons.”
Apollo rolled his eyes.
“I don’t know what that means,” said Hades.
“It means you are an asshole,” he said. “An old asshole.”
“I’ll show you old asshole—” He started toward Hermes, but Persephone placed a hand on his arm.
“Darling, the children are expecting snow.”
Hades met her gaze and after a moment relaxed. “Of course,” he said, turning with her toward the doors of the courtyard.
“Coward,” Hermes muttered.
A second later, his scream echoed in the room. Persephone turned, but Hermes was nowhere in sight. She looked up at her husband, eyes narrowed.
“Hades,” she warned. “Bring him back.”
“He isn’t far,” Hades nodded, directing her attention out the open doors where she saw Hermes fall from the cloudy sky, arms and legs flailing.
“Hades,” Persephone repeated. “This is supposed to be a time of peace and joy.”
“This brings me joy,” he said.
She glared at him, and he sighed, bringing Hermes to an abrupt stop, his nose only a few inches from the ground.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling up at him as they passed through the doors to cheers and applause.
“I live by your command,” he said, leaning to kiss the tip of her nose.
She rolled her eyes though she knew it was true. He left her side and approached the children who gathered close.
“The time has come for our annual snowball fight,” said Hades. “Who is ready to battle?”
The children answered in a chorus of cheers, excitement electrifying the air. They were dressed for the cold, though the temperature had yet to drop. Persephone could pick out all the hats, scarves, and mittens Alma had knitted.
“Hmm,” Hades hummed, somehow sounding both amused and doubtful. “I’m not sure you’re excited enough.”
The children screamed again, louder this time, and Hades chuckled. Persephone’s heart squeezed.
“That’s better,” he said, and in the quiet that followed, he lifted his hands. He did not need to use any sort of physical movement to bring about the snow. It could come with a simple thought, but the display was for the children, who appreciated the magic of the moment and watched on in awe.
“He will make a lovely father,” said Hecate.
“The best,” said Persephone. She felt the truth of those words so keenly in her heart, it brought tears to her eyes.
The sky grew darker and the temperature dropped, and as the first few flurries began to fall, Hecate spoke. “If only he believed it.”
Persephone sat in the ballroom threading cranberries onto string while Alma stitched and stuffed felt ornaments. The shouts and screams of children playing reached them through the doors, now closed to keep in the warmth.
“How has no one declared victory yet?” Yuri asked, gazing out the windows. The courtyard was crowded with snowmen of all sizes. Beyond, the Underworld’s vast landscape was covered in about six inches of packable snow with which Hades and Hermes had constructed their own fortresses. After their verbal sparring match, Apollo took Hades’s side in the battle, which meant Hyacinth also chose the God of the Underworld. Hermes was still complaining about it.
“One of them would have to concede,” said Persephone with a deep sigh.
