Kelith burst into the dining hall with a bright "Baby!", launching herself at Hades just as he began to rise from his chair. He never had the chance—she collided with him mid-movement, forcing him to fall back into the seat as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her cheek nuzzled insistently against his, her voice trembling with affection.
"Mama missed you so much! Baby, did you miss me too?"
Eight days apart wasn't long by anyone else's standards, but for these two, it might as well have been an eternity. Their bond was a world of its own, and everyone present simply watched the scene unfold with practiced acceptance.
Peri sighed under her breath. "If only the others could see this side of her."
Luna giggled softly. "Who? Her soldiers, or the ones who saw her face right before dying?"
Marilyn chimed in, hands on her lap. "Both. They would be shattered. Her Majesty becomes a completely different being once she slips into her queen persona."
