Chapter Three Herc waited patiently for Meg in her garden. Tonight everything seemed so magical and perfect. For the first time Meg was the one who was late, and not her hero. He could hardly contain himself, standing up, sitting down, and pacing back and forth. He was about to explode from the tension when he heard a soft voice. "Herc? Oh Herc? Honey where are you?" "Meg! I'm over here Meg!" he called her over excitedly and kissed her. "I'm so sorry I'm late honey, but Iris needed help delivering a message." "That doesn't matter, all that matters is that you're here with me now." He pulled her up close to his chest and gazed into her eyes. "Oh wonderboy..." she gazed back and noticed he was almost tearing in his eyes. She looked to him worried. "Hercules...is something wrong?" "You are so beautiful..." he said, never breaking his gaze. "Thank you...but sweetheart you look as if you're about to cry." He smiled "I'm just so happy...I knew from the moment I saw you, you were something special." Meg blushed and looked down. "But you know what makes this garden the most special place to be with you?" Meg looked up curiously. "Because it was here that i realized I was in love with you." A tear rolled down her cheek "Oh Herc...I'm speechless...I love you." Herc smiled and and kissed her again. He guided her to a bench, and knelt on one knee in front of her, and held her hand. "Meg, these last two years have been the most wonderful years of my entire life. You fill every need inside of me, when I'm with you i don't feel so alone...i feel like i belong. I cherish you with all my heart and soul...and I want to spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel what I feel inside............... Megara.......will you marry me?" Herc pulled out a ring and held it in front of her. Meg paused, tears rushed down her face. The whole world grew dark and spun around her. All she could see was Herc, now biting his lip. Her stomach rose, and she could feel her heart sink. A million thoughts were racing through her mind, and she felt as if she were going to faint. "I...I...I..." This was the guy she was waiting for all her life. "Meg..." herc said softly. All of her spunk and attitude left her, and fear raced through her heart. Never in her whole life had she been so scraed, not even working for Hades. She stood up in tears. "I can't!!!" Then she ran off in tears leaving Hercules speechless on one knee.                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Seph took the rose from Hades, and almost smiled. "Don't think one little rose is going to fix everything Hades..." "Of course not babe, I love ya, I'm crazy bout ya...Seph..." Hades grinned evily. "Hades...do you really love me?" Seph looked up to him with doubt in her eyes. "I married ya didn't I?" A frown tainted her face. "You had to...you made that stupid bet!" Hades shrugged as if he could care less. "Well we can't do anything bout it now can we? You're stuck with me honey." He said sarcastically hoping to get a rise out of her. Disapointment filled her face as she silently walked out of the room and muttered, "You will never love anyone." She left the room, and he exploded with anger. "WHAT?!? Oh I could KILL HER!!!" he snapped himself out of the woods and onto earth. he trudged to the woods.                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the same time Meg ran through the woods tearing her dress, crying. The forest was probably the worst place for her to be considering her stae. It was thick with danger, darkness, and magic. Still she ran deep into it, untill she couldn't even see the moonlight. Hades was storming around as usual and also went deep into the forest. Meg ran faster alone, cold, scared, and her dress torn. She heard something behind her and ran even faster looking behind her all the same. Untile finally she ran into something tall, strong, and hot. She fell on her back and looked up at the looming figure. Oh no, she thought, I'm going to die out here. Hades looked down at her unable to see her face, but could make out a silhouette of a woman. "Well hello there..." his tone cunning and hypnotic. Meg froze with fear and saw a hand reach out for hers. She accepted it and surprisingly got pulled up right into him. Her face and her hands on his chest now, he looked down at the top of her head. "Well then..." he reached an arm around her waist smoothly. "S...s...sorry sir...weak ankles." She looked up and her eyes widened with fear as she saw Hades' face. He looked down at her and nearly jumped ten feet. "YOU!!!" They both yelled angrily.