Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth or any of its characters. I wish I owned the Goblin King – I'm either a really bad sister or have terrible self-discipline, because if Jareth had said to me, "Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave," I would've said, "Screw the kid, let's do this." Whoops!

Note: I'm flying by the seat of my pants here and have no beta reader. Much as this fact irks me and I can't believe I'm posting without one, I feel the need so I'm doing it. Flame as needed if that's how you get your jollies.


"Sarah," Irene greeted warmly, embracing her stepdaughter as she entered their home. "It's been much too long."

"I know," Sarah agreed regretfully. "I'm sorry. Work has been intense. Final exams and angry students, it's that time of year."

Irene took her coat with one hand and waved dismissively with the other. "Well, we're just glad you're home now. Your father is still at work, but he'll be home soon. Toby and Charlotte are upstairs. They have so been looking forward to seeing you."

Sarah grinned and jogged up the stairs immediately. She cherished her younger siblings. When she'd been a frustrated teenager, baby Toby had seemed nothing but a nuisance, but as she grew older she began to adore spending time with him. She was already out of the house, a full-fledged college student when Charlotte was born, and so she was eager for any opportunity to spend time with them now.

She halted as she approached Charlotte's room, hearing Toby's stern voice speak to the little girl. "How many times have I told you not to touch my things, Charlotte? If it's in my room, don't touch it!"

Sarah shook her head with a smirk and stepped around the corner into the room. "Now Toby, what's wrong with sharing? I remember sharing many of my things with you once upon a time."

Toby's blonde head turned swiftly, and his eyes lit up excitedly. "Sarah!" he cried, and ran toward her. He engulfed her in a bear hug, causing her to stumble and laugh aloud.

At twelve, Toby had grown into a strapping young lad. He was broad-shouldered and nearly as tall as Sarah. He had dimples when he smiled that could melt the iciest of hearts. But his beaming smile quickly faded as he frowned back at Charlotte who had risen from the floor to also come greet Sarah.

"Can't I just hug my sister without you bothering me?" he asked scornfully.

Sarah's mouth dropped open in surprise at his angry tone, not liking the genuinely hurt look on Charlotte's face. She let go of Toby and motioned the young girl to her, kneeling down to pull her close in a protective embrace.

"What in the world is going on with you, Toby? I'm her sister too." Sarah stroked Charlotte's strawberry curls and kissed her forehead. She wondered if she'd ever been so cruel to her little brother.

"He hates me. I can't do anything right," Charlotte told Sarah in a small voice, her eyes teary.

"He doesn't hate you, my darling," Sarah assured her, continuing to stroke her hair while glaring up at Toby. "Tell you what, you stay here with Lancelot," Sarah held out the bear that she'd picked up from the floor next to them with a fond smile and offered it to her little sister, "And Toby and I will go downstairs and help cook. That'll get him out of your hair for a little while." She winked conspiratorially, and Charlotte nodded with a crooked grin.

Sarah stood and looped her arm around Toby's neck, leading him out of the room with her toward the stairs.

"What's gotten into you, little brother? It's not like you to be so mean." Sarah glanced at him with concern, brows furrowed.

Toby shrugged. "She's so annoying. Since I turned twelve, Mom and Dad think I'm old enough to watch her now when they go out. It's like I'm always having to look out for her and it gets on my nerves."

Sarah chuckled and cuffed him lightly on the ear. "Toby, what do you think I went through? I understand, trust me, but cut her some slack. She's six. Do you know what you were like at six? I came home from school to look after you while Charlotte was being born, and if I remember correctly when I tried to stop you from drawing on the wall you jumped on me and bit my nose."

Toby laughed and shook his head. "Fine. I'll try to go easy on her."

As they entered the kitchen, Irene turned to them with a smile, wiping her hands on a towel. "It makes my heart happy to see you together. The house feels alive when you're here, Sarah."

Sarah flushed at the compliment and moved toward the refrigerator. "I'm always glad to be home." She pulled out the several bags of vegetables in the crisper. "Did you need all of these chopped?"

"Oh yes, dear, if you wouldn't mind." Irene flitted about the kitchen pulling out other ingredients for her grand dinner.

Toby joined Sarah at the counter and accepted the second knife she pulled from the block, and began to chop vegetables with her in tandem.

"I guess I won't ask the goblins to come and take her away," Toby suddenly ventured, and Sarah's knife slipped, embeddeding solidly into the chopping table.

"What did you just say?" she questioned, staring at him with narrowed eyes. Her heart was pounding. Surely he didn't remember…

Toby didn't seem to sense her tenseness. He laughed, oblivious, and continued chopping. "I read it in one of the old books I found in the attic when I helped Mom pull out some of your toys for Charlotte."

Sarah swallowed hard and turned her gaze to Irene, who looked guilty. "I'm sorry, Sarah, I hope you're not upset. You had some lovely things up there and I didn't want them to go to waste."

Shaking her head, she managed evenly, "No, no, I don't mind. I'm happy for them to have whatever I left behind." She looked back at Toby, frowning deeply. "Don't say those words to Charlotte, okay?" Her voice was firm. He stared up at her, confusion on his face.

"What words?" he asked, his befuddlement evident.

"About the goblins," Sarah replied, her gaze intense. "Don't ever say that to her. Promise me."

Toby made a face at her. "It's just a silly book, Sarah. I thought it was funny."

"It's not funny at all, Toby. Promise me right now." Her voice was so deadly serious, the boy paled and gulped.

"Alright, alright!" He chopped at the vegetables with a sullen expression. "I promise. Don't see what the big deal is," he mumbled.

Temporarily mollified, Sarah went back to chopping. She was determined, however, to find that damned book and remove it from the house before she left.