Heartbeat and Sunlight
By: Wilona Riva
Disclaimer: Okay, I don't own Labyrinth. Happy now? Yeah, and I don't own the lyrics to the songs from the soundtrack either. Lyrics are from "Within You", "As the World Falls Down", and "Underground".
"Live without the sunlight," Jareth crooned to the mortal girl, "love without your heartbeat."
Sarah turned in shock and stared at the Fae King of the Labyrinth. Her eyes swept back to the little boy she was trying to rescue. Time was running short and this Escheresque room was killing her vision.
"I can't live within you," Jareth whispered-sang into her mind. Sarah watched helplessly as Jareth waved one black gloved hand and Toby vanished forever.
"TOBY!" she cried, then sank to the ground. "I'm sorry!"
"Relax, Sarah," the Goblin King said, kneeling down beside her. "The game is not over. We are in a bubble of time. I want to listen to me, then if you must, say the words. The game will be over and all of this will be a dream."
She looked up at him with tear-streaked eyes. "A dream?"
"Yes," he admitted reluctantly. "A dream."
"Alright, Jareth," she said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "What do you want now?"
"Just you, Sarah," he whispered, caressing her face with one gloved hand. "This has always been about you. I never took Toby; he's always been safely in his bed. My goblins are excellent babysitters."
"I..."
"Shhh!" he said, placing his index finger on her lips. "I lovae you, Sarah. I watch mortals from time to time in the human world, and none have ever caught my attention like you. You are the candle and I am the moth. Stay with me forever. I'll paint you mornings of gold. I'll spin you Valentine evenings. Though we're strangers 'til now, We're choosing the path Between the stars."
Sarah gulped. Jareth's words, repeated from their dance in the ballroom, did funny things to her, things she'd never felt before. "All of this is a dream?" she repeated.
"Yes and no," he told her. "Sarah, the bubble will fade in a moment. I must have an answer. Will you stay with me?"
Sarah rose to her feet; the Goblin King following suite. They stared at each other for a moment, then Sarah smiled.
"That was you I saw in the park this morning," she stated. "I thought I heard someone singing."
Jareth grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of neck. "Well..."
"Flirt," she teased, grabbing his shirt and pulling him towards her. "All you had to do was ask."
Jareth actually blushed to the roots of his hair as his dear mortal maid gave him her answer with her lips.
"It's thirteen o'clock, Sarah," he murmured, as they broke apart. He could hear the clock chiming from the throne room.
"Does it matter?" she countered. "As long as Toby is safe and my parents are happy, you are all I need, Jareth, forever."
"Forever is not long at all," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
