Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth, sadly, nor do I own any of the characters.

READ ME! YES YOU! READ ME! This is a re-write. No it's not done, but there were just some errors that were wrecking my life. All current chapters are done. I felt the need to fix this before I could comfortably go on with the story.

Life Could Be a Dream

Chapter One

In the Dark of the Night

"Sarah!" Looking up from her school work, Sarah sighed.

"What?" It had been none other than her stepmother Irene whom called her. It was two years ago that Sarah had run the Labyrinth, and though she had changed, things at home remained relatively the same.

"We're going out now," Irene called back. "Your father is warming the car up. Toby has been fed and put to sleep, we'll be home late!" Sarah rolled her eyes, her parents went out constantly; tonight was no different. They always returned at obnoxious hours of the morning, often leaving Sarah to wonder just what they did on these dates they had.

"Alright, have fun," Sarah called, unmoving from her vanity where she sat. A moment later she heard first the front door, and then a car door close. Before she knew it she was alone again with nothing but her three-year-old brother. She thought briefly about calling Hoggle and her other friends from the Labyrinth.

Over the past two years, Sarah had kept in touch with her mystical comrades from the magical Labyrinth. Sadly, her calls had become more infrequent the busier she became. It was after all, her junior year, and this years finals were really beginning to weigh her down. As soon as I get this done…

Sarah was currently working on some math homework, and had nearly finished it. Tonight was a light night on homework. The teachers were trying to go easy on them with the final exams coming up. She was blissfully un-aware of the white barn owl sitting on a branch outside of her window. She had remained blissfully un-aware of its weekly presence since her defeat of the Labyrinth two years ago.

After a moment, she closed her math book with a satisfied sigh. She had started putting more of herself into her school work, and moving slowly away from her fairy tales. No matter how distracted she became by school work, her imagination would never completely let her un-root herself from her beloved stories.

"Hoggle, I need you," Sarah said into her mirror. It took no more than a few seconds for her dwarf friend to appear in the mirror. He looked a little more than surprised that she had called.

"Sarah, it's good ta' hear from ya," Hoggle said, sitting upon her bed. "How've ya been?" Sarah smiled, as she turned in her chair to face him.

"I've been well, I've got some free time, and I wanted to check in with you. How are things in the Labyrinth?" Hoggle gave a dismissive shrug before answering.

"Same old, everyone's doing well. Ludo and Sir Didymus were busy, said ta' give you their kindest regard."

"That's good to hear, what have they been up to lately?"

"We've been working around the castle mostly. Thought fer sure Jareth would have us all chucked in an oubliette, but he just wanted to make sure that none of us would be runin' off to help more players." Sarah looked at bit surprised at this. She couldn't imagine Jareth being lenient.

"That was… kind of him," Sarah said slowly.

"That it was. Listen Sarah, not to seem in hurry, but I've got some things to finish up. We'll talk again soon won't we?" Hoggle looked at her worriedly as he finished his statement. Sarah tried to hide the disappointment in her voice as she put on a smile and nodded.

"Of course, summer is coming up soon. I will have a lot more time then." Hoggle smiled, looking as though a weight had been lifted.

"Good ta' hear Sarah, we don't see enough of ya these days." With that said, Hoggle waved goodbye, and was gone.

Sarah sighed; it was always so lonely when Irene and her father went out. It wasn't as though she would hang around them or anything, but just their presence in the house helped.

"I wish I had someone to talk to," Sarah said wistfully to herself. It was then that she was startled by a clicking noise coming from her window. Cautiously, she looked over to see the same snow white barn owl from two years ago pecking it's beak upon her window. It couldn't be… no… I'll just open the window and scare it away…

Rising from her chair, Sarah made her way over to the window thinking the bird would be frightened and fly away. When it didn't, she opened the window with the intent to shoo it away. No such thing occurred, for as soon as she opened the window, the owl flew in before she could act.

Turning around quickly, Sarah watched as the owl disappeared in a cloud of sparkling dust, and in its place stood none other than the Goblin King. Sarah's mouth was agape, she didn't know what to say or do. This has to be some kind of dream… A math homework induced dream…She tried to convince herself that she had fallen asleep over her home work. After pinching her hand a few times and not waking she realized that the Goblin King had indeed just flown through her window, and was waiting for her to speak.

"What are you doing here..?" Finally Sarah had found her voice as she stared at the handsome king before her. She regarded him warily, unsure of what to think of his visit.

"You wished for someone to talk to, did you not?" Jareth had a smirk on his face as he watched her try to sort through her confusion.

"Y… Yes, but I didn't expect…"

"You should really be careful what you wish for Sarah. I thought you would have learned that by now," Jareth said.

"Why would you bother answering to any wish I made?" Sarah still didn't seem to be able to accept the fact that he was here, standing in her room, trying to start a conversation with her. "Shouldn't you hate me or something for defeating you?"

"Oh, Sarah, you don't give me nearly enough credit. On the other hand, it appears I've given you too much; as you cannot even remember the story." Jareth shrugged it off, not letting her question his statement. "Either way, I'm not that poor a loser," he replied with mock offense, his mismatched eyes glittering in the dimly lit room.

"I suppose not." Sarah looked Jareth over noticing he was doing the same to her. He looked the same as always. He was wearing the same outfit she had seen him in when he had sent the "cleaners" after her. It was a rather unpleasant memory. "Well, since you are here, what do you want to talk about?"

"Sarah, that is up to you. It was you who wished for someone to talk with," The Goblin King replied. She had grown up, her face was more angulated, and her body more curvaceous, the way a woman's body should be. Her hair was about the same length, longer if anything. Her eyes, those same burning emerald orbs that had first enthralled him, were just as fiery as ever.

"Well, I can't say I honestly believed someone would magically appear in a sparkly mess in my room for me to converse with," Sarah retorted. Jareth only smiled at her attitude, which also happened to be the same as he remembered it. He had watched her transform into this young woman, but he would never let her know that. "How did you even hear me? Were you watching me?" Sarah managed to sound offended.

"You could say that," Jareth said evasively, still grinning.

"Apparently you Fae have no problems with stalking," Sarah said turning away from him. Jareth laughed if all but a bit coldly at her statement.

"What's wrong with keeping a bit of an eye on the only mortal to ever defeat my Labyrinth?" Sarah opened her mouth for what Jareth assumed to be another witty reply, but he cut her off. "I am here because I happened to be passing through and heard you, if you wish for me to leave; all you have to do is say so." With a sigh, Sarah shook her head. More like watching and heard me…

"You're here now; as long as you promise not to take some helpless baby then I don't see why you can't stay for awhile." Jareth turned serious for a moment.

"Sarah I only take children who are unwanted, in most cases the one running the Labyrinth does not wish to have the child back quite as badly as you did. Most times they are older siblings, like you were, and choose to take their dreams instead." Jareth watched her expression as he said this.

"I often wonder what it would have been like if I had accepted my dreams," Sarah said slowly, more to herself than to him. She wondered what allowed her to be so calm around him; after all, he was her enemy. At least that's what she told herself to fuel her way through the Labyrinth. The arrogance Jareth held disappeared for a moment.

"I can show you Sarah, what you could have had if you had chosen to stay with me," Jareth said slowly. "I've never offered a mortal the option of remaining with me before you." Sarah returned her gaze to the Goblin King, trying to decide if she could take him seriously.

"You would do that for me… After all that's happened, just let me see what I could have had?" Jareth gave a seemingly noncommittal shrug.

"If you wish…"

"Why, why would I want to see what my dreams could be only to have them ripped away from me…?" Sarah turned away again, thinking of dismissing him.

"I will make a deal with you Sarah. I will give you three days with me in my castle, with everything you've ever wanted. If you decide that you truly wish to stay, then I will only ask one thing of you…"

"What would you ask of me?" Sarah was quick to jump the gun. "I will not trade my brother, or…" Jareth cut her off just as quickly.

"No, no dearest Sarah, this is something that will come from you. It will involve no one else," Jareth said. "You are in no way bound to give me anything if you decide to return to your ordinary life here." Sarah looked at him, fear, intrigue, desire, confusion, all swirling around her emerald gaze.

Sarah would be eighteen in three days; she had started school late and as such was one of the older girls in her class. His offer seemed harmless enough, but could she really trust him?

"No strings attached?" Sarah couldn't take her eyes off of the handsome Fae before her.

"None at all," Jareth said, slowly offering her his hand. "Will you come with me?"

"What about Toby?" Jareth smirked, Sarah truly had started to grow up. Any other girl would have completely forgotten her duties at home. "Also, what of my school work? I don't want to fall behind."

"Think of it this way dearest, if you decide to return to your droll life here, I will reorder time back to this very moment and you will have missed nothing. If you do decide to stay with me, however, I will see to it that the child comes to no harm, and that your parents and school think nothing of your absence…"

It seemed fair enough, but Sarah was beginning to wonder what Jareth could possibly want from her. She knew he was powerful, but could he really do all of this? A picture of her parents enraged at her negligence and disappearance for three days was forcing its way into her mind. Though she didn't particularly trust Jareth, his words were straight forward, and she knew that the Fae were not able to openly lie with out enduring some sort of pain.

"You give me your word? You'll let me come home if I say no?" Sarah asked seriously. She almost couldn't believe she was doing this, but the "what ifs" had plagued her so often, if nothing else she could finally put them to rest.

"Of course," Jareth replied. There was no humor or trickery in his gaze. Hesitantly she reached forward and took his outstretched hand. A cold laugh resounded around the room as she felt the world turn around her; they both disappeared in a cloud of glitter.

Author's Note:

I don't know what compelled me to write this, probably all of the Labby fiction I have been reading lately. As of right now I see this story as being relatively short, but I promise to make it good. Just what does Jareth want from Sarah, and why is he being so kind to her? Keep reading, and as always please review and let me know what you think.