Sarah stood in the shadows, her baby brother was getting married and she hadn't been invited. Granted, it wasn't due to Toby not wanting her there; in fact he'd asked her to come. It had been their parents who had disagreed. No one believed she was alive; they'd fabricated that lie when they discovered she wasn't aging. Who would believe that a woman who looked to be only in her twenties would be the older sister of a man in his late thirties?

Sarah could feel the snarl on her lips, the growl flowing through her throat over her tongue to pass across her lips. She would stay to the shadows, but she would be there for her little brother's wedding. She didn't care if no one saw her, what mattered to her and always would was Toby. Even more so, she had the feeling this would be one of the last times she saw her family. Her mother had already died, years ago now. All that was left to her was her father and Toby.

She and Karen had never gained peace with one another. In fact, once she became an adult, their rows became even more vicious. Karen had wanted Sarah out of her house, despite the fact that Sarah's mother had been the owner and left it to her daughter, to be held in keeping until she was eighteen. In fact, it was to be her wedding present to Toby. The deed was already waiting on the table of presents, she'd snuck it in there as they were setting up for the wedding. Who would notice a lone woman sneaking in past all the commotion?

Feeling the tears gathering, she swiped angrily at her eyes. Now was not the time to cry. She could fall apart later. In the meantime, she had a wedding to attend, discretely of course. Stepping out of the shadows, she looked down at what she had managed to find that had been suitable to wear. It was a soft green dress, with thick spaghetti straps and a square neckline. She'd let her hair down, needing nor wanting no other adornment to mark her as notable. Not that she had much anymore.

Ignoring the stinging in her eyes that marked the onslaught of tears once more, she walked briskly across the street, joining the well-dressed crowd who were all headed to the same place. It seemed that her brother's fiancée was well off, if the clothing these people were wearing were any indication. She knew that he brother wasn't one who would want his wedding to be like this; if anything he was more like her. It didn't help that she was the one who raised him. Even when she had graduated high school, she had stayed close by.

Theirs was a bond that would not be destroyed anytime soon. Thus her need to be here, to see him marry. Even if he would not truly know she was there, she was sure he would know in his heart if not in his memories. Chewing on her lip, she ignored the way that it chafed at her already chapped lips. She focused on blending with the crowd headed into the church. She was honestly surprised that her brother had not talked his wife-to-be into a wedding in a glade or something.

Shrugging her delicate shoulders, she sat in a pew at the very back of the church's grand hall. The light filtering in was beautiful, tinted with the colors of the stained glass surrounding the uppermost windows. She could see now why Toby had chosen this church. Hidden amongst the mosaics, where the obvious signs of Christianity were, were those of an older time. A time that had long been forgotten, whoever had designed the church was of the old religion. Scattered here and there were invitations to the sidhe.

Letting a gentle smirk cross her lips, she settled back against the pew. She would be stronger here with those sigils. There was not much that Karen or even her father could do if they actually did spot her. With a soft sigh, a glamour settled over her, hiding her from those who would not welcome her presence, yet not strong enough to keep her brother from seeing her if he so chose. She let her head fall forward, so that she was watching the proceedings through not only her eyelashes, but a fringe of her hair.

Soon the chatter of near five hundred voices faded to a dull murmur. She looked to the front only to see her brother standing there, looking straight at her. With a small wave and a heart formed from her hands, she let him know that she had seen that he had noticed her presence. Raising a finger to her lips, she smiled at him as she tilted her head to look at their father who it seemed was to be his best man.

Nodding shortly, he too formed a heart out of his hands, briefly so that none would (hopefully) notice his actions. She could feel his happiness radiating through their bond. As she continued to age and he did not, she was not looking forward to when his death would bring about the end of their bond. It was the last true link they had to the other. By the time of the reception, she would be gone. She had much she needed to do.

Sarah startled when someone took a picture of her, she hadn't expected someone to be taking pictures of the guests during or before the wedding. It wasn't something she'd ever seen anyone do before. She had to admit that it was kinda cool, unexpected for sure, yet now she knew that Toby would have proof she was there. She let her glamour drop, so that he would have the true her, it was a small concession to him.

Watching as they prepared to take another picture of her, she let a truly happy smile shine forth. Toby was worth this, baring her soul even so briefly would bring him happiness. She felt that the next she saw him would be his deathbed. So here and now, she would let him immortalize her within these pictures from his wedding, smiling, happy and as carefree as she could manage. She glamoured make up, just a hint of blush, a dark red lipstick along with eyeliner so dark it made her hazel eyes like liquid.

As the wedding began, those who had been scattered throughout the guests taking pictures, made their way to surround the bride and groom at strategic positions. They would maximize all the angles they could of them. Laughing, she watched as the flashes began to go off, almost as if the paparazzi had found a star alone without their escorts. Soon the priest was announcing that the groom may kiss the bride. She smiled with pride when he swept her back, his arm bracing her as he moved the veil off of her face. It gave Sarah the perfect opportunity to see the woman his brother had married, she was beautiful. It was a softer beauty that Sarah herself, not as broken or sharply defined as Karen's. She was gentle, rounded curves as her blue eyes did their best to mimic the summer sun. Peaches and cream, blended well with her white blonde waves.

She suited Toby in a way no other woman could. She wished them happiness. She was standing to leave when her father turned to her. She stopped in her tracks, she hadn't expected this. Sarah started muttering beneath her breath. She watched as her father held up his hand in as stop motion, the look on his face and in his eyes beseeching her not to leave, not just yet.

Nodding at him, she sank back down into her seat. Ignoring the indignant muttering of those around her, as those self-same people began to stand themselves and head to the reception, she stayed put. She would grant her father this one last moment. Hearing laughter, she looked up only to find not only her father, but Toby and his new wife standing at the edge of her pew.

"Sarah…" Toby whispered, his tone that of wonderment, "You came… I… I thought you wouldn't. Not after that last fight you had with Mom."

Sarah frowned at him, "I wouldn't have missed this for the world. Despite appearances, you're my baby brother, I would have to be dead to have not come."

Sarah's father gave a snort of laughter before he spoke, "Isn't that what you are? Dead? According to Karen and I…" He sighed, looking far older than his seventy years, "I'm sorry darling. I never… I couldn't take Karen's nagging. Just… Always remember I love you, I always will… You're my daughter."

Sarah spotted movement out of the corner of her eye, and with this she stood and called out, "You sir!" Once she had the man's attention, she motioned him to them, "Would you mind? We need just a couple more pictures…. Please…"

The man shrugged seeing it was the bride and groom as well, "Whatcha need?"

"I would like a picture of all of us together, then I would like a picture of my brother and myself," At which point she motioned between Toby and herself, "I'd also like a picture of just my father and I… Then, if the bride wouldn't mind… A picture with her." The cameraman nodded, eyeing the group, before shrugging again.

"Sure. I can do that."

Soon all the pictures had been taken, along with some he had asked them to pose for. She didn't mind. These would be the last physical reminders they would have of her. "Make sure… Your children and their children, make sure they never forget me. We are family. Whether they meet me or not, I will always come when I am needed." With that, she was gone. They would discover what she had left them when they reached the reception hall.

She had a mission. She would discover all that she could of her magic, the gifts that her beloved King had granted her. Then she would find him, tell him what she had learned and that she was ready to be his wife. There would be no other for her. After all, who could beat a king of an entirely different realm? She smiled, it was a beautiful smile, full of peace at what was going to come. Little did she know, Jareth was missing, his kingdom in disarray, nor was she aware of any of the prophecies dealing with her and her king. Along with the fate of the woman she hadn't even noticed was missing from the wedding, the woman who had so furiously refused to let Sarah come. There was plenty of time for the mysteries of that day to come back and haunt her. There was so much to see, and to learn. This was one of those things.