A/N - The majority of this story is already written so I am hoping to post fairly regular updates. I hope you enjoy :)

Standard disclaimer ... any characters and plot references from the movies belong to Jim Henson.

Chapter 1

Jareth sat lounging in his throne staring aimlessly into the crystal resting in his gloved palm. It was a scene that had become all too familiar for the goblins since she had come and gone. They knew he was watching her and contemplating his loss. They also knew it was best not to disturb him, which offered a small measure of relief for the Fae king. When his mind was focused on the mortal that had bested him, the antics of his subjects only served to sour his mood.

Watching her through the orb as she participated in her graduation ceremony, he admired how she had grown and cursed that she did not and could not place what had caused that change. He knew that no mortal who entered his kingdom could remember their time there, but he had hoped it could have been different for her. She had won! She deserved to keep her memories of his realm – of him. But like all the others, when she awoke the morning after her adventure, it was nothing more than a dream. The lessons had remained, but she could not remember how she had learned them.

The Labyrinth was meant to be a test, and it was one that most did not even attempt. It was for the good of the wished away. Toby was the first child in Jareth's recent memory that would not have been better off staying in the Underground. More often than not, those that uttered the words did so due to a true desire to rid themselves of the child. For those wishers, forgetting the child and their failure was a gift they did not deserve. Yet, for Sarah the same gift was a curse.

He had felt the subtle shift in the air before he heard the nervous mutterings of the goblins announcing the arrival of his unexpected guest. Without looking up Jareth sighed, "And to what do I owe this pleasure, Sire?"

"Is it not the duty of the High King to make sure his lands are being seen to properly?" Jareth allowed his gaze to connect with Oberon's but did not rise to acknowledge the elder king.

"The last I checked the Goblin Kingdom was as it always has been." The bitterness in his tone could not be helped. Resentment still lingered from the argument three mortal years ago. He had demanded Oberon leave the girl's memories intact claiming it the right of a champion. The High King had refused to alter the rules and left both siblings with no knowledge of what transpired that night.

"On the surface perhaps," Oberon stated leniently, "Despite what you may think I am no fool, Jareth. I can see that you are still distracted, and it affects more than just you. I have never seen a kingdom so on edge." He pinched the bridge of his nose, and Jareth winced. Such an open display did not bode well for what was about to come. Disappointing no one, the High King bellowed, "Enough is enough! The mortal is gone – forget about her."

The anger he felt towards the Fae before him boiled over. "She is only gone because you refused my request. Had you not ripped all memory of me from her mind, she would be by my side! The mood of this Kingdom is your doing."

Oberon's brows lifted in puzzlement. "And what makes you certain she would have chosen to return?"

He had not wanted to admit the truth, but in his anger he had played his hand recklessly. Sighing in defeat he weakly admitted, "She is the other half of my soul."

"Are you certain?" Oberon's tone had softened. The acknowledgment of a soul mate was not a light matter for a Fae. "She did reject you."

"There is no question. She was too young to understand at the time, but I have no question that in time she would have begun to. Had she been able to remember me that is," he snarled. "I have watched her and seen. Her mind does not remember, but her soul does. She rejects affection from all suitors, and she does not even know why. You have condemned us both to a life devoid of true happiness, Father." The last word was dripping with venom.

"Had I known what the girl was to you, I would have allowed her to retain her memories. I would never have severed the bond – I have seen the results of that too many times. Why did you not mention this then? "

Jareth rose from the throne and headed to the stairs leading to the Escher Room without realizing his own actions. He stopped in the doorway and hung his head in defeat and shame. "Because, as you said, she rejected me. I knew my own heart, but I could not be certain of hers."

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find the older king. Oberon's face was sympathetic, something he had not seen since he was a child. As one of the many children of the High King not born of the High Queen, Jareth had found Avalon hostile once he reached adolescence. He had retreated to the court of his mother's family which left little opportunity to see the fatherly side of the High King. Seeing it now gave him some comfort.

"Jareth, the child rejected your courtship. Whether she knew what she was doing or not, I am afraid I cannot allow you to court her again in this realm. However, if you are certain that she will not reject you twice, I can allow one more chance."

Jareth looked at his father, his confusion obvious. The rules were clear; he had tried to court the girl and she had rejected him. Unless she came to him willingly, he could not court her again. He knew of no loophole to this law despite many months of searching for one.

As if hearing the unspoken questions, Oberon continued, "The laws forbid you courting her as a Fae but do not restrict courting her as a mortal."

It seemed so obvious; there were separate laws concerning the mortal realm. "That seems too convenient, what is the catch?"

"In order to court her, you would have to be fully and completely human. Your powers and memories would be stripped. As your Champion has no memory of you, you will have no memory of her. You would be provided the opportunity to meet her and court her. Of course …" Oberon did not need to finish the statement and knew it. Without his memories of Sarah his human self would not know that he was supposed to court her. Yet, as soul mates they should be drawn to each other.

"So I am to give up immortality for the chance to court her? What will happen to my Kingdom?" His doubts were surfacing, and he was trying to fight them. He had known that they were fated from the moment they danced in the crystal ballroom. He had felt the pull on their souls, and her eyes had told him she had felt it too. He could not doubt that they would find each other.

"Would you be willing to forfeit both for her?" His father's question cut into his internal dispute and the answer appeased all doubts he had. He would give up everything for her.

"Yes." His voice left no question to his sincerity.

"Then know that if she is as you say – the other half of your soul – you will not have to. Once you have bonded the powers and memories taken will be returned … to you both."

Sarah's memories of him were of the villain her teenage mind had created. She would not have had the opportunity to reflect on her experience as she matured. It would be problematic but not disastrous, he assured himself. "And the Kingdom?"

"I will be convincing your uncle to look after it for you." The gleam in Oberon's eyes was unsettling. Jareth's maternal uncle had been the intended heir to the Goblin Throne. However, he found the responsibilities unsettling and renounced his claim. His uncle's desire to stay as far from the kingdom as he could was well known. What Oberon intended to use to convince him to return was best left a secret. "Do you accept my offer? Will you court her in the mortal realm?"

Jareth knew there was only one answer he could give. His eyes met his father's as he responded, "Yes."