Disclaimer: I do not own anything having to deal with the Labyrinth.

A/N: So I know that this has been posted before, like...how many months ago. I know I had to take it down because it wasn't getting updated. But now, I'm ready to to finish it. So here's chapter one, somewhat edited, but complete. And if y'all do want this to actually stay up and be finished, I'm gonna need some love in the review section. ENJOY!


1: Five Years Later

Sarah scribbled her signature against the freshly printed page of her novel and soon closed it, handing it to the girl before her. She gave the girl a large, fake smile and wished her a good day. When the line of girls wanting Sarah's autograph had died down, Sarah sighed and took a sip of her...now cold coffee. Her agent Jon Came over to check on her.

"How ya holdin' up with your first book signing?" he asked her.

Jon was one of the most good-looking guys you could actually find for an author's agent. He had black hair that puffed slightly and hung around his eyebrows and just above his ears, parting at the forehead as cute bangs that suited him well enough. He had warm chocolate brown eyes that seemed so friendly and kind whenever Sarah needed to confide in him. He had a slim-enough figure and absolutely loved wearing black simply because he knew the color made him look all the more handsome.

Sarah thought a moment and decided to answer his question with a question. "How much longer do I have here?" asked Sarah in a bored and pained tone.

Jon looked at the digital numbers on the cover of his phone. "Actually, right now's about time for your break. Wanna grab a cup of fresh warm coffee?" asked Jon who glanced at her half-drunk cold coffee that Sarah didn't get the chance to drink much of because of all the fans crowding the table for her signature.

"Actually, I'm fine. Thank you. I kinda need to be alone right now," said Sarah as she got up and took her black dress coat off of her chair and slightly ran her hands over her black bangs that ran across her forehead. She had died her hair from brown to black two years ago and decided to stick with it, feeling that the color suited her mood up to the point that it had become a daily routine. She had also decided to cut her bangs just last year, finding it to be a more comfortable hairstyle for her. She found that change was constantly good.

"Alright. Well, be back here in an hour. We have a group coming in from Chicago," said Jon as his phone began to ring. He answered it and walked away.

Sarah sighed and slipped her jacket on, grabbing her black purse from behind her as she began to walk from the desk and near the entrance of the bookstore. She buttoned up her coat on the way and stepped out into the fresh and instant cold Winter afternoon. Nearby sat a cute little cafe where she found a table and sat down, ordering a simple turkey sandwich and a plate of fresh homemade donuts. Soon, she ordered a fresh cup of Vanilla-flavored coffee. She downed her meal and ordered a half a dozen donuts to go just in case she would need them for later. She looked at her phone and saw that she still had a half an hour left.

She sighed and paid for her bill, heading back out into the freezing cold. She tightened her jacket around her and began heading back to the bookstore. Once there, she saw that her line was still empty. Trying to think of a million different ways to pass the time that Sarah was sure would take forever, she decided to go through the Literature section of the bookstore.

After picking up Jane Eyre, The Phantom of the Opera, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Scarlet Letter, and Memoirs of a Geisha to scan over the summery on the back of each book, she stopped at one single, important book.

Her body froze to a rigid stick as she eyed the book before her, her heart feeling as if it had stopped just as her breath caught in her throat. Before her sat a dusty, but new, copy of The Labyrinth, her old all-time favorite book. She took the book off of the shelf hesitantly and studied the cover, then the binding, and then the summery on the back. Immediately, the book brought back memories.

Painful memories.

Mismatched eyes of ice blue and warm brown, lips that were made for only Sarah to kiss, a ruffled nest of platinum blond fluffy hair, the strong body...Jareth. She felt something inside of her stir. Something painful. Something like the memory of how her dreams had gotten herself hurt.

But then again, was it really a dream?

She was never really able to figure that out for herself. If it was a dream, then the fact that she was the happiest she had ever been in her life so far fit the description perfectly...but if it was real, then the memory of the pain of letting him go and leaving a world she had grown to love behind was legit enough to call reality. A reality that she hated and despised all her life.

When her brother Toby had moved to Florida three years ago over the fact that their father had disowned him and Toby's ex girlfriend's father made sure Toby would not see her again, Sarah had come to hate life with a burning passion, unable to find enough comfort in her paintings of those mismatched eyes and the beautiful Labyrinth they ruled and writing stories that had soon enough become a bestseller series nor just phone calls from her parents and from Toby every little once in a while. The permanent scars on her wrists reminded her of the pain she had suffered and had forced her own self to get over.

Sarah shook her head and found her throat aching against the fact that she was fighting back her tears as best as possible. She place the book back where she found it and heard Jon yell her name. Without yell in return, Sarah just remained silent and headed back to the desk where a group was now approaching. Probably the group from Chicago.

Sarah sat down, uncapped her pen and put on her famous smile. An elderly woman slowly made her way up to the desk. She looked sweet and kind. She held out a copy of Sarah's book to her with a smile. "How do you write such beautiful work?" asked the elderly woman.

Sarah gave the woman a sweet and thoughtful smile. "Awe, thank you. I just...write whatever comes to mind," replied Sarah as she signed her name in the book, soon closing it and handing it back to the woman.

The woman smiled once more. "Well, I just hope you'll keep on writing. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book to the king and the girl," said the Woman as she slowly patted Sarah's hand and walked away.

A new woman stepped forward.

Sarah smiled faintly at what the elderly woman had said and repositioned herself in her seat.

-()-()-()-()-

Really, Sarah disliked parties or going to clubs...or anything having to do with having to get dressed up and going to celebrate anything in particular. But the fact that Jon had talked her into going made Sarah cave in and slip on her black dress she hadn't put on in a while. She slipped her feet into her black high-heeled boots and her usual dress coat. She put on a tad bit of makeup and put her hair up in a pony tale and met Jon in his rented limo right outside of the apartment building that Sarah had been living in for two years now.

Sarah was now sitting at a small circular table on high seats in a loud and obnoxious bar. She disliked being in dark, crowded places where music she detested blasted loud from the speakers. She fidgeted with the necklace her mother had sent her for her sixteenth birthday. It was a simple silver heart locket with engraved lettering saying "Sarah" and little vines forming every which way. She had cherished it ever since.

A Fruits Basket drink sat before her, her free hand fidgeting with the straw. Jon, who sat across from Sarah, eyed her carefully. "I'm sorry you're not enjoying yourself," said Jon over the blaring music.

Sarah looked up at Jon and shrugged. "It's alright. I was about due for it anyways. But anywho. What are we celebrating anyway?" asked Sarah.

"Your first book signing, of course," said Jon with a large welcoming smile, his hand immediately resting on Sarah's knee.

Sarah's heart flooded with shock at the sudden close contact. She felt his hand clearly through her thick brown leotards. His grip on her knee was gently and yet I-really-like-you-like-a-lot. It had been five years now since anyone had come into physical contact with Sarah. And to tell the truth, she had missed it. So why swap Jon's hand away like she almost did?

"Look, if you want to leave, that's fine. We can...go hang out at your place," said Jon in a concerned and understanding tone.

Oblivious to what Jon's intentions were, Sarah nodded her head and finished off her drink. "Sounds like a good idea," she said as she slipped from her stool and grabbed her jacket and purse.

Jon took her hand and led her through the crowd and out to the fresh cool air. Once in the limo, Jon was sitting closer than he had on the way to the bar. His hand was back to just resting on Sarah's knee. Sarah was unable to push it aside as she looked down at it.

"Jon? You have a crush on me, don't you." Sarah pointed out.

Jon looked over at Sarah and smiled guiltily. "You caught me," he said as he got closer.

Sarah didn't have a reason to push Jon away. She didn't dislike him and she didn't find herself uncomfortable from his touch. In fact, she found it comforting and refreshing. She closed her eyes and felt Jon gently brush his knuckles against her rosy-red cheek. He moved all the more closer.

"Do you have a problem with it?" asked Jon in a lower voice.

Sarah didn't say a word. So just as she was waiting, she felt Jon's lips press against her's. She kissed back intently and placed her hands on his shoulders.

But before she knew it, flashes of Jareth played before her eyes. She pulled back from the kiss, suddenly finding herself wishing that it was Jareth she was kissing instead. She gasped as soon as their lips broke away. She scooted away partially and covered her mouth, her eyes blinking furiously. "I can't do this. I'm sorry, Jon," Sarah apologized as she breathed heavily.

"No...it's fine. I understand."

Just as if to save Sarah, the limo came to a halt right outside Sarah's apartment building. She frantically tried to get out of the limo as quickly as possible. But when she was finally out, she turned to Jon, bending down so that her eyes were locked on his. "I'll see you Monday," she said as she closed the limo door and headed inside.

On the way into the main lobby, up the three flights of carpeted steps, Sarah had been repeatedly wiping her lips on a tissue from her purse. How could she even allow herself to kiss someone whom she did not love? How?

I miss you, Jareth, she thought as she found herself not strong enough to hold back the rush of tears that came from her eyes as she took out her keys and unlocked her apartment door, heading inside to take a long and relaxing hot shower to wipe away the stress from one evening, let alone one day. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

Tears repeatedly fell from her eyes as she pulled her clothes off of her, getting into the shower. She pulled out her hair that she hardly ever kept down nowadays and turned on the hot water, sobbing as she wished amongst the sound of running water that this pain would all just end. The tears couldn't stop. She was finally letting out all of the tears she had been holding back all of these past how many years of pain.

"I miss you...so...much, Jareth," spoke Sarah through loud hiccuping sobs. "Oh, Jareth..."

-()-()-()-()-

Jareth walked fast-paced down the halls of his castle. Three goblins were scurrying in step with him. "Where is he? He was supposed to be here an hour ago," said Jareth in a persistent voice.

"You must be patient, my King. We know you want to go to the Aboveground, but you must be patient firstly," said one goblin.

Jareth let out an impatient sigh as he entered the parlor of his castle. He froze when he saw the male body of the figure sitting in the armchair facing the burning fireplace.

"Toby. How long has it been?" asked Jareth with a sudden lightness in his voice.

Toby turned his head around and got to his feet. "About two since last I spoke with you," said Toby with a wide smile.

"You have everything you need?" asked Jareth suddenly.

Toby nodded his head. "I even studied all the books you lent me," said Toby as he walked over to a parcel sitting next to him. He opened it up and revealed a stack of old books about the Labyrinth and Goblin City. Even the castle. Basically, everything about the Underground.

"Now if you shall ever need me..." Jareth extended his hand just as a crystal ball appeared.

Toby eyed the crystal ball and took it, finding it to be as light as a feather and feeling as solid as it looked. "How does it work?" asked Toby with sudden intrigue.

Jareth took the crystal ball for a demonstration. "If you turn it this way..."

Toby saw and smiled. "Ah..."

"Now, my good man. I have matters to attend to. I shall come and check up on you in about three years. I have my most faithful servants who shall help you when you need guidance or opinions on a matter. Good luck," said Jareth as he gave a manly pat on the Toby's back.

Toby smiled and nodded his head. "Thank you. Take care of my sister," said Toby before Jareth walked away. Once Jareth was outside of his castle. He hesitated before disappearing. He turned around and took one last look at his castle. Although he will be away for two days just up in the Aboveworld, it will still feel like forever.

He took in a deep breath and snapped his fingers. Before he knew it, he was in an alleyway of some city. All he thought of was the city where Sarah was. The night was black with a bright full moon in the city sky. All around him, people were rushing by. A city indeed.

He checked to make sure no one was looking as he took out a crystal ball, thinking of the apartment building where Sarah was. Just as he had thought about it, he was standing right beside it. He smiled and the crystal ball disappeared.

He took a step forward, but froze. He looked down at what he was wearing. Cream breeches, a black opened-poet top, black boots, and a deep navy blue waistcoat. He was still wearing his royal Goblin necklace that marked him as king.

He snapped his fingers and in one blink of an eye, Jareth's hair was cut into a short blonde hairstyle. But not too short. He wore black jeans, black shoes, a navy blue button-up dress shirt, and a cream jacket. His usual royal Goblin necklace still hung around his neck in a more smaller fashion.

He took another step forward, now ready to face this brand new world...this Aboveground.