This is just a quick story I wrote when bored. It adresses a question I've always wanted to know - why the hell did Sarah return to the real world? Here's how it could have happened if Jareth's cruel cunning had convinced her to stay.

I do not own Labyrinth or any of its characters.

"Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City, to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom-"

"Stop!" Jareth held his hand in front of him, as if trying to stop the words he was so scared of from coming forth from Sarah's mouth. "Wait." A bubble of pure light appeared, balancing on his fingers. "Look, Sarah. Look what I'm offering. Your dreams."

"And my kingdom as great," Sarah ignored him, continuing to walk forward, Jareth shrinking away from her with every step.

"I ask so little. Just let me rule you and you can have… everything that you want." His words echoed around the crumbling walls of his broken castle, the swirling nothingness beyond threatening to take them both from where they stood on the edge of reason.

"My kingdom as great…" Sarah turned away from Jareth's pleading eyes.

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say… and I will be your slave."

Sarah stood, staring at the floor. Jareth's words seemed to have made an impression on her at last. He took the silence between them as an opportunity to step forward, laying his hand gently upon her neck, lifting her chin so he could gaze into her eyes. Still no words were spoken, until Sarah weakly whispered;

"My dreams…"

"That's right, Sarah," Jareth crooned, "All those beautiful dreams you've had for so long inside your head, all those times sitting, lonely in your room, that you've wished to yourself that they were more than dreams… but dreams is all they are, Sarah, out there in the real world, they are nothing. Unreachable."

Tears welled and flowed freely down Sarah's face as Jareth's words continued to caress her ears. Jareth pressed closer to her, held her tighter, talked faster;

"Think of all that I'm offering you. You needn't suffer any longer, here you'd be a goddess. You'd have friends, subjects, all the things you could ever wish for, and more. I will do anything for you. I would show you all the beauty of the Labyrinth that passed you by in your hurry to get here to the castle. You would want for nothing. And as for the real world…" he passed his hand in front of her face, "… you'd never have to think of it again."

Sarah felt her memories begin to slip away, leaving her mind empty and mouldable, to be filled with the new life she would lead. She began to let it slip away, leaving blissful emptiness. She moaned, clutched tighter to Jareth, never wanting to be left alone. His lips moved and found hers, and he kissed her, softly, gently, caring… Sarah let him. His tongue caressed her lips, then he moved way, kissed her neck, her shoulders, her chest. Sarah let her head roll back, her hair flowing in the wind as they stood, just the two of them, on the brink of nothingness. Then a lone memory pierced her reverie, and she pushed Jareth away. He, spurned, tensed his body as his eyes flashed angry, his raw power and rage obvious for the first time. Then it was gone.

"My brother." Sarah said coldly. "I can't stay here, for his sake."

"Your brother?" Jareth smiled coldly. "You brother will be spoiled, loved, all his whims catered for by your stepmother and your father. You being there would simply get in their way. You know it, Sarah, you've thought it to yourself so many times. Would you really," he lowered his voice in sympathy, so sincere that no one could detect the note of cruel mocking in his voice, "want to ruin their chance of happy families?"

Sarah lowered her head. Suddenly she felt angry. She went to Jareth, her hand raised as if to slap him - and grabbed his shirt with both hands.

"You're right, always right, they don't want me anymore. Not since mother died." Her watery eyes turned pleading. "Let me stay here. Please, please. Give me all that you said you would. Send Toby back to them, unharmed, and then take away my memories of everything before now. I'm yours." She sobbed into Jareth's chest, and he wiped her eyes; she reached up and kissed him, hard, desperately.

"Of course, my true heart," said Jareth as Sarah pulled away. "Anything for you." He waved his gloved hand; a child's cries were heard, then disappeared.

"Toby is gone. Home"

Sarah sniffled. Jareth waved his hand again; her eyes glazed for a moment, then were crystal clear again.

"My love?" she asked enquiringly. "What are we doing here? And why am I wearing these odd clothes?"

"No reason you should worry about, true heart. Something bad happened. But we're together now." Jareth smiled as he spoke, and Sarah broke out into a wide grin.

"Yes. Together." She held Jareth and they embraced long and hard.

Over Sarah's shoulder, a momentary wicked glint clouded Jareth's joyous face. A manipulative aspect to his deep, fierce and jealous love for Sarah; his cruel mind games had served him well.

As always.