AN: So, I've seen eight million of these where Sarah forgets her memories of Labyrinth (which sometimes I have trouble seeing, unless it's due to some kinda trauma/brainwashing. You have to admit, it's kinda an unforgettable thing to go through...), but there are absolutely ZERO where Jareth loses HIS memories of what happened. Don't worry, it's still SarahxJareth. I'm not going to Mary Sue up my favorite fantasy movie of all time.

Disclaimer: Labyrinth is sole property of the Jim Henson Company, not me. I'm borrowing all the goblins and such, as well as the Goblin King for an undisclosed amount of time. I'll be returning him soon enough.

Unforgettable

By: DemonSaya

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Chapter 1

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Forgotten

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Sarah stared at Jareth's form, sleeping on her floor and tried to come to terms with what had happened that evening. Jareth was the owl. The owl was Jareth. She realized quite suddenly that she remembered the owl from her childhood at her father's house, that it was frequently around her house, both before, and after that night where she fought for and won back her beloved baby brother. Yet this was the first time in so long that she'd seen the man. Her breath sobbed out of her and she realized that she was very near tears. "Oh, god, Jareth..." She fell to her knees, rolling him onto his back, touching his face, noting he didn't look a day older than he had so long ago.

She wished she could say the same.

She'd always felt inadequate in his presence, save for that inspired moment when she amazingly remembered her line from the play. She ran her hands over his face and hair, her breaths coming shorter and shorter. She was panicking. She was distressed, excited, miserable, and overjoyed. It only hit her now, how badly she truly longed to see him. Those mis-matched eyes opened and looked up at her and she saw a blank, empty stare. It cut her to the quick. "Jareth?"

He didn't answer, sitting, looking around, as though confused. "I was a bird." He said evenly, as though he couldn't puzzle out how he'd gone from bird to man. He looked towards her. "Did you change me?" He looked down at his hands, testing them, then, he made a decision. "No, this is how I am..." He said it with such confidence, but his eyes showed anything but. They were filled with doubt, confusion.

She fell back onto her backside. "Wh...What?!" She whispered, feeling as if a hand were in her chest, squeezing her heart dry. No! He couldn't have forgotten her...then again, what if time moved differently in the Labyrinth? He said it did. He could re-order the time, re-arrange the space. Maybe centuries had passed and he couldn't remember her. Tears filled her eyes. "Jareth...?" She whimpered weakly.

"Who is that?" A confused expression. Those two-toned eyes looked at her, pinned her.

She was going to faint. "Jareth is you...your name is Jareth..." She said softly, the room around her already spinning. She wasn't getting enough oxygen. She had to calm down. She forced a slow breath and the room steadied slightly. There was acceptance, but no understanding in his eyes. He'd accepted the name like one would accept a title. There was no familiarity, really nothing. Just him staring at her as though she were a clue to a puzzle. "You...don't remember, do you." She said flatly.

Those puzzled eyes returned to her. "Remember what?" He asked quietly.

That said enough. She smiled faintly, shaking her head. "It's nothing." She lied, ignoring the itch in her eyes.

He inclined his head, noting the way her eyes were watering. Something inside him ached. He didn't know why, he didn't know where the sensation came from, but he knew it had to do with what had been puzzling him about her since he set eyes on her. "Who are you?" He asked quietly.

She forced herself to stay smiling, even though it felt like she was dying inside. "My name is Sarah. You can stay here...until you can find your way home." She stood, pretending like the room wasn't dipping and turning around her. She failed and felt her knees give. She started to fall, but never made it to the ground.

Faster than thought, Jareth was up, holding her elbows, looking into her face, his face so close to hers, all she could see were his eyes. Her breath sobbed out of her and she closed her eyes, drawing away from him. It was like having her heart broken every time she looked into those eyes that thought she was a stranger. She was crying now and she knew it. Dammit. She didn't want to cry. Not in front of him.

Jareth inclined his head puzzled when she lowered her head and began shaking. He saw something splash on his hand and his mind, feeling much more like swiss cheese than solid matter, put a name on what was happening. He caught her chin, tilting her face up. "You're crying?"

She squeezed her eyes shut, turning her face away from him. "Don't stare..." She whispered furiously. She opened her mouth to snap at him to let her go, but her words were stolen when his tongue started at her cheek and licked the tear away. She trembled, struggling against him, but when she turned her head the other way, he simply cleared away that tear as well. Damn him. He didn't even remember her and he was on the verge of feeling her-

She wasn't calming. If anything, she was getting more upset. He considered releasing her, but she was trembling so hard that he was almost certain if he eased his grip, she'd fall, possibly hurt herself. He put an arm around her waist, stroking her hair gently, trying to calm her. "Don't cry..." He murmured softly, breathing the scent of her hair, faint with the scent of peaches. That must have been the wrong thing to do, because she began crying harder, clinging to him.

He sighed, tired, confused and uncertain, and lifted her easily in his arms, sitting on the couch. He held her against his chest, stroking her hair, hoping to ease her back to her calmed state, so she might be able to give him more information. He wasn't sure what was troubling him about her tears. He had no memory of this woman, yet he knew without a doubt that he knew her. He furrowed his brow in frustration, pressing his nose against her skin, breathing that scent, a scent that tickled his mind, teasing him with a memory he couldn't remember, or forget.

Peaches.

Why were peaches important?

He couldn't find an answer to that question, so he simply held her until she went limp, drifting asleep, her head resting heavily on his shoulder. He brushed her dark hair from her cheek, drying the tracks of her tears as he did so. He frowned deeply, inclining his head. He felt so tired, and his mind felt strangely fuzzy. He knew it shouldn't. For some reason he knew he was supposed to be clever and cunning and wise, but presently, he felt mindless and naive, like a child.

His mind whirled and he lay forward, resting his head against her breasts, listening to the steady beat of her heart. She would be angry when she woke. For some reason, that didn't upset him. Her angry, he supposed, at least wasn't her crying. Besides, he thought sleepily, an arrogant smirk turning up the corners of his lips. At least angry should be entertaining.

He acknowledged the part of himself, which for whatever reason believed that he had achieved some small victory, and he wrapped his arms around her waist as he drifted asleep.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hoggle watered the flowers at the entrance of the Labyrinth, remembering the last time he'd been this far out of the place, looking over the expansive landscape, trying to figure out what it was that was troubling him.

That morning, as the sun rose, he had seen an owl fly over head and the earth shook as it disappeared overhead. He'd figured it was Jareth doing his semi-annual flight to check on Sarah in Aboveground. Until something started gnawing at the pit of his stomach.

He shivered, shaking the remaining drops before tucking himself back into his pants, looking around, thinking about that day twelve years ago when he'd met the best friend he'd ever had. He still wore that little plastic bracelet she gave him, a gift, something to encourage him to take her to the center of the Labyrinth. He could still remember her dragging him down the long corridor, helping save him from the Cleaners.

She was the first friend he'd ever had. The only person who would be friend to a coward like him. Then, a few years ago, she'd called them all for the last time.

There had been tears in her eyes, and she wouldn't explain why, but she said she wouldn't be able to call them any more. It had hurt deeply to see her like that, and frequently, he'd gone to the only person who would know how she was. He'd gone to Jareth. The king never refused the information requested. He would call a crystal and show whoever wished to know the fate of 'That woman' as Jareth had called her.

Seeing her like that had broken his heart. A strong woman, forced to hustle along with her head down, from and to work. Heart sore, he'd kept one of the crystals that could see Sarah, and now and then he would whisper his encouragement, trying anything he could think of to tell her that her friends still cared, would still support her, even if she couldn't call them anymore.

The ground felt fluid suddenly, and for a moment, Hoggle focused back on the present, taking a moment to realize what he was seeing. He paled, backing away from the encroaching darkness. "JARETH!" He cried, turning and running full speed into the Labyrinth, calling it's king.

Just before entering, he turned around for another moment, seeing those black tendrils swallowing the land. The Labyrinth was going to be consumed.

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JARETH!

Sarah bolted upright, or would have, if there hadn't been a slight weight upon her chest. She looked down and flushed dark red, shoving Jareth from her, and heard him crash to the floor as she sprung over the back of the couch, running to her room. Her large mirror was reflecting her face only, but there was no mistake. She'd heard Hoggle's desperate, frightened voice. Why? Why could she suddenly hear the voices that she had not heard since she left home?! "HOGGLE!" She hit the glass, frustrated. "HOGGLE, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"What are you talking to? What's a Hoggle?"

She whirled towards Jareth. "He's my friend, and he was calling you. He sounds scared..." She turned back to the mirror, wanting to break it in her frustration, much like she had when she was in the Labyrinth.

"My dear, I don't think breaking the mirror will bring your friend to you..." He said evenly. He saw her slowly turn towards him, her eyes narrow. He actually felt the urge to back away when she stalked towards him. He forced himself to remain still, even when there was barely enough room between them for air to pass through. His pulse began to race because of her proximity. The scent of peaches filled his nostrils and he breathed it deeply, enjoying is body's response.

She glared up at him. "Show me the Labyrinth, Jareth. I know you can do it." She saw the perplexed expression on his face and the reality settled into her. He didn't remember anything. At all. Not even his home, not even his subjects. She grabbed his arms, desperate. "You have to remember...Jareth, please, they could be in trouble..." She couldn't just sit and do nothing, and Jareth, somewhere, deep down had to remember SOMETHING.

Her words stirred something in him, especially when she said please. He wanted to remember for her, so he turned his thoughts inward, resting a finger against her lips lightly. To his relief she remained silent, giving him the time he needed. He closed his eyes, wincing against the pain running through his head from trying to force memories. Something came to him. Glass. Water. Reflective surface. Crystal globes, circling. Faces in the crystal.

He didn't know why he knew, he just knew. This was magic. This was part of what he was. He could do what she asked of him. He could. His head felt like it was splitting. But he had to remember. For her.

She watched him, noticing that he looked like he was in severe pain. She opened her mouth to speak, but he simply pressed his finger harder against her lips. She closed her mouth, watching his eyes snap open, and the Jareth she remembered was there. Lucid, although there was still confusion in his eyes.

"I know what to do..." He walked towards her mirror, resting his hands lightly against the frame. He concentrated, and within moments, he saw a small creature, dwarf-like running through the walls of what appeared to be a large maze.

"HOGGLE!" She cried, touching the almost fluid surface of the glass. He didn't seem to hear her. She felt tears pierce her eyes. "HOGGLE!"

He spun, his eyes widened and he ran his short little legs faster.

Just as he disappeared from view, darkness began eating at the walls he'd just disappeared through.

Horror filled Sarah. What was happening to the Labyrinth? She turned towards Jareth, and saw a perplexed expression on his face. He still didn't remember? He was looking at halls he'd walked through for ages! He could remember how to do this, so why couldn't he remember his home? His subjects? Her?

"Something tells me that's not good." He said quietly. He saw tears in her eyes and she looked back to the mirror. He stepped towards her, trying not to feel wounded when she backed away from him. "You're crying again." He said evenly, trapped her between her vanity table and himself. Why the devil was he baiting a distressed woman? Ah, yes, because if she was angry, she may stop crying. He leaned closer to her, bringing his chest very close to her own.

She swore viciously, seeing something she'd almost call amusement in his gaze as she did. For someone who lost his memories, he still treated her exactly as he always had. Domineering, controlling...She shivered. Dammit, she thought, looking down so that she'd be looking somewhere besides his mis-matched eyes which she loved so much. She bit her lip, asking what she had to. "What happened to your memories, Jareth?"

He was quiet for a moment, straightening. He closed his eyes, turning his thoughts inward, but winced, shaking his head. "I don't know. I woke as a bird, being pelted by two or three brats with rocks. That is the first memory I have." He said evenly. "Why do you know me?" He asked back

She closed her eyes, and picked up the worn red book on her vanity. "I've known of you for a long time." She lifted her gaze, looking at him. "Goblin King." She said evenly. She saw confusion on his face and shoved the book against his chest. "I have to get ready for work. You seem to have a lot of free time since you're here, and since I can't go there..." She felt tears well in her eyes. "Read it if you want." She pushed him from her room, refusing to look at him or answer his questions.

She closed the door to his startled face and hastily wiped her eyes. She stared at her once again reflective mirror and cringed. Her eyes were heavily tinged red. She grabbed her eye drops and cleared up both eyes, before beginning to apply her modest make-up. She dressed in the simple suit she was expected to wear at her work and tied her hair up into the French twist, also expected. She closed her eyes, hating herself, hating her reflection, hating this mold her step-mother shoved her in. She didn't want to be a secretary. She hated being a secretary.

But she could either have her dreams, or be able to afford to live. She decided that having food in her stomach was more important. It was after she made that choice and sacrificed her dreams, that she said goodbye to her friends, explained she couldn't see them any more.

She wondered what they'd think if they saw her now.

She heard her door creak open and lifted her gaze to the mirror, finding Jareth standing there, his gaze even more confused. She saw the book held tightly in his hand. "What is it?" She asked wearily. Now, her living, breathing embodiment of her dreams stood there, not six feet away, looking at her with those beautiful eyes. A dream she could never have, could never really touch.

He stepped towards her, not certain how to ask this. "Sarah...were we..." He lifted his gaze when he found the words he needed. "Were we lovers?" If that was true, then that would explain the deep attachment he felt whenever he looked at her. The attraction that he couldn't explain. He was certain he'd only met her the night before. But if they were-

"No." She said quietly, heart aching. "We were enemies." She turned towards him, brushing past him as she left the room. It broke her heart. She really cared for him. She loved him. But they weren't lovers. They were opposite sides of a chess board. The King of Darkness, and a Pawn of Light. They would never be anything else.

He caught her arm before she fully passed him. He could see pain in her eyes, and he hated it. He hated her for destroying the only thing that was starting to make sense. His eyes searched her face, her jade eyes, then drifted to her petal pink, glossy lips. There was one way to find out. If she responded, she was lying. Then, maybe everything would make sense again. He drew her close, dipping his head, about to claim her lips when her door bell rang.

She jumped at the sound and backed several steps away from him, breaking his grasp. She forced herself to move towards the door, but he caught her again, pinning her between him and the wall, his face angry. Her stomach tied itself in knots and she swallowed hard. "Jareth-"

"You're not walking away this time." He said quietly and claimed her lips.

She melted. Without meaning or wanting to, her arms wrapped around his neck and she pressed closer to him, and for a moment, she was standing in that fantastic ballroom, The Goblin King's arms around her. It's wrong, a tiny voice reminded her, but she effectively squashed it. She'd wanted this for twelve years, the kiss she'd denied herself. The dream she'd denied herself, hadn't even dared to dream.

He parted her lips easily, feeling even more confused. He knew that this was something he'd wanted for so long, something he'd never had. His pulse was racing, her palms were growing sweaty. The faint taste of mint colored the kiss, and he enjoyed her sweet taste, his fingers digging into her sides as he tried to hold her against him. His vision was blurring, and he realized that his lungs were burning. He needed to breath. With a gasp, he tore his lips from hers, then dove back down, before she could speak, pleased when she met him for the next kiss.

His kiss was so possessive, possessing, it caused tears to fill her eyes. No. No, he didn't really love her, he simply desired her. Those words he spoke before she left him last were just a desperate last ditch effort to win the game. She wanted to fight him, but when again, the kiss broke and he rested his forehead against hers, she was too busy catching her breath to accuse him.

The sound of her doorbell ringing, and her door being pounded on, drew her attention after several, breathless moments. "SARAH! We're going to be late!"

She swore soundly, breaking free of Jareth's now slack grasp and she moved quickly for the door, unable to meet the Goblin King's gaze. Her lips felt swollen, bruised. She opened her door, closed it, and locked it, looking at her friend. "Hi, Tina."

Tina arched an eyebrow. "Sarah...did you just get laid?" She grinned when Sarah flushed.

Sarah straightened her hair and clothing, unable to meet Tina's gaze any easier than she'd been able to meet Jareth's. "Don't be ridiculous." She could still feel where Jareth's fingers had dug into her skin. She felt violated, completed.

"You're flushed, your lips are bruised, and you left your house looking seriously ruffled. Who's the lucky guy?" The darker skinned girl peered toward the door as Sarah headed down the hall.

"I don't want to talk about it..." She said, heading down the hall. Her heart felt bruised all over again. It hurt, especially since she knew he didn't know what he was doing. He didn't understand what had happened between them. He didn't understand that every moment they were here, together, it was a constant reminder of what she'd given up.

Meanwhile, Jareth leaned against her wall, unable to fully comprehend what happened. He flipped open the book, staring down at it. "But no one knew the Goblin King had fallen in love with the girl..." He read aloud and groaned, digging his hand through his hair. This was just a story. Just a silly girls-He saw himself in the mirror and stared at his clothing.

Not the clothing he'd seen on her television, not the clothing he'd seen her wear. Something that looked like someone's fantasy prince, not a modern man. His eyes caught sight of a small figure on the vanity, something that had escaped his notice until now. Dressed in similar garb. He looked down at his ruffled sleeve and growled in frustration.

Nothing made any sense. He had to remember. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force himself to remember anything, his home, his childhood, this girl, anything. Pain tore through his brain and he fought it, trying to push a tingling memory to the surface. Something brought on by the scent of peaches, by the feel of her body so close to his own, and her fleeing him.

Unable to bear the pain any longer, he collapsed onto her bedroom floor, calling out her name. "Sarah..."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

He stood in the center of an ballroom, peering out through the eyes of a mask, surveying the whirling crowd of Fae, wearing Goblin Masks, laughing, carrying on. Through them, he saw her dressed in a gown of white and gold and silver, the faintest hint of butterfly glitter on her face, exotic hairpiece, her bodice low enough to give a tantalizing glimpse of flesh. Her eyes landed on him and he dropped the mask, not wishing to hide who he was, what he was.

Just one dance, just to show her that it wasn't all just a game. He truly loved her, needed her at his side. He loved how she fought him, stood against him, but at the same time it drove him mad, because his heart longed for her to stand at his side.

He moved towards her, her confused gaze never leaving his face. His own never left hers. She was magnificent, a princess, someone he could share with his kingdom, his castle, his heart. Someone who could complete him. He took her hand, pulled her close and they danced.

That scene bled into another, watching her run through another room, filled with stairs, stairs going up, down, sideways and upside down. Stairs that led nowhere and stairs that led...

She jumped, floated through space, landing before him. She stood, facing him. Her eyes widened into an expression of surprise, of innocence. "You have no power over me..."

He felt himself shatter and the world around him began to slip, give way. He fell. "SARAH!"

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Sarah stopped, that pained cry going through her mind. She heard Tina ask her what was wrong and she turned back towards her apartment. "Jareth..." She whispered. She turned to Tina. "Tina, I have to go back." She said, backing away from her friend. "I have to go back!"

One moment, she was in the middle of the side walk, then she was at Jareth's side, finding him laying on the floor of her bedroom, sweating, panting. She didn't even register what had just happened. She was too busy checking over the unconscious Goblin King. "Jareth..." She whispered, shaking him gently. "Jareth, what's wrong?!"

Those beautiful mis-matched, Earth and Sky eyes opened, looking up at her, wary. Not warm, heated, not even confused. Just wary. It broke her heart. He reached up as though to touch her face, then it dropped away and he looked away from her. "Release me, peasant." He demanded, his voice cold, almost devoid of emotion.

Her eyes widened. That sounded like something Jareth would say. But not to her. She was surprised how hard it was to let him go. She gently set him on the floor and backed away from him. Of course. What was she thinking? Why hadn't she just gone to work. She didn't look at him as he forced himself into a sitting position. "You remember then?" She asked, fighting to keep her voice emotionless.

He glared at her, his gaze furious. "I remember what you said." He fully looked away from her. Yet, even that was slipping away from him. Why couldn't he hold onto his memories?

She felt tears pierce her eyes. "See? I was right. We were enemies, not..." She swallowed hard, choking back her tears. She wouldn't cry in front of him again, dammit.

"Your choice, my dear." He snapped, glaring at her again. He swore silently when he noticed her head was lowered in defeat, her shoulders trembling. He reached forward to touch her and caught himself. She'd left him, he'd loved her, he'd shown his love to her, and she left him regardless. His pride felt wounded. These were not memories he wanted. If only they would just disappear! He squeezed his eyes shut, feeling it slipping away harder. It hurt more a great deal to hold it into his memory.

"I was young, Jareth." She said quietly. "And...you had taken my brother." She remained where she was. "You took Toby, and were going to turn him into a Goblin. If I hadn't left..." She lifted her eyes, bright with tears and glared at him, furious with him. "My dreams or my brother. That was the deal. I wanted my brother back more than I needed those dreams then!" She stood, turning away from him. "Yes, I left. So, if knowing that, you wish to return home, that's probably for the best!"

He gasped in pain, collapsing, holding his head tightly. The pounding in his head wouldn't go away. It was maddening, so painful, so frustrating. He felt a hand gently brush his hair away and he realized that his head was no longer on the hard floor, but instead rested on the girl's thighs. His eyes snapped open and he found her leaning over him, her expression hurt. Her touch eased the pain in his head, held the memory in his mind.

She bit her lip fiercely. She was furious, concerned, hurt, but holding him like this felt so right, like it was meant to be. "It'll be okay. We'll get your memories back." She brushed her lips gently against his forehead, then leaned against the wall, looking away from him. "Just rest. The pain will go away."

"The only time it doesn't hurt is when you're holding me." He breathed softly, his head lolling towards her stomach as he drifted into deep, dreamless sleep.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hoggle burst into the Castle, finding the Goblins running, not held in check in the least. Many were making off with stacks of silks, gold, jewels from the King's Vault. He felt his unease grow. That didn't bode well. Jareth would never let them go into the Vault. What in the Underground had happened to the Goblin King.

Something was fighting against the darkness swallowing the Labyrinth. He didn't know what, but just as he reached the first good turn, the darkness stopped, as though unable to move further. It didn't make any sense. Why was it being consumed at all?!

When he found Jareth, he was going to demand some answers.

He moved through the castle, searching every room as quickly as he was able, knocking several Goblins spilling onto the floor. He reached the Goblin King's bed chamber and found his bed still unmade, his clothing still in the dumbwaiter, closet still standing open. A cup of tea had been knocked over on the vanity.

A shattered dream crystal still broken on the floor.

Hoggle held his breath, sniffing the tea still in the cup and a realization swept through him. "Memory root..." He breathed, setting the cup down. He snatched up several of Jareth's crystals and stored them safely in a bag, deciding it was time to go find Sir Didymus and Ludo. Then, then they'd go find Sarah.

Because if he was right, if the Goblin King's memories of the Labyrinth, the memories of his life were gone, the Labyrinth, and it's subjects would also fade from existence.

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AN: Yeah, another chapter gone. . A few more comments would be nice. I know people are reading because several have put this on alert/favorite. Thanks to those people, as well as those who left their comments from the last chapter. I got the idea that since the Goblin King's dreams sustained the Labyrinth, if he left and his memories of it were gone, what might happen. The first thought that came to mind were the edges of it crumbling into nothing. LOL I contemplated saving the kiss scene for later, and having that be what returned Jareth's memories, but it was so 'Sleeping Beauty' cliche, I just couldn't. On the bright side, that means there should be plenty of kisses. XD

Look forward to the next chapter, coming soon.