Chapter Twenty Three
A father's privilege
Blocks from the Williams home; the car faded into mist and vanished. A lone owl took to the skies moments later. Jareth entered the house of the Professor with a light step. He sang to himself as he moved to the salon. In his happy state, he didn't notice the lone figure seated watching in the dim light.
"What do you think you're doing?" a voice asked gentle with concern.
Jareth paused, looked and smiled. "Hello Father!" He greeted his King with open joy.
Oberon, amused, snickered. "You look like you just swallowed something wonderful."
"Better," the Goblin King came to sit on the floor below his High King. "She loves me."
"You let the boy see you." Oberon said with concern.
Jareth shrugged. "He could already see me, but was getting a double exposure if you will… it hurt his eyes. I could not allow that. My boy must not suffer."
Oberon pinched his nose with long fingers. "Are you here for the boy or the young woman?"
Jareth tapped his fingers to his chin. "Both."
Oberon looked at the ceiling, as he often did when dealing with his favored childe. "You don't make anything easy, do you laddie?"
Jareth leaned until his head rested on his father's knee. "They are both mine, why should I not have them both?" It sounded reasonable to him.
The High King of the Fae stroked the long silky hair of his childe. "Oh 'tis going to require a good deal of side stepping."
"Please, Father." Jareth asked quietly. "The boy is my heir. I want him with me."
Oberon nodded. "I know how that feels." Long fingers worked slowly down the hair. "You have valid claims on both, I will see what I can do."
Jareth closed his eyes. "Thank you, Father."
The High King smiled gently. "You are welcome, my son."