Chapter 2

"I'll save you my dearest!" Toby called jumping down from his bed.

Sarah laughed at her little brother and sat down on her bed on the other side of the room, "Oh but my good man, how will you do it?"

"I'll creep in un-noticed," Toby insisted taking the sneak-attack position. "Then go AHA! He'll scream and fall over with laughter."

Sarah laughed and began to tickle her little brother, "You goof ball!"

"Can we go swimming in the river tomorrow?" Toby asked as soon as she quit tickling him.

"I dunno," Sarah shrugged. "If it's not raining and it's warm enough, then we will."

Toby giggled and clapped his hands, "Yay!"

"Now get to sleep," Sarah smiled tucking him in. "I'll be sure to make waffles tomorrow morning."

"And your hot chocolate!"

"Yes, and my hot chocolate," Sarah tweaked his nose just slightly and smiled. "Don't forget, its just you and me tomorrow, our parents are going to be out."

"They're always out when we're here," Toby muttered crossing his arms over his chest, "I wish they weren't."

Sarah nodded her head, "I wish they weren't either, but at least we have one another."

"And Jareth."

She paused, "What?"

Then he lifted up the painting she had made him, "And Jareth. No matter what, he'll come when we need him. He promised."

"No he didn't," Sarah sighed slipping into her own bed.

"Yes he did!" Toby insisted. "Jareth said that he would, he promised! He won't let us down."

Sarah's eyes stared at her brother for a long time while he fell asleep. Her eyes then turned to her hands, confusion written across them, "How? He never…" she looked back at her brother. Shaking her head she slid under her covers and pulled them over her before letting the thought of sleep slowly consume her.

She was standing on the hill in front of the Labyrinth again. This time, though, something was dreadfully wrong. The entire place felt almost dead and the sky was a dark red up above, "This isn't how it should be," she spoke taking a step forward.

Just as she did her foot caught something and she went tumbling forward until she hit something hard. It groaned and whatever she hit shifted. Sarah blinked attempting to steady her vision from the sudden tumble. The figure shifted again and Sarah's eyes widened at the familiar head of pail blond hair, "Jareth?" she whispered looking at the man lying on the ground. "Jareth?"

His mismatched eyes opened up slowly and he reached out to her, "Sarah?" he asked, she felt his gloved hand touch her face, "Is that really you?"

"Jareth? What's happened?" Sarah asked slowly pulling his hand from her face. "Why is the Labyrinth like this, what's happened to you?"

"You did," he answered looking down at the ground.

"What?" Sarah quickly shook her head. "No…Jareth, are you hurt? What is going on?"

He shifted, attempting to sit up, but he instantly fell back, "You took it…please give it back."

"What?"

He stared up at the dark red sky, "You took it," he repeated, "I need it back or this world will shatter…I may not like it…what I do…but I have to stop it…"

"Stop what?" The light seemed to begin to fade from his eyes, "Jareth?! Stay with me, what do I have to give back?! What's going on?! What's happening?"

Sarah suddenly sat up and was met with a blinding ray of light. The girl sucked in a breath and covered her eyes. She quickly hopped out of her bed and into the bathroom, a change of clothes in hand. With in thirty minutes she was out of the bathroom, cleaned, and changed into a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, with her swim suit underneath, "Oh good, honey your up," her stepmother spoke making her look up.

"You two leaving then?" Sarah asked leaning against the wall.

"The Feldman's are having a little get together for us adults," her step mother explained, "and we couldn't possible say no. You two will be fine alone today won't you?"

Sarah shook her head, "What about Toby?"

"What about him dear? He'll be fine with you."

"No I mean…" Sarah sighed. "We came up here for his birthday, not so you can go and party your hearts out all weekend. You should stay, both of you should. He's all ready hurt you're leaving."

"He couldn't be dear, he's only five," her step mother insisted.

Sarah's mouth parted, ready to scream at her, but she held it in, "What will you two do when I'm in college next year? Leave him alone?"

"Of course not dear," her father spoke this time. "We'll hire a babysitter."

"Toby won't like it!" Sarah snapped. "You two are barely around, and when you are we don't know you two well enough to know what to do, please stay."

"We all ready told them we were coming," her father sighed. "It would be rude to change out minds now."

Sarah's jaw hitched to one side and she glared at the wall, "Fine," she muttered. "Just fine, leave your two kids alone to not know who their parents are, whatever," then stormed into the kitchen.

An hour later Toby was awake and bounding down the stairs, a towel in hand and just his bathing suit on, "I'm ready to swim!" he declared.

Sarah smiled, "Good, but food first," she told him setting a plate of freshly made waffles in front of him.

Toby sat down and began to eat them as quickly as his little mouth would let him, "Sawah?" he spoke gulping down a large mouthful.

"Hm?"

"Did they leave?"

Sarah looked at her brother and nodded her head, "I'm afraid they did…"

Toby glared at his waffles and pushed them away from him, "They never stay… Jareth would! He would if we wanted him to! Or we could go away with him!" Toby insisted suddenly standing up. "I wish the Goblin King would-!"

She was instantly next to him, her hand over his mouth, "No Toby," she told him. "No…"

The five year old looked at the sad expression on his big sister's face and touched the tear that had just managed to escape her eye, "Why not Sarah? He could take us away and then mom and dad would know what its like for us when they leave… Jareth wouldn't leave us Sarah…all we have to do is ask for him to be here…"

Sarah pulled him into an embrace, "I wish…" she sighed and looked at Toby, her hands on the sides of his shoulders. "If Jareth really wanted us…I think he would come… If we really needed him…more then anything…I think he would come… We don't need him to take us away from here… We have a good life, even if it's not a whole one."

"I just…I wish…" Toby looked at the ground. "When we were there…when you were trying to get to me…he wanted me Sarah. He wanted to be with us. He wanted to raise me as his own, with your help."

"That may be true," Sarah touched the side of his face, "but that isn't our world…and whether or not they show it…our parents still love us Toby…they do…"

"I know…I just want them to show it is all."

The young woman took in a deep breath and stood up, "Well we have some swimming to do don't we? Off we go?"

Toby clapped and the two were instantly out to the river next to their cabin. Sarah peeled her shirt and pants off before she began to slowly edge her way into the river. Toby was right next to her, watching his sister carefully. The water was still pretty chilly, but the air was warm enough.

Toby suddenly dove into the water, splashing a large amount onto his sister. Sarah screamed and splashed him right back when he surfaced. This went on for a good hour. Toby finally left the water, exhausted and plopped down onto his towel to watch his big sister. Sarah flashed him a smile and began to make her way up the shore.

A look of complete horror suddenly crossed Toby's face and Sarah paused, "Toby? What is it?"

Toby just stared in shock. Just as he began to scream, "Sarah! Move!" a great force grabbed the young woman she was instantly shoved down into the water.

She struggled against whatever it was; darkness completely swarmed around her. Her eyes looked upward then she shut them, JARETH! Please! I need your help!

Toby sat on the shore looking around madly for his sister, "I wish…" he hesitated. "I wish the Goblin King would come and save my sister!" he shouted.

A loud splash was heard and with in a moment the Goblin King was seen with an unconscious Sarah in his arms. He walked out of the water and Toby ran after him while the Goblin King walked her into the cabin.

"Is she okay?" Toby asked jogging after them.

Jareth set her down on the couch on the main floor and touched the young woman's face gently. She instantly coughed up a mouth full of water and her eyes flew open. A sigh of relief came from both the older man and the boy. Her eyes traveled to them and she paused at Jareth, "You came?" she asked with a sore voice.

"Always…whenever I'm called," he told her. He looked at Toby, "Go and get her some dry clothes."

Toby nodded and ran up the cabin stairs. Jareth looked back at the young woman lying on the couch, "You… Why?"

He sighed and didn't answer. He had seen her dragged down by a dark force but he wasn't able to do anything until Toby had wished for him to, "I come when I'm wished for," he answered.

"I never…"

"Toby did," he explained, "but I cannot stay long…" a look of sadness passed his features for a moment but that look arrogance was quickly in its place. "There is trouble in the Labyrinth… I must return in haste."

"Is there anything I can do?" Sarah asked sitting up as he stood.

Jareth's head snapped to look at her and he felt his heart ach over a thousand times when he responded, "No…not now…but I will remember your offer…as long as you don't forget to call when you need me."

Sarah nodded her head, "Never again…" she answered. "I'll never forget again… I owe you Jareth."

He bowed his head and with in a moment he was gone from sight. Toby bounced down and paused when Jareth was no longer in the room. He had clothes in his hands, "Did he leave?"

Sarah slowly took the clothes from her brother and she nodded her head, "He had to…He said he would have liked to have stayed a bit more but there is trouble in the underground…"

"Oh…" Toby nodded. "Are you okay?"

"I'll survive," she told him. "I always do…"

No one can blame you for walking away.
Too much rejection.
No love injection.

That next weekend Sarah went on the date with Jason. Like any girl she had fun, but she couldn't escape the thought that something was terribly wrong. The slightest thought of Jareth, now, made her stomach hurt. How could seeing him once after four years create such a reaction? Over time she stopped drawing him, she even stopped drawing her friends. It was just because she couldn't bare it any longer. Something was wrong, something inside of her, and she didn't know what.

Life can't be easy.
It's not always swell.
Don't tell me truth hurts, little girl,
'Cause it hurts like hell,

It felt as if he had lost all hope. There was a battle ensuing in his world, and now he was no longer graced with the visions of Sarah. She never spoke of him anymore, and Toby barely did too. To top it all off he was now trapped in one of his oubliettes with just a small ray of light for comfort, "We'll find a way to get you out my lord," a familiar voice spoke from the top of the oubliette.

"Hogger?"

"Hoggle sir," the dwarf sighed. "We'll find a way, we have to. You are the only true King for our land, no matter how much I don't like you. We'll be back."

Then the voice was gone. Jareth stared up, wondering if his people still had any hope for him. Why were the other Fae allowing this to happen? Goblin King was his by right and he had not gone and wavered from his job. He was doing exactly what he had to do. He couldn't have helped it if a girl had figured it out. It wasn't his fault she had taken something from him.

But down in the underground
You'll find someone true.
Down in the underground;
A land serene; A crystal moon.
Ah.

Sarah walked into the apartment she shared with Jason. It was two years later and the Goblin King was at the back of her mind far from her thoughts. Then she froze at the sight on her couch. There was Carol, with no clothes on, mounted on Jason. The young woman, instead of saying anything, suddenly turned and stormed out; slamming the door as hard as she could. Then she walked. She wasn't sure how far or where she walked, but she did. She just kept right on walking while tears slipped from her eyes.

Truth was she didn't love Jason. She could never bring herself to love him, or even sleep with him. It was the betrayal that hit her hardest. If he wasn't happy with their relationship he could have said something. She suddenly let out a scream in anger and leaned her back against a wall as she slid down. Tears covering his vision; and for the first time in so long one thought slipped forward, Jareth? Where are you?

It's only forever.
Not long at all.
Lost and lonely.
That's underground. Underground.

Jareth looked up as a tall looming figure walked into the oubliette. The candle in side the small little cave automatically flicked on and the first thing the Goblin King saw was an evil sneer followed by a set of very familiar mismatched brown and black eyes, "Sarik," he hissed. "How long do you plan on keeping me down here?"

"Until I forget you?" the Fae sneered crouching down in front of him. His hair was black and fell down to his waist. "But that's the problem. Your damn Labyrinth won't let me forget you, as long as you are here…so what to do with you?"

Jareth just stared; he let no emotion escape him.

"I do have a solution," Sarik's sneer turned into a full evil smile as a blade appeared in his hand, "I could just kill you," he placed the tip on the bottom of his chin.

"You would dare anger my family?"

Sarik tilted his head, "You see… I think they've all ready forgotten about you, how about we find out?"

With one swift move Sarik stuck the blade into Jareth's stomach and twisted. The Goblin King's eyes widened and let out a sudden cry of surprise that could be heard through out the Labyrinth and the Goblin City. Jareth wouldn't let his eyes leave Sarik's, but his thoughts were else where as his vision began to dim, Please, his mind whispered to what power he had left, Take me to Sara…I need to see her, then his vision completely blackened.

Down in the underground

Note: Thanks Scorpian! Good to know one person is reading it! If you want me to update again I just need one review!

Oh yeah, and I don't own the song Underground by David Bowie, but I love it anyway!