Disclaimer; I don't own anything from The Labyrinth. But I do own Ailis, Remy and Brody.

Note; I got all of the contortionist positions from Contortion Homepage if you want to check them out.

Dreadful News

Ailis, in his bugle-boy attire, stood before Jareth quietly. He had just delivered the initial news, but still had more to go. He cleared his throat, "They said that you would have a year to find a woman willing to marry you. They implied that they'd be done deliberating by the end of the month. But, they never said that you couldn't start looking now."

"You may go." Jareth stared angrily at the floor even after Ailis left. How dare they even think that they can force him to marry! They can't make him do anything that he doesn't want to. He sighed and rubbed his temples. Of course they can; they're the High Council.

The High Council was discussing his marriage situation. They didn't like the fact that he was the only one unwed. He knew it wasn't personal, but it was still insulting at the same time. He sat on his throne pouring himself some Elven whine in a goblet before guzzling it down. He dreaded what he felt that he had to do; the Goblin King should not be forced to beg! He rubbed his temples again and stood again. In a flurry of glitter, the Goblin King flew away as a snow white owl. Jareth flapped his wings in unmeasurable disdain at he flew to Sarah's new home.

Sarah was fighting with Brody; it happened often enough that Remy stretched in their living room undisturbed. She had moved all of the furniture back and away from the center of the room as she warmed her muscles up. She moved to static stretching and eventually into some positions. Remy was a contortionist; she worked in a show, Dante's Amazing Dolls!, that specialized in contortionists, dancers and gymnasts. The only problem, it was a seasonal show; unfortunately, the show shut down during the winter. Normally, Remy would stay in one of the rooms above the arena in the winter; but, they were remodeling the arena and said rooms.

Remy sighed as she moved into a hypersplit, elevating her right leg on Sarah's coffee table, then her left. She could hear Sarah's voice an octave higher as she yelled at Brody. Remy couldn't recall why they started fighting, but she doubted that it was over anything important. She moved into an elbow stand; she balanced n her elbows while her feet extended horizontally over her head. She tumbled out of the position, however, as a loud thump inside Sarah and Brody's room. Remy began to worry; Brody didn't seem like the abusive type, but one never knew.

Remy blushed furiously at what she heard next; rhythmic pounding and grunts. She quickly fumbled with the remote to the stereo; she needed to turn something on to drown out the sounds of their love making. When a kick of the drums was heard flooding through the speakers, Remy relaxed.

She heard a hoot as she moved from the hairpin and to the headseat. She searched for the source of the hoot, and was rewarded with the sight of a snow white barn owl. She watched it, watching her. Neither one moved for a good two minutes. Jareth stared at her strawberry blond hair; it was pulled back, but some locks for falling into her face, blocking her eyes. He knew, though, that they were a sharp hazel color. Remy just stared back, until the owl moved. It flew towards her and, in a wave of glitter, grew into a man, not just any man, our man Jareth. Remy, being so shocked, started to fall; she tucked and rolled her body so that she landed safely and jumped up in front of him.

"Who the hell are you?" she flushed angrily.

"Don't question me, child. I am the Goblin King," Jareth stood in all his glory.

Remy smirked at him as she put her hands on her hips in the infamous 'woman pose', "So you answer my question anyway."

"Shush, that is not the point. I need to speak with Sarah."

She shook her head and blushed; he didn't want to talk to her right now! Jareth looked at her curiously, why was she blushing? It made more sense as he heard a scream of pleasure emit from behind the closed door.

"They're doing it right now?" he gasped, appalled.

Remy nodded her head shyly; she didn't exactly like the idea that she was temporarily living here. Jareth turned to Remy, "What were you doing before?"

"Oh, I'm a contortionist. I need to work out everyday; so, when our performing season comes about, I'm practiced and ready for the show," she answered nonchalantly. She resumed her working out with a chest stand.

"How long do they normally go at it?" Jareth's disgust was obvious.

She chuckled, switching positions. "It's generally a good hour or two before they come out, but I never go in there."

"How long ago did they go in?" Jareth's inquiry endless.

"About a half an hour ago, vaguely."

When Remy turned around, Jareth was gone; not even the owl was in sight. She shrugged and moved the furniture back, having no further interest in working out. She wandered into the bathroom to shower and get ready; she had to go to the construction site and make sure everything was going as planned.

Jareth paced his throne room angrily; what was he going to do? Sarah was married and he knew no other girl that could rile him up as she could. She was as beautiful as she is infuriating, but she wanted nothing to do with him in the first place. On top of that, she was married – a fact that Jareth could not get over. He slid down into his throne and groaned. If he could not have Sarah, how was he going to find another girl? He knew that his kind fell in and out of love easily, but he sure was having a hard time falling out. He could order someone to marry him, he pondered. Damn, they had to be willing. That Emlyn girl! She was always offering herself to him in subtle ways, maybe she'd do this for him; but, could he really put up with her insanity forever?

It had been a while, maybe he could go back to Sarah's house. He would try to convince her to leave her current husband and come marry him. They would have a big white, wedding and live happily ever after. Jareth frowned, he really loved her. He arrived at Sarah's house and sat outside of the window. Sarah moved around her kitchen in a pink and green flower print robe. He decided to be a gentlemen by flying around to the front door to knock. He waited patiently for her to answer, and his breathing hitched when the doorknob started to turn.

The door swung open haphazardly to reveal Remy, staring at him with raised eyebrows. "So you used the door this time, eh?"

"I need to speak with Sarah," he remained passive.

She motioned for him to come inside, leading him to the kitchen where Sarah cooked lunch. It took Sarah, currently tried to make an omelet, a moment to turn around. When she did, however, she dropped her spatula and backed away, shocked.

"What are you doing here?" she choked out.

"Sorry, didn't know who he was," Remy shrugged as she wandered back into her bedroom.

"Sarah," he started. "I need a favor from you, but only if you're willing. Just hear me out, at the very least."

She braced herself by sitting down before nodding, a motion that bade him forward. He knelt in front of her, although some distance away. "I need to marry in order to keep my kingdom. You know that I love you, and it wouldn't be right if I married anyone else."

She sighed, "Jareth, I'm married to Brody. I'm happy with him; I couldn't live with myself if I hurt him. I can't leave him to be with you."

Jareth's look of defeat was enough to make her feel guilty. He stood, disheartened, and took her hand, placing a light kiss upon it. After he let go of her hand, he turned away murmuring, "Thank you for listening, at the very least."

"I really am sorry, Jareth. I wish that I could help you."

Remy, inadvertently, chose that moment to leave her room. She moved around Jareth and Sarah to butter herself some toast. "What's eating you, Sparkles?"

"Nothing to concern yourself with," he muttered, turning to leave.

"No, seriously, what's wrong?" Remy wouldn't let it go.

"Juno, leave him alone." Sarah intervened.

Remy stared between the two; Sarah sat in a dining room chair, while Jareth stood several feet away from her. Both were staring at the ground unhappily.

"Well then, I'm off. I'll see you later, Sparkles." With that, Remy departed.

She was heading down to the construction site. She stared at the entrance of the building in disbelief; the building was quarantined? She soon started to glare; this means that construction is set back for at least a month, she realized.

She heard a hoot before she turned around. She saw Jareth sitting in the tree behind her, looking sad. She smiled slightly, in hopes to encourage him. She turned away for but a moment, but it was enough for Jareth to change.

"I love her, if you really wanted to know." He murmured next to her.

Her eyes widened in disbelief and she turned to look at him. "I'm sorry, I really am."

They sat there in silence for several minutes before she shivered. He put his hand on the small of her back to guide her to somewhere warm. They entered the coffee shop just down the street and took a table near the back.

"I need to find a bride before a year is out, or else I lose my kingdom." He sighed sadly while rubbing his temples.

"And you were hoping that Sarah would be that bride," Remy finished for him sadly.

She covered his hand with hers, hoping to comfort him. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him; no one should have to feel this way about a person that they can't have. A waitress quietly interrupted to take their order; Remy ordered them two cups of hot chocolate, extra marshmallows.

"Hey!" Remy brightened. "I have an idea that you might like!"

Jareth opened one eye to look at her cautiously. He stopped rubbing his temples to look at her fully. He motioned for her to continue, she grinned at him. "I can help you."

"How?" he blurted out uncharacteristically.

"If you let me come live with you, I will help you find a bride." She grinned deviously. "Of course, you'll have to feed me too."

Jareth chuckled, managing a real smile, and nodded his head. She will be a comfort, he thought to himself. After they received their hot chocolates, Remy distracted him by people watching. She managed to make him smile, and even forget about Sarah for a bit. This is exactly what he needs too, Remy smiled to herself.

"She called you 'Juno', is that your name?" Jareth asked, after realizing that he didn't know her name.

Remy chuckled and took a sip of her hot chocolate. "No, that's a rather long story. My name is Remy."

"Care to tell me?" He smiled encouragingly.

Remy explained to Jareth just how she got her nickname. It wasn't as long as she had made it seem, but it was quite humorous and worth the explanation. Remy smiled as Jareth laughed at her story, she was glad that she could make him laugh. Long after Remy had finished both of their hot chocolates – Jareth burnt his tongue and refused to drink anymore – they decided to leave. Jareth stood, offering his arm to Remy, and exited the shop. They entered the alley way next to the shop and, in another flutter of glitter, Jareth transported them to his kingdom in the Underground. Remy's eyes widened as they landed in his throne room; they were surrounded by goblins. Jareth smirked, Remy looked absolutely petrified.

"Oh my god! They are so fricken cute!" she gushed before ambushing one.

She pinched its chubby cheeks, causing it to giggle. She swung it around while muttering just how cute it was. Jareth was taken back; no one, not even him, thinks that goblins are cute! When Remy finished playing with the creature, Jareth lead her to her room.

"Thanks, Jareth. I know that you don't want to hear it, but I couldn't stand to listen to their constant fighting and love making. That's just gross." She muttered the latter.

He nodded before making his exit. He walked to the throne room, trying to figure the girl out. She doesn't fear him; but everybody fears him! Not to mention the infatuation with the goblins! He shook his head, letting out a small smile. This girl would at least cheer him up a bit.