Title: A Love That Will Last

Author: Etsuki-chan

Warnings: Rated M for strong language, possible violence, and mature situations. (Possible attempted rape)

Disclaimer: Surprisingly enough, I do not own the Labyrinth, or any of the characters.

A/N: If no one reviews, I just may go on strike and stop writing this story. So depending upon if I get any reviews this may be the last chapter. I hate to do this, but it's frustrating! Please, review!

Chapter 2: Welcome to the Labyrinth

Nicky was dreaming. In the dream she was flying, gliding gently through the air, far away from all her problems. Below her she could hear Clay calling out, but she wasn't listening. She was wrapped in her own thoughts, in her own dreams. Gliding through the mists of her subconscious, she could here soft voices calling her name. What would happen now she was certain of. She would arise, dress, go downstairs and eat a silent breakfast with her whorish sister and depressed brother-in-law. Then she'd get a ride to school from Clay who would continuously apologize for his actions last eve and swear not to drink again, promising he'd never let her down. He would though; he always did in the end.

"Nicky," called a soft voice above her, causing her to frown slightly in her sleep. She didn't recognize that voice. It certainly didn't belong to anyone in her household. It was too low, too soft, too gentle, too…caring.

"Nicky," it called again, "Come on, kid, you've been asleep for days. I think it's about time you opened your eyes and faced your current situation. Jareth is beginning to loose patience with you."

Jareth? Why did that sound so…familiar, so…wonderful? Why did the sound of it make her so…happy?

"Please, kid," the voice continued, "He'll have my head if you sleep through another day. Honestly he almost strangled me when you didn't wake up the first day, let alone the seventh."

"Wh-what?" Nicky moaned as she forced her eyes open. Her head was pounding and everything around her was still covered in a dark, floating mist. "Where am I? Clay? Mel? What's going on? Who are you?"

The man before her chuckled softly, "My name is Crone," he answered helping Nicky into a sitting position on the bed, "Jareth is my cousin."

"Jareth?" Nicky asked in confusion, "Who…you can't mean…not…Jareth the Goblin King?"

"Unfortunately for me, that is the only Jareth that I know," Crone said with a smile, "and I guess that means yes, that is the Jareth of whom I speak. The same man you wished yourself away to."

"I…I did what?" Nicky asked in astonishment, staring at Crone in shock as she continued trying to blink away the mist that still clung to her vision, "I…I don't recall wishing any such thing."

"Oh? Don't you?" Crone smiled, "Here stop all that blinking, it's only going to make it worse." Grabbing her face between his hands he lifted her eyes towards the light. "Open your eyes as wide as you can."

Slowly Nicky did as he bid, staring with wide eyes at the ceiling. The next instant her vision was blocked as Crone's hand lay lightly upon her eyes and forehead. She heard him mutter some sort of incantation beneath his breath before his hands fell away leaving her staring at a now crystal clear wall.

"Oh, wow," she breathed turning to take in her surroundings.

The room in which she lay was glittering lightly in the morning sun illuminating the splendor in her eyes. The bed in which she lay was large enough for two full-grown adults to sleep quite comfortably and was littered with fluffy white pillows for use. Along the right side of the room a comfy leather couch sat with two adorable little tables on either side, each of which had a vase of twelve fully bloomed roses upon it. As well the left side of the room held a pair of lavender see-threw doors, which led out to a balcony overlooking a beautiful sparkling lake. All in all the room was…spectacular.

"Like it?" Crone asked with a smile, glancing around the room in approval, "I designed it myself as a matter of fact."

"Did you?" Nicky asked in interest turning to look at the man before her directly for the first time. She was momentarily taken aback at the sight that greeted her; he was extremely handsome! He had gentle brown eyes that sparkled in amusement when he laughed, and his short black hair was cut awkwardly in some places signifying he had obviously attempted to cut it himself. His sharp face looked identical to Jareth's and his charming smile was enough to melt ice.

"Yes," he answered with a nod as he smiled down into Nicky's eyes, "I had it made special for the moment Jareth told me you would be coming to stay."

"But…" Nicky said in bewilderment, "I didn't even know I'd be coming to stay. How did Jareth?"

"Well," Crone said a little nervously, "Um…he's been…well looking after you for sometime now. I…I suppose he assumed…eventually…you'd want to come down here."

"He's been…looking after me?" Nicky asked in confusion, "You mean…you mean he's been spying on me? Are you trying to tell me that all those times he was watching? Every time Clay got drunk and attempted to molest me, he was just sitting there enjoying the show?"

"Now Nicky," Crone said sternly placing a calming hand upon her shoulder, "It was nothing like that. You know the rules, kid. Jareth can do nothing to help you until you call to him. Last night was the first time you ever did."

"Oh…well I still don't like it," Nicky insisted stubbornly. Crone chuckled.

"Oh I didn't expect you to, kid, that wouldn't be in your character at all," he said with a smile. Slowly, however, his expression grew calm and is eyes became deadly serious, "But…you do know what you've gotten yourself into, right kid? You know… you know that you belong to Jareth now?"

"What?" Nicky said shaking her head with a small laugh, "No, no, I don't belong to anybody. You're mistaken." Crone looked at her sadly for a moment.

"You can't rely upon what you see in the movies, Nicky," he said quietly, "That movie may have been based upon the Labyrinth, but it's still just a movie. And the book… it's just a book. Things work differently in the real Underground."

"How so?" Nicky asked knowing she wasn't going to like the answer.

"Implied consent," Crone answered on a sigh, "The moment you wish yourself away you sign an unwritten contract, that's known here as implied consent. You're asking for help from a Fae, which means you owe him. He takes precious moments from his immortality to come rescue you, and in your words you give him this 'implied consent' to…well control you. In other words you…belong to him."

"This…this cannot be happening," Nicky whispered, tears forming in her eyes as she stared into Crone's saddened face, "That…that means I can never return home again, doesn't it? I…I'll never see Mel…or Clay again, will I?"

"No," Crone admitted quietly, "I' m sorry Nicky but…at least you'll never be lonely again."

"Oh, won't I?" Nicky murmured as she bit back a sob, "What's the difference between here and there? Clay and Mel ignored me when I needed them…and nobody here knows me. I'm still alone."

"No, no," Crone said quickly, shaking his head, "You have me. I mean I know you're right I don't really know you but…I like you. Come on kid, give me a chance. Can't we at least try to be friends?"

"I guess," she said on a sigh looking at him with pleading eyes, "but…I've never had any real friends before. Maybe I'm not any good at it. Maybe I'd be a lousy friend."

Crone laughed at this, "Now that I know is untrue. Don't worry about any of that nonsense, kid. And you might try giving Jareth a break too. He really does just want to help you, he's just not sure how."

Nicky shrugged with a sad smile, "I…I just wish I had a chance to say goodbye, is all. I mean not really to Mel, she's a bitch, But Clay…he's a good guy when he's not drunk. I…I don't want him to think that I'm walking out n him. Sometimes…sometimes I'm all he has. He needs me."

"You needed him too, Nicky," Crone said softly, "But he was never there, was he? Not like you were for him. I agree that Clay is a good guy at heart. But…he's also still very much a child. He doesn't understand that the world doesn't revolve around him. His suffering is not the greatest pain in this world, not even the greatest in his household. No, if you continued to stay with him, good man or not, he would have broken your heart, kid. He would have torched your dreams."

"I…I know," she answered sadly staring determinedly at her hands, "But…I still wish I could have at least said goodbye. Couldn't Jareth have warned me first?"

Crone laughed, "I don't think my cousin's mind works that way, kid. He tries I'll give him that but…well consideration of other people isn't high on his priority list at the moment."

"Oh? Why's that?" Nicky asked glancing at Crone in curiosity.

"Oh Goblin stuff," Crone said brushing aside the question with a wave of his hand, "Too boring to mention. Anyway, why don't you come downstairs and have breakfast with me? It's nearly ten already."

"Um…" Nicky began, a slow blush rising in her cheeks, "I…I don't have anything to wear."

"Oh," Crone smiling at the flushed look on her face, "I'll have some of the servants bring you something up, okay?"

"Um…alright," she murmured as he dashed for the door.

"I'll send them up in a few," he said with a seductive smile, "Will you need assistance getting dressed?"

"Why?" Nicky asked curiously, "Will the servants do that as well?"

"I don't know about the servants," Crone grinned mischievously, "but I'll be more then happy to give you a hand." He was out the door before the vase could connect.

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Sorry for the short chapter…but I lack inspiration….

Okay, so where are all my reviews? Please guys, I'm not going to keep working on this story if no one reviews. Heck, I don't know if it's any good, I'm just writing 'cause I like to. You tell me if I'm wasting my time.

(Oh, and please don't write me saying you don't like it 'cause Sarah's not in it. Guys come on, open your minds. I like Sarah too I just want to try this out. So Pllleeeeaaassseeee don't say anything about that okay?)

But…thanks for reading!