Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth, or any of the characters or scenes that may have been quoted. The only original items in this story are the characters I added from my own mind, and the situations and places that I created to add to Jim Henson's wonderfully warped little Labyrinth.

Chapter Three:

"Who are you?" Debbi popped her gum, then ran her hands through her frizzy orange mane, her cinnamon eyes never leaving the woman standing in front of her.

"I'm Rebecca Brice, your Tour Manager. Eric McMahon asked me to meet you here and get you situated with the bus. Your first stop, and your first concert, is tonight in lower New York City." She scanned the crowd, counting heads. "Well, you're all here at least. Come on, this way…

Dragon watched her slim form press forward, dressed immaculately in a dark blue skirt-suit, with her silken brown hair secured at her nape. He recalled the bright intelligence in her up-tilted brown eyes, and smiled. Debbi caught the looks, and decided immediately that she disliked their 'Tour Manager' immensely.

The bus was huge, waiting just outside the doors of 'Twisted Media'. It's sides were teal, with sweeping black streaks and whorls. The band name was written in long, flowing script, a crown hanging from the forward-thrust leg of the 'k'.

Debbi bounced happily in a circle, and Dragon nodded his approval. James was smiling widely, and turned to Sarah to share his pleasure. She was looking out over the pavement, her eyes focused on the trees ringing to local park. He disregarded the white streak in the trees, dismissing the bird as un-important. He nudged Sarah gently once, then again slightly harder.

"Hey, Sarah… earth to Sarah?"

She shook her head and forced a smile. It was clear in his eyes that he knew how forced it truly was. She smiled wider when she saw the bus, but her mind was still on the white barn owl she was sure she had seen in the trees. She knew what that white owl meant. It made her all the more grateful that it was Debbi and not herself singing the new song.

When they all got comfortable on the long bus, she and Debbi settled down to go over the very song she dreaded. Dragon was lounging in his bunk, sleeping off the Nyquil. James was drumming on any available surface, smiling widely at his own internal success.

She and Debbi skimmed over the notes again. Sarah had surprised the entire group by writing the words without thought or pause. They were just there, on the tip of her pen, and the edges of her heart. When she felt secure that she would come to no harm, since she didn't have to sing it herself, the words came easily for her.

Dragon's voice was too stiff, not sensual enough for the caressing tones she wanted. She knew it, but knew there was nothing she could do to help it. The voice she wanted for it was not Dragon's, and it was lost to her. Just like a thousand shards of her own childish crystal-dreams.

"Are you sure about this Sarah? It's a little… bold." Debbi bit her lip, mirroring Sarah's favorite gesture.

"Well if you feel it, really feel it down to your toes, it will be just fine. It's Dragon I'm worried about. I don't think there's a romantic, passionate bone in his over-muscled body." She crossed her arms, leaning back in the bench seat.

"Tyler is passionate and romantic… he just hasn't met the right girl yet. He will though. I just know he will." She fluffed her hair again, and Sarah sighed. Dragon wasn't interested in the slim woman sitting across from her, and nothing she could do would change that. Some things just weren't meant to be.

"Maybe I'll catch a nap before we get there…" Sarah's reverie was cut short by the lurch of the bus as it roared to life and began it's long journey north and west.

"So… do you think we can do it? I mean I know the rest of our music will at least keep them awake. Since we aren't the headlining band we should at least manage to not get booed off… But I'm really worried about the love song." She ran her hands over the lyrics, resting over the title. 'I wish'….

* * * *

He cleared his throat, his mortal guise pleasing him. His dark hair was cropped close to his head, and he had manufactured a few tattoos for his arms and chest. He wore a wide flannel shirt and some 'carpenter's jeans', along with wide, comfortable workman's boots. He looked like several other patrons, a careful blend of them all.

Behind him in the line a woman gabbed loudly to her comrade. "I wonder if they're gonna cover anything from the Cranberries?"

"Nah…" Her blonde companion shook her head, applying a second layer of orange lipstick. "They don't cover other bands. Guess it's policy." Her voice made Jareth in his human guise gnash his teeth together in annoyance. It was infuriatingly shrill.

"So… what? They like… write their own music and junk?" The first women to speak tugged on her Guns N' Roses tee shirt, the arms and the bottom cut and tattered, faded from wear.

"I guess… but what kind of name is 'Wicked Queen' anyways?" The blonde rolled her eyes, shutting her miniature mirror with a loud 'click'. "Sounds like a kids' movie title…"

They continued their annoying chatter, moving back to the headlining band. The line edged forward, and by the time he had reached the door, he had also reached the end of his patience. He extended the ticket-taker a conjured ticket, his number matching one of the obnoxious girls behind him. It was with extreme pleasure that he watched the security guards escort the mouthy blonde away.

The crowd was teeming with loud teenagers, and a few older patrons. They chattered loudly, about the same inane topics as the two mortal girls behind him had. It was enough to make him curse in Goblin under his breath. He retreated to the back of the room, rendering himself invisible to human eyes. It was a simple enough trick. From there he conjured himself into the rafters when he could watch the concert without human contact, and with a 'bird's-eye-view' so to speak.

The lights dimmed, and then went out. Only the spotlights remained as the stage was prepared for the opening band. Wicked queen. They were going to play three songs, and then the love song. He wasn't supposed to know the set before the performance, but Eric had arranged it all before having his wish granted.

Seeing it all again, this time in person, was enough to make Jareth seethe in fury. She was wearing something that was far too tempting for his tastes. The mortal men below him enjoyed the display, but he did not. She was his already, if only to punish and discard. Though her garb didn't show any skin from toes to collarbones, he still found fault in it. It hugged every curve intimately.

As if the taunting lyrics of the song weren't enough, he could couple it with the passion with which she delivered them. She meant every word, and it was a sucker punch he hadn't expected. Her voice was amazing, like smoky velvet wrapping around him, binding him to her more than he liked to admit. But the words… they cut his self-control to ribbons. His nostrils were flaring by the end of the first song, 'Here I am'.

The next one was slower, but not much.

"Don't tell me that it's gonna be all right, that there's a light at the end of the long, dark night. Please don't promise me a crystal rainbow at the end of the storm, because your words aren't enough to make my chill skin warm… And don't tell me that's not fair, because no one really cares, this is a that's not fair-y tale."

Her words made him smile. So the girl-child had learned something in his Labyrinth after all. Well, that was one thing at least. His hands, which had fisted halfway through the first song, relaxed a little. Below him, the crowd cheered, signaling the end. There were some that sang along, obviously fans.

On stage Sarah brushed her hair out of her eyes and tossed the waiting audience a broad wink. "Now, we have something really special for you. This is our first love song, it's titled 'I wish'. Now I know some of you have heard our songs on the radio--" She was interrupted by the swell of the crowd, and she laughed. Behind her the orange-haired chit was seating herself on a stool, and the thickly muscled boy took off his guitar to do the same. Sarah took up the scaled guitar, and Jareth's brow lifted in inquisition.

"Well…" Her voice stilled the cheers and the chants of 'All Hail' that had broken out around them. "Well, you haven't heard this. Your Wicked Queen wrote this for her King, just a week ago. Now, singing I wish, Dragon and Debbi."

Her voice held the right amount of enthusiasm, and the crowd roared a moment, allowing her a mild pause before she began the soft, slow background music.

While the crowd went still in anticipation, Jareth cursed and fumed. She wasn't singing it. She wasn't singing it! He lashed out, shattering one of the large spot-lights. There was a scream, and then a chorus of them as glass rained down and the music stopped. Unseen by human eyes, Jareth swore fluently, and disappeared from the Aboveground entirely.

Oh, you've won this time, precious thing. Yes, this victory is yours. But now we must force your hand, he thought to himself. I tried not to involve your little mortal friends. But now there is really no avoiding it.

When he poofed into existence in the Underground in his throne room, several goblins squealed in terror. All of them with sense skittered out of his way. Dressed once more in his white peasant shirt and tight black pants, Jareth looked every inch the irate king that he was.

He strode toward his throne, kicking a goblin that moved too slow from his path. The poor thing didn't have the good sense to fly out the large window, instead bashing head-first into the nearest wall. It slid the length of the wall to the floor with a loud whimper, and then it got to it's feet hastily to flee with it's comrades.

Inspecting the now-clean throne room, Jareth nodded once. Well, he would be thrice bog-dipped. They had actually managed to clean the entire throne room.

* * * *

James watched her. He always watched her. Sometimes it was in desire, others in fear, seldom even in mourning for something lost that he never had possessed. He knew the fact, even if he wouldn't admit it.

She looked around the room with her green eyes half-closed, like a contented cat. Though she saw softly smiling, it was all an act. She was as on edge as he was. As Debbi giggled with some fans and Dragon took yet another pill for his fever, he and Sarah chose to relax in the backstage area.

"So… how did you think the crowd took the love song?" His voice was quiet, and at first he wasn't sure she heard him. A moment later she sighed, and shook her head.

"The words… they liked the words. But Dragon isn't carrying his half and Debbi's voice is too high for the notes to hit them right. It's meant to be soulful and desperate. Right now it's just… desperate." She stretched languidly, the stood. "I'm going back to the bus, probably going to go over some changes in the new fast song, the one with the double-time in the bridge."

James watched her go. He was always watching her walk away from him, it seemed.

He had loved her since the first day he had met her in Drama. She took the stage, and her eyes flooded with passion. With promise. She took a step forward, letting the harsh stage light wash away the details of her, the flaws. It left only a pure, honest voice, and a white-shrouded womanly form.

He had leaned forward in his green padded chair, ignoring the girl seated to his left. She had been rubbing his arm thoughtfully for the past few minutes, and he had been contemplating dating her for a short while. But all thoughts of everyone and everything else slowly faded away as he watched her impassioned, almost too-realistic performance. It was just a scene, one from a little red leather book, but it astounded him all the same. When she was through he was just as stunned as the teacher. It was more than enough to secure her the lead in the play, and in his fantasies every night and day since.

He had played the role opposite hers, wooing her on stage and off with his talent. He really was a good actor, and it seemed that talent was attractive to her. Talent on stage he had in spades, and he used every ounce of it to chase her. He did it shamelessly in the months that followed.

He had pursued her actively, gently at first and then more ardently as time passed. She seemed oblivious to his attentions until one day that fall. Her eyes seemed fever bright as she threw her arms around him, biting her lip. She buried her head in his shoulder, the position she still took to this day.

After a few moments she tugged away, but not out of his arms. "Kiss me, James. Please. I want you to kiss me."

He didn't take further prompting. Without a moment's delay he swept down and captured her lips in fervor. She tasted like vanilla and… peaches. He was never too fond of them before, but he felt a sudden addiction to them that warm fall day. Greedy for them, and for her, he tilted her head back gently, tipping up her chin with his thumb. She opened her mouth to him, accepting and encouraging his tongue as it danced and dueled with hers.

It was her first kiss, and she had given it to him without a second thought.

She told him about the dream a month later as they laid in her room watching movies. She told him that he wouldn't have believed her room if he had seen it then. It had been pink, she swore, with stuffed animals everywhere and a pink frothy canopy. It was a far-cry from the functional, plain room he had been lying in. The only exception he believed was the large vanity that still remained.

He didn't believe she was serious at first. He laughed at her. That had earned him a pillow in the face and her demand that he get out and stay out. After a few moments of his best groveling--and actors are wonderful at groveling--she relented. He wanted to know the whole thing, and she told him. All except the part about calling to her friends in her mirror. They still answered, and she didn't want him to demand that she show him.

He only knew that little fact because he had overheard her telling his sister later that week.

For a long time he had sulked, knowing that he could never match the Goblin King she had conjured for herself. What man, flesh and blood, could compete with a creature from a teenage fantasy?

But he showed her, every day, that he loved her. That he always would. He held her as though she was precious. Talked to her honestly always, never lied to her or used her or hurt her… It had come as a great and terrible surprise one cold spring morning that she wanted it to end. She told him very simply that he loved her, and it wasn't fair to him. She couldn't love him back.

It had been the first time he told a girl he loved her… Just his luck that she use it as the reason they couldn't be together any more. And she cried as she told him. And he held her as she cried, her head in his shoulder, his arms around her.

They were good friends still and not just because she was his older sister's best friend. Not just because of his own stupid belief that she would someday love him as he wanted to be loved by her. A part of him knew it wasn't likely to happen. No, they remained friends because she wanted it, and he loved her too much to deny her that one simple thing. No matter how it tore at him, he would follow where she lead and be the best friend she could hope for.

Because even if she was a very wicked, cruel queen, she was still the queen of his heart. Whether she liked it or not.

Author's Note:

Hello all, please read and review, thank you for your time and your support!