Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, I barely own a copy of Labyrinth. I do not own any of the characters within this story, although I will take any spare Goblin Kings in need of a home and keeper.

Love's Alchemy

Teris

Chapter Two

Sarah found her father asleep in the waiting room of the psych ward. Since Toby had taken a turn for the worst he had divided his time between Karen's bedside and Toby's. It wasn't fair that one man should have to endure so much she thought, but then her trip through the Labyrinth had taught her that life was not always fair. She took in the sight of her father, resting uncomfortably against the wall for a moment, and tried not to think of the fact that this might well be the last time she ever saw him.

While she didn't necessarily expect Jareth to be the villain that she had expected in her youth, she certainly didn't expect him to be giving her weekend passes home anytime soon. The fact that he would agree to heal Toby was already far more generous than he had to be. If that generosity came with a price she'd just have to do her best to accept it. So far he hadn't been welcoming, but he hadn't been outright cruel to her either. She leaned over and touched his father's shoulder lightly remembering Jareth's request for her to be speedy.

"Sarah?" He jolted awake panicked. "Is it Toby?"

She smiled reassuringly. "Yes, but it's not as bad as you're thinking. Come on, he needs us."

He nodded, and got to his feet resolutely. She didn't pull away when he put a comforting arm around her shoulders, knowing that he needed to know that at least one member of his family was safe. There was little said between them as they walked, but before they reached Toby's door she stopped. "Daddy, I just want you to know I love you. Don't ever forget that ok?" Her voice was slightly thickened with tears.

"I love you too sweetheart." He kissed her forehead, and together they walked into Toby's room. She couldn't see the look on his face, but she could feel him stiffen when he saw the Goblin King bent over Toby's bed. "Sarah, who is this?"

Jareth straightened, and in that instant she easily understood what her history teacher had meant by royal presence. "You must be Sarah's father."

"I am, who exactly are you? Sarah who is this man, and why is he in Toby's room?"

"Quite simply Mr. Williams I'm the Goblin King and I'm here to take at least one of your children."

"Goblin King? Take my children? I don't know who the hell you think you are, but neither of my children are going anywhere with you!"

"On the contrary Mr. Williams, my deal with Sarah is already made. She will be returning to the Underground with me, that is not up for debate. I'm sure that when you've learned all the facts of the situation that you will want Toby to accompany us as well."

"Why precisely would I want that?"

"You acknowledge that your son is dying do you not?"

The man looked at the pale boy on the bed, so weakened that he didn't even realize that his fate was being decided. Reluctantly he nodded. "Yes, yes he is."

"I can heal him, and he can remain in your world. But there are consequences. He will become ill again. He will have to suffer all of this again, and will probably still die without magical intervention. If he comes with us he will grow into adulthood. He will not suffer. And I will do all that I can to ensure his happiness."

"Sarah is what this man says true?" Her father looked at her incredulous, and she could tell that he was wondering if they were going to end up in the same state as Karen.

She swallowed, and prayed that she could convince him. "Yes daddy, he is the king of the Underground, and he can heal Toby."

"And you've made a deal with him?" Now there was thinly veiled alarm mixed in with the disbelief.

"Yes." Her tone was resolute, and her stance left no room for argument. She was going to do this, with his blessing or not.

"How did you meet this man?"

Sarah looked down at the floor suddenly ashamed. She had hoped beyond hope that this day would never come. Toby remembered flashes of the Labyrinth, but it had been more dreamlike for him. And after she'd fought so very hard to win him back she had never given him a reason to doubt her love again. How was she going to tell her father that she'd wished away his only son? Well, she thought. At least if he hates me it would make losing me a little easier on him. She took a deep breath and began to confess. "Well you see-"

"Sarah, allow me to explain." Jareth had watched her war with herself, knowing that she greatly feared losing her father's love. And now he had a choice, he could either be kind and gloss of some of the facts of the wish or he could tell the man the truth in a way that would cause a strain between the two which might never mend in her absence. The sight of her there with her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and her lip caught slightly between her teeth undid him. It looked like kindness would be the order of the day. "Do you remember this Mr. Williams?" In his outstretched palm sat the little red book that had started all of this.

"Yes, it's that book that Sarah was so infatuated with when she was younger. What does that have to do with anything?"

"This book is much more than a simple fairy tale. It is a gateway into my world. Sarah didn't know and she accidently wished Toby away to me one night while you and your wife were out. She didn't mean it, and begged me to give the child back. But meant or not in my world what's said is said, and so to win him back she faced my Labyrinth. She faced the challenges I set before her bravely and became the first person to win against my Labyrinth. Through her bravery and sacrifice your son was returned to you. Though those same qualities she is attempting to save him now."

"I don't know what to say."

"I know that this is difficult for you. But I must ask you to make your decision swiftly, we don't have much time."

Sarah's father looked between his children several times, then back to Jareth. "You give me your word that you will protect them should they go with you?"

Jareth met the man's eyes, and saw the struggle there. Unlike most of his charges these children were very much loved and wanted, and it almost pained him to take them from him. However there was no place for this man in his kingdom, so he would have to settle for reassuring him as best as he could. "You have my word."

"Show me that you can heal him." His eyebrows rose at that. Normally a mortal requesting such a thing would have been punished for the insolence of questioning his powers, but then this was a special case. "Please, I have to know this will work before I can let them go."

"Very well, I will do what I can here in the mortal realm."

He touched his hands to Toby's forehead and chest again, and began chanting words so ancient that Sarah felt them resonate in her bones. Where he touched Toby glowed white, and the boy began to breathe easier. After a moment more he began to stir, and then even managed to open his eyes and give them a small smile. "Am I dreaming?" He asked in a sleep filled voice. This question he addressed to Sarah, who had tears of joy in her eyes as she clutched his hand.

"No Toby you're not dreaming." It was so wonderful to hear his voice again, and both father and daughter felt the pieces of their hearts that had been shattered when they thought their time with him to be spent slowly begin to piece themselves back together.

"Does that mean that the story you told me was real, because he looks like the Goblin King?" Sarah's father started suddenly, for the first time truly equating the man in front of him to the villain in Toby's favorite bed time story. How was he supposed to let a fairy tale villain take his children?

Jareth graced Toby with a smile and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "That would be because I am the Goblin King. And yes that story that Sarah has told you is very much real. I've come to help you get well. And I promise nothing I do will hurt, smell foul, taste awful, or make you feel bad." He was so good with Toby, patient and gentle, reassuring him where he needed it the most. Offers of help getting well were normally followed by pain, but Toby seemed soothed by Jareth's promises.

"Really?" The boy looked up at him with eyes wide with disbelief, and Jareth noticed a small glimpse of hope. This child would fare well in the Underground.

"Yes, really. But I need to talk with your father a moment first."

"What is your answer Mr. Williams, I'm afraid we have run out of time. I need your decision now."

"You can heal him?"

"Completely and painlessly."

"And you promise to take care of them?"

"You have my word."

"Then you have my blessing. Take good care of my children, please." Jareth just nodded and looked to Toby.

"Say goodbye to your father for now Toby, you have to come with me to the castle for me to heal you."

Toby looked to Sarah confused. "But I thought going to the Goblin Castle was bad Sarah?"

She shook her head and squeezed his hand. "Not this time little brother, this time it's very good."

"So it's ok?" She nodded.

"Rest assured Toby no harm will come to you there, and you won't be alone. Sarah will be coming with us."

Sarah's father held her close, and pressed a kiss on his little girl's hair. "I love you Sarah, never forget that." He leaned over Toby's bed and held the fragile boy in as tight of an embrace as he dared. "I love you too Toby."

"I love you too daddy."

"You be a good boy and mind your sister."

"I will daddy." At this point Sarah's father had stopped trying to hold back his tears, and his eyes were misty as he placed one last kiss on Toby's forehead and then stepped back, embracing Sarah one last time.

Jareth took Toby's small hand gently in his own, and cautioned him to hold on. With his other hand he beckoned Sarah, and pulled her into his embrace gesturing for her to put her arms around his waist and pressing her face into his shoulder. "Both of you hold tight to me now, and Sarah keep your head down and your eyes closed, it will make the trip easier on you." Then in a shimmering blink they were gone leaving only a middle aged man and a pile of glitter to mark their passing from the mortal world.

AN: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know the Jareth/Sarah interaction wasn't much in this one, but I didn't feel comfortable without letting at least one of the parents know where the children were going. Although Sarah's hardly a child anymore. Do we think that Jareth will notice? And will he keep going with the inclination towards kindness, or will his darker side surface in the Underground?