9Tailsfan: I did know about the manga but this is my own story and only the movie is cannon to me, interesting how he's 1300 years old, lol. Again this is fan fiction so my story is my own with its own twists (again the premise isn't even like the movie itself with Sarah also being from the Underground). I have seen some of the artwork and it looks lovely but I'm not such a big fan of the story itself. I don't really consider the manga cannon though as none of the original creators made it (as far as I know, let me know if I'm wrong on that or not). The only thing that's really cannon is gonna be the movie itself. Thanks for the review and the info, maybe I'll use that stuff in another fic some other time. I'm curious as to what you think of my story in and of itself!
Honoria Granger: oops! Sorry I didn't realize sweet breads weren't actually sweet LOL and I fixed it. When you read it imagine a pastry or something and thanks for reviewing my stories! I hope you'll continue to enjoy this one!
As always, thanks for any reviews, favorites, and follows! I really hope you'll enjoy the story!
Jareth felt different than he had for a longtime. He was still moody and cruel at times, but he was also happier than he had ever been. Lighter, more free after meeting Sarah.
The castle staff found his behavior a little strange but no one was about to argue with him about it.
He couldn't wait for the weekend to see her again.
Sarah clasped on her owl necklace and slipped on a light blue day dress with comfortable slippers. She would be going to the market again. Her father was sadly out of town today.
No matter. At least she had Jareth to look forward to.
She was about to step out of the house when Irene stopped her.
"Oh Sarah, I was looking for you!" She exclaimed. "The girls and I, we are going to the seamstress to get new dresses and we can't just take Toby with us."
Sarah stared at Irene, blinking. "Seamstress?" Her stepsisters had more than their fair share of clothing. And they were supposed to be trying to save money!
"Well they will inherit titles of countess when they're of age from their late father." Irene said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "They need dresses to fit the occasion. You don't need as much as you're without title. You don't want Anastasia and Drizella to be shamed, do you?"
Once again, Sarah knew that Irene was just being manipulative and making her feel guilty. But what could she do?
Her stepmother looked at her, as if waiting for Sarah to fight back so she could tell Robert what an awful child Sarah was being.
Sarah put on a smile. "No, of course not. I could watch Toby."
"Wonderful!" Irene handed the baby to her. "We will be back tonight."
And without another word, she and the girls zoomed out.
Sarah felt anger rising in her but she wasn't going to let that spoil her. She thought about how her father would come home tomorrow with a flower from wherever he traveled. He had taken her on his trips when she was younger, not so much now though as that would take up resources.
She found a little wooden wagon to place Toby in as well as anything she needed from the market. She sighed at the thought that Jareth wouldn't be able to spend as much with her today. She did have a baby with her, what person, especially a man, would want to spend time with a baby?
She made sure to get a few books she liked and placed it in the wagon. Toby gurgled and held a toy close to him.
"Ready for your first Saturday market?" Sarah kissed his head.
Jareth waiter patiently at the bench with an Amaris in his hand. I look like a fool waiting for a date. He grumbled to himself.
At least, he tried to tell himself that's not what this was. Sarah was so young, and though quite a bit of men his age had married off to girls her age, 15 was nowhere near the maturity of his 22 years.
Except you're pretty immature yourself and she's put you in your place. His inner self reminded him.
He felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around he saw a bright and smiling face of Sarah.
"Miss me?" Sarah teased him.
Jareth gave her a toothy grin. "You think too highly of yourself."
"Of course not, that's your job." Sarah winked at him. "You're the arrogant one."
"It's not arrogance if I know I'm right." Jareth bantered back. "I bet I could get the attention of more women than you could men."
Sarah knew he was right. Not because she was any less beautiful than him, but because of his personality. She was too shy to play that game. "I'm good. You know, only insecure people feel the need to prove themselves." She tilted her head and gave him an infuriating smile.
Jareth hadn't expected for her to respond the way she did. He thought maybe she'd blush and tell him to stop but she rose to the challenge. Not that he would've held it against her if she did any of that. But seeing her be his equal in banter, oh that was refreshing.
"I have nothing to be insecure about." He put his hands on his hips.
"I know, those pants prove it." Sarah rolled her eyes.
There it was again, her rising to the occasion and catching him off guard! She brought up his almost indecently tight pants before he did. He smirked. So she had noticed his pants. Though it would be impossible for anyone to NOT notice.
Sarah had no idea where that last comment came from. Maybe it was from being around Jareth himself. With him, she felt more bold, more confident in her own skin. She didn't feel like an odd outcast with him. In fact, she felt like she had found her place with him. She cleared her throat and gestured to the wagon behind her. "Jareth, meet Toby."
Jareth's eyes widened and he crouched down to the baby's height. "Well, hello Toby."
Toby stared at Jareth for one moment and giggled at him. He reached out to touch Jareth's hair and the fae let the babe do so. Toby clapped his hands.
Sarah couldn't believe it. Toby NEVER acted that way towards a stranger. He didn't even like Anastasia and Drizella. Maybe they weren't a good example though since both girls don't want anything to do with him.
"May I hold him?" Jareth offered. He loved being able to play with children when he could. And here and now, he didn't have a wished away child. Just a normal baby.
Sarah nodded, too in awe to speak.
Jareth placed Toby on his hip. Again, another sign that he knew exactly how to hold children. "You are a handsome boy, aren't you, Toby?" He cooed. He gave Sarah a smirk. "He's not as pretty as his sister though."
Sarah blushed. "He does have three sisters, you know."
"I'm aware, but I doubt his other sisters could ever be as beautiful as you."
He meant to say it teasingly but his voice couldn't do it because he actually meant it. There was something about the way her dark hair framing her face, her pink lips upturned in a smile and green eyes shining that pulled him to her. How could anyone not notice? It wasn't just how she looked but her actions. She was sweet and gentle but also had a fire in her.
Sarah looked away from him momentarily. "I'm not sure what to say about that."
Jareth could see that though she was able to reach his remarks before, she was wavering now and feeling uncomfortable. He wasn't sure why she was so shy when it came to her own worth. She deserved to understand that she was special. Maybe she did know, but it seemed hidden. He know it did for him when his father passed.
Her chest shone and he realized that she was wearing the owl necklace that he bought her last week. He grinned. "That necklace is a good look on you."
Sarah smiled brightly and touched the necklace. "You have good taste."
"Oh, you have no idea how good my taste of fashion is." He promised her.
Sarah looked up and down him and raised an eyebrow. "That's good fashion?"
"Why not? You did say that you don't doubt my confidence with clothes like this." He tilted his chin up to her.
Sarah shook her head. He was impossible. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're adorable." He moved Toby to his other hip. "Toby, wouldn't you agree that your sister is adorable when she's flustered?"
Toby just giggled.
Jareth turned back with a smug smile. "See? Your brother agrees."
After more banters, Sarah got her grocery shopping done. She had no need to worry about Toby at all. Jareth showed her some magic tricks with crystals, turning them to bubbles. Toby loved it and honestly, so did she.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Jareth handed Sarah a flower. "You told me that your favorite flower was an Amaris."
Sarah blinked and felt so touched. Jareth had remembered. "You have a good memory."
Jareth took the flower and placed it behind her ear. He traced her outer ear and both shivered at the touch. "I've been told that, Sarah. But truthfully, I remember it because I wanted to."
Sarah touched the flower and gazed at him with an emotion she hadn't ever felt before. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me, Precious." Jareth promised her.
Sarah tilted her head. "Precious?"
"Well, it's what you are." He told her. "You are precious. You hold your own inherent worth just by being who you are."
"Everyone is precious." Sarah agreed. "I wish everyone understood that. I'm trying to make sure Toby understands that."
Jareth reached to touch her chin to turn it to him. "I know, but now I'm focusing on you, Sarah."
Sarah wasn't sure how to respond to that. He was so sweet and good to her, but while she could be kind as her mother told her, she wanted to be strong so no one could hurt her. So she turned away.
Jareth cursed inwardly. He had known Sarah for a short amount of time. While that was enough to move fast in noble circles, it wasn't for someone like Sarah. No. With Sarah, he couldn't risk making her feel uncomfortable.
What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I want to be with her after knowing her for a day? Am I going insane?
Though these thoughts were sobering, at least the one nice thought was that no matter what, he would be seeing more of her. Plenty of time to get comfortable with her around.
Sarah smiled at him. "I know you really mean it. And it means a lot to me."
Jareth put a hand on hers. "Never forget that. You are someone to be treasured."
He wondered if her stepmother and stepsisters were cruel to her. Though she never said it, he wondered if the way she talked about them, she wasn't just annoyed with their antics but that they were worse to her than that.
The day passed by wonderfully. Jareth told stories of the goblin kingdom to a group of children, Sarah also listening to every word. Even Toby was captivated.
Jareth showed Sarah how to make a sling out of some cloth he had bought so a child Toby's size could be carried on her back. "Just do a few twists and you have it."
Sarah looked at him. "How are you so good with children?"
Jareth luckily had an answered prepared. The real answer was because he had to learn in order to take care of wished away children. The answer he gave her was "I had worked in an orphanage for a while." Which was true, it was a part of his training.
Sarah was in awe of him. "You are a natural with children."
"I try." He puffed out his chest with pride. "I would love to have my own family one day."
Sarah sighed dreamily. There was just something so attractive about a man who was so paternal and so sweet with children. Jareth had even fed Toby some applesauce earlier that day.
Far too soon, it was time for her to go. She made sure to give Jareth some books before he left. "These are some of the most important books to me, all for various reasons."
Jareth created a crystal and placed them inside. "Then I shall treasure them. I look forward to discussing them with you, Sarah."
He took her hand and kissed the back of it. Sarah tried to not faint at the feel of his lips on her knuckles.
"Next week?" He asked her.
"Of course." She smiled. "Oh, next week, there's a fair happening here. My whole family will be here."
"Including the evil stepmother and evil stepsisters?" He snickered.
Sarah shoved him. "Rude! And they're not evil, just... oh I don't know. But we may or may not see them depending on what they do. My father will be here though."
The hairs on the back of Jareth's hair pricked up. Meeting the fathers had never been an issue when he courted anyone since he was a king. But it wasn't like Sarah's family knew this.
And you're not courting her, just friends. His inner mind said logically.
Her father will still wonder why someone your age is spending time with his daughter. He argued back.
Still, he wasn't going to pass up on this opportunity. Sure it would be nice to be with Sarah alone but he wanted to get to know her and her family. She adored her father and Jareth wanted the man's approval. Even if he was just going to be her friend.
A flirty friend. His inner mind said.
