Chapter 4: When My World Fell Down

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Jareth (wish I did sometimes), Sarah, or any of the characters from Labyrinth. They belong to Jim Henson and those responsible for the making of the wonderful masterpiece that is Labyrinth. This was written for fun and I make no profit from it.

My time with the Goblin King wasn't all laughs and jokes though. From the day we met up to the last time I saw him, he helped me through the darkest days.

I had known Jareth for almost two years when I found a special guy to share my home, heart, and even my bed with. Jareth didn't really care for him. He said he was always dirty, drooled too much and most of all he hated how Max always barked at him.

Max was a 9 year old corgi that a couple I knew from college had, along with a young Sheppard mix named Roxie. Well when they broke up, Ron called me asking if I, or anyone I knew, wanted Max. He told me he had gotten the dogs for Lauren and when she left Lauren only took Roxie. While I really hadn't planned on having a dog, I couldn't let Ron give him to a shelter. At his age he may never get adopted and that could mean they would euthanize Max. So Max came to live with me. It was nice having him around all the time. I spoiled him rotten according to Jareth, but he deserved it. He was only with me for 2 years.

A month or two before my 25th birthday Max was having a rough time. He had severe arthritis and some days he wouldn't leave the bed unless I carried him. I knew he was getting worse. Jareth did what he could to ease Max's pain when he came to visit, but it was a temporary solution. I was saving every penny I could to pay for a vet, but I was too late.

The day before my birthday I woke to find Max wasn't on the bed. I jumped up and searched the house. I found him in the kitchen laying on the floor. His legs were sticking out straight as boards and his whole body was cold and stiff.

I nearly collapsed on the floor when I saw him. Scrambling over his side. I panicked. "Jareth! Jareth! Please I need you!" I was clutching the pendant he had given me. He told that pendant would allow me to call for him. I kept screaming Jareth's name as I picked up Max and held him close, tears streaming down my face as I searched for a pulse.

"Really Lannie I know you're excited because tomorrow's your birthday, but really there's no need to..." Jareth stopped mid sentence when he saw me holding Max. "Oh no." He rushed over and knelt by my side. "Let me see him."

I handed him to Jareth carefully so as not to bother his joints too much. "Please Jareth. I can't feel a pulse."

The Goblin King held his body. He rubbed a hand over his head and mumbled something I didn't catch. Setting him down gently, Jareth looked at me with sadness in his eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"NOOO!" I remember falling to the side, but I didn't hit the floor.

I soon found myself in Jareth's arms. He held me tight and rocked me gently as I cried. All I remember is crying and his soothing voice. "Shhh. Its alright Lannie. Let it all out. I've got you."

I had known that day was coming but knowing didn't make it any easier. I don't know how long I cried in his arms. I know at some point I must have fallen asleep from exhaustion because I woke up hours later. I was on the couch with a blanket over me. Sitting up I looked around. I was once again alone. Max had become such an important part of my life and now he was gone. I sat with my knees hugged to my chest as I tried to process it.

Not sure how long I sat there staring at the wall. When I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked up to see Jareth standing behind me. "Hey Lannie."

"Hi." I said weakly as I looked up at him.

"Sarah sends her deepest sympathies. She wanted to be here, but she's with young Tobias dealing with a crisis." Jareth told me. I knew Toby was her younger brother, the very one she had wished away and then rescued. I knew lots about Sarah, but hadn't met her yet.

"Tell the Queen I appreciate it and understand her absence. Family comes first. She's never even met me so I wouldn't expect her to drop everything to be here for me." I stated.

He nodded and sighed. "I took Max to the castle I've made arrangements for his last rites ritual. We're all set to begin if you want to be there." He said softly.

"Last rites ritual?" I was too out of it to comprehend what he was telling me.

"I believe you would call it a funeral." He explained.

"You're having a funeral for Max?" He nodded and started to speak, but I jumped up and rushed around the couch. I hugged Jareth and whispered, "Thank you."

He wrapped his arms around me and patted my back. "You're welcome my dear." He pulled away and wiped a tear from my cheek. "Come on. Let's get going." Taking my hand he transported me to the Underground.

It was my first visit there and while I normally would have taken it all in and enjoyed every moment, I was too distraught to focus on where I was at the time. Jareth didn't disappoint. The "ritual", as he called it, was beautiful. Afterwards Jareth return me home and left, promising to stop by later.

He came by several times the next few days. Loosing Max was hard, but Jareth helped me put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

~*~*~*~/.../~*~*~*~

A year or so later I suffered another loss. Thanks to Jareth's encouragement, I eventually made friends at work. One in particular became almost family. She took me under her wing, taught me more things to help improve my days at work, made sure I had food, and made me feel like I actually belonged. Lynn's husband was in the military, which meant she eventually moved away.

Even though she was in another country, we kept in touch. We emailed, video chatted, and even sent each other packages. One day I got the worst possible. Her husband called to tell me she had passed away.

Jareth was there for me just like he had been when I lost Max, but this time he saved my life once more. As Lynn was well loved at my place of work, several of my co-workers decided to have a wake of sorts at the local bar. We all met there after work and talked and shared memories of Lynn. That was the night I learned grief and alcohol don't mix.

After work I went home to shower and change and when I came out of the bathroom, Jareth was waiting in the living room. "Going somewhere?"

"Yea a bunch of my coworkers are meeting at Chum's for drinks as kind of a wake for Lynn. I said I'd stop by for a little while." I explained as I towel dried my hair.

"Are you going to be alright?" His eyes were filled with concern.

"Yea, I'll just have a drink or two then come home. I just don't want to be alone right now, and I can't expect you to be here with me 24/7. You have a Kingdom to run and a family to take care of. I do appreciate all you've done though. Thank you Jareth."

"You're quite welcome. Just be careful and don't hesitate to call if you need help."

I nodded and after he left I headed to Chum's. I found a dozen or so of my coworkers there and we talked and drank for a few hours. I knew I didn't have a very high tolerance so I nursed my drinks. My big mistake was not eating before or while I was drinking. I never even thought about it. One hour turned to two and two to three. Before I knew it, it was after midnight and I was one of 5 still at the bar.

One of the guys that was still there was a new hire. He was invited as a curtesy by one of the others. I had met it once or twice, but he worked a different department so I never really had a chance to talk to him until that night. He seemed nice and offered to pay for my drinks. I'm not sure how many I actually had. More than 2 that's for sure. At some point I decided I should go home and Jake offered to drive me, said it wasn't safe for me to drive. I followed him to his car and then things went black.

I woke up the next morning in my own bed, with no memory of how I got there. Sitting on the table by my bed was a vase with fresh flowers, a note with my name on it, and a bottle of aspirin. Picking up the note I read it, but it only made more confused.

Elena,

please don't go out drinking alone again.

-J

After putting food in my stomach and taking the aspirin for my head, I sat in the living room and tried to piece together what happened. When I checked my phone I saw I had several missed calls from coworkers and 3 voice mails.

"Elena what happened last night? Jake came in all beat up and is telling everyone not to go near you unless they have a death wish. Call me!"

"Yo, Elena girl what did you do to Jake. Man he is terrified of you now. Hit me up later."

"Lannie, its Ellie. Hon are you ok? There are rumors galore at work. I want details!"

After listening to the last voicemail I had had enough. I stood up and started to call for Jareth, but didn't get to. "I suppose you would like to know what happened."

I turned to see Jareth leaning against the wall. He didn't look happy at all. "Yes I would. Last night I remember is going to Jake's car. He was going to give me a ride home."

Jareth shook his head. "Oh he wanted to give you a ride alright." He pushed off the wall and walked over to me. "What were you thinking? What happened to a couple of hours and a couple drinks?" He was almost shouting.

"I got caught up in the memories with everyone else. So what?"

"So what?" He shook his head. "You are very lucky I came to check on you and got worried when you weren't here. I found that creature placing you in the backseat of his car. Your clothes were not in their proper state and he was using some sort of device that made flashes of light."

"Oh my god." I fell back on the couch.

"Yes he was crying for his deity last night as well." Jareth sat beside me.

"What did you do?"

"I simply convinced him to never go near you again and he will definitely think twice before trying such a thing again." He reached over and took my hand in his. "Promise me you won't do that ever again."

I nodded and leaned over and hugged him. "Thanks for saving me."

"You are quite a handful at times. If you weren't my dear friend I may reconsider having you as my assistant." He teased. I jabbed him in the ribs and he chuckled. "I know I told you to go out find a guy and have crazy wild sex, but this was most definitely the wrong way to go about it."

"Yeah well not everyone can have members of the opposite sex throwing themselves at you." I sat up and sighed. "I could have been in a lot of trouble. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up."

"I'd prefer not to think about it." He stood. "Well at least I know to keep you away from the goblin ale." He smirked.

I soon found myself laughing and I was even more grateful for the friendship of the Goblin King.