Donna lead the bunch inside and headed for the phone. "What is the number?" she asked. Mia looked up and thought for a second. Then shrugged.
"What?!"
"I forgot the number again. Besides, our parents left to San Francisco for a business thing, so they aren't home." said Mia with another shrug.
"So you were left all alone?" asked Sarah.
"No. We had a baby sitter, but she left early to go to a boyfriends house party."
Donna sighed and leaned against the wall.
"Well, what are we supposed to do with you then?"
"Feed us." suggested Mia.
"Yeah, I'm hungry." stated Alex.
"What do you want?" asked Donna.
"I will take a smoked salmon, with a side of caviar, and Alex will have a chicken salad with a side of Italian Dressing."
Donna was clearly irritated with the kids, and she pinched the bridge of her nose, while Sarah just laughed.
"Who raised you kids?" asked Donna. "We don't have salmon, or caviar. We have mac and cheese, and cereal."
The kids shrugged. "That works to." said Alex.
Sarah put the owl down on the couch and surrounded it with the couch pillows so he wouldn't fall off. Making her way into the kitchen, she got down a box of mac and cheese and started making it.
"Ok kids. Sit on the couch and watch tv. Do not touch anything alright. That's an order. And leave the poor owl alone." demanded Donna and she walked into the kitchen.
Mia sighed. "Well she is a buzz kill." Jareth looked up at her with his big owl eyes, and wondered again. "Who the hell raised you?"
Donna met Sarah in the kitchen, who was stirring the noodles in a middle sized pot.
"I thought you hated owls Sarah."
"No, not really, I just . . . well, I don't know. That owl in there, when it looked up at me with those eyes. I couldn't help myself. Anyone would have helped it."
"Yeah well, I just want to get rid of those brats already. Maybe we should dump them at the police station after we feed them."
"You are so harsh. I don't know why you are a school teacher."
"You and me both. So what are we going to do with the kids?" asked Donna.
"Keep them till their parents come back I suppose."
"What? We have work for one, and we have no idea when they are coming back, if they even are. They probably just left the damn brats!"
"Donna! Enough." Sarah snapped at her friend. "Besides. I am sure we can take them to school with us. Who knows. Maybe they go to the school."
Donna rolled her eyes and headed for the fridge, pulling out a few hot dogs for the mac and cheese. Sarah strained the noodles and added the butter and cheese pack, stirring it all together while Donna added the chopped up hot dog into it.
"Ok kids. Get to the table!" shouted Sarah, and the girls rushed to the table. It was a small round table, enough for two or three. It stood 4 in a half feet, and the girls climbed the stool chairs to sit. Sarah brought the food out to them and sat on the couch, picking up the owl and putting him on her lap. Jareth felt the warmth of her body against him, and her soft hands petting his soft feathers, and he smiled on the inside, his heart leaping with joy, as he cuddled up on her lap. Sarah smiled down at the ball of fluff, and Donna came into the room to join her. Sitting down, Donna placed her hand on the owls head and rubbed her thumb across the feathers.
"He is very soft, I'll give you that."
After Mia and Alex ate, Sarah offered them her room, and they jumped up and down, very excited to see the room of the woman Jareth was so heart sick for.
"Ok then. It is the room straight down the hallway and the second to the left."
Mia got down from her chair. "Don't worry Sarah. I'll make sure Alex doesn't touch anything. We well go to bed, and that is that."
"Yeah right Mia. You get into grown up things more than I do." stated Alex a bit offended.
"I was just playing Alex."
"You two can stay up and watch a movie if you want. I have a tv in my room."
"Alright. Now we are in business. Come on Alex."
"I'll get them some cloths." offered Donna, and she fallowed them into Sarah's room. Sarah relaxed on the couch, watching The Power Puff Girls, and slipping off to sleep. She had stayed up the other night grading papers and late work, so she was very tired. Lying down on the couch, she moved her new pet onto her stomach, and propping her head with a pillow, she rubbed the owl under his neck, and Jareth thought he was going to explode. He was so comfortable in the hands of this women he cared so much about, that it did not take long for him to fall into a deep sleep. So deep in fact, that if Sarah had not fallen asleep at that exact same moment, or Donna hadn't been watching the kids in Sara's room, and then going to bed with out a glance at her friend on the couch, they would have realized who it was. Losing control of his magic, Jareth turned back into his Fae form, and lie on top of her. Too Sarah, she felt the heavy weight on her, and the warmth of a man. And it felt wonderful. His head lie on her chest, and her arms wrapped around him unconsciously tangling her fingers in his wild blond hair.
The early morning sun peeked through the windows, and the sounds of birds could be heard chirping and singing in the distance, but Sarah was only a little aware of it. She mumbled something and moved a little, starting to wake a little. Something felt heavy on her chest, and she found it hard to breath. She stretched and mound and her thoughts came back to her, one by one, as she remembered her day before. Her body felt sore for some reason. Placing her hand down to her chest, she felt softness of something, and she remembered the owl she found. She smiled and kept petting, but after a second, she became aware. It didn't feel like an owl.
Looking down, she saw blond. Ok. But as she stared, her eyes adjusted and she saw a clearer image and she rubbed her eyes. It couldn't be. But it was. It was him. His hair lie a little in his face, but it was him. There was no mistaking it. It was Jareth. His breath was soft, and his chest softly highered and lowered with each breath. He looked so peaceful. She never saw him this way before. Sarah tried her hardest not to scream. Instead, she grabbed him by his shoulders and rolled him off her, and he crashed to the floor with a loud thump. He woke instantly and grabbed his head with his hand and sat up.
"What the bloody hell was that!" he screamed.
Sarah sat there staring at him, her heart rapidly running in her chest. She new know that the owl had been him all along. Jareth looked over at Sarah, remembering the day before, and what had happened. They both just stared at each other. Well, at least in till Donna and the girls came running out.
"What is going on out here. Sarah, are you alright? Who is this? Get away from her you creep!" demanded Donna, a baseball bat in hand.
Jareth jumped up and put his hands up.
"Now now miss. I was just . . . Um . . .Just-"
"He is our baby sitter." said Mia quickly, cutting Jareth off.
"Right. The baby sitter. I came to see if they needed me and what not, but I think I better get going."
"You're the baby sitter! How do you know where we live? How could you have left them alone to go to your boyfriends house?! That is absurd. You should be ashamed of your self!" said Donna in disbelieve.
"Oh,is that what they said. No, they took off when I took them to the park. I looked away and they were gone. Then they called me late last night and I found this place. That's all. Why am I explaining my self to you anyway. Come girls. We have stuff to do."
He looked down at the girls and smiled. They looked so adorable. They wore long t shirts, that had a few paint stains on them. They were practically dresses on the girls and they sheepishly smiled at Donna.
"A baby sitter hey. Well, can I speak to you out side for a second then." asked Sarah, though it was more of a demand. She got up from the couch and Jareth fallowed her out of the apartment and into the hallway.
"That women you are living with is a nuisance. You should get rid of her Sarah."
"Well, it looks like you just met your match. Now what is it those girls were talking about? Surely you did not take up babysitting?" asked Sarah leaning against the wall, arms crossed over her chest. Jareth looked her up and down. Even though she just woke up, and her hair was a mess, to Jareth, she looked perfect.
"Sarah. What do you think I do when I take a kid who is wished away? Let them do whatever and cause havoc? Of course not."
"They were wished away?"
"Yes. They aren't even siblings. Mia's big sister wished them away."
"Did she not run the Labyrinth?" asked Sarah straightening up.
"She did. But she gave up only an hour into it. I haven't been able to tell them yet."
"So the Goblin King does have a soft side after all."
Jareth Frowned. "You always are so quick to think I am the bad guy here. I have a heart you know."
"What are you doing here?" asked Sarah, trying to get off that certain topic.
"The girls wished me here."
"What? Why? How did they know?"
Jareth looked away from her and shrugged. "How am I to know?"
"Then I will ask them myself."
Sarah made her way to her door, and Jareth grabbed her shoulder and pinned her to the wall.
"No! I mean no. I came here because they wished to go to the park. That is all."
"If that was all then you would have told me in the first place."
Damn this girl. She was too clever for her own good. She gave a devil smile to Jareth who chuckled in returned. Sarah looked down for a moment, and back at Jareth who let go of her shoulders and leaned back a bit.
"You could have told me it was you." said Sarah.
"Then you would have wished me away."
"You don't know that."
"Oh, you wouldn't?" asked Jareth skeptical, the way he did when Sarah said she didn't mean to wish her brother away all those years ago.
Sarah huffed. "Look, it was a long time ago. I am over it. Besides, I was the one who wished Toby away. In a way, you were just doing your job. So I forgive you."
Sarah glared at the floor, not sure if she believed what she was saying. Jareth was speechless. For once. He had no idea what to say. Was it true. Did she really forgive him.
"But I am still angry with you!" she stated, looking back up at Jareth with a glare.
"What?! But you just said-"
Sarah cut him off. "Well, you didn't make the Labyrinth any easier for me now did you. I almost fell in to the Bog of Eternal Stench!"
"I am supposed to make it hard on you. To see if you really wanted him back. And I didn't make it all that hard, and I wouldn't have let you fall in."
"Yeah right."
"Well, my time wasn't a picnic either. I got on just fine with Toby, and I don't know what you were whining about, but I did have to get up and sing and dance with him a few times."
"Oh, poor baby."
Jareth glared at her.
"I don't know why I care about you Sarah." he hissed. "You are such a stubborn ars child."
"I am not a child. I am a high school teacher for heavens sake. Wait what?"
Jareth was about to yell back, but then he stopped, realizing what he just said. Sarah's eyes became huge, and he stared into them, lost in their color. He came closer to her and she backed up against the wall.
"Sarah, I . . . I um . . . I don't have . . . I mean I just don't really. I love you Sarah. You should know that. You do know that. And I dont know why you keep putting up defenses against me. I am just, I dont know. I don't understand you. You're like a puzzle or something. I miss you, and it's like trying to forget someone you could not live without."
"Jareth? I. . ."
"I am a man of my pride Sarah, and I speak my mind. It's hard to chose the words I want to say to you."
"I cant figure it out."
"What?"
"You. One moment you are all high and mighty, then the next you are spilling your heart out to me."
"Women can do that to you I suppose."
Sarah laughed and Jareth loved the sound of it.
"Please don't make me go." said Jareth. "I want to stay with you."
Sarah smiled, and brought her hand up to his chest, feeling his heart beat. He had to be telling the truth. No trickery. His heart beat so fast.
"I don't know Jareth."
"You your self said that you forgave me. Give me a chance."
"Ok. I suppose so. But I wont be happy about it." Just then Donna opened the door to see how her friend was doing.
"What are you two up to?" she asked.
"Sarah is my girl now." stated Jareth.
Sarah panicked. "Hey Mr. You still have no power over me you know!"
"Yes. But you're still crazy about me. And that's why I love you. So stubborn, you can't admit your feelings."
Jareth gave her a hug from behind, and Sarah pinched his hand, though a glove was in the way, and he hardly felt it. Jareth just smiled and let her go.
"Wait, when did this happen?" asked Donna.
"Um? Well, you see, he used to baby sit my brother one time a long time ago, and so I know him." Sarah said with a sheepish grin. It wasn't really a lie. In a way.
"Yeah, right. Well, we have work you know."
Sarah grumbled under her breath, and ran inside.
Donna looked at this men in front of her. He was handsome, she would give him that. But what was up with his get up.
"Hey. If you're going to have a baby sitting job, I wouldn't wear that."
Jareth looked down at his cloths.
"Right."