Notes at End.

Toby was gleeful at dinner. As most children who think they've solved a problem, his smiles and talkative nature began to warm both adults sitting with him.

Hoggle had brought Sarah to the dining room through the servant's back entrance dressed in a black sundress that fell just to her knees. Jareth never did seem to lose his style, that was for sure. He looked akin to what he had worn in the ballroom all those years ago. She gave a small nod as Jareth looked her over and Toby told her hello. With a small wink and the aid of a crystal, Jareth informed her she was too solemnly dressed for the celebration dinner of their return. He blew softly on the clear orb and when it touched her, the bubble changed the wonderfully simple black dress into a rather bell shaped, taffeta white number with shimmers of pink and blue. Great. I look like cotton candy. Again.

The intimate dining room was certainly different from the rest of the castle. Like Jareth's study, the room and a rich color, finely detailed with silvers and golds. There was no hint that the walls were sandstone at all. Sarah wondered absently if Toby's rooms looked like her own toffee colors walls, if Jareth's did. Probably not.

The Goblin King seemed to think Sarah's hair left down was just fine for the occasion and as they began the meal, Toby told them what he was learning in his lessons, which had already begun. The boy had been a wonderful distraction. Indeed, Sarah hadn't realized how little she'd talked to Jareth at dinner until Toby had been sent to bed and the two were left to talk before retiring for the night.

While twisting a goblet of red wine between his gloved fingers, Sarah's eyes mulled over the man likewise clad in shimmering white, albino dragon skin she thought. Jareth stared hard at the woman. It was very hard not to. The enchantment of the peach was a strong one, and even though she'd been able to fight it before, there should be very little reason why she was still able to resist it now. Another perplexity of my lovely Sarah. Wonders never end. "So love, did you enjoy dinner as I said you would?"

"The food was very good."

"So was the company."

"A compliment from the Goblin King?"

"Oh they slither out on occasion." Both gave a slight chuckle and amused eyes looked into each other.

When a gentle silence fell; Sarah broke it, "I was under the impression when you asked me to dinner, Toby wasn't invited."

"Plans have a way of always working out."

"You'll use him as a pawn?" She asked less gently.

"If he brings me you, why not use him to my advantage." Sarah flushed deeply on her cheeks. She wasn't sure she could reconcile this attentive, almost willing Goblin King. This kind of polite conversation with him was unnerving; and if he kept saying things like that and looking at her the way he was, she wasn't sure if she could stop from hitting him or keep breathing.

"I don't enjoy this Jareth."

"Funny how I do," his eyes agreed with the words he had spoken, there really was great amusement behind the green and blue irises.

"What?"

"How I enjoy it when you're angry with me." An unwilling chuckle caught in the back of Jareth's throat. He'd rather have her passionate, even angry, than despondent. He could work with angry.

"Well then you must enjoy life very much."

"It seems to have gotten drastically better within the last few days, I must admit."

"Has Toby asked yet?"

"Asked what my love?" Jareth cocked his head.

"To go home, to see his parents."

"Ah, that." Jareth leaned in on the table with his forearms, eyes glittering widely in the now candle lit room; his hair subtly cascading down around his face. "Luckily love, children who will themselves away to the Underground forget their former life rather quickly."

"Because they turn into Goblins," Sarah finished for him. Suddenly true fear fell into her gaze, "Toby's not?!"

"O, no, no. My son will be just like me. But the magic works all the same. Even you are forgetting things." He lounged backwards, crossing his legs while motioning to her with his hand.

"I remember everything." The Cheshire grin that both brought a blush to her cheeks and rage to her heart developed on the Goblin King's face.

"Really? Who was the boy I saw you with the night you came back to me?"

As she rushed to answer, annoyed at Jareth enjoyment and mock, her mouth fell open, she fought to find his name. He'd loved her and she'd rejected him, she should have loved him. Even now he would be looking for her, he would find a way to free her, help Hoggle and the boys to get her back. She could still hear his sweet voice in her head. Sarah looked at her captor with little controlled rage.

"See, you can't remember can you. That poor boy poured his heart out to you, and you're not even careful enough to keep his name close to your heart. You've always remembered mine, haven't you Sarah?" His body was shaking with silent laughter. Sarah was his, there was little reason for jealousy now and that look on Sarah's face had a devouring quality. If she wasn't made enough to bite him, he might have tried to kiss her.

"You have no right to take him away from me!"

"I'm not, the magic of the Underground is working; besides he doesn't remember you either. You're very little missed Aboveground."

"How dare you. How dare you!" Sarah leaned in closer to the table, fisting her hands on the wood. "First you break me; I won Toby back, but you broke me; he comes into my life, picks up the pieces, pieces that never all came back, pieces you took from me; he tells me he loves me, loves me! Wants nothing but to love me, something you'll never understand, and then you make me forget him! I'm damaged Goblin King. Thanks to you, I never could love Josh and I wanted to so badly."

Josh. His voice came back to Sarah as she closed her eyes, his laugh; the way his eyes would shine when she did something silly; the pain behind them when she told him no.

All the crystal on the table shattered: wine went pouring everywhere, bits of glass embedded themselves to the walls and the furniture, shocking Sarah out of her memories. Jealousy seething, he rose and stared hard at her for a long while, his face expressionless.

As Jareth's white cape followed him from the room Sarah was left -- her mouth fallen open; eyes dry, but wide; red wine covering most of the right side of her gown -- with nothing but regret.

I know this chapter is late, and I bet my own beta check isn't the best it could be either. A thousand hugs for still reading it!