A/N: I can't seem to stop writing. What's happening to me?!? I'll just be sitting down reading a Stephen King book when it hits me--Jareth and Sarah could do THIS or THAT or... OMG... it's exhausting. Well, everyone, I hope that you like this next chapter. Thank you everyone (few and far between that you are) for reviewing. lyn--are you ever going to say anything but "write more"? Come on, I need more then that to sustain my ego.

I again remind everyone that my computer is dead and I'm working on Wordpad. I'm doing my best not to mis-spell things, but it's hard. If there's just something that screams out at you, let me know.

As always, constructive critisism welcome.

They traveled. The forest went on for a long, long while until they came to a crumbling wall, black with soot. Jareth was silent most of trip, and Sarah herself was deep in thought. Jareth had no doubts to what she was thinking about. His mind kept flashing on the clearing and how she hadn't pulled away until her head had swung in the one direction. He had no doubts that their success in finding their way through Dionysus's Labyrinth was due to his own success at the challenge. There were higher powers then the two "Goblin Kings" when it came to challenges. Even if Dionysus wanted to cheat--which no doubt he did--he had not the personal energy (due to the enviornment he had set up for his subjects) or the power to. The Labyrinth would protect the challenger unless he/she tried to cheat, and would bar the way for the challenged if he decided to mettle. It was an interesting system. Jareth wondered who had invented it.

After Jareth had stopped trying to seduce Sarah in that particular clearing, they had turned their attention to her pants. They were ripped most of the way down the thigh, something the creature had done while they were kissing and hadn't noticed. Sarah couldn't walk hardly at all, and flat out refused to be dressed in nothing but underwear. Jareth hadn't tried to dress anyone else using the ability he possessed to dress himself until then. Apparently it worked both ways, for soon she was wearing a pair of worn black leather pants that sometimes creaked when she moved. He had replaced her shirt as well--also leather and tighter fitting then the one she had worn. Sarah had grumped that she looked like some dominatrix from an S&M parlor (though that wasn't entirely true), but Jareth had flat-out refused to dress her in jeans again. "Leather is better fitted for traveling," he said.

"You're wearing breaches," she had pointed out.

"And are you complaining?"

She had shut her mouth at that. Jareth had chuckled and they had left the clearing. Her shoes were still the black Nikes that she had been wearing when he took her to the Underground--she had threatened his manhood if he changed them to something more "classy"--but they managed to blend well with the outfit. Sarah's arms were now completley bare and Jareth was often tempted to touch them. She had finger combed her hair half-heartedly and it gave her a wild look. She looked positively stunning. Jareth could barely keep himself from touching her. Thus he had barred any attempts at conversation as they made their way through the woods.

When the came to the wall, though, he stopped. "Bother."

Sarah looked up, "What?"

"This wall," he said, motioning at it, "I had forgotten about it."

"What's so bad about the wall? I had no trouble getting up it."

He stared at her, "You weren't supposed to befriend one of my goblins. You were supposed to wander on the perimeter of it until you gave up. That was the plan, anway." He turned back to stare at the thing, fingers stroking an imaginative beard. Sarah had a moment to wonder why he didn't grow facial hair before she spoke again.

"Sooo... how do we get over it?"

"I don't know."

His answer startled her, "What do you mean you don't know?"

"Just what I said; I don't know. No idea. Nada."

Sarah opened her mouth for a moment before any sound came out, "You're Fae."

"Nice of you to notice."

She ignored the comment, "Couldn't you just... magic us there?"

He looked like he had bit into something sour, "I'm afraid its a bit more complicated then that, love."

"How so?"

"The Labyrinth would consider that cheating." He had explained the rules to her sometime last night.

"Oh," she said quietly, "Shit."

"Yes, precisely. He looked up the wall. It was a good thirty feet, maybe more, but it was in such disrepair that there were many bricks that had fallen out, creating footholds. But where as some were only a few inches apart, some were several feet. He was sure he could climb it, but he wasn't sure about Sarah. Then an idea struck him, "Sarah?"

"Yeah?

"I have an idea. Now don't jump to conclussions. Hear me out first..."

About half an hour later Jareth was scalling the wall as fast as he could, which was pretty fast considering the difficult positioning of the footholds. He vaulted over the side, stood for a moment and ripped a crystal off his neck, throwing it to the ground in a flash of color.

Sarah was on her hands and knees, panting, "Gods." She said, after a moment.

Jareth had explained, as well as he could, the only thing he could think of to get them over the wall. One of his crystals (which he hadn't wanted to tinker with due to her experience with them in the past) could hold any organic substance--including breathing creatures--inside of them. The only drawback was that the creature imprisoned couldn't breath or move or do much of anything while imprisioned in the ball. That was why it wasn't used except for general death sentences. The creature would die of oxygen loss sooner or later and when it was released it was long dead. That's why Jareth had hurried.

Jareth moved to her side and took her hands, pulling her up. Her legs were shaking, "I don't want to do that ever again, you hear me?" She pressed her head against his chest, looking at the ground and breathing deeply. It had been like liquid glass poured down her throat and into her lungs. She was okay, but she never wanted to feel that again.

"Shh, love, it's alright, it's--"

He was cut off by an exclamation, "Get yer hands off er you letch!"

Jareth's head snapped up and he stared wide-eyed at the little goblin standing before him, "Higgle?"

"Hoggle," he corrected automatically, then glared, "Get yer hand off of er. She dodn't like you, majesty."

Sarah turned abruptly, smiling, but her smile faltered when she saw her old friend.

Hoggle's skin was encrusted with wounds, some fresh, some healing, some scared over like pink marks. They were all over his face, neck, arms, legs... every inch of skin he posessed. He walked with a more pronounced limp and winced at times. "Hoggle," Sarah murmured, "What's happened to you?"

"Dionysus has me whipped e'rey day," Hoggle said, almost proudly, "Fer saying I don' believe es the Goblin King."

Jareth, who had not been expecting such loyalty from a creature who, after Sarah beat the Labyrinth, had grown to dislike his king immensly. "Frightened my friend," he'd grumble as he moved past him, "Made me give er a enchanted peach... what a..." and then he usually went off on a string of insults. Jareth had ignored him wonderously, and had thought Hoggle would be one of the first to join sides with Dionysus. This loyalty... he had not been expecting.

"Oh, Hoggle," Sarah said, kneeling in front of her friend and reaching out tentatively towards one of the new wounds. She had tears in her eyes, "Are you in much pain?"

"Yup," said Hoggle, just as proudly, "E won't let anyone treat me wounds. Says I'm to be treated like ah dog. Don' mind, though. Knew Jareth would come back."

"I would hug you," She said softly, "But I'm afraid of hurting you."

"Don' worry," Said Hoggle dismissively, then peered at her. "What were you doing in His Majesty's arms, Sarah?"

She flushed, and Jareth tried not to laugh, "I was... was... uh..."

Hoggle smiled and looked around her to grin at Jareth, "Always knew you'd win er heart one day."

Jareth didn't know quite what to say to that.

"Come to the village, Sarah. I have a house now. You can spend the night there, if that yer wish." He beamed at her, as well as he could in the state he was in.

Jareth stopped him, though, before he could walk off, "Hoggle," he said quietly, "Thank you."

Hoggle smiled up at him, "I ne'er really liked you, Jareth, but yer good for Sarah, good fer the Goblins, and good fer me."

Sarah opened her mouth to say something but Jareth held up his hand, "Thank you, Hoggle, I'm much abliged."

"Ah, yer majesty," Hoggle said, "Come now, or we'll be late for dinner. The village is full of yer supporters."

The village was quaint, and pretty. It was set in the shadow of the castle beyone the goblin city. Jareth had stared at it for a moment before ducking into Hoggle's hut, careful not to scrape his head on the ceiling. He ended up having to lie down in order to be comfortable in the least. Sarah, who was much shorter then he, was able to sit on one of Hoggle's kitchen chairs without much problem, though her head was only a few inches away from the ceiling. Hoggle explained they'd be given human-sized accomodations for the night. "They're just preparin' em." He said.

Sarah was caught up in conversation with her old friend. He discussed some of the things that had been going on with Dionysus as ruler, "Evil bugger," he said. "He just takes whatever he pleases and kills ye if ye dissapprove. I suppose the only reason he keeps me around is that I'm good at killin fairies. No offense, yer highness."

Jareth bowed his head, unable to do much else, "It's quite allright. The demi-fey have been warned not to trespass here. Why they do I don't know."

"Sounds horrible," Sarah whispered, then looked up, a small smile on her face, "How did Jareth treat you after I defeated his Labyrinth?"

Jareth ignored the words, even though they stung, instead focusing on the quilt he was lying on. Sarah and Hoggle talked while he picked at it dismissively. He knew the only reason that the goblin city was so close was Sarah had responded nicely to his advances. It was possible that if he didn't get any father, they would be transported farther back in the morning. He wasn't sure, and he didn't really want to find out. He stared at Sarah, laughing, her hand clasped over her heart like it would burst, her cheeks slightly pink. He wanted her. He wanted her in a way that he had never wanted anyone else. He had thought that he wanted her because he wanted to best her, prove that he was dominate, but he realized that wasn't true. He wanted her body, yes, but he also wanted her. He wanted to know her, to live with her. For as long as he could... he wanted to be with her.

Sarah looked over at him as though drawn by his gaze, still smiling. Her brown eyes were glimmering with unshed tears, her hand reaching up to smooth her hair where it had brushed against the ceiling. Her smile widened when she saw him, and then she turned back to Hoggle. His stomach tightened as he watched her. Oh, gods, what if he failed?

Dinner was almost a ceremony. The goblins in that particular village were all ecstatic to see their old king. They had no doubts that he would beat Dionysus and claim back the throan. But they all asked, "What of the challenge? What is your task? Are you having trouble?" He would answer with a polite, "Don't worry about it" or "Now, let's not talk about such things now", but he always had his eye out for Sarah when he did so. Did she suspect something? Was she too wondering what the challenge had been? What would her reaction be when she found out, for he had no doubts that she would find out one day. It turned his stomach, this idea, but he had to get his kingdom back. He had to. And seducing her wouldn't work if he came right out and said it. She may still have sex with him, yes, but it would be out of the obligation to help her friends and this place--wouldn't it? He didn't know. It all confused him. He wished women weren't so strange.

The cottage that had been prepared for them that night came with many accomodations that they had been without for the past two nights. Even though the goblins were ashamed they didn't have anything "proper" for the Goblin King and his equal (for they had all heard the news), Sarah and Jareth had thanked them, insisting that it was fine.

Sarah shut the door after the last goblin well-wisher had gone, waving a scarlett hankercheif and beaming. "Gods," she whispered, "They don't let off, do they?"

He chuckled, lounging on the only bed. There wasn't room for much else in the cottage. It had a fireplace, a small--very small (goblin sized)--table and chairs, and the bed. The fire was blazing away cheerily, chasing away the chill of the night. The bed was large enough for the two of them, but Sarah eyed is suspiciously, as though wondering if Jareth had insisted on it. "No," Jareth said, smiling, "It's not every day their monarch shows up."

"Are you sure Dionysus isn't going to punish them for helping us?" She asked, worry clear.

"Only if he kills me in the duel, then he'll kill everyone that ever helped me." He said it smoothly, almost without emotion, but the sudden prospect sent a shiver through both of them.

Sarah stiffled a yawn and then shook her head, motioning at her clothes, "Okay, oh great one, please change these clothes. I can't sleep in leather."

Jareth laughed, "As you wish." He waved his hand at her and she was in a very frilly dressing gown. She frowned at him and he laughed again, gave another flick of the hand, and she was in a much less frilly and more plain night shift. It was a bit dated for Sarah, but she supposed it would have to do. It was white cotton and hung to her ankles. She had taken a bath before dinner and she smelled like soap. The goblins had nearly fainted when she asked them if she could wash somewhere. They considered good hygene to be the one that smelt the worst, it seemed. But they had managed to gather some soap--though it was more for around-the-house cleaning then bathing--and warm enough water for her to take a bath in. She was glad. Though Jareth seemed to repell all sorts of dirt and odor, she wasn't as fortunate. Her hair was still wet, hanging to her hips.

Jareth removed his boots--again, Sarah noted, without smell--and took off his cape. He was about to unbutton his shirt when Sarah stopped him, "How undressed are you planning on being?"

He grinned, "I'd prefer to sleep in my breeches, thank you. I don't have to worry about biting insects in here."

Sarah thought it almost... human of him to be thinking of biting insects, but when he moved to unbutton his poets shirt she again stopped him, this time by taking two steps forward--the amount of space it took to cross from the door to the bed--and placing her hands over his. Jareth looked up at her, surprise apparent on his face. She moved his hands away from his shirt and unbuttoned the first button. Jareth shivered as she continued to unbutton him, his hands limp at his side. When the shirt was open as far as it would go--about half way--she smothed her hands along his naked chest as she bent down.

"Sarah..."

"Sh," she whispered against his lips, before closing the distance between them.

Sarah's fingernails dug into the skin of his chest and he made a low moan. Her tongue swept into his mouth, much like he had done earlier that day, tasting, touching, exploring. His hands reached up to bury in her hair and she moved her legs so that she was on the bed, stradling his waist. They worked at each other like the breath of life was in the other's mouth, devouring each other. She pulled hard on his shirt and it ripped down the middle. He made another sound as her nails raked up his chest to his shoulders, down his arms, and up to his hands. Then she broke the kiss and he was glowing again.

She smiled, "You're like a nightlight."

His mismatched eyes were darkened with need. He growled low in his throat and she laughed, standing. He removed the pieces of his shirt as he stared at her, standing there like some angel. He tossed the pieces to the floor as she stiffled another yawn. "I'm tired," she said quietly, "Let's go to bed."

His voice was like dark thunder, rolling towards her, "Lets."

A/N: Sorry folks, but that's where I leave you. There'll be more tomorrow or... well, there'll be more in the next chapter. Sorry for leaving you here, but I'm acting like a zombie again. Must... have... sleep... grunt.

Reads:

aibiki: Inuyasha f/f, but I love her style of writing. I'm reading "A Cinderella Story" and I much like.

Xeria Malstrum: Another Inuyasha f/f that I'm becoming slightly obsessed with. Keep thinking about it. It's called "A Demon's Thoughts" and it's beautiful.

BeautyBelle:- Reading her Labyrinth story "Too Proud to Love". I'm not too proud to love it, though. Eh hehe, heheheh... yeah, that was lame...

Amazonian21: Thanks for all the reviews! go read her story "Muses", Labyrinth f/f

Shout-Outs:

Gonzette: Thank you so much for your reviews, I really appreciate them.

Sennethe: You're the only one to give me constuctive critisism so far and I love you for it! Thanks so much!

Bree Mcgregor: This is a little late but... thanks for reviewing!

glass ivy: Same here but... thank you!

And to my parents, because they're putting up with me hogging the computer all these longs nights (as well as my music).

Love you all and see you next chapter:

CrimsonSympathy