Urgh, flu has been making it's way around my house. This wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't had to care for sick hubby and sick baby while sick myself. It's amazing the things you realise you're capable of when you become a mother. Christmas season is fast approaching so don't be surprised if you don't see an update for a while. I've decided to use up my huge stock of beads to make presents this year and it's time consuming.

Third Halloween

Keep running, hide, get away. Sarah thought to herself, legs pounding as she darted across the grass and her breath coming in terrified gasps. It had all started out so well, she had been invited to the biggest party of the school year so far and she had been having a great time. Stupid, she berated herself.

Daniel had not been happy when she had broken things off over the summer, obviously hopeful that she would allow him the liberties she had never allowed any other boy. She had given him little cause to doubt that she would but the approach of Midsummer had reminded her vividly of her argument with Jareth and she had to be honest with herself about her reasons for continuing with such a doomed relationship. She had ended it, there and then, and though she had felt remorse for stringing him along in her efforts to prove Jareth wrong she did not feel any real loss. There was no childish infatuation on her part, although she suspected that he had been slightly more committed to the relationship. At least, committed enough to get her into bed it would seem.

She reached the trees and darted through them until she found the one she was looking for, a large oak with a hollow at the base. It was with dismay that she noted that she was no longer able to fit inside as she had been able to four years ago.

"Jareth, help me, please," she whispered as she got to her feet. She could hear the rapid movements of the boys who were following her, their clumsy stumbles in the unfamiliar trees. The park was not a place that her peers spent much time in these days and she had used it to enjoy the solitude she still seemed to need. She had hoped that it would provide her with a good hiding place but that hope now seemed to be in vain.

Hearing the footsteps coming closer she got to her feet and began to navigate her way through the dark. All the while she continued her mental tirade against herself and the boys who were following her. She screamed when she collided with a warm body.

"Sarah!" He grabbed her arms as she began to struggle against him. "Sarah, it is me! I am here. What is the matter? Why are you running?" His voice, so warm and familiar, filtered through the fear that had been driving her and she stopped fighting long enough to register who it was that had appeared before her. She collapsed into his arms, shuddering as she regained her breath and calmed herself. "What have you become mixed up in now?" He asked softly, summoning a crystal of light to hover over his shoulder so that he could see her.

Her makeup was streaked down her face, her eyes red and a little wild. Her hair, once neat, had escaped its intricate style, pins hanging useless from tangled strands. Yet to his eyes she was beautiful and protectiveness surged through him at the thought that someone in this world had caused her to feel this fear.

"Boys from school," she half whispered, not daring to say Daniel's name but aware that Jareth would make the connection soon enough given sufficient detail. "I was at a party and, well…"

"I assume they were pressing for more than you were willing to give?" He asked and she was surprised by his insight given her hesitance.

"Yes, they spiked my drink or at least I think they did. The goblins told me that it had 'bad juice' in it." She had never been more grateful for Jareth's goblin spies in her life and even though she had been prepared to ask him to release them from their task she now wondered what might have happened to her had they not been present. "I abandoned the drink without even taking a sip and decided to sneak out and go home. I wasn't as sneaky as I thought."

"They followed you," he concluded and she nodded. "So you ran and called for my help."

"I couldn't think of anyone else to ask," she replied. No one else would believe her in any case, it would simply be the word of a daydreamer against one of the best athletes in the school.

"I will deal with these boys and escort you home," he tilted her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. She saw the seriousness in them, but she also saw that spark she had seen in them so many times. It was something that she did not dare name, did not dare to hope for, and was certain she was not ready for yet. "We have much to discuss, Sarah, and little time."

"I know." He released her and she reached for him to prevent his immediate departure. "Just don't hurt them too badly."

He did not answer with anything more than a feral smile, his eyes glinting with a cruelty that she had only seen once before and it still scared her now as it had then. He was gone and she sat among the fallen leaves with her arms wrapped around her, shivering. She had forgotten her coat in her desperation to leave the party.

"It is done," his voice startled her and she squeaked in surprise.

"What did you do to them?" She asked, watching him removed his cloak and feeling the warmth of it settling around her shoulders with gratitude.

"They will return from the Labyrinth suitable chastised in an hour or so."

"Thank you," she breathed although she could see that he was less than pleased with the punishment he had enacted.

"Do not thank me," he told her, placing a hand at the small of her back so that he could lead her out of the trees, towards the open park and home. "By rights I should have killed them."

"Dead people can't learn," she told him, "and it would have caused me more trouble in the long run." They had to have been seen following her out by someone, if they were found dead with her alive and well the finger of suspicion would be pointed at her.

"They may cause you more trouble yet," he grumbled but fell silent.

"I'm glad you came," she said after a moment of tense silence. "I'm sorry about everything I said in April."

"As am I," he replied, his expression now softer. "You were correct in your letter to me, it was not my place to try and dictate who you are courting."

"It wasn't," she agreed, "but I still shouldn't have taken my bad date out on you. I definitely shouldn't have kept seeing him just to try and prove you wrong."

"So he was one of your would be assailants," there was a very large amount of glee in his voice and Sarah spared him a mildly disapproving look.

"Unfortunately," she sighed. "It seems that my taste in men really isn't all that good."

"As my sister reminded me," she could hear his discomfort, "you are young and you need the chance to explore who you are and who, or what, you might like."

"Yes," she wanted to ask about his sister but decided that this was not the time. "Well, this misadventure might well have put me off men for life."

"I sincerely hope not, Precious," he smiled at her briefly but all too quickly his expression turned serious as he realised that they had reached her front door. "I would gladly stay, there is still much that we must discuss and even more that I need to explain to you, but time here grows short for me and I have the punishment of those two cretins to oversee."

"I understand," she sighed. "Will you come at Midwinter?"

"Of course."