Kiana sat, blissfully alone for the first time in what felt like days, in her bedchamber. She had stripped off all trappings of her new rank, still slightly uncomfortable in the position of "Kiana, Queen of the Goblins". They were stubborn, small-minded creatures; and her job was often more frustrating than anything else. Fortunately, one of her lessons had been in controlling her facial and voice expressions.

Sinking into her favorite chair, she found herself reflecting on the past five years. She'd had so many demands on her time; from lessons in everything from diplomacy to magic, to weapons work…namely learning how to kill.

With a small sigh, she admitted to herself that at least it all kept her mind from dwelling on Toby. Now though, she had time. She was miserable, and she had talked to her father many times trying to emulate him and how he'd ruled without Sarah by his side. Unfortunately, it didn't much work for her; and she was too much her father's daughter to find temporary solace in the arms of anyone. Perhaps it was time to force the issue.

A small elemental that was in her rooms was briefly startled to see the powerful one simply cease to exist in the chair where she'd last been.

Jareth grinned mercilessly at his daughter's brief blush. "You well know that if you pop into our chambers uninvited and unannounced, you're likely to see something that will embarrass you." He spoke as he wrapped a sumptuous robe of deep purple velvet around his previously naked body.

Smiling softly, Sarah spoke up. "You'd think you had learned that particular lesson years ago, Kiana."

Laughing, she agreed. "Yes, but I suppose I'm a glutton for punishment. Besides," she peered at her father, "I never understood how you can not be embarrassed."

"Easy." He drawled, voice full of his customary arrogance. "I have nothing to be embarrassed about." He lifted an eyebrow and grinned. "Now, what brings you here, bright one?"

"Father, I've spent all this time preparing to take your place, and now I've taken it. I have all the responsibilities that you bore, except one. Why haven't you given me the calls yet?"

Jareth looked closely at his daughter. "I do not think you are quite ready for that. It takes a ruthlessness paired with a certain caring that is very hard to manage. Also, you must learn to distinguish that which is an imperative vs. that which is nothing more than an adult who wishes to test the validity of the call. It takes some time, Kiana."

Frustrated, she tried to put her feelings into words he would understand. "I know that, Father…but how do you expect me to learn if you never give me the chance?" She sighed. "Father, you know as well as I do that I've been waiting for him to call me…as of right now, I wouldn't be able to hear even if he did."

"And that, also, is part of the reason." He stepped closer to her and took her hands in his. "Kiana, I don't want you to be hurt."

Squeezing slightly, she nodded. "I know that. But you can't protect me forever, Father."

He pulled his daughter, who'd grown up without his noticing it, into his arms for a brief embrace. "You're right, of course. Open your shields, Kiana, and I will give you the calls."

Closing her eyes, Kiana did as she was bade. In mere moments, she felt the press of the mortals; and knew that he'd done as she'd asked. "Thank you, Father." She said, when she opened her eyes again.

She lounged on her throne. She had long ago perfected the easy way of sitting the throne that prevented back problems, while still appearing to pay attention to the petitions always coming before her. Jareth had taught her well. She had spent the better part of six months getting used to the ever-present hum of human activity in her head, and was finally able to function properly despite the distraction.

Today, she sat before a roomful of goblins, taking up some of her father's duties to give him more time with her mother. She smiled slightly at the thought. They were so cute together, and they finally got to spend more than a couple of hours a day together.

Her attention minimal, since the goblins didn't require much, she almost missed the quiet, familiar voice that suddenly spoke from directly in front of her.

"Princess Kiana." Head bowed and heart in his throat, he knelt before her, waiting for her to acknowledge his presence.

The cool voice that greeted him was unlike any he'd heard her use before. "Yes? Why have you come into my kingdom, and how did you get here without my knowledge?" She was slightly irritated at a human's intrusion, and irritated with her father for bringing him into the Underground cloaked from her senses. She hadn't yet figured out why his voice sounded familiar.

As his head came up, and he looked her in the eyes, she gasped and stood. Looking out over the crowd of goblins, she spoke; augmenting her normal voice with a bit of magic to make sure all heard what she had to say. "Today's audience is over. I will see the rest of you at a special audience tomorrow morning."

She turned away from the man and motioned that he follow her into the private chambers she shared with her father. She walked away without once checking to see if he followed or not.

"Toby." Her voice held no emotion.

"Kiana." He looked at the floor, apparently embarrassed by her less than warm reception. "Your father brought me. I didn't know you wouldn't realize I was here."

Every inch the queen she had been brought up to be, she frowned at him. "You should not be here. The fact that you enlisted my father in this scheme puts you in a position you do not want to be in." She smiled, a ruthless, angry look that chilled him down to the bone. "It would be within my rights to condemn you to death for coming into this kingdom without the permission of it's ruler." She considered for a moment. "Though I think it would be infinitely more fitting to condemn you to a long, long life as a guest of the Labyrinth. It changes people, you know." Studying her fingernails, she was the picture of coolness. "If I were you, I would make your next few words very convincing. I will not have my kingdom overrun by mortals." With a flair, she sat in the chair which was almost a perfect replica of her throne, if smaller and more comfortable. She left Toby standing.

"I…I uh…" He couldn't seem to catch his breath, and he didn't really know what to say. He only knew he had to tell her how he felt about her. "Kiana. I was an idiot. I couldn't accept something that seemed so…unnatural. I never really realized that you are not entirely human, and that you don't think like me. For five years I've been trying to forget you, to stop being in love with you." He rubbed his hand over his eyes. "It didn't work. I'm tired of pretending you don't exist. I came here to tell you that. And to ask you to forgive me." At her angry look, he hastened to add, "I'm not asking you to take me back, just to try to forgive me. I'll go back home if you'll allow it."

Kiana rose, face a mask of unreadable emotion. "You…you." She walked over to him and looked up into his eyes. "You nearly killed me, you know that?"

The defeated sound in her voice almost broke his heart. He hesitantly reached out to brush his fingertips across her cheek. "I am so sorry, Kiana."

"Well you should be!" Her voice softened just a little. "I came to understand why you couldn't accept what I was offering you. Just as you forgot that I'm not wholly human, I forgot that you are. It was just as much my fault as it was yours." Her brow furrowed, and she looked at him more closely. "What in all the gods' names made you wait so damned long?"

He smiled a sad, tender smile. "I thought you would have found someone better suited to you and your life. I didn't know you'd be just as stubborn as your father." Seemingly out of nowhere, a smile lit up his face. "I don't really remember him, but from what I can tell, he suits Sarah very well. I'm glad she did what she did…I'm glad she found the kind of love she deserved." He wrapped too long absent arms around her. "Not in the least because it created you…the only person I will ever love. The one who seems like she was made for me."

Pulling away, she peered at him, looking into his eyes for a confirmation. "You mean that? You accept me, and all that it entails?"

"After all these years, I had damned well better hadn't I? You're liable to make good on your threat of banishing me to the Labyrinth if I don't."

Laughing, she nodded. "Hell yes, I would!"

"Well then, love…where do I go to get this thing done? I've spent too long away from you already, and I won't tolerate another minute."

Kiana smiled at him and held out her hand, crystal balanced elegantly on the tips of her fingers.

"What is it?"

Raising an eyebrow, she replied, "It's a crystal, nothing more." Stuff that seemed like glitter came falling down around them as the crystal broke against the ceiling where she'd tossed it. When the sparkles cleared, they were standing in front of Jareth. This time, thankfully, he was fully clothed.

Smiling, he took Toby's hand and led him over to a chair in the corner. "This will not hurt. And Toby?" He looked over to see Sarah and Kiana waiting breathlessly together. "Welcome to the family…again."

Author's Note:

I'm truly sorry it took so long to finish this story. A lot happened through the course of it. For those of you who will be disappointed at the fact that Kiana and Toby didn't fight at the end, here is my reasoning:

When you love someone that deeply, and you've waited that long for them to stop being stupid…you don't want to fight. You want to give in and fall into their arms. So that is what she did.

Thanks to those of you who regularly review…you know how much it means.

I hope you all enjoyed the story, and are encouraged to write your own if you don't already.

---Fester's Love