:Okay, I know that I haven't posted for quite some time. but life is hard like that, ya know? Okay, so this isn't much, but I needed, NEEDED to put something up.

"No." Sarah answered quickly and shook her head

"No." Jareth said it rather than asked, unsurprised. "Of course."

"You never would let yourself go." He laughed.

"You're a jackass."

Jareth shrugged.

"Oh? Nothing witty to say now?" Sarah grinned.

"Why bother?" He hopped off her counter.

He let her watch him for a while, knowing she would. Her curiosity was peaking, he knew it.

Sarah watched him, waiting for what foul thing he would come up with next. Somehow he always knew how to stir her. Sarah refused to say anything, though, holding out, knowing he wouldn't give up so easy.

The standoff continued and neither would speak. Sarah glanced at her watch and noticed that time wouldn't move on either. He even had time on his side. Even her clock was against her.

You're being ridiculous, you know. A voice told her inside.

She didn't know whether it was her own or Jareth's. 'oh?' she asked back.

'Oh' yes, it mocked her. You know you are.

'And how is that?' Sarah silently asked while watching Jareth quietly move around her apartment or analyze her decorations.

Cut the crap. You can't admit it to him, fine. But this is me.

Sarah then realized she had resorted to conversations with herself.

At least be honest with yourself.

'I'd like to think that I am.' She told herself indignantly.

Right.

'ok, what then?'

What what?

'What am I so in denial about?'

Him.

'Him?'

Him.

'Maybe I am. So what if I were,' Sarah considered it, for argument's sake, 'them what?'

He's going to leave.

'So?'

SO, The voice cleared its metaphorical throat and Sarah knew absolutely that she was speaking with her self, let me spell this out for you.

You are in denial. He is not willing to chase you around anymore. He is leaving because you say you don't want him. He knows better though.

'Then why is he going?'

Would you stick around an ice-cold bitch like you?

'He's leaving because he thinks that what I want?'

Yes.

'But he knows that I really don't want him to?'

Yes!

'But he's going because he's respecting my wishes and being honorable and all that?'

YES!

'So?' Sarah wanted it a bit more spelled out, a plan of action, an explanation, something. Something that her subconscious seemed to know that she did not.

Ugh!

Across the room Jareth had been watching Sarah, noticing how quite she'd become. She seemed to be fighting with herself, and he wasn't quite sure if it was a good sign or bad. Continuing to pace, he noticed that she did not. Figuring her out had never been easy, and he wasn't about to attempt it after all this time. It had proved ill the first time. The goblins seize it, he cursed, giving in. He finally stopped in front of her after some time of both stubbornly holding out. He let out a sigh and looked at her tiredly.

"Yes, I'm a jackass," he admitted. "and I love you."

Laying it all on the line, he opened himself up, the only choice left. "I took your brother because you asked, I was cruel because it was your incantation, I reversed time, and I've stayed away for ten years. All on your request.

"Do you think it was easy to watch you suffer through this madness all that time? Watch you with the wrong men. To ignore you. I came when you called. But I can't fix you."

Sarah remained quiet. She knew he repeated things he already said, but the word love had thrown her. She didn't think him capable. Skeptical, and yet warily interested she was caught only in listening.

"I can," his voice was even, lacking any malice or emotion, "however, restore your time."

He held out his hand and pointed to the clock, swirling his finger around as he manipulated the time like the winding hand. Sarah looked over to the kitchen clock to see it hours earlier, before her wedding was scheduled to start.

Jareth's lips parted as he took a breath, prepared to say something. But he changed his mind and closed his mouth. He turned around and gathered his will to leave, it taking some strength, as he was emotionally ragged.

"Wait." Sarah called out, taking a step across the kitchen to stop him.

He eyed her, as if a glutton for more punishment looked wearily on. Trying to hold back his fatigue, his temples and jaw trembled, unsure of her next action.

"Wait." She said again as she stepped towards him.

"What, Sarah?" he asked quietly.

"Let me run the Labyrinth again."

"What?" his attentions stood up again, as his weariness feel to the side.

"You said I never solved it.

Okay, so not much, but interesting I thought. Am thinking that maybe I should start a new story for this part. I mean it has really swerved from the beginning and I think there is more to tell. So, maybe I should start anew with her running the labyrinth again? Or maybe just continue on here? We'll see I guess.