Please insert standard Labyrinth disclaimer here, as I do not own it.

Thank you to everyone for leaving me such encouraging feedback. I am pleased you all are enjoying this story.❤️

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Chapter 10

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Sarah wrapped up the lunch: Saying goodbye to Nigel and Bruce was never an easy task. Those two are always trying to get more information out of her about her love life. She had finally convinced them both that there was nothing more to reveal and was allowed to leave only after swearing to spill all details if and even something 'good' happened.

She was casually strolling back towards her loft when a grey sports car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down, there was Corbin again.

"I thought I told you to leave me alone. Do I need to get a restraining order against you or what?" She growled, her face contorted into a grimace.

"Sarah, babe, I just wanted to talk to you. I don't mean any harm."

"No, no harm, aside from being a major pain in my ass. What do you want?" She snapped, her annoyance showing.

Corbin got out of his car and approached her. "Sarah, I want another chance. I have been thinking about you. No other woman has been able to connect with me the way you could. Please, can't we start over?"

"Are you kidding me with this bullshit? There is no 'us' or 'we' anymore. I am in love with Jace and I don't want to see you anymore: in fact I don't want to see you ever again! Now do me a favor and fuck off, permanently!"

"You're in love with him? What? I can't just give you up to some British asshole. We belong together."

"Corbin," Sarah sighed, "you will have to accept that Jace and I are a couple. Ideally, I don't want to keep 'bumping' into you. Besides, Jace is kind of possessive and I am not in a position to be held responsible if he kicks your sorry ass, okay? Have a nice life." She turned on her heel and marched up the steps of her brownstone and slammed the door.

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As Jareth opened the door to his apartment, Riona rushed over to hug him. "Hello, deartháir beag*, did last night go well? I noticed your bed was not slept in."

"Riona, I did not know you were staying here to babysit me. And yes, I did not sleep here last night. Are you now keeping tabs on me?"

"No, I am not 'babysitting' you, just hoping you are making progress with the Champion."

"Yes, I am making progress and no, I will not share that information with you. Now if you will excuse me, I need to see Caoilainn and speak to some of my goblins. I have a task for them." He grinned wickedly.

"Mischief, always mischief. Is there a rival for Sarah's affections?"

"No, just an former lover, who must be reminded that Sarah Williams is my lady. He seemed unwilling to heed the lady's warnings to stay away."

"I doubt he will need reminding once your minions are done tormenting him." Riona laughed heartily. Jareth joined her, knowing the goblins he intended to send Corbin Reed's way would make him wish he had forgotten he had ever met Sarah.

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Sarah flopped onto her unmade bed. Staring at the ceiling, she went over what she had just said to Corbin. She told him she was in love with Jace! She hadn't even told Jace she was in love with him yet. Hell, she hadn't admitted that fact, even to herself yet! Suddenly she knew she had to go see Jace, right now!

She hailed a cab as she walked down the steps of her brownstone. This was too big a revelation to leave to a phone call. She would just have to tell him face to face! Hopefully, he would respond in kind.

'Oh shit' she thought. 'What if he doesn't love me?' Nah, he must have deep feelings for her. He is constantly calling her his heart and his love in Gaelic. 'Come on, Williams, take a chance'.

The closer the cab got to the Beatrice, the more Sarah's courage was waning. What if he thought her declaration was premature? But, Jace had told Corbin he was her fiancé, surely he feels something for her. He was very possessive and protective, after all.

Sarah walked into the lobby of the Beatrice. Security waved her over. "Sarah Williams to see Mr. Cormac, please?"

"Very good, miss. Is Mr. Cormac expecting you?"

"No, not exactly. Can you call him?"

"Just a moment, miss. I need to get permission first."

Sarah paced back and forth in front of the security desk. She could here the guard talking to someone.

"Yes, sir. Standing permission for full access. Yes, sir, at once. Ms. Williams, please go right on up. Mr. Cormac has given you full access, 24/7."

Sarah was super nervous and excited. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out and saw that his apartment door stood open. She peeked in and called.

"Jace? Are you here?"

"Of course, mo chroi; come, you know security just spoke to me." His voice was far off. As Sarah walked into the living room, she saw him standing on his terrace. He turned around to look at her, his smile so welcoming her heart skipped a beat. "I have missed you, mo grá. I am so happy you have come". He pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. "What has brought you to me, not that I am complaining about having my Sarah in my arms again so soon?"

"Jace, Corbin stopped me in the street and I had to tell him off again!"

"Sarah, are you unharmed? Do you need me to 'speak' to him?"

"No, Jace, but when I spoke to Corbin, I, um, told him something and afterwards I realized that you should have heard those words before anyone else and I had to come to you, right away and tell you." Sarah swallow hard. "Can we sit down. I am feeling a little unsteady on my feet."

Jareth led her over to the couch. "Precious, what do you have to tell me?" He was so nervous: he hoped she would say the one thing he longed to hear from her.

"Jace, I'm in love with you."

Jareth looked at Sarah, a broad smile on his face, momentarily speechless.

"Um, Jace, did you hear me?"

And suddenly she was in his arms and he was covering her face in kisses and speaking in between each kiss. "Oh, Sarah, my most lovely and beautiful Sarah. I have waited ten years to hear you say those words to me. Oh, my previous thing, I love you, too! I want to spend eternity showing just how much I love you, mo chroi, mo grá!"

"Wait, what did you say? What do you mean ten years? What the hell, Jace?"

At that moment, he had let his guard down and revealed more than he had intended. He groaned, fear and nerves plaguing him.

"Um, well, I guess this isn't how I wanted this to play out, but I believe it is time for full disclosure. Please, my love, please give me a chance to explain."

"I am but I have to tell you I am very confused."

"Sarah, you called upon the goblins to take your baby brother, Toby away, I know you recall."

"That was all just a dream."

"No, sweet Sarah, it wasn't. I was there. I remember that night, in your parent's room."

"No! It was just a dream! You aren't the goblin king! It's impossible!"

"I ask for so little. Just let me rule you and you can have anything you wish."

"Oh my god"

Jareth removed his glamor and Sarah was finally confronted with the Goblin King in his full glory. "Sarah, please, understand. I have come to find you because I love you and wish for you to be my wife, my queen."

Sarah's faced blanched white and she was shaking her head, violently. "No, no, NO! You can't love me. You are a villain! You steal babies! I can't love you?"

Sarah ran out the door, but Jareth did not follow her. He knew she would need time to process all he had just revealed. Hopefully, she would return to him.

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Sarah was running down the street, her vision blurry from the tears falling down her cheeks. This was the worst day of her life. The dream wasn't a dream. The goblin king was real! Jace was the goblin king? No, she loves Jace. Oh hell, what was she to do now? She ran the entire distance from the Beatrice to her loft. She sat on the steps of the brownstone and sobbed into her hands. She just didn't know what any of this meant. One thing was certain, she needed to get away from New York and think all this through.

"Hey, Laura." Sarah was speaking to her step mother on her cell phone. "Um, can I come for a visit? No, nothing's the matter. Well, actually, I am having a problem. I'm in love with this guy but I am so confused. Please, can I come home for a few days?"

"Sarah, you know you can, but is running away from your problems really the best answer?"

"Laura, I just need some space and Jace lives so close by that we'll end up running into each other and I need space to think."

"Then we will await your arrival. Should we pick you up from the train?"

"No, I can take a cab. See you in a little while."

Sarah threw a few things into an overnight bag and hailed a cab to Grand Central station.

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Jareth hadn't moved from his seat on the couch since Sarah ran out. How could he have been so stupid? Just one slip and all the hard work he had put into winning her love was destroyed. He couldn't even bring himself to stand. "Mother, please, I need to speak to you." Jareth whispered into the crystal he had conjured before he willed it to his mother's hands.

Aislinn appeared almost instantly. "Jareth, why have you…" Aislinn couldn't finish her sentence, the sight in front of her stole the words out of her mouth. Her youngest was sitting in front of her, a single tear rolling down his cheek. Aislinn had not seen her boy cry since he was a child. She sat next to him and wrapped him into her embrace. "What has happened, mo buachaill cróga**?"

"Máthair***, I may have just lost my one true love."

"Jareth, does she love you?"

"She just declared it to me but I was so overjoyed I let slip that I have been waiting for her for ten years. Now she will only remember me as her antagonist; as the villain who took her baby brother and forced her to run the labyrinth to win him back."

"Jareth, if she is in love with you, give her time to understand all that has been and has happened. She will come back to you. You are quite handsome and charming, you know." She attempted to lighten his mood with some good natured teasing.

"Now is hardly the time to tease me. Between my beloved leaving and father banishing me, my allies are vanishing."

Riona and Ruari appeared in the room. "Do not despair, my brother." Riona tried to be comforting. "Sarah is just going to need to integrate the fact that her 'dream' was reality and she will come back to you. I can see she loves you as much as you do her."

"I hope you are right, Riona. I truly hope you are right."

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Gentle reader, the course of true love is never smooth. Do not be too vexed with me. I promise lemony goodness in the very next chapter. Try to be patient. After all, Jareth has been waiting ten years. I will update as often as possible as long as the muse stays so strong in my heart and mind.

*deartháir beag =little brother

**mo buachaill cróga = my brave boy

***Máthair = Mother