Hey people! Sorry this took so long but i didn't want to put this chapter up until I could do the sequel within two weeks (You'll see why). Hope you enjoy it and that it was worth the wait!

Chapter 12

Jareth sat on his favourite windowsill and surveyed his kingdom with a sense of hope and glee which hadn't filled his heart in many years. Everything was perfect. His kingdom was at peace and the blanket of darkness, depression and recession had lifted like a fog to reveal a city bursting with life and colour. Below him was the sound of a market beginning to open, the sound of early morning bartering and good honest humour.

He closed his eyes to listen to Sarah's steady breathing from the sleeping form occupying the bed behind him. It didn't matter what anyone else thought, she was the most exquisite creature he had ever beheld and he would readily dual anyone who dared contradict him. There was currently a runner coming through the labyrinth as well, they had been in for two hours and hadn't even made it past the outer wall of the labyrinth yet, Jareth would have a new human child to give up for adoption to Fae who were unable to survive the gestation period of an actual child. It was remarkably easy to change a baby from a human to a Fae, when the cells were young they were more adaptable, more accepting of magic and able to accept the re-written DNA code that magic gave them. It's a whole different story with human adults though… at this thought Jareth's expression clouded. Any experiment to change human cells to Fae cells had failed, every test subject used had died. He couldn't deny that he had thought about trying to force Sarah's body to accept magic, but he knew it was foolishness, just a wish in the wind. Sarah could never be Fae.

It was this thought that had driven him out of the bed with her this morning, Sarah could never be fully his; it was as if the stars were teasing him. Placing something he wanted so much within his grasp and knowing that mortality could snatch it away just as easily.

He had had her placed under guard for several weeks now by his best spies and fighters, but it didn't take away this feeling of never ending dread which now chewed at every waking thought he had. One day, Jareth would lose her, a separation that not even his ability of magic could cross.

Trying to push those thoughts aside Jareth focussed on the current happier times, Sarah's birthday was arriving soon. He had to get things ready.

Sarah was dressed in her practical trainers, jeans and one of Jareth's shirts. She was trying to execute this as carefully and quietly as possible, which (considering she was rather clumsy at these sorts of things) was taking a lot of effort. For once Jareth had left her alone in his bed chamber with the door open, and she wanted to explore. Sarah's eyes narrowed, without him watching my every move.

Peeking around the heavy oak door Sarah checked to make sure that the coast was clear. Then hesitantly she placed one foot out from the carpet onto the cold stone floor, then the other. Everything was silent, no alarms, no-one appearing, no barraging, no onslaught of obvious questions. Sarah let out a breath she had subconsciously been holding in. This is ridiculous, I feel like a naughty child. It was what she had to do though, especially if she wanted to wander around without Jareth or his guards following her. All the damn time. Dating Jareth was great, but it did have major downsides, such as his over protectiveness.

Deciding to take the better lit right hand passage Sarah began her solitary and cautious, yet exhilarating exploration of the goblin castle, where she would see the good and the bad bits, not just what Jareth wanted her to see.

Tapestries adorned every wall, and after careful scrutinising Sarah realised that they depicted the goblin king's, every King that had ever sat on the throne had a tapestry. Once the initial novelty had worn off Sarah began looking for Jareth's tapestry with earnest, and what felt like several hours and generations later she found it. Jareth had four, each more glamorous than the last. The first tapestry must have been when Jareth was a lot younger; he seemed almost boyish in appearance.

His hair was still the peroxide blonde, but it looked like a normal human hair cut. Short layers at the front growing steadily longer as it reached the back, but it never went past his shoulders, he was depicted on a horse in this first tapestry, throwing knives in hand fighting a Minotaur. His expression was casual and cocky, like that of a teenage boy who just succeeded in getting a date. The horse was a fine chestnut stallion, looking as graceful and as powerful and his rider. This must have been just as he became goblin king, before the pressures of a kingdom rule aged him.

The next two tapestries where Jareth looking very similar to how he did now, sat on a throne adorned with glittering jewels and clothes.

The fourth one though, was one of the finest works of art she had seen. Jareth was leaning against a wall grinning at the artist, a smirk which promised malicious intent and victory. He was wearing his usual tights and white shirt, but this time the shirt hung open, revealing the most fantastic muscle definition in the world. His throwing knives hung on the left of the shirt just within view. Behind him stood the goblin kingdom in all its glory, the castle stood majestically, surrounded by glittering walls caught in the full light of the sun. But what caught Sarah's attention most of all was an array of bodies by his feet outside the city gates; blood, gore and knives depicted in a way which she never thought detail could get. Had Jareth fought in a war?

It was music which broke Sarah's thought pattern from that point. The most beautiful music she had ever heard, it was indescribable, melodramatic and yet…hopeful? The noise led her through a maze involving, turns, spirals, stairs and endless amounts of doubling back, but eventually Sarah reached a white ivory door (of remarkably good taste) where the sound was originating from. She didn't try to open the door; she didn't want to stop the singing and a lone rogue thought in the expanse dessert that had become her mind stood there, like a memory from a dream. If she opened the door the music would stop. The singing would stop. Instead Sarah nestled down outside and let herself become lost in the sound of magic.

Primrose opened her ivory door to stand faced with Sarah in a trance sat outside it, and for the first time in many centuries Primrose was gobsmacked. Her jaw was open and nothing responded. Sure she had watched Sarah from a distance, and occasionally brushed past her in the street.

But to be this close to her…

Primrose choked and swallowed to hold the tears back. Sarah was currently lost in magic and it would take a Fae to bring her out, however, Primrose didn't want to yet. She crouched down and caressed Sarah's face, an action she had been longing to carry out for many years. Primrose sighed and savoured a moment she knew would be all too short. Sarah was right here in front of her, like she'd always wished they could be. Primrose took Sarah in her arms and watched her gentle face for a time, Primrose never thought she would have this moment. Not since that day…

Primrose sighed and forced herself into action. She had work to do and didn't have a lot of time to do it in. This would be the only time she would be able to see Sarah without Jareth beside her.

Jareth was beginning to worry. He had been trying to give Sarah a bit of freedom in the Goblin Castle, he had tracked her every movement, but left her to it. But then he'd gotten sloppy, Sarah had lost consciousness. What had happened for her to do that? Jareth debated with himself over whether he could intervene or not, he wanted to give Sarah freedom, but it was a dangerous place for a human after all. Stopping mid-track Jareth realised he would have to bite the bullet and accept he was a bit over-protective. Taking out a crystal Jareth whispered into it "Show me Sarah". There she was, outside Primrose's room, where Primrose was doing something to her. Ice-cold fear gripped him. By the time the crystal smashed to the floor he was already down three sets of corridors. For Jareth, running was the fastest way to travel.

Primrose cursed as she felt Jareth move towards their position. She wasn't ready, she wasn't finished. Taking a split second decision Primrose picked Sarah up, created a portal and vanished through it, closing it behind them.

Primrose was only just through the portal when she felt the hand enclose around her hair, dragging her and Sarah back through. Was Jareth that fast? Jareth's anger caused the air to not only shimmer but to form daggers around him, he saw red and nothing else. Even Primrose was afraid for her own life in this situation.

"Where in the name of stars do you think you are taking my Sarah?" It was a purring growl of anger, one that was close to boiling over with only one outlet in mind. Primrose had nothing to say, she couldn't. But neither did she want to start a fight with Jareth who had shown her such courtesy, especially after he had taken care of her in the time following the incident with the council.

Seeing that she would not answer him, he carefully removed Sarah from Primroses' arms (she made no attempt to resist) and laid her down gently on the cold stone floor. Then turning round he flung his fist at Primrose with the full force his strength, weight and magic could allow. Primrose did not even flinch. Again and again he hit her and hit her until his strength was spent. When all he had left was pain, confusion and fear inside him, he started roar.

"Get out! Remove yourself from my kingdom at once! GET OUT!"

And with that Primrose opened a portal, left through it and didn't look back, leaving a panting and afraid Jareth behind her. There was nothing she could do, it was in the fates hands now.

Sarah woke up on her three-seated sofa with Jareth's worried eyes bearing down on her own. He wore a worried expression on his countenance and a deeper emotion in his eyes which only reinforced her opinion that something was wrong and whatever he had to say she did not want to hear.

"What happened?" Jareth's face contorted in discomfort.

"One of the Fae in the castle…kidnapped you."

"Why?"

"Why the stars should I know?!" Sarah hadn't realised how scared he'd been for her. It was almost endearing if it wasn't so fucking scary.

"Did…anything happen?" Sarah knew it was a loaded question but she didn't know what with. Had she been attacked? Magic wise? Physical wise? If he wanted a narrower question she wouldn't be able to give one. Luckily he knew what she meant.

"You've been checked over by the court physicians; you haven't been hurt physically, and magically…there doesn't seem to be anything done."

"What do you mean doesn't seem to be?" Sarah felt her heart racing.

"There were traces of magic in your system, as if magic was put into you."

"What would that do?"

"NOTHING! It would do the grand total of nothing. It would be like shoving someone full of adrenaline, maybe give them a kick, and potentially the illusion of having magic for a time, but it would do nothing else!" She could see his evident frustration as he got up from the settee and started pacing, mulling these thoughts over. "It's possible that they were trying to turn you into a Fae, but that would be stupid…and they were going about it the wrong way."

"Didn't you at least catch the person who did it? Ask them why?" She was met with an uncomfortable silence.

"I…beat them senseless, and now we can't get an answer out of them."

Sarah stared at him in open mouthed astonishment. "You killed them?" How many things had Jareth killed?!

"NO! I didn't kill her, she left the castle and now we can't find her."

"HER?!" This exclamation was again met with silence. They stared at each other for a time, unsure of what to say or do. Finally Jareth sat down beside her and pulled her into a crushing embrace.

"I was so worried about you." Jareth whispered into her hair and it was this sentence over the whole evening that scared her the most. Her proud, cocky, cool and calm Jareth was showing a weaker side of himself. How much trouble had she been in?

"Stay with me tonight." Sarah murmured into his ear and they spent the night downstairs in each other's embrace, pondering what the alternative results of this night could have been.

One month later…

'Happy birthday!' The chorus around the table shouted at her. Eyes were peering over the unnecessarily large cake in front of her on the kitchen table while the fire from the candles created a heat wave distorting the facial features of the four beaming figures across the table.

Taking a deep breath Sarah attempted to blow out the mass of flame in front of her while contemplating how unfair the concept was that the older you got and the weaker your lungs became, the more candles you had to blow out.

Managing to get three-quarters of them out in one breath Sarah felt Jareth lend a secret helping hand with the rest. Doing a mental eye-roll Sarah stood to be met by cheers and claps.

"Was a cake this big really necessary?" The response was wide smiles all round.

The cake was huge though, you could have comfortably fit a whole child in there. The three tier monster was surrounded by several inches of buttercream decorated with childish sweets and balloons. She had shamelessly gawped at it for a full minute before moving, drooling at the concept of eating it.

The kid-napping incident had long been forgotten and for her birthday Jareth had paid for a flight ticket to America to see her parents for a week who now believed she was dating an oil tycoon…and were thrilled. She had been thrilled to see her whole family again, mum, dad and Toby. But Toby would not stop staring at Jareth. It was as if he was expecting Jareth to turn evil any second, he hadn't left her alone with Jareth since they'd reached the house; he had been so fussy when it came to sleeping that she had slept in his bed to stop him crying. He still wouldn't say why he hated Jareth though.

Her mother and father were ecstatic that she'd found someone so courteous, generous and, well…rich. They had started joking of retirement plans for when her and Jareth were to get married causing Sarah to flush with embarrassment and apologise profusely to Jareth.

At least when they were eating cake her family couldn't be embarrassing.

Later on Sarah was washing up in the kitchen with Toby beside her while Jareth seemed to be seducing both her mother and her father, worryingly.

"Saraaaaaah…" Toby's tone of voice gained her attention instantaneously. Toby's mood had been fluctuating like he was on drugs so Sarah had to be very careful of what she said.

"Yeah Toby?"

"Why were you kissing a monster?" Sarah nearly dropped the plate she was holding.

"Sorry Toby?" He stared at her blankly; apparently it was a very clear question.

"Why were you kissing a monster?" Toby repeated. This time his voice had taken on a more serious: almost admonishing tone.

Understanding what he was getting at Sarah sighed and put the plate down. "Jareth isn't a monster Toby."

"Yes he is!" Toby shouted at her, his eyes tearing up in frustration. "He is! He looks like them, he's a monster." They were starting to attract attention from the other room so Sarah tried to take control of the situation. Kneeling down on the floor so that she was Toby's height Sarah placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Not all monsters are evil Toby, just like not all humans are evil."

"But Sarah, he steals children." And for that Sarah had no answer, Toby was right. Jareth did steal children.

Jareth only stayed with the family two days; then he had to return to his 'business'. When he left the only conversation she ever got out of her mother was "When is the wedding?" and "That one's a keeper Sarah." Sarah was actually relieved when she got back home. But Jareth had done a really great thing for her, allowing her to see her family for a week when normally she would only have gone back to see them when her PhD was finished.

Sarah was so jet lagged when she made it to her house that her stuff stayed in the hall-way, the door was locked and she fell asleep on the leather sofa, unaware of time.

The next thing Sarah knew she was being woken up by a knock at the door, she was unaware of time but it must have been mid-afternoon judging by the sun. Her first thought was that it was Jareth, but soon put a stop to that, he's just walk right in. Concluding that it was probably Sophie Sarah pulled herself to her feet and dragged her sleep deprived body to the door.

However when she opened Sarah felt her whole being deflate as she saw Sam stood there. What now?

"Can I help you?" Sarah asked curtly.

"Listen, I've been thinking about what you said to me a few weeks ago; and what I did to you with that ring in front of him and also what I called you..." He stopped at this point, obviously forming the words in his head before he continued. "And I'm sorry, the whole thing has been cancelled, the venue gone, I'm seeing someone actually," As he took in the confused look on Sarah's face Sam hastily continued. "You see, after all that stuff happened on your porch I thought about myself a lot and realised that I was a sex addict, so I'm seeing someone to get help with that and I've come here to properly ask you to give it a go, take it slow and see what happens." Sarah really felt like slamming her head several times against the frame just to make sure that she wasn't dreaming. Was Sam really this stupid?

Jareth (who had always had impressive timing) chose this point to appear through the portal in the kitchen and heard what was going on outside. The second he saw Sam Jareth wanted to kick him straight off her garden and out of Sarah's life for good, although, just as he was about to inspiration came to him. No, wait. The Goblin king thought to himself; let's see how this turns out. So, still invisible to the pair having a stand-off on the porch, he came close enough to get a good view and clearly hear the drama that was unfolding.

"Sam..." She started, wondering how to phrase the next bit. "I would never leave Jareth for you. You were cheating on me behind my back when we were engaged, the morning after you tried to win me back in the club you were with a blonde bombshell and two weeks ago you proposed to me while he was there with a fake ring. What possible reasons could I have for leaving Jareth for you?" Surprising herself by how calmly she was speaking Sarah let the trueness of the words fill her up as a different reality dawned on her. She loved Jareth. She loved Jareth.

"The woman you saw me with when we were engaged was a drunken mistake! And I couldn't afford you a real ring so I bought you a replica that looked like something you deserved! I only want the best for you!"

"So why are you trying to be with me when you apparently can't afford the things you think I deserve?" Sarah replied rudely with a smirk on her face. She was going to rip him apart, well and truly. She was too tired for this shit.

"Because only I could love you!" Sam realised the mistake as the words left his mouth, he hadn't intended for it to sound like that, but it was too late now and wrath was building in Sarah's voice.

"Only you could love me? Only you?! Christ the only thing you love is yourself and even that's shaky! Just go back to that blonde slut, she seems best for you!"

"Please! I promise that it will only be you for me, she was just a one-time thing when I thought you weren't coming back!" Sarah's faced hardened and her voice was thunderous as she spat back her reply, Jareth loved seeing her being this strong. "Weren't coming back?! WEREN'T COMING BACK?! Christ you two faced back stabbing motherfucker!" Stars Jareth loved how she could curse like there was no tomorrow if she wanted to as well. "I left that bar saying I needed to think, and the second you realised I wasn't gonna give you sex, you piss-off to the next slut who would!" Adrenaline was pumping through her at this point, she was ready to simply put his lights out and have it done with. He however, was still maintaining his puppy dog facade. "It was just one night! Please, I promise it'll never happen again! Ever! I love y-"

"Oh will you please just take your bull-shit, shove it up your arse and then try to come out with some not, oh so fake cliché lies!"

"I'm not lying!"

"Your lips are moving, of course your lying!" She launched back. Burn, Jareth thought to himself humorously.

"But-"

"No! I don't want to hear it." Sarah cut in mercilessly. "You just want someone to always be there for you when you need sex and can't get it from other women!" Sam's puppy dog look faltered at this point and Jareth tensed. He had seen Sam's eyes flash from anger, he was certain, and it looked like Sarah had seen it as well because her on going tirade took a lower key. "Because that's all I was to you wasn't I? Someone you could use for sex whenever you wanted it?" Sarah fell quiet as she finished the last sentence. The truth was blindingly obvious to her now. That was all she had been to him. She had always been there for him no matter what, stood by him, supported him, and when had he been there for her? She had known Jareth for several months and he had already been there when she needed him. More to the point, it had taken two weeks for Sam to come and ask for her back after the wedding ring and kicking off the lawn incident. What the fuck?!

Her thought track was cut off as Sam crossed right into the personal space boundary and shoved Sarah in the shoulders so that her back was pushed against her door frame. "Listen up bitch!" Sam whispered, all the nicety had gone from his voice now. "You are mine. Simple as that; and you will always be mine. Now we are going to go upstairs and have make-up sex as a couple should after a fight they resolve." Sarah hesitated. He sounded insane, not only that, he sounded dangerous...No, she thought to herself. I can't show weakness now.

"Why don't you go back to your blonde bitch, or better yet go back to your house, call a prostitute and fuck her, I don't really care. One thing is sure though, there's no way I'm ever gonna let myself sink to fucking someone as low, ugly or conniving as you again!" The sound of a slap echoed through the air, and then silence descended. Sarah held her rapidly reddening face in one hand while looking at Sam through narrowed eyes. He had never struck her before, but then again, she had never stood up to him before. Sarah didn't feel scared as she thought she should, she felt anger. White hot bubbling anger building up inside of her, forcing its way out of her stomach up her chest into her throat, she wanted to scream there was so much emotion there. Not only that, she felt powerful. Like her potential had increased to something beyond human, she felt, for the first time, like she could defend herself without the need for anyone or anything, just her. It was as if she was on fire, but the fire was bending to her will, doing what she wanted it to. Glancing up, eyes aflame Sarah saw that Sam had taken a step back from her.

Sam hadn't felt shame about what he'd done; in fact it had given him a sense of dominance over her, a sense of satisfaction. What had made him take a step back was Sarah's lack of reaction, she had glared at him, and then recognition hadn't been there anymore, there was nothing but burning hatred. Then the air around her had begun to shimmer, as if she was surrounded by glass shards or something. Why wasn't she crying? Why wasn't she being obedient?

Jareth was struck dumb by what was happening, it was happening too fast. He wanted to kill Sam for what he did and had every intention of duelling him for the disgrace he had dealt Sarah but something else had caught his attention first. Sarah for the first time had tapped into the bond her and Jareth shared, showing Jareth the rage inside her. An inhuman amount of rage. Not only that, she was drawing in magic from her surroundings, calling it to her, she was even taking it from him! Subconsciously drawing it from across the bond, this wasn't something a human could do. But it was too late now, not realising how much she was taking had cost him and now he fell to his knees from exhaustion and became visible to the two of them. There wasn't enough magic in this world to fuel him and Sarah's incredible display, whatever he was going to do it had to be done fast.

Sam, truly scared now by the scene that was unfolding before his eyes, for lack of a better thing to do, took a full swing at Sarah in an attempt to floor her. It never made it. Seeing the punch coming towards her Sarah caught his fist without and real effort and started to crush it, she could feel the bones snap like twigs in her palm, his insignificant scream was taken away by the gale which had begun to surround them, then his breath was. He's just a twig Sarah thought to herself assuredly, an insignificant unimportant breakable twig. Grinning at him with unseeing eyes Sarah leaned down and with a voice that wasn't hers whispered "You dared to strike this body, now you will pay the price." Bringing her right hand to this neck she prepared to snap it into two pieces, she wanted to break him forever.

"Just a twig." She sighed.

Hope you like it! Please rate and review! :)