A/N: I can see the end... Hurry! Another chapter is up and only a few more to go! ^_^ The end is near. *grins happily* I'm so glad that it's almost done but I have to say that I will miss working on this. *sighs* oh well... guess I'll just have to come up with a new fanfic to write! ^_^ Please review!

Chapter 13: The Mother Goddess's demands

Puck frowned for the third time. Ninare was still pissed at him and it had been three days since his prank on her. She really was adorable when she was pissed off... He jerked up in his seat. Did the word adorable really just come from his mind? He had never in all his existence used the word adorable. It was about as bad as the new human word... Oh what was it... Cute! Yes, she was cute wasn't she? Gah! What the hell was wrong with him? He must be getting sick. Yes that's it.

Puck shook his head to try and clear his thoughts. Ever since he had been tricked and frozen by that woman he could not get her off his mind. There he was thinking about her again. Really, he needed to get a hobby. Maybe Ninare had some ideas...

Puck frowned for the fourth time and sighed. He was starting to have issues.

"Son, you said it was urgent."

Puck looked up from his musings to see his father standing near him. He frowned for the fifth time. This was starting to become a nuisance. He hadn't even heard his father approach.

With a careless wave of his hand a scroll hovered before his father.

Oberon had watched the youth that was his son struggle with something that was on his mind, before making himself known to the boy. It was always amusing to see something baffle his youngest. Looking at the scroll in front of him, he reached out and took it.

Opening it, he began to read out loud...

Living death

Only three cases have been found and documented. Most die from the pain of being in such a state. Only two cases were able to awaken and that was by the power of a deity. If one has fallen into this accursed sleep, pray that a deity shows enough pity to intervene. If not, there is little to no chance for them to awaken.

If one awakens from this accursed sleep changes in personality have been found to occur. Changes become permanent if memories lost are not regained. I can only tell you what the deity told me. This is the only hope I can offer.

The heart always knows true what a mind will seek to hide.

Good luck and may the deities be with you.

Oberon reread what it said while he tried to think of what to say. He had noticed the personality change of his eldest. He was more at ease and far more approachable then before. He liked the changes. As for the loss of memories, he didn't know what to do about those. His sons seemed fine without remembering their near mates and those were the only memories lost as far as they could tell.

Puck watched his father's face carefully. He could read him like a book and knew from his expression that Puck would find no help with him. Puck knew that his father was glad for the memories that were gone because it meant that his mistake with Darious was erased. Perhaps his mother would be more help. With that thought in mind, he vanished from his father's sight.

Jareth sighed as the healers poked and prodded him yet again. This had been going on since he awoke and it was getting old fast. Honestly, he felt fine. He just wanted to get back to his kingdom and Toby. His heart clenched for the boy. His mother and Malachite had filled him in on what had happened. He remembered the child and he remembered losing him to the runner. He just couldn't recall anything about the runner; not her name… her face… the only thing that he could seem to drudge up from his memories were a pair of exquisite emerald eyes.

Every time he tried to remember anything else it was a blur, like a fog had settled over his mind and wouldn't leave. He would get a massive headache every time. Darious he knew fared no better except for the scar on his hand. Darious had confided that it burned severely whenever he would try to remember the one that he had almost started a war over.

Jareth looked in his brother's direction and sighed. He was different now... not as cold. Jareth could remember that his brother used to be as cold as the arctic ice. Still, there was a sadness to him that Jareth could see. It was deep inside, buried so deep that most wouldn't even notice... hell, he didn't even think that his parents noticed. They just seemed to be relieved to have the two of them back. He frowned at that thought. He felt like he shouldn't forgive them so easily but without him being able to remember the forgotten one as he had started to think of her, he just couldn't see the point of staying mad.

Darious glanced in his brother's direction and frowned. His little brother seemed to be in deep thought and he could tell that whatever it was disturbed him greatly. He flexed his hand as the burning came back. He winced internally as the burning started shooting from his wrist and up through his whole arm. He couldn't help but think of her... He was curious as to what was so special that he would break their laws and wage war just to be with her. He bit back a growl as the burn intensified. He remembered the day he got that scar like it was yesterday.

It was a warm spring day when he had decided to take a run with his wolves. He had been in his wolf form when he had foolishly stepped into a bear trap. He couldn't remember exactly what happened next. It was like he became blind and deaf. This he attributed to the Living Death he experienced. His father and mother seemed to not want him to remember. Whatever was there, he just got the feeling that it was worth the pain to try and remember. That she was worth trying to remember. Of course he wasn't about to let on that he was in pain. These damn healers were bad enough without the knowledge that their prince was suffering. He could only imagine how bad they would become should they learn of his scar.

It was strange. He knew that he was consumed by ice before. It was his preferred element but since the burning had overtaken him and his death sleep he no longer felt as cold. It was as if the burn had melted the ice around his aura. He felt warmth toward his family again. It was a strange feeling indeed.

He caught his brother's eye and nodded. They both had enough of being prodded. With both in agreement they both simultaneously winked out of sight.

Titiana thought back to what her youngest had shown her. She really didn't know what to do. On one hand she was happy to have her sons back but on the other Darious just wasn't the same son she knew and loved for better or worse. Was she a bad mother for wanting to keep her sons the way they were?

"No child. You have never been a bad mother. I can attest to that. However, can you say that they would be happy going through life with no memory of what it was like to be in love? With only the emptiness where love once resided to keep them company at night? They will never be able to take a mate with that hole where love once was."

Titiana whirled around and then with a gasp bowed low to the ground in reverence at the sight of the Goddess before her. Aveta was truly a good hearted goddess and a goddess to all mothers. She was responsible for the Labyrinth and its laws. She was also responsible for giving her son the responsibility of Goblin King. A great honor as thrones were, usually won not given. Her eldest was a prime example as he won his throne and had held it for a great many years.

"You are right, of course, My Lady. It is wrong of me to wish my sons to be different than what they are. It is an honor to be in your presence. To what do I owe this tremendous honor?"

Aveta grinned at the queen, "I would like you to hold a masquerade ball in honor of my daughters and I. All nobility are to be present for this auspicious occasion. It is my will that they attend!"

Titiana grinned back in relief. A ball she could do. It would be the grandest that she had ever thrown. She would make sure of that.

"See that you do. I want it to be grand for my newest daughters will be introduced at that time."

Titiana bowed low again, nodded and said with a smile, "Of course, My Lady, it will be done. I am only too happy to do so. I promise it will be simply splendid."

"I know you will do them justice. One of daughters will require an ice fae to help with her costume. My other daughter will need no help. Make sure that they have the same chamber to get ready in as well. I will be attending as myself to make sure that they take the proper mates."

Titiana's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Mates, My Lady? You would have them mate one of us?"

Aveta laughed, "They already have their mates picked out. It is my hope that everything will go according to plan and they will have the happily ever after that they seek with the ones that they love. Plus they are only half my child. They were mortal before I took them as my children. Now they are half goddess and half fae. They both are very special and are to be treated as if they were your very own. Am I understood Titiana?"

Titiana was shocked and she knew that it showed on her face. Never had she been so honored. She would not question her goddess's intent or her judgment. Now it seemed she had two daughters. She would assign her very best ice fae to the task. Ninare would be perfect for the job. "May I ask my new daughters names my lady?"

"No, you may not. With luck you will know their names by the end of the night. The ball shall take place tomorrow. I trust everything will be ready by then?"

"Of course, My Lady, that will be plenty of time. If you will excuse me, I mean no disrespect but I now have a lot to do. I would beg you leave." Titiana looked up only to find her goddess was already gone. With a grin she called for her servants. There was much to do.

A/N: well that's it for this chapter. Please review. I would really like to know your thoughts. Of you can PM me if you have any questions. Really I don't mind.