Chapter 12: Finally Home?
Note: I apologize for me cheating you guys in the last chapter. It wasn't to be mean, but I felt I couldn't do that part well enough. Perhaps if I get better at it, I will replace it later. – Kat 3
Sarah could feel her body growing tired, but she willed herself on. After what felt like hours, she stopped, collapsing in a heap on the ground as she extracted the crystal that Jareth had given her from the shirt. "Show me Toby," she panted.
The ball spun and she saw Toby, wandering and lost somewhere. Rubbing her eyes, she tried her best to focus on his surroundings. Sarah squinted at the ball but she only saw grass and…and water. She brought it closer to her face and saw a bit of wood curving above him as he moved to sit down. "Wood…" she whispered, thinking, before it finally came to her. "A…a bridge…the park!" She jumped up with renewed energy as she began to race toward what had formerly been her favorite place in the world.
"Toby!" she shouted, rushing through the enormous park. "Toby!"
"Sarah?" A young voice called, loud but scared and nervous. Toby poked his head out from under the bridge, then came rushing out excitedly. "I knew it! I knew you would come back!"
"Oh, Toby!" She laughed slightly in relief as she dropped to her knees, Toby colliding with her in a hug. "Toby," she gripped him to her, "why would you do that? You scared us all to death!"
Sarah could feel Toby's hug tighten, unfortunately, as many young children do, he was hugging her around her neck. Still, she held him closer to her before she carefully pulled his fingers away from her throat and he started to explain in a hurried voice. "You…you were gone for nearly a week and…I was scared and….and that man….he was so….creepy and you….you seemed so scared….and….and….mom and dad wouldn't believe me….and….they said you just went to your house…and you wouldn't answer the phone…and you didn't come back for me, you always come to finish stories and…and…and," he collapsed, sobbing in her arms for a minute as she ran her hand up and down his small back, trying her best to sooth him as he cried to her. "I was trying to find you."
"Sssh," Sarah rubbed his back for a few minutes before grabbing Toby's small shoulders and gently pushing him away. Rubbing his shoulders as she spoke, Toby wiped at his eyes. "Toby," she moved one hand to pick his head up when he tried to hide the tears on his face from her, "Look at me, now, Toby. Remember this, alright? You can never tell anybody about this, ever, okay? We have to keep this a secret, can you do that?"
He sniffled and nodded his head and she punched his cheek playfully. "Come on now, how about we get back home before your parents have strokes?" Toby nodded at her, stretching his arms up for her to carry him. A hand on her back, she felt her muscles starting to ache, but she reached forward and grabbed him anyway, knowing he needed security. Rubbing his hair as she walked, she hurried to the house.
When she neared the house, she could hear the worried arguing drift out the windows. Her eyes spotted a cop car parked on the road, and she knew they had called them. After all, Toby must have been gone for hours. Shifting him to one side, she pushed the door open with her left hand and walked through, closing it behind her and a flood of people rushed to the door. "My Toby!" Her step-mother shouted excitedly, grabbing at him while their father ran over to smother him as well. Sarah thanked the cops and let them out while her parents fussed over him, then turned their attention on her.
"Where have you been?" They asked, Toby still in their clutches. "It's been almost a week!"
She shrugged, her eyes darting to Toby, but she knew he would keep his promise. "I was at my apartment."
Her step-mother narrowed her eyes. "Why didn't you answer your phone?"
Sarah began to walk upstairs, Toby rushing forward after her. "I was very busy—I had a lot of work to get done for my book, the deadline was pretty close."
She paused a moment, then asked another question as her eyes flickered over Sarah's tights and over-sized blouse. "What in the world are you wearing?"
"Uhm," Sarah paused a moment for time, "thrift shop, wanted a new costume."
Both her parents just nodded, seemingly content. "Well," her step-mother said, "I guess I'll go put dinner on. I'll call you down when it's ready. Will you be staying tonight?"
Sarah glanced at Toby, who looked hopeful, and looked back down at her. "I think I'll be staying for a while for now—I just sent my book in so I should have some time off." It was all complete lies, she had sent her book in over a week ago, but Toby was too excited that she was staying to even ask about it. She always let him read her manuscripts first.
When they all finished dinner that night, Sarah offered to finish the story for Toby. "No!" He shouted at her, throwing his blanket down to go pick a book off of the shelf he had.
She stared at him, surprised. "Toby?" She asked, "Why not? You've been waiting forever to hear that story."
He turned to her, pouting. "You'll go away again!" He accused.
Sarah shook her head, trying not only to shoo away his thoughts but her own on the matter. "I'll start from when I started the labyrinth-don't you want to hear the adventure I had?"
She could see the battle raging in his head, but eventually Toby caved in and crawled back into his bed. Sarah fixed the comforter for him, and sat, holding his hand to assure him she wasn't going anywhere. "And then, he sent the Cleaners after us…" she sat for over an hour, finishing her story while her parents waited outside, happily.
"I'm so glad her and Toby get along so well now," her step-mother said.
Her father smiled, held his wife's hand and kissed her cheek. "Me too, I only hope she could be happier. I know her and Michael have been having problems lately."
His wife shook her head, leaning into him. "Don't worry too much about it, she seems better now, I think she'll be able to talk things out." She mumbled, starting to grow tired from her hysterics before. "He's a nice boy, and her birthday is the day after tomorrow. I'm sure he'll come up with something to just blow her away."
Her father sighed, hugging his wife as he stood up, walking towards their bedroom together. "I can only hope so."
Sarah awoke the day after that, her twenty-first birthday to Toby jumping on the bed and scrambling towards her, beating the mattress with his hands and shouting, "Happy Birthday!" She grinned, pulling him behind his knees so he fell backwards on her comforter.
"Relax, monkey."
He laughed, "Mom's making your favorite for breakfast! Come on, they're ready! And we're all going to watch movies together, all your favorites!"
She pushed the blankets back, standing and pulling the door open, nodding her head at him to get out. "Let's go," she said, somewhat dazed as she finally realized it was her birthday. Her eyes grew slightly foggy as she walked down the stairs, remembering the last time she turned twenty-one.
"Good, Sarah, you're awake," her step-mother greeted, and Sarah shook her head, clearing her thoughts.
"Oh, good morning everyone," she sat down, helping herself to an excessive amount of chocolate chip pancakes. "God, these are amazing," she told Irene, "thank you so much."
As promised, when breakfast was finished, everybody settled in for a movie marathon that lasted half the day until finally the door bell rang. "Oh!" Irene jumped up, "That must be Michael!"
Sarah's heart suddenly dropped in her stomach, and she felt like throwing up as she realized she had cheated on him. Standing with her, she made her way towards the door with Irene, walking like a person condemned though she knew there was no way he would know where she was.
"Sarah!" He exclaimed, pulling her in a hug with a bouquet of flowers in one hand, leaning back to kiss her and she felt herself kiss him lightly back. She looked at the flowers, gently touching their brilliant colors before Irene took off the plastic around them and cut them for a vase.
From the kitchen she called, "Dinner's almost ready!" Sarah glanced at her, it was amazing how much better she got along with Irene but sometimes things were just too much. Still, Michael slid his hand into hers and the two of them went to sit at the dinner table, everyone trying their best to keep up a constant, happy conversation.
When the dinner finally ended, everybody left to mingle around the house, leaving Michael and Sarah to talk. It must have been hours, but the two of them sat, Sarah smiling and laughing while Michael told her about everything that had gone on while she was gone. Eventually, Irene poked her head in, "Toby's going to sleep in a few minutes," she told Sarah, "he was hoping you would tell him another story." Quickly she added, "Sorry to intrude," as she slipped out.
Sarah started to get up, and Michael stood as well, pushing his chair back in. "I suppose I should go to Toby," she said, and he leaned forward, kissed her cheek.
"Would you like to go out tomorrow?" He asked, his hand still in hers as she walked towards the door. Sarah felt the familiar storm raging in her head, none of her thoughts too clear as she forced herself to nod. "Great! I've got reservations to Pietro's, your favorite."
"Oh," she gasped, excited, "I can't believe you! You're amazing!"
Standing in the foyer, he put his hands on her waist, pulling her closer and kissing her. "Good night," he said, turning towards the door but as his hand touched the handle he suddenly turned, staring back into her face.
"Sarah," he said, nervously, "I'm sorry, but I've been thinking about what was going on before you left and I…I felt bad because you're right, did you know that? I should be more devoted and this should be a more important relationship at this point. Sarah," he dropped onto one knee. "I love you. I love you more than anything else in the world. Please, Sarah, will you marry me?"