She left the room in a huff. If Jareth had been angry before, he was livid now. That damn girl! That troll just disrespected me to my face….well to my side, and she just did the same! I'm a royal! Just because I'm stuck in this embarrassing form doesn't mean she can speak to me in that manner! I'm a great king! Fear is the only way to motivate people sometimes! That doesn't make me a bad ruler! I keep the kingdom safe. The people are happy! What else is there to be done? And that was an accident! I didn't realize I'd tightened my grip on her. She just automatically assumed that because I was mad, I'd hurt her!

Suddenly, something Sarah had said when explaining her one condition clicked in his head: I don't have to worry about you tricking, trapping, or trying to kill me or any of my friends.

Tricking is understandable, he thought. If she was in my kingdom and I didn't want her there, I would do that. Trapping sort of falls into that category. But why did she have to say killing her? I've never tried to do something like that! I would only do something like that if one of my subjects committed treason - like that dwarf! - or some other serious crime. She thinks I'd kill her just because she was trespassing in my land? Preposterous! Why would she even think I would do something like that?!

Then it hit him. When she was running the Labyrinth they'd encountered each other, and she said his Labyrinth was a "piece of cake". In order to show her just what he was capable of, he conjured up the Cleaners, a large machine that chased her and Hoggle. They had run straight to a dead end, but had found another way out. She thought I was trying to kill her. Again, she assumed the worse. I would never do such a thing. First, that would've broken our current deal: She had thirteen hours to get to the castle. If I killed her, that would've been lying. Second, that's disgusting. And third, if they hadn't found another way out, I would've called the Cleaners off, or moved them to another part of the Labyrinth. She thinks I'd just end her life because she said my Labyrinth was easy. It was an obvious lie! She couldn't even meet my eyes when she said it. I only summoned the Cleaners to scare her. To show her the Labyrinth wasn't easy and I was a formidable enemy. Yet she thought I was some sort of...murderous monster! She still thinks that! That's why she just snapped at me like that. That was an accident! I didn't realize I'd tightened my grip on her. She thinks I'd cause her physical pain just because she was disrespecting me! That's ridiculous! The dwarf, yes, he'll have to be punished. But Sarah, I would've probably just stuck her in the Bog of Eternal Stench for a while if I had my magic. What does she think I am, some crazed killer who has no conscience or self-control?!

Jareth walked across the dresser and jumped onto the windowsill. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed that yes, that that was exactly what Sarah thought he was.

Sarah grabbed the bandages out of the bathroom cabinet, and looked at her shoulder. A few bleeding scratches had been made from Jareth's talons. He's lucky Karen didn't see this or he'd be out of this house. I can't believe he did that! He hurt me just because I was saying something he didn't like! That may be how he runs things in his kingdom but he's in my house now, and that's not okay. I can't believe how dumb I was. For a second, I thought maybe since I'd rescued him from Natas he'd be different. But he's still the same disgusting person he was the last time I saw him. I still don't see why I'm even doing all this for him.

She covered up the scratches and moved her shirt back over them so Karen wouldn't see. Just as she was about to go back up the stairs, the doorbell rang. Sarah went and opened it up. "Hi, Fran."

"Hey, Sar." She yawned, holding the baby monkey they'd rescued.

"Whoa, you look exhausted. Here, come on in. Karen says the monkey is okay as long as she only stays in my room."

"Cool. I named her Lulu, by the way. And yes, I'm really tired. She was screaming all night long. It's like night terrors. She even has to sleep in my bed with me because every time I let her go or walk away from her, she gets really scared."

"And with the rescue last night, you didn't get much sleep at all. Sorry I dragged you into that. I needed the key."

"No, I wanted to come. Really. It was important to me. No one deserves to be treated like that. It's a fate I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I got those pictures in to be developed. And my dad says he's gonna get them in his newspaper. Then the police can take over from there."

"That's great. Tell your dad thank you from me."

"So how's your Tyto alba alba doing?"

"...My what?"

Fran rolled her eyes and smiled. "Your barn owl. That's the scientific name. Didn't you do research? I mean, I know it's only been a day, but the second I found out I was gonna be hanging onto Lulu, I jumped on the home computer. You should start learning about barn owls if you're gonna be a foster mommy."

I would, if my barn owl was an actual barn owl and not a royal pain in the butt. "He's doing alright. He scratched me, though."

"I'm sure it was an accident."

I'm not so sure…

"But other than that, he's not shy or anything? Lulu's super nervous around people other than me."

"No, he wasn't in the Facility for that long, so he's well adjusted. He was cuddling up to me at the vet's office, though he didn't like the doctor or Karen that much." She opened the door to her room and held it for Fran. After closing the door, she spotted Jareth sitting on the windowsill. Great, now he's pouting. This is going to be the longest few months of my life.

"Aww, such cute bandages," Fran cooed, sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked at Jareth, but it looked like he was trying to ignore her. "Hello there, handsome. You're the best looking Tyto alba alba in the world, aren't you?"

There you go, Fran, feed his ego. He likes that. He especially likes it when you fall to your knees and beg him not to throw you in the Bog.

"Do you think he'll let me touch him? Barn owl feathers are supposed to be super soft."

"Ummm, well, he's not so keen on touching...but maybe, I guess." I know he hates it, but I told him to be nice. Therefore, he's got no choice but to let her do it.

Fran leaned over and started to pet Jareth's head. He eyed her, then looked at Sarah. Remember this next time you feel like scratching me with your talons. Jareth just rolled his eyes and went back to looking out the window. That surprised her. She knew he hated touching, so why was he letting Fran pet him? Why was he actually listening to Sarah and not hissing or trying to bite her?

Then Sarah realized what the better question was: Why am I letting her pet him when I know he doesn't like it? "Okay, Fran, that's enough. He really doesn't like that."

She stopped and grinned at Sarah. "Someone's becoming a foster mommy. Okay, Lulu, how about you let go of me? Come on, it's a new space. New smells, new things to explore. You're a monkey, you're supposed be curious." Fran pried the small monkey off of her and set her on the bed. "You don't mind if your bed smells like monkey right?"

"No, it's fine. The whole house smells like diapers so monkey won't make much of a difference."

"Yeah, how is Toby?"

"He's fine. His ears are totally fine now, so he's back to his old self. He's playing, eating weeds in the yard, oh! He took seventeen steps yesterday! I saw it. He just got up like he'd done it a million times, and started walking. I counted. It was the most he's ever walked...what's that funny?"

"Who the hell are you and what did you do with Sarah?"

"Whaddaya mean?"

"Sarah, do you even realize that like, drastic change in the way you talk about your brother?"

"...No."

"Seriously? Because even since, what was it? Last Wednesday you have been totally different."

"Well, I'm warming up to him."

"Took you long enough. But you really don't see it?"

"Well...I've stopped being so annoyed by him and don't complain when Karen asks me to watch him."

"A major difference that just randomly happened overnight. But it's not only that, it's just the way you talk about him in general. Like, let me show you how you sounded Tuesday." She got up, leaving Lulu - who hadn't moved around at all - alone on the bed and cleared her throat. When she spoke, it was in a very whiny voice. "'Fran, he kept me awake half the night last night! All his stupid crying! I almost fell asleep in math!' But now it's," She changed to a very happy tone. "'Toby laughed when I fell down the stairs. I mean it hurt, but I made him laugh!' And it was like an overnight thing! As if it was...magic!"

Sarah paled a bit and laughed nervously. Fran continued, her eyes widening. "Wait a second...I know what happened!"

Sarah tensed and Jareth looked over. Maybe I should just tell her. No, I'll sound crazy!

"...The Sweet Sister Fairy came through your window Tuesday night and just bopped you in the head with her wand. Therefore you became a Sweet Sister."

Sarah broke into laughter. Thank God. She had me for a second.