Author's Note:

Thank you so much to everyone who has followed and/or stuck with this story! I just got a burst of inspiration last week, and I think it's enough to FINISH this damn story. I've rounded it up two only two more chapters after this, and an epilogue. We're almost there, goddammit!

Dancing With Danger

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah. I know. Don't rub it in.

Sarah looked into her reflection and sighed in annoyance. "I look like a racoon", Sarah roughly wiped away the 'smokey eyed' look she had attempted to apply to her eyes. She settled for a light pink shadow with a hint of glitter in it. After nodding in approval and adding a coat of mascara, she moved on to the other areas of her face to add touch here and there.

The past week leading up to this day had been pure bliss. She had nothing to distract her from checking in on the wedding progress with Diamond, and spend each night and day with Jareth. Sarah was currently in her private dressing room preparing for her debut as a principle artist, Juliet. Only two doors away in his own dressing room was her personal Romeo. Her room was small, and consisted of one mirror with light bulbs framing the outside as any star mirror would have, a makeup table, and a wardrobe with two other costumes inside for the other Acts in the show. It was small, and not the most fabulous room she had imagined, but private dressing chambers were strictly for the lead roles, so it made her feel quite special. The show would start in an hour or so. Karen, Richard, Toby, and a few of her dance friends had all come to see her. She wished her Underground friends could come see her, but she knew it'd be impossible. A mass of fairies and goblins and elves would certainly stick out like sore thumbs, especially the three who were her closest friends. Pre-performance jitters were starting to kill her, and she noticed when ever she looked down at her hands they were shaking, but she was determined to give them a performance to remember. This would be her first and last performance as a principle, and her last performance, period. In a way this role was a goodbye to her friends and family, and a goodbye to the world she had lived in for the last eightteen years. But it was also a start, the start of a new life, one she would spend with Jareth in the Underground. Dwelling on those happy thoughts and trying to get the almost nagging saddness of the symbolism behind this performance out of her head, she stood up and gazed at her reflection in a full-length mirror on the door.

Her costume was thin, almost a nightgown, light as a feather, and equally as delicate. It was an empire waist dress in white chiffon, and it ended a little below the knees. The sleeves were long and flowy and ended at the wrist, with a little scrunch at the elbow. It was adorned here and there with Swaorvski crystals along the bodice creating little patterns, catching the light in the most attractive way. The crystals were also on the skirt, as well. Her hair was done up in an untraditional style of half up half down with soft curls. Her lips bore a light pink shimmery gloss and her cheeks were a soft rouge. Her pointe shoes were hanging by the ribbons on the door handle and her toe pads were waiting nearby on the table. Deciding to put them on later, she rolled her transition tights over her feet and stepped out of the dressing room, walking through the halls.

Each wall had a row of framed posters of a musical, or play, or dance, signed by every performer in the production. This theatre was one of the bigger ones in Sarah's area, and was frequently used for traveling shows and recitals and graduations and whatnot. There was a poster for every ballet, musical and play you could imagine. Attached to each poster were color photographs of after-parties, backstage moments and pictures of assumed directors and/or stage managers. A few hours before, the ballet director called all the dancers together to sign the new poster that would hang on the wall for their production of Romeo and Juliet. It was a picture of Sarah and Jareth that they posed for just for the poster. Sarah was up on the balcony prop reaching her hand down to Jareth, and he was reaching for her. It wasn't too fancy but the picture was gorgeous.

After admiring the posters, she decided to go put her pointe shoes on and warm up, as the clock was slowly indicating she would perform very soon. As she walked back she could hear the bustle and frantic noises coming from the larger dressing rooms with the corps de ballet and the soloists. She passed by and approached her dressing room door and opened it, only to discover that the room was occupied, and the blonde haired "intruder" was facing away from her. "Romeo", she purred.

Jareth looked up at Sarah and stood up, slowly walking towards her, his face was serious but his eyes held a humorous sparkle. "She speaks! O, speak again, bright angel." His silky British sounding voice rolled through his tongue like honey.

Sarah smirked, and put on her acting face, "Romeo, O Romeo, wherefor art thou Romeo? Deny thy father, and refuse thy name! Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet!" Jareth was now in front of her, he snaked his arms around her lower back.

"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?" Jareth asked, tilting his head and looking up for a moment, in pretend thought.

"'Tis but thy name that is mine enemy, thou are thyself though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is not hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face..." Sarah paused and placed her hands on his flat chest and stroked down to the hem of his pants. "Nor any other part belonging to a man." She smiled at up at him.

"Don't you look ravishing..." Jareth took a step back to gaze at her gorgeous costume.

"You're not so bad yourself..." Sarah took note of his costume. He wore tight black breeches with black leather ballet shoes. He had a white button up poet's shirt and his platinum hair was tied in a low ponytail, many strands loose, and framing his face. No gloves, though. Not the most glamorous of costumes, but he was still gorgeous, in every possible meaning of the word.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Not really..." she laughed softly. This was surreal. This was it.

"This is almost like a goodbye to everyone and everything I have ever loved up here, even if nobody knows it. I feel I owe it to everyone to give it my all tonight. Nothing will ever compare to the next two days...every dream I'll ever had will come true all at once. It's overwhelming almost."

Jareth kissed the tip of her nose, "Then let's make this a performance they'll never forget."

Sarah was walking through the halls towards the stage entrance when a blonde haired dancer lightly bumped into her, who was heading in the opposite direction.

"Hey, Sarah", said the girl. It was her friend Lindsey, who was playing the role of Rosaline, Romeo's object of affection who rejects his love. Her costume was a deep, dramatic, seductive piece, a complete opposite from Sarah's. Her eyes were smokey and her lipstick dark red. Her blonde hair was done up in pools of gorgeous curls.

"Lindsey!" Sarah embraced her friend.

Linsdey returned the embrace, "Are you excited? I can't wait to get out there..."

"More than you know." Sarah smiled at her.

"I'm going to finish getting ready, all right?" Lindsey parted with one last hug before walking off to her dressing room.

Sarah nodded and kept walking down the hallway to the stage entrance. Upon entering the door Sarah came upon the backstage area, whom was already occupied by several dancers in the First Scene of the First Act, warming up, practicing choreography, tending to injuries, and so on. The ballet mistress suddenly appeared and signaled for the dancers to assume their spots in the wings. Sarah could hear the chatter from the audience outside through the closed curtain. The show was about to start.

Sarah scanned through the dimly lit area and spotted Jareth in the third wing, awaiting for the curtain to rise. She quickly made her way over to him, careful to make sure her pointe shoes didn't make too much noise.

Sarah lightly tapped his shoulder and he turned to look at her. She smiled and lightly kissed his lips, brushing his cheek with her soft hand, "Good luck." He took her hand in his and moved it to his lips where he lightly kissed her palm. Not ten seconds later the curtains rose and the music began. Jareth started his position on stage with the other dancers and Sarah stepped away from the wings and watched.

(Note from the author: The ballet will be told with it's proper characters. Rather than refering Romeo to 'Jareth' and Juliet to 'Sarah', just know the characters they are playing. Any major scenes or important dances with Sarah will possibly be told from her point of view in a few parts. Probably the Balcony scene only, though. Mostly I'm just giving an idea of the general performance told in story format, for those of you with minimal ballet experience. Plus, it's difficult describing dance through a story anyway. Use your imagination, kiddies!)

Act One, Scene One, The Market Place:

The lights come into view slowly, and Romeo and Rosaline are the only ones on stage. Romeo begins to dance, declairing his love for her. They dance a brief pas de deux but clearly Rosaline shows her dislike for Romeo in her performance. She turns away from him. As the stage light brightens, suggesting the sunrise, the stage begins bustling with townspeople. They dance among each other for a few moments. Among these people are members of the rivaling houses, Capulet and Montague. Tempers flare and a fight ensues. Swords are drawn and a long dramatic dance-fight begins between Benvolio, nephew of Montague, and Tybalt, nephew of Capulet. A series of fouettes and leaps and turns from the opposing families suggest their superiority to eachother, accompanied by choreographed sword fights. The Duke of Verona suddenly enters when the fray is at it's fiercest and announces that anyone who in the future should cause a violent fray or dissruptions on public city streets, could recieve as severe a punishment as death. The parties are forced to make peace with eachother, and the houses of Capulet and Montague exit seperate sides of the stage. The lights dim as the audience applauds.

Act One, Scene Two, Juliet's Room:

Juliet is seen sitting at in front of a dressing mirror combing a golden brush through her dark hair. The music changes as her Mother, Lady Capulet, enters. The Lady does a brief dance, expressing her happiness of their ball that they would be holding later that evening. Lady Capulet claps her hands twice and a nurse-maid enters, holding a rectangular box in her hands, Juliet glances over curiously. The nurse-maid uncovers the box to reveal a beautiful gown, one that she would wear to the ball. Lady Capulet takes juliet by the hand and leads her to the center of the stage. She gestures toward her body, telling her she has grown, and is now old enough to become a bride. She tells her of a noble man called Paris, whom she would meet at the ball and be betrothed the following day. Lady Capulet dances slowly and gracefully off stage and leaves her young daughter to gather her thoughts. Juliet walks quietly to her dressing mirror and gazes at herself for a few moments. She then walks back to the center of the stage and performs a slow, short adagio, and ends in a tendu arabesque, her hands delicately resting on her heart. The nurse-maid then enters the room again and briskly takes Juliet by the hand and takes her away to prepare for the ball.

Act One, Scene Three, Outside the Capulet's Home:

Many guests are gathering outside the Capulet's mansion to enter the much anticipated ball. Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio spot Romeo's object of affection, Rosaline, entering the ball. The three men make a plan to sneak in. Romeo and his friends put on domino masks and slip into the ball. The lights dim as Romeo passes through the door.

Act One, Scene Four, The Ballroom:

The lights come on again, revealing a gorgeous, formal event. Several men and women are present, all in fine ballroom clothing, the women wearing delicate ballroom shoes. The music starts up a waltz, and the corps de ballet perform their piece. The atmosphere is calming and relaxing. The ballroom dancers make a last and final pose, signaling the completion of their dance. As the audience claps, the attention is turned to the right side of the stage. Approaching from the wings is Juliet, carefully looking at her surroundings. Her Mother and Father greet her kindly, as the noble Prince Paris arrives. He kisses her hand and offers a dance. She accepts and the two walk to the center of the stage and dance together in a beautiful pas de deux surrounded by all the Capulet guests. A few moments later, Romeo enters from the left side of the stage and watches Juliet. He is clearly captivated by this gorgeous woman. As Juliet dances with Paris she makes eye contact with Romeo. It is love at first sight. Nearby, Tybalt watches Juliet watch Romeo and questions his identity. He consults the Lord of the house he suspects a Montague villain is hidden in the crowd among the festivities. The Lord Capulet refuses a quarrel for the laws of hospitality. Tybalt huffs off stage. Juliet and Paris finish their dance and he parts with her with a kiss to her hand. She wishes to go to her newfound love but is forced to return to her bedchambers for the night. The nurse-maid sees the look Juliet gives Romeo and reminds her he is from the house of Montague, the only son of their great enemy. Temporarily distraught, Juliet rushes off the stage to collect herself. Upon seeing her leave to the Capulet's personal chambers, Romeo realizes that Juliet is of the Capulet's house. He dances a short combination of turns and leaps, a firey determination behind his movements. Romeo leaves the party as the lights dim again. The audience claps enthusiastically.

Act One, Scene Five, The Balcony. (Note from author: I don't think this scene needs to be entirely narrated. I think it speaks for itself :D)

Sarah sighed mentally in her head as the stage lights brightened the stage. The backdrop was a starry sky with a full moon. The balcony was on the right side of the stage. Sarah assumed her position as Juliet and rested her cheek upon her, waiting for her Romeo to appear on stage. The music began, a soft, gorgeous melody. She smiled down from the balcony as Jareth appeared on stage as Romeo. He carefully walked towards her, reaching his hand out to her, and she reached back, a smile gracing her features. She turned away and walked down the staircase inside the balcony leading to the stage. She ran into his arms, embracing him softly, her toes up en pointe. A new music track began, the beginning of the most favoured pas de deux in the entire ballet. Lifting her leg in arabesque she began her dance.

She had always loved rehersing this dance with Jareth. At this current moment there wasn't a dance she wanted to do more. But there was something about the dance at this current moment...a passion. She finally had a reason, finally had a motive behind her movements. She remembered everything they had gone through, all the things they had done, and the past all throughout the series of turns and poses, lifts and embraces. The tecnique of the dance got more difficult as the music gained it's momentum. The dance would soon reach it's climax. As the two lovers embraced Jareth briefly whispered into her ear, "You can do this. I love you."

She smiled at him softly and did a graceful ballet run across the stage. She obtained as much drive, momentum, speed, and trust as she could in those runs back to Jareth as she jumped in the air to complete the dance with their final lift. The music reached a dramatic climax as she was lifted in the air. Sarah smiled as she held herself. She was upside-down, and moving, but dammit, she held her pose. The music softened as he placed her black down on her feet. She would have been smiling like the Cheshire cat and hopping up with the occasional 'whoop!' if it wouldn't damper her performance. Boy, was it tempting. Jareth leaned down and kissed her softly. (Another perk along with this ballet, french kissing along with all the bodily contact.) The lights dimmed slowly.

The theatre erupted with applause and a few 'bravo!'s. The lights came back on and both she and Jareth bowed at their standing ovation. Jareth took her hand and presented her forward and took a step back, and Sarah bowed modestly low. When she got up her attention turned to stage right, where her ballet mistress appeared with two dozen roses. Sarah accepted them greatfully and took one final bow to the audience with her flowers, as the curtain lowered for a fifteen minute intermission.

After the curtain fell Sarah lept in to Jareth's arms where he spun her around. She couldn't contain her vicious giggles.

"I can't believe I nailed it!" She sighed happily and kissed him again. She took his hand and went back to her dressing room to go and relish in the fifteen minute break. Upon entering her room she was shocked to find it was already full to the brim with flowers and roses of all kinds. The flowers were...exotic. Other-worldly. Definitley not from her world upon extremely close examination. She turned to look at Jareth and raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't need this many flowers from you, Jareth."

"Darling, I didn't get you these. They did." He pointed behind her and she turned and could barely stand up she was so surprised. Her eyes brimmed with tears but quickly went away, and was replaced by joyous laughter. Diamond and her husband Topaz, along with Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus were all in her dressing room, grinning like they had dirty little secrets. Somehow the space in her room got slightly bigger. She embraced each one laughing like a lunatic. "I'm so happy you guys are here!" she exclaimed, "Did you see the performance?"

"Of course we did! We wouldn't miss this sooner than we would your wedding." Diamond smiled brilliantly.

"Thank you so much...for everything", Sarah emphasized.

Suddenly their was a brief knock at her door. She looked towards the noise and looked back and noticed all her friends had disappeared. She blinked twice and got over it amazingly quick. "Yes?", she asked to whomever was knocking her dressing room door.

A tiny woman with a black t-shirt and a head microphone peered inside, she was holding a clipboard. Sarah recondized her as the stage manager. "Five minutes to curtain", she said briefly. Sarah nodded and bid her thanks and the woman left and closed the door.

"Ready for round two?" Sarah asked Jareth.

He grinned, "I can hardly wait."

Act Two, Scene One, Verona:

Many people are seen in the market square, preparing for a carnival, or other festivities. People are happy and joyous and dance merrily with eachother as they decorate the square and drink heavily. Romeo is seen in the bustle of people sitting on a stone bench, completely oblivious to the world around him, clearly there is one thing, or she, on his mind. Juliet's nurse-maid is seen entering from the left side of the stage seeking out Romeo. Romeo instantly notices her and goes to her. She hands him a note from his love. He presses the letter to his heart after reading it's contents. In the letter Juliet tells Romeo to meet her at the chapel of Friar Lawrence. Suddenly bursting with much excitement and happiness, Romeo leaps off the stage to go and be with his beautiful Juliet.

Act Two, Scene Two, Friar Lawrence's Cell in the Forest:

Romeo and Juliet are seen standing before Friar Lawrence, as he joins the young lovers in marraige. The two kiss and dance a brief pas de deux followed by their own individual dances. Romeo and Juliet bow to Friar Lawrence and thank him, and then they run off the stage hand in hand.

Act Two, Scene Three, Death on a Summer's Day:

Romeo returns to the square, the festival that was being prepared for in the earlier scene at it's highest point. Romeo's friends are among the guests enjoying the public activity. As Romeo enjoys the time with his friends, Tybalt appears and demands a duel with Romeo. Romeo refuses to fight. Mercutio grows angry and duels Tybalt. Swords are drawn and an epic fight happens. Soon after Mercitio falls to the ground, killed by Tybalt. Romeo, distraught, draws his own sword and kills Tybalt. Romeo runs off stage in hystarics after realizing he had killed the cousin of his beloved wife, Juliet. He goes to her room that night, in hopes of comforting her, and himself.

The curtains lower for a five minute intermission.

Act Three, Scene One, Romeo Leaves:

The two lovers are awakened that morning by the sunrise. Romeo is under severe punishment of exile, and tells Juliet he must leave Verona. Juliet dances a sad dance with Romeo, clearly expressing she dosn't want him to leave. The dance ends with Romeo kissing her lips and running from the room, leaving the young woman to fall to her knees. Moments later Lady Capulet enters with Paris, and Juliet rejects them both sourly. Lord Capulet enters the room and threatens to dissown her if she refuses this match. Juliet is left weeping alone in her room.

Act Three, Scene Two, Friar Lawrence's Potion:

Juliet desperately seeks out Friar Lawrence's cell in the forest, threatening suicide if he cannot help her be with Romeo again. He gives Juliet a phial of potion, explaining after she drank it she would go into a death-like sleep. She would be placed in the tombs where all the Capulets lie. He then tells her during this period of her sleep he would send a letter to Romeo posthaste about this arrangement, so he could arrive at the tomb and whisk her away so they could be together forever. Juliet takes the potion and briefly dances with the potion in her hand. She quickly leaves.

Act Three, Scene Three, Juliet's Bedroom:

Juliet arrives home and tells her parents she will accept the marraige with Paris. Overjoyed, a wedding is planned the next day. Various dances from the Lord and Lady are performed, as well as the nurse-maids. After they leave her room she takes the sleeping potion and falls on her bed. The next morning she is found motionless, breathless and lifeless on her bed. Assuming her death, all who learn this information weep at her bedside.

Act Three, Scene Four, A Street in Mantua:

Romeo is seen alone on the stage, clearly deppressed. Romeo dances, expressing the pain in his heart from being exiled, and seperated from his beloved Juliet. Friar Lawrence's message had never gotten to Romeo. Suddenly, Romeo's faithful servant Balthazar appears on stage and finds Romeo. He shares the news that Juliet is dead. The music reaches dramatic porportions as Romeo begins to dance, a look of grief, hurt, pain and hystaria on his face, trying to interpret his morbid feelings at this news. The music dims down, and Romeo falls to his knees and weeps. A moment later he stands up with a slightly determined stance. He immidiatly leaves the stage, making the descision to go see Juliet one last time.

Act Three, Scene Five, The Capulet's Tomb

A funeral is seen taking place, as Juliet's body is lain on top of a flight of stairs in the Capulet's family tomb. Paris stands before her and prays, and leaves. All grows dark and silent on stage, but a single spotlight over Juliet's body. Romeo is seen entering the tomb and he quickly goes to Juliet on top of the stairs. He lifts up her upper body and kisses her unmoving mouth. He rests her body carefully back on the pillow from where it came. Romeo then takes a phial of poison from his pocket and drinks it, instantly falling dead on the stone steps. Juliet awakens moments later when the final bit of the potion wore off. She sees Romeo lying on the stairs, and goes up to wake him. She is devistated to discover he is not asleep, but dead. After kissing his lips one last time, she removes a dagger from a sheath around Romeo's belt and plunges it into her heart, falling over his lifeless body.

Sarah moved from her uncomfortable position on top of Jareth once the curtains had lowered completely. Sarah and Jareth shared a brief moment gazing at each other and sharing a brief kiss. They held hands and walked down to the stage, assuming their positions for the final bow, along with the rest of the dancers in the production.

The curtains rose and everyone was standing in even lines, ready for a bow. Jareth and Sarah were by themselves in the way back, for they would bow last. The audience never stopped clapping or cheering. A few people down the front were wiping their eyes with tissues. Each group of dancers bowed, until Jareth and Sarah remained.

Sarah bowed low to the audience, as did Jareth. A few individual roses were thrown on stage at her feet, and she picked up each one and bowed again. Both she and Jareth stepped back and waved to the audience with the rest of the group, and the curtains slowly lowered.

Was this chapter worth over half a year of waiting? Probably not. Let me know if it was boring, any tips, ect.

Feedback would be MOST appreciated!!

-Stacy