Chapter

Notes: I know some of you have issues with the way I have developed the story, but it IS my vision and I will write it as I see fit, leaving nasty, comments is not going to bully me into changing anything. So, in short, if you don't have anything nice or constructive to say, don't say anything at all.

To everyone else, thanks! I am glad to see so many people like it! And to the person who requested a chapter before Wednesday, this is for you, I hope you enjoy it ^_^

Sarah knew she should be listening to what the doctor was telling her, but she couldn't stop her mind from drifting and it mostly rested on how Jareth was behaving about this … development between them.

Anger rose inside of her like hot magma as she recalled the distant way he had treated her. Fine! She thought to herself, if that's the way he wanted it, she didn't need him. She had accumulated plenty of experience caring for Toby over the years , she could do this without his help.

"My lady?" The doctor's voice cut through the film of her thoughts like a sharp knife. Sarah shook her head, trying to force herself back into reality.

"I'm sorry, what where you saying?" She asked sheepishly, her cheeks coloring.

The goblin doctor blew out a long, exasperated sigh as he started over again.

"You cannot be betrothed until after the child is born, the ceremony would make you a full fey, and cause you to lose the child. I want you to listen very closely because this is not without risk. You mustn't put yourself in situations that will incite anger or stress, your body in its half human state cannot withstand the combined magic of you and the child's. If you let it get out of control, it will rip you apart."

Sarah paled, she certainly didn't want that … but … thanks to her father's Irish roots, she had always had a bit of a temper, and now she was scared to death she wouldn't be able to control it.

The doctor must have sensed her concern, because he gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. "Don't fret, my lady. It's really not as bad as it sounds, but as a physician, I am afraid I have to entertain the worst case scenario." He said regrettably.

Sarah smiled warmly down at him. "No, I understand, and I appreciate your honesty." She said.

"Well the good news is everything seems to be fine, and your child, as far as I can tell seems to be in perfect health. But I warn you that this pregnancy is not going to be an easy one, as the child's magic grows it will put increasing strain on your body and it will be painful." He warned.

Sarah could feel a small bubble of fear rising in her throat and she swallowed hard, trying to force it down.

"Just remember that my door is always open, should you need me." The doctor said as he saw her out, the receptionist curtsied respectfully from behind the counter as Sarah walked out in a daze.

"Good day, my Lady!" Sir Didymus said, bowing deeply as he entered her chambers, followed by Hoggle and Ludo.

"Howya doin, kid?" Hoggle asked, eyeing her with concern as he hopped up onto the edge of the bed next to her.

"As well as can be expected, I suppose. So much has happened in such a short time." She said, giving him a sad smile.

"Well, we're here for ya, Sarah. Anything ya need, jus' ask." Hoggle said, Sarah's lip trembled and she lurched forward and threw her arms around Hoggle's neck. Didymus and Ludo embraced her also.

"Thank you all, that means more to me than you'll ever know." Sarah said as tears streamed down her face as she withdrew from them, her face suddenly taking on a shadowed expression.

"Oh … I almost forgot … his majesty wants me to come to dinner tonight." She said as a groan escaped her.

"Sarah, if you don' feel up to it, ya know ya don' have to." Hoggle said. True, but she was hungry, more so than usual, probably due to the pregnancy and she was going to have to eat some time.

'It's just dinner, you can get through it, stop being such a baby! You're going to be a mother soon and its high time you grow a pair!' she scolded herself.

"Then we will leave you to get ready, my dear." Sir Didymus said with a deep bow.

"Bye Sawa!" Ludo said with a cheerful wave.

"Oh for heaven's sake!" Sarah said in exasperation almost two hours later as she sat, looking at the pile of clothes on her bed that she could no longer fit into. The pregnancy had progressed faster than she had anticipated; she already couldn't fit into any of her old sized clothes.

"Ugh … I wish I had clothes that fit she said in exasperation." As soon as she uttered the words, her closet began to glow brightly until she was forced to shield her eyes from it.

When the light subsided, she blew out the breath she didn't even realize she was holding. Gone were the discarded clothes on her bed, and her closet was stocked with a completely new wardrobe. They weren't just any old run of the mill, frumpy pregnancy clothes, either. There was everything from jeans and T shirts to the finest formal evening attire, all in the latest styles.

Sarah decided on a stunning royal blue satin dress with a flattering waistline that hid her baby bump, which was, much to her displeasure, was starting to become noticeable, the hem of the dress was long and flowing and fell to just above her ankles.

Sarah opted to wear flats instead of her usual choice of heels, her feet were killing her and she knew she was going to contend with the castle's penchant for toying with her as she tried to make her way to the dining hall.

Sarah took a moment to compose herself before she exited her room into the maze like castle.

'Look … I am in NO mood for games, just take me to the dining hall for dinner.' She thought irritably, suddenly there was the distant sound of crumbling stone as the Escher room changed shape right before her eyes. Suddenly she was looking at two grand mahogany doors that reached twenty feet to the ceiling.

She reached out to the handle and the door opened for her with a soft creak. There the goblin king sat in his high backed Victorian throne at the head of the table, he stood respectively as she entered and came around the long, rectangular table to greet her.

"Good evening, Sarah, I am pleased you decided to join me, lest I dine by myself." He said smoothly as he kissed her hand sensually, Sarah's cheeks reddened as a bolt of electricity shot from where his soft lips touched her skin to places she didn't even know were connected to her hands and she felt a familiar dull ache in the lower half of her body.

Dinner had been … dare she say it … pleasant. They had talked and had even laughed together, and Sarah felt better than she could remember feeling in a long time.

"Well, its getting late and …" She trailed off, not wanting to be rude. Jareth waved her concern off.

"Say no more, Precious, please allow me the pleasure of walking you to your chambers." He said as he stood and offered his arm to her.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening, that was just what I needed." She said as they came to a stop in front of her chamber door where he pulled her into a sudden embrace, catching her by surprise.

"I'm sorry for the way I have been acting, Sarah. I just … I needed time to sort out my feelings, I am sorry if I hurt you." He said, his voice hot against her ear.

Sarah returned his embrace as she felt all the remaining anger and animosity she still held against him melt away, and before she knew it, she was speaking.

"Spend the night with me, Jareth, please?" She heard herself say. He pulled back to look at her, burning in his mismatched eyes was such a raw mix of lust, passion and adoration that she thought she would melt right into the stone floor as he embraced her again.

"As you wish." He purred into her ear, causing her entire body to erupt into goosebumps.