Here we all go chapter 28!

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Sarah hummed as she cuddled Nico while sitting in the rocking chair. "You are the most adorable little man, but you are going to wake your brother if you refuse to go to sleep" she cooed as he stared up at her with his dark grey eyes with just a hint of green in them so far.

'I'll paint you mornings of gold

I'll spin you Valentine evenings

Though we're strangers 'til now,

We're choosing the path

Between the stars

I'll leave my love

Between the stars

Her voice echoed softly in the room as she sang the old lullaby as she paced the floor. She was retiring for the night when she stopped by to check in on the Twins to find the maid walking the hall with Nico.

"You just wanted your mama didn't you?" Sarah asked quietly as he gurgled his pudgy hands flexing against her breast. She smiled and kissed the downy head. "But mama needs to sleep; mama will have a big day tomorrow." Sarah yawned as she tried to place him back into his cradle, he was half-way down when he let out a shriek and clung to her.

"Okay, okay, " Sarah sighed and settled him once more in her arms; his cries subsiding slightly as she comforted him. According to the nursemai he just ate an hour ago, but his cries were sending her another message as she wrestled with the ties of her robe and negligee while sitting down in the rocking chair getting both of them situated and comfortable as he greedily drank from her.

"I thought you were coming to bed?" She heard him ask from the doorway.

"I was. " Sarah whispered loudly turning her head to look at him "Except this one had other plans being needy tonight, " she explained. "I don't think he's sick; maybe he's just teething? "

"So leave him to the nannies and nurses. " Jareth suggested with a yawn.

"He wants me, not the nanny, " Sarah gave him an annoyed look. "Go to bed, I'll come when he's settled." She waved him off before turning back to her son as she heard him leave the doorway by the sound of his heels on the wooden floor.

It had been an interesting few weeks as she returned from Dunluce, the knowledge she had learned from Jareth boggled her mind. She tried her best to act normal, not let on that she knew anything about his lack of mistress. Why wouldn't he correct her or even set the record straight? Well, she wasn't going to ask him about it; if he wanted to play this game she would play along. Hell, she thought it would serve him well to be taught a lesson in toying with people's feelings.

The Yule was coming up fast, and she was working hard to get in shape for her new dress for the ball. She was back to training in the afternoons while the twins napped; Amalthea sometimes joined much to Jareth's dismay. She somewhat fascinated watching her mother go through the motions with the sword the Jareth once made for her. Her attention span waned when Sarah tried to teach her simple movements sans the weapons, but decided her dolls were more fun.

The twins just turned four months and just starting to roll over; giving her the delightful baby laughs as lightly tickled they round stomachs. Both had a heads of dark hair, while Odin had blue eyes than his brother green/grey; which gave them an easy way to tell them about.

She turned to looking over at the sleeping Odin who snored slightly in his cradle who was sprawled out on his back. "Why can't you be a sleeper like your brother?" Sarah gazed back down Nico who she moved to her other breast, so she wouldn't be uneven. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard the light footsteps from the twins nanny coming back to check on the children.

"You're still here your majesty?" she asked quietly as she pulled the blanket over Odin. "The wet-nurse just fed them both before you came, " she added as she saw the Queen nursing

"I don't think, he's eating enough. " Sarah replied honestly as she covered herself up as she looked down to find him asleep.

"He may just prefer you, mistress, " the nanny smiled and carefully took him. Both anticipating a cry of objection as he was placed in his cradle; however, it seemed the midnight snack seemed to do the trick in getting him to sleep.

"I'm going to peak in on the princess, " Sarah whispered, "Have a good night Lina, get some sleep Hildy should be arriving soon enough."

"You as well, mistress, " Lina nodded her head to Sarah, who walked into the other room that was Thea's. Finding her fast asleep in her little four poster bed. She smiled lightly and tucked the stuffed toys back under the blanket and kissed the little girls forehead before padding out of the room.

She found Jareth lounging in bed as she arrived in their room; she gave a small smile and headed towards the wash stand in the wet room sighing as she heard him follow her.

"You're not getting out of talking about this Sarah." Jareth reminded her as he stood in the doorway clad in dark silk bottoms. "You can't just go around training girls without permission."

"I have permission Jareth; I spoke with their parents and they allowed it," Sarah told him coolly.

"Of course they are going to say yes, you're their queen!" Jareth voiced raised echoing from the stone walls.

"And yet, I had some father not even consider it. " Sarah looked him through the mirror as she washed her face. "It's not even training Jareth, it's just self-defence! If you bothered to even ask why I decided to do this you might be slightly understanding!"

"Then tell me, Sarah, why you went behind my back and organized this little troupe of women? "

"Because I saw three young girls being accosted in and around this palace in the past week alone Jareth! Three! Daughters of dignitaries, knights, even the servants; they are still young and not everyone can be followed around like I was for protection. Yes, most of the perpetrators are young boys who can't seem to understand the word no or read body language that the girl is just not into them. Nevertheless, it's not right because either those boys will brag, or they will get caught by someone older and the girls will be deemed ruined; then forced to marry the idiot who tried to kiss them, or take things too far! All I am trying to do is give them sort of way to at least defend themselves, there are no swords or staffs it just hand-to-hand combat."

"Yet you did it behind my back, which is what I am angry about" Jareth crossed his arm across his bare chest.

"I didn't go behind your back, I just told you after the fact" Sarah shrugged as she quickly rinsed the soap from her face. "But think about it this way; what if it was Thea in place of one of those girls? "

"I would rip that boy apart, " Jareth interjected growling at the thought and then sobered as he played right into her point.

Sarah gave him a look of triumph as she passed him as she undid her robe and placed it on the chair, she felt him come up behind her undoing the braid in her hair. She leaned back slightly into him; she couldn't forget what Leda had told her. Just her? It made her mind go into overdrive, how she always reacted to his touch? She began to wonder if it be different with another? Was it just the same no matter the partner?

"Just keep it on the down low. " Jareth whispered in her ear his hands running down her curves. "Use one of the ballrooms, I don't need an audience watching you out in the training area."

"Why, thank you for your permission that I wasn't asking for, " Sarah rolled her eyes before she felt him turn her sharply to face him. She looked at him smugly with her eyebrows raised as he picked her up and tossed her on the bed, pushing the skirt of her nightgown over her knees, so he could settle in between them. "You know sometimes I wonder if arguing is a turn on for you?" Sarah thought out loud.

"Is that why you push my buttons?" Jareth asked curiously as he nipped at her collarbone.

"I don't need to argue with you to turn you on, " Sarah smirked. " A low-cut gown of some sort, wearing trouser from when before the children were born works well enough, and applying lotion to my body slowly within your view. " Sarah grinned her head turning as they heard the door creak open.

"Papa?" they heard the small voice of their daughter causing them to straighten up.

"What is it, Thea?" Jareth answered looking towards the door.

"I had accident, " Amalthea voice low and trembling. "Nanny mad when me have accidents."

Sarah sighed, "I'll go get you a new nightgown, " she pulled herself from the bed. "Can you put her in the bath?" she looked to Jareth as she saw the soiled nightgown.

"Of course, " he nodded somewhat hesitantly and gathered up the toddler and led her to the bath. Sarah grabbed her robe and hurried back to the nursery.

"Thea will be in our room, " she shook the night nanny awake, rather annoyed that she was asleep on her job. She grabbed a nightgown and checked the bed, "You might want to change the bedding." She came out of Thea's room before going back to her own room; she would deal with the nanny in the morning.


Jareth placed Thea in the large tub filled with warm water that he had saved for Sarah, throwing the soiled nightgown in a bucket of water. He watched her splash around for a few minutes before she quieted down and sat in water, "You have to stay awake in the tub little one," he gently reminded her as her eyelids dropped.

He grabbed a washcloth and a bar of Sarah's soap from the wooden plank that sat across the tub and lathered up the cloth. He never bathed the children; truthfully, he only observed bath time when Sarah was busy with something else. Quickly, he washed the little body before plucking her out of the water and wrapped a towel around her before the fire to keep her warm. Holding her one arm to keep her from swaying in her sleep as he dried her off quickly.

"The mattress will need to be cleaned," Sarah spoke up from the doorway as she came to them holding the new nightgown of pink wool. "I guess you are sleeping with mama and papa," Sarah's voice melodic as she spoke and pulled the nightgown over the child's head, guiding the arms into the sleeves.

"Sarah-" Jareth interjected; children did not sleep in the marriage bed. Sarah shoots him a death glare making him rethink his complaint.

"Papa, " Thea yawned and lifted her arms up to him. His heart melted, and he picked her up. "Just for tonight, " Jareth he looked at Sarah. "She does not get used to this, " he added quietly as Thea snuggled into him already falling back to sleep.

"I know, I know, " Sarah flippant with her brush off and went to pull the blankets down. They settled into the bed with Thea in the middle cuddle up into Jareth.

"I hate sleeping in clothes, " he muttered to himself as he situated himself into a comfortable position.


Sarah grinned as she sealed the letter and placed it in the tray of correspondence. She decided randomly to invite Lady Lorcan to the Yule festival; she decided she liked the lady and all her stories. The conversation flowed easily between them, and she figured she would be a lively addition to the party. She went through the list once more, stopping over Lord Grey briefly before continuing on while leaving a small dot of ink besides his name as she scribbled Lady Lorcan onto the list.

She opened her last unopened piece of mail-It was from Duncan.

Sarah

Really the Council House? Was that your husbands doing? Not even trusting me enough to not harm my own blood; very well, I will be there at the allotted time. Please bring sketches of the children, I would very much like to see them.

Duncan.

The man made no sense, but he finally agreed after ignoring them for two weeks! At least he replied, and now she could deal with the nanny. She watched Jareth stroll into her private sitting room; she raised her eyebrow questioning his presence.

"You are talking to the nanny are you not?" He spoke up as he lounged on a chair his one leg draped over the over. She looked him over realizing they ended up in matching attire of dark blue and ivory. Herself in a dark blue woolen skirt and ivory long sleeved blouse, while his trousers and jacket were blue and his shirt was ivory.

"Yes, but I did not realize that you were to be here for it; generally, the household and children are in my control?" She questioned him.

"And when my daughter comes to me in the middle of the night terrified of what the nanny will do after a mere accident; it becomes my business. I mean she's two and a half what child hasn't accidentally wet the bed?" Jareth told her coolly.

"Thea is probably just over reacting," Sarah assured him. "But while you're here," she handed him Duncan's letter for him to read.

"Well, that only took two weeks," Jareth laid down the letter. "We will not be bringing him sketches of the children, " he huffed haughtily.

"I have the finished guest list of the Yule Ball; I settled with a masquerade theme this year," Sarah told him as knock rang out with the footman announcing the nanny to her and Jareth.

Jareth couldn't believe what he was hearing as the nanny explained her reasoning behind her methods.

"Children learn by being taught that there are consequences to their actions, " she told him flatly.

"I understand that, but an accident isn't punishable. The fact she was forced to sleep in a soiled bed before warrants enough for your dismissal. She is still learning to control her bodily functions it's been barely a full year that she was taken out of napkins, ' Sarah snapped as the nanny sat tight-lipped and grim looking.

"I stand by my methods ma'am. They will learn to control it if they fear the consequences"

"Then you will be dismissed; tantrums and general naughtiness I agreed with your discipline, but this is too far. No child should be punished for something they cannot control. You have to the end of the day to pack your things and leave." Sarah's voice was severe and ruthless as she fired the nanny. "Since I am feeling slightly generous I will write you a letter of reference to another post, but I will not lie about your dismissal."


He watched in wonder; he knew Sarah ran a tight household. She had a no-nonsense attitude while still being approachable and known as a fair mistress. Rooms were kept clean and tidy, food was well planned out for them as well as the guests. There had never been another accidental plate mix up since the coronation. She made sure that the wages were fair, so they could actually support a family and she didn't mind having married women working if the family truly needed it. However, she drew the line at children working; instead, she had a small room set up where the young boys and girls could learn to read and write as their parents worked.

She was quite a Queen in his eyes; he looked over to guest list she had compiled for the masquerade she planned. His eyes narrowed at the two names near the bottom. Lord Grey was a given being a lord; while adding Leda's name was a surprise to him. He was starting to wonder just what Leda had told Sarah to become fast acquaintances?

The nanny left nodding, and as she left Abby announced herself. 'I am taking the children out for an afternoon walk as it is not too cold out today; I was wondering if you would like to join me?" she spoke to Sarah.

"Of course!" Sarah stood up and gathered her papers placing them into the folder. "I will gather my wraps and meet you outside with the children."

"I will see you there" Abby nodded while acknowledging Jareth with a dip of her head.

"I will walk you down, " Jareth stood up. "I am going that way anyway," he added so she couldn't turn down the offer.

Sarah just nodded and went to collect her wraps and gloves from their room as Jareth waited in the doorway. The closer they got to the garden entrance the more you could hear the children's excitement. Howl was a sturdy boy of five who had a head full of his mother's strawberry blond hair; while Lenka was a sweet three-year-old with ashy blonde like her father, both had bright blue eyes and fair skin.

"Uncle Jareth look!" Howl raced towards him. "I got a puppy!" he held up a small black hound dog to Jareth.

"Congratulations, " Jareth smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "It may be too cold for him outside though?"

"I know, Mama says he has to stay indoors. " Howl nodded agreeing with him. "I just wanted to show you!"

"Here I will look after him and when you come back indoors I will hand him back over. " Jareth suggested, the young boy nodded and thrust the puppy carefully into Jareth's hands.

"His name is Pooka," Howl told him matter of factly and raced back to his mother.

"Can I have a kitty?" he felt Thea tug on his coat, who was dressed warmly for the winter weather with a bright red cape and matching scarf. "Kitties can stay inside?"

"I think we can work something out." Jareth laughed, "Your Mama had many kitties growing up." He looked up to Sarah, who shook her head with a smile.

"She has you wrapped around her finger you know that right?" Sarah teased him before she looked to Thea. "But yes, kitties are acceptable pet to have indoors. Maybe in the spring, we will see what is available." She stroked Thea's hair before nudging her to the door.

"Kiss Papa bye bye?" Thea looked up with a pout.

Jareth Chuckled and picked her up tossing her slightly as he did and let her give him a kiss on his cheek. "Be good, " he warned her as he placed her on the floor once more.

"Now Mama gets a kiss-" she told him stubbornly with her hands on her hips.

"I'll see you later, " Sarah quickly kissed him to appease Thea and then proceeded to go outside before Thea could say anything else; leaving him standing there. He wondered if he could make Lord Greys invitation disappear? Maybe he could tell Leda to not come; then again, Sarah would just accuse him of interfering with her planning. Last time he did that she redecorated half of the Palace; she was such anomaly to him; she played the part of a loving mother and Queen in public, in private she was so hot and cold towards him.

Loving another person was not something he was comfortable with, especially if they were not his own flesh and blood. To love a woman was just a weakness; a weakness you could never show to anyone. His father ingrained that in him from the time he could understand what emotions were; which meant Sarah could never know how he truly felt.