A/N: Alright, that was little longer than I meant to leave you all hanging, but it's okay. I'm back. Fair warning, this is the last full chapter before the epilogue. I hate it when people don't warn about that and I'm expected another full chapter. Anyway, since you probably skipped over this author's note to read the conclusion to the cliffhanger, shoutouts to:Honoria Granger, Finwitch1, Enchanted Peach Dreams, Wonderland-fae, Guest(whoever you are) and Womble27.

Part Six, Chapter Thirty-Five

Shock overwhelmed his sorrow as Jareth stared down at the ashes where his beloved had lay dying. The seared edges of his soul still burned with the pain he'd felt as he'd held her dying body and the longer he stared, the larger the searing gashes became. Not only was she gone, but he couldn't hold her – couldn't return her body to the Underground the way it deserved. He reached his hand toward the ash, perhaps to prove to himself that it was real and she was really gone, but no sooner had he reached forward that a whirlwind of ash and dust sprung up around him. It stirred up a miasma so thick that Jareth was forced to stumble, coughing and sputtering, out of the whirlwind and into the battlefield behind him.

He was thrown into the midst of the fighting, but still could not draw his gaze away. The cyclone grew larger and larger until the battle began to cease all around him. Warriors from both sides stopped to stare at the strange and magical effect. The goblins looked to him, but Jareth remained where he was, kneeling on the ground, staring upwards. A shadow penetrated the innermost depths of the whirlwind; it was faint and nebulous, but Jareth could feel the pull of magic – deep magic that came from somewhere infinitely bigger than his Labyrinth. The strength of it took his breath away as the shadow grew and took form. He recognized a large wingspan, much larger than his own Loukai form, and a long, elegant tail.

Without warning, the bird broke forth from the miasma. A streak of gold tore across the sky in its wake and Jareth watched the enormous crimson bird fly above field and ruin. Fires sprung up all along the battlefield behind the it, separating the Goblin, Fae and Loukai armies from the Deepgrounders and Jareth knew that whoever, or whatever, this bird was, it wanted to stop this battle once and for all.

Hope glimmered within Jareth in that moment. This bird had risen from Sarah's ashes, and though he told himself it was some last release of her magic, he imagined it was more. Perhaps his Sarah had not truly died. Perhaps it had been some cruel trick of Keelie's to try and turn the battle in their direction. These were only passing thoughts, however; they were little more than painful reminders of the havoc wreaked on his soul.

Finally, the bird flew back to the center of the field and, wings spread wide, it seemed to slow, hovering in a pose Jareth could never have achieved in his own avian form. Finally, he recognized the bird silhouetted against the morning light as though it were the source rather than the sun. Before he could think, or try to reason through all the implications of this particular bird's appearance, a great cry rang out. So loud as to drown out all other sound, the noise was neither shrill nor harsh but a musical note that heralded to arrival of columns of light that ascended around him. Jareth felt the familiar pull of the Labyrinth magic bubbling up within him and the Labyrinth respond, weak and tired, but seemingly at peace. As the lights faded he heard the clatter of weapons falling all around him before the bird, still hovering impossibly above the field let out another call, this one softer and more melodic before flying upwards toward the heavens. Jareth could not explain it, but he knew, inexplicably, that it was a call to him. Without thinking or questioning, Jareth let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, changed to his owl form and followed the phoenix upwards toward the heavens.

The magic pulled at him again and Jareth felt himself transport through time and space. As he flew in the golden trail left by his phoenix, the world changed from the sapphire skies above the Labyrinth to a sea of black, illuminated only by fairy lights and sudden bursts of blue and green. He followed, blindly, knowing only that he was meant for this, that his magic called him here.

After Jareth had been flying for what felt like both moments and centuries, a final flash of light announced their arrival and Jareth found himself in a dimly-lit room. The only light in the room came from a blanket of twinkling stars above Jareth's head-just enough light to illuminate the figure of a woman standing just a few feet away, facing the opposite wall. In one graceful motion, Jareth transformed and landed on his feet just behind her.

He dared not speak, lest his hope be shattered. He wanted to move – to approach her, but he was mesmerized, suspended in time. Watching her more closely, he noticed the familiar way her dark hair cascaded down her back and remembered the way the midnight blue gown clung to her form. He knew her as surely as he knew himself, but still Jareth hesitated, afraid that any sound would break the spell that kept him there with her.

"It's okay. You can say my name." At the sound of her voice, Jareth felt his soul begin to knit back together.

"Sarah." A breathy laugh escaped her and Jareth took a step closer, reaching out his hand to rest on her shoulder. He felt her hand atop his – warm and heavy and real. "Tell me this is real."

"It's real, Jareth. I'm really here. It's over." Despite how surreal the situation was, relief began to creep into Jareth's mind. She was real. She was here - wherever here was.

"Where are we, Love?" She was silent for a moment, and Jareth found himself holding his breath, waiting for her response.

"Don't you remember what you told me all those years ago?" Jareth had told her many things throughout the years they'd known and loved each other. "You told me once you'd leave your love between the stars."

"I suppose I did."

"So we came here to where our love resides – to where I could mend the broken pieces of your heart after you'd lost me." Somewhere, in the back of his mind, Jareth wondered if they were really between the stars or if it were all an illusion, but he didn't care. He was here. She was here. That was all that mattered. When finally she turned around, Jareth's breath caught in his throat.

…

The look of amazement on Jareth's face brought a smile to Sarah's lips. It was amazing to see him like this – to see his love so plainly written on his face. In his eyes, she saw it all, from their turbulent past to their enduring future. He was her everything and she was so happy that she'd returned to him.

In truth, Sarah was still trying to riddle out what had happened and how she'd been saved. One moment she'd felt her magic drawing her to Jareth's side. She'd felt the sharp, nearly searing pain of Keelie's magic striking her and then the world had frozen all around her. She'd felt the Underground magic stretch and pull as though straining and suddenly, she'd stretched her wings and taken flight, knowing instantly how to end the battle once and for all. She was surprised to find that the phoenix form still felt as though it were just at her fingertips, waiting to be claimed. She wondered if Jareth felt that way all the time – like his Loukai form was calling to him.

The silence between them had stretched on too long and Sarah drew him closer to her, closing the distance by touching her lips to his. Suddenly, it was as though a spell had been broken between them and Jareth returned the kiss with an intensity she'd rarely known from him. She was out of breath but smiling when they finally broke apart.

"It's really over?" Jareth's voice had finally begun to adopt his old demeanor.

"It is." Jareth face broke into the mischevious smile Sarah knew so well.

"Then take me home, Love." Sarah took her husband's hand and summoned a crystal. There would be much to do in the days to come – great wrongs to right and a kingdom to repair, but for tonight none of that would matter. Tonight, there was only them.

As the World Falls Down

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