Sometimes, you have to be apart to realize that you were always meant to be together.
Normally, I'd like to think that Jareth and Sarah, once they have decided to be a couple, they don't break up. They may get space from each other but it's never a "break" between them. In this short story, I'd like to explore what it would be like for them to have broken up and gotten back together, because we all know that's where they were always meant to be. And if you haven't figured out already, yes this has a happy ending as all my stories do.
ALSO I KNOW I SHOULD BE WORKING ON STRANGERS TILL NOW. I really should update it but these damned plot bunnies keep getting in my head. lol.
As always, I own nothing. I write fanfiction for my own enjoyment and in hopes others can enjoy it too, I don't make any money from this.
Jareth lead Sarah to her rooms. Not that he needed to, she already knew her way around the castle. On the outside, it seemed that he was doing this to be polite.
And while that was true, he had another motive: to show power. To show that this was his castle, his home. Not hers. She was an honored guest, as she would always be should she visit.
But that was all. Just a guest.
His whole demeanor was stoic and professional when he turned the handle for her. "Your rooms, My Lady."
Sarah peered in. It was neat and clean, well done and just for her. A room that was meant for a royal guest. It also had some personal touches.
His touches.
There was no way that a housekeeper put all of that together alone, there were some little things that she knew he got for her just the way she liked. Things like the record player that was set up just the way she always set it up, for example. No one else in the Underground knew how to use one but Jareth. And hair ties, ones that were only available Aboveground.
"I take it that you find the accommodations acceptable?" The King asked her. In his demeanor, nothing betrayed that they had a shared history. Nothing to show the softness and adoration they once held for each other.
Then she looked into his eyes. His voice may have been all business, but his eyes held just a sliver of untold sadness in them. She knew that look well because she knew him well.
But she also knew that look because it was one she saw in the mirror over and over for the past five months in her own eyes.
"Yes." She tried to smile but it was hard to when he wasn't. Still, she pressed forward. "I appreciate you making sure it got set up."
"It's the polite thing to do. You are the Champion, and you must be treated as such." He said coldly, as if trying to convince her and himself that it was nothing but his duties.
"Still, thank you. What's the plan for tonight and tomorrow?" She was getting irritated but she still wanted to be polite. She was almost 30 years old, not the selfish teenage when she first met him.
"I will dine with you tonight, later than usual though. You can dress for it if you'd like, everything is ready in your wardrobe, including the dress for tomorrow. I will come to fetch you when it's time. Do you need anything else?"
Every word that came out of his mouth was automatic. It was polite, but so detached from his feelings. Jareth wasn't sure how he felt being near Sarah again, but he meant what he had said: that he would always be there for her if she needed him. That she was under his protection.
But most of all, he cared for her. Always had.
He would get through this. Just until tomorrow. He had to get over situations that he didn't want to be in. He had to be stoic before. He had to conceal his feelings in front of others. This was no different.
Sarah shook her head. "No, I'll see you at dinner then."
He gave a single nod, and with the swish of his cape, he walked away from her.
Sarah sat down on the bed. This was *her* room, one that Jareth had given her when they had reconnected four years ago, exactly ten years after they had first met. This was for her whenever she came to visit her friends in his castle, at least until they had started dating, then she stayed in his room. She had a life Aboveground, but her status was quite esteemed in his kingdom and it was only right that she had a place here, nearly equal to his.
She felt something tug at her heart when she saw the Bowie vinyls that she had given Jareth on his birthday one year. Nostalgia hit her as she had the image of this same record player in his chambers, while Wild is the Wind played as he took her in his arms to slow dance…
Sarah shook her head. No, it wouldn't do any good to think of those old times. They had their time and now it was over.
Damn. She thought that the past few months had been enough to be over him. Apparently not.
Of course you wouldn't, he's the love of your life.
She felt tears in her eyes but wiped them off. It wouldn't do any good think of that. All that mattered was that they ended on mutual terms. Well, they had a disaster of an argument first, then it ended. She had tried to go on dates, set up by her parents or friends and even coworkers. But none of them were good enough. She longed to go back to her single life, one where she could be happy with being by herself, alone with her cats. She had friends and family, did she really need anything else?
After all, if she took anything from their relationship, it was that he taught her to have a basis for comparison. That while she can seek for better, that she needed to stop whining and feel like the world was after her.
She had no one to blame for her sadness other than herself.
Jareth cursed.
Even now, he loved her. As he set up her room earlier that day, putting the record player and Bowie vinyls to make her feel at home, he realized that even if they had broken up, something important happened between them during the few years that they were together. In the past, he would have only been selfless and thoughtful to children. He hardly did anything without an ulterior motive.
With Sarah, he learned more about honesty, more about doing things for someone else to see their smile even at his own expense. She made him a better person. For that, he would always be grateful to her.
It just hurt so damn much to set up a room for her where she would be sleeping without him.
He sighed and went to the dining room, making sure everything was set up perfectly for her.
Not because he was hoping to get her back. They were done, and he knew that.
He did that because even after all this time, he still wanted to make sure that she was happy. Even if she didn't notice.
Sarah got dressed, wanting to look nice anyway. If Jareth went through all that trouble to get her a nice dress, then why not?
She heard a few snickers outside her room.
Then a crash.
"Oh lord, not again." She opened her bedroom door to see a pair of mischievous goblins pranking each other, one of them holding a chicken in his arms.
Aside from Jareth, she was the best at telling them what to do. "What are you guys doing?"
"LADY!" They yelled at seeing her.
Then ran away.
Oh now she knew that they were up to no good.
"Hey, come back here!" She was ready to scold them like how she always had.
She saw them running down the hall…
…and into Jareth's chambers. Strange, usually they were locked for this very reason.
"Fuck." She swore. She did NOT want to go into his room, but she had to, it was only polite to help chase these miscreants out.
When they got in, she heard a shriek from the bedroom.
"What the hell?" She ran inside his chambers.
There was a woman in there, clutching his silk blanket to her body as the goblins were throwing what seemed to be tennis balls at her. Tennis balls that Sarah had given them a while back. One of the goblins threw the chicken at her.
"Hey, leave her alone!" Sarah shooed them out of Jareth's chambers.
The goblins mumbled that they were sorry, that they thought she was an intruder.
Sarah went to apologize to the woman. "I'm sorry that happened. I swear the goblins aren't mean they're just like children-"
She realized at that point that the woman was very, very beautiful. And totally naked.
In Jareth's bed.
She felt fire in her veins. A natural reaction any woman would have at seeing another woman in her man's bed.
Except Jareth wasn't her man.
Not anymore.
"It's alright." She smiled at Sarah. "Who are you?"
Who am I? She wanted to ask. I am the Champion of the Labyrinth. And I am your superior or at least your equal!
Sarah just put on a fake smile. "I'm no one of importance."
Not to Jareth anyway.
The woman look at Sarah's dress. Clearly Sarah wasn't dressed a someone who wasn't important. It was a simple day dress but still a fancy one at that.
Sarah slammed the door shut before the woman could say any more.
She got to her room and screamed into her pillow. Of course he would move on! Jareth was someone who had an intense sex drive, someone who needed that kind of satisfaction. And after knowing him, Sarah knew that he needed love too.
But how dare he? How dare he invite a woman to be in his bed while she was here as his honored guest?
She called a goblin over, one of the messengers, to tell him to tell his King that she would not be having dinner with him tonight, that she felt unwell and would be in her chambers.
If she could wish for anything at that moment, she would wish to not feel anything. To be numb to the pain that she felt inside.
After a bath, she settled in her bed and put on David Bowie's music to try to comfort herself.
But memories of her and Jareth listening to Bowie were too strong.
"Why can't I listen to Bowie in peace?" She held her pillow to her chest, crying.
Jareth had just finished making sure the table was set perfectly. He was dreading eating with her, so he had planned to ask her about her family and telling her about the kingdom. All business.
A goblin slid into the room, giving bows to him.
"What is it, Flit?" He hoped this would be quick.
"Lady not want dinner." He said to Jareth. "Lady not feel well, Lady sorry."
Jareth sat down on a chair and put his hands to his face, willing himself to not scream and send the dishes flying. He had done this for HER. The least she could do was to let him know BEFORE he did all of this! This was just like her, not realizing what others have done for her. He had his faults, but she was the one who didn't fucking think about what she had done to possibly hurt someone else!
He stalked back to his chambers, waving his hand to change into his silk pajamas. He was sure that she was just being dramatic for whatever reason, and he was going to find out why.
When he closed the door, he nearly jumped at a very gorgeous and naked woman on his bed. She sat up, massaging her breasts in her hands and bit her lip seductively. "I'm at your service, Sire."
Jareth shook his head. When he looked at her again, the woman faltered her little show at fire in his eyes.
But they weren't the kind of fire that promised lust, as she had expected from him. It was the look of severe anger.
"Who the bloody hell are you?" He demanded.
"I-" She stammered.
The Goblin King took his relationships and courtships seriously, but when he was a single man, he did whatever he wanted, and that meant sleeping with anyone who was interested. So why was he so upset? She didn't understand.
"And who sent you here?" He snapped again.
She stopped what she was doing and looked away from him. "Duke Tristian, Sir."
Of course it was, he seethed.
Jareth pointed at the door. "Get the hell out."
She didn't need to be told twice. She hastily got her dress on, still unlaced, and she ran out.
Jareth called the housekeeper. "Replace my bedsheets."
He looked a bit annoyed. "I just cleaned them this morning, Sire."
"DO AS I SAY!"
The goblin didn't complain again.
Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose.
Now to deal with Sarah.
He was going to need ten bottles of wine to sort this headache out.