A/N: Hello, dear readers. Thank you so much to all of you who have enjoyed this story so far. Special thanks go to RMBiehl, Margot Grazyna, YuuriQueen, Wynni, and BustedBrain for reviewing the last chapter.

Disclaimer: Yeah, this probably doesn't need to be said, but I'm old school so I'll say it anyway: I don't own anything you recognize and some of what you don't.

"I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same"

Sarah sat in her room, drinking tea from the teapot that Jareth had provided for her. Magical tea was certainly...magical. The tea never got cold; never got bitter; never ran out. She was glad that she had listened to her mother-in-law. Jareth was all too happy to gift her with the things she needed to create a comfortable space. He even gave her the crystal that created any kind of music she could want. She was currently listening to Bowie and enjoying a rest before getting back to her duties as Goblin Queen.

As she sipped her tea, a bit of refracted light caught her eye. She turned to see what could be creating rainbows on her wall when she saw her packing crystal sitting on the shelf of her opened wardrobe. The sunlight had caught it in just a way to make it noticeable and she frowned slightly. That was strange. Normally those kinds of magic crystals dissipated when the spell was complete. Could it be that there were still things that needed to be unpacked?

Sarah set down her cup and walked over to the orb, picking it up and feeling the weight of it in her hand. For a moment, she thought about practicing some contact juggling like Jareth always did when he was showing off. She quickly rejected that impulse, now curious about what could still be inside of it. Taking a peek into the crystal, she could see a few things still inside. She pointed it at her bed and willed the orb to empty its contents.

Several items fell onto the bed and the orb popped; its usefulness complete. Sarah began to pick through the things that were scattered across her quilt. It looked to be a few pieces of clothing and a few toiletries. No wonder she didn't miss this stuff. She had a whole bathroom full of toiletries and a wardrobe full of clothes. She spied her favorite yoga pants and picked them up with a sigh. She doubted she'd be able to fit into them anymore, no matter how stretchy they were. Turning to put them away, she heard the familiar ringing of her magic phone. Ever since Jareth had created a spell to give her a number for her family to use to reach her, she'd enjoyed communicating regularly with her family.

Setting her pants in the wardrobe and silencing her music, she reached over to the table to pick up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hi, Sarah."

"Oh, hey, Karen. Thanks for calling me back."

"Your message was rather cryptic," Karen said. "What's up?"

"Well, I didn't really want to risk daddy or Toby overhearing," Sarah explained. "Are you alone now?"

"Yes, that's what took me so long to get back to you. I've got the cordless in the laundry room. Neither of the boys seem to even know where that is. Now, spill."

Sarah laughed at the age-old complaint. "Karen, how did you know you wanted to be more than friends with daddy?"

"Well," Karen began, obviously taken aback by the question. "Your father asked me out several times before I was ready. My divorce was still fresh, and I didn't really want to get into another relationship. We had been friends since just after your mom left. At that time, I was still married and your dad was nursing the wounds of his divorce. Plus, he was really worried about you and how his divorce was hurting you. The timing just wasn't right for a long time for anything more than friendship. Then, I started seeing him in a different light. When we talked, I realized that I didn't want him to leave. I'd get butterflies in my stomach when I knew he'd be stopping by the shop with coffee. That's when I knew I'd accept if he asked me out again."

Sarah's eyelids fluttered as she tried to keep the tears at bay. Damn hormones! "That's really sweet, Karen."

"Are you okay, Sarah?"

Sniffling, Sarah said, "yeah, this pregnancy has been totally messing with my emotions."

Karen groaned. "Oh, God. I don't miss those days, at all. How are you doing?"

"The midwife says that everything looks good. Oh, and she said we're having a boy."

"A boy?" Karen squealed. "I'm going to have a grandson?"

"Yep!"

"That's wonderful. Have you and Jay come up with any names yet?"

"We've started talking about it, but nothing too serious," Sarah replied. She took a moment to sit down on her bed to rest her tired back.

"Oh, this is so exciting," Karen gushed. "Have you felt him move yet?"

"Not yet," Sarah sighed. "Valencia said it could be a few more weeks as this is my first."

"I remember when I felt Toby for the first time. That's when it became truly real for me."

Sarah frowned at that. She was too self-centered and sullen to enjoy Karen's pregnancy. Karen had tried to engage her more, even putting her hand on her abdomen to feel her little brother's movements. An angry Sarah had lashed out, railing about the unfairness of the world. She wished she had realized how much Karen had been trying and had given even an inch in return. Still, if she hadn't been so bitter, she may not have called on Jareth. Just look at how that turned out.

"I'm sorry, Karen. I was a real brat when you were pregnant."

"Water under the bridge," Karen said, pushing the apology aside.

"Still…"

"Nope, we've gone way past all of that. You know I love you like you were my own."

"I love you, too," Sarah said, rubbing at her watery eyes.

Thinking of love reminded Karen of the odd question that opened the conversation. "Now, before your father or Toby comes looking for me, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Well, you know the situation with Jay. We've been growing a lot closer since we got married. I mean, we're good friends, but…"

"But you think you want more," Karen surmised. "Well, what's the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about him?"

"That I'm definitely about ready to jump his bones."

"Sarah!" Karen gasped with mock outrage, before dissolving into a fit of giggles.

Sarah joined with a giggle of her own. "Well, it's true. Beyond that, I know that I've never felt this way about any other guy."

"It sounds like you should think about making steps to move forward in your relationship."

"You're right," Sarah admitted. "I'd just like to know how he feels about me before I throw myself out there."

Karen sighed. "You need to bite the bullet and have an honest conversation. If nothing else, you can find out if you're alone with your feelings."

"Thanks, Karen. I really needed this talk."

"Anytime, Sarah. I wish we could meet your new husband. It sounds like he might be around for awhile."

"Soon, I promise," Sarah said. "Once we get a better idea of our schedule, we'll come for a visit. He wants to meet you, too."

"Wonderful!" Karen chirped.

"I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, Sarah."

Sarah hung up the phone and smiled. Her talk with Karen had done just the trick. It was time she was honest with herself and then with Jareth. She wanted more out of this relationship than a marriage of convenience. Even if she weren't in love with him right now, she could certainly feel herself falling. She just hoped that he'd be there for her.

"As the world falls down," she sang.

The quill scratched along the page, creating the only noise in the room. Though Jareth was working on the never-ending paperwork, his mind was working through the kiss he shared with Sarah. He knew that he wanted her, that was evident enough. What he didn't know was how he felt about her. He was willing to accept that her friendship meant a lot to him. It made their marriage more than tolerable. The question was, did he want to be more than merely her friend. He didn't know and that bothered him.

A knock at the door interrupted him before he could continue obsessing over his feelings. "Enter."

"Your Majesty," greeted Corwin as he walked into the office and stood before the large desk.

"What is it?" Jareth asked without looking up at him.

"Sire, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but do you still believe it to be a wise use of resources to continue what may be a futile search for an herb?"

"Are you seriously questioning my decision right now?" Jareth asked, the tone of his voice dropping the temperature in the room by several degrees.

Corwin, for his part, stood his ground. It was part of his job as advisor to challenge the King for the good of the Kingdom. "I'm only questioning if finding this herb will ultimately lead us anywhere or change anything. You will still be married to Her Majesty and she will still be carrying your heir."

Jareth banged his fist against his desk. "If someone did this to us, I want them held accountable. They cannot get away with it."

"Pardon me, Your Majesty, but may I speak freely?"

"When has asking for my permission ever stopped you," Jareth said, rolling his eyes.

"I'll take that as a yes. Well, if someone did give you that herb, would you really wish that it hadn't happened?"

"What in the hell do you mean by that?"

Corwin took a deep breath and forged ahead. "I'm just saying that you've never been as happy as you've been in the last few weeks, Sire."

"While, I can't deny that, I still want to know why someone would do this to us and that person must be punished."

"What if they can't be found?" Corwin asked.

"I'll deal with that when and if the time comes."

"I just think –"

"End of discussion," Jareth commanded, cutting off any more argument.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Now, take Hogwart into the Labyrinth and see if any of the inhabitants noticed any strangers walking about."

"We've already done that, Sire."

"Do it again," Jareth hissed.

"It shall be done as you command," Corwin assured him, bowing stiffly and leaving.

Jareth rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the headache that wanted to come. He hadn't meant to be so sharp with Corwin. It wasn't his fault that this had happened. He just wanted answers and one thing was sure, he wasn't going to give up on getting them easily.

"And then he said, 'I didn't know dragons were so ticklish."

Sarah burst into laughter. "That's awesome!"

Her laughter was rather infectious and Jareth joined her in it. The sound of her laugh brought him more joy than he could have anticipated. In fact, it sent a fire of pleasure through him. He subtly adjusted himself lest she realize the extent of his enjoyment of her company. Fortunately for him, their meal was interrupted by the appearance of his advisor.

"Please forgive this intrusion, Your Majesties, but this letter just arrived for Her Majesty."

"A letter for me?" Sarah asked, holding out her hand.

"Indeed," Corwin replied, placing the letter in her hand and then leaving the couple alone. He was no fool. Their body language seemed to scream at him for his intrusion.

Sarah barely registered him leaving as she tore into the envelope. Inside, there was a letter filled with neat handwriting. Sarah's eyes drank in the words and she smiled.

"It's from Lady Kendra. She would like to schedule a visit with me for tea. What do you think, Jareth."

"Lady Kendra," Jareth said, tapping a finger to his upper lip. "The name sounds familiar."

"Her mother is Lady Damara. I met them at my last tea."

"Ah, yes. She's a younger courtier from the Eyskuokh Kingdom. If I'm not mistaken, she's known for her brash countenance and for bucking the trends."

Sarah grinned. "I know! Isn't she great?"

"I take it that you had a favorable impression of her."

"Yes, I did."

Putting his hand over hers, he said, "I think it would be a wonderful idea if you invited her over for tea. In fact, maybe it's time you selected a lady-in-waiting."

Sarah carefully considered his words. "Maybe you're right. She's just the type of person I'd like to do the job. Do you think she'd want to do it?"

"There's only one way to find out."

Taking a deep breath, Sarah used her magic to send the letter to her desk. "You're right. I'll invite her over for tea and ask her then."

Jareth stood. "Now that that's settled, please excuse me. It's time for my inspection of the Labyrinth."

"If you don't mind company, I'd love to come along," Sarah said, wiping her mouth with her napkin and standing. "I want to learn as much as possible about the Labyrinth."

"It may be quite a bit of walking. Are you sure you're up to it?"

"Oh, please don't start becoming one of those husbands that think their pregnant wife is an invalid. You've been doing so good, until now. I'm fine. Besides, Valencia told me walking would be good for me."

"If you're sure," Jareth hedged.

"I'm sure."

"Well, then, shall we?" he asked, offering his arm.

Sarah took it and said, "lead away."

Feeling the pressure and warmth of her hand on his bicep gave him an awareness of her that was almost intimate. Just her closeness did things to him that he didn't really want to dwell on. Did he love her? While he wasn't sure if he was ready to spout romantic sonnets, he certainly cared for her. It may not be love, but one thing was for sure, he wanted more from her than mere friendship.

Walking through the Labyrinth with Sarah by his side was surprisingly pleasurable. His pride and esteem for her grew every time she expressed genuine interest in both him and his kingdom. Of course, he could wax poetic on the history of the labyrinth. However, she never seemed bored or asked him to stop. In fact, he was the one that found himself growing tired of his impromptu history lesson.

"So, we're in the oldest part of the Labyrinth right now?"

"Yes, the forest has been here for eons. The rest of the Labyrinth grew up around it."

"How long has the Labyrinth been in existence?"

"No one really knows. It's been here longer than us. We actually don't know much about it, except that it's a source of power for the Underground and acts as a gateway to the mortal world. All of the portals around the Underground came from the Labyrinth. Its tendrils are spread throughout the realm."

"That's so interesting. I wonder how she came to be here."

"She?"

"I've always gotten a distinct feminine vibe from the Labyrinth. In my mind, it's a she."

Jareth laughed. "That makes sense in an odd sort of way."

"How long have you been the Goblin King?"

"Oh, only about 400 years, give or take. My father had enough of ruling over a bunch of Goblins and he decided to retire."

"Aww, they're not so bad. I mean, I guess after a while their mischief might grate on your nerves, but I think they're cute."

"Then, you and my mother are in total agreement. She loves the little imbeciles."

The couple shared a laugh and then settled into the peaceful noises of the forest inhabitants. The snap of a nearby twig alerted the couple to the fact that they were no longer alone. Jareth stood at attention, pushing Sarah slightly behind him. As they watched, the members of the Fire Gang broke through the brush in front of them.

"Chilly down with the fire gang
Think small with the fire gang (It's the only way)
Bad hep with the fire gang (a smile a day keeps the doctor away)
When your thing gets wild, chilly down"

Body parts began to fly through the air as they played their favorite game. Now that Sarah had learned how to keep her head with them, she found them less scary and more amusing. The Goblin Monarchs took a seat in the grass and watched the Fire Gang toss various limbs to each other as they sang. Sarah reached out her hand and linked her fingers with Jareth's. He gave it a squeeze and settled in to listen to them with the music of the forest as their accompaniment.

Darkness was soon settling into the Labyrinth as the sun set. Jareth could feel the slight tremble in Sarah's frame as the air turned cold and damp. Without a word, he transported them back to the relative warmth of the castle. He was about to say good night outside of her room, when she pulled his head to hers and initiated a soft kiss.

When they pulled apart, he asked, "what was that for?"

"I don't know," Sarah said. "Did I need a reason?"

"Absolutely not. Just as I don't need a reason to do this."

This time, it was Jareth who instigated the kiss. Instead of a soft touch of lips, it was one of fiery passion. Sarah was no innocent bystander, though; she gave as good as she got. As their tongues danced, she reached behind her and grasped the doorknob. She turned it and felt the door give behind her. Slowly, she pushed the door open with her foot and, without missing a beat, pulled the Goblin King into the room.

Jareth closed the door behind her with his foot while plying the smooth skin of her neck with nibbles and kisses. Little by little, they crossed the room, though neither was truly aware of the movement. They were too consumed by each other to notice. Their passion threatened to engulf them both and they soon found that they would burn in it willingly.

Jareth broke away from her addictive kisses and looked to the bed. "Uh, Sarah?"

Sarah looked down and groaned. Her bed was littered with clothes and personal items. Damn! She had forgotten the things that she'd left to go through later. With one hand, she brushed everything off of her bed. Belongings fell to the ground with a crash and scattered along the floor.

"Someone's in a hurry."

"Shut up and kiss me, Jareth."

Even though he was used to giving the commands, he found himself incredibly turned-on by giving her some control. Only she could give him demands and make him want more.

As they continued their passionate embrace, a strange smell began to surround the couple. It was so overpowering that they both began to cough. Whatever the smell was, it effectively killed their amorous activities. Sarah began looking around for the source while Jareth waved a hand in front of his face. The scent was both sweet and spicy with undertones of some unknown herb.

Jareth's eyes became wide as understanding crashed into him and he hissed out his condemnation. "You lied to me."

Sarah was kneeling on the floor, picking up shards of glass, but she stopped and looked up at him. "Huh?"

"You said that you had nothing to do with what happened to us."

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Sarah asked as she rose to her feet.

"That scent," Jareth explained, already on his feet and beginning to tower over her. "It's Tarthúlokht. The herb that Corwin and Hedgewart have been looking for. I've been studying its characteristics ever since my father brought me that book."

"It's just some perfume I picked up," Sarah argued. "Are you sure?"

"As if you didn't know."

"You asshole!" Sarah cried. "You're really going to sit here and make accusations?"

"As if this wasn't what you wanted all along."

"Just what do you mean by that?"

Jareth's cold eyes glared at her. "You became Queen and gained some semblance of power over me. Brava, Champion."

Sarah flinched as if struck. "If you think I'm capable of something like that, you don't know me at all. I think you should leave before we both say something we can't take back."

Jareth's eyes softened for just a moment, doubt flickering in them as he looked at her. The honesty in her eyes was so clear. Still, he nodded and walked to the door to see himself out. His hand lingered on the doorknob, the hesitation noticeable. Eventually, he turned around and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I told my father I trusted you completely and, at the first test, I failed to honor those words. I have never known you to be dishonest and I should never have said those things to you."

The tension suddenly became overwhelming for the, normally strong, Goblin Queen. Her face crumpled and she began to sob loudly. Oh, but it was an ugly cry and she wished with all of her heart to stop. However, the tears kept coming and coming. She knew it was just a matter of time before her emotions caught up with the last few months but why did it have to happen now? It was just so embarrassing!

For a moment, Jareth felt paralyzed by her tears. Instinctively, he knew she would probably want him to leave. However, his desire to bring her comfort was winning against his good sense. In a moment of impulse, he went to her and wrapped her in his arms. Her own arms came around him until she was gripping him tightly. It was almost painful, but he didn't dissuade her. He only let her cry until she was done.

"Th-ank you, Jareth."

"Any time, precious."

Jareth just continued to hold her in his embrace, enjoying the moment. Her heartbeat had slowed, and he could feel it's strong assurance against his chest. While the scent of the spilled perfume was still present in the air, it couldn't completely cover the scent that was uniquely hers. He breathed it in, feeling the stress of their argument finally fade into a calm relief. Unfortunately, the question still remained. Who was responsible for giving Sarah that herb.

Reluctantly, he pulled away to look at her. "Where did you get that perfume, precious?"

The words pulled Sarah from the comfortable daze of being held by the Goblin King. "Oh, Gods! I got it from a woman who sold perfumes."

"Who is she?"

"She was an herbalist in the village where I lived. Shit! How could I have been so stupid? As soon as you said it was herbal magic, I should have known it was her. She's the only one that I know that brewed her own perfumes. The only question is, why the hell would she do this to us?"

Jareth sighed and said, "I'll have Corwin locate her and bring her to the castle."

"What if he can't find her?" Sarah asked. "I have no idea if she's even still in the village."

"Mark my words, Sarah. We will find her and she will tell us why she did this or else."

Sarah didn't have to ask him to explain what he meant since his tone told her all she needed to know. What surprised her was how much she really didn't care – about what would happen should the woman not tell them and even why she did it. Would a motive really change anything? A few arguments with Jareth did little to tarnish her growing feelings for him. And they were growing. She just didn't know what she was going to do about it.

A/N2: Please let me know what you think of this latest chapter. Thanks!