Peace/Piece of Mind

"I can see the message was unclear." I held up the note with the words WANTS PEES UV MIND scrawled in bright red crayon by my toddler son.

Jareth's lips twitched slightly. "One can hardly blame Feanor for recruiting goblin help, though his ultimate spelling leaves something to be desired."

"I didn't ask him to send you that message, I'll have you know."

"I'm sure. But he's your son, and he's clearly inherited some of your unfathomable empathy. He thought you needed help."

I put my head in my hands briefly. "He's not wrong, I suppose. I could use some peace of mind."

Jareth raised a knowing eyebrow. "Or perhaps to give someone a piece of your mind?"

"Or that."

He leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "I could lend you a piece of my mind. It might help you see things more clearly."

"What, is that like a Vulcan mind meld?"

"Something like. More fun, I'm told." Secret promises and soft laughter wove through his voice and right down my spine.

I blinked hard. "How did you just make a pseudo-Vulcan mind meld sound sexy?"

"Skills, my dear. Lots of them."

"Mmmhmm. Maybe you can demonstrate some of those skills after I get this...thing sorted out."

His smile glittered in the sunlight. "Perhaps I can help with the sorting."

I sighed and stretched back into my chair. "It's a thing with my department. I just want to make sure I'm making a reasonable choice as Chair."

"The travails of leadership, how well do I know them." He cocked his head to the side. "Let me make it simple: Have you thought about the consequences?"

"The immediate ones, yes. The long term ones...sort of."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Are there other sources you can consult about consequences you may have overlooked?"

I smiled briefly. "I think I'm currently consulting the only source I haven't tried."

He nodded, all business now. "Very good. Do you think it worthwhile to go over specifics with me?"

I thought for a long moment. "Honestly? No. I've already thought things through with a little imagined you perched on my shoulder."

Both his eyebrows raised. "That's...rather hilarious. At any rate, since you have all the perspective you're going to obtain about the potential consequences, and you can live with said consequences, then you're finished. Spend your energy elsewhere."

I huffed out a soft laugh. "And I didn't even need a Vulcan mind meld for that."

"Indeed, no. Going to take my advice?"

"To be decisive, cease my fruitless worrying, and spend my energy elsewhere? Oh...maybe."

"What would convince you?"

"Maybe some specific ideas on the elsewhere I could spend my energy?"

"My dear, I am more than happy to oblige."

"I knew there were good reasons I agreed to marry you and bear your children."

"So very happy to hear it."

"I love you so much, you know."

"I know. And I you, Sarah mine."