It's summertime! That means a chapter for the summer. Tada!!! The long awaited chapter 8! Next chapter will be co-authored by Asirainis! You all will love it!

DISCLAIMER:

Labyrinth and all that is connected to it belongs to someone other than me!!!

Though the characters not appearing or named in the movie or any other work of fiction are of my creation.

Then … Now … and For Eternity

Chapter Nine:

Faith, Hope, and Love

Jareth watched as his love slept in the bed next to him. Sarah had been through so much since meeting him, and now she was carrying their beloved unborn daughter. He knew that come time to return home he would have to insist that his Queen remain safe on Avalon. As close as she was to birthing their baby, he refused to risk the pair. Yes, the Sarah from the future had warned them both that their child would be born prematurely … that didn't mean he was going to make sure such would happen by thoughtlessly placing his Queen and child in danger. The problem was how to make sure Sarah would not follow him? Finally deciding the problem would not be solved until it came time for such, Jareth slid into a fitful sleep.

When he again awoke he was pleased to feel the weight of his wife's head on his chest. Their bonds created when Sarah became a fae told him that not only did his wife feel better, but also that she was nearly healed fully. "How did you and our baby girl sleep, my beloved Queen?"

Sarah looked up her husband's beautiful blue and hazel eyes with a shimmering smile on her face. Yet she was not the one to answer the Goblin King. 'Hi daddy! I feel very good! So do mommy!'

Both parents were shocked! Their daughter was stronger certainly. ~ Our little angel is obviously feeling much better. ~ Jareth grinned as he rubbed his wife's belly, gaining the sense of the child moving in her mother's womb. 'Daddy. Still feel funny. And I'm getting pushed sometimes.'

~ Mommy's belly is getting ready to bring you into the world sweetheart. But you aren't suppose to come out for another three weeks yet. Daddy and I can hardly wait to have you in our arms. ~ Sarah sighed and grinned as her husband pulled her closer to him.

***

Darien stood at the docks and looked out on the dark waters just before dawn. He was still unnerved that an ancient evil was not destroyed and still lurking in the kingdom of a good friend. And he knew that there was no way he could keep his only love … his Princess … the future mother of his beloved daughter out of the danger zone. Despite having met Rini and visiting her time, the future was not set in stone. He knew that there was a good chance that future would not come to past and that it could change. It scared Darien to the core. He could feel that something was going to wedge between him and his love.

He smirked slightly as he sensed her trying vainly to sneak up on him from behind. Serena knew it didn't matter what she did, she sensed everything that Darien was able to since they got back together as a couple – she knew that she as caught, and that her guy was worried about the upcoming battle. They both felt a sense of relief and comfort as she wrapped her arms around him from behind and kiss his back before rubbing her cheek against him. They were in their old Royal dress and felt somewhat more real for it.

Darien turned around and pulled his Princess tighter into his arms. He adored this young woman, and could hardly wait until she was of age to marry. He brushed his lips against her petal soft ones, and smirked at her gasping sigh at the touch. Yes, she too was only waiting for the day for their wedding to come.

They could not marry without her parents' agreement, even on Avalon by the old ways. But, there was a ceremony that was as close as they could come – a kind of handfasting that bound them as an affianced couple in the eyes of all. It was set to happen just after dawn. Unlike a wedding, they were encouraged to spend time together in the hours before the ceremony. Serena smiled up at her handsome Prince. In her heart, as it would be in his own, this was a marriage rite. That upcoming night they would be allowed to sleep in the same bed and even pleasure one another, as long as there would be no penetration before their legal wedding. Neither had a problem with that idea.

Ekaterina and Alicianne both knelt by the two injured men and lovingly brushed the side of their faces with one hand, inadvertently feeding them energy. Katina (as she had her friends and sister called her) felt the pull from her body and knew this man before her was in deep trouble to absorb whatever energy he could get. "Alice, do you feel strange?"

"Yeah … I'm feeling tired, but I want to help him so much." She yawned.

Katina knew the feeling. It was as if she knew this man, though she knew she had never seen him before that moment. And she knew that she would do anything to protect him. It took all she had to not kiss the unconscious man's lips lovingly.

Looking up she saw her friend Erin Ravensword looking at them with a knowing look in her eyes. Katina looked at her sister to see the same determined and adoring look in her eyes for the young man she guarded. Alicianne had obviously fallen in love too. But was this a good thing or a bad thing? Only time would tell. "Erin, get the others. These guys need help, and Alice and I can't carry them in by ourselves."

"Sure you two don't need supervision? Who knows what you two might do if I leave you alone with these hotties?" Erin had a sly sense of humor, but this was not the time or place for her to show it.

Alicianne growled as she glared at the dark haired witch. "They need help. Now get a move on!"

"Okay, don't get your panties in a knot! Hey Ryan … everyone! Hotties in the backyard need a lift. Hurry before the sisters end up expecting!" Erin chuckled, while the sisters groaned and shook their heads. This time Katina answered, "pervert!"

"Yes, but you still love me so!" Erin sighed and gave them both a Hollywood starlet pout.

Thankfully, the rest rescued her from what would have been a pummeling by the sisters. All gave the injured men some energy, which seemed to heal them, but they still remained unconscious. Katina and Alicianne were growing concerned.

Being the good doctor she was, Alicianne gave them another exam before allowing them to be moved. She had given each one when she and Katina first found them and was worried by all of the broken bones that there were hidden internal injuries that could claim their lives. Now, after the infusion of energies from all gathered, their more life threatening injuries seemed to have been healed.

"They can be moved now. I don't know how to explain it … they seemed to have healed right in front of our eyes."

Heather Lockhorn nodded in consideration. "When I visited Tokyo last year, weird things were happening. These aliens were stealing energy. Since we all felt energy drained from us as we checked them out, I think that maybe these two are with those aliens."

Katina quickly came to her unintentional guests' defense. "Looks like they aren't anymore. Otherwise they would have stolen what we all gave to them willingly. All of you felt fear for their lives and willed power to them … I know it."

"Maybe so, Kat. But, I agree with Heather that the two of you should be careful." Keith Michaels said as he rested a hand on the elder sister's shoulder. The guy Ekaterina had rested in her lap winced in response, as if he wanted to get between Keith and Katina. The funny thing was only ten minutes earlier; Katina refused Keith once again in his offer to go steady. She smiled and brushed her fingers down the side of his cheek lovingly, which seemed to calm the man … thought he didn't completely drop his defenses until Keith moved a bit away (making Katina smile inwardly).

Glancing up she saw that the other unconscious man too guarded Alicianne when Craig stood nearby whispering. It obviously irritated both her sister and the young man she was caring for too. In fact the other man had a firm hold on Alice's hand, pulling it to his chest. It was as if he was daring Craig to take Alicianne from him. Katina fought hard to hold back her longing to laugh at the sight of the standing man warily backing off from the unconscious man reclined into her sister's embrace.

After a few minutes Deanna smile at the two couples fate had pulled together. "So, what are you two going to do now? Don't you have work tonight, Alicianne?"

"No I don't actually. My shift ended a few hours ago. I have a week off Deanna," she said, smiling softly at the man under her care. She knew he must have thought she was someone else, but subconsciously, she yearned to be the one he wanted to protect.

Katina cupped her gentleman's cheek with one hand and it seemed to give him some kind of comfort. That in turn pleased Katina. Her thumb gently stroked his cheekbone with the side of her thumb, a smile softly shimmering on her lips. It was as if they had been waiting for this for so long. Looking down at the charge in the younger sister's embrace, she felt strangely completed. Like this was meant to be long before she was born. She had kept from dating because her only brushes with men, except for her friends, wanted her for either her body or her money. So she kept from dating at all to be fair, claiming that her job left her little time to spare, any of which was spent with her sister. Somehow, she knew this one would be far different from any man she had known before. Little did she know on how right she really was.

"We have that spare bedroom. Just need to clean out the boxes and change the bedclothes. Guys can you help us by carrying them inside to the living room rug for now. And girls can you help us with the bedroom. Sissy, get some warm water. I'll bring the essential oils in a little bit."

Everyone broke up to his or her chores. Katina even freshened the room with her homemade air freshener. All the guys, but Keith and Craig, all helped get the newcomers into the beds. Ekaterina and Alicianne lovingly removed the mens' jackets, shirts, shoes, and (once the other girls left the room that is) their pants. Both sisters had a knowing grin on their faces at what they discovered about the men in that department – thought they all refused to ever tell the other curious women about that. For that was their knowledge only.

Ekaterina not only brought in her essential oils, but her crystals and deck as well. She found her young sister already touching her new friend's face and threading her fingers through his hair. He seemed to be reacting to the stimulation. "Did he wake up?"

Alicianne twisted with joy and hope in her eyes, no words necessary to answer Katina's question. "Yes. Oh his eyes are so beautiful! And he smiled up at me, like he knew that I was no threat to him. He trusts me!"

Alicianne's joy filled voice set Katina's heart at ease for a moment. Without doubt, the elder of the sisters knew that winning over her guy would not be as easy to say the least. He had been hurt many times, that was all she could read from him … he had shields up at as full a strength as he could muster right then. It would have been very simple to break through his defenses and learn everything, but she refused. Katina was content to wait for him to trust her consciously as his heart did while he was unconscious.

"All right. Stones first, to help them while I do a reading and then while we wash them down." Katina couldn't hold back the smile this man so easily brought out of her. She kissed his cheek and whispered into his ear. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you. You and your friend are safe with my sister and I."

Katina was pleased when he seemed to respond by sinking back into the mattress. He accepted that she was only going to help him, and that she was not going to go into his mind without his approval. Another kiss to his cheek, and she went to work.

"First we need to start ridding them of whatever is making them sick. Since I can't feel anything but darkness around them, let's get rid of all this negativity. Here Alicianne, put this necklace on your new friend too. The amber gives life, while the jet absorbs negative energies and wards away nightmares. While we are at it, place this piece of jet into his right hand." Katina did the same for the gentleman beside her.

Then she set several stone eggs on the table between the beds. "Banded Agate to restore their true energies and to protect them. Black Agate will help to protect as well. Blood Agate to bring calm to them. Amazonite and Chrysocolla to heal the emotional turmoil I feel in them both. Orange Calcite and Chrysoprase both to create more protective energies in the room."

Then the men started to thrash and convulse on the bed, the pained and tormented on the mens' faces ripping into the sisters' hearts. A storm suddenly erupted outside – and it was a violent one. Alicianne shrieked in fear. "What is wrong?"

"They are facing what has happened in their pasts … whatever they had happened to them is coming back in their dreams. Add this Blue Agate to the Jet in their right hands, and slide this Amethyst under their pillows. Their bodies seem to exist for true magic. All of crystals are humming with power unlike anything I have ever felt!"

Katina was terrified at what she was witnessing. This was well out of the realm she was accustomed to. Evil had a hold of these two for so long … she wondered if she, a mere believer who still practiced the old ways, could help them to free themselves from the darkness she felt them fighting against desperately. A blast of lighting shook the house and further shook her belief in herself. She could hear a woman's high-pitched cackling that over powered Katina's spirit.

Her man opened his eyes longingly at her. She was surprised when his eyes told her his faith in her. And when He rubbed his tightly clinched fist against her hand, it was as if he was telling her to keep going. His faith was enough to give her the courage to keep trying, and broke the shadow that had started to entrap her spirit. She would free him and his friend.

"We … we … we need to ground them. This egg should work – Smokey Quartz." She sighed in relief when the men calmed. She couldn't hide her smile as her man closed his eyes and smiled. He held faith in her, so that meant she couldn't let him down. She and Alicianne placed an oval of Rose Quartz and Blue Quartz on each man's chest to give them another boost to their inner peace and harmony. And then Katina placed a large and thick point of Pure Quartz into their right hands, her voice was firm and strong once again … in fact even more so than before. "This will help their bodies' natural healing process, unblock their energy centers, and strengthen the powers of all the other crystals."

Alicianne's man began to again tense and thrash. "Sissy!"

"Someone is trying to take him from us!" Katina was shocked. Then her man tried to get to the other man. She had to get more shielding up! "The more stress they are under the easier it is to pin point them. I don't your name yet. Listen to me, you have to calm down or we'll lose you to whatever you escaped from!" She whispered to her man.

Alicianne was in tears. "Please calm down. Your friend is right here in the room with you. We are trying to help."

"Four stone eggs left. I hope these will work as strong as these are. Sodalite, Blue Tourmaline to reduce their stress levels. This Black Tourmaline to absorb this new source of negativity! And to get their energies into balance, this Watermelon Tourmaline egg." When it hummed, levitated, and settled on the table by itself, Katina panted in fear.

"Katrina." The man she had been caring for sighed before leaving for his dreams. For the first time in so long he was going to sleep, and Jadeite was looking forward to dreaming.

Katina looked at her sister, who wore a similar disbelieving mask on her face. Alicianne finally ask the question that hung heavy in the air and in Katina's heart. "Sissy, how did he know the nickname that mom and dad used to call you?"

"I don't know."

Avalon's Summer Solstice festival was already unsurpassed in the centuries since the isle pulled away from the mortal realm. Now it was given the honor of witnessing the bonding of the Moon Princess to the High Prince of lost Elysian. Oberon and Tatiana grinned as all gathered in the Sacred Oak Grove – where the ceremony began.

The Scouts were in their Princess gowns and carrying flowers of blessing and happiness. Molly and Nephrite as well as Sarah and Jareth were in full Royal garb, both women being so heavy with child and both mothers and their children being so healthy being a blessing on the rite as well. Darien wore his full warrior uniform. Serena found it hard to breathe at how handsome her love was standing before her. Serena wore her Princess gown only updated by her Moon Crystal Pendent. A bouquet of white ice crystal roses and ivy helped her to keep her shaking hands still. Darien couldn't believe that this was still his beloved Meatball Head. If she was this beautiful for this ceremony, he wondered just how stunning she would be on their wedding day.

They each held a lit candle, white was in Serena's hand and black in Darien's hand. Before any could say a word the ghostly vision of Queen Serenity came forward. "I will not ask you if he is indeed who you wish to be with all your days and nights, my darling. I have kept an eye on you both and know the truth."

She raised her hands over her head, and out came an unscheduled full moon. "Blessing on my beloved daughter, and on the Prince who now holds her tender heart in his hand so long as their love lasts. I accept my daughter's chosen consort as her betrothed and give them my blessings for this rite of bonding." And then she smirked at the young couple, "bonding … not handfasting or marriage you two. Touch only. But, I know that I can trust you both … or else I would not have agreed to this ritual. I am very proud of you my daughter, and we will speak later about the happenings earlier and their meanings."

Serena smiled as she turned to her only love as he looked into her blue eyes. Darien felt his heart race as those jewels shimmered with joy. He knew that he was before the woman he never wanted to be without. "The kind Fates have blessed my home, the kind Fates have blessed my heart, the kind Fates have blessed my loved ones, and I offer thanks with a humble heart."

She could see his eyes and hear in his voice that his every word was truly was how Darien felt. Serena smiled and let her love fill her every word and breath. "I thank the Goddess for my life, I thank the Goddess for my love. I thank the Goddess for continued blessings already on their way."

Rather than Oberon or Tatiana pronouncing the endorsement, Queen Serenity smiled on her daughter and the young man who would eventually become her lawful son. "Blessed be."

The Scouts surrounded the couple with smiles on each of their faces, and curtseyed the dead Queen. Serenity smiled on the Princess Senshies she had watched grow up and guard her beloved daughter, and now they did all they could to help her darling angel become the warrior she herself had not allowed Serena to be a thousand years earlier.

Children carrying smoldering expensive sweet incense surrounded the Scouts. Darien took his love's hand and the group followed Queen Serenity's ghost, Lord Oberon, and Queen Tatiana through the Oak Grove up the to the Tor.

Oberon and Tatiana stepped aside to allow the departed Moon Queen to perform the ceremony herself. Serenity smiled and nodded at their visible act. And then she looked at her daughter and Elysian's Crown Prince. Yes, this couple would continue for a great length of time together, leaving many children … though that she would not say to any, for both had accepted that Princess Rini would be their only child.

Serenity sighed and smiled with tears glittering in her diaphanous blue eyes. "Look into one another's eyes. You are two souls with two minds and two hearts. Now you two come together to show all of the shared path your two souls now wish to travel. That you wish to at a given time go from two to one, and one day become more."

Oberon smiled at the couple before him. This was an honor neither he nor his wife ever dared hoped for, to see their godchildren's bonding ceremony – even if Serena and Darien did not remember that part of her past. Serenity's expression showed how serious her words were to the couple. " This is not a marriage ceremony, this only proclaims to all of our realm that you are bound to one another by honor. For one year and one day you will be man and wife in honor, but not name or otherwise."

That made everyone chuckle, and the couple blush hotly – but not as hotly as when they first were told that Rini was their daughter. Serenity grinned as she continued. "Blessed be all who attend this glorious celebration, and blessed be those about to be united in the bonds of love."

Everyone cheered at that. Serena and Darien were silent and lost in one another's eyes. Serenity remembered how that felt, to be before the one you adored in a sacred ceremony. "If there is any here who can show just cause that these people should not be joined in this bonding, let them speak now, or keep their silence for all time."

At that the crowd was silent. None were ready to stop a bonding that had been a thousand years in coming. Serenity fought the urge to chuckle. Nothing was going to stop these two. "Serena and Darien, is there any reason known to either of you that would prevent your partnership from being made?"

They smiled and spoke in unison, in proud and clear voices. "There is none."

"What is it that you wish my beloved daughter?"

Serena sighed and smiled brighter than any had ever seen before. "To join with he that I love above any and all."

Serenity grinned at the added words her daughter added from her heart. "Darien, Crown Prince of lost Elysian, why is it you stand before me holding my daughter's hand?"

"I wish to bond myself to her for the year and one day demanded for our betrothal by law. For she is the only woman I would ever wish at my side for as long as she will have me." Darien's words let loose tears of joy from Serena's eyes.

Serenity was stunned that this Earth Prince was so articulate and devoted to her little moon bunny. "The reason that the Moon Kingdom was and would still be strict with that law, my baby girl, is that situations and people change. Yet, that does not mean you can end your partnership you are asking for with this young man at the first sign of trouble or disagreement. Every relationship has its share of difficult times, You both have the responsibility once this pairing becomes binding to strive for acceptable solutions to disagreements, work towards healing hurts as they occur, and only when there is no other way to reaching a solution should such a bond ever be broken.

"This year and one day betrothal is to make you both learn more about one another and make sure that after the time is finished you are both certain to be bound as husband and wife is what you both still want."

And then she looked over at Jareth and Sarah. "I thank you Jareth, King of the Goblins. For my burial, and for the graces you have and will grant my line. You are truly more a righteous King than your father and your grandfather combined."

Serenity sighed. She knew they loved one another above all. Yet now all illusions would end, and reality would make them face that not all fairytales simply go on happily ever after … a marriage takes work and dedication.

"Will all of you, present here and witnessing this ceremony, assist and support this couple in their trial union?" Serenity asked the crowd smiling on the Moon Princess and her beloved Earth Prince. They all answered in one voice. "We will."

Serenity saw the excitement in her daughter's eyes. Serena knew that the moment had come. The Queen loved this little girl with all of her heart. If this was her Bunny's wish, then so be it. "Serena, my baby, daughter, and my heir, make your vow to this man you wish to bind yourself in a trial marriage."

"I, Serena, take thee, Darien, as my partner and love. I promise now before this company, my mother, our godparents," this stunned Oberon and Tatiana, "I promise to share laughter in times of joy and wonder; to share tears when sorrow touches our lives; to share my dreams and hopes, that our love and minds may grow; to share compassion and understanding during times of frustration and anger; to share all that I have, and all that I am, for the next year and a day."

Darien was only waiting for his turn to pledge himself at last to his beloved Princess. "I, Darien, do ask you, Serena, to be my partner in this trial marriage of the coming year and one day. I ask that you accept my strengths and my faults as I promise to accept yours; I ask for your support and strength when mine own does fail me, as I promise my strength and support in your times of need. I bring you, with best intention, my love, my understanding, all that I have and all that I am."

Serenity created two rings with her magic, so that only to those who knew the truth would they be seen. "These rings, a token of your love for one another, serve as a reminder of your vows to one another yet will only be seen by those you trust with the secret of your pledges to one another.

"May the Lord and Lady bless these rings, the symbol of your two's trial union, with happiness, wholeness, and love."

With that Serenity gave each ring to the one bearing the pledge gift. "By the exchange of these tokens of your love for one another, so are your lives interlaced for the coming year and one day. What one experiences, so shall the other; as honesty and love build, so will your bond strengthen and grow. If, when the trial is over, you both choose to continue this bonding into vows that will last so long as love lasts – then I will bless your union and welcome you to our family, Prince Darien of Elysian. As you exchange your rings, the outward symbol of your trial commitment to one another, be reminded also of the Law of Fate. That which you do affects the other. I charge you to be ever mindful of your actions and motives."

Serenity smiled as Serena gave Sailor Mars her flowers in anticipation of the next step. Her baby was happy, and that was all that mattered. "Serena … Darien join your hands – left to left and right to right." They did and she created a rope from the love and adoration that was in abundance around these two. Tying them tight to one another. "As this knot is tied, so are your lives now bound until one year from tomorrow."

The rope disappeared, being absorbed into the couple themselves. Serenity looked up to the sky. "Lord and Lady, in Your sight have these people, my precious daughter and her love, have promised themselves to one another, made vows before You and these people. Bless them in their new life together for the next year and day. By the Winds that bring change, by the Fire of love, by the Seas of fortune and the strength of the Earth do I bless this union – as the Queen of the fallen Moon Kingdom and as Serena's mother.

"Through the powers of Love between yourselves and this company, and the blessing of the Lord and Lady, do I now pronounce you bound to one another as husband and wife for one year and one day! Blessed Be!"

Serena and Darien kissed deeply to the cheers, smiles, and applauding of all gathered. This was more than either lover dared hoped for. Now they were together for a year and a day.

Serenity glided over towards the Goblin King and his Queen. This was a moment she had waited a thousand years for, and she wouldn't let it pass. "Jareth, you have become a better Goblin King than your father and your grandfather together. Thank you for giving me an honorable burial when I thought for certain that I would simply turn into ash forgotten. It was your act of kindness that made it possible for me to bring the past back to my daughter and her court. Thank you and all blessings on your beautiful Queen and from what I feel is to be a very active and bubbly daughter."

"Thank you for the honor of those words, Moon Queen. And I would never leave you un-honored. Not after all you did for my brother and I." Jareth answered the woman he still wished he could have saved, but that was not how fate deemed their lives to play out.

Serenity smiled on Sarah who was every bit the Queen Serenity had seen her becoming. "Queen Sarah, how long I have wanted to say those words. And you as beautiful expectant mother as I saw in my visions."

"Thank you Queen Serenity. I am just grateful to have my only love back and the daughter I have already met." Sarah blushed softly as Jareth wrapped his arm around her shoulder and rested a hand on her swollen belly.

Serenity smiled at the woman she knew still had much to go through yet.

Conal relaxed back on his borrowed throne and grinned. It would have been easier. His new ally ended the brats' punishment so he was his true form, and got him a new wife. So, what if her laughter could drive away hyenas? She had servants that would make holding his new throne oh so easy. He should have gone with this old man before. Oh well, hindsight must truly be twenty-twenty as the pathetic mortals loved to say.

It did unnerve the usurper slightly that there had been no impediment to his overthrowing Jareth. Not a single Goblin, Yeti, or other mongrels that called this maze their home. Had Jareth imposed the entire population on that pain in the arse isle?

But he also had another surprise for the oh so high and mighty Goblin King … or should he really say for the Queen … along with her precious friend? That brought another sneering smile across Conal's face.

That irritating laughter echoed through the halls telling him that his new wife was on her way into the room. At least this woman had better looks, and more power than his last wife. Yet, he seemed doomed to have wives who all had the most hideous laughter imaginable.

***

In the corridor outside of the public throne room, the initial wave of Goblin guards sent to check the city for invaders too had to clentch their jaws shut at the terrible sound. Fingernails across a blackboard would have been more merciful and more welcomed than that she-devil's penetrating guffaw. But the stones only added to and echoed the sound, which hurt all the worse.

Once it was clear the group silently tromped back to their waiting superiors. The news was bad, meaning plans had to be drawn up. The Labyrinth was under siege, a couple of invaders were sitting on the Goblin Thrones, and the King would need the help of all his subjects to regain what was stolen by fraud.

This was so much fun, that sissy and I are doing it again next chapter. Hopefully, Conal won't be so happy much longer. And who are his new allies? And what is this surprise waiting for Sarah and Sally? Just have to wait and find out.