In her favorite corner of the park Sarah packed up the remains of her lunch and glanced at the clock tower. "Ah, I've still got a few minutes." She took a pose on the stone bench, hands clasped, and began to sing.

"I come from the land of the foggy woggy do-oooo-oo-..."

Gesturing theatrically she stood and pranced around, the midday sun dappled her face and the warm breeze picked at her blouse as she sang the odd words with an expression of serenity.

"...The swamps of home are brushed with green and gold

at break of day.

The swamps of home are lovely to behold

from far away..."

Engrossed in her song she did not notice the barn owl which alighted on a nearby obelisk and tilted its head at her curiously.

Her face was solemn as she continued her song.

"...In my soul is the beauty of the bog,

in my memory the magic of the mu-"

With a sweeping gesture she spun around, coming face to face with her avian audience. She blinked in surprise and promptly burst into laughter.

The owl descended from its perch, its form wavering; when its feet touched the ground they were booted, a white poet shirt, blue vest, his usual tight black pants completed the look.

Attempting to regain her composure Sarah looked up to greet him but the bemused look on his face only sent her into further hysterics. He stood silently, arms crossed, waiting for her to catch her breath.

Half collapsing on the nearby stone bench she barely managed to speak. "Jareth... your timing (gasp) is... impeccable." She lapsed again into giggles.

Brow raised he asked dryly, "Dare ask how I came to find you singing the praises of the bog?"

Struggling to breath normally she made a face at him. "I'm practicing, the show starts this weekend." She stood and pulled a piece of paper from her backpack and handed it to him. "Here's the program, you're welcome to come if you can."

He accepted the paper, pinched his lips. "Unfortunately I never know my schedule beforehand."

The jovial mood deflated, she slumped a little. "How long do you have today?"

"Eight hours."

Her brows shot up. "They gave up already?"

Jareth nodded grimly, "They didn't get past the outermost corridor."

Sarah fiddled with her thumbs. "So what will you do with your time Above?"

"Eager to get rid of me already?" His eyes twinkled mischievously.

"No!" her cheeks reddend. "I just… I mean…" flustered she paused, not sure how to phrase her question.

He smiled at her, "You want to know what I do when wishes happen at hours in which you are not available?"

She nodded, "Yeah, so do you visit any other runners then?" She had wondered that since these visits started, she still didn't know if she wanted to know the answer.

He shrugged. "I suppose that depends on your definition of visit. I have checked on all of them at least once. Many wishers forget their time in my realm and very few are aware of my avian form. As for the wished aways that are won back, they are usually too young to remember anything."

That confirmed what she had seen of Toby, he seemed to have no memory of his time in the Underground. "Am I the only one whe remembers?"

"No, although most compartmentalize their experience, dismiss it as a bad dream. One wisher did notice me once and threw a stone at me." He shook his head at the memory. "Thankfully they missed."

"Do they at least learn from their experience?"

He sighed. "Not as often as I would hope. Whether they remember it or not it will affect them, the few who win usually cherish the second chance. The ones who lose, even if they don't remember, will have a sense of loss. Those who didn't even try will carry that guilt. They search for ways to fill that void, not all of them helpful."

"I can imagine." she paused, "So... am I the only one you talk to then?"

A ghost of a smile graced his lips. "No, there is one other who has deigned to speak with me."

"Who is it?"

The corner of his mouth twitched. "My brother."

Her eyes bulged. "He remembers?" At his nod Sarah gaped, she couldn't imagine living with that knowledge. Looking up at the leaves blowing in the breeze she sighed. "That must be a difficult situation, for both of you."

A soft smile teased his lips. "You are a rare thing Sarah Williams, you care for villains, monsters, and outcasts, even strangers."

She shook her head, hugging her arms around herself. "I'm no hero."

"You have not forgiven yourself?"

She bit her lip and turned away. "I don't know if I can."

He placed a hand on her shoulder gently, "Guilt is only useful when it pushes you to make amends. You saved Toby, you won him back."

Still looking away she shook her head, "But I almost didn't, and the what-ifs torment me."

"If it helps at all, Toby wouldn't have been alone, I would have cared for him."

"You take care of the wished away?"

"Of course, they are my charges."

"Was Toby a handful?"

"Oh, he did cry a little but he was a delightful little chap and he wasn't afraid of my goblins. We even put on a little impromptu musical performance."

Her brow raised at that. "You and the goblins?"

"You doubt me?"

She made a face, "No... I just... not sure if I would want to hear the goblins sing."

"I would compare it to some pageants that primary schools put on, they are not always enjoyable to listen to, but the little ones do try their best."

Nodding, she smiled. "Toby likes to sing along with sesame street. He can't carry a tune in a bucket, but he belts it out with all his heart."

"Perhaps he will follow in your footsteps."

She snorted, "Oh boy, not if my dad has anything to do with it."

"Your parents don't approve of your thespian endeavors?"

"Oh, my mom is thrilled and makes it to every show that she can. My dad and Irene on the other hand are still trying to convince me to apply to college to get a 'sensible' job. They support theatre as a hobby, not so much a career choice."

"Your mother is successful, yes?"

"Yeah, both she and Jeremy have had steady work on Broadway for years. It's just that not everyone makes it..."

Jareth nodded knowingly, "Aren't fathers notorious for being protective of their little girls?"

"I know."

The clock tower struck one. "Crap, I'm gonna be late for class." Sarah grabbed her empty lunchbox and broke into a run, she called over her shoulder "and after school I have a dress rehearsal, sorry."

"Wait."

Sarah paused and turned, Jareth was beside her, hand extended. "Allow me."

She grasped his hand and the next thing she knew she was standing in the empty hallway right beside the open door of her math class. She slipped in, gave an apologetic smile to Mr Nyugen and hurried to her seat. Only later did she stop to wonder why Jareth knew so much about her school and schedule.

…

A strange nervous energy ate at Sarah all afternoon. Knowing that Jareth was Above, wondering what he was up to, was he visiting his brother? What else did he do when he wasn't spying on her?

When the last bell finally rang she hurried to the auditorium and got into her first costume.

Dress rehearsal was flurry of scenery and costume changes, but Sarah almost missed her cue twice. Between the scenes, before the stage lights flared to life, she found her eyes wandering to the dark empty seats of the auditorium or the beams in the ceiling.

As she stepped onto the stage for the 'Swamps of Home' scene she found herself searching once again for any sign of him. Finally, at the very top of the darkened stands she saw a tiniest flash of light, like a reflection on a piece of metal or glass.

She smiled inwardly and belted out her song.

...

When the curtain fell Mrs Wilson clapped, "Very good, now everyone go home, get some rest."

As the other actors filed out she leaned in and gave some little point to work on or word of encouragement.

When she got to Sarah she paused. "You were distracted tonight."

"A little."

"You found your groove in the swamp song scene, whatever you found there, use it."

Sarah nodded and followed the other students into the hallway towards the exit.

Once outside she looked to the sky, the moon was a silver sliver, no sign of her feathered familiar.

She waved goodbye to the other students and headed home. The walk wasn't far and while the evening had cooled it was still comfortable, she breathed in the spring air.

She was a block away from the school when she became aware of footsteps behind her, booted footsteps. She turned to see Jareth, with a hand on her hip she chided him. "I thought you said you weren't stalking me."

He tilted his head, a mischievous grin. He pulled a flower from mid air. "Fine performance, I had to stop myself from laughing and divulging my location"

She accepted the pale yellow rose, it was lovely. "Thank you." She stared at him pointedly "And you are changing the subject."

He looked at her incredulously. "Are you really mad at me for coming to your dress rehearsal?"

"No, I had invited you to the show, it comes out to the same thing. But I do wonder how you have such detailed knowledge of my class schedule as well as my school layout." She raised her brow.

"Ah… well, it is more like you provided the destination, I simply provided the transportation."

She frowned in confusion. "How is that possible? I didn't say my destination."

"You were thinking of where you needed to be. That was enough."

She looked at him skeptically for a moment before shrugging, really, who was she to judge on the specifics of poofing from one place to another? She nodded in acquiescence, "Thank you for the lift, I appreciate it."

He gave a half bow. "You are very welcome."

They walked in companionable silence, as they grew closer to her house Sarah found herself slowing down. She fiddled with the rose, still in her hand. "Thanks again, I'm glad you could see the show."

"My pleasure, with your talent, I hope that tonight will not be the last time that I get to be among your audience."

She blushed, when they were a half a block from her house Sarah paused, "l think I should go alone from here, I don't want to answer my dad's inevitable questions.

"In that case, I bid you good evening." He took her hand and kissed it. "Until next time."

He faded into the night, Sarah looked at her watch and picked up the pace to her door, Irene greeted her as soon as she entered.

"Hey Sarah, how was rehearsal?"

Feigning exhaustion Sarah smiled. "Good, but I'm beat, goodnight."

"Okay, goodnight."

Sarah slipped into her room, closing the door behind her, she wasn't ready to sleep yet. Walking to her mirror, she called. "Hoggle, Sir Didimus, Ludo, I need you."

The glass blurred and soon they all appeared. Hoggle exclaimed. "Sarah!"

Ludo leaned forward but Sir Didimus raised his cane to stop him. "My lady, I fear there is no time for a proper visit, the portals will all be closing forthwith."

"I know, I just wanted to say hi."

"How'd you know?" Hoggle frowned, suspicious.

Sarah felt her cheeks redden. "I saw Jareth."

Hoggles brows raised. "Just seen him, eh?"

The image in the glass began to waver again, she hurriedly waved and said "Bye guys."

When the mirror once again showed only the contents of her own room she rubbed her face wearily. "I wonder if there is any chance he'll forget to ask me about that next time."

She placed the rose in her water glass and got ready for bed.

…

Author's Note

...

The song quoted in the beginning of this chapter is from Once Upon a Mattress, a comedic retelling of The Princess and the Pea, there are plenty of versions of it on YouTube if you would like to check it out.

Thank you to everyone who made suggestions for Sarah's school play on my Facebook question.

And thank you to Guest2022 and Guest for the reviews!