Part 38 ~ Give & Take

Okay. I can finish this. I can. It's been hard 'cause I've had a lot of work to do and I think the Jareth-muse decided to walk out on me. Just wait till I catch him again. . . On the bright side, the epilogue is 2/3 finished. And this is the last part before the epilogue. Aren't you happy? I admit I am. When this is done, I can move on to other projects that have been bouncing around in my brain, including two sequels, and a multitude of independent works. I'm hoping I can keep up the determination and effort I've put into this fic in my other work. I can only hope. . .

Anyway, I think our theme for today is November Rain by Guns n Roses. Ah, I love eighties music. . .

Ladymage Samiko ;)

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To the Victor Go the Spoils

Part 38 ~ Give & Take

"Mr. Williams, I don't know what else I can say to prove my feelings for your daughter!" Jareth exclaimed, exasperated, some time later. "I almost wish this was the Middle Ages. Then you could send me on a quest or some such nonsense to prove myself! As it is, all I can say is that I love your daughter more than anything else in existence and I would ask your blessing for our marriage!" He paced the living room like a caged wildcat.

Sarah watched him worriedly. No one knew better than she how dangerous Jareth could be when he was in a temper, and his frustration was heightening rapidly.

"Daddy, please. I love Jareth. This is what I want. Why won't you believe me?"

Dan Williams looked soberly at his daughter. "Sarah, listen to me. You're too young to know what you want to do with the rest of your life. You don't know what love is! This--man is too old for you. He's just manipulating you, using your inexperience to make you think you love him. You'll wake up one morning to find him gone or to find out that this isn't what you wanted at all. Please understand, Sarah, I'm doing this for you."

"I suppose getting divorced from Mom was for me, then," she said bitterly. "I suppose moving, and getting remarried, and having a kid was for my benefit. I guess that's why you never even asked me how I felt about it! Because what happens in this family is all for my good, so it doesn't matter how I feel or think or what I want! I'm just little Sarah, who doesn't know anything and doesn't count for anything! My world can come crashing down and you wouldn't even notice! You didn't notice! You didn't even care!" With that, Sarah jumped up and ran out of the room.

"Sarah!" Jareth called after her. He turned to the dark-haired man sitting beside an empty chair. "Sir, your daughter is no longer a child. She is a young woman," he said grimly. "And no matter the resemblance, she is not your ex-wife. She does not make decisions lightly, does not rescind them lightly. And, in spite of everything, she loves you still. Think on that." And he disappeared.

"Sarah?" Jareth had followed his sense of her until he came to the park where she usually practiced. He found her sitting on a bench, staring at nothing. "Sarah?"

"It would be so much easier if I didn't care," she said, more to herself than Jareth. "Then it wouldn't matter what he thought of me or you. But all I've ever wanted is five seconds of approval. I guess I'll never get it."

Jareth stretched out beside her. "What is done cannot be undone," he said slowly. "I cannot say anything about what has happened before, but I know that now he is acting out of concern for you. His marriage to your mother did not end well. He wants to make sure you do not make the same mistake of marrying in haste and repenting at leisure."

"But I'm not the same person! And this is an entirely different situation!"

"I know that," he said patiently. "But your father sees your mother in you. And I, I am a dangerous unknown, millennia older and versed in arts which have long since been condemned and forgotten. Humans fear that which they do not understand." His voice became hard. Sarah leaned over to place her hand in his. "Well," he finished, an amused note in his voice, "I haven't exactly given him a good reason to trust me. Kidnapping his son and heir is not what I would call a good beginning to a relationship."

Sarah gave a watery smile. "No, I don't think so."

"I wouldn't say so, myself," a voice behind them said. The couple turned to see Daniel Williams standing behind them. "I'm sorry, honey," he continued quietly. "May I join you?" She nodded.

"It," he began hesitantly. "It isn't an easy thing to realize that your child is growing up. I guess that, all these years, I assumed you were too young to understand what was going on and that, in the end, I could decide what was best for you and that would be enough. I know it hasn't been easy these last few years, but I thought that you'd get used to it and be happy to have a mother again. I thought that was what you needed. And now," he looked somewhat sheepish, "I find that that wasn't it at all. I guess I don't know what's going on, even in my own family.

"Jareth's right. I do see a lot of your mother in you. I see it in your eyes, in your presence, in certain expressions. It worries me that you may have inherited her impetuous nature as well. I don't want to see you rush into something when you may get hurt."

"But I'm not my mother! And we're not 'rushing in!'" Sarah protested.

"You've known each other for what? a week? Magic or no, I consider that rushing."

Jareth held up his hand, halting Sarah's comment. "What would you suggest, Mr. Williams?"

"I suggest a compromise," he replied. "Wait a while, until Sarah has finished her sophomore year. As long as Sarah attends school, I see no reason why she shouldn't spend the rest of her time as she wishes, either here or in that 'Underground' you speak of. My understanding is that both of you have responsibilities there?"

"Yes," Jareth replied. "Though if Sarah wishes, I may take over both of our duties."

"Then, next summer, if both of you still want to, I will give my consent. After that, what happens is up to you, though I would like to see my girl graduate from college." He smiled at his daughter.

Sarah launched herself into her father's arms. "Thank you, Daddy," she whispered.

He hugged her tightly. "I'm always proud of you, my girl, remember that."