AN: All right, everyone, here is the next part. I was surprised when some of you said the last part was a cliffhanger…that wasn't intentional. I think you will all enjoy this part. And, while it does seem like a good ending…the story is not finished yet. There are still about four chapters to go!! I still can't believe how far this story has come. Thank you all! And, in this chapter, you will find the lyrics for the song that inspired this story, the song "Cherish" by The Association…a group from the 1960's. Also, I'm going on a short vacation to surprise my grandparents in Michigan for Thanksgiving. I'm leaving on Tues. and won't be back until next Sunday. So, please don't expect another chapter until next Monday. I tried to make this one a little longer than the others to compensate. In the meantime, enjoy, read, and review!! ~Saphire

Chapter twenty-two: And I Do Cherish You

Jareth stood watching the empty doorway long after Sarah had disappeared. There was something different about her. She seemed so concerned over him and - but Jareth stopped his thoughts there.

"Friends," he muttered, looking back out the window over the Labyrinth.

To say that he felt elation would have been an understatement. He had truly thought for a while that he would never see the kingdom again. He inhaled deeply and sighed. Everything was as it had been. Even the magic of the Labyrinth was there, reaching to him and embracing him as it always had. He knew, despite his aching body, he had regained his powers. And, somehow, Sarah had done this. He desperately wished he knew how.

"Ah, Sarah said you were finally awake, cousin," D'Vinnian's voice came from the doorway.

Jareth turned to see his cousin standing there, a less-than-innocent smirk on his face.

"Indeed I am," Jareth answered, showing no emotion.

For a split second, D'Vinnian's smirk slipped, but then was back. Evidently, the Goblin King was also back to his normal self.

"D'Vinnian, do you know how this happened?"

The Goblin Lord nodded, "I do. And I believe Sarah will tell you herself, later."

"Why must she tell me herself?"

D'Vinnian shrugged, "It would be best coming from her."

"I could always demand that you tell me," Jareth snapped impatiently, curiosity getting the better of him momentarily.

D'Vinnian chuckled, "Aye, you could. And you could see how far you would get with that too, cousin."

Jareth growled under his breath and returned his gaze to the window. He had never tired of looking at his kingdom, even before; and now, he found it hard to tear his gaze away for long. He felt a sense of relief each time he saw it that his mind was not playing tricks, that the kingdom was really there. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt D'Vinnian approach and stand by him.

"Tell me, Vin, was it difficult?" Jareth questioned, no emotion except a bored curiosity in his voice.

D'Vinnian's gaze snapped from the view outside the window to his cousin's profile. He knew Jareth enough to know he was in trouble.

"Was what difficult, Jareth?" he questioned, feigning innocence.

"Your illusion."

The Goblin King's simple answer worried D'Vinnian; it seemed he was on very thin ice.

"Illusion?"

Jareth turned from the window then, and D'Vinnian could see the anger in his gaze flare like a match.

"I warned you once, D'Vinnian, not to toy with Sarah or myself, did I not? What exactly did you hope to gain by that little stunt?" Jareth's voice was dangerously quiet.

"I don't know what you mean -"

"Yes, you do!" Jareth roared.

D'Vinnian flinched. He was used to his cousin's temper, and had been on the receiving end more than once. However, he wasn't sure if Jareth had control over his temper now, and that fact worried him.

"Sarah said she saw me fall over the cliff first, D'Vinnian," Jareth explained further, his voice calm again, "Would you care to explain how that happened?"

"I simply thought that Sarah could use a little push, figuratively," D'Vinnian added the last part at the deadly glare the king shot him. "I told you once, cousin, that I wouldn't risk your temper where Sarah was concerned. I had no plot to kill her, nor you. What I did was merely to help facilitate the rebirth of the kingdom. Beyond that, it is for Sarah to explain."

With those words, D'Vinnian disappeared. Jareth let out a string of curses that could peel paint from a wall. He felt marginally better afterwards, and returned to gazing out the window.

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Sarah lay on the bed in the room she had been in earlier, staring at the high ceiling. She sighed, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. How much longer until dinner, anyway? She glanced around and found several clocks, each with a different time.

"Well, that helps," she mumbled, rolling over to look at the ornate doors leading to the balcony. "I never knew the castle was so beautiful," she wandered aloud.

"There is plenty about this kingdom you do not know, Sarah." D'Vinnian's voice made Sarah jump.

She stood from the bed and turned to find Jareth's cousin sitting on one of the armchairs in the room.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that," Sarah mumbled.

D'Vinnian laughed.

"No offense, D'Vinnian, but, what are you doing here? I thought you would be with Jareth."

Vin grimaced at the mention of his cousin's name, "If you must know, I'm hiding."

Sarah laughed, "Hiding? From Jareth? Why?"

"I'm sure you are familiar with my cousin's temper."

Sarah stopped laughing, "Oh….Why is he mad at you?"

"I suppose I owe you an explanation as well. I know that you think you saw Jareth fall over the edge of the chasm. That was why you ran to help him. I also know you think you twisted your ankle on a rock and fell over yourself. That's not exactly true."

Sarah narrowed her eyes, "Then what is exactly true?"

"I made an illusion of Jareth falling knowing that you would race to help him. Then, I sort of put a rock in your path to guarantee that you would fall over," D'Vinnian explained sheepishly.

"Why would you do that? I could have been killed! Jareth could have been killed!" Sarah yelled.

"No, no, neither one of you would have been seriously hurt," D'Vinnian said, leaping up from the chair and pacing as he explained, "I was there the entire time. I wanted you to realize that you loved my cousin, but you were being so stubborn, both of you were! The key to rebuilding the Labyrinth was right under Jareth's nose and he didn't see it! And the mistake you made was so obvious to all and yet you didn't see it! I did what I did to open your eyes! And to open his! I didn't know that saving you would take so much out of him, Sarah. I didn't know he would collapse."

He stopped suddenly when he felt a gentle hand placed on his arm. He looked up to see Sarah watching him.

He sighed, "I'm sorry, Sarah."

"What you did was wrong, Vin. Something could have gone wrong and someone could have been hurt. But, I understand why you did it. I forgive you," Sarah said.

She felt for a moment like she was lecturing a small child, and, indeed, when she saw D'Vinnian's face light up with her forgiveness, it truly seemed she was. She laughed and, to D'Vinnian's complete surprise, hugged him.

"I think I'm beginning to understand why you have such an effect on my cousin, dear Sarah," D'Vinnian said, smiling.

The mention of her feelings and Jareth's feelings brought Sarah back to her previous state of nervousness.

"What am I going to tell him, Vin?"

"The truth, Sarah. That you love him."

Sarah gave a short chuckle, "I can't believe I'm so nervous. This is worse than anything I felt the first time I was here."

D'Vinnian gave her hands a reassuring squeeze, "Do not be nervous. My cousin loves you completely, so don't worry that your feelings won't be returned. Just be yourself and tell him the truth."

"Easy advice to give, Vin, much harder to take. Look at me, Vin. I'm not even dressed properly."

D'Vinnian laughed, "Dressed properly? How exactly do you mean? Dressed properly for dinner with a king?"

Sarah blushed.

"Sarah, he won't be paying attention to your clothes, trust me. But, if it makes you feel better, I can fix that."

Sarah looked at him for a moment, then shook her head, "No. You're right, clothes shouldn't matter."

D'Vinnian looked behind her at one of the clocks and nodded, "Good. In that case, it's time for dinner."

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Jareth paced the length of the dining hall restlessly. He was more than a little curious as to how exactly the kingdom had been repaired and what role Sarah had played. He glanced at the table, noticing that there were only two place settings.

"Peake!" he called and the little goblin hobbled in.

"Sire?"

"Why are there only two settings here?"

"Tha Lord said he was gonna be ins tha Lab'rith tanight," Peake answered.

Jareth nodded, "Very well. You may go now."

No sooner had the goblin left through the servant's entrance than Jareth heard the main door creak open. He turned to see Sarah step through almost as if she was afraid of something.

"Are you all right, Sarah?" he asked, watching her closely.

Sarah's heart was pounding, "I'm fine," she answered quietly as she walked over to the table.

"I hear that my miscreant cousin will not be joining us tonight," Jareth said as Sarah approached.

He pulled out the chair for her, and she sat, looking solely at the plates in front of her.

She nodded slowly, "He said he wanted to check on things for himself. I think you should forgive him, Jareth."

Jareth had just seated himself and he looked up sharply at Sarah, "What?"

"What D'Vinnian did was wrong, but he meant well."

Jareth was about to answer her when they were served their first course.

He waited for the goblins to leave before he spoke, "He meant well, Sarah? You think that is reason to forgive him?"

For the first time, she looked up at him, "I think so. You forgave me without reason, Jareth. So, why can't you forgive him?"

The smell of the food had been calling out to the king; it had been so long since he had had a proper meal. But, suddenly, his empty stomach wasn't so important.

"You think I forgave you? I thought I was too cruel to do that," Jareth regretted the words as they came from his mouth, his anger over his cousin's stunt was misdirected at Sarah; but he would not take it back.

Sarah stood up from her seat, "Please, don't do this, Jareth. You stopped being the villain a long time ago."

She walked over to the far window, gazing at the twilight that covered the great maze. Jareth watched her, silent.

Sarah sighed, her attention still on the outside, "I know what I did wrong the first time, Jareth. I was selfish, and naive. But, you have to understand that I was also still a child."

"I know," Jareth answered simply from his place at the long table.

There was a tone in Sarah's voice that he recognized, but could hardly believe was there. He had never heard it from her before. Jareth stood up and walked slowly over to where Sarah was standing.

"I'm sorry that it had to end the way it did, Jareth. But, I don't regret it. I did what I thought I had to do. Unfortunately, it was the wrong thing. What D'Vinnian did…it helped me to open my eyes…and, according to him, that's what helped the Labyrinth heal,"

Sarah paused, wondering exactly what to say next. Finally, she gave up,

"I love you, Jareth."

Jareth was about two paces from her and he froze. Did she say what he thought she just said? She loved him? Somehow, Jareth couldn't quite believe his ears. He covered the remaining distance between them, standing directly behind Sarah. Her heart was pounding so rapidly, she was sure she would faint. She felt Jareth's presence behind her, but she couldn't bring herself to turn around.

"Sarah," Jareth said, his voice no more than a strained whisper as he tried to hold back his own emotions until he was sure of what he heard.

"Sarah, look at me. What did you say?"

He touched her shoulder gently, and Sarah finally turned. Jareth searched her eyes and was amazed to see that they shone with love. He had heard correctly, then. She did love him. Before Sarah had the chance to repeat herself, Jareth's head lowered and he caught her lips with his own.

Whatever Sarah had been expecting, it hadn't been that. She knew realistically that a kiss would happen, but she wasn't prepared for what it felt like. Nothing before had ever made her feel so loved, so right, and so alive. As cliché as it was, Sarah truly felt as if her heart had wings. Jareth's kiss was more than she ever dreamed it could be. Firm, but soft and warm. She responded immediately to the gentle glide of his velvet lips over her own. Tentatively, nervously, her arms rose and she rested her hands on his forearms. Jareth responded by wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing her to him, diminishing that little space between them. Her arms slowly found their way around his neck, her fingers twisting the strands of moonlight hair they found there. Finally, regrettably, the kiss ended. For a moment, Sarah didn't want to open her eyes, didn't want to break the magic that had sparked between them. She understood now what D'Vinnian had meant when he called love a source of magic. With Jareth, she felt that it was. She subconsciously ran her tongue over her still tingling lips, then opened her eyes to find Jareth watching her intently. He was truly mesmerizing, the emotions in his gaze perfectly readable to her now.

"I love you," she whispered again and the king smiled.

For a moment, nothing was said, nothing had to be said.

"Cherish," the Goblin King mumbled, breaking the brief silence.

He seemed as hypnotized by that kiss as Sarah was. He hadn't even been sure he'd spoken out loud until he saw Sarah cock her head in question.

He smiled gently at her, "I cherish you," he elaborated.

She smiled, "Cherish? That's an odd choice of words, don't you think?"

He shook his head no, moving back from the warm comfort of Sarah's embrace to lead her back to the table.

"It's the perfect choice, my Sarah. Are you familiar with the music of your father's generation?"

Sarah looked at Jareth oddly as she sat down, "Yes. Are you?"

The Goblin King laughed at her expression as he sat beside her.

Quickly, he motioned to the food, "We'd better eat before it spoils."

When Sarah acquiesced and picked up her fork, the king continued.

"I am very familiar with the music of Aboveground. I suppose one could call it my hobby."

Here, Sarah laughed and Jareth shot her an affronted look, making her laugh harder.

After a moment, she quieted, "I'm sorry, Jareth, but it seems odd that you would take an interest in the music of my world…especially old music."

Jareth smiled, "Think what you will, Sarah, but there are many good songs from your parent's era. Including the one I was thinking of."

Still smiling at the absurd mental image of the mythical Goblin King buying old vinyl records, Sarah asked,

"What song would that be?"

"A song called Cherish."

"I see. And how does it fit our present situation?"

"You're teasing, dear," Jareth chided, a smile of his own on his lips.

Sarah's eyes grew wide, "Me? Would I do such a thing?"

Jareth chuckled, "Yes, you would."

She narrowed her eyes and, overcome with a childish impulse, stuck her tongue out.

Jareth merely laughed harder, "You would change your mind if you heard the lyrics."

"Well, then, why don't you sing it for me?" Sarah asked lightly, but seriously.

Jareth smiled, "It would be my pleasure."

He stood up and offered his hand to Sarah. She glanced wistfully at her food before accepting the proffered hand and rising once more.

"So much for eating a decent meal tonight," she teased quietly as Jareth drew her towards him.

He flashed her a mischievous grin before dipping his head and kissing her once more, quickly but deeply.

"Although, I suppose the alternative is much more appealing," Sarah breathed once he released her lips, intoxicated by his kiss once again.

Jareth's deep laugh wrapped around her, poured over her like rich chocolate syrup and she closed her eyes to savor it, leaning her head in the hollow of his shoulder.

"You suppose?" Jareth asked, wrapping one arm around her waist, and taking her hand with his free one, twining their fingers and placing their hands over his heart as her free arm reached up to wrap around his neck.

"Well, I'm still waiting to hear the lyrics to this perfect song," Sarah responded contentedly, without opening her eyes.

As Jareth opened his mouth to sing, they also started to sway slowly together. The servant's door closed soundlessly to give the new lovers privacy. Peake and Kajna looked at each other, bright eyes glowing with excitement. It looked as though there would be a new Goblin Queen.

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Cherish is the word I use to describe

All the feelings that I have hiding here for you inside

You don't know how many times I wish that I had told you

You don't know how many times I wish that I could hold you

You don't know how many times I wish that I could mold you

Into someone who could cherish me as much as I cherish you

Cherish is the word that more than applies

To the hole in my heart each time I realize

That I am not gonna be the one to share your dreams

That I am not gonna be the one to share you schemes

That I am not gonna be the one to share what seems to be the life that you could cherish

As much as I do yours

Oh I'm beginning to think

That man has never found

The words that could make you want me

That have the right amount of letters

Just the right sound

That could make you hear

Make you see that you are driving me out of my mind

Oh I could say I need you

But then you'd realize

That I want you

Just like a thousand other guys

Who'd say they love you

With all the rest of their lives

When all they wanted to was to touch your face

Your hands

And gaze into your eyes

Cherish is the word I use to describe

All the feelings that I have hiding here for you inside

You don't know how many times I wish that I had told you

You don't know how many times I wish that I could hold you

You don't know how many times I wish that I could mold you into someone

Who could cherish me as much as I cherish you

And I do

Cherish you

And I do

Cherish you

Cherish is the word

(Cherish by: The Association, 1966)