A.N.: How are we doing so far? Still with me? Did I mention how very inspiring I find your reviews? The more the merrier. Theme song for this chapter: "Heart of Glass" by Blondie. Don't ask me why.

Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine. I would like to thank Henson Productions, however, for graciously allowing me to borrow.

Beth's aunt had, of course, been delighted at the prospect of long-term visitors. Beth had always been her favorite niece, partly because she was one of the few family members who still spoke to her. Beth explained how her aunt's mystical beliefs and psychic abilities had made her into the black sheep of her strict Catholic family. Sarah could relate – her own love of fantasy had always annoyed her family and they had never really accepted it. Beth's aunt owned an old house she had converted into a bed and breakfast with a used bookstore and a room for her to give Tarot readings. She assured the girls there was plenty of room and even jobs if they were interested. Beth hadn't mentioned the pregnancy; she decided to let Sarah tell her when she was ready. That's why they were both shocked at her aunt's greeting. After hugging them both, she looked behind them expectantly.

"So where's the third one?" she asked.

Sarah recovered first and placed her hand over her still-flat stomach. "In here Ms. Hampshire."

"Oh, call me aunt Tori, everyone else does. Well that certainly explains things. I was getting some very confusing visions about your visit. So, come on in, I've got your rooms all ready for you."

There was no question how Tori stayed in business once Sarah saw her room. The walls were a soft blue with white oak furniture and even a homemade quilted bedspread. It was the quintessential home away from home – a nice break from the monotony and cheerlessness of the local hotels that housed all the tourists that Floridians seemed to both love and hate. Sarah felt a little guilty since she too was one of those "damn Yankees" coming south to roost. As if reading her mind, Tori assured her, "Don't worry about the locals. You'll get along fine once they see you don't run around with a camcorder looking for Disney world. Besides," she added with a wink, "you're with me. That automatically makes you cool."

The bookstore was actually separate from the house. A renovated two-story garage had been converted into Tori's second source of income. With a door on the street for the people not staying at the hotel and a "back door" for guests, it finished off the quaint feel Tori was cultivating. Leading the girls over a worn path through the garden between the house and the guest entrance to the bookstore, Sarah was busy admiring the Florida foliage when Tori ushered them into her "haven" as she affectionately called it. The bookstore, aptly named "All Booked Up", was two stories of neatly arranged bookcases full of books, CDs, videos, even a small "vinyl vault" in one corner. A few comfy couches and chairs were placed here and there, unobtrusive and inviting. Tori had a small room in the back for her Tarot readings, but it wasn't full of the incense and trinkets Sarah expected. In fact, it looked more like what her grandmother would call a drawing room – just a comfortable room for friends to drink coffee and chat. Tori explained the rules of the bookstore: guests were more than welcome to check out anything during their stay. Upon checking out they returned the book and if it was damaged (something which she assured them almost never happened), the guest understood that they were responsible for paying for it. "The catch" she explained, "is that more often than not the guests find themselves halfway through the book and about to leave. So they feel compelled to buy it in order to finish. It's a great system when you consider how fickle Florida weather can be. One day of rain has everyone scrambling for something to do indoors, and 9 times out of 10 that means reading."

It was decided that Sarah would man the bookstore while Beth opted for something outdoors. "The dust'll drive me nuts. Besides, you need to be off your feet."

The first few days were uneventful. The two girls learned their new responsibilities as bookstore keeper and gardener, respectively, and began learning their way around town. More often than not Sarah found herself daydreaming, and inevitably her thoughts turned to Jareth, the other half responsible for what was growing inside her. She was frustrated with herself trying to decide whether or not to try and contact him. Several times she had sat before her vanity, preparing to say the words she hoped would bring him back, and every time she chickened out. After all, he had made no effort to contact her. She wondered briefly if he had gotten her pregnant on purpose, but she doubted it. After all, since the Goblin King stole babies, it would only make sense that he would lay claim to something that was, in part at least, rightfully his. No, she decided, he didn't know because he hadn't bothered coming to see her again. Of all the people to have a one-night stand with, she chose a Fae king who probably surrounded himself with beautiful women. The idea that she might just be another faceless tally mark on his scorecard killed her. Well, he wouldn't know about their child as long as she could help it. At least, that's what she resolved half the time. The other half was spent sitting in front of her vanity trying to think of the best way to phrase "Congratulations! You're a father!"

 

As promised, the locals quickly warmed to the two girls, particularly Sarah. Being a small town on the Gulf coast, news traveled quickly about "Tori's girls" as they were being called. Crotchety fishermen who once sat around the local grocery store scowling when she walked up now jumped up to open doors for her and offered to carry her groceries. She couldn't walk anywhere without someone offering her a ride and all the local women smiled at her knowingly, as if sharing a secret Sarah herself wasn't entirely aware of yet. She was surprised at the very liberal approach these people were taking, when she herself felt like some kind of fuck trophy, until Beth let it slip that she had started a bit of a rumor on Sarah's behalf.

"You told them WHAT?" Sarah exclaimed.

"Look, no offense Sarah, but it doesn't sound very good: a one-night stand with a high school crush, practically a stranger, who gets you knocked up and disappears. That's why we left in the first place, remember? Here you can tell them whatever you want and no one has to be the wiser." Beth argued.

"Yes, but a husband? You told them my husband left when I got pregnant? So now I'm a pity case."

"Believe me, that's probably better. And everyone likes you, so what does it matter?"

"It matters because it's not the truth, and besides, what if someone finds out what actually happened?"

Beth paused at that, thinking. "Were you going to tell him? The father, I mean. Do you know how to reach him?" she asked quietly. Neither one had mentioned the idea before, but it was obviously the one thing that weighed the most on their thoughts. Sarah sighed, "Yes, I know how to reach him. At least, I think I do. But no, I haven't decided whether or not to tell him."

"Don't you think he should know?"

Why? He probably wouldn't want anything to do with it."

"But you don't know that. Don't you think he should get the chance to decide for himself? I just don't think it's very fair to hide this from him since you're going to keep it and all." Beth pressed gently.

"Well you know what? I didn't get a say in this either, so don't talk to me about fair until you get pregnant. Then maybe you'll have a basis for comparison!" Sarah yelled, storming out the front door.

She fumed all the way down to the beach a few blocks off, ignoring the passing cars offering her a ride or just a friendly hello. She calmed down significantly after slipping off her sandals and kicking at sandcastles left by random visiting children. Children. She would have one of her own in about 7 months. She would know the sex in another week or two, then it would be certain: a son or a daughter. Something definite, knowledge she could decorate a nursery with. She wandered down towards the pier to watch the sunset. This had quickly become her favorite place to think, to relax. The sound of the waves rolling past her as she stood above them created a calming effect. She wondered if that was what her child heard as it rocked inside of her. She hoped so. Leaning against the pier, watching the sunset, everything seemed so much simpler. Absently she ran her hand over her belly, now more rounded, and wondered about the child inside. Could she really decide to deny him or her the chance for a father? What kind of parent would she be then? No, whether or not Jareth wanted to be involved, she couldn't choose for him. Beth was right. Her mind made up, she turned for home and prepared to do what she should have done that first morning. She was going to call him and tell him the truth. What he decided after that was up to him.