A.N.: Alright, I'm back. My work schedule has made it difficult to write as often, but I'm trying. Keep reviewing, as I find them quite inspiring. Theme song? "Fade into You" by Mazzy Star.
Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine. Damn.
Sarah's pregnancy continued at a fairly normal pace. It wasn't any easier than human childbirth, but if she had been hoping for a simple, painless term due to the child's Fae side, she was sorely disappointed. She had been going to Lamaze classes faithfully with Beth, determined to have a natural childbirth since she had no idea how drugs might affect a baby not entirely human. Trey, too, had stayed at the hotel keeping an eye on her. While she still didn't trust him completely she also had to admit she had no reason not to. He was nothing but helpful, never underfoot yet always there to answer a question she might have regarding magic or the Fae. She was now in her seventh month, and she realized the time was fast approaching when she would have to decide whether or not to take Trey up on his offer. She had been at the pier, hoping the sound of the waves would carry an answer upon them. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through her reverie.
"It's beautiful out here, isn't it?" Trey asked, coming up behind her.
"Yeah," she answered, still a bit distracted, "this is my favorite spot to come and think."
"And what, pray tell, has you looking so lost?" His gaze was too intense, too familiar for her to look at very long. She quickly looked back out over the ocean.
"I was trying to decide about her future. My little girl won't have a father, won't be entirely human." she let out a bitter laugh, "Talk about a head start. She hasn't even been born and I've fucked her up."
"Sarah, you're not being fair to yourself. You had no way of predicting this." Trey argued.
"See, and there's that word again. Everyone keeps telling me it's not fair, but you know what? That doesn't change anything. I still have this decision to make, and it's not easy when you're by yourself."
"Well, is there anything I can help you with?"
She thought a moment. "Tell me something, if, hypothetically speaking, I were to agree to allow you and your friends to train her, would we have to live in the Underground?"
"I'm afraid so. Magic is not strong enough here, she would be seriously hampered in an already difficult situation. But to be honest, she's better off. The only ties she would have to humanity are through you; she would never really fit in."
Sarah looked even more dejected than before. Trey quickly changed tactics.
"Sarah," he started, taking her hand in his, "I realize Jareth hurt you and I know we don't know each other that well yet, but…you wouldn't be completely alone Underground." he finished as he kissed her hand. She stared at him, dumbfounded, and once again found herself in that intense stare of his. So familiar, but…
"And I realize being tutored is not the same as being fathered, but I would care for your child like my own." Which was true, in a way. One doesn't toss about one's tools lightly, especially a tool that would give one the kingdom. Sarah, of course, was not aware of this and therefore saw only sincerity in those deep blue depths. Hoping to gain the advantage, Trey quickly moved in and kissed her, sliding his hand comfortingly over her belly. It was the first time anyone but Sarah had laid a hand on the baby (she hated people who just walked up and touched her stomach, so she had always avoided it during her pregnancy). The baby reacted violently, kicking at the foreign hand and causing Sarah to crumple onto the floor.
* * *
Likewise, Jareth received a sharp pain through his mind.
"What the hell?" He lurched forward at the unexpected sensation but then quickly identified it. It was the presence he had been feeling off and on, only this time it was stronger, and it was scared…and angry. It was definitely some kind of Fae magic, but there was Earth magic as well. Frustrated, he searched his crystal yet again for whatever could be calling for him with no luck. Research did no good either. There was nothing in the texts that would account for both forms of magic being present; such a scenario simply didn't exist.
* * *
"Omigod, Sarah! Are you alright?" Trey asked, helping her up from the ground.
"Yeah, fine." she mumbled, wrapping her arms around herself protectively. When he advanced to "help" her further she backed up, "Um, just…just give me some space, alright?"
"Sarah, I – "
"Look, it's not you. I appreciate your concern and all but I want to be alone right now, ok?"
He didn't say anything else, just disappeared. She sighed, looking back over the water. Neither decision was a good one in her opinion, and the baby had made her feelings QUITE clear she thought. She shouldn't have to make this decision; if Jareth weren't a worthless piece of shit, she wouldn't have to. Suddenly the anger flared up again. Running her hands over her stomach she whispered, "Well, I wish your father were here right now, I'd give him a piece of my mind." She didn't realize what effect her words would have until she heard the soft creak of the wooden deck behind her.
"Trey, I thought I said…"she trailed off as she spun around. It wasn't Trey.
Jareth looked just as shocked to see her as she was to see him.
