*Hey! Thanks so much for the reviews! I'm glad that SOMEONE enjoys my stories lol. OH I never told you that Julie is short for her full name, Juliet. But nobody knows about it because Julie makes sure that they don't. lol Anywho, on with chapter 4!*

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Julie continued on her journey, walking through the Oubliette, humming a Japanese choir song she had learned recently, called "Hotaru Koi (Ho, Firefly)".

She rounded a corner, singing a part of the song, " Hota - ru  no  oto  sa - n  ka - ne - mo - chi da… Do - ri de  o - shi - ri  ga  pika  pika  da…" she hadn't paid attention to where she was going and she ran into something firm and warm. She looked up to see Jareth standing there, an amused smile playing across his lips.

His mismatched eyes sparkled with mischief, " Having fun singing about someone's rear end, are we?"

Julie put her hands on her hips and glared at him, " Don't you have a kingdom to run?" her eyes narrowed, "Or do you just love annoying me?"

Jareth chuckled and stroked her cheek with a gloved finger, " Juliet… Don't you know how you've turned my world upside down?"

Julie's eyes widened and she jerk away from his touch, backing up a few feet, " What did you just call me? And what is up with this declaration of feelings?!" she looked around in exasperation, " What is the DEAL?!"

Jareth sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, willing the frustration away. He took a tentative step, " Juliet, it is time that we should talk."

In a split second, Julie had Jareth pinned against the wall, her hands gripping the collar of his white poet's shirt.            " Do NOT call me Juliet EVER again. Do you understand me?!" she growled. She then looked away, " It's Julie, if you don't mind." She then looked at Jareth, sadness and regret in her eyes, " I must go. I don't have much time left." And with that, she turned to walk away.

Jareth stopped her by grabbing her right arm, " Julie, wait."

She turned around and looked him in the eye, " Yes, Jareth?"

Before she realized it, Jareth had transported them both to the castle in a bedroom… Jareth' s bedroom. Julie took in her surroundings. They both sat on the four-post bed, Jareth holding her hand. The bed sheets were made of silk, deep red and white being the color scheme of the bed. Above, a canopy of silk in the same colors hung from the ceiling, tied together by a golden cord at the top. The bedposts had little carvings of faeries, goblins, elves and every other mystical being, along with ivy. Candles were lit everywhere, casting a warm glow in the dim room. Julie's jaw dropped in awe and she looked up at Jareth, her violet eyes wide with curiosity. She saw no emotion in Jareth' s eyes except for love, sadness, longing and… Desire. He smiled softly, a genuine smile. Julie's heart skipped a beat and she swallowed the lump in her throat, tearing her gaze away from his. She fiddled with the deep red sheets, silk sliding between her fingers. She smiled. Exquisite.

Jareth lifted her chin up softly, " Julie… Look at me." Her eyes met his and she inhaled sharply at the amount of desire held within his light blue and greenish eyes.

He brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of her hand, his eyes never leaving hers, " I love you, Julie… Ever since I first saw you." Julie blushed and looked away once again, focusing her attention on a picture on the far wall. Could this be true?

*GONG*

Julie's head snapped up when she heard the clock strike 13.

*GONG*

Panic started to rise within her, and she looked at Jareth, who was smiling softly. Julie jumped up immediately, tearing her hand free from his grip.

*GONG*

            "You tricked me!" She shouted over another gong of the massive clock in the Grand Hallway.

She backed away towards the door and Jareth got up, swift strides bringing him closer to her and grabbing her wrist, " Tut tut, Julie… I did no such thing." The last gong ended, leaving the deafening silence in its wake.

Julie's eyes widened in fear for her brother and she tore out of the room, " NO!" and she ran blindly through Jareth' s castle, desperately trying to find Makaio. She ran into the throne room and saw Makaio sitting there, playing with a crystal ball and Julie reached out, " No Makaio!" He looked up at her and then he disappeared.

Julie slumped down onto the floor in defeat. She had lost. She lost her brother because she was so naïve and so wrapped up in… Her eyes widened and then a tear streaked down her cheek, her lower lip trembling slightly. She had lost because she had been wrapped up in Jareth and his charms.

Her tears flowed freely now, and she sobbed quietly, her hands covering her face, " I'm so sorry… So sorry…"

Jareth walked up to her quietly, and he glanced at the poor girl crumpled in a heap at his feet. He kneeled on one knee and whispered into Julie's ear, " It's not too late to save your brother, Julie. You can take his place and I will send him back to the Aboveground."

Julie sniffled and looked up at him through tear stained eyes, " You… You will?"

Jareth' s eyes softened and he smiled at her softly, " Of course." Julie looked back down at her hands.

She sniffled again, " Alright. I'll take his place," she said softly.

The Goblin King smiled and he snapped his fingers, " Done," and Julie cried some more.