Disclaimer: The Labyrinth, its characters, songs, and phrases are
unfortunately not mine. They belong to Jim Henson Productions. However,
Ione, Apollo, and Isis are my original characters as well as the story.
Please do not use my characters without my permission.
Chapter 17: Hope Springs Eternal
Jareth woke slowly. His first thought was that he was very warm although he gradually remembered that he'd been caught in a snowstorm. He opened his eyes and saw a crackling fir in a fireplace. Next he realized that he was under a pile of blankets. With startling reality he discovered that he was not dressed. Jareth sat up and Ione was startled awake. She sat up and back out of her bed as Jareth jumped up realizing he was not alone.
"What the." he looked around quietly since his back had been to her. "Ione! What on earth is going on? And where are my clothes?" Ione backed away quickly color rising.
"You were nearly frozen when we found you, Jareth. We had to warm you quickly."
"And my clothes?"
"I had Apollo dry them. They were almost stiff with cold and you were soaked through."
Jareth looked at her suspiciously.
"So this wasn't just an excuse to get another view?"
Ione shuddered visibly, and a look of disgust crossed her features for a moment. "If you must know, I had to force myself to remove your clothes for your sake. I am not interested in another child, Jareth."
"Then why were you sleeping with me?"
"Are you deaf? I said you were freezing and needed drastic warming. Body contact is the best source of heat. It took a good five minutes to convince myself to be within ten feet of you, but it had to be done. Now is that all you wish to know?"
Jareth smirked slightly.
"When will I get my clothes back?"
Ione carefully opened the door and found the dry clothes had been left in a basket outside her door. She picked it up and walked back in. Jareth had covered himself with a blanket and took the clothes behind a panel to change.
"You didn't have to cover up you know. I already know what you look like."
Jareth could almost hear how difficult it was for her to say that.
"It doesn't matter. You still light up like a virgin anyway. I figured I'd save you from resembling a candle." Jareth smirked again knowing his response would cause her to blush anyway.
"You're so thoughtful!"
Jareth could hear the blatant sarcasm and laughed out loud.
"You're precious Ione U! Very precious." Ione looked up.
"You really think so?" she asked softly.
"Yes, I do," Jareth said coming out fully dressed. Ione reclined on the bed but sat up again when he came out, and Jareth joined her on the edge.
"I had thought you were changing for me, but I thought I was just seeing what I wanted to see."
"Apollo told me just after Isis was born that I needed to show you romance. I have only just begun to realize what he meant, but it's been worth it. You've been a different woman since I started giving without expecting. The children have noticed too."
"I know they had commented to me about my mood."
"Ione, I want you and the children to be a part of my life," Jareth said taking her hand. "I can't promise you marriage, but I want the three of you back in the castle with me."
"Yes, Jareth, we will come."
"I will go and prepare your rooms," he said as he began to disappear.
"I love you, Jareth," she said to his fading form. "However long it takes, I love you."
He said nothing, but Ione caught a faint glimpse of a smile on his face. It might take centuries, but she was patient. He knew he loved her in a way different from Sarah, and someday he would come to her. Someday.
Chapter 17: Hope Springs Eternal
Jareth woke slowly. His first thought was that he was very warm although he gradually remembered that he'd been caught in a snowstorm. He opened his eyes and saw a crackling fir in a fireplace. Next he realized that he was under a pile of blankets. With startling reality he discovered that he was not dressed. Jareth sat up and Ione was startled awake. She sat up and back out of her bed as Jareth jumped up realizing he was not alone.
"What the." he looked around quietly since his back had been to her. "Ione! What on earth is going on? And where are my clothes?" Ione backed away quickly color rising.
"You were nearly frozen when we found you, Jareth. We had to warm you quickly."
"And my clothes?"
"I had Apollo dry them. They were almost stiff with cold and you were soaked through."
Jareth looked at her suspiciously.
"So this wasn't just an excuse to get another view?"
Ione shuddered visibly, and a look of disgust crossed her features for a moment. "If you must know, I had to force myself to remove your clothes for your sake. I am not interested in another child, Jareth."
"Then why were you sleeping with me?"
"Are you deaf? I said you were freezing and needed drastic warming. Body contact is the best source of heat. It took a good five minutes to convince myself to be within ten feet of you, but it had to be done. Now is that all you wish to know?"
Jareth smirked slightly.
"When will I get my clothes back?"
Ione carefully opened the door and found the dry clothes had been left in a basket outside her door. She picked it up and walked back in. Jareth had covered himself with a blanket and took the clothes behind a panel to change.
"You didn't have to cover up you know. I already know what you look like."
Jareth could almost hear how difficult it was for her to say that.
"It doesn't matter. You still light up like a virgin anyway. I figured I'd save you from resembling a candle." Jareth smirked again knowing his response would cause her to blush anyway.
"You're so thoughtful!"
Jareth could hear the blatant sarcasm and laughed out loud.
"You're precious Ione U! Very precious." Ione looked up.
"You really think so?" she asked softly.
"Yes, I do," Jareth said coming out fully dressed. Ione reclined on the bed but sat up again when he came out, and Jareth joined her on the edge.
"I had thought you were changing for me, but I thought I was just seeing what I wanted to see."
"Apollo told me just after Isis was born that I needed to show you romance. I have only just begun to realize what he meant, but it's been worth it. You've been a different woman since I started giving without expecting. The children have noticed too."
"I know they had commented to me about my mood."
"Ione, I want you and the children to be a part of my life," Jareth said taking her hand. "I can't promise you marriage, but I want the three of you back in the castle with me."
"Yes, Jareth, we will come."
"I will go and prepare your rooms," he said as he began to disappear.
"I love you, Jareth," she said to his fading form. "However long it takes, I love you."
He said nothing, but Ione caught a faint glimpse of a smile on his face. It might take centuries, but she was patient. He knew he loved her in a way different from Sarah, and someday he would come to her. Someday.