Once again I would like to thank all those who have reviewed. You have no idea how much of review junkie I am. Anyway I'm glad you all like the way the story is progressing, you'll have to forgive me for the stand still of the plot right now because the next couple of chapters are going to be background material. Anyway enjoy and don't forget to review.

Disclaimers: We all know it and I will reiterate that if Henson Inc. is willing to sell me Jareth I will pay for shipping, hell I'd be willing to drive out to California to pick him up. The only problem would be getting him through customs.
"Yes sir, he is the Goblin King and no he does not have a visa. Yes I guess he is kind of an illegal alien. Oh darn for you to stay in the country Jareth we have to get married. Heck I'm willing to make the sacrifice."
Oh well on with the show....

It was a very interesting experience for Jareth. In looking back on those few seconds he would have thought they lasted an eternity. He remembered Sarah getting very upset, the baby in distress and Mortiana laying her cold and unforgiving hands on his wife and child. He had only one option at this point. After throwing Mortiana off with his magic, he grabbed Sarah's chin and forced her to look into his eyes. "Sleep," he whispered and then transported her to their bedchambers. Immediately following he drew up a protective barrier over his entire castle. He would deal with Mortiana alone with Sarah safe from harm.

Mortiana, caught aback with the sudden disappearance of her prize, stopped laughing momentarily. "Come now, Jareth, you cannot forget our deal," she purred.

He glared at her, cold, indifferent eyes meeting each other and standing ground. Both unforgiving and uncompromising.

"I had hoped that you would have the good taste to send warning before rudely showing up like this, Mortiana," Jareth hissed.

"Without warning, my dear Goblin King, I should think you would have noticed the many 'warnings' I sent you. Do you honestly think that your wife's dreams had no merit in reality, they were my little way of letting you know that the time had come again to satisfy our agreement."

"Don't toy with me Mortiana, our deal states that you can claim a child from me but not one of my own, besides you are a week early. For ritght now you have no business here, leave before I banish you to my Bog."

"You forget the conditions of our agreement Jareth," she replied forming a rolled piece of parchment in the air and tossing it to him, "I can take any child I choose from you including your own flesh and blood."

Jareth visibly tensed and snatched the parchment from the air, with a flick of his wrist it disappeared once more.

He turned away from her and looked up at his castle thinking of Sarah, without turning back he muttered, "Leave Mortiana, you have caused me enough trouble for one day, we will finish our agreement, in one week."

Mortiana, bristling with rage, drew her cloak around her body. "Fine, my dear Goblin King," she spat, "in one week I will be back for the child, unless of course you want to take this before the council." With this she smiled wickedly once again letting her sharp canine teeth be apparent and disappeared into a cloud of smoke and ash.

Jareth shaken beyond words disappeared from the garden and reappeared in the master bedchambers. He quietly walked over to the bed and looked down at his sleeping wife. She looked so contented and calm; she was experiencing the most peaceful rest she had had in many weeks. He sat on the bed and lightly brushed away a few stray tendrils of hair from her face.

"My dear Sarah, I have done an irreparable wrong and because of it you are forced to suffer with me."

He kissed her lightly on the lips and quietly got up and left the room. Walking to his study his mind raced. Raced of thoughts of regret and thoughts of the past. Why had he made a deal with that devil?

His study offered him some solace for his thoughts. The large room with its dark emerald tapestries hanging from large windows. The plethora of bookcases filled to the breaking point with books, and the large fireplace with gargoyle headpieces. Right now the grimace of these ethereal beings mirrored his own.

His pent up rage finally got the best of him and he threw his arms across a nearby table knocking all the papers and books piled upon it. He growled loudly and sat down in the accompanying chair putting his face in his hands.

Sarah would sleep for several more hours. Maybe that would give him the time he needed to find the explanations that she would so desperatly need.

"Sarah, I'm so sorry."

He drew a crystal from the air and gazed into it. He was met with the vision of Mortiana gazing back at him and laughing wickedly. "And the time will come, Goblin King," she replied coldly before falling back into that deafening laughter.

Jareth roared and threw the crystal into the fireplace where it burst into a shower and flames and sparks igniting a fire.

He stood and closed his eyes. He sent out a metal message to the only person he knew who could help him, "Bartlby, I need you."