Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from "Labyrinth". This fic is
just my humble equivalent of taco salad.
Chapter 18
Sarah's jaw almost hit the floor.
Should she scream because there was a strange man in her bedroom or was that really her husband?
She knew that Jareth had a lovely singing voice and the man bellowing "Good Morning Merry Sunshine" to her at the top of his lungs sounded somewhat like the husband she knew. Whoever it was, his ass in jeans was enough to cause a ten-car pileup. Jareth stood before her in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up and a few buttons left undone to show off the pendant he always wore. His hair had been pulled back into a neat ponytail and his jeans fit him like - well it was indecent to admit what they fit him like.
Sarah goggled at him for a moment, then decided that she had to be dreaming and pulled the covers back over her head.
Jareth was hurt. He had spent hours in secret with Whimsyn to get those jeans to fit PERFECTLY and this was what he got for it? Without further ado, he stripped the covers off of his wife, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her to the bathroom where he dropped her straight into the Jacuzzi tub. My she made a nice splash. His morning was improving already.
Sarah's own rating of her morning had already plummeted to 5.8. Make that a 2.3. That water was just a leeee-tle on the icy side. Gasping and spluttering, she lunged for her husband to drag him into the tub with her and give him a good dunking, but he dodged her easily.
"Tsk-tsk. If you don't behave, then you won't get your surprise," he purred, watching her from a safe distance with a self-satisfied grin on his face.
Sarah's gaze shot daggers as she sulked in a sopping, freezing puddle inside the tub.
"If this water doesn't get any warmer, I'll go hypothermic and I'll be damn lucky to survive this surprise let alone the next," she muttered, her eyes challenging him to prove otherwise.
"I didn't realize you were so fragile." he laughed. He edged toward the tub, keeping a very close eye on Sarah just in case she tried to jump him again and dipped his fingers into the water. Instantly, she felt the water heat and saw tiny lilac-scented bubbles foam around her.
"And, Sarah," the king smiled at her knowing his next gesture would probably just get him into more trouble, "do drink this before you speak to me again." A steaming mug of coffee appeared at the edge of the tub.
Sarah didn't know whether to kiss him or kill him.
Twenty minutes later, she reluctantly left the warm bathroom to search for Jareth. When she entered their bedroom he wasn't anywhere in sight, but sitting on the bed was a package exquisitely wrapped with a card bearing her name on it. Curiously, she picked up the card and opened it.
"To my beautiful wife,
Keeping you warm at night is my greatest pleasure. Please accept my gift to keep you warm during the day.
Jareth"
Sarah opened the package and gave a little squeal of happiness. He was going to keep his word and allow her to see her family after all. Of course! That explained the jeans. She lifted a deliciously soft sweater from the package and a pair of wool slacks. Inside she also found some warm socks and a set of fine leather boots. Happily, she donned her new outfit and went to look at herself in the mirror. The red color of the sweater brought out the natural blush on her cheeks and the slacks made her legs look long and sexy. That Whimsyn was an artist.
As she caught her reflection, she also caught Jareth trying to sneak up behind her. She whirled on him and before he could react, threw her arms around him in a bear hug. Poor Jareth was nearly knocked off his feet. Not that he noticed. The experience of Sarah throwing herself into his arms with a cry of joy had just made his life. Perhaps this visit to her parents wouldn't be all that bad.
Jareth had been alternately looking forward to the trip Aboveground and dreading it. He looked forward to anything that might give him a sturdier foothold in Sarah's affections. He was dreading their journey because his knowledge of Aboveworld culture and customs was somewhat limited. He hated to admit it, but the majority of his experiences Aboveground had involved kidnapping children or spying on Sarah. Given the violent reactions of the mortals he'd encountered to said kidnappings, he suspected that abducting children wasn't socially acceptable in Sarah's world. He was even more afraid of the reaction he would get if his wife knew he had been watching her for the past thirteen years or so.
Sarah was a bundle of excitement and jumbled questions: When would they be leaving? How long could they stay? How much should she pack? Could she bring them presents? In her excitement she had completely forgotten to let go of her husband and chattered on animatedly about her family, eyes shining with anticipation. Jareth's arms stayed laced around her as he basked in her frequent and radiant smiles. He could get used to this.
"My dear, we'll leave this afternoon - or as soon as we can gather together everything we'll need. We can stay for one week - later visits may be longer, but I don't know how you'll react to the world your family lives in now that you are Fae. I'm not taking any risks with you." Jareth said, pulling her into his chest protectively. "As for presents, I'll need your guidance, but I'm certain we can manage something."
"Oh thank you, Jareth!! I lov-" Sarah cut herself off abruptly. WHAT had she almost said? She was suddenly aware of the way her husband was looking at her.
And Jareth was looking very amused indeed.
"You were saying?" he grinned at her wolfishly.
"Oh! What was I saying? Ah yes! PRESENTS! I just LOVE picking out presents for people!" she babbled just a little too loudly as she tried to slither out of the king's arms.
Jareth decided not to let go of her just yet. Instead he kept his arms coiled around her waist as he continued to smile at her wickedly.
"Is that all, little one, or is there something else you wanted to say?"
NO.
Really.
Sarah had NOTHING to say.
Dammit.
Dammit all to that infernally disgusting Bog.
Jareth was looking at her expectantly. Sarah's cheeks were burning and she couldn't meet his gaze. As king, Jareth could have ordered any woman he wanted to be his queen. Why he had chosen to marry her was a total mystery to Sarah, but she doubted that he had married her for love. When he had offered her the option of becoming his wife, she had been a mortal woman - plain and simple. Jareth could have chosen some beautiful, magical fairy princess for a wife instead. Well, Sarah could make the world's best taco salad, but Jareth would have no way of knowing about her special talent and she wasn't sure that he was really a taco salad kind of a guy.
"Um.Jareth, do you like taco salad?" she stammered.
"Taco-what?" he asked, utterly confused.
"Never mind," Sarah muttered, finally disengaging herself from his arms.
"Sarah! I ." Jareth made a grab for her but she was already out of reach.
"Yes?" she said, whirling back to face him.
The look in his eyes was so intense that she felt pinned to the spot.
"Nothing," he sighed. Jareth would move the stars if it might mean that Sarah would return his love, but he didn't want to force a confession from her. If she loved him, he wanted her to tell him of her own accord.
Of course you could always tell her how YOU feel about HER, a little voice nagged him inside his head. Why should he tell her? he grumbled to himself stubbornly. He'd shown her how he felt in every way he could imagine. Shouldn't that be more than enough to make his position clear?
"Jareth." Sarah said, trying to smile, "I guess we'd better pack."
"Mmm.I've already completed most of that for us. But you mentioned gifts - what would your family enjoy?"
That was a corker. There were lots of things in the Underground that she was certain her family would love, but those things were still from the UNDERGROUND. Jareth had actually put on jeans for this. The last thing she needed to do was blow their cover.
"I suppose we should just stop by a bookstore and a few gift shops when we travel Aboveground," she sighed resignedly. "I think they would get a little suspicious of our story of how we met if we brought them magic crystals and a pixie pet."
"Oh I have a few ideas of my own," Jareth said silkily, blessing Sarah with yet another one of his famously sinister grins.
Sarah raised an eyebrow at him. He wouldn't do anything to hurt her family would he? Of course not! Otherwise, why all the trouble to concoct a semi- plausible story complete with costumes?
Several hours later, Sarah, dressed in a warm wool coat, clung to Jareth holding their suitcase as he prepared to transport them to the Aboveworld. Instead of the buffeting winds she was expecting, the couple was enveloped in a warm, silvery light.
"Close your eyes, my queen," Jareth whispered.
Sarah obeyed. She opened them again when Jareth tapped her on the shoulder. To her delight, she found herself peering about the familiar patch of woods behind her parents' home.
"Why was that so easy? The last time we did this, your magic was so violent I was afraid I'd get blown away!"
Jareth reddened a bit.
"Couldn't very well have you escaping, now could I?" he murmured, taking her hand in his and leading her toward the house.
As Sarah recalled, the risk of her getting away in that moment had been minimal since he had tied her up and had also been holding her tightly in his arms; but for once, she decided not to argue. He was her husband now and there was no getting away from THAT even if World War III were to happen right there in her parents' back yard.
As they neared the front door, Sarah belatedly remembered that she had wanted to bring her family a few gifts.
"Jareth, maybe we could stop at a gift shop somewhere?"
"Don't worry, love. It's taken care of," Jareth beamed, looking quite pleased with himself. In his arms, he held an enormous gift basket filled with peaches.
That was it. Sarah was going to kill him.
Timing was never on her side. He had already rung the bell.
The door flew open and Sarah was nearly bowled over by the impact of the adolescent boy's hug. Toby kept forgetting that he was almost as big as Sarah now.
"Sarah!! Sarah, you're back!!" he kept shouting over and over. Richard and Karen weren't far behind and enveloped their daughter in hugs and kisses and tears.
"I'm so sorry I worried you guys so much!" Damn. She was crying again. The little family held each other for a few moments until Jareth gently cleared his throat.
"Oh! Oh my! Well we've certainly let our hospitality slip! Sarah, please introduce us to your.ah.husband." Richard was eyeing Jareth with a high degree of suspicion. If what Sarah had told him was true, then this man was responsible for saving his daughter's life. Something about the man was unsettling though. He looked regal, powerful, and in control - like a person accustomed to taking the things he wanted. If his little Sarah wasn't completely happy with this stranger, Richard would cheerfully wring his neck.
Jareth was also sizing up Richard from where he stood on the porch. He didn't miss the glimmer of wariness in Richard's eyes. The king pasted on his most charming and harmless smile and held his hand out to Sarah's father.
"I'm honored to meet you, sir. My name is Jareth. Jareth King."
Sarah almost fainted from shock. She had never heard her husband address ANYONE with "sir". Where the heck did he learn that?
Somewhat mollified, Richard took Jareth's proffered hand and shook it, squeezing just a little too hard. To his surprise, Jareth easily matched his grip. He watched as Jareth slid one arm possessively around Sarah while holding out the basket of peaches with one hand.
"Mr. and Mrs. Williams," Jareth smiled, "I've brought you a gift."
Sarah didn't trust the look in her husband's eyes for a second.
She took the basket from his grasp saying, "Why don't I just carry this inside," while shooting the king a very pointed look.
Fine, fine. Jareth knew he would have his fun with this situation one way or another. He simply grinned at his wife and followed her parents into the house.
Sarah was planning to discreetly carry the peaches straight to the dumpster outside, but Karen ambushed her before she could make it through the kitchen and lifting the basket from Sarah's grasp, insisted on hanging her coat while her father carried their bags upstairs. Toby had finally stopped leaping around them excitedly and stood staring at the Goblin King with intense curiosity. His brow furrowed momentarily, as if he were trying to remember something.
"What is it, my young man?" asked Jareth genially.
"Oh.nothing," Toby muttered. He looked embarrassed and Jareth noticed the boy's family resemblance to Sarah. He still has my eyes though, the king thought, oddly pleased.
Karen bustled about making hot cocoa and directing everyone to please have a seat in the living room so that they all could get better 'acquainted'. The first few minutes of sitting were somewhat uncomfortable, but at her father's prompting, Sarah again related the story of how she had gone out to see a friend in crisis, fallen down and hurt her head then developed a consuming fever. When she got to the part about Jareth finding her, she milked it for all it was worth, telling her parents how he had been a hero and cared for her so tenderly while she had been ill.
Jareth loooooooooved this part. Anything to listen to Sarah sing his praises. He figured he was probably in big trouble for the peach basket, but her monologue about his greatness would allow him to live in denial for at least a few more hours. The fact that he was watching Sarah with a stupidly happy grin on his face set her parents somewhat more at ease and the conversation started to flow more freely.
"So, Jareth," said Richard genially. "We haven't heard your account of these events yet. Tell us your version of the story!"
To panic or not to panic. Sarah's eyes were enormous as she looked over at her husband. She couldn't imagine what he would come up with, but had a sinking sensation that she was about to find out. That sparkle in his eye made her more than a little nervous.
"Well, I was minding my own business when I came across the most beautiful woman in the world lying in a heap in the gutter. Naturally, I was concerned for her welfare and so I was checking her for injuries when she started to move. I asked her if she was all right and then offered to help her out of the rain. By the time I was able to carry her back to my home, it was clear that she had developed a bad fever and so I cared for her as best I could. I had no idea who she was and she seemed in no condition to tell me."
Okay. So far, so good. Sarah almost got a sigh of relief in there before her father's next question. Almost.
"Ah," said Richard, in a measured tone. "And you never considered calling the police?"
"She seemed to be faring well enough without them," countered Jareth testily. "She was perfectly safe with me."
"I see. And just HOW did you care for Sarah?"
"DAD!" Sarah cut in sotto voce, indicating Toby out of the corner of her eyes. "Jareth was completely kind and attentive. I couldn't help falling head over heels in love with him!" Crud. She knew her story had more holes than a sieve. She couldn't see how her parents had ever believed the reasons she'd given them for her sudden marriage. She wasn't even a practicing Catholic!
Richard and Jareth sat glowering at each other and Sarah seized the moment to lean over and give her husband a resoundingly loud smooch.
"He's really the best thing that's ever happened to me, Dad. I couldn't trust anyone more."
Richard saw Sarah's brilliant smile and shining eyes and grudgingly gave into the fact that the stranger in front of him had captured his daughter's heart. He could practically feel his arms creaking as he let go of his suspicions and welcomed Jareth into the family with a warm hug.
Sarah thought her face might fall off if she had to keep smiling like that. For gods sake, her eyes were starting to tear up from the strain. At least she still had her sense of humor.
Ticket home: one forced marriage and a crystal.
Basket of peaches: one conjuring spell.
The look on Jareth's face when her father hugged him: Priceless.
Suddenly the smile on Sarah's face was no longer forced. If anything she was struggling to hold in her merriment. Seeking any excuse to leave, she murmured something about helping Karen in the kitchen and practically ran out of the door. She wasn't sure how smart she was to leave Jareth and her father alone, but if she didn't make a quick exit, she was going to explode.
As she entered the kitchen, she found Karen who looked at her with a knowing light in her eyes.
"Sweetheart, he seems wonderful!" her stepmother gushed. "And so handsome too!"
Oh god. Sarah wasn't certain she could listen to this. If Karen only knew.
Sarah's relationship with her stepmother had been pretty rocky through her teens, but once those raging hormones had settled down to a calmer level, she had started to appreciate Karen a little more. Sarah's own mother had abandoned the Williams family to pursue her acting career when Sarah was only ten. At first Karen was never able to measure up to Sarah's fantasies about her "real" mother, but over time, Sarah had to come to care for her stepmother - even love her. Karen asked about her day, listened to her problems, remembered her birthday, and made her chicken soup when she was sick. The most Sarah ever got from Linda was the occasional card. And even then, Sarah could tell that Linda's personal assistant had signed it.
"So, Sarah, tell me a little bit more about this Jareth. I have to confess I was really surprised when you called us and told us you were married. No offense, darling, but you haven't dated a lot over the years. Don't get me wrong - I'm truly happy for you! It's just that.this seems so unlike you. Want to talk about it a little? Set a mother's mind at ease?"
The urge to tell Karen the truth was so strong that it was physically painful for Sarah.
"Jareth.um.rescued me and.ah.he was so kind and uh.I just couldn't help falling in love with him."
Well, that wasn't entirely a lie. She was (to her incredible dawning horror) starting to have feelings for her husband.
"It's certainly obvious that he's head over heels in love with YOU, dear. The way he looks at you is enough to make MY knees week and I'm an old woman and your wicked stepmother to boot! Anytime you so much as open your mouth to speak to him, the man practically glows with happiness."
Could it really be true? Sarah wanted to believe Karen so badly, but her experiences with Jareth and his fondness for 'games' gave her pause. Sarah didn't want to lie to herself about her situation or end up breaking her own heart by giving her trust to man who couldn't keep it. If she counted up the days, she had only KNOWN Jareth for a week or so. If he were playing a game with her, he would only now be placing the finishing touches on whatever elaborate snare he had been planning for her all along.
Elaborate snare, huh? Two could play at that game.
"Karen, I was hoping you'd let me cook tonight. I haven't made my taco salad for you guys in awhile."
Sarah didn't have to ask twice.
Within moments, Sarah was cheerfully cooking up ingredients with Karen's (thankfully non-iron) all-copper kitchen set. As she cooked, she couldn't help but think of the man she hoped to impress with her culinary skills. Chopping up the vegetables, she thought of Jareth as he had looked when she had first told him she would consider marrying him - so surprised and vulnerable. Her mind wandered further to their wedding day, his gentle assurances as she greeted the fae nobility for the first time, and the night he had come to her rescue when his goblins were chasing her. By the time she was spicing the beef, she was remembering the 'interesting' evening they had shared only the day before. Sarah was still furious with him for that and had every intention of turning him into a beagle and tying HIM to something stationary; but while she trembled at the mere thought of being so utterly at her husband's mercy, 'rage' was not the only word for her feelings.
If Sarah had been paying more attention she might have noticed the sparks of magic that seemed to be flying from her fingertips as she was cooking. She might have hesitated to serve the dish she was preparing if she saw those little flecks of light melting into meat and vegetables she was mixing together. Honestly, the smell alone should have tipped her off. A taco salad didn't usually give off an odor that made a person think of sunshine, sex, and tropical breezes under a perfect blue sky. Sarah, remaining completely clueless (as she seemed to about so many things these days) was merely pleased that her cooking skills had not gone stale. She decided to skip the modesty thing and admit that this was the best taco salad she had ever made.
"Dinner's ready!" she called as she carried her culinary creation proudly into the dining room. What she saw was enough to make her stop dead. Jareth and her father were thrashing about on the floor and Toby was jumping around shouting. It looked like Jareth had her father in some sort of death grip and Toby was counting "Three! Two! One!!"
Chapter 18
Sarah's jaw almost hit the floor.
Should she scream because there was a strange man in her bedroom or was that really her husband?
She knew that Jareth had a lovely singing voice and the man bellowing "Good Morning Merry Sunshine" to her at the top of his lungs sounded somewhat like the husband she knew. Whoever it was, his ass in jeans was enough to cause a ten-car pileup. Jareth stood before her in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up and a few buttons left undone to show off the pendant he always wore. His hair had been pulled back into a neat ponytail and his jeans fit him like - well it was indecent to admit what they fit him like.
Sarah goggled at him for a moment, then decided that she had to be dreaming and pulled the covers back over her head.
Jareth was hurt. He had spent hours in secret with Whimsyn to get those jeans to fit PERFECTLY and this was what he got for it? Without further ado, he stripped the covers off of his wife, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her to the bathroom where he dropped her straight into the Jacuzzi tub. My she made a nice splash. His morning was improving already.
Sarah's own rating of her morning had already plummeted to 5.8. Make that a 2.3. That water was just a leeee-tle on the icy side. Gasping and spluttering, she lunged for her husband to drag him into the tub with her and give him a good dunking, but he dodged her easily.
"Tsk-tsk. If you don't behave, then you won't get your surprise," he purred, watching her from a safe distance with a self-satisfied grin on his face.
Sarah's gaze shot daggers as she sulked in a sopping, freezing puddle inside the tub.
"If this water doesn't get any warmer, I'll go hypothermic and I'll be damn lucky to survive this surprise let alone the next," she muttered, her eyes challenging him to prove otherwise.
"I didn't realize you were so fragile." he laughed. He edged toward the tub, keeping a very close eye on Sarah just in case she tried to jump him again and dipped his fingers into the water. Instantly, she felt the water heat and saw tiny lilac-scented bubbles foam around her.
"And, Sarah," the king smiled at her knowing his next gesture would probably just get him into more trouble, "do drink this before you speak to me again." A steaming mug of coffee appeared at the edge of the tub.
Sarah didn't know whether to kiss him or kill him.
Twenty minutes later, she reluctantly left the warm bathroom to search for Jareth. When she entered their bedroom he wasn't anywhere in sight, but sitting on the bed was a package exquisitely wrapped with a card bearing her name on it. Curiously, she picked up the card and opened it.
"To my beautiful wife,
Keeping you warm at night is my greatest pleasure. Please accept my gift to keep you warm during the day.
Jareth"
Sarah opened the package and gave a little squeal of happiness. He was going to keep his word and allow her to see her family after all. Of course! That explained the jeans. She lifted a deliciously soft sweater from the package and a pair of wool slacks. Inside she also found some warm socks and a set of fine leather boots. Happily, she donned her new outfit and went to look at herself in the mirror. The red color of the sweater brought out the natural blush on her cheeks and the slacks made her legs look long and sexy. That Whimsyn was an artist.
As she caught her reflection, she also caught Jareth trying to sneak up behind her. She whirled on him and before he could react, threw her arms around him in a bear hug. Poor Jareth was nearly knocked off his feet. Not that he noticed. The experience of Sarah throwing herself into his arms with a cry of joy had just made his life. Perhaps this visit to her parents wouldn't be all that bad.
Jareth had been alternately looking forward to the trip Aboveground and dreading it. He looked forward to anything that might give him a sturdier foothold in Sarah's affections. He was dreading their journey because his knowledge of Aboveworld culture and customs was somewhat limited. He hated to admit it, but the majority of his experiences Aboveground had involved kidnapping children or spying on Sarah. Given the violent reactions of the mortals he'd encountered to said kidnappings, he suspected that abducting children wasn't socially acceptable in Sarah's world. He was even more afraid of the reaction he would get if his wife knew he had been watching her for the past thirteen years or so.
Sarah was a bundle of excitement and jumbled questions: When would they be leaving? How long could they stay? How much should she pack? Could she bring them presents? In her excitement she had completely forgotten to let go of her husband and chattered on animatedly about her family, eyes shining with anticipation. Jareth's arms stayed laced around her as he basked in her frequent and radiant smiles. He could get used to this.
"My dear, we'll leave this afternoon - or as soon as we can gather together everything we'll need. We can stay for one week - later visits may be longer, but I don't know how you'll react to the world your family lives in now that you are Fae. I'm not taking any risks with you." Jareth said, pulling her into his chest protectively. "As for presents, I'll need your guidance, but I'm certain we can manage something."
"Oh thank you, Jareth!! I lov-" Sarah cut herself off abruptly. WHAT had she almost said? She was suddenly aware of the way her husband was looking at her.
And Jareth was looking very amused indeed.
"You were saying?" he grinned at her wolfishly.
"Oh! What was I saying? Ah yes! PRESENTS! I just LOVE picking out presents for people!" she babbled just a little too loudly as she tried to slither out of the king's arms.
Jareth decided not to let go of her just yet. Instead he kept his arms coiled around her waist as he continued to smile at her wickedly.
"Is that all, little one, or is there something else you wanted to say?"
NO.
Really.
Sarah had NOTHING to say.
Dammit.
Dammit all to that infernally disgusting Bog.
Jareth was looking at her expectantly. Sarah's cheeks were burning and she couldn't meet his gaze. As king, Jareth could have ordered any woman he wanted to be his queen. Why he had chosen to marry her was a total mystery to Sarah, but she doubted that he had married her for love. When he had offered her the option of becoming his wife, she had been a mortal woman - plain and simple. Jareth could have chosen some beautiful, magical fairy princess for a wife instead. Well, Sarah could make the world's best taco salad, but Jareth would have no way of knowing about her special talent and she wasn't sure that he was really a taco salad kind of a guy.
"Um.Jareth, do you like taco salad?" she stammered.
"Taco-what?" he asked, utterly confused.
"Never mind," Sarah muttered, finally disengaging herself from his arms.
"Sarah! I ." Jareth made a grab for her but she was already out of reach.
"Yes?" she said, whirling back to face him.
The look in his eyes was so intense that she felt pinned to the spot.
"Nothing," he sighed. Jareth would move the stars if it might mean that Sarah would return his love, but he didn't want to force a confession from her. If she loved him, he wanted her to tell him of her own accord.
Of course you could always tell her how YOU feel about HER, a little voice nagged him inside his head. Why should he tell her? he grumbled to himself stubbornly. He'd shown her how he felt in every way he could imagine. Shouldn't that be more than enough to make his position clear?
"Jareth." Sarah said, trying to smile, "I guess we'd better pack."
"Mmm.I've already completed most of that for us. But you mentioned gifts - what would your family enjoy?"
That was a corker. There were lots of things in the Underground that she was certain her family would love, but those things were still from the UNDERGROUND. Jareth had actually put on jeans for this. The last thing she needed to do was blow their cover.
"I suppose we should just stop by a bookstore and a few gift shops when we travel Aboveground," she sighed resignedly. "I think they would get a little suspicious of our story of how we met if we brought them magic crystals and a pixie pet."
"Oh I have a few ideas of my own," Jareth said silkily, blessing Sarah with yet another one of his famously sinister grins.
Sarah raised an eyebrow at him. He wouldn't do anything to hurt her family would he? Of course not! Otherwise, why all the trouble to concoct a semi- plausible story complete with costumes?
Several hours later, Sarah, dressed in a warm wool coat, clung to Jareth holding their suitcase as he prepared to transport them to the Aboveworld. Instead of the buffeting winds she was expecting, the couple was enveloped in a warm, silvery light.
"Close your eyes, my queen," Jareth whispered.
Sarah obeyed. She opened them again when Jareth tapped her on the shoulder. To her delight, she found herself peering about the familiar patch of woods behind her parents' home.
"Why was that so easy? The last time we did this, your magic was so violent I was afraid I'd get blown away!"
Jareth reddened a bit.
"Couldn't very well have you escaping, now could I?" he murmured, taking her hand in his and leading her toward the house.
As Sarah recalled, the risk of her getting away in that moment had been minimal since he had tied her up and had also been holding her tightly in his arms; but for once, she decided not to argue. He was her husband now and there was no getting away from THAT even if World War III were to happen right there in her parents' back yard.
As they neared the front door, Sarah belatedly remembered that she had wanted to bring her family a few gifts.
"Jareth, maybe we could stop at a gift shop somewhere?"
"Don't worry, love. It's taken care of," Jareth beamed, looking quite pleased with himself. In his arms, he held an enormous gift basket filled with peaches.
That was it. Sarah was going to kill him.
Timing was never on her side. He had already rung the bell.
The door flew open and Sarah was nearly bowled over by the impact of the adolescent boy's hug. Toby kept forgetting that he was almost as big as Sarah now.
"Sarah!! Sarah, you're back!!" he kept shouting over and over. Richard and Karen weren't far behind and enveloped their daughter in hugs and kisses and tears.
"I'm so sorry I worried you guys so much!" Damn. She was crying again. The little family held each other for a few moments until Jareth gently cleared his throat.
"Oh! Oh my! Well we've certainly let our hospitality slip! Sarah, please introduce us to your.ah.husband." Richard was eyeing Jareth with a high degree of suspicion. If what Sarah had told him was true, then this man was responsible for saving his daughter's life. Something about the man was unsettling though. He looked regal, powerful, and in control - like a person accustomed to taking the things he wanted. If his little Sarah wasn't completely happy with this stranger, Richard would cheerfully wring his neck.
Jareth was also sizing up Richard from where he stood on the porch. He didn't miss the glimmer of wariness in Richard's eyes. The king pasted on his most charming and harmless smile and held his hand out to Sarah's father.
"I'm honored to meet you, sir. My name is Jareth. Jareth King."
Sarah almost fainted from shock. She had never heard her husband address ANYONE with "sir". Where the heck did he learn that?
Somewhat mollified, Richard took Jareth's proffered hand and shook it, squeezing just a little too hard. To his surprise, Jareth easily matched his grip. He watched as Jareth slid one arm possessively around Sarah while holding out the basket of peaches with one hand.
"Mr. and Mrs. Williams," Jareth smiled, "I've brought you a gift."
Sarah didn't trust the look in her husband's eyes for a second.
She took the basket from his grasp saying, "Why don't I just carry this inside," while shooting the king a very pointed look.
Fine, fine. Jareth knew he would have his fun with this situation one way or another. He simply grinned at his wife and followed her parents into the house.
Sarah was planning to discreetly carry the peaches straight to the dumpster outside, but Karen ambushed her before she could make it through the kitchen and lifting the basket from Sarah's grasp, insisted on hanging her coat while her father carried their bags upstairs. Toby had finally stopped leaping around them excitedly and stood staring at the Goblin King with intense curiosity. His brow furrowed momentarily, as if he were trying to remember something.
"What is it, my young man?" asked Jareth genially.
"Oh.nothing," Toby muttered. He looked embarrassed and Jareth noticed the boy's family resemblance to Sarah. He still has my eyes though, the king thought, oddly pleased.
Karen bustled about making hot cocoa and directing everyone to please have a seat in the living room so that they all could get better 'acquainted'. The first few minutes of sitting were somewhat uncomfortable, but at her father's prompting, Sarah again related the story of how she had gone out to see a friend in crisis, fallen down and hurt her head then developed a consuming fever. When she got to the part about Jareth finding her, she milked it for all it was worth, telling her parents how he had been a hero and cared for her so tenderly while she had been ill.
Jareth loooooooooved this part. Anything to listen to Sarah sing his praises. He figured he was probably in big trouble for the peach basket, but her monologue about his greatness would allow him to live in denial for at least a few more hours. The fact that he was watching Sarah with a stupidly happy grin on his face set her parents somewhat more at ease and the conversation started to flow more freely.
"So, Jareth," said Richard genially. "We haven't heard your account of these events yet. Tell us your version of the story!"
To panic or not to panic. Sarah's eyes were enormous as she looked over at her husband. She couldn't imagine what he would come up with, but had a sinking sensation that she was about to find out. That sparkle in his eye made her more than a little nervous.
"Well, I was minding my own business when I came across the most beautiful woman in the world lying in a heap in the gutter. Naturally, I was concerned for her welfare and so I was checking her for injuries when she started to move. I asked her if she was all right and then offered to help her out of the rain. By the time I was able to carry her back to my home, it was clear that she had developed a bad fever and so I cared for her as best I could. I had no idea who she was and she seemed in no condition to tell me."
Okay. So far, so good. Sarah almost got a sigh of relief in there before her father's next question. Almost.
"Ah," said Richard, in a measured tone. "And you never considered calling the police?"
"She seemed to be faring well enough without them," countered Jareth testily. "She was perfectly safe with me."
"I see. And just HOW did you care for Sarah?"
"DAD!" Sarah cut in sotto voce, indicating Toby out of the corner of her eyes. "Jareth was completely kind and attentive. I couldn't help falling head over heels in love with him!" Crud. She knew her story had more holes than a sieve. She couldn't see how her parents had ever believed the reasons she'd given them for her sudden marriage. She wasn't even a practicing Catholic!
Richard and Jareth sat glowering at each other and Sarah seized the moment to lean over and give her husband a resoundingly loud smooch.
"He's really the best thing that's ever happened to me, Dad. I couldn't trust anyone more."
Richard saw Sarah's brilliant smile and shining eyes and grudgingly gave into the fact that the stranger in front of him had captured his daughter's heart. He could practically feel his arms creaking as he let go of his suspicions and welcomed Jareth into the family with a warm hug.
Sarah thought her face might fall off if she had to keep smiling like that. For gods sake, her eyes were starting to tear up from the strain. At least she still had her sense of humor.
Ticket home: one forced marriage and a crystal.
Basket of peaches: one conjuring spell.
The look on Jareth's face when her father hugged him: Priceless.
Suddenly the smile on Sarah's face was no longer forced. If anything she was struggling to hold in her merriment. Seeking any excuse to leave, she murmured something about helping Karen in the kitchen and practically ran out of the door. She wasn't sure how smart she was to leave Jareth and her father alone, but if she didn't make a quick exit, she was going to explode.
As she entered the kitchen, she found Karen who looked at her with a knowing light in her eyes.
"Sweetheart, he seems wonderful!" her stepmother gushed. "And so handsome too!"
Oh god. Sarah wasn't certain she could listen to this. If Karen only knew.
Sarah's relationship with her stepmother had been pretty rocky through her teens, but once those raging hormones had settled down to a calmer level, she had started to appreciate Karen a little more. Sarah's own mother had abandoned the Williams family to pursue her acting career when Sarah was only ten. At first Karen was never able to measure up to Sarah's fantasies about her "real" mother, but over time, Sarah had to come to care for her stepmother - even love her. Karen asked about her day, listened to her problems, remembered her birthday, and made her chicken soup when she was sick. The most Sarah ever got from Linda was the occasional card. And even then, Sarah could tell that Linda's personal assistant had signed it.
"So, Sarah, tell me a little bit more about this Jareth. I have to confess I was really surprised when you called us and told us you were married. No offense, darling, but you haven't dated a lot over the years. Don't get me wrong - I'm truly happy for you! It's just that.this seems so unlike you. Want to talk about it a little? Set a mother's mind at ease?"
The urge to tell Karen the truth was so strong that it was physically painful for Sarah.
"Jareth.um.rescued me and.ah.he was so kind and uh.I just couldn't help falling in love with him."
Well, that wasn't entirely a lie. She was (to her incredible dawning horror) starting to have feelings for her husband.
"It's certainly obvious that he's head over heels in love with YOU, dear. The way he looks at you is enough to make MY knees week and I'm an old woman and your wicked stepmother to boot! Anytime you so much as open your mouth to speak to him, the man practically glows with happiness."
Could it really be true? Sarah wanted to believe Karen so badly, but her experiences with Jareth and his fondness for 'games' gave her pause. Sarah didn't want to lie to herself about her situation or end up breaking her own heart by giving her trust to man who couldn't keep it. If she counted up the days, she had only KNOWN Jareth for a week or so. If he were playing a game with her, he would only now be placing the finishing touches on whatever elaborate snare he had been planning for her all along.
Elaborate snare, huh? Two could play at that game.
"Karen, I was hoping you'd let me cook tonight. I haven't made my taco salad for you guys in awhile."
Sarah didn't have to ask twice.
Within moments, Sarah was cheerfully cooking up ingredients with Karen's (thankfully non-iron) all-copper kitchen set. As she cooked, she couldn't help but think of the man she hoped to impress with her culinary skills. Chopping up the vegetables, she thought of Jareth as he had looked when she had first told him she would consider marrying him - so surprised and vulnerable. Her mind wandered further to their wedding day, his gentle assurances as she greeted the fae nobility for the first time, and the night he had come to her rescue when his goblins were chasing her. By the time she was spicing the beef, she was remembering the 'interesting' evening they had shared only the day before. Sarah was still furious with him for that and had every intention of turning him into a beagle and tying HIM to something stationary; but while she trembled at the mere thought of being so utterly at her husband's mercy, 'rage' was not the only word for her feelings.
If Sarah had been paying more attention she might have noticed the sparks of magic that seemed to be flying from her fingertips as she was cooking. She might have hesitated to serve the dish she was preparing if she saw those little flecks of light melting into meat and vegetables she was mixing together. Honestly, the smell alone should have tipped her off. A taco salad didn't usually give off an odor that made a person think of sunshine, sex, and tropical breezes under a perfect blue sky. Sarah, remaining completely clueless (as she seemed to about so many things these days) was merely pleased that her cooking skills had not gone stale. She decided to skip the modesty thing and admit that this was the best taco salad she had ever made.
"Dinner's ready!" she called as she carried her culinary creation proudly into the dining room. What she saw was enough to make her stop dead. Jareth and her father were thrashing about on the floor and Toby was jumping around shouting. It looked like Jareth had her father in some sort of death grip and Toby was counting "Three! Two! One!!"