A/N: Sorry it's been so long since I posted another chapter. I've had Spring Break and tests and registering for classes, etc. I promise not to go so long without posting again. Also, I would like to thank b00kperson, LadyAniviel, Sakura, Twin Kats, and especially Mythers (love ya babe!) for their reviews. ~ IrethAnwarunya

Chapter 5: Jareth's Intentions

Jareth had seen what Sarah had seen. He was ecstatic that Sarah did in fact have so much room for him in her heart, but he was terrified that she would still choose to continue her dismal life that would always fall short of true contentment and love. Sarah stood trembling in silence as Jareth stood next to her, awaiting her words but she did not trust her own voice to speak.

"Find out what you wanted to know my love?" he asked. She nodded her head, but would not meet his gaze for fear that her eyes would betray her emotions and tell what she had seen. Her eyes always gave her away, after all. Thoughts raced through her mind as she desperately groped for an answer. Daran or Jareth? If only she could see how Jareth felt about her. If only she could know if he really cared. As she stretched forth her hand to return the crystal to it's rightful owner, she thought to herself "I WISH I COULD KNOW WHAT WAS IN JARETH'S HEART."

Sarah was once again transported into the shimmering crystal where the familiar silver fire covered everything. This was different though. In the frost, Sarah saw her own face. She was then quickly shown all of the dreams Jareth had had about her for the past ten years. He always dreamed of them together, hand-in-hand with their eyes full of love. She saw his hopes to shower her with delicate, tender caresses and passionate, fiery kisses and she saw that his feelings for her were real. Jareth DID love her. Sarah could feel that his love for her was so strong that he fought with the heartache of her absence everyday. Then, just as quickly as these visions had come, they were gone. Sarah stared into the Goblin King's mismatched eyes and she noticed that they were full of pain and love and longing as he banished the crystal.

"I guess crystals really do show you your dreams," she stated. When he said nothing, she pressed forward. "Jareth, why have you held onto me all this time?" Her voice was thick with emotion when she asked, "Why are you still fighting so hard?"

"A long time ago, when you had fallen into my oubliette, I couldn't believe you had made it so far. Everyone else had given up long before and I expected you to do the same. But I realized you would never give up until you had retrieved what was stolen from you. It is the same with me, my love. When you were fifteen years old, you stole my heart Sarah and I want it back. I'll do whatever it takes to have you near so that I can be near my heart again," he told her in his sincerest words, love dripping from every syllable he spoke.

Sarah could no longer hold back her tears. A few slipped from underneath her long black lashes and slid slowly down her soft milky skin. Jareth reached out with a tentative hand and tenderly brushed them away. Sarah soared at the warmth of his gentle caress and she felt her knees weaken. She noticed for the first time that he was not wearing the black leather gloves that usually covered his long slender fingers.

"What do you want from me Jareth?" she asked, taking his hand in hers.

"Only for you to be with me Sarah. I want nothing more than to have you here in the Underground where you'll be with me all of the time," he stated simply. He was telling her the truth. Jareth could not lie to her anymore than he could watch her marry that mortal.

"None of that whole slave thing anymore?" she questioned.

"Of course not,"

"Would I still be able to see my family? Will I be able to go Aboveground if I decide to stay here with you?"

He smiled and said, "Sarah, remember the night you asked me to take Toby away? Remember this?" Jareth conjured another crystal and Sarah saw her fifteen year old self wearing the red and white stripped stocking cap. "... the King of the Goblins had fallen in love with the girl and he had give her certain powers," she heard herself say. "You've had the power to go between here and the Aboveground all along Sarah. You can come and go as you please," he told her.

"Jareth, do you really love me?" she questioned his Majesty. She knew what the answer to her inquiry would be, but she needed to hear him say the words.

"I love you Sarah. I always have and I always will," he told her and he cupped her chin in his hand, "Now, tell me you love me my dear." Sarah was hesitant and afraid to admit her feelings. She had fought for so long to escape the world of fantasy and fairy tales and now suddenly, she found herself face-to-face with it again. She wasn't sure if she was ready for a make-believe reality, but she could not deny either Jareth or her heart.

"I love you," she conceded and after smiling an ear-to-ear grin, Jareth brought his face nearer to hers. Then, he kissed her gently but with more love and fervent passion than she had ever felt before. He kissed her in a way that left both of them craving air and made her lips burn with a tingling fire.

Suddenly, a terrible thought crossed her mind and she groaned in despair. "What is it my darling?" he asked. "What am I going to do about Daran? How can I just reappear at my wedding and call it off? How will I ever explain this to him?" Sarah inquired despondently. Jareth almost laughed. She had no idea what he could accomplish with his magic. Her problem could easily be solved with no more than a wave of his hand. "Darling Sarah, I can fix this for you. I can make it so that Daran won't remember anything about you or your wedding. I can even make your wedding guests forget about Daran. You would be the only one to remember what really happened," he offered.

"You could do that?" she wondered incredulously. "Of course my dear. I am the Goblin King after all," he replied, "Would you like me to do that for you?"

"Yes Jareth. I would,"

With no more than a smile and a twist of his wrist, Jareth solved the dilemma. Sarah looked around and saw the sunlight streaming down through the beautiful stained glass windows of the chapel and was amazed to discover that she was back in church. Her wedding guests were frozen in their seats, their expressions unchanging. She turned her head and was astounded to see Jareth standing before her in a black tuxedo instead of his normal tight pants and flowing shirt.

"Jareth, what's going on?" she demanded.

"Why should we waste this moment dearest? I thought that we could just get married now,"

"What makes you think I'd marry you right now?" she smiled at his arrogance that had once infuriated her.

"You wouldn't actually refuse me, would you my love?" he asked and gave her a smile that made her weak in the knees.

"I guess not. Very well your Majesty. Let's get married," she told him and after he kissed her, he started time once again.

The minister picked up at the exactly where he had left off when Jareth pulled Sarah from this place hours earlier. Sarah could not listen to his words but could only stare into Jareth's gorgeous mismatched eyes and wonder how it was possible for one person to be so happy. Soon, their love for one another was declared and once the vows were spoken, they exchanged a pair of matching silver rings encrusted with sparkling jewels that had a luminosity all their own and Sarah felt a tingling sensation course through her body as Jareth placed hers on her long delicate finger. Then the moment came. They were pronounced husband and wife. As Jareth's lips met hers for another tender, passionate kiss, Sarah did not even know there were others in the room. It was only her and her Goblin King.

Applause rippled through the chapel as the newlyweds marched toward the rear of the church, arm-in-arm, fingers intertwined, and eyes never leaving the eyes of the other. Only one pair of hands didn't join in the ovation and they belonged to the tawny haired ten-year-old boy that stood in a perplexed silence. Toby's mind was screaming out to him that something was wrong, something was different. He only wished he could figure out what it was.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter of A NEW OFFERING. There's plenty of more to come so I hope you'll stick around and see this story through to the end.