I always knew when Toby was watching me, but he never called. Jareth and I lived happily- I had even grown to love the goblin King- but I missed my little Toby. I'd gone through so much for him once; I didn't want to lose the little boy who had grown so dear to me.

One night as I lay in bed awake Jareth rolled over to face me. "Sarah, what's wrong? You usually go to sleep quickly."

I sighed as he kissed me. "Toby hasn't contacted me. I'm afraid I angered him."

"What does it matter if he's angry? I can make you happy here. Nothing that has to do with him matters in this world." Jareth held me close. I knew he was right; if I let him he could make me forget everything that had ever happened to me before. I buried my face against him.

"I don't want to forget- not yet. I love being here. I won't go back to the human world to stay, I promise. I just wish I knew what is going on with Toby."

"In the morning I'll see what I can do," he whispered, drifting off to sleep. It was hours before I fell asleep. ___________________________________________________________________________

More time passed. I let Jareth into my mind; he soothed the painful memories I had. I didn't forget, but I no longer felt the pain. I chose to let Toby slip away into the part of my mind where all of my old fantasies had gone.

I still didn't hear from my brother, but I didn't let it bother me. Then, one day, came the call.

I was the equivalent of five months pregnant with my son. Jareth had changed so far from the man I first met that I could hardly believe he was the same person. He was excited about his son; I think he was more excited than I was.

I was sitting in the garden when I heard him calling me. I asked Didymus to bring Jareth to me; my husband was by my side in an instant.

"Sarah, what's wrong? Is it the baby?" he asked frantically. I shook my head.

"Toby needs me. Help me go to him."

Jareth took my hands. "Do you know what's wrong?"

"No, but I have to go to him." I stood. I was obviously pregnant; my bulk was already enough to require new clothes. Hoggle had lovingly stitched my gowns for me; it was over one such gown Jareth laid his hand to feel the baby.

"You'll let me go with you, won't you?" he asked. When I nodded he said, "Dress warm. It's cold this time of year."

We went back to the castle and I put on my coat and cloak. Then, we left for the human world. ___________________________________________________________________________

We found Toby in a hospital corridor, staring in the nursery window at a baby. I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Toby, what happened?" He turned to me with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"She died. She died having our daughter. They say the baby might have problems too, after all she and her mama went through." I peered in the window at the baby he showed me. She was small and frail; my heart went out to her.

As we stood there a doctor came. "Son," he said, "you should go on home now. I'm on duty tonight. I'll call you if anything happens."

Toby nodded. I took his hand and we went down to his car. ___________________________________________________________________________

On the way to Toby's home he explained to me what had happened. He had married his college sweetheart and three years later they learned of their child. They also learned of an illness she had, which would endanger her life if she chose to have the baby. She wanted her baby and died giving the little girl life. As Toby told me this I felt Jareth's arm tighten around me; I knew Toby's sad tale had brought fear to my husband.

We got out at Toby's home- a charming house very similar to the one we'd grown up in. He tried to take my coat from me but I refused. He insisted, so Jareth made me give him my heavy woolen outer garments. When Toby turned back to me he saw my bulge and sighed.

"Oh, Sarah. I've caused you a hardship-"

I hugged Toby. "Helping you is never a hardship."

He smiled weakly. "How far are you?"

I kissed his cheek. "Five months, I think. Time runs differently there, so I'm not sure exactly."

Toby looked me over. "I missed you. I wanted to invite you to my wedding but I didn't really know how."

I sat down beside Jareth. "Toby, is there anything I can do for you?"

"No. I just needed you nearby. Thank you for coming. You too, Jareth."

Jareth nodded and held me close to his side protectively. I knew him well enough to know he was afraid that Toby would try to make me stay. Using telepathy, a kind of 'magic' I was learning, I told Jareth I wouldn't leave him. I still hadn't figured out why he was so afraid of my leaving him; later I learned that his mother left his father and it had caused in him great insecurity.

Toby seemed focused on the baby. He started firing questions. "Do you hope for a boy or a girl?"

I shrugged and waited for Jareth to answer. He said softly, "We'd gladly take either but for the purpose of the kingdom I think a boy would be better."

"What will you do about schooling?"

Jareth laughed. "Don't you think that in a goblin kingdom there'd be someone who can and would teach my child? If there isn't, or if he or she doesn't do an acceptable job, I can send for someone from one of the neighboring kingdoms."

Toby smiled. "How many do you plan to have?" he asked. I knew immediately what my answer was.

"I want as many as I can have," I answered quickly. Jareth looked startled; I decided to talk to him later about it.

That night as we lay in the guest room Jareth asked me, "Did you really mean what you said earlier?"

"What?" I asked, groggy and confused. He sighed.

"Did you mean what you said about having babies?"

"Of course I meant it," I whispered, kissing him, "What makes you think that I didn't?"

Jareth arranged himself so that I could lay with my head on his shoulder. "I was afraid you found me repulsive and that you only slept with me out of duty. I was afraid you stayed with me out of pity."

I propped myself up on one elbow. I played with his hair, which was much tamer than when I'd met him. It was yet another of the changes I felt he'd made for my sake. "Jareth, I love you. When I came to be with you I didn't think I could ever love you, but I do. I'll love you for the rest of my life, however long that may be."

Jareth sighed as he stroked my cheek. "Sometimes I wish I had never bothered you. Sometimes I think I should have left you with your family, and let you grow up like a normal girl."

"I'm glad you didn't."

"Are you, really?" he asked me. My eyes filled with tears.

"Of course," I replied. Jareth made me lay back down. In a few minutes he spoke to me again.

"My mother wasn't glad. She loved my father but she was never truly happy."

I found his hand and held it tight as I asked, "Why did you choose me?"

Jareth laughed. "I never told you?"

"No. You told me you couldn't control me, but you never told me why you wanted me instead of some mush-brained girl."

He kissed me. "Sarah, my love. You were born to be my wife. I chose you the way my father chose my mother and the way the first king chose his queen. One woman is born for every king. That woman is the only one the king cannot control."

"What if she won't accept him?" I asked.

Jareth smiled. "Then that woman's daughter will be the queen."

"Has that ever happened to anyone?"

Jareth held me close and whispered in my ear, "My darling, it happened to me."

I sat up and stared at him. "You're kidding."

"I am not. I was supposed to have married your mother."

I couldn't keep from bursting into tears. "Jareth, I'm so sorry! I had no idea!"

He pulled me down beside him and crushed me to his chest. "Shh. Don't cry, sweetheart. She didn't hurt me the way you did that first time. She was beautiful but you stole my heart."

I continued to cry. "I worshipped the ground she walked on and here I find out that she hurt not only me and my father but she hurt the man I love!"

Jareth tried to soothe me. "Calm down. It was meant to happen the way it did. Just think- if your mother had married me you'd be my daughter and not my beautiful wife."

I still had tears on my cheeks but at that thought I began to laugh. "That would be odd, wouldn't it?" I rubbed my belly and said, "I'm glad we have this little one."

"Our little boy."

"Why are you so sure it's a boy?" I asked, wiping away the rest of my tears. Jareth patted my belly and took my hand.

"A goblin king's first child is always a son. It's a family trait. Anyway, it's obvious from the way you're carrying. Even old Hogwart noticed."

I playfully punched Jareth's arm. "You know Hoggle hates to be teased about his name."

"I know, love. I just like to irritate you. So, how do you feel?"

I sighed. "After being able to control time for so long I can feel my body dying around me. Everything moved so much slower at home."

"That's why I don't come here often. I don't like how it feels."

"At home, even though we're surrounded by goblins, it is peaceful. I can feel the hate and discord here. It makes me feel sick."

"What about the baby?"

"I can almost feel him grow. It is an amazing feeling, and yet I can feel him dying too. It seems a waste to me that as soon as one is conceived they are already dying."

"I know what you mean."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Where is your mother now? Whatever happened to her?"

Jareth squeezed my hand. "She lived for a long time in one of the neighboring kingdoms. Only recently she came back to the human world. She was still young enough to marry and have children so I don't know what she finally did."

"Do you know where my mother is?"

"Yes, I do. Sarah, do you know why she left?"

"No."

"She left because she knew she would lose you. Once she refused me she came back to the human world and married your father. At the moment you were born she lost her ability to resist me. I could control her, but why would I want to? She remembered nothing of the Labyrinth or my kingdom but she knew by instinct what was going to happen with you. She knew instinctively that you had a great cause. She felt that she would someday lose you and she couldn't bear it. So, she left. It wasn't because she didn't love you and your father. It was because she loved you too much. I would want you to see her again if it ever became possible. Would you like that?"

I had to nod. I hadn't seen my mother in so long that I would have forgotten what she looked like were it not for the newspapers that always had pictures of her performances. She was an actress and dancer and singer for a play company.

Jareth smiled. "Good. Now, why don't you try to sleep? You sound groggy already."

I kissed him. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight to you too, my love." ___________________________________________________________________________

Sorry this installment is so long. It had to be, for all my chapters to work out right. I wrote it originally without chapters.

Thanks to all of you beautiful people who have been reviewing. I appreciate your time and thoughts as you read my story. I'll reply to everyone next time, I think.

Thanks, y'all. Please, keep reading and reviewing. Even if you've already reviewed once, review again! I won't mind!