Chapter Five

The Welcome Home

Disclaimer: Don't sue me, I have goblins! And neither I, nor they have anything! Though they DO live with me... DON'T TELL MY MOM! Seriously, she'll freak, she's scared of... everything.

"Yeah?" Kate asked coming to the door "oh hey Leah! Happy birthday!" Without a second thought Leah hugged Kate like she was going to slip right through her fingers.

"I'm going to miss you Kate!" Leah whispered.

"What?" Kate asked "what do you mean gonna miss me?"

"Oh Kate," Leah said, almost crying "I have to leave. I'll TRY to visit. I'm not sure if I can write."

"Leaving?" Kate asked "Where? Why?"

"My mom," Leah choked but that's all she could get out before crying.

"Oh Leah," Kate said hugging her "I was going to wait but, hold on." Kate disappeared into her house and came out holding a very large book. "Here," Kate said "it's a scrapbook. All our pictures and drawing and notes are in there."

"Thanks Kate," Leah said taking the book in her hands and then looked back "I've got to go. I'll try to get a hold of you. I will, ok?" Kate nodded and they hugged one last time before Leah took off running again. Leah walked up to her house and climbed the side where the vines and the fence was.

This is why she was known as weird. Sometimes, for no reason at all she'd do random things. Slipping through her window she found Becka and Sam going through her things. She walked past, as if not noticing them at all and waited outside her bedroom door.

"Weirdo," Becka muttered and Sam laughed. Leah took her scrapbook and headed downstairs.

"How did-" Sarah started but she closed her mouth.

"Ready now?" Jareth asked.

"Yes," Leah said finally "thank you for waiting." He looked at Sarah and then back to Leah.

"It seems I've gotten the more polite daughter," Jareth mused and Sarah gave a hard look.

"Soon," she said "even you will want to be rid of her." Leah held in a hurt look but Jareth saw right through it.

"Watch your tongue," he warned "because sooner than you think, you may miss her." Leah's hurt expression changed slightly. Jareth was apparent in everything he did. Leah had to admit, she could figure him out easily. And this confused her to no end. She never was able to understand anyone, not even her best friend. But Jareth? Of ALL people? Normally she'd just ignore him, but she couldn't bare too.

"Bye!" Sam called from Leah's room.

"Have fun!" Becka called.

"Bye," Sarah said bluntly and Leah grabbed her things as Jareth took them away. Leah had the strangest falling sensation, but then, she guessed that it was normal. The feeling passed and she opened her eyes. Her jaw dropped.

Leah couldn't even begin to describe it. The winding passageways, the green forest, the dingy orange Labyrinth itself. It was all very beautiful, though Leah was sure that her mother would find it awful.

"Welcome home," Jareth said glancing at the young girl next to him. She looked around in wonder. Good... wonder was good. At least she wasn't cringing in disgust.

"It's," she paused "there's not really a word for it I suppose. But it's somewhere in-between beautiful, mysterious and... orange."

"Describes my mood," Jareth said walking for the castle doors.

"You feel orange?" Leah asked and Jareth chuckled.

"No," he said with a frustrated sigh.

"I'm sorry," Leah apologized "being sarcastic is a habit I have trouble breaking."

"It's alright," Jareth muttered.

"Why," Leah asked "do you transport yourself yards away from where you're going?"

"Why do you walk places when you can drive?" he asked, giving her a quick glance.

"Because I don't want to pay for the gas," she mumbled and he smirked.

"Why else?" he asked.

"Because it's fun I suppose," she said, only saying it to give him the answer he wanted.

"Alright," he said opening the castle doors "this is your new home." Leah wanted to come back with a smart remark but she held her tongue. He led her a bit and then stopped in front of a wooden door. There were carvings of a young woman on it. In one she was being attacked by fuzzy red things. In another she was following a beast, a dwarf and a one-eyed fox on a dog. But the one that caught Leah's eye was the one of the woman in the ball room. He opened the door and led her into her room.

It was mostly blue and green. Leah smiled, she loved those colors. She had wanted to paint her room that why but her mother had said no. Leah looked from Jareth and then back to the room, beaming. "I'll assume that it's to your liking then?" Jareth asked stiffly. Leah nodded. Her burst of happiness had subsided at the sound of his voice. Not his voice per say, but how he had said it.

Leah wished Jareth would speak to her in a normal fashion, not like she was a guest or a princess. He noticed her uneasiness and glanced at her. What could be the trouble? Jareth understood that Leah was upset because she had to leave her home and he understood that she was going to miss her friend and her sisters. But she had seemed so happy a moment ago until he spoke.

He wanted to ask if she was alright, he really did, but... it wouldn't seem like a cold hearted Goblin King now would it.

"I'm just a little tired," Leah said, bringing Jareth out of his deep train of thought. Though this didn't lessen the uneasy feeling, he decided it was as good of an answer he was going to get at the time. With that, he gave a slight bow and walked down the hall.

Once Leah was sure he had left she dug into her bag and pulled out a small razor. She looked at it. Should she? The edges were ragged and grizzly from so much usage. Leah walked into the bathroom and sat on the floor and looked at it. It would make her feel better, and maybe...

NO. She shouldn't. This could be a new start for her, a new beginning. Jareth had said this was her home now, she shouldn't burden others with the cutting. A knock came at the door and Leah froze. She stood to her feet and hid the razor behind her back. Jareth walked in without a word.

"Do you want to be band from any sharp object for the rest of forever?" Jareth asked and Leah shook her head. "Then give me the razor." Leah froze for a second.

"You were spying on me," Leah said, grinning at Jareth. He looked a little shocked; he had figured she'd be pissed.

"I wouldn't call it spying but," Jareth said shuffling his feet across the floor. "Wait," he said "why am I being interrogated?"

"I'm not interrogating you," Leah said bluntly "I'm just asking if you were."

"Well," he said "that's not important. Hand it over." Leah placed the razor in Jareth's hand and he closed it, making the jagged medal disappear completely. "Where you going to hurt yourself?"

"Saying no would be kind of stupid now wouldn't it?" Leah asked sarcastically and Jareth sent an irritated glare. "Alright," she said finally "I was considering it, but... I'm not sure if I would have or not."

"Well no more," he said "or I'll ban you from every single sharp object in the Labyrinth."

"Alright," Leah muttered "I won't. Happy?"

"Not really," Jareth muttered "but that'll do." With this he turned on a heel and started for the door.

"Jareth?" Leah called and he stopped.

"Yes my lady," he asked, most politely.

"Don't do that alright?" Leah asked.

"Do what?" Jareth asked, raising an eyebrow. At first he thought she meant spying on her, but she wasn't of course.

"Talk to me that way," Leah said, almost shyly.

"How would that be?" he asked.

"Like I'm a guest," Leah said in a bitter tone "or, something."

"I suppose your right," he said "this is your home after all." He turned to leave again.

"And Jareth?" Leah said again as he stood in the doorway "thank you."

"Anytime," Jareth said quietly.