Author's Note: Another short chapter. But I think it highlights just how tense the situation is.

Author's Note 2: 'Dan' is Aidan's Aboveground nickname. I know it's probably obvious, but I just thought I'd point it out.

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"She did WHAT? Man, that's cool!"

Aidan arched an eyebrow and frowned. "No, it is not, Harvey," he growled, "If Arradine gets captured, it could be a lot of trouble for us. She is the heir."

The other boy only bounced on hischair and laughed. "Oh, come on, Dan! Don't tell me that you don't think this is a barrel of laughs."

"I don't think it's a barrel of laughs."

The mirror shimmered somewhat but retained the image. Cassandra was out, thank god, or Aidan would have been explaining every detail about ten times over. His female cousin was the dreamer of the bunch. And Harvey would think it was all a joke. Aidan didn't know why he bothered.

"Stop frowning like that, Dan. I do understand, really I do. But your parents have gone after her, right? It'll be okay. No one's going to want to piss off either Jareth or Toby. I mean- the Goblin King? Besides, Arradine can use a knife pretty good."

"Yes, but she never remembers to defend herself," Aidan complained, "Anyone who knows anything about sharp objects, knows that you can't fight only by attacking your opponent. She'll never stand a chance against anyone with skill."

Harvey shrugged and took another long swallow from the glass of water on his table. "It'll be fine," he comforted.

He watched sympathetically as his cousin slumped on the bed and ran a hand through his golden hair. The other boy was wearing the shirt Sarah had given him a few years ago and it still hung on him a little. There was something bothering him. And Harvey knew exactly what it was- "You still think your father doesn't want anything to do with you?"

Blue eyes shot up to meet a worried hazel gaze and then looked away, obviously not ready to talk about it. "I wish I hadn't told you that," Aidan muttered, "I just knew you wouldn't leave it be."

"Mate, you were ready to scream the castle down about it the last time we talked and suddenly you want to just chuck it away in the back of a dark cupboard and forget? It doesn't work like that. Now talk!"

"There is nothing to say. How is Susan?"

Harvey waved his girlfriend away with a flick of his fingers. "She's having second thoughts again. Why I love that girl I'll never know. But to get back to you…"

"Why do you love Susan?" Aidan interrupted desperately, "You are only fifteen- well, almost sixteen- how do you know you love her?"

A wry smile and a wink and Harvey pushed his hair off his shoulder. "I just always have. I told you, I knew when I was ten. I'm going to marry the girl when she finally makes up her mind. No one else comes close!"

"I suppose she is pretty."

"Dan, we all know you're gay. You don't have to pretend to get it. Speaking of which, have you told your parents yet?"

Aidan snorted. "Neither would understand. They are far too busy with their own personal problems and I think Dad will have a heart-attack wondering if I'm going to end up like him."

Harvey grinned sheepishly and ceded the point in good grace. But he had his doubts. When the conversation was over, he went out to find someone he could talk to. "Dad," he called, "Hey!"

"What?" Ben stuck his head out of his study with an annoyed frown. "Harv, I'm busy. What is it?"

Harvey- like all good sons- ignored the allusion to work that was more pressing that his news. "I just spoke to Aidan. Arradine's run away."

The door opened wider and Ben gestured his son inside with a jerk of his dark head. "I know. Your mother called me this morning to ask if we knew anything. I am assuming we do not?"

"We don't. But Dad, I'm worried about Aidan. He's not looking happy. In fact, he spent the entire morning babbling on about Arradine bringing trouble on everyone. And he's still scared that he's done something to upset Jareth."

Ben sighed. His brother-in-law's kids were subjects he preferred not to involve himself in. But lately he'd found himself drawn into a discussion concerning Aidan far too frequently. His personal favourite was Ereditha; a more engaging child he had yet to meet. Aidan worried him. He was too… apprehensive?

"Dan seems to spend all his time getting worked up over something or other, Dad. It can't be good for him."

Papers got dumped on the floor as Harvey threw himself into the couch, crossing his legs under him. Ben went back to his computer and saved the document for later. "It isn't, son. But there isn't anything we can do. Jareth and Toby are going to have to work this out themselves. And until they decide what they're doing with each other, those kids are just going to have to grow up as best they can. It's the way it works. Talk to Aidan, help him out; but don't for heaven's sake interfere."

Harvey waited for more. His father stayed silent. "That was it?" he asked incredulously, "Arradine's run away. Aidan's going off his head. And all the advice you can give me is to talk to Dan? You're no help! I knew I should have gone to Mom."

Ben laughed and shook his head. "Your mother is still trying to get Toby to leave the Underground and come Aboveground. She reckons he can start a new life up here."

Hazel eyes narrowed shrewdly. "And you don't?"

"I don't believe Toby will ever leave the Underground. Not voluntarily, at least."

"Why not?" The papers scattered as Harvey mistakenly kicked them. "Keep talking; I'll pick them up."

Ben glared for a minute but allowed it to slide. "There's nothing for him up here. His family, his life… it's all in the Goblin Castle. The last time he came here, he moped for four months and stuck a knife in himself. Which I never told you, so don't tell your mother you know."

The papers fell from nerveless fingers. "He tried to commit suicide? Geez! No wonder Aidan's screwed up. His parents are nuts! Why did Toby do that?"

Ben smiled a little and then gestured with his hand. "Jareth," he said simply, "He found out he was in love with Jareth and Jareth had sent him away. It was touch and go for a while, but luckily Jareth found him in time and they both lived happily ever after for a year. And then the war happened. And then after the war, they never worked out their problems. But Toby hasn't ever stopped loving him."

Harvey shook his head in despair. "It sounds like a soap opera," he remarked, "You sure this is all true?"

"Harv, I've spent seventeen years as your mother's husband. She woke me up in the middle of the night to discuss whether her little brother was doing the right thing by binding himself to the Goblin King. She still wakes me up to give me frequent updates. There is nothing that your mom knows that I don't."

"Mom does have a great imagination, Dad. Maybe it's displaced fantasy syndrome or something."

"I don't think she hates either of them enough to put them through all this even in a fantasy," Ben commented whimsically, "What else did Aidan say?"

"Ereditha drenched Fiorle with the old 'bucket-over-a-door' trick. Then she took off out the door and now Fiorle is searching for her, still dripping wet. Aidan's sure she'll turn up in the kitchens for food, so he's going down there to keep an eye out for her."

The man laughed, his eyes crinkling at the edges with humour as he thought about his youngest and generally most mischievous little relative. It was just like Ereditha to play a prank like that! And poor Fiorle! Ben had only met him once, but the fairy seemed to have his hands full what with those two angst-ridden adults and three insane children.

"See you later, Dad. I'm going to go see if Cassie and Susan are anywhere to be found. Um, and don't tell Cassie about any of this? Aidan doesn't even know I'm talking to you."

"Then perhaps you should respect his privacy," Ben recommended.

Harvey looked insulted. "And handle him on my own? No fears! I know when I'm no good at something; I need expert advice. And you've always kept your mouth shut when Mom or Grandma talk of that lot; it makes me think you know something more than you say. Have fun with work, Dad. Oh, and we're still going home in a week, right?"

"Susan playing up again?"

"She's got the hots for that Canadian guy at the music store," Harvey sighed, affecting a long-suffering roll of the eyes, "I don't know why she bothers. She always comes back."

The door closed gently behind him and the smile slipped off Ben's face. He looked to his computer and to the piles of paper work lying around the room. He wasn't supposed to be in Canada. He wished Sarah had been able to come too. He missed his wife at times like this. And Arradine running away was no joking matter. He could only imagine what Toby would think, knowing his daughter preferred to be anywhere but at home. It was a saddening thought.

He picked up the phone and dialled a number. Quickly making sure that no one lurked outside his door, he waited for the call to be answered. "Harold, it's Ben. Am I bothering you? No? Good. Listen, I just had a talk with Harvey about Dan and I need some advise…"