Disclaimer: Do I look rich? I don't own the Labyrinth or anything to do with it.

Kaz: Finally, we are freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Aww crap!

C.C: You could have at least put some air holes in the box!

I didn't want you guys interrupting me in exams. Do you know how hard it is to do an Irish exam when you're thinking about Jareth?drool

C.C:…. No!

Anyway, you fabulous people:

Ancantha Mardivey: Thank you so much. To be told you've done something different, especially in the world of fan fic, is really great.

theshadowcat: You are right. My mistake. One of these days, I'll fix it. Glad you're enjoying it and thanks for pointing it out.

Nickel: I like it when I get long reviews. It feels like more of a dialogue. Much more informative. Anyway, glad you like it, especially half way through.

cherokelady: Hey thanks. Glad you like it. Well, I am actually in Ireland so really I'm just inflicting my situation on the rest of you ;)

jazzy021: I'm excited too, especially 'cause I'm still not sure what's going to happen. And thanks for the praise.

Rayne: Yes watch her head expand as she takes our credit.

anglewingz202: Gee thanks but… hey. Don't throw her away, I still need her! And Happy Birthday!

Moonjava: Thanks.

janine: Emerald Isle? I live in Dublin so I don't get much of that, but whatever you say, ya mad thing ya! Heehee, glad you like it, but don't hyperventilate or anything.

Eleanora Rose: Thank you and I will.

Anyana: And wouldn't we all like to have Jareth taking care of us? sigh Thanks.

Avalon-blackandgreen: The book is the best. Have you read? I love Jabberwocky. Yup, that's what I love.

lyn: Will do.

VividWhiteLove: Hey we have cows! In Cork, cow tipping is pretty much the only past time. And it's fun until the demon sheep comes after you! Damn that sheep….

Felt-tip-pen 101: Hugs thank you sooo much.

C.C: What is wrong with you people? You'll be able to see her head from the States soon.

Quiet!

Kaz: You see how she represses us? Vive la Revelu..rumph.

Anyway, on with the fic.

December 22nd

Sarah awoke to sunlight streaming through the window of Jareth's room. Her head was pounding and she couldn't quite remember how she got there from the day before. She remembered Cassandra. Sarah frowned as the events from the previous day came back to her. She remembered up until the slap. She also remembered pain. Lots and lots of pain. She was enfolded in Jareth's arms and she could tell by his even breathing that he was still asleep. She attempted to extract her self from his hold but his arms tightened around her. She smirked but slid out of his grasp and headed to the bathroom. When she emerged again he was sitting up in bed looking slightly the worse for wear. He still wore his clothes from the day before, which were rumpled and his hair was even more disarrayed than usual. She gave him a small smile as she joined him on the bed.

"Morning."

He had a strange look in his eyes which Sarah could not quite identify but it was gone as suddenly as it had arrived. "How are you feeling?"

She shrugged. "Sore head but fine other than that. What happened?"

"What do you remember?"

"I asked first."

"Sarah."

She scowled at him. He was in a ratty mood. "I remember up to when Cassandra slapped me. After that everything's just grey."

"You don't remember collapsing, being put in the bath?"

"No. I collapsed? Why did you put me in a bath?"

Jareth dragged his fingers through his unruly hair. "You had an almost life threatening fever. We had no choice."

Sarah flopped back on the bed. "If that was only yesterday, how the hell can I walk today?"

"That's what I need to talk to you about."

"Uh oh."

"Good news first; Cassandra was ordered out of the castle. She has also been reported to the council for her plotting. They won't do anything but it was just to get our point across."

Sarah looked up at him. The sunlight caught strands of his messy hair. He looked tired and worried. She reached up a hand and ran a finger along the contours of his face. He closed his eyes momentarily. "Thank you." She said softly.

"For what?"

"For telling Cassandra what's what. I know this is going to be a lot of trouble when you get back."

"You are a lot of trouble full stop."

She sighed sadly and looked away. "I know."

He dragged her up to face him and took her by the shoulders. "Sarah, you are worth most of the trouble you cause and all of the trouble you don't. None of this is your fault."

"But…"

"No buts. I should have made my position clear to Cassandra along time ago. I surely would have prevented a lot. I did what I needed to and the way she treated you…" His fingers trailed over her cheek where Cassandra had slapped her. "… I couldn't let that happen now could I?"

Sarah smiled softly. "Like I said; Thanks." He drew her into his arms and they lay there in silence for several minutes before Sarah glanced up at Jareth's shadowed face. "What was the bad news?"

He proceeded to tell her that this was Fuamnach's first attempt at stealing her powers, the details and that it could happen again at any time. It hurt Jareth to see the pain and fear in Sarah's eyes and know there was little he could do at this time to protect her.

"The others tried to find her with no success. Right now there's nothing we can do except keep training you and hope…"

"and hope she doesn't try to rip my powers from me while I'm doing that."

Jareth frowned at her. "Well I was going to say hope we find her soon but if you want to be cynical." Sarah just smirked at him and began to get dressed. She glanced over at him as she pulled on a top. "Jareth, could you make me one of those crystals? Like the one Steve smashed." He nodded and with a wave of his hand the clear orb rolled on the bed.

She picked it up and looked him in the eye. "I am going out for a walk in the gardens. I know you don't want me to, but I really need to sort my head again. I will keep this with me at all times. Please let me do this without a giant fight."

This was all spoken very fast so that he would not have an opportunity to object and to Sarah's surprise he didn't. He simply nodded his head and kissed her deeply.

She wandered through the garden aimlessly. This new information was not what she had been hoping for. She stopped in the middle of the ruined rose garden. She was angry beyond belief, sad, frightened and a mired of other emotions. She really wasn't sure what to be feeling at this moment. She was full of conflicting feelings. She was so angry at Cassandra, at Fuamnach, at herself yet she was grateful and glad of the new friends that she had made since she arrived. She was also joyful beyond at her relationship with Jareth along with another emotion which she had a sneaking suspicion was love, but she wasn't quite ready to say that she loved him just yet.

She decided to practice. She waved her hand and managed to change dying branched into floating targets which she then willed to move. When they began to do so she closed her eyes and attempted to move herself a few meters back. When she opened her eyes again she was pleased to find that she was only a few feet away form where she wanted to be. Before she began to shoot bolts of fire at her moving targets she shoved her hand in her pocket, feeling the comforting weight of Jareth's crystal. An hour or so later a voice distracted her from her practice.

"Moving targets, vaporising balls of fire, fairly accurate teleporting. What have you been up to since I've been gone?"

Sarah spun around and smiled. "Ionnina!" She sprang forwards and gave the woman a hug.

"Oh its great to see you. I'm so glad you're back."

"Whoa. I had no idea I was so loved. So what has been going on? What's with the war games?"

Sarah looked surprised. "Has Etáin not been telling you? Well I suppose she didn't want to make you come back until you were ready."

Ionnina frowned. "Sarah, what has been happening?"

"It's a long story. Here, it'll make it quicker."

Ionnina nodded and took Sarah's hand in her own, opening her mind to receive information. She saw everything through Sarah's eyes. She saw herself storm out of the library and disappear and she watched as Sarah took care of a drunk Cyros. She felt her anger as Jareth held her back from Cassandra and her remorse when she realised that she had burnt him. Her disgust as Steve forced himself on her, her feeling of being totally overwhelmed as Etáin explained her situation. Her anger and fear as she overheard the conversation in the garden, her heart break during her argument with Jareth. She felt the awe that Sarah had felt as she witnessed sunrise at Newgrange. The blinding pain as her magik nearly ripped her apart. Her confusion and trepidation of what was to come. The two pulled apart. Sarah blinked.

"Whoa. Was that supposed to happen?"

Ionnina nodded her head. "That was… informative."

"Right. Well, I think you're pretty up to date now."

"I would think so. Sarah, I knew you to cared for each other but I didn't know you loved Jareth."

Sarah froze. "That turned up did it?"

Ionnina nodded. "Seems like you have for a long time."

Sarah shook her head in disbelief. "Wow, this is worse than I though."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not to sure if Jareth loves me. The last thing he needs is a love sick mortal on his back."

Ionnina smiled at the young woman's doubts. "I don't think you have to worry about that. And you seem to forget, you are no longer mortal."

The two returned to the castle to announce Ionnina's return and after searching a few places they located the group in the drawing room. Sarah went in first. There was a roaring fire in the grate and she smiled at the enthusiastic welcome that she got from both the flames and the people. Jareth rose from his seat and kissed her lightly.

"Nice walk?"

"Very. Guess who I found on my travels too?"

Ionnina stepped into the room and suddenly everyone was quiet. Cyros crossed the room quickly but she held up her hand before he reached her.

"Before anything Cyros, there are two things I need to say."

Cyros nodded but Sarah could see the nervousness in his handsome face.

"Firstly, the reason I left, that fight… It was stupid. We've been together too long for something so trivial to rip us apart. I love you and that's what matters."

Cyros smiled but she stopped him again. "There is one other thing, I only found out yesterday. I'm pregnant." Cyros rushed to his wife and engulfed her in his arms. She laughed as he swung her around. The rest of the company laughed and came forward to offer their congratulations to the couple and to welcome back Ionnina. Later they all sat around the fire, relaxed for now, the troubles forgotten even if it only is for a brief moment.

Jareth and Sarah walked back towards his room late that night. His arm was slung around her waist and she sighed contentedly. "Well, that was certainly an enjoyable evening considering the circumstances." "Hmm." She smiled at his distracted reply as he was obviously deep in thought. A shout from behind them caught her attention and she looked over her shoulder to see Steve coming down the corridor towards them, a scowl on his face.

"Oh no."

She stopped and Jareth looked down at her. She glanced up at him as she turned to her ex.

"You go. I'll take care of this."

He shook his head, his goblin king mask firmly in place. "After last time, you must be joking."

Sarah wasn't about to argue. To tell the truth she felt more comfortably with Jareth there. Steve marched up to the couple. "What the fuck is going on here? Are you doing my girl?" He addressed Jareth who simply looked on him as he might a piece of dirt.

"I assure you I am not 'doing' Sarah and she is not your girl."

Steve curled his lip but Jareth frowned. "She's more mine than she is yours."

"Oh really. Sarah, baby, I've given you loads of time and space, it's time to come back."

Sarah looked at him in disbelief. "Did I not make myself clear last time Steve? I do not want to be with you. I no longer want anything to do with you."

"What? You'd rather be with this freak?"

"Yeah, I really would."

Steve darted forward and grabbed her hand. "Well tough, you're coming back with me."

Jareth grabbed her other hand. "I beg to differ. She is staying where she is."

Sarah now knew how Jareth felt back when she and Cassandra had fought over him. She was jerked in one way then the other when suddenly she broke free of both grips. "Stop it. Jareth if you even attempt what I think your going to do you better be ready to pay."

She heard Steve chucked and turned on him. "And you. You listen, I don't want anything to do with you ever again. You even try to touch me and I will have thrown out of this hotel on your ass. Do you understand me?"

Steve nodded sullenly. "It isn't fucking fair."

Jareth sneered. "I wonder what your basis for comparison is." Then both he and Sarah walked away. Sarah glanced up at Jareth who was wearing an evil smirk.

"That wasn't funny you know."

"Yes it was."

End Chap.

Shorter than usual I know, but I hope you all enjoyed it.

C.C: Do they look stupid?

Shut up!

Kaz: You were the one who locked us up.

I know. I'm sorry 'cause now you're even more of a pain in the ass!

All: Hmph.

Whatever, I'm never going to hear the end of this. Well, Rate and Review people, I want honest opinions… Please ;

So, review, comments, questions, compaints: feed the author.

Slán