Sarah flew into Jareth's arms, all her resolve and doubts falling behind the greatness of her need. "Did he speak the truth, at all?" she demanded after a long moment passed, trusting he knew what she meant.

"Skewed, but it is true, I'm not perfect. I know that shocks you," Jareth teased her. "I want things my own way, I have a temper...most of my family is not worth killing..."

Sniffing, Sarah feebly punched the king. "I know that. Except--except you are perfect -- for me."

Dare he hope?

"Sarah, have you decided then?" He'd been sure that he'd at the minimum, lost ground.

"Let me answer when I calm down. Right now, all I really want to do is leave this world behind. Escape. I don't want to decide from fear. So, will you hold me and talk to me for a while?"

"Forever. But- what about?" Jareth asked as he eased her into a moon chair.

"Anything. What have you done for the last few days? How is your mother?"

"She is fine, rather irked by me- I've been in a foul mood, you see, though I have no idea why...hmm...what have I done? Paced, kicked goblins, shattered crystals...missed you." His tone remained lightly casual, glossing over the sarcasm and tenderness alike.

"Oh." Sarah felt heat rising to cover her face. Sudden shyness forced her to change subjects to safer ground, something less personal. "Uhm, well...ah- remember that song? The lullaby you sang to me- how-- how'd that story end?"

It took Jareth a moment, then he recalled it. "Oh. Well, the young man left the woman he loved behind for some time, returned home eventually, when he knew she had found love, and was her friend and even her husband's...for what seemed to be an eternity, a mere few years in reality."

"Then?"

"In this world, loves can be separated by death- or brought together. When she was a young widow, he was there for her. Then, they lived happily ever after."

"Really?"

"Of course. "

"How can something so sad be so -- happy?" Sarah wondered.

"Much in life is- yet without the sorrow the joy would lack depth." Gently, he stroked her hair, easing a hidden tangle out of its knots with magic.

"Didn't know I was in love with a philosopher," she smiled

"Are you? In love?" Dare he hope? For a man used to needing only to want something in order to have it, this waiting was painful, yet vital.

"It would seem so." Sarah sat up a bit, moving just out of his embrace. "I suppose that means --" she sighed. "I guess it means goodbye to this world. I'm still scared, but- the way I feel with you...more importantly, the way I feel without you...I'm babbling."

"That's quite all right. I deal with goblins all the time, comparitively, you would have to descend much further to be incomprehensible," Jareth assured her easily.

"Thanks, I think," the actress noted wryly. "When I'm not with you, the world just is - flat. I feel alive again when I see you- and that was even before - Mr. Simpson," she stated the name as one might the name of a bitter medicine, "freaked me out. He didn't really do anything, but there was just something-- something horrible exuding from his aura, something behind his words and deep in his eyes. "

"Mr. Simpson?" Jareth asked.

"Emile K Simpson, the name he took. Hoggle told me it was really Emilek, but...I don't know where he got the last name."

"Simpson..." Jareth mused. "Ah- his father's name is Sympram."

"When we have kids, can we name them after someone on my side of the family?" Sarah asked, thinking it would not be good to have a child whose name you could barely pronounce.

"We can work something out- but let's go through the process to get them here first?" his highness suggested with a soft laugh that made her blush.

Changing the subject again, Sarah exhaled, then went on, "I guess we're doing the wrong musical. This has turned into Brigadoon-- sometimes you have to give up everything to have everything. "

"Rather Biblical," the king agreed. "And true. I wish it were not so..."

"What must be, must be. You're right, it would be -- difficult-- to see everyone changing so while I was forever as I now am. Even if it weren't so- I changed schools once, promised to keep in touch with my old friends, you know? But as time passed, we had less and less in common...it would have hurt less to not see the things wither slowly." She paused. "Maybe, I think. What could have been and what if- never work, do they?"

"Seldom."

Sarah sighed. She could wait, as she'd said, but it was pointless. She knew in her soul what she would do. Once you make a decision, it's best to follow through. "Then, for good or ill, I choose- you and your world, forever."

The kiss he gave her alone made it all seem so right. It made no sense when, after breaking off, he smiled and said, "In a day or two, I will return and bring you home."

"Why not now?"

"Do you want to just disappear? Leave those you love wondering for the rest of their lives?"

"No..."

"Then - there are things that must be done so that they do not," Jareth smiled, then kissed her briefly. "That does not mean that I intend to let you out of my sight. Not with that creature aware of your existence. "

Laying a a cool hand against her forehead, as if checking for a fever, Jareth whispered something in what sounded like a cross between Elven and Romulan. Perhaps he was inflicting her with a fever. Warmth seemed to infuse Sarah's mind.

"A mental link. You will not even need to call, if you are troubled, I will hear and know it." He stepped back with a smile. "Come now. A guest room is waiting for you. I'll ward this place so that should you be required, you'll be summoned. "

With no thought to argue, the awed girl followed him into her mirror.