Well, we took a little longer to get going than I thought we would, so I had time to upload one more chapter.

BOOkperson, thanks for your kind words! Just so you know, I love my husband more than anything else – he's the most wonderful man in the world. I only said I "liked" him because I didn't want to go overboard singing his praises. We had a friend tell us once that we were so sweet together that we'd "make the smurfs puke." Heh, heh. But I'm not going to steal "our" fluff and give it to Jareth and Sarah. I'll make up different fluff for them. Ours is private (and better!). ;)

So far no one has guessed the exact connection I was going for, though a few people did guess the correct movie. Where and how does this movie show up in "Labyrinth?" Anyone know?

Letylyf (and crazy07), I'm so glad you liked the song! I was really unsure about including it because it technically counts as poetry… and for some reason my poetry is a LOT harder for me to share with the wide world than my prose. Thanks for the compliment about it; that gives me a bit more confidence.

Oh, Mirriam Q – I completely agree with what you said about the median age of the usual fanfic writer. I wonder, however, how many original Labyrinth fans write here? I'm one, and I know there are a few others. I can usually tell which ones are original fans, because we're mostly in our thirties by now, and the writing shows it. But I have seen some excellent work done by high school students as well. The majority of such "young" writing is a chore to read, because the writers have no idea how adults are supposed to act (they think they're just bigger teenagers) – but I have seen some very good stuff from time to time.

Chapter 26: What Goes Around…

Sarah had a very hard time concentrating on her Friday morning classes, and she decided to blow off her afternoon ones entirely. With the feeling of freedom that comes from being naughty, she even went out shopping when she knew she should have been in class.

She bought herself a new pair of shoes, stylish yet comfortable to walk in, and decided to get a haircut while she was out. The stylist left the length, but cut some layers into it and made some shorter, face-framing wisps loose. Sarah liked it, and left her hair loose after it dried so it swung around her shoulders.

Sarah had had so little money for so long that a new pair of shoes and a haircut were priceless luxuries for her. After graduating from high school, she had worked for several years to save for college, and then during college she had worked in the bookstore to help pay for it. Since her father and step-mother had split up, her father hadn't been able to help her with much money either. Karen begrudged the child support, since she felt she should have been granted custody of Toby. It had been Sarah's testimony in court that had swayed the decision, and Karen couldn't forgive her.

Sarah thought, not for the first time, that Toby might have been better off had she failed the Labyrinth challenge.

When she got back to the apartment Paris was already gone, but she'd left a note on the memo board: "Sarah - Gone to Leo's for the weekend. If you see Jared make sure to invite me to the wedding!" She'd signed it with a happy face that had the tongue sticking out, and Sarah chuckled as she made her dinner.

"Definitely got some questions for that man," she muttered to herself as she went up to her room. There was a letter waiting for her beneath the crystal, which was dark when Sarah peeked into it.

From His Majesty Jareth, King of the Goblins

To Miss Sarah Williams, Student: Greetings

His Majesty wishes Ms. Williams to know that he has once again taken her brother. If Ms. Williams expects to see young master Toby Williams again, she shall call His Majesty by name and agree to the following terms:

1. Ms. Williams shall accept His Majesty's hospitality for a period of four days

2. During this time, Ms. Williams shall accept and wear clothing chosen by His Majesty

3. Ms. Williams shall allow young master Toby free run of the entire Labyrinth, being assured of his safety by its king

Sarah felt one instant of sheer, childish panic before remembering that this visit was all arranged. Then she let out a rueful laugh. Wasn't it just like Jareth to send her a written invitation couched in terms of a ransom note! Sarah re-read the terms carefully, looking for loopholes -- and found one. With a pen, she added the words, "…and approved by Ms. Williams" to the second item on the list. Damned if she'd give up control of her wardrobe to a man who dressed like the cover of a bodice-ripper!

Feeling the now-familiar nervous butterflies, she called for Jareth. Nothing happened for a few seconds, and then her desk mirror shimmered a little and changed to show his face.

He smiled. "Sarah! Are you ready, then? Toby's already here."

"Yes, so I read," she said. "Did you mean to give me a heart attack, Jareth, or was that just a happy accident?" she scolded.

He smiled wider. "Thought you might like to reminisce a little," he said. "Do you agree to the terms? If so, we can be on our way."

Sarah wanted to clarify one thing first. "You want me to agree to these terms, exactly as they're written?" She filled her voice with outrage, in the hopes that he wouldn't realize what she had done.

"Of course," Jareth said with an impish grin.

He started to get suspicious when Sarah gave him a satisfied smile. "Very well, I agree," she said sweetly. "You might want to see what I added, though."

"Sarah…" his tone held a note of warning.

Grinning, she held up the letter in front of the mirror and pointed to her brief addition. "This is what we're agreed upon, Jareth."

"But that was not what -"

And Sarah folded her arms and cut him off with a line she'd wanted to use on him for years. "Uh-uh-uh. 'What's said is said!'"

And when he realized that he'd been played, he had no choice but to give in and laugh. "That's not fair!" he mocked her, reaching through the mirror to take Sarah's hand.

A/N: Okay, okay, now I'm really gone until Monday or Tuesday! Feel free to fill my mailbox with glowing reviews (or honest ones, even if they don't glow--I like that kind even better sometimes, 'cause they help make me a better writer) so they'll all be sitting there when I get back. Cheers!