Disclaimer – I do not own anything related to the Labyrinth but I do own the original characters.

Rated T for language.

Reviews

Sorry I haven't replied to your reviews earlier, I was more concerned with getting the chapters up.

WickedGame – It took a while to beat down chapter 7 I can tell you but I did it in the end, obviously. I hope you liked it. Here's that next update for you.

Moonjava – Thanks for the support. I appreciate it.

WildPixieChild – You wanted updates, here it is.

Southernsweetdevil – I see your logic but I did actually manage to sneak on and see the reviews before I finished my exams. Thanks for the support and you're right. It is the thought that counts.

FinalFantastFangirl – You wanted more so here it is.

Ailias Kurai – Glad you like it. I tend to reread stories as well. And here is the next chapter.

Lealie Dryer – Glad that you like my story. Sorry about the wait. I got slightly sidetracked. Grins.

insipid.angst – Okay. There is actually no way for me to answer this review without seriously wounding my pride. So, I am going to do it with as much dignity as possible.

First, you are saying I'm a noteworthy author, thank ye for that. Secondly, that 'dry information' in the first chapter was actually needed for a little bit of background. Haven't you noticed that whenever you read books, there is always some info on the actual thing the book is about? Yes, I will agree it is normally weaved into the fabric of the story but I couldn't be bothered with that. Besides there was no real place for me to put it. And did you even read the rest of the story? Or just the first chapter? Thirdly, and this is where I get slightly confused. First you have complimented me and then you are insulting my work. I will agree with you that the first bits are a little bit rough and they may need a little work but I was planning on revising the first few chapters anyway.

If you think I have ranted on this and that I have offended you in some way in this reply, then please tell me for that was not my intention. I was just getting my thoughts and feelings out.

Right then. On with the story.

Chapter 9 – Back to the Underground

J-lea groaned slightly as she woke up in the soft bed. She let out a small hiss as she shifted her weight off of her injured shoulder.

'Eric really flipped this time' J-lea thought as her memories filtered back into her mind.

J-lea abruptly sat up and was accosted by dizziness as she remembered everything that happened. She waited for her head to clear before she looked around. She saw a door across from her, imbedded in stonewalls. There was a window behind her, allowing light to pour into the large room. Before J-lea could take in anymore of the room's beauty, the door opened to admit the one who had saved her.

"Jareth" J-lea whispered. Said king smiled at her as he approached.

"And how are we feeling today?" he asked.

"Like I was shot in the shoulder," she replied smiling slightly. Jareth frowned.

"Why didn't you call?" he asked. It was J-lea's turn to frown.

"I did"

"Eventually", Jareth said, "You could have called a lot earlier than that"

"I thought I could get away. And besides, you of all people should know how stubborn I am" said J-lea, smirking. Jareth grinned in reply.

J-lea rolled her neck to click it and as she did so she felt a twinge in her shoulder. Frowning, she put a hand to it and rolled her shoulder to get used to the fact that there was, indeed, a bullet wound there. Jareth also frowned and he came over and sat on the edge of the bed.

"May I?" he asked. J-lea nodded and shifted slightly so that Jareth had better access to her shoulder. Jareth gently moved the ripped fabric out of his way and ran a thumb over the wound. A sharp intake of breath told him that the slightest touch to the wound hurt. He leaned forward and gently kissed the wound and it faded away to nothing.

J-lea rolled her shoulder again and smiled.

"That's better," she stated. Jareth smiled ad they both fell silent.

"Jareth" – "J-lea" –

J-lea smiled and looked to the wall and took a deep breath.

"Jareth, in the Escher room. I was… pissed off and exhausted. I just wanted to make sure that my baby sister was safe at home. And the fact that you were being an ass added to my anger. I… didn't mean what I said. I was just angry" J-lea explained, all the while looking at the far wall.

"I'm sorry about that. But I had a perfect plan. I had the perfect family to send Kiara to. It would have been fitting for both the family and Kiara," replied Jareth. J-lea looked at him again and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Oh, come, come, J-lea. I don't actually turn the children to goblins. They get given to loving families. Even I'm not that cruel" he said.

"I know that" J-lea snapped, "When I said 'Oh' I was wanting you to elaborate on your 'perfect plan'. And what were you thinking about a family for? Did you really have such little faith in me?"

"No. It wasn't that. I knew for sure that you would complete the Labyrinth. However, I was hoping that I could slow you down enough so that the time would run out," returned Jareth.

"Oh, yes. Your 'slowing down'. Where you trying to kill me? Or was that the goblin's idea?" she asked as she remembered her little escapades with the goblin soldiers.

"Of course I wasn't trying to kill you. You weren't supposed to get too badly injured, only blocked off from the castle"

"Yea, well, great job at the 'no injuries' part," J-lea said as she lent back, closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Jareth sighed and got up. This conversation was going to lead to another argument so he decided to stop it in its tracks by leaving.

As Jareth walked to the door, J-lea fished the crystal from two weeks ago out of her pocket.

"Jareth" J-lea called. The Goblin King turned around and looked at her, "This is yours" As she said that, she threw the crystal to him. He caught it and looked at it. Shock showed on his face for a minute before his mask fell back into place.

"It was a gift," he said before he threw the crystal back at her, "Keep it"

Jareth turned around and walked from the room. J-lea watched him go over the top of the crystal, which was held in her fingertips before staring into the crystal.

Sorry about the long wait. I got sidetracked with three things.

1 – The Sims 2

2 – The new Star Wars fan fic that I am starting to write

And 3 – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PC game, which I have recently downloaded.