Title: Whispers of Magic

Author: Kathea

Pairing: Jareth/Sarah

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Time will tarnish your memory but some things will never go away even if they are only whispers.

AN: Set at least 10 years after the movie with a very grown up Sarah and a Jareth that hasn't changed one bit.

Disclaimer: This story was written for my entertainment, if by some miracle you were also entertained then I am honored. I obviously make no money from this artistic venture.

Reviews: Morrigana: No guessing! Everyone just has to wait and see where I take this but as a hint expect quite a few twists and turns. JoeynPacey2gether4ever: I guess you'll just have to wait for my explanation. Solea: I'll never tell. Just wait and see. ItsACrystalNothingMore: Thanks! Moonjava: Thanks.

Chapter 4: Leaving on a Jet Plane

Summer had struck in full force. The heat was heavy, parching throats and burning skin. The children, of course, loved every minute of it because heat meant pools, and slides, and sprinklers. The adults were miserable since they can hardly run around in their bathing suits. Sarah sat in the shade beside the whale shaped water slide at the park. Thankfully, Kara and Kevan were taking turns. She kept a careful eye on the kids while she tried to stay cool. Even in a tank top and shorts it was hard not to sweat. Her hair was heavy and warm on the back of her head. For once in her life she wished she had the nerve to chop it all off.

Leaning back on her elbows, Sarah tried to concentrate on something other than the heat. Out of the corner of her eye a motion caught her attention. Turning, Sarah saw an attractive, blond man walking towards her. Dressed similarly to the other adults in a t-shirt and shorts, he didn't attract attention from the others present. He stopped in front of Sarah's blanket and smiled down at her.

"Hello, Sarah," he said in a cultured British voice. Sarah's stared in shock at the man in front of her. She made to rise up but her elbows didn't cooperate and she found herself laying flat on her back. Blushing furiously, Sarah looked up to see his mismatched eyes smiling down at her. "Well, there's no need to stand on ceremony." Struggling, Sarah sat up and motioned him to take a seat.

"What…Jareth…how…your hair?" Sarah said stumbling over her words. Sarah took a deep calming breath before trying to speak again. "What I meant was, what are you doing here?"

"You do remember," Jareth begin nonchalantly, "I told you that I would return with an explanation. I thought it would be best to return on neutral ground."

"That was a wise move." Sarah said with an arched eyebrow.

"Kings are noted for their wisdom, hence my current attire."

"Ah. So, what kernel of knowledge have you come to impart." Sarah asked quickly hoping that her charges wouldn't get curious about Jareth anytime soon.

"You were correct in your assumption that your recent dreams originated from the Underground. I, however, was not the source."

"Really?" Sarah asked sharply. "I seem to have a vague memory of you offering my dreams to me once."

"Whether or not you choose to believe me is up to you. I am only here to say that I know how to make them stop. That is also your choice." Jareth rose gracefully from the ground.

"Wait. There's no need to get huffy." Sarah said quickly, heaving a sigh. "Let's say I believe you. What would I need to do to make them stop?"

"Come to the Underground with me."

"That's all?" Sarah asked suspiciously.

"Piece of cake, right?" Jareth smirked. It was at that moment with Jareth looking down on her that Kara and Kevan choose to tumble their wet bodies onto Sarah. Sarah shrieked as cold, wet arms wrapped around her torso. The force of the twins tumbled them all back to the ground. Sarah could only laugh and hold them close, dropping light kisses on their heads. Jareth watched quietly, trying to quell the upwelling of jealousy.

"Who are you?" The ever curious Kara asked. Jareth looked meaningfully at Sarah waiting for her to answer for him.

"Uh, Kara, this is an…umm…old…friend of mine. His name is Jareth. Mr. Jareth to you two rugrats." Kara stuck out a tiny hand to shake while Kevan watched Jareth carefully from Sarah's embrace.

Jareth knelt down next to Sarah and aimed a careful smile at Kevan. "And what's your name?"

"Kevan." He said very quietly. "What do you want?"

"Kevan!" Sarah said sharply. "Don't be rude."

"You can't marry Sarah cause I've already called dibs." Kevan said hotly before burying his head in the crook of Sarah's neck.

"Jareth I'm sorry. Umm, can I call you later?" Sarah said quickly hoping Jareth would spare the children what was sure to be a formidable temper.

"Sure. You know how to get in touch with me." Jareth said with a confused look on his face. He again rose and turned away, the bright sun blinded Sarah for a moment and when she could see again, Jareth was gone.

"Okay, guys I think that's enough for today. It's time to pack up and head for home." Sarah said, bustling the kids along.

Asking for a week off without mentioning her destination was a bit awkward but the Hoffman's were more than willing to let her take a vacation. As Sarah trudged up the stairs, she turned over in her mind all the ways she could tell the kids that she'd be gone for a week. They definitely weren't going to be happy. Without a doubt Kevan would cry and Kara would be belligerent. At this age they probably thought she was abandoning them. Sarah stepped into their playroom and saw the two kids playing peaceably with each other. She sat down next to them and took a deep breath before starting to talk.

"We know you are going away." Kevan said in a dark voice. Sarah looked sharply at his stony little face. Flicking her gaze quickly to Kara, she saw tears welling in the bright blue eyes. Sarah opened her arms and Kara rushed to them to cry on her shoulder.

"We don't want you to leave us, Sarah. We love you. We…sob…we promise to be so good and do all our homework and chores." Kara whimpered in her ear. Sarah pulled back and wiped the tears off the girls face.

"Guys, I'm not leaving permanently. I just need to take a little time off to visit my family. You know how you visit Grandma and Grandpa Silverman?" Sarah asked watching for the nodding heads. "I'm doing the same thing. I'll be back in one week, I promise."

"Are you going with that man?" Kevan asked with hooded eyes.

"No, I'm going to visit my brother Toby and my mom and dad." Sarah lied over the lump in her throat. "Kev, why are you so mad at me?" Sarah asked as she felt tears prick at her eyes. She hated having her babies mad at her.

"Sarah," Kevan sobbed, suddenly breaking, "I'll miss you so much." Sarah held them and rocked slowly back and forth until their tears quieted.

"You guys won't miss me, cause I'll be here with you all the time." She said softly.

"What do you mean?" Kara said through hiccups. Sarah placed a hand over each child's heart and leaned down to whisper.

"I'll be right here, in your heart, the whole time. Anytime you get scared or upset, just touch your heart and you'll know that I'm thinking of you." The two kids smiled brightly at the thought. "Now, come on, time for bed." Thankfully, Sarah was able to control her own tears until the door was shut behind her. The look on Kevan's face, how could she have misjudged them so.?

Little bouts of tears kept creeping up on Sarah as she packed a small duffle bag. Sitting on the floor, wiping the last tears from her eyes, Sarah surveyed the mess she'd made of her room. What exactly did a person take with them on a vacation in the Underground? Dresses, skirts, shorts were strewn about her bed with matching purses and shoes perched on her dresser.

Okay, let's think logically, Sarah said firmly to herself. Pick out your favorite pairs of shoes and then build outfits around them. Sarah reached determinedly into her closet and began the process all over again.

Two hours later, she was finally packed. The duffle bag, bursting at the seams, was next to her on the bed. One reassuring breath and Sarah said words she never thought to say.

Looking directly at the mirror, Sarah said in a firm voice. "Jareth, I'm ready now." She looked around suspiciously, waiting for the telltale puff of smoke and glitter. Instead, Sarah felt the room around her go black and the support of her bed disappear. She fell through the darkness for only a moment before another softer support was under her. Then the lights came back on and Sarah took only a moment to realize she wasn't in her room anymore.

AN: Just as a personal note, what Sarah says to the kids about being in their hearts is what my mom used to say to me and my sister (Kara) when we started a new school and were scared. Look for chapter 5 next week, probably.