A Meal of Lessons

Mr. Williams entered the house at five minutes after 6:00 pm. After discreetly putting the item he had bought in the cupboard, he peeked in the living room He saw the three women in his life talking calmly and quietly. They weren't laughing, but they weren't shouting or crying either. They seemed to be acting relatively normal. Something had to be dreadfully wrong.

"What's going on," he announced, making his presence known.

"What do you mean," his wife responded, getting off the couch.

"Is everything okay," Mr. Williams asked, as his wife kissed him.

"Everything is just fine. By the way, I hope you are in the mood for chinese takeout."

"Well, what choice do I have?"

"Exactly," his wife replied simply.

As they sat down in the living room together, Mr. Williams surveyed his family.

"So, where is Toby," he asked.

"He went to straighten things out with Nancy," Sarah told her Father. "He said he would call to let you know when he would be home."

"Oh, well, I hope the kid knows what he's doing."

"Do any of us?" Sam, looked at her Father, finally speaking up since he had arrived.

"Good point, Sam. You know, I am really in the mood for a drink. I think we have a bottle of chardonay in the cabinet. What do you say, Sam?"

Sam froze with the look of a child who had their hand caught in the cookie jar.

"Um Dad, I'm barely eighteen. I'm still technically underage."

"Oh, honey, you are at home and under our supervision. I don't think one glass will hurt you."

Sarah watched the exchange between her sister and father, clearly confused. Karen carried the same expression.

"Really, Dad, I don't feel like it."

"Well, that doesn't stop the rest of us from indulging. Sarah, Karen, do you want some?"

"No, they don't," Sam replied for them, suddenly desperate.

"Since when do you answer for us, Sam. I'll have some, honey," Karen said, as her husband walked toward the liqueur cabinet.

"Make that three, Dad," Sarah spoke up.

Sam's stomach twisted as her Father left the living room. Last night Sam had failed to consider the bottle of chardonay she drank was the only one left. At that moment she knew she was dead. For the second time that day, she was cursing herself for not making out her will. A moment later her father returned with... chardonay? What the hell?

"I'm sure glad we saved this," he said, as he pulled the cork. "Sam, you look like you have seen a ghost, are you okay?"

"Yeah," she replied, sounding defensive.

"Sam, you are clutching the cushion so tightly your knuckles are turning white," Sarah announced, much to Sam's dismay. The latter was beginning to have regrets over their makeup session. She was also beginning to wonder how a long a person would go to prison for homicide.

"Really guys, I am fine." Before she could say anything else the door bell rang. Sam jumped to her feet. "That must be our food, I'll get it."

As Sam escaped the living room, Sarah eyed her Father. She saw an expression on his face that she couldn't quite read. It almost looked like a mixture of anger and amusement. Amusement?

Sam returned with cartons in her hands. "Who's hungry?"

Justina looked up from her dinner plate, eyeing her brother as he attacked his chicken breast with a knife. Her eyes widened as she watched him stab it.

"Jareth, I think its dead."

"Don't start with me, Justina," he said coldly.

Justina was so shocked she couldn't speak. He hardly ever lost his temper with her. She could even count the number of times on one hand. I mean sure they play fought, but it was never cruel.

Jareth looked up at his sister and sighed. "I'm tired, excuse me." He stood up about ready to leave the table when Justina spoke up.

"No, Jareth, I don't think I will."

Jareth looked at her with a bored expression on his face as she approached him. After a long walk around the immense table, she stood before him and continued.

"What's wrong with you brother? You seem so detached, even for you. Does this have anything to do with Sam?" Justina looked into his tired eyes waiting for his response.

"Oh, yes. Parting is such sweet sorrow," Jareth replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The love of my life has left me, I shall die without her." Jareth mockingly began to fake tears.

"Jareth, I have known you forever, you can't fool me. You feel vulnerable because you let her see a side of you that you rarely show. A side of you that is very caring and dependable."

"Oh, Justina, get your head out of the clouds. You make me sound like Jekyl and Hyde.

The only reason I did this was so we could save our world. Saving Samantha had nothing to do with it."

"And I suppose her sister didn't have anything to do with it, either."

"Let's not start up on Sarah."

"Jareth," she started, voice rising, "the fact of the matter is, you are starting to have feelings for Samantha Williams and it's scaring you."

"You're imagining things. She is only a child."

"I don't mean that kind of love, Jareth. I'm talking about kindred spirits. I think in a way it is stronger than romantic love." Justina paused and then continued. "Without realizing it yourself Jareth, somewhere along this journey you and Sam, became, friends."

Jareth looked at her with his famous, blank expression.

Justina walked away, suddenly sad. "In fact, I sort of envy her," she said, almost in a whisper.

"What," he replied, partly in question, partly in confusion.

"Jareth, I never doubted that you cared, but, at times, I wished that, you would show it more."

Jareth walked up to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. " So, how did you like the chicken?(translation: I'm sorry?")"

"It was good, though a little on the dry side. (translation: I forgive you. I am sorry too.)"

"I'll let the cook know. (translation: I love you.)"

"That would be wonderful.(translation: I love you too.)"

Jareth bent down and picked his sister up and twirled her around.

For the first time in a long time his sister giggled like a little girl. After giving her a big hug he set her down.

"You know, Justina. You would make a great ruler. (translation: You're all right kid.)"

"I know. (translation: I know.)"

(Later that night.)

"Well, that was a good movie," Sarah said, flicking on the lights as the credits rolled on the screen. "What did you think of it, Sam... Sam?" Sarah looked at her sister on the couch, only to find her sister in the fetal position, fast asleep.

"I think Sam is off in a galaxy far, far away." Mr. Williams smiled.

"It has been a long time since Sam has actually fallen asleep before her old folks," Karen joked.

Sarah went to wake her sister but, was stopped by her dad.

"Don't worry about it honey. Let me have my fatherly moment." Removing his hand from Sarah's arm he picked up his sleeping daughter.

"Awwww," Karen and Sarah said, simultaneously.

Mr. Williams shook his head as he started up the stairs. Sam didn't stir as he opened the door and put her on the bed. He turned off her desk lamp and headed for the door.

"Dad, I love you."

"I love you too, baby. Oh, and by the way. You ever pull a stunt like you did last night again, I will kill you. Okay, honey."

"Yes, Daddy," Sam replied quietly. She didn't dare argue as her Father shut the door behind him.

"What happened to letting her come to us," Karen said, sneaking up behind her husband.

"Her Dad decided to approach problems rather than avoid them," Mr. Williams said.

"I thought the chardonay was a rather nice touch. I had no idea you were going to use that technique. You know," she continued, gliding toward him, "you're kinda sexy when your devious."

He smiled at her mischievously. He took a good look at his wife, who was wearing black, fitted slacks, which emphasized her thin, curvy legs. His eyes traveled upward to her red, tank top, which clung to her small waist. When he reached her eyes he couldn't help but notice the crows feet and smile lines. But her smile and sparkling eyes outweighed them all. He grabbed her by the waist and said, "How about we go play the lonely lawyer and the hot paralegal."

"Okay," she replied seductively, "but, I want to be the lawyer this time."

Author's Note: There has been so much drama lately that I decided to make this chapter more light hearted. It also raised some questions. Will Jareth and Sam ever see each other again? When andwill Jareth and Sarah meet up again. Who is Jareth in love with Sarah or Sam. What will happen to the latter as she tries to find herself. And why does the author keep referring to Mr. Williams as, well, Mr. Williams (he, he.)

Ripper101: Thanks once again for your encouragement as well as your criticism. You are right, in real life it does take a lot longer for things like this to get settled. Let's just say thank god for fairy tales. Don't get me wrong though. Sam will still struggle to change, the only difference is, she will actually try and eventually succeed.