Jareth cried out as another surge of power came up from the deepest parts of his core. He could feel it being exhausted and he prayed that he could hold up long enough to finish the spell. He took a deep breath and brought up more from his center. He felt it rush to his head, the tips of his fingers, the soles of his feet. Then, two things happened at once. Jareth felt the transformation complete itself just as he felt something in his gut contract, telling him that he had no more power left.

He smiled to himself, collapsed on the floor and fell asleep.

Jareth awoke two days later with his power fully restored. Two days, it took, for him to recharge all his power. Two years ago, it would have taken five minutes.

He pulled himself up from the stone floor and shook his head to clear it. He blinked at the bright light of the Labyrinth and stumbled slightly over to the full length mirror across the room.

He laughed in triumph at the sight of his new form. A tall, masculine mortal with short silvery-blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. The jaw was strong and the body was in beautiful shape. When Jareth realized, though, that his new façade was naked he cursed and wondered briefly what he would do for clothes. Deciding there was nothing else to do, he used more of his precious power to create some beautiful clothes for his new body.

Silk underwear was first, and then came a pair of snug-fitting designer jeans (Jareth had always wondered what the fuss about jeans was among mortals), a tight white undershirt and a black button-down shirt with white pin stripes. The look was completed with Jareth's trademark: black velvet boots.

Pleased with himself, Jareth let the feelers of his intuition extend into the world above. It was 6:28 on a Wednesday morning.

Perfect.

Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

Sarah groggily opened her eyes and looked at the digital alarm clock. 6:30 a.m. on a Thursday morning…is there anything more depressing? She reached up to push the snooze button but nothing happened. She pushed the button to turn it off but it continued to beep at her. Damn cheap piece of…Sarah pushed the buttons harder. Would she have to wrestle with this thing every morning? She hit the buttons one more time before picking it up and hurled it across the room. It hit the wall, broke and was silent.

Sarah groaned as she climbed up out of bed. She was so ready for it to be summer. She slipped her long legs into a pair of jeans but at the last second changed her mind. She went to the closet and put on a pale yellow summer dress. She slipped on a pair of brown sandals, snapped a rubber band around her hair as usual, grabbed her book bag and headed for the door. Before she left to go downstairs, some unknown force told her to return to her vanity and apply the smallest bit of lipstick. And while she was at it, she let her long dark hair fall around her shoulders, something she hadn't done in almost two years. She picked up her bag again and forced herself downstairs before she wasted any more time trying to look like a girl.

Her father was already at the kitchen table hiding behind a newspaper while his wife, Moira, talked non-stop in that grating voice of hers. Toby sat eating his cereal in silence, a sad look on his little face. It was only when Sarah got within earshot that she realized why.

"Colin, I can't have Toby sleeping with us every night. I haven't slept in days and I have a very important presentation this morning. I come home every day, after working nine hours and cook dinner for everyone and get Toby to bed. I need sleep, Goddamnit, and I refuse to sacrifice my few hours of rest because of a few nightmares." When Sarah's father didn't answer, Moira slapped the back of his newspaper. "Colin, are you listening to me? Something must be done about this. I can be expected to do everything!"

Sarah had heard enough. She couldn't even count the numbers of times Moira had too much wine with dinner and had been unable to put her son to bed. She came home every day after sitting behind a desk for nine hours, sat down on the couch, soaked her feet and read romance novels. Sometimes she felt like cooking dinner but most of the time Sarah did it. As well as all the housework on Saturdays. She slept until noon on her days off whether she had something to do or not. Sarah took Toby to his doctor's appointments, to play dates and to the park. Her father was clueless, of course, but Moira was one of the laziest people Sarah had ever met in her life.

Sarah came into the kitchen trying to keep a hold of her temper. Moira turned to her, "Oh, Sarah, good. Would you mind fixing an omelet for your father's breakfast?"

"I have to be at school in twenty minutes, I'm on my way out the door."

Moira threw up her hands. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. I have to do absolutely everything and I can't get a single one of you to cooperate. And Sarah, I just finished telling your father that I can't have Toby sleeping in our bed. He can sleep with you from now on when he's scared."

Sarah was going to make an argument about her schoolwork, but her eyes caught sight of Toby's sad face and realized how awful he must feel. She didn't want it to sound like no one wanted him. She walked over to where Toby was sitting, bent down and whispered in his ear, "Gobs, could you please take your cereal into the living room and watch TV?" Toby scrambled out of the kitchen, relieved at the opportunity to get out of Moira's way.

"What is your problem?" Sarah asked Moira when Toby was out of earshot.

"Excuse me?"

"He's your son, Moira, it's your responsibility to take care of him."

"Why do you people expect so much of me?" Moira whined.

"I don't know about Dad and Toby, but I don't expect anything from you. You've proven to me that you aren't fit to take care of a dog, much less a three-year-old boy. How can you stand there and tell me to my face that you do everything when you are the laziest, least productive and, not to mention, the bitchiest member of this family? Get over yourself, for Christ's sake." Sarah turned to leave but Moira called after her.

"Stop right there. Colin, say something." Sarah's father looked very uncomfortable and after not saying anything for a few moments, Moira sighed with frustration and turned back to Sarah.

"How dare you speak to me that way? You have—"

"Look, this is all very fascinating, but I have to go to school now."

"You do that, and come right home afterwards."

"I can't, I have to work."

"No, you're babysitting tonight. Besides, I don't like you associating yourself with those new-age nutcases at that bookstore. You will come straight home."

"Are you deaf? I have to work. A concept that I suppose is beyond the bounds of your imagination."

She took her bag and marched calmly out the door. She dimly heard Moira say something in a high-pitched voice, to which her father finally responded "I'll talk to her." Sarah rolled her eyes and continued out the door, saying goodbye to Toby on her way out.