Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for Amelia
Chapter 8: A plan and a wish
Sarah wandered down the street, eventually making her way to the park where she used to imagine that she was in another world, that she was in the Labyrinth. Until she visited the Labyrinth for real that is. The last time she had been here she was fifteen and she ha been practicing the lines from her favourite play. That was the day she wished her little brother away. It was also the day she had to learn to grow up.
Sarah walked through the park and eventually she sat on the grass near the waters edge. She sat like this for some time and then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She wasn't surprised, she knew who it was.
Jareth wrapped an arm around Sarah and she sunk into his welcome embrace.
"Jareth, why can't she see how lucky she is to have a son like Toby?"
The Goblin King sighed and held onto her tighter. "I don't know Sarah, people never seem to really value what they have, they take so many things for granted," Jareth paused and Sarah looked up at him, she poked her tongue out and Jareth laughed at her before continuing. "Sorry, but it's true. That saying that you people have, 'you don't know what you've got until it's gone' well it's true and I've seen it many, many times. So many children are wished away but the people realize how much they really care for them once the child is gone. You did it."
"I wish we could make her see."
They sat in silence for a while until Sarah broke the silence. "Jareth, do you think there's a way that we could make Karen see? I mean, I learned not to take so much for granted while I traveled the Labyrinth, and I realized how much I cared for Toby. What if the same thing happened for Karen?"
"Sarah my dear, you may have an idea there."
She smiled, but the smile disappeared when she had another thought. "There's no way that we're going to get Karen to wish Toby away."
"Ah but Sarah, she will with a bit of magic."
The smile once more graced Sarah's features and she lay her head back on Jareth's shoulder.
8
Karen was sitting at home watching as her son and niece ran around the lounge room.
"That's it, kids, it's time for bed."
The two children stopped playing and Amelia looked at Karen curiously. "Why do we have to go to bed now Aunt Karen?"
"Because it's bed time."
"But I'm not tired yet. And neither's Toby," she looked over at her cousin and he nodded his head in agreement.
Karen was quickly losing her patience. She had been forced into canceling her dinner plans and now she was stuck with, not one but two young children. One of which was really starting to annoy her. 'Where is Sarah when I need her,' Karen thought. "Look Amelia, it's time for bed now, no arguments."
"But Aunty Karen-"
"Enough. Amelia you will do as I say."
"Sarah doesn't send us to bed this early," Amelia said pouting.
"Well I'm not Sarah," Karen went over to Toby and Amelia and grabbed an arm of each of the children. "Now, upstairs, and go to bed."
She pulled them upstairs and got them to the bedroom. Karen got Toby dressed for bed and Amelia silently changed her own clothes. She then got into bed and Toby did the same.
"Can we at least have a story Aunty Karen?"
"Yeah mom, can we have a bed time story?"
Karen looked at the pair and shook her head. "No, you're not having a story. You don't need a story. Now go to sleep."
The two children both pouted but decided it was best not to argue.
As Karen walked out of the room she heard Amelia speak.
"I wish Sarah was here."
As if that wasn't enough she then heard the voice of the son.
"Me too. She'd tell us a story. Maybe even the one about the goblins taking children away again."
"Yeah, I liked that one."
Karen glared at the door for a moment before turning away and heading downstairs. As she reached the top step she turned back and looked at the door. "I wish the goblins would come and take you away, right now," she said in a whisper before heading down the stairs.
8
Still sitting in the park with Sarah, Jareth 's head shot up from it's place on top of Sarah's.
"What is it?" Sarah asked him.
He looked thoughtful for a moment before a smile spread across his face.
"Looks as if your plan is already in effect Sarah, even without my magic prompting it."
"You mean that…"
"Yes, Karen has wished Toby and that young cousin of yours away."
"Toby and Amelia?"
"Yes. Well, best be off to collect them then. I'll go and play my bit and then I'll come back for you. Goodbye love."
He kissed her and then disappeared, leaving Sarah standing in the park alone.
AN: Thanks for the reviews everyone. Sorry it took so long to get this up, but my old omputer died and I had to rewrite this chapter. Review and tell me what you think.