Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who left comments. I wasn't sure how many people would see what I wrote, so it's nice to get some feedback. Yes, this chapter is even longer than the first. I didn't plan it that way, but there didn't seem to be a good stopping place. The story is progressing slowly, but surely...
Chapter Two: The Night Before Christmas
"There you are!" Sarah's father poked his head out of the kitchen when Sarah and Toby came in the front door. "We were about to give up on you two. Did you have fun?"
"Yes!" said Toby, struggling as his mother tried to peel off his snowsuit. "Sarah took me to the pond, and we saw--"
Sarah rushed to interrupt. "There was hardly anyone else out, we had the whole park to ourselves. And Toby found some pinecones, didn't you, Toby?"
"Well, it's no wonder." huffed Karen. "It's barely twenty degrees out, and you two were gone for three hours. Your father and I were afraid you'd catch your death of cold. Don't deny it, Robert! I saw you, looking out the window every ten minutes. Come on, I've got hot chocolate waiting on the stove."
Toby ran ahead to the kitchen, his blond hair sticking up in damp spikes. Behind him, he dropped a trail of pinecones. Karen lingered to pick them up. She glanced over at Sarah sitting on the stairs to take off her wet socks.
"I want to thank you for taking Toby to the park," she said quietly. "He's been looking forward to you coming home for weeks, and hasn't been able to talk about anything else. Sarah, I know we haven't always gotten along, but... I'm glad you're home for Christmas." She squeezed Sarah's shoulder gently before retreating to the kitchen without waiting for a reply.
Sarah watched her leave in surprise. Karen had been going a little easier on her lately, but this was the first time she'd ever expressed being happy at having Sarah in the house. That was mostly her own fault, Sarah thought ruefully. She hadn't made Karen feel very welcome either when she'd married her father seven years ago. She'd been twelve then, still angry about her mother leaving them for Los Angeles and a career in acting. Sarah loved her mother, but Linda Williams was more a distant dream, a glamorous star she mostly saw in movies and on television. Karen had been the one who stayed home to take care of her and Toby, to be there at school plays and meetings, driving Sarah to theater rehearsals and making sure she did her homework. Karen did all the things Sarah wished her mother had done. And for that, she had resented the hell out of her step-mother for years.
Her father came from the kitchen and handed her a mug of hot chocolate. "Aren't you going to join us? Toby wants to decorate his pinecones to hang on the tree tonight."
"Thanks Dad, but... Actually, that nap sounds pretty good to me right about now."
"Wore you out, did he?" Robert Williams grinned at his daughter. "He's a real handful, that one. I'm proud of the way you're able to take care of him. I know it hasn't been easy for you."
Sarah took a sip of her cocoa and warmed her hands on the sides of the mug. "He's a good kid." she admitted. "I didn't always like having him around, but he's more fun now that he can talk and doesn't cry all the time."
"You're improving with age too, princess." said her father. "Although it's always hard, watching your little girl grow up."
"Daaad..."
"I know, I know. No mushy talk." Robert gave her a hug. "Get yourself on upstairs, we'll wake you when dinner's ready."
Maybe Karen had a point about fresh air, thought Sarah as she changed into a pair of pale blue flannel pajamas. Between that and the hot chocolate, she was drowsy again and looked forward to catching up on her sleep. She drew the curtains and buried herself in the bed. Just before she drifted off to sleep, she noticed that the Labyrinth book was back on her nightstand, looking as if it belonged there.
"Sarah?"
Sarah didn't stir.
"Please, Sarah. Can you hear me?"
This time, Sarah turned sleepily. "Is it dinner time already?" She reached down to pull her blanket up over her head.
"Sarah, it's me. Wake up!"
She opened her eyes, expecting to find Toby standing over her bed. No one was there. Sarah dragged herself up and opened her bedroom door. The smell of pot roast drifted up from downstairs, and she could hear the TV on and Toby laughing. The hallway was empty, and she shut the door, puzzled. I must be really tired, Sarah thought. And I'm beginning to hallucinate, too. She turned to go back to bed, but realized something odd. The mirror over her vanity table was cloudy, as if a fog had drifted across it. As she stared at it, a strange, weathered brown face appeared, brown eyes blinking near-sightedly over a hooked nose. Sarah gasped.
"Hoggle!"
"Sarah? Are you there?"
"Hoggle, I'm here." She rushed to the mirror, but didn't dare to touch it. "What... what are you doing? You're real!"
"'Course I'm real." The little man drew back, offended. "That's a fine way to greet a friend."
"I'm sorry, I... I thought I was dreaming." she finished lamely. Her mind reeled. She knew she wasn't dreaming, she'd just pinched herself. Hoggle was real. That meant all of it was real, even the Labyrinth, even--
"You are." Hoggle said, matter-of-factly. "Or at least, you were. It's the only way we could reach you without you calling for us. And you haven't called for a long time."
"I was away at college, and this is the first time I've been home..."
"It doesn't matter." Hoggle's voice was sad. "But it means you don't know what's happened. We need you, Sarah. We need you back in the Labyrinth."
"Why would you need me there? What's wrong?" Sarah sank down into her chair, gripping the edge of the table.
"Things...aren't the same as they was. I can't say much more, and maybe I've said too much already." Hoggle glanced anxiously behind him. "You can't be too careful. Someone's always watching in the Labyrinth. He may be watching."
"He?" Sarah aimed for a casual tone, but even to her ears it came out strained and anxious.
"He said no one was to know, especially not you, but... The Labyrinth needs you, Sarah. You have to come, right away."
"It's Christmas," began Sarah, "I can't just leave here, my family will notice and--"
"I wouldn't ask if it weren't important." Hoggle broke in. Worry lines creased his forehead and he wrung his hands involuntarily. Sarah could see he still wore the plastic bracelet she'd given him. "But you're the only one who can help us now."
"Hoggle, I--"
"Ludo is sick. Very sick, the healer can't do anything. If you don't come, he may not make it."
Sarah was aghast. "Ludo's dying?"
"I don't know, I don't know." Hoggle was near tears. "Nothing in the Labyrinth dies, not really. But that's how things used to be. Things have changed. I'd tell you more if I could, Sarah, but I can't. You'll understand it when you come here. Please, just say you will!"
"All right, of course I will." Sarah was still confused. "Just let me get dressed."
"There's no time. You must come now!" Hoggle reached forward and grasped her hand.
Suddenly, Sarah found herself standing knee-deep in a wading pool in the gardens outside the Labyrinth, still holding Hoggle's hand and still in her flannel pajamas. A tiny fairy buzzed around her face, as delicate as blown glass with a face like a flower. She swatted it angrily before it could bite her.
"Hoggle! How did you do that?"
Hoggled was equally amazed. "I didn't know I could. You said you'd come... You aren't mad, are you?"
"I guess not. But I haven't had time to prepare or anything. I don't even have shoes on!" Sarah clambered out of the pool, tiny goldfish scattering in her wake. Hoggle helped her wring water out of her pant legs.
"If you'd had shoes on, they'd be wet." he pointed out sensibly. "I can loan you a pair, but I don't have clothes for someone your size. Come on, we have to get you indoors anyway, you don't know who's watching."
Hoggle's cottage was made of the same golden stone as the Labyrinth, with a small vegetable garden out front planted with cabbages, onions and other things Sarah didn't recognize. The roof was thatched straw, and a crooked little chimney with smoke rising out of it. In the small fenced-in yard, a brown goat was tethered to an apple tree, cheerfully cropping grass and munching on fallen fruit.
"Sarah, meet Sarah." Hoggle petted the goat proudly, tugging her ears gently. "She's a good milker, and guards the cottage while I'm out."
Sarah barely contained her giggles as Sarah-the-goat butted her leg and bleated softly. "Nice to meet you. I'm... very honored, Hoggle."
They entered the cottage, Sarah ducking to avoid hitting her forehead on the low lintel. Inside, the wood beams that held up the ceiling was inches above her head, hung with dried herbs and clusters of dried sausages. A fire burned in the hearth, and the table was set for two with small wooden plates and mugs, a bowl of apples, a loaf of bread, and a round of pale yellow cheese. She suddenly realized she was famished.
"Go on, have a bite." offered Hoggle, as he scurried off to rummage in a chest in the corner. "I didn't know if you'd come right away, but I thought I'd better be prepared. Ah, here they are!"
He held up a pair of rough leather shoes triumphantly. "They're a bit worn, but I think they'll fit you."
They did. Sarah slipped them on and sat down, barely squeezing her knees beneath the table. Hoggle put a kettle on the pot-bellied little stove in the corner and set out a third plate and mug. He drew up a funny three-legged stool and carved off a slice of the cheese.
"Are you expecting more company?" Sarah nibbled the cheese, which was soft and buttery. She tore off a piece of the bread, still warm from the oven.
"Sir Didymus will be by shortly. He's been trying to reach you too, and I promised him I'd tell him any news. He'll be happy to see you, too."
Hoggle cut a wedge of apple and offered it to Sarah. After a slight hesitation, she accepted. It was juicy and tart. Sarah smiled teasingly. "My experience with fruit in the Underground hasn't always been a good one."
Hoggle blushed with guilt. "I did say I was sorry, Sarah. I would've never done it if he hadn't made me, I swear."
"Did the Goblin King threaten you?"
Hoggle dropped his knife with a clatter. "Don't say his name! Don't even say his title if you can avoid it!"
"I'm sorry!" Sarah looked around worriedly, but the cottage was quiet except for the crackle of the fire and kettle burbling away on the stove.
"You've forgotten, Sarah. Words have power here in the Underground, and especially so close to the Labyrinth itself. Never say his name aloud, it might draw his attention. We don't want that just yet." Hoggle calmed down and took down a cloth-wrapped bundle from the cabinet. It was a cold meat pie with a flaky, golden crust. He cut Sarah a hearty slice.
"That's a lot of food for just the three of us." remarked Sarah.
"Hah. You don't know how Sir Didymus can eat. That hairy pest once ate so much of my apple cake in one sitting that Ambrosius refused to carry him."
"Verily, mine ears burn at thy mention of my name... Lady Sarah!" Sir Didymus exclaimed joyfully. "Thou hast come at last, in our greatest hour of need!"
"Sir Didymus!" she embraced the valiant knight and scratched Ambrosius behind the ears before he settled down in a corner to wolf down his own slice of meat pie. Sir Didymus sat down at the table.
"Alas, my friend has told you the sad state of Ludo, our brother in arms? He is much changed, and can no longer stir from his bed." Didymus' whiskers drooped slightly, then perked up a bit as Sarah handed him some bread and cheese. The kettle began to whistle.
"When can I see him?"
"Soon, Sarah. We should wait until it's dark, it'll be safer that way." Hoggle filled their cups. "Let the tea steep a bit. It's my own concoction, I made it special."
Sarah pushed back her plate, her stomach pleasantly full. "Can't you tell me more of what's going on, Hoggle? Sir Didymus?"
Sir Didymus brushed crumbs from his fur and began hesitantly. "My lady, it has been five long years since you were here last. When you defeated... Well, that is to say, when you won the challenge, things began to change. And not for the better, I'm afraid."
"It started with the castle." Hoggle slowly sliced another wedge of apple. "It's ancient, of course. Been there for as long as anyone can remember, so's you don't expect it to look new. And it's never been what you might call tidy."
"It's the goblins." nodded Sir Didymus. "They make a frightful mess."
"But the day after you left, I found a strange vine. It sounds silly, but I know everything that grows in the Labyrinth." said Hoggle, pride evident in his tone. "Everything from the eyeball moss to the silverwood forest. But this is something completely new. I saved a piece of it to show you."
He got up and took a glass vase off the windowsill. It contained a snippet of vine like Sarah had never seen before. The leaves were glossy green and heart-shaped, like a sweet potato vine, but it also had scarlet blossoms with a white star-shaped bloom in the center. They gave off a pleasingly sweet fragrance, and Sarah reached out to touch it.
"Don't!" Hoggle yanked it out of reach. He gingerly pushed back the leaves to reveal ugly thorns, as long as Sarah's thumb. "You can't hardly see them because of the leaves, but they'll give you a wicked jab." He showed her a recent scar on the back of his hand.
"It's true, my lady." Sir Didymus helped himself to another slice of meat pie. "And the wounds take an uncommonly long time to heal."
Hoggle set the vase carefully back on the sill, but threw the vine into the fire. "There was just a few of them at first, here and there around the base of the castle. I sprayed them, of course, you can't have weeds growing up around the royal... ahem. Yes. Well. Tea's ready, drink up before it gets cold."
"But it's just a plant," Sarah objected. "How bad could it be?" She stirred in some honey from the pot on the table and took a sip. It tasted of flowers and strawberries, and something else she couldn't identify.
"Excellent tea, my friend." Didymus slurped his noisily.
Hoggle shrugged, but looked pleased. He continued his story. "It's not just a plant, that's the problem. My spraying did no good, it just kept growing and growing. After two weeks, half the castle was covered in it, and now you can barely see the top of the tower. Those vines have worked their way into every nook and cranny until you can get barely find the doors and windows. Worse yet, the stones are beginning to work loose, the whole castle could come crumbling down."
"And that is not all." Sir Didymus interjected. "The Labyrinth is failing. The vines are slowly tearing it apart, rock by rock. Even my beloved Bog of Eternal Stench is drying up."
"You'd think that be a good thing, but it isn't." said Hoggle. "It smells even worse now. Even my gardens are slowly dying. The rose garden went first, and nothing I could do would save it. All those lovely flowers, I'd tended them since I was a lad..."
"I don't understand." said Sarah. "Couldn't... couldn't he do something about it?"
"My lady, thou art as wise as thou art beautiful." said Sir Didymus. "But the king does nothing. He eats little and speaks even less. There were times he would visit me at my post on the bridge, but... I don't think he's set foot outside the castle since...well, since..."
"Since you've left." Hoggle finished bluntly. "Five years it's been, and he's kept himself locked away with barely a word to anyone. The Labyrinth has never been the same. He has never been the same."
Sir Didymus patted Sarah's hand. "This is why we have called you back, my lady."
"Me? But--"
"We understand why you did it," Hoggled hurried to add. "Maybe it didn't seem right to you, all the tricks he pulled and the way he took your baby brother like that. Anybody'd be angry, that's plain. But don't you see, Sarah? The Labyrinth's not much, but it's our home."
"I don't understand at all." exclaimed Sarah in exasperation. "Why did you call me back to the Labyrinth? What is it you think I should do?"
"My lady, there is but one thing thou canst do." said Sir Didymus, his ears quirked in surprise. "Thou must remove the curse."
"Curse? What curse?"
Sir Didymus exchanged a worried glance with Hoggle, who suddenly busied himself with putting away the remains of their supper.
"We mean no offense, my lady! Only, whatever spell thou hast placed upon the king, surely it can be lifted??
"Is that what you both think?" Sarah wasn't sure if she was amused or outraged. "You think I put a spell on him?"
"But of course! Only a very powerful sorcereress could defeat his Majesty, surely. If thou wouldst only lift the curse, the Labyrinth would be right again and my noble brother would be well."
Sarah shook her head. "I'm sorry, Sir Didymus. I'd like to help, but I have no powers or magic and I never have. Whatever happened to the Labyrinth wasn't because of me."
"I see." Hoggle set down the kettle he'd been polishing. Even Sir Didymus looked disheartened. "All along, we'd hoped... Well, we'd hoped you could fix everything back to the way it was. Now I don't know what can save the Labyrinth. Maybe nothing can."
"But why? Why can't he save it? It's his own kingdom, he can't possibly want to see it destroyed."
"Maybe he doesn't want to, but I'm not sure he has a choice." said Hoggle slowly. "He wasn't always a nice person, but he was never a bad king. Cranky, certainly. I'd be too, if I had to rule over goblins all day. But he'd never let the Labyrinth fall this far... unless he couldn't help it."
"My lady, the king and his kingdom are one and the same." Sir Didymus' voice was gentle. "A ruler must always be bonded with the land, there is no other way to rule in the Underground. If he fails, so will the Labyrinth. So will we all."
"That can't happen." Sarah said desperately. "Isn't there anything we can do?"
"I'm fresh out of ideas." said Hoggle sadly. "You were our last hope, or I wouldn't have risked bringing you back here. There's nothing to do now but send you home."
"We will visit my noble brother first," reassured Sir Didymus. "The sight of my lady will lift his spirits."
"A short visit." conceded Hoggle. "But you can't stay long. Every minute you're here increases the chance that he'll find out about you. And neither of us can guarantee what he'd do after all this time."
"I understand. But... I don't want to leave you all like this. I don't want the Labyrinth to be destroyed."
Hoggle sniffed and waved his hand dismissively. "Might not happen. He's stronger than you think, and so is the Labyrinth. Could be we'll beat this yet."
"Well said!" cried Sir Didymus. "We will not give up so easily, my lady."
It was dusk, and Hoggle judged it safe enough to leave for Ludo's cave. They bundled Sarah up in an old cloak of his which barely reached past her knees, and scurried along the outer wall until they came to a large oak with a bright green door in its base. Sir Didymus flourished a tiny key and had it open in a flash.
"A shortcut," he explained, "Sometimes 'tis better to travel underground in the Underground!"
Hoggle groaned, but led the way. To Sarah's surprise, the inside of the tree was almost completely hollow and lit with a pale glow that seemed to hum softly in the background. She examined the walls closer and saw that it was covered with swarms of miniscule fairy-like creatures, their bright wings folded up over their tiny bodies and vibrating ever so slightly as they slept. Each one was no taller than a thumbtack.
"Goldwings," whispered Hoggle. "They're harmless really, not like fairies... but try not to disturb them or the lights will go out."
A narrow set of stone steps wound its way down into the earth, past massive columns of tree roots and boulders shrouded in scaly lichen. Overhead, more goldwings clung to the dirt ceiling, lighting their way ever deeper into the earth. Sarah could hear the faint trickle of water running down the passage walls. She followed Hoggle and Sir Didymus as they nimbly descended the steps.
"Is Ludo's cave really so deep?" she asked.
"Not at all, my lady." Sir Didymus paused for breath. "The passage winds its way back up eventually, but I'm afraid it's quite a climb. I usually have to walk by myself, Ambrosius doesn't like small spaces. I've even threatened to stop feeding him, but nothing works!"
Sure enough, the stairs soon ended and the tunnel began a steady climb up. Dirt and tree roots changed gradually to solid rock, and the light of the goldwings were replaced by a pale green glow.
"What creatures are these?" asked Sarah.
"No creatures this time." Hoggle replied. "It's the rock itself that glows, and nobody knows why."
"My noble brother Ludo has told me it is because rock has a long memory, longer than you or I, my lady. It recalls the days when it was warmed by the sun, and it shines in memory of the sun's radiance."
Sarah smiled in suprise. "I had no idea Ludo was such a poet."
"Yeah, yeah." Hoggle snorted in disgust. "It's all a bunch of hooey if you ask me. I may not be a rock-caller, but even I know..."
Sir Didymus yelped triumphantly. "At last! We are here, my brave friends."
Their gradual ascent had brought them to an ancient door set in the stone wall, one made of smooth metal. It gleamed dully in the light and had no doorknob or knocker. Sir Didymus raised his staff and smartly rapped on it three times. There was a brief pause, and it opened, the hinges groaning in protest. To her relief, Sarah could see daylight in the distance.
The back entrance to Ludo's cave opened up into a cavernous room with hundreds of stalactites hanging down over their heads. Stacks of wood lined the walls, along with baskets of potatoes. Strings of braided onions and garlic hung from a high shelf that ran along one side, and a fire burned low in one corner. Sir Didymus busied himself with adding more wood and stirring the embers until flames leapt up again. He turned to a large pile of blankets lying nearby and prodded it gently with his staff.
"We have brought a visitor, my brother! One you will be delighted to see."
The large pile stirred, and Ludo raised up his shaggy head. His eyes lit up as he saw Sarah, who quickly went to his side.
"Ludo! I'm so glad to see you." She hugged the hairy beast as best she could while Hoggle plumped pillows and went looking for a tea kettle. "Are you all right?"
"Ludo sick." the creature moaned softly.
Indeed, Ludo did look very ill. Sarah tried not to let the shock show on her face and she examined her friend closely. His fur was matted and dull, and the large hands Sarah held were cold as the surrounding stone. She drew the blankets up further around his body and was dismayed to see Ludo's large frame looked slightly shrunken, as if he had not eaten in weeks.
"Here we go." Hoggle plunked down a steaming bowl in front of Ludo. "I've brought you some of my famous stew and some fresh bread."
"Yes," piped up Sir Didymus. "You must eat to keep your strength up if you are to get well."
Ludo picked half-heartedly at his food while Sarah stroked his arm. He looked down at her. "Sarah...stay?"
"I'm afraid I can't, Ludo. Hoggle brought me back to see if I could help fix the Labyrinth, but I can't. And now I have to go back, I just wanted to see you first. I wish I could stay a while longer..."
"Sarah... friend." Ludo squeezed her hand gently.
"She definitely can't stay." said Hoggle. "It was dangerous even bringing her here. You-know-who has spies everywhere, and even one of those tattling goblins saw us, they'd be off running to him in a flash. Why, just the other day I..."
But Sarah wasn't paying attention. The climb had tired her out more than she anticipated, and she felt a little lightheaded. She tried to stand, but stumbled and barely caught herself on the edge of the bed.
"My lady?" Sir Didymus was at her side immediately, trying to prop her up even though he barely came up to her knees. "My lady, art thou well?"
"What? Yes, I'm fine... I think... I just need some air."
Didymus guided her to the mouth of the cave. "Here, my lady. Ludo says it is the finest view in all the Underground, and only he and the eagles see it most of the time."
The view was beautiful. A rocky path led from the cave's entrance down to a forest that stretched as far as Sarah could see. Above the treetops, brightly colored birds soared and dove, calling to one another in clear, piping song. Sarah sat down on a rock by the cave entrance. The altitude wasn't helping at all, and she found it increasingly difficult to remain upright.
"On second thought, I... don't feel so good." she mumbled, swaying a little in her seat. "Maybe it was...something I ate." Beneath her, the floor seemed to lurch and spin. She grabbed at the ledge of rock that held her with numbed fingers to steady herself.
Hoggle brought her a cup of water, patting her back worriedly. "It can't be... You didn't eat anything different, and Didymus and I are both fine."
"No, I guess not. But... I feel so strange." Sarah's heart slowed to a sluggish throb, and she couldn't get enough air. "Hoggle.." she gasped, "What was...in...the tea?"
"Nothing!" the little man cried, "Just some herbs from the garden and I picked them myself, I--"
"My lady!" said Sir Didymus exclaimed as Sarah slid to the ground. Back in the cave, Ludo howled in distress and the entire mountain trembled.
Hoggle loosened the collar on Sarah's pajamas and tried to help her sit up, but she was fading fast. "Sarah, please forgive me. I never meant to harm you, never..."
There is nothing to forgive, Sarah wanted to say, but she didn't have the strength. Her vision blurred and she blinked her eyes, but couldn't clear it. High above them in the sky, the clouds swirled and pirouetted as the wind swept them toward the horizon. Look, Sarah wanted to tell Hoggle, the clouds look like ladies dancing. But all she could do was lie there and gasp, each inhalation ragged with pain.
"Jareth!" Hoggle nearly screamed it. "Jareth, damn you, we need you!"
"He will not come." Didymus was rushing back and forth between Ludo and Sarah, every hair standing on end. "He has not answered a summons since Sarah left the Underground, not for any goblin or Labyrinth creature."
"But he'd answer you, Sarah." Hoggle leaned over her, tears in his eyes. Her lips were pale, and her chest rose and fell with agonizing slowness. "Say his name, just try to say his name. He can save you, I know it."
Sarah could barely hear her friends anymore. She wanted to ask why it was so cold all of a sudden, why the light had gone, and if someone had frightened off the goldwings. Hoggle was shaking her, yelling something in her ear, but she couldn't hear him. If only he'd let her go to sleep until dinnertime...
"Sarah, no!" Hoggle gave her another stubborn shake. "You can't sleep now, you must say his name. Sarah!"
"She is gone. My sweet lady..." Sir Didymus sagged to the ground, finally defeated.
Sarah closed her eyes. What did it matter now? And yet... Hoggle was so insistent. Even as her awareness spiraled down into darkness, she could hear his voice still calling to her as if from a great distance. She would try to please Hoggle and do as he asked... she would. With her last breath, she managed a single word.
"Jareth..."
More Author's Notes: I wanted to delve more into the setting, particularly the part of the Labyrinth where Hoggle lives. (Call it indulgent, but... haven't you ever wondered? He can't very well sleep under a hedge by the pool, after all.) Often stories are too hasty in rushing to Sarah interactions with the Labyrinth, or of course, with Jareth. Naturally, readers as well as writers are eager to address those issues, but I don't think it should be done to the detriment of the exposition, nor should it sacrifice the natural flow of a tale. And I simply don't like to rush anything, not setting description, not character development, and certainly not a romance, if there is to be one. So you've been warned-- this story wouldn't rush if it were trapped in a burning building.
Comments/reviews are welcome.