A/N: Bit of a warning here, You might want to grab a tissue before reading this chapter as it's a bit of a tear-jerker. :)
Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Labyrinth. All other characters and the storyline are mine.

Chapter 26

Jareth glanced up at the knock on his study door, calling out for them to enter. "The guests are arriving, your Majesty." a rusty goblin voice piped up.

"Ahh yes, I'll be there in a moment. Where is the Lady Serina?"

The goblin grinned, "The lady is in the Labyrinth, my king."

Jareth shook his head; he should have known that the woman would be there. He noticed the goblin was still standing in the doorway, "Well? Get out!" The King rose and stepped towards the window as the goblin fled. He sighed heavily; things had been painfully tense between the two of them for weeks now. Serina avoided him constantly, and in the rare chances when he had been able to corner her, she was cold and hard towards him. He turned from the window and left, heading down the stairs to his throne room in order to greet his guests.

oooooooooooooooooooo

Serina entered her room a few hours before the ball to find Lisae sitting on her bed waiting. "Lisae! When did you get here?"

"Just a little while ago. Jareth said you were out in the Labyrinth again, so I came up here to wait for you." The princess gave Serina a hug and looked her over closely. "You still haven't changed you mind about staying?"

Serina shook her head, "No, Lisae, I can't."

"But…" The look in Serina's eyes made her stop and Lisae sighed sadly. She had hoped Jareth would have come to his senses by now. "Very well. But would you answer one more thing?"

"I suppose there is no harm in it." Serina was worn out. The past two months had been painful for her. It seemed as if Jareth had been lurking around every corner and the only time she was even partially free of him was in the Labyrinth or in her rooms. Though there had been many times when he followed her there as well. She turned and looked at Lisae.

"Is there anything that would convince you to stay?"

The question took her by surprise. "I… I don't know," she replied slowly.

"What do you mean?"

"I haven't thought about it, Lisae. It hurts to think about it, to think about the way things were and how they could have been if…"

"If Vanessa had never interfered?"

"Yes." Serina walked over to the window and leaned over the edge. "I've been in the Underground for a year now. This castle became my home and I loved everyone in it. But then, the only one that truly mattered threw me out like a piece of garbage." She turned to face the woman, "He broke my heart when all I did was love him. I would have died for him and he never realized it. When I first swore that stupid oath of fealty to Jareth, I only meant it the way most do. But as the months passed and we grew closer…"

"It took on a whole new meaning for you, didn't it?"

"Yes. But all that changed. I was banished from the kingdom. I swore then that I would never serve another king, I would never allow myself to feel that way for anyone else."

"Were you happy? You know, before everything happened?" Serina nodded as she sat down on the bed. Her fingers blindly traced the designs stitched into the quilt and she sighed.

"I could have spent the rest of my life happy with the way things were. It wasn't as if I expected him to feel the same or anything, just being here with him was enough for me." Tears poured from Serina's eyes as she buried her face in a pillow and she punched the bed with a balled up fist. Lisae lay down on the bed and curled up next to her, holding her tightly as she offered silent comfort.

oooooooooooooooooooo

Jareth sighed as he lowered the crystal and the image within faded away. He felt like a complete fool now. All that those months wasted and he had never known how she felt. Suddenly angry, he turned and threw the crystal against the wall. He had to make it up to Serina somehow, but he didn't want to lose her again. The pain he had felt every time her thought about the woman while under Vanessa's spell was nothing compared to what he felt now. If only he had known before. If only. There was no time for if only's now. He had to do something or risk losing Serina forever. Changing into his owl form, Jareth took off out the window and flew over the Labyrinth.

As he flew, the Labyrinth's words as well as his sister's came back to him. "There is another you loved." He had denied it then, but now? Did he love her? Had he loved her all along? Lisae had found her crying in the Labyrinth. Serina never cried, never showed weakness of any kind. Compassion yes, but never weakness. "Do you think keeping her here by force will make her happy? You keep her here and you'll destroy her love for you" Serina's voice cut through his memories like a hot knife, "you lost your kitten when you threw her away. The kitten is gone forever"… "The day you cast me aside was the day you gave up all rights to me! Throwing me away like that proved you cared nothing for me at all. Damn it, don't you know I would have done anything for you?" … "all I did was love him."

What had he done? He faltered in mid-flight for a moment, then beat his wings furiously as he turned back towards the castle. It was nearly time for the ball and he had to talk to her.

oooooooooooooooooooo

"What do you think?" She held up a cream and gold concoction against her and looked up at Lisae.

"Oh my…"

"That's not an answer my friend."

"Where ever did you find something like that?"

Serina smirked, "I didn't. It's my own design." Lisae walked over and touched the dress gently, her eyes wide. Grinning, Serina laid the dress on the bed and untied her robe. Lisae helped her slide the dress over her head.

"Oh my, it's gorgeous!" She stepped back to look at her friend. The sleeveless dress had a sheer panel of golden lace that formed a deep v in the front going nearly to Serina's navel. The back had a diamond shape cut out that left her back bare. Sheer gold lace panels alternated with the cream silk flared out from her hips to form the skirt. Lisae sighed, knowing that there would be many eyes on the woman that night, not to mention those of the king himself. She smirked inwardly. She grabbed Serina's hand and pulled her over to the dressing table. Shoving her down into the chair, the dark beauty began styling Serina's crimson locks into an elegant French twist, leaving several tendrils loose here and there to cascade down her back.

With a sly grin, Serina created a crystal and threw it at Lisae. When the light faded, Lisae wore an elegant red and silver off shoulder gown with an empress bodice. Her black hair was piled atop her head with curls falling everywhere. Lisae laughed and hugged her friend again exclaiming over the gift. They sat down and done each others makeup. Lisae finished her preparations by fastening a diamond choker around her throat while Serina wore garnet teardrop earrings. Looking at their selves in the mirror, they laughed again. Now there was nothing left to do but wait until the ball started.

"Lisae, are you in there?" Jareth's voice called through the heavy door, causing both women to jump. Lisae cast a glance at Serina and saw the woman's smile fade.

Lisae rolled her eyes, "Yes I am, Jareth. What is it?"

"I need to speak with Serina." His voice was strained and they immediately knew something was wrong. Serina waved her hand and the door opened. Jareth stood there with a worried look on his face. They stood up and he got a good look at them both, his face morphing to show his approval. "My, you two look exquisite." He stepped towards Lisae and brushed a kiss across her cheek, but his appraising eyes stayed on Serina. Turning to her fully, Jareth reached a hand out to her. He was surprised when she actually took it and allowed him to pull her closer.

"What do you want, your Majesty." She asked when he tried to kiss her. Lisae rushed over and closed the door before anyone could pass by.

"I need to talk to you." Serina glared at him while Lisae thumped him on the shoulder.

"I believe that we've said everything there is to say."

"I think I'm going to go now." Lisae interrupted as she watched them. "Try not to kill each other, please?"

Serina smiled slightly, "I'll see you at the ball Lisae." Lisae grinned over her shoulder as she left, closing the door gently behind her.

"Where ever did you find that dress?" Jareth whispered, trailing his fingers down her throat.

"My mind." She answered, trying to keep her thoughts focused. "Jareth…"

"Yes, kitten?"

"I mean it. There is nothing left for us to discuss." She pulled back, but Jareth wouldn't release her.

"Yes, there is. I just want you to hear me out first." The worry was back in his eyes, along with something else. Fear? Or was it regret? She tugged harder against his grip and he let her go. Serina turned and walked over to the window to stare out it.

"Say what you have to say and then leave me alone."

He sighed, realizing that this would not be easy and as always, she would fight him every step of the way. He walked up behind her, sliding his arms around her and took a deep breath. "I never meant to hurt you Serina. Lisae was right, and I realize that now. You're not mine to keep caged here the way I've been trying to. I understand that now. As much as it pains me to do this, I will give you what you want. I will make the Labyrinth grant you passage from the kingdom."

Serina had stood tensely as he spoke, but his last statement caught her off guard. She turned around quickly, despite the heavy skirts and the way he held on to her. "What? Are you serious?"

"I am letting you go, kitten. You may leave at any time." He tilted his head back and closed his burning eyes, unable to look at her.

"You are serious." She stared at him in shocked surprise which turned to curiosity when she saw his lashes were wet. She reached one hand up and touched his face gently, "Why?"

"Because I love you, Serina. I can't do this to you any longer. While I am loathe to admit it, you were right. I lost my claim to you that day and I know now, that I can never get it back. I will forever regret it." His voice was raw with emotion as he opened his eyes to look at her again. Serina gently wiped the wetness from under his eyes while her own tears fell free.

"Thank you," she whispered.