Once again I own nothing recognizable from the movie the labyrinth.

Chapter 2 – Say Your Right Words

"Toby!" Sarah called.

"In here Sar,"

Following his voice into his room, Sarah stood there hands on hip with a playful petulant pout on her face. "What no hug? It has been almost six months since you seen me."

"Just a sec let me get past this next obstacle." Toby said eyes fixated on the TV screen in front of him.

Sarah good naturedly said "ok." and sat down on Toby's bed. She began to give the dog's ear rubs and belly rubs, much to its delight. "What game are you playing?"

Toby gives Sarah a quick grinning glance, then turning back to the TV saying enthusiastically without taking a breath between words. "The sands of time. It is soooo coooooool. In the game this prince steals this treasure and takes it back to his Kingdom. And he accidentally sets loose a curse on his Kingdom turning everyone into Sand Zombies. Then he has to go around doing all these awesome fighting moves trying to undo the curse." Sarah sat there wondering if he was going to pass out from lack of air.

"OH MAN!" Toby screamed making Sarah and the dog jump in reaction. "I screwed up and got killed again."

Karen popped her head into the doorway, "Really Toby! You were not raised in a barn. We do not scream like that in this household."

Looking over at his Mom with a comical crest fallen expression. "Yes Mom,"

"Have you even taken your eyes off the game long enough to see what Sarah has to show you?"

Turning around Toby's eyes got really big. "Oh wow a dog!" briefly followed by "Oh man is it ugly! It isn't going to fall apart if I pet it, will it?" Karen and Sarah's eyes meet and both laugh. Nothing like the honesty of a kid to cause a quick chuckle.

Sarah didn't take any offense at all to Toby's disparaging remarks. The dog was certainly no beauty contest winner. It was a hairless Chihuahua with yellow and black teeth that were half rotted out of his skull sticking out in every direction; a smorgasbord of warts covered the dark skin from drippy snout to funky yellow cracked toenails. It also had the oddest tufts of white hair sticking strait up on its skull and ears.

"Go ahead, Tobes. He's real friendly."

Braxton couldn't put his finger on it but something about Jareth's story didn't ring true. Of course, Jareth didn't lie, fae couldn't lie without becoming ill but that didn't mean he couldn't twist the truth until it barely resembled reality. Now what is it that Jareth is leaving out? Braxton strode off in the direction of the armory to give Jareth his next sword fighting lesson. Perhaps he could feel out the subject further with the king at practice. Both faes enjoyed their sword play and always let pretenses drop between them during the match. Yes, he decided that will be the perfect time to try. He sure hoped so since he was almost certain the omission would be vital to their plans.

Sarah bustled about her old room, unpacking her suitcase and putting clothes in the closet and the dresser.

Hearing a knock at the door Sarah called, "Come in,"

Richard walked in. "You need any help?"

"No Daddy, I've got it almost all unpacked."

"Sarah, I was hoping you and I could have a little chat."

Turning away from the closet, Sarah said, "What about?"

"Well, about Karen. She is pretty high strung right now. It is very stressful for her to leave the kids for two weeks, especially in light of Tessa's needs."

"I can handle it. Go and enjoy your second honeymoon. Forget about us (Jareth's voice rang in her ears Forget about the baby). We will be just fine. You two need to have a little faith in my capabilities."

"We do, we do," Richard quickly reassured her. "It is just that until we get on that plane tomorrow, Karen is going to be a bit of a basket case and I would like it if you could cut her a little slack for everyone's sake."

"Alright Daddy. I will be on my best behavior."

Richard got up giving Sarah a quick peck on the forehead. "That's my little princess."

"For heavens sake! I'm all grown up now. I'm a little too old to be called a princess" Sarah said exasperated and a tad bit of embarrassed.

"Not to me your not. You will always be my little girl." Richard got up to walk out the door. Then he turned around "Oh, before I forget. Here is $400.00. This is for you and the kids so you all can have a little fun, eat out, whatever you feel up too. The kitchen is fully stocked so this is just spending money for the three of you. Take the kids somewhere, hire a babysitter for a little free time to work on your dissertation, however you feel it is best spent."

"Thanks! Love ya, Daddy" Sarah said, taking the money from his hands and tucking it away in her purse.

Love you too, princess" Richard smiled as he closed the door.

Once Richard left, Sarah grinned and threw herself on the bed burying her head in her old dinosaur pillow. Replaying one of her favorite stories in her head about dragons, treasure and daring female heroes. It didn't matter to Sarah that she was about to turn 25, as far as she was concerned, she was never too old to use her fantasies and imagination.

After a quick giggle to herself about her silly fantasies, her mind turned to her doctorate dissertation she was going to write; her chosen topic being fae folklore and its impact on European Literature. She silently mapped the outline and direction she wanted to take for the paper; making mental notes to locate any relevant papers she had written in the past. She fell asleep mid-thought from exhaustion in the middle of her half way unpacked clothes with her little dog curled up beside her.