A/N: Ok everyone, 100 points for the keen eyes that pick out a Sailor Moon reference this chapter.
Ch. 3 Lost Time
As Sarah ran the stone maze gave way to a forest. It was different from the forest she had been in three years ago. Every plant in this forest was tinted blue.
"Sarah! Sarah stop" Jareth called. "There's a solid wall ahead of you."
Sarah's head snapped up and she stopped. "What? I don't see the wall."
"It just appeared, and it's invisible" Jareth said.
"Oh" Sarah said. They were in a clearing in the blue forest. The sun reflected oddly off the blue tinted leaves and grass. "Why did you follow me?"
"I am curious to know about your outburst back there. When you raised your hand back there I half expected you to hit me, but you slapped your friend. Why is that?"
"I was just determined not to make the same mistakes I made before, but she was making them instead. I wanted to play by the rules and not complain about them. I wanted to prove I learned my lesson" Sarah sighed.
"You wanted to prove to me that in three years you'd still remembered what I taught you" Jareth chuckled.
Sarah looked at him puzzled. "Was that you chuckling?"
"Yes. Sarah, you also taught me a few lessons. You bring out so much in me." Jareth sat down with his back against a tree and sighed.
Sarah sat down too. "You know, I did say all of you. Why didn't you return with the others?"
"I was still mad about you rejecting me. When I was able to calm down I saw what an awful situation I had put you in. My offer was all wrong, and had you taken it we'd have been in quite the odd situation. What was I thinking, do as I say and I will be your slave" he laughed.
"You were supposed to be the bad guy and I was just confused. Neither of us knew what to do" Sarah said.
"Obviously you did," Jareth smiled, something startling and comforting to Sarah, "you got the labyrinth to deem you my equal."
"What do you mean?"
"The moment you solved the labyrinth and said… the words, the labyrinth deemed you my equal and gave you powers" Jareth said.
"Powers like supper powers? Do I say something like prism power makeup" Sarah joked.
"No, nothing like that. You already used your power to get here. The labyrinth listened to your wish and guided you through it. We're halfway to the castle. You must have wanted to stop since it lead you to a wall." Jareth sifted a little uncomfortably. "Essentially, for the past three years, you've been Fae."
"Well that's a shocker" Sarah said breathlessly. Then she laughed and Jareth gave her an odd look. "Look at us, three years of lost time that we could have been perfectly happy together."
"So you're admitting you have feelings for me" he smirked.
"I thought that was obvious when occasionally I cried myself to sleep looking at that statue of you" Sarah said. "Yes, I know you were watching me. That's why I wondered why you didn't come to me."
"I wondered why you didn't call me."
"I was afraid you were so mad you wouldn't come. I almost thought you were going to plot revenge on me" Sarah laughed.
"The old me would have Sarah, but since that day I've grown soft because of you" he chuckled.
"There you go again with the chuckling."
"Do you like it?"
"Yes, and I think I can even be ok with you smiling."
A/N: Do you like this chapter. You know you love the Jareth/Sarah!
