Chapter 5: Milk and Cookies

Silence ensued.

Silence has many forms. There is an uncomfortable silence, in which one wants to talk but there doesn't seem to be anything appropriate to say. There is comfortable silence, in which no one wants to talk because everything has been said that needs to be said. There is polite silence, in which no one wants to talk because there is nothing polite to say weather or not it needs to be. But this silence was shocked and angry. The type of silence where everybody is staring at one person who has just said something incredibly ludicrous or insulting and nobody can think of anything to say. That was what filled the living room in Sarah's house that day.

Until, of course, everybody began talking at once. Except Luc. He cringed from the onslaught of three different voices each vehemently refusing to believe what he had just said. Alex's voice kept getting higher as her eyes went wild; the thought of people angry at Jareth coming after her was just too much to deal with. Sarah refused to believe that it was even possible that a tie could exist that strong. Jareth's eyes burned as he adamantly voiced his rather colorful opinions about the whole affair.

After the dissent had wound down, Jareth asked calmly, "What do you propose we do about it?"

Luc stared in disbelief. "Do? There's nothing we can do. We simply have to figure out how to live with it."

The goblin king's eyes narrowed, "She will die of old age in a few short years, what then?"

"I suggest you find a way to prevent that from happening." Luc said.

"Like what?"

The mage sighed, "Jareth, you know how to keep her alive as long as you could normally live. You just don't want to. You're afraid of what it might mean. Nothing I can do will prolong her life, only you can do it."

Jareth appeared shocked, "What do you mean? You're the more powerful magic user."

"No, that's not the point," Luc said, "the point is that it has to be you. Not because you're more powerful than I am, but because she's tied to you. The tie would have to be made even stronger."

"Stronger? How is that possible? I thought this tie thingy was already stronger than it was supposed to be." Alex asked.

Luc grimaced, "Well… There is a way for the tie to be enhanced. But only Jareth and you can do it. I'll look and see if there's any possible way to remove the tie, but until I find a way, you two are going to have to work together."

"Wonderful. I'm stuck trying to keep her from killing herself or getting killed while you get a field day doing what you love." Jareth growled at his friend.

"Have I ever lied to you?" Luc asked quietly.

Jareth winced as he saw that spark of anger in his friend's eyes. He couldn't drive Luc away just yet, he needed him. He sighed and looked at the floor, "No."

"Then maybe I'm not now." He said icily as he disappeared.

Jareth seemed genuinely hurt; he sank into a nearby chair and stared at the empty spot where Luc had been. Luc wouldn't betray him, wouldn't leave. Not this time, just like he hadn't any of the last. Jareth would simply have patience until Luc decided to stop throwing a snit fit. Although… Luc had never thrown a snit fit in his life, had he? It had always been Jareth, hadn't it? Luc always waited until Jareth calmed down before coming back. How many times had Jareth made his friend angry? He didn't know. How many times was wonderful Luc going to come back? How had Jareth been blind to his own temper tantrums?

He dropped his head in his hands and forcefully ignored the tears running out of his eyes, smearing his make-up. He didn't notice Alex watching him in fascination. She was shocked, and yet… she had known he really cared. She couldn't reconcile her feelings about him. He seemed to be two different people. The Goblin King was cold, hard, and uncaring. Jareth was… He wanted to be accepted, to be a good ruler for his people. How had he become so… torn? She wanted to help, but… Hopefully none of her inward battle showed as she struggled against the tears that suddenly came to her eyes. No matter what she did, Alex's mother had always loved her. No matter what she said, her mother had always been there. Alex's was a recent loss, but maybe Jareth had never known his mother?

She quietly walked into the kitchen and got a few of her favorite cookies, ones that her grandmother had taught her how to make, and a glass of cold milk. This had been her Mom's favorite remedy. Milk and cookies could cure anything. How many times had Alex been a sobbing wretch and been restored by this simple gesture? As she returned to the room where Jareth sat weeping, she was suddenly struck by how handsome he was. Not handsome: gorgeous! Through his quiet sobs she seemed that she could hear a lullaby, that same lullaby that he had sung for Sarah's baby. His past must hurt him so! So many memories of hurt and betrayal must plague him while he slept. Maybe her life wasn't quite so bad off…

She gently placed a hand on top of his wild hair and smiled as he looked up at her. He accepted her offering of milk and cookies and ate quietly as she went to get a cool washcloth. He also took the cloth and wiped off his face, taking most of the make-up off. He seemed… not normal, but… more regal than crazy now. How had she missed that before? Her line of reasoning was starting to worry her, but as she watched him, she grew more at ease with it. Slowly she drifted off to sleep, the events of the day having quite worn her out. She didn't see him leave.

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Sarah watched Alex as she slept. The poor girl! Hardly older than Sarah had been at her first exposure to the Labyrinth and now she found out that she was magically bound to the Goblin King himself! Sarah shook her head, and yet the girl had been sorry for Jareth, not herself. She was much kinder than Sarah had been at that age. She had been struggling about something, memories of her family, perhaps? What would become of this poor girl and the sullen fey noble?

She had no doubt that he would eventually be overthrown, but what would happen then? Would they become outlaws? Would Alex have to go into hiding with that boorish King to keep them both alive? Would he simply stop being the Goblin King? Would they find a way to break the tie? She sighed, would Alex fall in love? It was very probable. According to her foster parents, she was incredibly trusting, if you ever managed to gain her trust. She was also loyal to the death, which might cause some interesting difficulties for her code of honor.

The poor girl was in over her head and nothing could be done. Absolutely nothing! Sarah would provide all the protection she could, and she somehow trusted that Jareth would do the same. Somehow Jareth had changed. That look in his eyes when Alex gave him those cookies… He had seemed… human? So confusing… She shrugged and went about preparing dinner, wondering what would happen to that sweet child…

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Fates above! What had happened? She had brought him cookies. They had been good, too. Had she been trying to make him feel better? Maybe. But why? Why would she want someone she hated and feared to feel better about himself? He thought back to the expression on her face. Had that been pity? He clutched at his head. What was this feeling inside of him? Why did he feel this way whenever he thought about her?

She was beautiful! Her purple hair had been coming out of the lose bun it had been in and the paintbrushes had been all but falling out. Her blue eyes had been worried. For him? Maybe. Ugh! She was driving him crazy! All he could think about was the way she had touched his head to get his attention, the way she had watched him eat those cookies, the way she walked, the way she could smile without smiling… He couldn't stop! What was that feeling? He had to know! It couldn't be… love?

That was preposterous! He refused to be attracted to her! He would not let this mortal infant snare him with her charms! He would not allow these weaknesses in his hard-crafted armor to destroy him! How could that warmth in his heart be love? He was humming that lullaby again as he thought about her. His mind raced along with his fluttering heart. His fingertips tingled and his hands twitched like they did when he was nervous. How had she infected him so? Why could he not think straight? Why could he not stop thinking about her?

He summoned a crystal and watched Alex. She had walked into the living room, only to find him gone. It was dinner time and she sat down with the couple to have dinner with them. Sarah watched her out of the corner of her eye, but didn't mention any of the day's events to her husband. Alex ate quietly, helped with the dishes, grabbed a few of those cookies, and headed back to her house. He dropped the crystal into his lap and simply thought about her.

She had been so gentle with him. Elena had never been gentle. Elena had always voiced her opinions loudly without caring who heard or was offended. Alex… Wow. She was quiet, but very opinionated. She didn't like hurting people, and it was obvious. He saw her face again, saw how she really was hurt to see him cry. Oh, heavens! He'd been crying in front of her! He stood up to start pacing and flinched when he saw Luc.

"How long have you been there!" Jareth asked a bit louder than he had intended.

"A minute or so, I wanted to see how long it would take before you realized I was here. You look strange, is something wrong?"

"No, nothing. Nothing at all. Why?"

Luc looked at Jareth sideways, as if watching a crazy person, "No reason, you just seem… preoccupied."

"What do you want?"

"To apologize. I had--"

"You have done nothing wrong, my friend. If anyone did wrong, it was me. I treated you poorly when you have only ever been good to me. Do not apologize." Jareth said quietly.

"Who are you?" Luc said suddenly.

Jareth stared. "What?"

"What has gotten in to you? Are you alright? Are you sick?"

"What do you mean? I'm fine. All I did was apologize for the way I've been acting recently." Jareth said. "And I should apologize for so much more, but I just don't know where to begin."

"This time I really mean it: who are you and what have you done with Jareth?"

Jareth hung his head and his shoulders shook, Luc walked over to see what was going on. That was when Jareth fell backward to land in his throne and true laughter filled the room. True laughter, not maniacal, not mocking, not forced, but true laughter came from Jareth. Luc stared in disbelief at his friend. Was this really Jareth? What had happened? Had he simply lost any measure of sanity that he might have had, or was he truly happy about something?

The goblin king wiped tears out of his eyes and looked seriously at his dear friend. "Luc, I mean it. I'm sorry, I've done you wrong for centuries, and I've been justifying it to myself. You don't have to forgive me. I wouldn't. Just think about it, please."

"Of course I'll forgive you Jareth. You're my dearest friend, even if you have been lost for a time, I knew you'd come back. I forgive you." Luc said. He almost started to cry tears of joy when he saw lights come into his friend's eyes. They weren't angry lights, nor were they cruel lights, they were just… lights, lights that had been missing for almost a millennia. Jareth had started on his journey back to sanity. Whatever Alex had done for him had worked wonders, and she probably didn't even know it. But would they fall in love? Oh, yes. There was little doubt of that. Luc smiled as he spent the night with Jareth. They finally had some things to talk about without feeling like strangers. Luc owed so much to that purple-haired girl, and Jareth owed more. That night they all slept in peace with nothing but whimsical, happy dreams to speed them through the night.