Author's Note #1: This little plot bunny (or rabid ferret, as I call it) just would not let me be. It felt there was more to this one-shot that needed to be told, and so I have extended this story slightly into a two-shot.

Author's Note #2: Thank you a million times over to those who took the time to leave a review. They lifted my spirits more than you could know.

Ivorbeck: I know you had requested this become a slow-burn story, but I hope you will accept this significantly shorter substitute instead. As of right now, my mind says this story is finished, but it told me that earlier, too. As such, knowing my mind is a dirty liar, a more in-depth story may be coming at some point. At this moment, however, I make no promises.

**TRIGGER WARNING** - Major character death

Chapter 2: At the End

A lifetime of Aboveground years later…

Sarah Williams-Aisling knew the end was nearing. She had no regrets, though, for she had lived a life full of love, magic, and adventure. She had been a children's author, sharing stories of her friends from the Underground, delighting the young and old alike with her tales; she had been an actress, never fully escaping the love she had of losing herself in a role. She had been a friend, a sister, and a daughter. She had been a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and even a great-grandmother. Her life was as full as one could ever hope to look back on and see. Although, if she were utterly truthful with herself, with that one tiny thought she had buried deep in her mind, there was perhaps a little niggle of a regret. Sarah looked around her room, which had been set up for hospice, allowing her loved ones to say their goodbyes in a place that always felt like home. Her eyes fell across all those she loved, from the humans lining the walls to the brownies peeking out from under the dresser; to the faeries in the corners of the ceiling, and to those faces who peered out at her through her cherished vanity mirror, to all those who had never left her…save one.

As Sarah made a complete semi-circuit with her head around the room, she thought she glimpsed something out the window on her right side. "Jared," she said, addressing her nephew, "would you mind please pulling the curtains open on that window for me," she finished, pointing with a shaky hand to the one in question. Jared exchanged a look with his father, who gave a slight nod and proceeded to gently tie back the room darkening blinds, as Sarah's eyes had become terribly sensitive to bright lights.

"Hey!" Jared said, taking a glance at the window, "There's something out there, but I can't quite make out what it is. Should I chase it off?"

"No," Toby said quietly, but with weight to it. Jared gave his father a questioning look, but his father just shook his head, so Jared let it go.

Sarah strained to make out just exactly what was outside her window. She thought she knew, but….

"My lovely Jewel, would you be so good as to dim the lights in Mommy's room?" Sarah asked a woman standing by the doorway, one with long, dark hair now shot through with silver and eyes just as green and fierce as the woman who just spoke.

Jewel just nodded and went to the dimmer switch. In the moment before the lights dimmed, Sarah caught sight of herself in the window's reflection. Her once glorious dark hair was now pure silver, but no less thick and lush. If bright lights now hurt her eyes, they did nothing to dim the fire that was still held there. Her face was no longer bare and smooth but was now instead a bit of a topographic map that took you not to destinations, but memories and events. Then the lights dimmed, and everything changed.

Sarah couldn't hold back a faint half-smile from her lips as she caught sight of the majestic owl sitting just outside her window on the ledge, staring straight at her. It bobbed its head in a slight nod, though never taking its eyes from hers. With a hand more steady than she would have thought she was capable of, she raised it toward the owl, and with her last breath whispered, "I remember you." Sarah's hand dropped back to the bed, never to move again.

The owl, having seen this, looked down at the crystal that was held in his talons and bobbed a nod again. If any had been watching the owl and not Sarah, they would have seen the owl vanish from where it had just been standing. If any had been watching, they would have seen the crystal lift from the sill and begin to float through the air. As Toby went over to close the curtains one last time, something twinkling caught his eyes. He quickly pushed up the window and stuck his head outside into the night air. Just in front of him, an ephemeral bubble seemed to dance on the night winds, and if he cocked his head ever so slightly, he thought he could just make out the strains of a haunting piece of music. He strained his eyes to see if he could make out just what was in the bubble and smiled through his tears. For within the bubble he could see a tall, blonde man wearing a glittering midnight blue jacket dancing with a young woman with long dark hair in a spun-sugar dress. Both were laughing and smiling as they danced between the stars.

Just before Toby closed the window and turned back to his grieving family, he whispered to the darkness, "I'll remember you both. Always."

Author's Note #3: Family names:

1. I chose Aisling as Sarah's married name because I believe it translates into 'dream' (a wish or a hope) in Irish. If I have this incorrect, I do apologize. I did try to research this, I swear!

2. I named Toby's son Jared, as I believe he too, like his sister, continued to have contact with those from the Underground, and also that this is probably how he pronounced Jareth when he was younger. We won't even get started on those who think his name actually IS Jared. *shudder*

3. Jewel was named as a way to honor her friendship with Hoggle. I know that Jareth is the one who mentions, and Hoggle echoes, about Hoggle's lovely jewels, but I took a tiny liberty with this and let Sarah be aware of this, also.

I would be terribly remiss (not to mention a terrible person) if I did not stop to thank certain people for all the selfless assistance they gave me with this piece.

First and foremost, I have to thank the incomparable Lixxle, not only for her invaluable feedback and heartfelt encouragement, but also for giving me the courage to go from stalker to fledgling writer to continuing author. Lixxle, you are, now and always, simply the best.

Next, I would like to give a profound "Thank you" to LilMsDev for the suggestion of Jewel's name. I hit a bit of a writer's wall with a name for Sarah's daughter, and this was just perfect. You have my eternal gratitude.

Also, thank you so much to Dekk for amazing advice on how to write a compelling summary, as mine on their own tend to suck.