A/N: Rambling. But it's part of my big story dump now that I have internet access. Please be kind.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Jareth moved through the gardens around the Goblin City and found Samantha sitting on a bench, plucking petals from a flower. She was muttering something under her breath, but he couldn't make sense of it. Still, she looked radiant as the Halfling that she was.

"Samantha," he called out, making his presence known.

"Hello," she said, lifting her gaze to his for just a moment.

Her eyes have been so clear lately, Jareth thought, looking into her green eyes. The sessions she's been going to must be helping.

"And how are you, my Queen?" Jareth asked, taking a seat next to her.

"Good," Samantha told him before going back to plucking the petals from the flower without seeming to reach an end. "How are you?"

Jareth reached out and stilled her hand. "Why are you plucking the petals from this rose?"

Samantha sat there for a moment and stared out into the world. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…"

"Shakespeare," Jareth said with a smile.

"One of my favorite quotes from one of my least favorite plays…" She sighed and lowered the flower. "I don't know why I'm plucked it. I can't put it back."

"No, you can't. But you can make it turn into something beautiful."

Jareth gently took the flower from her and blew on it. The flower turned into a butterfly and fluttered around their heads before flying away from them. Samantha looked after it, a hint of awe on her face. Even after so many years of being a Halfling, she still had moments where she was not used to magic. Especially hers.

"Pretty," Samantha commented.

"Not as beautiful as you."

Color tinted her cheeks. "Yeah, right."

"Samantha…"

The girl rose to her feet and started pacing. She was muttering under her breath again, words that he could hardly catch. Jareth watched her and waited for her to acknowledge him again.

She did not.

"Samantha…" he called gently.

"Please, please don't call me that," Samantha said, throwing out her hand. "Just…don't."

"My love, that is your name. What else would I call you?"

"I don't know…" Samantha ran a hand through her hair. "Call me…call me…" Her eyes lit up. "Callisto."

"Callisto." Jareth repeated, mulling over the word.

"Yes. Calli for short." Callisto said, looking at him imploringly.

Jareth smirked. "Is there any particular reason that you have decided to change your name, Calli?"

Calli waved her hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter…"

The Goblin King moved in front of her as she tried to turn away and put his hands on her arms lightly. Calli stared at the amulet hanging from his neck and refused to meet his gaze.

"Calli, the changing of your name does matter," he promised. "It's a very powerful thing. And it's a big step in the process of healing…" His gaze softened. "So tell me, love, why did you change your name?"

Calli shrugged. "I just…I wanted to escape the name that was created from years of abuse and neglect. There was a lot of emotional baggage attached to the name 'Samantha' that I didn't want to carry around with me anymore. If I could break free from it with just a simple name change, I could move on with my life."

"You are aware that you gave yourself a very powerful name, aren't you?"

The girl lifted her gaze to meet his. "What?"

"You gave yourself the name of one of the attendants of the Greek Goddess, Artemis. You are representing a moon of the planet Jupiter and the care of a goddess." He smirked. "You have big shoes to fill, Calli."

Calli lifted an eyebrow and then looked away. "Great…" She poked him. "Don't expect much to change. I'm still a brat. And I will keep up with my therapy sessions." A little laugh passed through her lips. "I can't believe a centaur is my therapist after all this time."

"They are some of the wisest creatures in all of Creation. It is no surprise that they make great therapists." Jareth offered her his hand. "They also make great advisors on a war council. Not that you must concern yourself with that matter."

"Oh come on!" Calli protested, taking his hand. "You've got to let me come in on one war council meeting." She showed him her other hand where a ring sat. "I'm your flipping wife for Pete's sake."

Jareth shook his head. "What's said is said. I will not let you come in on a war council meeting. That is a matter of the King."

"It's because I'm part human, isn't it?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

Jareth ignored the question and guided her around the garden. "So Shakespeare…"

"Was a lying, thieving bastard that humanity remembers as a great playwright of England. Big deal." Calli tugged on his hand. "Now, why can't I come to a war council meeting?"

"Because, my dear, it is too stressful," Jareth admitted, amused by her determination. "You've been going through a lot of stressful sessions with the Healer and I do not want to exacerbate it." He patted her hand. "Besides, there hasn't been the need for a war council meeting in several decades."

"Oh…" Calli frowned. "Yay for broken minds and friendly neighbors."

"Indeed."

Calli turned to him. "I've thought of something else, Jareth…"

Jareth remained silent, listening.

"I've been talking with my therapist…we both agree that it may not be a good idea for me to have a baby in the near future," Calli said slowly, almost as if she was afraid to say it aloud. "I know your father and the rest of the kingdoms are waiting for me to produce your heir, but…I'm not sure I'm mentally or emotionally ready to have a child…Not yet anyway." She ducked her head. "Is that okay with you?"

Jareth looked at her and felt his heart grow fonder. "Calli, there is no pressure on you to produce an heir for my kingdom. I am willing to wait for as long as you need, even to the ends of forever. My only concern is your health and safety."

"And your kingdom's safety and health," Calli reminded him.

The Goblin King smirked. "Yes."

Calli pushed at him. "You really can't focus all your attention on me. That's irresponsible. And you've already gotten in trouble with your father for not keeping up with your duties, how many times?"

The smirk merely grew larger, more deadly.

Calli rolled her eyes and looked away from him. "You're completely hopeless." She smiled as she looked at the Goblin City and the castle just beyond it. "But you're my kind of hopeless. And this, this is home."

OOOOOOOOOO

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks. -Scarlet