AN: As always, huge thanks to all of you wonderful people who left such lovely reviews and favorited! You all make me smile so much! *Hugs you all*

Forgive me if this chapter isn't quite up to its normal standards; I'm currently sick in bed with the flu *sad face*

I hope you all enjoy it! And let me know what you thought of it!

Oh, and Hoggle is in this chapter!

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Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth. All rights to the Jim Henson Company.

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I Wish

Chapter 10

Hurts Like Hell

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Jareth was busy sorting through the large stacks of paperwork that piled high on his desk. He had spent much of last night trying to get through it all, and yet it was still nowhere even near to being completed.

He admitted to himself that he'd been neglecting his duties these last few months, what with Sarah coming back and the state of his Kingdom, he really hadn't had a chance. Having Lilium around wasn't helping matters either. She'd distracted him last time he'd come to do some work. He had entered his study only to find her laying on the velvet sofa completely naked and waiting for him.

He hadn't turned her away.

He sighed, rubbing his forehead. He had to admit that spending time with Lilium was becoming more and more dull to him. Only a few short months ago just the thought of spending time with her was exciting to him but now he found himself becoming more distant from her and far less excited.

Shaking the thoughts away, he continued reading through the papers. He'd almost finished reading the last sentence when he heard a rather panicked knock on the door.

He sighed irritably. How was he ever meant to get on with anything when he barely got a moment's peace?

"I said I was NOT to be disturbed!" He said, his voice raised in anger.

"Sire, I would not have disturbed you if it wasn't important." He heard Aiden's muffled reply from behind the door and he grumbled in frustration, putting down the document he'd been reading.

"Fine, but make it quick."

Aiden opened the door, bowing politely to Jareth before he shut the door behind him.

Jareth noticed the way Aiden was anxiously biting his lip and the way his grey eyes looked troubled. He knew then something was definitely wrong.

"Aiden," he warned softly when a few moments past in silence. "I don't have all day so spit it out."

"It's The Labyrinth, sire." He said suddenly.

Jareth raised an elegant brow. "What about it?" he asked

"It's crumbling... dangerously."

Jareth rose from his seat behind the desk and walked to the window, gazing out with a heartbroken expression on his face. He felt his heart almost stop beating when he noticed just how visible the damage was becoming even from this far away.

Aiden watched him for some time. He knew Jareth was struggling with the knowledge that his Kingdom truly was crumbling before his very eyes. He knew he must be feeling quite hopeless at this point, especially considering how hard he was trying with Sarah so that he could save it before it was too late.

"Sire... you must continue with getting Sarah to fall for you. I know things were progressing last time we spoke of it, but you've been so busy this week, you haven't been spending as much time with her, have you?"

Jareth turned to face Aiden. He had managed to get a grip on his emotions and looked as though seeing the Labyrinth crumbling hadn't affected him even a little bit, but Aiden knew this wasn't the case.

"I haven't been visiting her or reading to her as often, no. We see each other when she cleans my chambers or when she brings me food..."

Aiden sighed, allowing Jareth to see that he was concerned. "The two of you had a spark, Jareth. When I saw you both together last week there was a hell of a lot of sexual tension in the room." He paused when he noticed Jareth's frown. "Look... what I'm trying to say is, you were putting in the time and getting a lot of results. Don't stop now because you're so close, I can feel it in my bones. But if you don't continue as you were then perhaps it'll just wear off... she will think you don't like her anymore..."

Jareth turned away from Aiden, processing his words. He knew what he'd said was right, but he wasn't about to tell Aiden the true reason for throwing himself into work and for stopping his visits to Sarah in the evening.

He couldn't even fully explain it to himself. All he knew was that he was becoming more and more bewitched by her and he HAD to put a little distance between them before he became bewitched by her even more.

Still, he knew that what Aiden was saying was right. and he was worried that Sarah would think that he'd lost interest in her soon. So he would have to visit her eventually. It really wasn't worth risking his Kingdom.

"I'll visit her soon, Aiden." He said quietly as he sat back down behind his desk on his chair. "Now leave me to get on with what I was doing."

Aiden said nothing and bowed to his King before he left the room; pleased that Jareth had listened to him.

Just as he closed the door, Lilium approached him. She was wearing a pretty white dress with pale blue flowers scattered over it, her hair left down in soft curls.

"Aiden!" she called, smiling at him.

Aiden nodded to her politely. "Princess,"

"I just came to see the King for a while. He's barely been out of his office the last few days." She sighed, shaking her head. "I swear he enjoys exhausting himself." She chuckled

"Ah. I'm afraid his Majesty has asked not to be disturbed..."

Aiden swallowed hard as he watched Lilium's happy expression fade within seconds. In fact, she looked like she was about to cry.

"I'm sorry..." he offered gently, knowing his apology wouldn't bring her much comfort but he knew he had to say something.

She looked down at her hands, shaking her head. "I'm... getting used to it." She whispered.

Aiden felt sorry for her. She was a sweet and beautiful woman and Jareth didn't deserve to have her affection. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his handkerchief, offering it to her.

She gazed at it for a moment and then took it from him, nodding her thanks before she began to wipe the tears from her eyes. "I shouldn't get so upset. He's the King and he has a lot to think about."

"Your feelings are valid, My Lady." He reassured her gently.

She offered him a watery smile and passed him back his handkerchief. "Thank you, Aiden."

He nodded to her, placing it back in his pocket. "Of course... anytime..."

She smiled weakly before she walked away, turning down the hall and disappearing into the next room.

Aiden sighed, running his fingers through his hair. Seeing Lilium upset over Jareth was becoming far too normal for him to see and he'd had enough of it. She deserved to be loved by someone that would appreciate her for who she was and not just for her body.

Aiden wasn't judgemental. All Fae enjoyed sexual intimacy as much as humans did, no – more than humans did. And he knew Jareth was incredibly lonely and he was sure Lilium was lonely too. In truth, it wouldn't bother him if he knew this was casual sex for both of them but Lilium was still in love with him. That much was certain. Perhaps she hoped that if she continued to warm his bed that he might miraculously fall in love with her.

He knew that would never happen.

Perhaps he should try to talk to her about it at some point.

She lived in a thriving Kingdom with plenty of noble suitors that she could easily marry if she wanted to settle down, but she spent far too much time here in the Goblin Kingdom to ever find anybody in Ryrella.

His only worry about her finding a suitor was that if she fell for another man, maybe she would stop sending food to the Goblin Kingdom. Right now a lot depended on Lilium to keep the Kingdom fed.

He sighed heavily again before he decided to go and spend some time with Adelaide. She always lifted his mood.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Sarah was sad.

No, not just because she was having to clean the stables today, due to the illness of the young Fae stable boy, Fergus; but because just as she missed Jareth.

It had almost been a week since he'd visited her and read to her. She knew he didn't have to come and see her and read to her, but she'd thought that he enjoyed being with her almost as much as she did with him.

She knew it was silly of her to feel slightly hurt and rejected just because he hadn't been to see her for a few evenings, but there was something a little more distant about him too. Whenever she brought him his meals, he would simply smile, thank her politely and then tell her she could leave.

What the fuck? He'd been so affectionate and flirty with her when she normally saw him. Normally he'd tease her or gaze at her breasts, and sometimes he'd sneak in a little kiss before she left, but now he didn't, and he was avoiding her gaze.

She felt tears sting her eyes as she pushed the fork into the fresh haystack, wriggling it around inside before pulling it out once more and scattering the hay over the stable floor.

She hated that she'd already cried twice today but she couldn't help it. She really, really, missed him and the intimacy and friendship they shared. It wasn't like it wasn't hard enough for her already; missing her family and Diane more than she could even express, so why not go and add more sadness to the mixture!

"I'm too young for this kind of bullshit." She whispered to herself as she straightened, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

She leaned the fork against the wall and headed outside.

Once outside she leaned up against the stable door, allowing the cold air to swirl around her. She enjoyed the feeling and felt a little better for getting some fresh air.

Once she'd managed to get a grip on her emotions, she walked to the field to fetch Spirit and Shadow. It was late October now and the weather was already changing with the season, becoming very cold at night and in the early mornings. Sometimes thick frost would coat everything and Sarah found herself gazing out of her bedroom window, admiring it for as long as she could before she had to start her chores again.

First, she collected Shadow, who had kicked up quite a fuss about coming in and he had tried to run away from her, the sound of his heavy hooves echoing loudly as he ran around the field until Sarah managed to attach his bridle.

She sighed as she led the large black stallion back to his stable.

"You are silly for kicking up such a fuss." She mumbled as she put him in his stable and went to get some oats for him, and some fresh water. "I only wanted you to be warm and have some dinner."

Shadow let out a little whinny, which almost sounded like an apology. Sarah couldn't help but smile."I forgive you."

She pulled down another leather bridle that was hung on the wall from a large nail and then headed back out to the field to get Spirit.

Spirit was much easier to catch than Shadow had been; in fact, Spirit had trotted up to Sarah the moment she had entered the field!

Sarah had attached the bridle and given her a gentle neck rub before she leads her back to the stables.

Once Spirit was in, happily munching on her oats, Sarah grabbed a brush and began to groom her. She had really bonded with Spirit and she loved just taking a little extra care of her. It also helped her keep her mind off Jareth.

The brush glided slowly over Spirits back, making her coat shine beautifully. "You have such a lovely coat," Sarah whispered, smiling when Spirit snorted and gently nuzzled her in response.

Just then she heard the sound of somebody walking by and humming to themselves. Normally she wouldn't pay any attention to somebody walking past, but there was something about this voice that was very familiar to her.

She turned around and glanced out the door, gasping in shock and surprise when she saw Hoggle gazing back at her. He was wearing the same clothes as he had all those years ago, but his sleeves were been rolled up and he was wearing a rather dirty apron. He was pushing a wheelbarrow full of twigs and odds and ends that she couldn't identify from this distance.

"Hoggle?!" She exclaimed

Hoggle gasped, jumping back in surprise when he saw Sarah gape at him from in the stables. "S-Sarah?!"

"Oh my god!" she cried, running to him as fast as she could. She swooped him up in her arms, hugging him tightly and twirling him around even though he was grumbling about it and asking her to put him down.

Once Sarah had put him down again he gazed up at her, pinching his hand to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

"Sarah... how comes your 'ear? n' dressed like that?!" His eyes were still wide with shock as he looked her up and down, noticing how she was dressed in Underground fashion.

Sarah blinked away tears from her eyes and crouched down beside him, the autumn leaves crunching beneath her feet.

"Oh, Hoggle... it's such a long story, I don't know how I can even begin to explain everything that's happened."

Hoggle gave her a look on uncertainly for a moment. "How long has ya been 'ear, Sarah?" he asked

Sarah looked down at her feet as a sudden wave of guilt hit her. She'd often thought about her friends but never once had she asked Jareth if they were okay or if she could see them. She felt ashamed of herself for not even inquiring after them.

"Since late August..."

Hoggle shook his head. "I mean, I's heard the rumors but I's never expected em' to be true!" He folded his arms suddenly, looking a little cross. "Why didn't ya call us, Sarah?"

"Hoggle... I'm sorry that I didn't call for you or the others... let's take a walk and I'll explain everything to you as we go along?" She asked, her eyes pleading with him to give her a chance to explain all that had happened.

Hoggle sighed, his anger fading away. "Fine. Let's walk...n'start from the beginning."

Sarah nodded and the two of them began walking together.

As they walked, Sarah explained everything to Hoggle and he listened silently until she'd finished telling him all that had occurred.

All except for her feelings for the Goblin King, of course. That information wasn't somthing she planned on telling Hoggle.

"So..." Hoggle mumbled as he pushed open a door in the walled garden, which was covered in ivy and obviously hadn't been opened in many years. "The Labyrinth spoke to ya?"

Sarah nodded, watching as Hoggle walked through the door.

"Well, come on, before the door closes on ya!" Hoggle said, doing his best to keep the door open for her.

"Oh, right!" She quickly rushed in through the door just in time as it pushed against Hoggle's grip and closed with a loud thud that echoed around them.

"What was that about?" She asked curiously, gazing back at the door.

"It's in a bad mood today," Hoggle informed her, motioning for her to follow him.

Sarah felt a little cautious as Hoggle lead her through what could only be described as an abandoned garden.

It was overgrown with trees and dead bushes, there was a little grass but most of the ground was sandy and dry. Sarah noticed that there was a large fountain in the center of the garden that was overgrown with thorns from a dead rose bush.

"Is that a fountain?" She asked Hoggle, wishing she could get nearer so that she could get a closer look at it.

Hoggle nodded. "This is a garden that used to belong to the late Queen, Lostariel, the wife of King Gerald. I suppose ya already knows about 'the rats' family now?"

Sarah shook her head. "Jareth told me vaguely about his parent's but I don't know too much about them. That is the first time I've heard his Mother's name before...it's beautiful."

Hoggle nodded in agreement. "I guess it is... I's never knew her, but I's heard that she was a good person, Gerald, too. Just a shame we have a rat for a king now."

Sarah folded her arms over her chest. "Hoggle, don't keep calling him that. Jareth isn't without his fault's but he's not such a bad guy either..."

Hoggle glanced up at her, almost shocked by the way she was speaking of him. "What makes you think that?"

"Hoggle, I've been living in the castle for two months... I've seen him every day and I know him better now. He isn't as bad as I thought he was... in fact..." she hesitated "He's my friend."

Hoggle's expression became pained and he looked away from Sarah quickly. "He's your friend, is he? Is that why ya never called us? Because ya had him?"

Sarah went to deny it but before she could, she realized he was actually right. That was the reason why she hadn't called for her friends. Because she had Jareth, she hadn't felt like she needed them...

"You're right, Hoggle... that is why I didn't call you." she swallowed hard. "Jareth is my friend but that doesn't mean that you aren't. You'll always be my dearest friend, Hoggle... and Ludo and Didymus."

Hoggle turned around slowly, gazing up at Sarah with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "We will?" he asked, his eyes softening

"Yes... always."

Hoggle smiled, seeming to be happy again. "Well then, why didn't ya say so?"

Sarah smiled at him. The familiar words really making her feel nostalgic.

"So what did you bring me to this garden for?" she asked, gazing around the small walled garden for the second time.

"Well, yous been tellin' me that yous spoken to the Labyrinth, right?"

"Yeah, that's right." She confirmed, furrowing her brow.

"Well, the Labyrinth doesn't just talk to anybody, that makes me think that maybe yous got more power than ya realize."

Sarah sighed. "That's exactly what the Labyrinth said."

"Good!" Hoggle got down onto the floor, starting to pull the dead branches and weeds out of the sandy soil.

Sarah watched him, even more confused. "Hoggle, what are you doing?" She asked

"Just gets down 'ear and help me." He said, not even bothering to turn around and look at her.

Sarah shrugged, sighing. "Alright."

It took a while, but soon there was a clear patch of soil in the ground in front of them.

Hoggle got to his feet, grunting as the joints in his knees clicked. "Now, what I want's ya to do, is plant these," Hoggle said as he placed his hand in his pocket, pulling out a few seeds.

"But... Jareth said nothing has ever grown here? That's why the food shortages are getting worse?"

"I knows it, but he is wrong about one thing... it HAS grown here before. But not since the Queen died."

"Hoggle... I still don't know why you think I'll have any effect on things growing here." she sighed

Hoggle grumbled and turned to her, placing the seeds in her palm before he put his large hands on her shoulders. "The Labyrinth hasn't produced any vegetation here before at least not according to the rat. Now, Let me tell ya somethin', Queen Lostariel was deeply connected to the Labyrinth, as was King Gerald. Jareth always had a deeper connection but he allowed himself to become bitter about life and took his connection for granted. Then he lost it. But now you has it, and I's think that yous gonna be the one to change how the Kingdom works."

Sarah gazed at Hoggle in complete shock at what he was saying. How could she possibly be the one to change how things worked here? She wasn't magical she was just a human girl.

"I'm thinkin' that it's worth a try... plant it and we'll see what happens."

Sarah looked down at the little seeds in her palm."Where did you even get these?" she asked, arching a brow when she noticed the sheepish look appear on Hoggle's face.

"I has my ways and secrets, Sarah." He mumbled, nervously fiddling with the bag on trinkets attached to his belt.

Sarah looked back at the seeds in her hand and sighed, shaking her head. "Fine... alright, I'll plant them. But please don't get your hopes up."

Hoggle nodded and watched as Sarah crouched down on her knees and began to big a hole to plant the seeds in.

Once she was certain it was deep enough she placed the seeds in and then began to cover them over of the remaining soil.

She got to her feet and wiped the dirt from her hands onto her apron as Hoggle moved his way through the overgrown garden towards the fountain, gathering some water from inside it with a little cup he often carried around this him.

She smiled and took it from him, pouring the water onto the soil. "Well, there we go..."

"I knows ya don't understand it, Sarah. But things work in strange ways 'ear in the Underground."

"You're right, Hoggle... who knows. Maybe they will grow."

Hoggle nodded in agreement. "I's gots the feelin' that they will." He said proudly.

Thunder rumbled in the sky and Sarah sighed when she noticed the dark grey clouds that began to hide the sun and she pulled her cloak tighter around herself. "I should get back. I still have a few chores to do inside the castle."

He nodded as he brushed the dirt from his hands. "I'll show ya back."

Sarah nodded gratefully as Hoggle lead her back through the garden towards the door.

Hoggle pulled it open, grumbling when he was met with a small room filled with gardening tools, such as a fork, a wheelbarrow, a shovel, and a rake.

"Damnit. wrong way." He mumbled irritably, closing the door again before he moved the handle to the other side. "Can't get it right every time."

Sarah smiled when she remembered Hoggle helping her out of the oubliette. Using almost the exact same words as he had back then.

"Ah-ha!" He exclaimed when the door opened, this time leading back from the way they came. "Here we are! let's go." He motioned for her to follow him and she did, turning back briefly to gaze upon the abandoned garden one more time.

She blinked a few times when she thought she could just make out the white shadowy figure of a woman who sat on the edge of the fountain, gazing back at her...

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It was pouring down with rain when Sarah and Hoggle got back to the castle. Sarah pulled her cloak tightly around herself, trying to stop the freezing cold wind from reaching her body.

"Hoggle, why don't you come and have dinner with me?" she offered. "I feel like we still have so much to talk about. So many lost years to discuss..."

Hoggle looked down at his feet anxiously. "Ehh...erm... I dunno, Sarah-"

"Oh, come on! It'll be fun! We can eat after we've chatted and then we can play cards or something."

Hoggle gazed up at Sarah for a long moment and then he sighed, nodding in agreement, a small smile on his face. "Well, why not? Seems like ya really want me too."

"Of course I do, Hoggle! It's been years." She smiled and took his hand in hers. "Come on, I'll show you to my room and you can wait for me there while I quickly finish my chores. I only have a few things to do so I won't be very long."

Hoggle smiled as Sarah took his hand and showed him to her chambers. Even though he'd been pissed off with her at first for not calling him, he had to admit that he'd really missed her. Sarah was still one of his best friends even though it had been so many years since he'd seen her.

Sarah gave him a book to read while she finished her chores. He'd quite happily taken a seat by the fire and helped himself to a little goblet of mead that Sarah had brought up for them both to share.

"I won't be gone too long, I promise." She assured him as she hung up her wet cloak by the fire so that it would dry quicker.

Hoggle nodded, glancing up from the rather interesting book Sarah had given him to read. "I knows, ya have told me already. Go'n finish ya chores."

Sarah smiled at her old friend and left the room, closing the door behind her.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Sarah knocked gently on the large old door to Jareth's study. In her hands, she held and extremely heavy tray. Jareth hadn't just ordered a light meal tonight like he usually did in the evenings, he'd ordered stew, bread, fresh fruit, cake, a pot of tea and a bottle of mead.

She stood there for some time, patiently waiting for him to answer her.

When he didn't, she sighed and knocked again, a little louder this time. Still no answer.

With effort, she managed to balance the tray on her arm and open the door with her other. "Jareth?" she called softly, peeping her head around the corner of the door. The room was mostly silent apart from the gentle crackle of the fire, and Jareth was nowhere to be seen.

She furrowed her brow and walked in, placing the tray of food on the table where he usually ate. She glanced around again and shrugged. Maybe he was in the bathroom or something. She blushed at the thought and turned to leave when she suddenly heard voices.

She turned around again, walking slowly towards where the voices were coming from which just happened to be from the door that leads to where he slept every night. She blushed darkly when she realized that it wasn't talking that she heard like she'd expected it to have been, but soft moans of pleasure.

She felt tears pierce her eyes when she realized that he was with Lilium again. Hurt and anger washed over her suddenly. How dare he! How dare he treat her like he felt something for her and then fuck a woman he claimed he didn't even love!

Big tears rolled down her cheeks as a little sob escaped her lips. She covered her mouth immediately and prayed that she hadn't been heard. She would be mortified if Jareth knew she had been listening to them on the other side of the door.

She gathered her skirts and ran from the room, the door closing behind her.

Hoggle almost had a heart attack when Sarah opened the door and slammed it so hard he almost expected it to fall from the hinges.

He quickly put down his book and got up from his chair. "Sarah?"

Sarah let out a heart-wrenching sob and covered her face with her hands. She'd almost forgotten that Hoggle was here waiting for her. If she had remembered she would never have run to her chambers, In fact, she probably would have gone to the stables and sobbed with Spirit until she fell asleep on the hay beside her.

Hoggle looked very concerned as he approached her, reaching for her hand he pulled her gently to the chair by the fire. She didn't protest and allowed him to lead her.

"Now, listen girly, I'm gonna ask for some tea and yous gonna tell me what's makin' ya sad."

Sarah only nodded and watched as Hoggle opened the door, calling for a servant. She heard his muffled voice as he ordered tea and food for them both and then he came back in, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and passing it to her, genuine concern shining in his blue eyes.

"I'm sorry." She choked out as she took it from him

Hoggle gently patted her hand. "Don't be. Tell me."

Sarah thought about what she should tell Hoggle. She couldn't tell him the real reason for her tears, could she? She had sworn to herself that she would keep her feelings for Jareth a secret but maybe she did need to tell somebody. and Hoggle was her friend; she knew he cared about her and that she could trust him. She just hoped he didn't think of her differently when he found out she loved Jareth. She already knew Hoggle disliked him immensely so her news probably wouldn't please him.

With her mind made up, she wiped her eyes with his hankie and cleared her throat. She pulled the diamond necklace out from behind the high necked dress she wore, watching as Hoggle's eyes grew ten times bigger as he gazed at it, his jaw-dropping at the sight of something so beautiful.

"Jareth brought this for me," she whispered, "I thought he brought it for me because..." She swallowed hard. "I don't know what I thought truthfully... I just hoped that maybe he got this for me because he felt something for me...but his actions tell me that he doesn't feel what I hoped he did... and it hurts like hell. Do you know why it hurts like hell, Hoggle?"

Hoggle shook his head slowly.

"It hurts like hell, because I feel something for him," she admitted. "I don't expect you to understand, Hoggle. I know you hate him."

Hoggle gazed at Sarah for some time and then he sighed softly, taking off his hat before running his fingers through his thin white hair. "I ain't blind, Sarah. I knew you felt somethin' just because ya didn't call us. If ya didn't like him ya would have, wouldn't ya?"

Sarah nodded weakly as another tear fell down her cheek. "I'm sorry...I've been an awful friend!" she sobbed, breaking down completely. Hoggle patted her hand again, trying to comfort her. It was obvious to her that he wasn't a very cuddly person so it was sweet that he was still trying to comfort her even if it wasn't with a hug.

"You ain't an awful friend, Sarah. Yous been me best friend! If it hadn't been for ya bein' nice to me, I's still be alone killin' fairy's all day."

Sarah smiled at him through her tears. "You're just saying that."

"I ain't." He assured her, gently rubbing her hand again. "The rat doesn't deserve ya feelings. Yous too good for the likes of him, Sarah."

Sarah swallowed hard as he said this. Despite Jareth hurting her feelings, she still couldn't hate him. In fact, she still loved him. She wondered if she always would.

"I love him." She whispered

Hoggle sighed again, shaking his head. "He's hurtin' ya, Sarah."

"I know..."

"He's gonna keep hurtin' ya... Ya knows this don't ya, girly?"

Sarah gazed at Hoggle, searching his eyes as tears began to gather in hers again, her lip trembling as her throat bobbed. "Yes..." She choked out.

Hoggle wasn't sure what compelled him to do so, but he gently pulled Sarah into a hug. Normally he hated physical contact, it just wasn't his thing, but he knew Sarah liked cuddles and right now she really needed one.

Sarah hugged him back tightly, letting out loud ugly sobs as she clung to him.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Hoggle poured Sarah another cup of tea and brought it to her. She took it from him and lifted it to her lips, drinking the warm comforting tea.

"Thank you, Hoggle. For everything. I'm sorry it's not gone to our plans." She apologized sadly. She really had wanted to enjoy catching up with Hoggle but she'd spent half the night crying. She imagined that he had far better things to do than try to comfort her and yet he had still stayed with her all evening.

That meant a lot to her.

"Don't ya mention it. We have other days to do what ya planned." He smiled as he bent down and put another log on the fire.

"True." She smiled, watching him as he picked up the poker and started moving the logs on the fire, causing the flames to rise again.

"Next time maybe you could get Ludo and Sir. Didymus to come as well? I've missed them."

Hoggle put down the poker and wiped his hands on his waistcoat, some of the black soot staining his clothing. "Of course! They miss ya as well. It ain't gonna be easy getting them in the castle without the rat seein' though." He said as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Well... maybe I could come and see you next time. I get the weekends off..."

Hoggle smiled, nodding. "That's soundin' like a better idea. Yous can come to my hut, or we can have a picnic if it's a sunny day."

Sarah nodded in agreement, her mood lifted at the thought of spending time with her friends again. She really had missed them so much.

"Great. That sounds perfect. Would you like me to bring anything for the picnic? I help out in the kitchens so I could easily grab a few things for us to eat without anyone noticing." She giggled

Hoggle shook his head. "I's pride myself on me cookin', Sarah. I'll handle the food."

"Okay." She watched him as he yawned and stretched. "If you want to stay I don't mind... I can make a bed up for you with my extra blankets?"

Hoggle smiled, touched at her offer but declined politely. Saying he had an early start in the morning and needed to sleep in his own bed.

Sarah understood and told him she would see him soon.

Just as Hoggle went to leave, Sarah called for him.

He turned around, watching as she reached up and unclasped her necklace.

"Hoggle... you still like jewelry don't you?"

Hoggle raised a brow at her question. "Why?"

She took off her necklace and gazed at it for a moment; the beautiful diamonds sparkling when the light hits them. She felt tears sting her eyes again but she quickly blinked them away. This necklace had been a symbol of his friendship and affection for her but now it really didn't feel like that anymore...

She swallowed hard, handing it to him. "I want you to have this." She whispered.

Hoggle's eyes grew wide in surprise. "Me?!"

She nodded, absolutely sure of her decision. "Yes."

Hoggle shook his head, handing it back to her. "I couldn't possibly-"

"Please, Hoggle..."

"I's couldn't take somethin' worth so much, Sarah. It's too much for ya to give to me." He told her again.

Sarah thought carefully for a moment. "Well... then hold onto it for me? Keep it safe?"

"Well, I guess I's can do that for ya." He smiled, wrapping his fingers around the necklace in his hand before he put it carefully in the faded red velvet pouch that he had tied around his waist.

Sarah smiled warmly."Thanks, Hoggle... I just can't wear it for a while."

"Ain't a problem, Sarah."

They said goodbye and Sarah even managed to give Hoggle another hug before he left. he didn't seem quite as unhappy about it this time.

She watched as Hoggle disappeared down the corridor and she sighed as closed her bedroom door.

Hoggle had been a wonderful distraction from her pain this evening. Even though she'd still been upset, he'd really softened the blow, so to speak.

she undressed and cuddled up in her bed, falling asleep very quickly; exhausted from her crying. But unfortunately, her sleep was far from peaceful...

"You left us..." Toby's lip trembled as he gazed at his sister with tears sparkling in his big blue eyes.

"Toby, I'm sorry!" Sarah cried as she gazed into her forty-year-old brother's eyes, falling to her knees in front of him, begging for him to forgive her.

"You promised you'd come back! You promised!" he sobbed angrily. "You left me when I needed you most! Mom and Dad died and you never came home to get me! I was sent to an orphanage and you never came to see me!"

Sarah felt her heartbreaking in her chest. "Toby, forgive me... I was stupid... I should never have left you!"

Toby said nothing even as the tears continued to stream down his cheeks.

His words echoed in her mind over and over again. 'Mom and Dad died...'

"Toby... how did they die?" she whispered when a few moments had passed them by in silence, all except for one of them sniffing as they continued to sob.

Toby's eyes became dark suddenly as he gazed down at her. "Dad died of a broken heart. It drove him crazy, never knowing where you went or why you never called him. He trusted you, and you never called. You never even fucking called!" he shouted, his hands balled into fits at his sides.

"I'm sorry... Toby, I'm so so sorry..."

Toby began to fade until he's completely vanished, and Diane appeared in front of her. She was an old woman now; her hair, which had once been so blonde and curly, was now grey and lifeless. She was very skinny, wearing a hospital gown and leaning heavily on a walker. She glared down at Sarah with a look of hatred in her eyes. "You are scum, Sarah Williams, the girl who left her family and her best friend to live in some fairytale world."

Sarah covered her eyes, sobbing uncontrollably. The site of her best friend looking so old and so sad was the most heartbreaking feeling, especially as they hadn't grown old together.

"You won't know that I got married when I hit twenty-one. You won't know that Eddie abused me and took drugs, getting me wrapped up in it as well. You won't know that he hit me so hard when I was six months pregnant with our child that he caused me to fall, making me have a miscarriage. I suffered alone because you were never there, Sarah..."

"Diane, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that I was never there!" she sobbed

Diane faded slowly and her parents appeared in front of her. They didn't speak. They just gazed at her with hatred and disappointment shining in their eyes...

"You ruined your life, Sarah."

Sarah turned around and saw Jareth standing behind her, dressed in his darkest armor. "You threw away everything to become a servant...MY servant." His voice was cold. Colder than she'd ever heard it before.

"Jareth..." she whispered, desperately reaching out for him. "Love me...I'm so alone... I need you to love me, to hold me..."

He smirked at her, his eyes so dark they were almost black. "I could never love you..."

Hot tears began to roll down her cheeks as Lilium appeared beside Jareth, her beautiful hair shinning, her large blue eyes sparkling in amusement. "You are a fool to think he would ever want you when he had me..."

Jareth smiled seductively at her and slowly pulled her into his arms, the two of them starting to dance together in the very same clothes that she and Jareth had worn in the peach dream.

He leaned in close to her ear, his lips moving softly as he sang.

"I'll be there for you, as the world falls down..."

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o

AN: I feel like this chapter isn't very good. I'm not entirely happy with it when I read it back but I'm also a little stuck and not sure what I'd change? Perhaps it's because I've written it when I'm sick in bed with a nasty cold. *Cough! Cough!" Oh, the joys of January!

Anyway, this is another one of those in-between chapters that I always find I get bored with writing :p but it's also important to the story so I don't really have a choice lol.

Poor Sarah. I feel so bad for putting through her all this shit. The nightmare is playing out her darkest fears, showing her her family dead, sad, or disappointed in her. And then Jareth telling her he could never love her, dancing with Lilium in the peach dream instead of her because she feels like she was never really anything to Jareth even back then because Lilium was always around :'(

I know this chapter is probably going to upset a lot of you because Jareth has been avoiding Sarah and she's starting to think that maybe he really didn't even feel anything for her *cries* I'm sad too! But don't worry, it won't always be this way.

Also, about her giving away the necklace that Jareth brought for her, I know it's sad, but sometimes promises are broken and things that once meant so much to us suddenly only bring us sadness. In Sarah's case, that's the necklace. At least at the moment. Maybe Jareth will pull himself together and be able to win back her friendship...

The next chapter promises to be more cheerful so don't worry!

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to review!