Thanks for the lovely reviews on my last update! It's such a joy to receive them and read through them after all the hours I've spent writing this story. it really makes it all feel worth it! ^^

Just a warning that this chapter owns it's 'M' rating. I'm sorry to anyone who didn't want this, but the truth is, this story has been rated mature from the start. Please feel free to skip that part if you don't want to read it and I hope you can still enjoy the rest of the chapter! :D


It was well into the fourth week of October when a telegram arrived from Ryrella unexpectedly. Aiden had been out walking around the gardens with Adelaide when Reebo, one of the Goblin servants, rushed out towards him. "Lord Sallow!" He called, running as fast as he possibly could. "Lord Sallow!"

Aiden quickly turned, surprised to see Reebo rushing towards him, trying his hardest not to slip on the slippery frosty surface.

"Reebo? What is it?" Aiden asked, concerned for this poor creature who was so out of breath he could barely speak.

"T-t-telegram a-a-arrived – Princess L-Lilium!" He reached into the pocket of his old worn jacket, pulling out the letter and handing it to him.

Aiden's eyes grew wide, his heart leaping. He felt the slightest twinges of relief to have finally have word from Lilium. For weeks he'd been so worried not to have heard anything from her. But now that he could see her letter before him, he felt incredibly nervous to read what was inside. He took the telegram from him quickly, nodding thankfully. "Thank you, Reebo."

Reebo nodded and slowly headed back indoors to get warm.

Aiden swallowed hard as he held the letter in his trembling hand. Oh, how tempted he was to open that letter and read what lied within. However, the letter was addressed to Jareth, so it really would be wrong for him to open it.

He glanced down at Adelaide, who was looking up at him with wide eyes full of interest, her little button nose and cheeks were rosy from the cold. "Daddy, what is that?" she asked innocently.

"It's a letter for The King, my darling. I had better go and take it to him. Do you want to come inside and warm up? Or would you rather stay and play out here with the goblins?"

Adelaide giggled as she watched her goblin playmates rushing around the frosty garden, hiding behind trees before jumping out at each other. "I'll stay out here!" she giggled, running over to join in with her friends.

Aiden smiled, watching for a few moments before he headed indoors. He asked Ellie, the goblin maid/nanny, to keep an eye on her, just to make sure she didn't get into too much mischief while he was gone. Ellie had been more than happy to watch her for him. She had grown very fond of Adelaide, just as Adelaide had for her. The two of them were often together when Aiden was busy.

Aiden thanked her gratefully, clutching the letter in his hand as he rushed around the castle trying to find Jareth.

Eventually, he found Jareth in his private study. Once again he was pouring over old books and documents, making little notes on a piece of parchment paper even while he continued to read. Aiden had always been fascinated by Jareth's ability to multi-task like that.

"Sire," He bowed quickly, "I have news - a telegram - from Ryrella."

Jareth's eyes snapped to his in disbelief. "Are you certain?" he asked, sounding desperate.

"Yes, sire, of course. I have it right here." He held the letter out to him and Jareth quickly snatched it from him.

"At last!" Jareth whispered, gazing at the delicate handwriting. He had truly begun to think that Lilium was never going to be in touch with them, so the fact that he was holding her telegram in his hands right now gave him hope like he hadn't felt in weeks.

He took his ornate letter opener out of his desk drawer and went to open it, hesitating when he caught Aiden watching intently.

Jareth knew Aiden had a right to know what words lied within the letter, however, he felt like he needed privacy. "Aiden, would you give me a few moments? I shall call you once I have read it..."

Aiden felt his heart sink. He had desperately wanted to hear the news they had all been longing for, but he had to respect his King's wishes. "Sire." He bowed, lingering for a few moments before he left the room with a heavy sigh.

Once the heavy doors clicked shut, Jareth slipped the letter opener under the folded paper, popping off the royal seal of Ryrella. He threw down the knife and unfolded the letter, the speed of his actions caused his usually nimble fingers to become clumsy - probably due to a mixture of nerves and anticipation.

Once it was unfolded, Jareth began avidly reading the letter, his eyes scanning over it as quickly as possible. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest he could hear it in his ears.

"To His Royal Highness, Jareth, King Of The Goblins.

First, allow me to apologize for such a lengthy wait. As you know, I had planned to gather supplies and return to the Goblin City just a few days after my departure. However, nothing has worked as I planned it.

My dear, Jareth, I barely know how to write this, for I have bad news. The moment I returned home to Ryrella, I was found out. My Father was awaiting my return and he confronted me. While I had been away he had telegrammed my cousin to rush my arrival home, for he had important news regarding an alliance with Avalon. Unfortunately, My cousin directed the telegrams back to Ryrella and told my Father that I was not, and had not been staying with her. Of course, my Father knew then. He knew that I had been staying with you and He made me confess everything before he even allowed me to set foot back inside the castle. So of course, I had to tell him everything. He was angry. So angry that he forced me to stay within my chambers away from everyone for two weeks. I had many of my possessions taken from me, and my ladies in waiting have been sent away. It has been torturous to be treated as an enemy in my own home, but I understand that my betrayal is very great, and not easily forgiven.

I am now relieved of my high status as future Queen of Ryrella and my sister, Kendrella, is to inherit the throne should my Father choose to pass over. So, you see, now I am nothing more than a burden to my family - an embarrassment to my Farther, and a woman who cannot be trusted. My Father cares for me still, but he has told me that nothing will ever be the same between us because I betrayed him. I am grieved, but I understand that this is what I deserve.

This leads me to the more important matter at hand; and I am most grieved to tell you that I will not be able to send the supplies you so desperately need. Despite my begging, my Father is unmoved and refuses to even send a sack of grain to you and your starving Kingdom. I feel terrible about it. I know how low the supplies were before I left, and by now I fear that you are almost left with nothing, but as I have already said, I can do nothing to help you. I have no power here anymore.

I'm so sorry.

So it seems now that I shall not be seeing you again, at least not for many years. But in my heart, I will always hold dear, the times we spent together and the memories that we made. The Goblin Kingdom will always be like a second home to me, and I thank you for allowing me the privilege of staying in your precious Kingdom with you, and for all the years of being your friend and lover.

I still have so much to say, but the hour grows late and my paper is running low, so I will make what I have left to say quite speedy.

Do not give up hope! I believe in the Kingdom that you once had. I believe that you can regain the power over Sarah and restore all back to its original state. Perhaps, even back to when the soil held enough goodness in it to grow crops. I believe in you and the Kingdom you wish to build, and I write this to beg you not to give up on it, no matter how grave the situation becomes.

My final words are for Aiden.

Aiden, it seems that even after all we went through in that one evening – and what we had blossoming beautifully between us, was not to be. I cannot say I am surprised; you know well enough of my unfortunate luck with love, but still, I am grieved to have never been given the chance to see where things lead us.

I have to say that I regret all those years of knowing you and yet never taking the time to know you better. But as I look back on our friendship, I can see that there has always been a spark between us, even if it was somewhat canceled by my feelings for Jareth. I wish so much, that I had told you just how I have always admired you as a person. And of how I admire you now as a Father and a widower. You handle life with a smile on your face, a smile I find both beautiful and inspiring, and I wish to thank you for sharing that smile with me, even if it was short-lived.

Never forget that even though our love never had a chance to bloom, I will always hold those little buds of feelings I had for you close to my heart. Be happy, Aiden, and dare to share that beautiful smile of yours with somebody else. For it would be cruel indeed, to keep a smile as lovely yours to yourself.

I must depart now, but know I will always think of you both with the highest regard.

Your friend always, Lily."

The letter slipped from Jareth's shaking hands, it twirled like an autumn leaf on a windy day until it hit the stone floor gently.

Jareth gazed down at it from where he stood, his heart was pounding in his chest. The terrible feelings of hopelessness - the feelings he had tried so hard to stop taking over him, suddenly completely overwhelmed him. his heart felt heavy as the realization hit him. All was lost now. All hope he had had of saving his subjects was lost. His kingdom would starve and there wasn't a thing he could do about it.

His legs felt weak and he slowly sank to his knees of the floor, his shoulders hitching even though tears didn't form in his eyes. It had been hundreds of years since he had cried. He wasn't even sure he could cry anymore - but even though physical tears didn't come, he was crying in his heart. crying for the people that would suffer at his hand.

Darkness consumed the Goblin King as he sat on his knees on the floor, staring off into the distance as he fought to breathe easily. It wrapped around his heart and mind like a veil of black, consuming his every happy thought and soon even the thought of Sarah lacked to bring any joy into his heart. In fact, the thought of her made it worse. She only made him feel more regret and shame for not being strong enough to resist the love that she pulled out of him. He had been a selfish and almost unfeeling man for most of his life, but Sarah had softened him, bewitched him so completely that he had been willing to put her before his subjects, his Kingdom, and even the Labyrinth itself.

Jareth covered his face with his hands, hiding from the morning sunlight that filtered through the window in front of him.

He raised a hand a few moments later, using magic to close the curtains and block out the daylight. He managed to get to his feet when he heard a little knock at the door. He opened it and glanced down at the little Goblin who held a bottle of wine in his hands.

"Sire, me thinkin' ya might be thirsty, with all the work ya doin.' " he explained.

Jareth said nothing for a few moments, he only stared at the creature who gazed up at him, fear beginning to shine in his brown eyes. He had seen the change in his King's face the moment he had opened the door and it was frightening to behold. Jareth had changed so much in the last few months, but now it seemed the darkness had returned. The goblin gulped nervously, but didn't run away; had he run away, Jareth might have bogged him.

Eventually, Jareth took the bottle from him. "Do not allow anybody to disturb me today. Not Aiden, not Sarah, not anybody. I don't care if it's urgent. Just keep these coming." He said, holding up the bottle.

The little goblin nodded quickly, twisting his shirt in his hands. "Y-yes, Your Majesty." He bowed and quickly scurried away just as Jareth slammed the door closed, using his magic to place a magical barrier around his chambers just encase somebody disobeyed his orders and tried to enter despite his strict instructions.

He sank slowly into the chair by the fire, waving his hand the cork popped easily out of the bottle and he lifted it to his lips, drinking deeply.

Even the alcoholic burn did nothing to him. he felt nothing but darkness and it took him deeper and deeper by the second...


Sarah had spent the morning with her old friends. It was Saturday so it was her day off and the four of them had taken a long walk around all the walled gardens. Hoggle even took them all to the garden that used to belong to the late Queen Lostariel, to show them the work he had done there. Sarah had been delighted to see he had removed all of the dead rose bushes from around the glorious stone fountain. He had also cleared most of the paths and had even uncovered a stone bench that was carved beautifully with cherubs, roses, and dragons that held crystal balls in their open mouths.

Sarah was amazed by its beauty and happily took a seat upon it, running her fingers over the carved stone rose. "This is such a beautiful find, Hoggle..." Sarah said, glancing at Hoggle. "I bet you couldn't believe your eyes! It's wonderful that you've taken this garden under your wing."

Hoggle shrugged. "I ain't had nothin' better to do. Besides, it keeps me mind off the terrible things goin' on."

Sarah nodded slowly. "Yes... I think that's why I work even when Jareth says I can take a break."

"Ludo cold..."

Sarah and Hoggle glanced behind them to see Ludo rubbing at his arms. Sarah hid a giggle behind her hand. "Oh, Ludo... come and sit here, the sun is shining here so it'll help you get warm." She tapped the bench but Hoggle's eyes widened. "He can't sit on that! He'll break it!"

Ludo lowered his head sadly.

"Okay, come and stand next to me instead, Ludo," Sarah said as she rose from the bench. It didn't seem fair to sit when he couldn't.

Ludo grinned as he plodded over to her. He stood next to her and let out a happy sigh as the sun began to warm him. Sarah smiled up at him and gently took his hand. She loved Ludo so much. He had a child-like innocence to him that made her want to take care of him.

Sarah heard the faint sniffles coming from beside the fountain and was surprised to see Sir. Didymus wiping his eyes with his lace handkerchief.

"Didymus?" she called gently, releasing Ludo's hand she approached him.

"Oh, do forgive thee, fair maiden. I am just mourning the loss of our dear Queen. She was such a wonderful woman, my lady, and she met her end though giving life to our King." He sniffed again as Ambrosius whined and lovingly cuddled up to him. Didymus laughed weakly and stroked his head. "That's a good boy, Ambrosius." He smiled.

"You knew Queen Lostariel?" Sarah asked, gently resting her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

"Oh, yes, My Lady. I knew her quite well. I've been around for many centuries and have made many a friend in my lifetime."

"What was she like?" Sarah asked, taking a seat on the edge of the fountain. It was a shame it wasn't working right now and that it had stagnant green water inside it. Had it had fresh water inside, she would have loved to trace her fingers in it.

"She was wonderful. Kind, gentle... she treated all of her citizens well and made them feel important; like they were special." He sighed sadly. "She looked very much like His Majesty."

Sarah smiled at her friend. "I've seen her portrait and I can see the family resemblance."

"Ludo cold!"

They all turned to Ludo again and Hoggle sighed. "The sun has gone in. Maybe we should be headin' back. I gotta lot of work to do anyway." Hoggle said as he rubbed his arms. It had indeed gotten colder in a matter of a few minutes; so cold in fact, that the sky had turned to a peachy grey color. Hoggle tapped his chin thoughtfully. If he didn't know better he would swear that that was a snowy sky looming over them. It was only the 30th of October, though. But perhaps they were in for an early winter.

Sarah hopped down from the fountain and hugged her friends. "It's been so nice to see you all again. Thanks for meeting with me."

"We always love seein' ya, Sarah," Hoggle said as he got reluctantly pulled into a hug.

Sarah hugged and bid all her friend's goodbye. She watched them leave through the door in the wall from her seat on the stone bench.

Despite the cold, she was enjoying the peaceful atmosphere in the garden and she found herself enjoying the bitter sting of the wind against her face. On her weekends off she always tried to go for a walk no matter what the weather. She had never been somebody that wouldn't venture out because it was raining. If anything, the rain made her want to go out more!

She closed her eyes against the wind, taking in a deep breath. She felt quite content to just be for a while. to just be still and enjoy nature.

Soon, her thoughts drifted to Jareth and she found herself wondering what it would be like to sit in this garden with him under the stars. Would he be pleased that Hoggle was taking care of his Mother's garden? Or would it be too painful for him? She realized she didn't ask him enough about his Mother, or come to think of it, his Father either. Perhaps that was something she should speak with him about. She knew the subject pained him so maybe it would do him good to let some of it out of his system.

Suddenly, a strange tingling sensation worked its way through her feet and up her legs. She gasped and opened her eyes as the ground began to pulse under her feet.

She placed her hand over her heart as strange feelings began to swirl around her. It felt like depression, guilt, heartbreak, and anger. It was so strong that she began to feel nauseous and she gasped for breath, trying to calm herself down. She had been quite content and happy so why on earth had these awful feelings suddenly come over her?

"Sarah..."

Sarah startled when the ghostly echoey voice spoke in her head, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up on end.

"Do not be alarmed dear child, it is I, the heart of the Labyrinth."

"What's going on?" Sarah asked in a breathless whisper. Her head had started to throb painfully and her vision became a blurry haze around her. She tried to remain calm but her heart was racing, and the pulsing beneath her feet had managed to work it's way up and down her legs, the sensation odd and uncomfortable. It almost felt like fire burning her insides.

"The discomfort you feel within your heart is not your own, but that of your Kings'. Sarah, pay very close attention to what we are about to say, for we cannot repeat it – to keep this connection with you for too long would cause serious damage to your mind and body. You would not be able to hold the great power that we use to connect with you for very long."

While confused, Sarah decided to not waste time asking questions about that so she simply nodded. "I understand."

"The connection you have with the King has grown so close that you are feeling the pain he carries with him."

Sarah's brows rose in surprise to hear such news. How on earth could she feel what he was feeling?

"I am just a mortal. I have no magical powers so how can I feel what he is feeling? And why don't I always feel what he is feeling if that is the case?" She asked, curiosity getting the better of her. She had to have answers.

"You underestimate yourself again, Sarah Williams. To explain such things would take a great deal longer than we have, so for now let us simply say that things are not always as they seem. The reason you are feeling what your King feels now is because he is in danger."

Sarah swallowed hard and her heart constricted in fear and uncertainty. "In danger? What do you mean?" She asked as fear rushed to her heart, making her feel nauseous and afraid for the Goblin King she loved so much.

"The King has been conflicted for so long. Conflicted about honoring his heart or his Kingdom and it has finally taken its toll on him. He hasn't been able to see a way out and has given up all hope, which has allowed darkness to take hold of his heart and mind. This is why we have called upon you, Sarah. For you are the only one who can reach his heart before the darkness takes him forever."

Tears began sliding down Sarah's cheeks before she even knew she was crying. "But how? How can you expect me to save him?" This was a lot for Sarah to process so quickly.

"Speak your truth. We know what lies within your heart. Speak it, show it, let go of fear."

Sarah knew what they meant and it scared her shitless. Admitting her love for him was something she'd wanted to keep secret and safe within her heart. She was so afraid of rejection. She'd been rejected by so many in her life and if Jareth rejected her too she knew she wouldn't be able to take it.

"I'm- I'm scared." She whispered in a small, broken voice.

"Do not be afraid... to save your King you will have to let the fear go. Your bravery will be needed, for the man you will see when you return to the castle will not be the one who you fell in love with. But he is still there, somewhere deep inside, just hidden by the darkness. Our advice to you would be to see the man you care for and not the monster who stands before you."

Sarah nodded slowly. She could do this. Even if it hurt her in the process. She would do it for Jareth because losing him would be more painful than rejection. "I would do anything to save him."

"Your bravery shines through your fear, Sarah. We see it and we thank you for it. Now we must depart before it is too late..."

Before Sarah could ask anything more, the voice vanished, her vision cleared and the pains in her legs died down. All that remained was a very faint tingle in her fingers and the slight pulse under her feet.

For a few seconds, she just sat there, wiping her wet face with her cloak as she tried to process everything.

Then the ground rumbled, reminding her of her task and she swore, getting to her feet and running towards the door in the wall. She reached for the handle, shocked to find it freezing and covered in ice. She glanced up at the sky finding it darker than before and her eyes widened as snowflakes silently drifted from the heavens.

She'd never seen snow in October before. She wondered if it always snowed around this time or whether it was somehow connected to the current events. She shrugged it off and ran the rest of the way back to the castle as fast as she could.

A few miles away; Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir. Didymus were enjoying some of Hoggle's home-brewed ale in his home which – unfortunate for Hoggle - was not far from the bog. It was Jareth's punishment for Hoggle for helping Sarah escape the Labyrinth. Hoggle hadn't found it much of a punishment, though. Okay, there was a slightly bad smell that lingered when the wind blew, but other than that he really couldn't smell the bog from his new home. Besides, this new house Jareth had given him was much nicer than the little hut with a leaking roof he had once called home.

Hoggle put another log on the fire and groaned as he got to his feet. The cold weather always affected his joints.

Ludo, who looked rather squashed in Hoggle's little home, was sat by the fire with Ambrosius curled up in a ball on the carpet beside him. Didymus sat opposite them both in the comfortable armchair with his feet resting on the warn red velvet stool.

"I hope thee fair maiden went back to the castle," Didymus said after taking another sip of his ale.

"Yeah..." Ludo joined.

Hoggle brushed the invisible dirt from his trousers. "She probably went back soon after we did." He turned to grab another log from the basket to throw on the fire, but something caught his eye in the little window opposite.

"Snow?!" Hoggle rushed to the door as Ludo and Didymus followed behind him curiously.

"My, my!" Didymus exclaimed as he gazed out at the snow pouring from the sky. "You are right, my brother!" It was odd to see the white sparkle of snow land of the bright orange and gold leaves that clung desperately to their branches before the wind would inevitably blow them away forever.

Ludo's smile broadened and he laughed merrily to see the snowflakes fall outside. "Snow!" He laughed, his brown eyes sparkling with delight.

Hoggle, however, frowned as he watched the snow get heavier by the second. "Somethin' ain't right about this..." He said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Didymus became serious suddenly. "My brother... you don't think...?" he trailed off as he watched Hoggle nod solemnly.

"I do." Hoggle knew that when the weather changed so abruptly, it usually meant something was wrong with their King. When Sarah had first beaten the Labyrinth, Jareth had been in such a low emotional state that the Kingdom had experienced four weeks of nonstop rainstorms. The only reason they ever stopped was because he had managed to get hold of his emotions; probably due to Princess Lilium coming to visit him.

"I think we better do some hopin'n'praying for our Kingdom today." He said as he closed the door, making his way back to the fire with Didymus who followed close behind him. Ludo, however, continued to gaze out at the snow like an excited child. He didn't understand his friends' concerns. As far as he knew, this was fun and he simply couldn't wait to play in the snow with Sarah at some point.


By the time Sarah reached the castle, it had turned into a full-on snowstorm. The wind blew furiously, causing Sarah's dress and cloak to swirl around her, dancing with the wind and snowflakes. Sarah was beyond frozen by the time she reached the huge double doors and the Goblin guards pulled them open for her quickly. She rushed inside, the snow falling from her shoes and cloak, melting on the stone floor in moments with the temperature difference. She quickly shed herself from her cloak, not caring as it pooled in a heap on the floor.

She jogged down the hall which quickly turned into a sprint as the panic took over her once more. She rushed breathlessly through the castle as fast as she could, the ground was pounding under her feet and she took that as a sign that she was on the right track. She ran up the stairs and into the hall where Jareth's chambers normally resided. However, the door she was looking for was gone. Sarah felt panicked and confused as she stared at the empty stone wall.

"Oh, no... Where the fuck has the door gone? How could a door just vanish into thin air?"

She started banging her fists against the wall and sliding them across the stone. After all, if she'd learned anything from being here it was that things weren't always as they seemed and it was worth trying anything to get to Jareth.

"It ain't no good, Missy." Came a gruff voice from behind her. Sarah turned on her heel, startled to find Nugan standing behind her. "Kingy asks not to be disturbed and put a spell around his chambers so nobody can find it."

Sarah felt her eyes sting with tears and she turned away to hide her face from Nugan. He wouldn't understand her tears and she knew she couldn't explain it to him. She scrubbed at her eyes, taking a shaky breath to calm herself down. 'Stop crying, you're wasting time. You can do this! Be brave, Sarah.'

Sarah turned, pressing her back against the stone wall. "Oh god, Nugan, I HAVE to get to him..." She whispered.

Nugan frowned, confused by Sarah's obvious desperate need to find the King. "Is there somethin' we can do for ya?" He asked, trying to be helpful and failing.

Sarah shook her head, feeling the tears burn in her eyes. "N-no... I have to see The King..." She found herself sliding down the wall and covered her face with her hands. How was she ever meant to save him if he'd used magic to hide himself away?

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock...

The ornate clock on the wall opposite reminded her that time was short and running out second by second.

Soon she would lose Jareth forever...

Nugan wasn't sure what to say to help Sarah. When Jareth locked himself away it was usually for a good reason and he was not about to try to help Sarah find him if he did not want to be found. He didn't fancy a trip to the bog as punishment! Besides, when Jareth used magic to hide, it was near impossible to find him.

"I-I's sorry, I don't know..." He watched her awkwardly for a few moments and then limped away. He didn't have all day to sit around and chat. Still, he turned just as he was about to step into the next room. "I's hopes ya find what ya lookin' for." He said and then vanished through the door.

Sarah glanced up to call Nugan back and beg for his help, but something else caught her eye. Something so shocking that she had to rub her eyes a few times, heck, she even pinched herself to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Down the hall was a hazy white figure – a woman with long hair that reached the base of her back. She was drenched in jewels and wore a lavish gown which, despite being only hazy white transparent frills, was beautiful. Sarah imaged she must have been quite a sight to behold when she was alive.

The figure lifted a ghostly hand, beckoning Sarah to follow her into the darkness of the lonely corridor.

Despite the slight fear that surrounded her, Sarah stood and watched as the ghost once again beckoned her to follow. As if on cue, the steady pounding below her feet began to speed up – a sign to follow. Sarah took a deep shaky breath. "Welp, come on feet..."

Sarah slowly approached the ghost, forcing herself to be brave. The closer she got the more familiar the face of the ghost/woman became and Sarah's heartbeat quickened when she stood face to face with the female version of Jareth.

His Mother.

Sarah gaped at her, completely stunned to see the beautiful ghost of Jareth's mother. She felt quite privileged to be someone that she had shown herself to - someone so unimportant as herself, the mortal girl, and servant to the Goblin King.

Queen Lostariel smiled warmly at her and gently lifted a transparent hand to caress her face.

Sarah froze when she felt the icy cold contact of her hand against the side of her cheek. From the look on Lostariel's face, Sarah could tell she wanted to speak, but perhaps she couldn't, so instead, she gave her a gentle nod and slowly removed her hand from Sarah's face.

Sarah smiled back at her. Seconds later, Lostariel began sweeping down the dark corridor. Sarah followed eagerly, her heart was pounding in her chest and she felt herself tremble, though she wasn't sure why; she wasn't afraid, yet her body shook like a leaf.

They walked until they reached a door in the darkest corner of the hall. Sarah watched as Lostariel pointed to the door before them.

Sarah knew that she had lead her to Jareth's whereabouts.

She gazed at the ghostly figure, whispering gently. "Thank you... I'll save your son if it's the last thing I do... I won't let you down."

The white ghostly figure smiled, a twinkle in her pale eyes.

Sarah went to curtsy respectfully, but Lostariel placed a cold hand on her shoulder, stopping her from doing so. Instead, she sank into a curtsy before Sarah, her head bowed in respect for the Labyrinth's Champion.

Sarah gawked at her, completely astonished to have the late Queen bowing to her! what on earth had she done to deserve such honor from royalty?

Sarah was so lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed as a gust of wind came from nowhere, blowing away the ghost of the late Queen in one gentle breeze.

For a few seconds, Sarah just stared at the empty space before her. Had she really just seen a ghost? This was all such a lot to take in just a few short hours. The heavy thumping of the ground below her reminded her of her mission and she immediately spun around, grasping the cold door handle and turning it slowly, relishing in the way the old wood groaned and creaked in the empty hall.

Sarah wasn't sure what she'd expected to find behind the door, but it certainly wasn't this. Her eyes widened as she stepped inside, the sound of her feet against the stone echoed around her and her jaw hung open as she took in her surroundings. Stairs upon stairs leading in all manner of directions. She was in the Escher room.

She felt a heavy feeling rise in her chest. Why would Queen Lostariel lead her here? Was Jareth hiding somewhere in this room? If he was it was going to take a month of Sundays to find him.

She noticed the steady beat under her feet was gone as well. So she really was alone now, then. No longer was there a ghost to guide her, or a beat in the ground to let her know she was heading the right way.

Deciding not to waste any more time, she started running up the gravity-defying stairs, searching for Jareth. She even called him a few times but to no avail. It was only when she'd spent about ten minutes running up and down random stairs that Sarah spotted something – something transparent. It gleamed and glowed, hovering above her in the air. A door.

A sense of relief filled Sarah as she glanced up at it. Finally, she had found the damn door! Now there was just a small matter of how she was going to get to it. She glanced up and around her, searching for something, anything to help her reach it. Eventually, she spotted the stairs that were closest to it and she ran towards them.

As she began to work her way up the stairs, she realized just how close she was to seeing Jareth and revealing her secret to him. sudden nerves took over her and she felt her stomach churn with anxiety. She took a shaky breath to calm herself, trying to remind herself that she was brave and that she could do this.

Sarah's feet began to get quite sore as she continued trotting up these everlasting stairs; had there really been this many when she'd spotted them from afar? She ruffed and puffed, her face flushed and her breath caught short. She even had to slow down for fear her heart would explode from all the running she'd done.

Sarah was exhausted and out of breath by the time she reached the top of the stairs and she had to take a minute to catch her breath. She hunched over, leaning her hands against her knees as she took a few seconds to recover. When she straightened, she noticed the door was right in front of her, no longer transparent or hanging in thin air.

"Thank god!" Sarah mentally thanked whatever god, spirit, or anything above for moving it closer to her.

Sarah felt a lump rise in her throat as she stepped closer to the large intimidating door. Her hand hovering in front of her.

"It's now or never..."

Sarah knocked gently on the door, waiting impatiently for Jareth to answer her.

There was no response.

"Jareth?" she called softly, knocking again, a little louder than before. Her knock echoed through the Escher room, but there was still no answer from the other side of the door.

She bit her lip anxiously, feeling concerned when she knocked the third time and he still hadn't answered her. Was he alright? She knew she had a time limit to get to him. what if she was already too late? She pushed open the heavy door, the loud creaking noise sounded through the room.

She sighed in relief when she saw Jareth standing by the fire, his arm was resting on the mantle as he gazed into the flames before him. She noticed he had removed his waistcoat, and his cravat had been untied and was left hanging around his neck, somehow making his appearance more haggard. She swallowed hard when she noticed the bottle of wine he held in his gloved hand.

"Jareth..." She breathed. She closed the door and approached him, watching as he lifted the glass bottle to his lips, drinking straight from it without a care.

She approached him, forcing down the nerves that knotted in her stomach. She reached out to touch his arm, gasping in surprise when he jerked away from her as though she'd burnt him.

She swallowed hard, fighting away the feelings of hurt. The spirit of the Labyrinth had warned her about this. She had come here expecting him to hurt her and that had been something she was willing to go through to save him. She would deal with her feelings later.

"Jareth... please talk to me," she whispered, keeping her voice as soft as possible. "Let me know what's wrong so I can help you."

Jareth didn't even look at her; in fact, he turned away from her, lifting the bottle to his lips again.

Sarah watched as he finished the bottle, some of the contents dripping from his mouth and down his chin like fresh blood.

Sarah shuddered at the thought.

When he had drunk the bottle empty, he turned to her. "You have no idea how hard it is to be a King!" He roared at her, his outburst caused her to gasp and back away. He gazed at her for a moment, his jaw tight as he watched her gaze back at him, concern and fear etched upon her face.

"You have no idea what it's like having the weight of thousands of lives on your shoulders!" He shouted at her, his whole body tense with the extreme anger he felt bubbling from the depths of his soul.

She worried her lip anxiously as she considered what to say back to him. His eyes bore into her own and Sarah noticed just how dark and murky they were. It was as if they had a film of black around them.

"I-I know... I know that I don't know what it's like, but-"

Jareth growled in frustration, turning on his heel he threw the empty bottle into the fire. It smashed as it hit the back of the stone wall, the sound of glass shattering and exploding echoed in his chambers.

Sarah gasped in shock, her hand flying over her mouth. She had never seen him this angry before. It was shocking and frightening.

Jareth rushed to his desk, kicking it over in his fury, watching as it fell to the floor, all the papers and books that had been neatly laid upon it either fell to the floor or flew across the room. Still unsatisfied, he began grabbing anything he could, destroying it with his own hands.

Sarah felt tears pierce her eyes as she watched him destroy his room and all his belongings as though they meant nothing to him. Once he'd pretty much trashed everything around him, he picked up another bottle of wine, pulling the cork off before he lifted it to his lips, drinking as much of the alcoholic liquid as he could.

His eyes shot open in shock when he suddenly felt an arm roughly yank his own, causing the bottle to slip from his lips, half the contents spilling all over him. He coughed and gasped in surprise, watching as Sarah yanked the bottle out of his hand aggressively.

"Whatever the problem is, it's not worth this!" She shouted, even as he tried to take the bottle back from her.

"Give. It. Back." He spoke through gritted teeth. His eyes, if possible, had darkened even more.

"No. Fucking. Way." She spat back. For some reason, every ounce of fear she'd felt moments ago had vanished and now all she felt was anger towards the man who glared at her like he hated the very sight of her.

Jareth's glare became more intense as he reached for her arm quickly, but not quick enough as Sarah threw the bottle onto the floor with all the strength she could muster. It shattered to pieces, the red liquid pooling at her feet and the flagstone floor.

Jareth gazed at her in utter shock before his brows lowered over his eyes."You had no right!-"

"I had every damn right!" She cried, her hands balling into fits at her sides.

Jareth pushed her back against the wall with such force it was sure to leave a bruise on her back. Quick as lightning, he grabbed her by the shoulders, his fingers digging into her flesh painfully. "What makes you think you have the right to treat me like I'm a child?! What gives you the right to say what I can and can't do? Why did you even come here when you knew I didn't want to be disturbed?!" He raged, beyond furious. "You defy me! You defy your King!" He continued, shaking her again, more roughly than before.

Sarah felt like her heart was breaking. She knew this was going to be difficult, but she hadn't expected him to be this physical with her. She watched The Goblin King's face as he shook her. He was all sharp lines, with the blackest eyes she had ever seen. The closer she studied his face, the sadder she became. The man who stood before her wasn't the man she'd fallen in love with. It was just like the spirit of the Labyrinth had said;

"Do not be afraid... to save your King you will have to let the fear go. Your bravery will be needed, for the man you will see when you return to the castle will not be the one who you fell in love with. But he is still there, somewhere deep inside, just hidden by the darkness. Our advice to you would be to see the man you care for and not the monster who stands before you."

Sarah squeezed her eyes shut, recalling what it felt like when Jareth held her. what it did to her heart when he kissed her. And her heart warmed within seconds. She opened her eyes, gazing up into his own, trying her best to see the Jareth she loved instead of the man that clawed at her flesh.

"I came because..." She swallowed hard, allowing the tears to stream freely down her face. "I came to be here for you because you aren't there for yourself! I'm here because I care about you! No matter how much of an asshole you are!"

Jareth gazed at her in astonishment and time seemed to stop around him., suddenly all he could see was her. He felt his eyes sting as some of the haze around them cleared. Not completely, but just enough. His lip seemed to tremble as he loosened his grip on her shoulders.

He glanced down at his hands, shocked by his ability to grab her so roughly when he loved her so dearly. He felt dizzy suddenly and collapsed back into his leather armchair.

Sarah fell to her knees beside him. The sight of his tears shining in his eyes was breaking her heart. She took his hand in hers, pulling his glove off so that she could feel his bare skin next to her own. She wasn't sure why, but she felt the need to have skin on skin contact with him.

Through his tears he watched, his heart pounding in his chest as she pressed her lips against his pale long fingers.

"You are such a fool..." She whispered her voice a mere whisper. "You don't even know how much I love you, do you?" She met his gaze, her heart almost hurt when she saw his lip tremble again.

"Because I do, Jareth... I love you..." She rose slightly, placing her hands on his knees as she gazed up into his, relieved to find them clear blue once more."You think you have to bare your pain alone but you don't... you don't ever have to be alone..." She pressed her forehead against his, slowly tracing the lines by his eyes with her thumb. Her fingers brushed against something wet and realized it was his tears.

He reached forward to touch her with his trembling hand. "Sarah..." He whispered, his voice weak and croaky as she wiped his tears away.

"I love you..." she breathed, her eyes closed as she began placing soft kisses to his lips, then his cheeks, slowly making her way back to his lips again.

Jareth's heart was moved by her gentleness, despite the way he'd just treated her. How could she be gentle with him after that?

His heart was suddenly overcome with love and adoration for the woman who held him, comforted him. Who loved him unconditionally. He didn't deserve her.

His eyes fluttered closed as she began to kiss him more passionately, her hands slowly caressing his knees and thighs.

He shivered at her touch, slowly running his hand through her midnight hair. "I'm sorry..." he whispered over and over, lowering his head in shame. What had happened to him? He hadn't felt that sort of darkness in such a long time. It was like a he'd been in a trace. He had felt like every ounce of happiness he'd ever felt before had been drained from his body.

Sarah gently cupped his face with her hands, gazing into his eyes. "I know..." she searched his eyes for a moment before she leaned forward again, slowly tracing kisses over his jaw. She could taste the wine he had spilled over himself, mixed with the saltiness of his tears.

Jareth slowly ran his hands down her back. He couldn't believe that she'd said it... she loved him.

He had been so overcome by grief that it almost hadn't registered in his head. But now that his head had cleared somewhat, all he could hear was her soft voice as she admitted her love for him.

He wanted to cry from the joy of knowing that the woman he loved so deeply loved him back.

He wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her that he loved her too, more than anything in the world, but before he had a chance, Sarah started pulling his cravat from around his neck. next, she began to unlace his shirt, her kisses becoming more frenzied against his neck.

He let out a surprised gasp when he felt her tongue lick away the red wine from his skin.

"Sarah-"

"Shh... Jareth, don't talk... please don't talk." She whispered as she pulled his shirt out from his tights, pulling it all the way up until he put his arms in the air for her, allowing her to pull the shirt over his head.

Once he was freed of his wine-stained shirt, she gazed longingly down at his naked upper body. He had square shoulders, slightly toned biceps, lithe chest, and a narrow waist. He was such a beautiful sight to behold. She felt her mouth run dry as she gently pressed her hand to his chest. She could feel his heart beating rapidly against her palm.

Just as she was about to pull her hand back, Jareth gently placed his bare hand atop of hers, preventing her from removing her hand from his heart.

She met his gaze again, surprised when she saw the softness in his eyes.

He leaned forward, his lips only a breath away from her own, "Mo chroi..." he whispered.

Sarah's eye's closed instinctively as he brushed his lips against her own before she had a chance to ask him what he'd said.

It wasn't long until the kiss became more frantic, and Jareth allowed his hand to slide down her waist while his other gently rested against her lower back, pulling her closer to him. He felt her shiver at his touch and was delighted when she sighed into his mouth, completely lost to him, and the feel of his firm lips as they fought with her own.

He pulled back after a moment and got to his feet. He reached for her hand and gently pulled her up against him. Sarah gazed into his eyes, her parted lips red and swollen from their passionate kisses.

"Sarah...I want you more than anything..." He whispered, allowing the vulnerability to show in his face as he gazed down at her.

Sarah smiled up at him, gently running her fingers down his bare chest. "Have me..."

Without a moment's hesitation, he hooked his arm under her knees, lifting her in his strong arms. Sarah's heart fluttered wildly as she pressed her face into the softness of his bare chest.

He carried her to his huge bed. His mouth hungrily devouring hers as he lowered her to the mattress.

She felt her heart skip a beat when her back came into contact with the soft mattress. This was really happening...

He loomed over her, kissing her lips and then kissing down her neck, sucking her tender skin. The sound of her moaning softly in his ear was making him practically tremble with need.

"I've dreamt... of this day, Sarah..." Jareth whispered as he began trailing open-mouthed kisses down her collarbone and over the swell of her breasts.

She gasped softly, squirming beneath him as he slowly began to loosen the lace on the front of her dress, then slowly began to pull it down. He was delighted when her breasts spilled free.

He growled at the sight of her bare breasts. They were shapely and full. Her nipples had hardened and become darker in her arousal and Jareth hungrily took one into his mouth, sucking and swirling his tongue around the hardened bud while his fingers plucked and rolled the other.

Sarah gasped at the incredible sensation of his mouth on her breast and she glanced down, watching him as he switched to the other, hungrily sucking at it while he worked the other between his fingers.

She slid her hands into his untamed hair, her lips parting as she watched his lips burn a path between her breasts, traveling lower.

He sat back on the bed, slowly lifting her skirts to gather around her waist. sliding his hands up her legs he began pulling down her stockings, his dark glazed eyes never leaving hers as he peeled the garments from her legs and feet.

Once he had removed both her stockings, he pressed his lips to her ankle, then up to her soft calf. Sarah shivered at how sensual the feeling was. He kept on traveling his kisses upwards until he reached the apex of her thigh. He couldn't help but growl softly as the scent of her arousal hit him. Being Fae meant it was almost overwhelming to him and he had to take a few calming breathes to control himself.

This would be Sarah's first time with a man and he wanted it to be special for her, pleasurable, memorable, gentle.

If he was being honest he didn't want to rush this either. He wanted to enjoy every moment. To kiss every freckle, to trace his fingers over every part of her and memorize every inch before he ravished her wanting body.

Sarah watched him through hooded eyes as he took a few moments to control himself, his eyes momentarily closed before he opened them once more. He gently parted her legs, causing yet another shiver to work through her, and he began to trace his thumbs over her inner thighs, massaging deeply.

A satisfactory smile spread across his face when he noticed the damp patch on her panties. Evidence that what he was doing was pleasing her. Deciding to tease her further, he ever so gradually inched his thumbs closer, eventually slipping them just beneath the thin white silk of her underwear, so close but never quite touching her.

A long yearning moan escaped her lips, her hips arching up into his torturous touch, desperate to feel his hands on her most intimate spot. The fire that burned within her was roaring out of control and he was the only water. She needed him. Now.

"Jareth," she moaned, heat rushing to her face when his eyes met hers once more. "Please touch me..."

He loomed over her, his breath fanning her face as he cupped her with his bare hand, the thin material the only barrier between his hand and her best-kept secret.

She tilted her head back against the pillows, gasping as he hooked a finger into her panties, pulling them aside before sliding a long finger inside her, relishing in the wetness and the sob she choked out.

Their eyes locked as he began sinking his finger in and out of her, allowing her to adjust before adding a second, his heart pounding in his chest when she cried out his name, arching into his hand and grasping his shoulders.

With the rhythm of his fingers sliding in and out of her wetly, his thumb rubbing her at the same time, the way he was staring at her with such intensity in his mismatched eyes. It all proved to be too much for her.

"Ja-Jare- Jareth!" Her body shuddered, hips rose and fell as her inner walls clenched around his fingers, yet still, he kept pressing them further inside her, deeper. His thumb never ceasing the torment to the little bud between her legs.

He growled low in his throat as she cried out her release and he hungrily seized her mouth, swallowing her cries, relishing in the feeling of bringing her over the edge.

With the blood still pounding in her ears, her body still trembling with the aftershocks of her orgasm, she barely registered as Jareth removed her clothes, his lips kissing every bit of bare skin that was revealed to him as he removed each garment.

For a few moments, all he could do was stare at the beautiful sight before him. She was laying on his bed completely naked. Her body glistening in a thin sheen of sweat. Her chest rose and fell as she fought to catch her breath. That delicious flush covering her neck and face.

She was perfect.

He suddenly felt overcome with all the emotions that stirred within him. In the back of his mind, he could still hear her voice as she confessed her love for him. The love he felt for her. The desire he felt for her. The way she trusted him enough to allow him to touch her, to take her for her first time. It was overwhelming.

As if feeling the same array of emotions as he was; Sarah sat up, wrapping her arms around him and pressing herself against him, their naked upper bodies touching for the very first time. He caressed her face lovingly, making her heart flutter wildly in her chest as their lips crushed together in a searing kiss.

She slowly trailed her fingers down his lean chest and flat stomach, pleased to feel him shiver at her touch. Glancing down between them she blushed to see the evidence of his desire straining against the fabric of his grey tights; desperate for attention.

Before she had a chance to rethink her actions, she ran her fingers over him, surprised at the hardness of him even through the fabric.

He gasped in surprise and pleasure, watching her trace her fingers against the waistband of his tights before she pulled them down. His cock sprang free and he tilted his head back, groaning as Sarah ran her fingers over his length.

"Sarah," He rasped, "You cheeky precious thing..."

She smiled innocently at him, "Hmm?" She leaned forward and kissed him again, silencing him as she wrapped her hand around his long thick length, pumping him slowly in her hand, marveling at the feeling of him. soft as velvet, hard as steel. She could only imagine how amazing it would be to have him inside her.

Just thinking of having him inside her was enough to make ready again. She felt the rush of warmth between her thighs and deepened the kiss, sighing into his mouth as he did into hers.

Unable to take it anymore, he pushed her back against the pillows and nudged her legs apart with his knee.

She looked up at him through her dark lashes as he loomed over her once more, his cock hitting the inside of her thigh was a big reminder of what was about to happen.

"Sarah," He whispered, his voice gentle but strained as he fought to control himself. "Are you certain you want this? That you want me?"

From his voice, she could tell this was it. The last warming. The last chance to turn back.

She reached up, gently caressing his cheek, her stomach quivering with the sensation of butterflies as his eyes fluttered closed momentarily.

"Yes, I'm sure. Jareth, I want you..." She pressed her lips against his in a soft kiss, letting him know she was ready.

Without another word he slowly pushed himself inside her, watching as she stiffened beneath him, a pained expression crossing her features and she cried out as he broke the barrier between them.

He gently caressed her face, watching the tears as they filled in her green eyes. "I'm sorry, my love..." He whispered, "The pain won't last, I promise..."

He stayed still until the pain began to fade, and Sarah locked eyes with him, nodding gratefully.

He pulled almost all the way out, then filled her to the hilt in one swift motion, reveling in the feeling for a few moments before he pulled out and filled her again, causing a pleasurable moan to slip past both their lips. He began to move inside her slowly. It was only slightly uncomfortable for a few moments and soon the pained expression on her face changed.

She moaned in pleasure, her lips parting as she tilted her head back against the pillows, sliding her hands up and down his back as the pleasure began to build within her again.

He leaned down to take her nipple between his teeth, biting and sucking it as he moved inside her. His hands roamed all over her, memorizing every curve of her body and she mirrored his actions.

She gasped and moaned every time his teeth lightly grazed against her flesh, or every time he pushed himself deeper within her. Soon she was clutching him, panting and gasping in his ear as her hips rocked against his, matching the speed he set for them.

"More... please, more..." She choked out, sliding her hands down his back and over his butt, trembling when he growled against her neck, gripping her hips as he thrust faster.

"Sarah," He rasped out, capturing her lips with his. He sucked at her bottom lip before sliding his tongue into her mouth, delighted when she fought his tongue with her own. Oh, how he loved the way she did that.

She swallowed his moans, biting her fingernails into his flesh as he reached between them, rubbing her sensitive bundle of nerves relentlessly.

Needless to say, she didn't last. She came hard, crying out his name as her muscles tightened around him.

The feeling of her coming around him was so intense his hips jerked. He swore from the intensity of it, lifting her leg he drove himself into her as deep as he could without hurting her. He thrust faster, prolonging her orgasm. Soon his thrusts become more frenzied and he lost control. He let out a low cry which ended with considerable volume as his seed spilled inside her, his hips jerking and his whole body shuddering.

Sarah held him in place, locking her legs around his waist until he collapsed beside her, gasping for breath.

The next thing Sarah felt was strong arms wrapping around her, pulling her to him in a loving embrace.

With their damp bodies intertwined, they gazed into each other's eyes for a few moments, their hearts warm and fluttering wildly in their chests.

Jareth's lips formed a smile and he leaned in to kiss her softly. Sarah returned the kiss with equal softness, equal love.

She sighed in satisfaction and rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers tracing a line along his chest slowly.

He ran his fingers through her silky hair, smiling when he caught the scent of peach. "My precious, Sarah..." He breathed, lifting her hair to his lips he kissed it.

She glanced up at him, her eyes shining, "Thank you for making my first time so pleasurable..." She whispered, kissing his jaw softly. "I never knew it would feel that good the first time."

He smiled down at her, his messy blonde hair even wilder after their bed activity. It adorably hung in his face. "Thank you for trusting me,"

"Of course I trust you...I love you," she whispered.

Hearing her say it again made his heartbeat quicken. His eyes softened as he pulled her closer to him, kissing her mouth deeply, lovingly. Both of his hands on either side of her face.

When he broke the kiss, he stared at her, keeping his hands on her face, his thumb caressing her cheek. "Thank you for coming to find me... for saving me from myself. I'm so sorry for how I treated you..." He whispered, the sadness returning to his eyes.

"Shhh... it's okay, really..." She wondered if she should tell Jareth about what had happened. Tell him that it truly wasn't his fault for getting so mad and that some sort of dangerous darkness had tried to take him from her? Could she do that? She hadn't even told him about her connection to the Labyrinth yet. Maybe she should, after all, had it not been for the Labyrinth, she would never have known that the feelings she'd felt in the garden had been coming from him.

Still, she couldn't help but feel like now wasn't the right time. They'd just shared their first intimate moment. She wanted to bask in it for as long as possible.

Jareth was frowning at her with the ghost of a smile on his face when she became aware of her surroundings again. "Love? You seemed a thousand miles away..." He mused, lacing his fingers with hers.

Sarah chuckled softly. "Sorry, I just got lost in my thoughts for a few moments then."

Jareth pressed his lips to the crown of her head. "Mmm... don't let your thoughts take you away from me for too long. I'm not done with you yet, and I'm not a man who likes to share."

Sarah giggled. "Not finished with me yet?" she felt her heart race.

Jareth nuzzled her neck, running his tongue against her soft flesh. He chuckled low in his throat when a little gasp slipped past her lips.

"Definitely not... but don't worry, I'll give you time to recover first."

Despite her racing heart and the excitement that pooled in her abdomen, she was somewhat relieved that Jareth was going to wait and let her recover a bit first. "Thank you," she whispered.

"I told you I can be generous." He said, turning her chin so that she was facing him. He leaned in, kissing her lovingly.

Once their kiss ended, they both relaxed back into the pillows and were silent for a few moments.

She glanced around at the trashed room, amusement shining in her eyes. The floor was coated in paperwork, in wine, in glass, fathers, and everything else under the sun. Even the portraits on the walls were in desperate need of straightening. She couldn't help but giggle. "You need to do something about taming that temper of yours," she chuckled, trying to bring humor into the situation that had been very distressing to watch.

Jareth looked around, chuckling as he looked back at her, reaching to push some hair away from her face. "I think you already found a way to tame my bad temper." He grinned, winking at her.

Sarah rolled her eyes, but Jareth didn't miss the pink blush that rose to her cheeks. She gently wrapped her arms around him as he once again leaned in and kissed her.

They lay silently in each other's arms, simply enjoying the others' presence beside them in the huge bed. The clock on the wall opposite ticked as the seconds passed, lulling Sarah into dreamland. Although they hadn't planned to fall asleep just yet, Jareth was glad to see Sarah sleeping. She had looked exhausted by the time their lovemaking was over and he wondered if he had tired her out or if she had had an unusually busy day.

He watched her sleep for some time. He found he took comfort in simply watching her while she slept. She was so beautiful and she had given herself to him. His heart skipped happily. She loved him. Jareth was certain that he was the luckiest man alive to have her love. He promised himself that he would never take it for granted.

Soon Jareth's eyes became heavy, but he fought to stay awake. He didn't want this night to end or for the sharp sting of reality to return the next morning. Soon though, it became too strong to resist and Jareth pulled Sarah closer to him before finally allowing himself to drift off beside her.


AN: So.. there we go! THEY FINALLY DID IT! AHJKSQJHKJ!

I hope you enjoyed it! Please let me know what you thought! I've never written a sex scene before and I took a lot of time writing it to make sure it was all okay – It's really surprising how difficult it is!

Again, sorry to any of my lovely readers who didn't want a sex scene. I hope you were able to skip past it and still enjoy the rest of the chapter. ^^

It's been a lot of fun finally getting to the more important parts of this story and I'm excited to start working on the next chapter! Although, it might be a little while till I post another update on this. I have two other stories to catch up on as well! *overwhelmed* But I'll definitely do my best to get an update out soon!

Please don't forget to review!

Until next time, then! *hugs* ^^