Chapter 5

A new home?

There was a lot of excitement and activity in the castle and the Labyrinth Kingdom. Tomorrow was Halloween, and especially the goblins were looking forward to being rowdy and themselves for the night. Parties had been going on everywhere a day long, and every so often firecrackers were going off or a small explosions could be heard. So far no bridges or buildings had gone up in smoke and Jareth was happy about that. He was getting tired of having to repair perfectly good structures.

A huge party had been planned in The Underground Club, and Jareth had reserved the place for the entire night. Marjorie and Mark were coming and should be arriving shortly as two fae guards had been sent to get them.

Sarah was excited to see her best friend and soul sister, as it had been months since they had last seen each other. Marjorie, of course, in good aunt fashion missed her nephews. Sarah had no doubt she would be spoiling them over the next couple of days.

The faewolves had adjusted nicely to their new homes. Deimos had been chosen by Jay, and Phobos had been assigned to Jeremy. The boys had taken an immediate liking to the new wolves and especially enjoyed riding them like ponies. Many times, after a few minutes of riding in the evening, they fell asleep on their backs. Aria was elated. It made her job so much easier.

When Sarah had inquired which 'costume' Jareth was planning to wear he dryly replied with "Surface Jareth".

"You're really going with that?" Sarah laughed. "It's Halloween, it's supposed to be scary, not gorgeous and handsome and incredibly sexy", she teased him but Jareth only smirked.

"Babe, down here, there is nothing scarier than a human from the Surface World. I'm going to be scary Jareth from the Surface." Sarah could only laugh at that thought.

"You're just trying to turn me on. You know Surface Jareth has certain effects on me and you're using it to get what you want for later. Isn't it?" She looked at him with intense eyes and a stern look.

"Maybe, and maybe not?" He wouldn't commit to a straight answer and walked off victoriously.

"Right", Sarah murmured and shook her head.

Marjorie and Mark arrived shortly before dinner and Hoggle showed them to their room. It was the same room they always stayed in and had no problems finding it on their own by now.

Marjorie heaved a big sigh as she fell into the bed. "It almost feels like being home doesn't it?"

"It sure does hun", Mark replied and fell into bed next to her.

"Will you talk to Jareth?" Marjorie asked and looked anxiously at Mark.

"I sure will. One of the main reason we came isn't it?" He replied and got up. "Let's go downstairs for dinner. I'm hungry." Marjorie nodded and followed close behind.

Hoggle and Krum had already finished setting the table, and Jareth and Sarah were waiting on them. Jay and Jeremy sat in their two highchairs throwing cookies at each other. Deimos and Phobos were in shadow form. Sarah had asked them to be, so they wouldn't scare Marjorie out of her wits right from the beginning of her stay. There was plenty of time to get introduced and acquainted.

Hoggle and Krum brought out the food and Mark heaved a big sigh of contentment.

"Yes, beef stew. Epic!" He winked at Jareth as he grabbed his silverware. Jareth elbowed him in friendly fashion and grinned.

"You sure it's beef?" He laughed at Mark's worried face and went on piling some on his plate. Mark shrugged his shoulders and followed suit.

"How are things in the Surface World?" Sarah inquired as she put some food on plates for Jay and Jeremy. Aria sat next to them to make sure they wouldn't make a big mess and bombard the dinner guests with pieces of the stew. Marjorie of course had planted herself right next to them on the opposite side.

"Things are great. The new club is doing great, the Blue Rock Café is rocking. Had our best year yet so far this year." Mark sounded positive and elated, but Sarah thought she had detected a hint of frustration as well.

She looked over to Marjorie, but she was too busy feeding Jeremy and Jay at the same time. Aria sat there bored with not much to do as Marjorie had taken over. Sarah couldn't help but to chuckle silently. Aria's face of unease was priceless.

After dinner they all retired into the study. Sarah thought maybe now would be a good time to introduce Deimos and Phobos to Marjorie. She gave Jareth a questioning face, but he waved for her to go ahead with it. Sarah heaved a deep sigh and tapped Marjorie on the shoulder who was sitting with the boys by the fireplace playing with some goblin toys.

"I want to introduce you to someone", Sarah said quietly. She gave a silent nod, and Deimos and Phobos appeared lying next to each boy on the floor with Marjorie right in between them. Their glowing green eyes were fixated on Marjorie who at this moment looked like she was going to pass out.

"Damn, you guys got two more. That's awesome", was all Marjorie heard Mark saying before she did pass out. She fell over and laid sprawled out between the faewolves.

"Well, that went rather well", Jareth chimed in cheerfully and toasted a beer with Mark who seemed not very concerned about Marjorie.

"She'll be fine", he told Sarah who looked at him with utter disbelief. Sarah shook her head and tapped Marjorie slightly on the cheek.

Marjorie came slowly to and opened her eyes.

"What the f...? Oh my god, they are still here." She almost fainted again, but this time Sarah held her up and Jareth snapped his fingers to cast a quick non anxiety spell. It always worked on Sarah and it sure worked on Marjorie.

Mark was impressed. "You got to teach me that one", he laughed.

"In time, maybe", Jareth replied and Sarah found the answer quite odd, but was too busy with Marjorie who was now fully conscious again. Jareth' spell worked and she no longer wanted to pass out.

"These are Deimos and Phobos. Your nephews' new protectors", Sarah added cheerfully and pointed at each wolf.

"Nice to meet you", Marjorie stammered and excused herself. "I need to use the bathroom. And when I get back, I need some more wine", she demanded as Sarah motioned to Hoggle to refill her glass.

The rest of the evening was less stressful and Marjorie was getting more relaxed around the wolves. Sarah wasn't sure if it was due to Jareth' spell or the amount of wine she had consumed, but whatever it was, it worked. Jareth looked tenderly at her when she mouthed "thank you" to him.

Mark had brought Jareth some more sheet music. Jareth looked through them intensely.

"These are the latest hits up there", Mark pointed to the ceiling. Jareth couldn't help but to laugh.

"'I will always love you' and 'Hero' are pretty good. By some chic named Celine Dion. Got a few new Beatle songs too and 'All for Love' by Sting. Bowie's got a new album out too called 'The Downward Spiral'. Sarah ought to dig that one." Mark helped Jareth dig through the pile.

After Jay and Jeremy had been put to sleep Jareth ended up playing a few of his regular songs on the piano including the song Sarah had written last year, 'Sway with me'. Marjorie was relieved to only see Mara now as Deimos and Phobos had gone with the twins to the nursery. By the time everyone went to bed it was two in the morning.

"Felt like old times", Jareth said in a jolly mood when they got ready for bed.

"It sure did, didn't it?" Sarah replied. "I hope we'll have enough energy left for the party tonight. It'll be a long one too. You know, nobody's going to get home before two that morning either."

Jareth laughed and slipped under the covers. By the time Sarah got out of the bedroom he was sound asleep. She smiled gently at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Yeah honey, it sure felt like the old days didn't it? In the old days you would be awake right now trying to make love to me. I think the King is slowing down some." She slipped under the covers, turned off the light and snuggled up to him.

"I heard that. The King is not slowing down. I'm just saving my energy for tomorrow, just wait and see. You'll be begging me for mercy", Jareth replied half in his sleep as Sarah chuckled silently to herself.


Once again, breakfast was a no show for all participants and Hoggle and Krum ate most of it themselves. Krum took some left over rolls and buns to his friends at the YGLC and Hoggle took some more over to Krimble at the boutique. He had invited her to the party tonight and wanted to work out a few more details on the costumes with her.

It was nearly noon before everyone had gotten up and came down to the study. Jareth had wanted to show Sarah he was not slowing down, but because it was already so late she declined his offer, which didn't make him very happy.

"Fine, it'll be two rounds for you tonight then", he declared in defiance and strutted out of the bedroom. Sarah did her best not to laugh out loud.

Sarah and Marjorie went to Elvenwood for a nice outing and shopping excursion. Sarah wanted to take her to the new ice cream place her and Jareth had discovered a while back, Frozen Dreams. Marjorie once again exclaimed of how much she loved that little house with the two spires at the edge of town.

"It's just too darling. Maybe I have Mark build me one like it, or maybe we'll just buy this one", she left Sarah standing there pondering over those last few words as she walked back towards town to look at some more stores.

Mark had asked Jareth for a meeting. He wanted to discuss a few issues with him and Jareth had already expected it. Sarah had kind of hinted on some things she thought were on their minds, and she had tried to steer him into a certain direction.

Jareth waved his hand towards a chair for Mark to sit down. This was an official audience and Mark knew it. All their boyish behavior had disappeared and both were serious business men at that point.

"Sarah has already mentioned a few things to me", Jareth began, "and I assume that she has given me accurate information?" Jareth sat back in his seat.

Mark breathed heavy and nodded. "Yes she has."

"State your case then, and please, no formalities. I'm still Jareth for you", he said with a soft smile and nodded at Mark. Mark felt slightly relieved. He was still unsure about how to address Jareth in an official form and was not used to his royal demeanor.

"Marjorie and I have discussed this in length for months now, longer actually. Ever since Las Vegas", Mark stopped to see if Jareth wanted to say something, but he remained silent.

"Well, we really want to come and live down here in the Underground with you guys if that is possible. We don't have any friends in our world other than you guys, and the relationship with our parents is ok, but it is not a deciding factor. We have to make our own path. I'll never be any more than an assistant to my father. I want to do more than that, but I'm not really allowed and he doesn't understand."

Again Mark stopped to see if Jareth had something to add, and again he remained silent with a stoic face.

"I have talked to the owners of The Underground Club, and they would be more than willing to let me buy into a partnership with them and buy them completely out within three years. They had been looking for someone to take over the business.

Marjorie has been talking with Krimble and they were floating this idea of opening a boutique together called 'Surface Fashion'. We even found a little house outside Elvenwood that is for sale and Marjorie has fallen in love with it from a visit two years ago."

Mark cleared his throat and took a sip of his water.

"I don't know if all of that is possible considering the rules and laws, and time being different here. So, I guess what we are asking for is your permission since you are the king of the Underground, and whatever you says goes."

Mark put down his water and stopped, looking at Jareth with an anxious look.

Jareth looked back at him in silent for a long time before he took a deep breath and folded his hands in front of his face. After a couple of minutes, which seemed like an eternity to Mark, he stood up and walked over to his window. He called Mark over to him.

"What do you see out there?" He asked him with a serious face.

Mark looked out and saw several goblins working in the garden. He saw Hoggle picking some vegetables for dinner, Krum was sweeping the sidewalk, and a couple of faes were hanging some lights for the party tonight as several elves were chatting it up with them, apparently giving them directions for how to hang the lights properly. A few little imps were flying and zooming in between everyone chasing each other.

"I see Underground folks doing their chores?" Mark asked looking slightly bewildered at Jareth.

"Do you see any humans?" Jareth asked not diverting his eyes from the garden scene.

"No, no I don't." Mark replied with a quiet voice.

Jareth looked at him and waved him to retake his seat. Again he was in deep thoughts before he finally spoke.

"If you stay here, if you decide you want to make the Underground your new home, you have to understand that you cannot retain your human form. You will become fae, just like Sarah has. You will have limited powers or no powers at all, you may never completely change. We don't know what will happen as nobody your age has ever been integrated into the Underground on a permanent basis.

Sarah was right at that borderline when she arrived, and luckily with her, it worked out. Are you willing to risk it all and to give up everything you have known for the Underground, for eternity?"

Jareth now stood and leaned over his desk looking Mark directly into his eyes. Mark breathed heavy but he held Jareth' gaze.

"Yes", he finally answered never lowering his eyes. Jareth sat down again with a sigh.

"Ok, I will have to address the Elder Council as well as the High Goblin Council with your request. It will be ultimately up to them. All I can do is speak on your behalf. This is even beyond my sole jurisdiction."

Mark nodded silently.

Jareth sat there for a while before he got up with a smile and walked around to Mark.

"I wish I could tell you welcome today, but it will take a few weeks or even months for the councils to debate this and come to a verdict. Come on man, let's have a beer and chill. It'll all work out. Be patient."

Jareth slapped him on his back and Mark relaxed with a smile.

"We trust you Jareth. A beer sounds great about now."

"Let's go watch a movie. You've seen 'The Outsiders' yet? Suppose to be a good movie. Sarah brought it back from her last visit."

Jareth grabbed a six pack and marched off towards his movie theater with Mark following behind.


The Halloween party was in full swing when they got to The Underground Club. Everybody was dressed as humans besides Mark and Marjorie, who had opted to go as Superman and Wonder Woman, and Hoggle and Krimble who went as gnomes. Sarah had to laugh at the group of misfits, Faron, Chayrone, Krimble, Hoggle, Marjorie, Mark, Aviana and Kaden. The thing was, in the Underground you couldn't tell who had on a costume and who didn't, but it all fit the theme of Halloween.

Jareth had handed the band his sheet music weeks ago and they played some great songs by all the known music performers from the Surface World including the Monster Mash and Purple People Eater. Sarah almost lost it at those two songs.

"Seriously? Even down here I have to listen to those two songs over and over?" She complained while Jareth bend over laughing.

"Come on babe, sway with me, dance away the night ooh baby", he sang her lyrics while he let her out to the dance floor. Sarah held on tight to him as they stayed out on that dance floor most the night.

"How did the talk go with Mark?" Sarah asked as they danced close together to a slow song. Jareth smiled at her and gave her a gentle kiss.

"It's going before the councils for discussion."

Sarah beamed at Jareth. "So you let it go forward?"

"Yep", Jareth replied and led her down the parquet. "I'll add it to your bill. You can pay some down later tonight, or tomorrow morning, whichever time we'll get back."

"That's one bill I gladly pay. Especially with Surface Jareth", Sarah whispered with a seductive smile. Jareth stopped dancing, pulled her even closer and kissed her right in the middle of the dancefloor.

"Oh, get a room", they heard Mara complain.

"Nobody is watching, so chill", Sarah replied via telepathy and continued to kiss Jareth who couldn't help but to chuckle at their quiet conversation.

The evening had been wonderful and garnered a lot of laughs. Jareth had taken the stage at one point and performed Sarah's song with the band. She nearly fell over when he had drug her up on stage and told everyone she had written the song. It was a smash and made the round as the Queen's Swing Song, or QSS for short. For weeks it was number one on the Goblin Radio Top Ten Billboard charts.

"You're an Underground music sensation, babe", Jareth laughed. Sarah blushed and put her hand in her face.

"Oh god, what will my children think of me?" She joked laughingly

"They'll think their mom is supercool. That's what they'll think, babe", Jareth whispered proudly and kissed her again.

As Sarah had predicted, it was after four in the morning before they made it back to the castle. Everybody went straight into their bedrooms again. Jareth had taken a little bit too much shine to the devil water and was not quite coherent when Sarah put him in bed and took off his clothes.

"Yes, babe, round one is coming up", he mumbled as Sarah pulled off his pants and laughed silently.

"Oh Jareth", she chuckled, "you're in no condition for round one. Once again the king has petered out."

Jareth was already sound asleep when she pulled the blanket over him and kissed him good night.

She sat at the window sill for another thirty minutes sending thank you notes for the birthday wishes off in little crystal balls before she crawled under the covers and snuggled up to Jareth. She held on tight to his arm and closed her eyes as she followed him into his dreams.