Chapter 11

An approval, an adoption, and honeymoon plans

Sarah woke up rather early the next morning. She had a lot more thank you crystals to send off to her subjects, and as usual Jareth had already beaten her to the window sill.

"Good morning, did you sleep well?" He asked her with a grin as he let a crystal ball float out of the window.

"Wonderfully wonderful", she sighed with a mischievous smile and stretched. "How could I not after receiving such a royal treatment last night?"

She threw him a wink and a kiss.

"That's exactly right, babe. It was a royal treatment, wasn't it?"

He let go of another crystal ball and smiled proudly as Sarah put on her robe and walked over to him. The mornings were still a bit chilly in the kingdom, but it felt good sitting in the sun. She sat right in front of him and snuggled against his chest as always.

"I love this", Sarah said quietly as she held on tight to his arm around her waist. "Us, together like this on the window sill, in the morning, or evening. It's heaven."

Her appreciation for the small things had grown tremendously after her miscarriage and near death experiences, and the same held true for Jareth. Neither one of them ever wanted to go through such pain for each other ever again.

Sarah released a few crystal balls of herself and watched them float away with a sense of serenity. If only every day in the kingdom could be like this.

Hoggle knocked on the door and delivered the breakfast Jareth had ordered while Sarah was still sleeping. He gave Sarah a big smile before he left.

"I thought we could have breakfast up here today since it is so early. Everybody else is still sleeping", Jareth suggested and Sarah agreed.

"Sounds great to me".

She got up, retied her robe Jareth had opened in his sneaky way, and sat at the table.

"What's on your schedule today?" Sarah inquired as she poured herself and Jareth some coffee.

"I want to meet with the Elder Council and get Mark's and Marjorie's application pushed through. They need to be accepted immediately. After all, they helped save the queen and the kingdom. Shouldn't that be reason enough to grant them full citizenship in the Labyrinth Kingdom?" Sarah nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

"Absolutely", she mumbled as she chewed on a too big piece of cinnamon roll.

"Please don't choke, babe", Jareth said with concern. "I don't want you to suffocate. We had enough excitement to last us the next three hundred years at least." Sarah giggled at his worried face.

"Do you think the council will see it your way?" Sarah returned the subject back to the application as she took a deep breath. She almost did choke on her roll.

"I think they will", Jareth sounded confident. "They know what they did for the kingdom, and they know they need to be rewarded for it. I think they'll do the right thing."

He put another bagel on his plate.

"What about Krum?" Sarah asked and looked at Jareth with a grimace. She was really torn on what to do about him and Jareth hadn't really given her any clear ideas either.

"Not sure", Jareth put down his bagel and sat with crossed hands in front of his face.

"I gave him his freedom yesterday and a new place to live. Kelan has removed the stunt spell so he can become an adult now and live his life. What else we'll do with him, I really don't know Sarah."

He picked up his bagel again.

"Well, he's family even if from an ancestor over three hundred years ago. I don't even know what that would make him. My 4th, 5th, or 6th cousin? Something like that. I wonder when his birthday is."

Sarah absently took another too big of a bite out of her cinnamon roll and immediately regretted it.

Jareth shook his head at her in disbelief but remained silent. Sarah barely managed not to choke this time.

"Is there a way to neutralize the goblin spell, to turn him back into a human or fae boy?"

She looked at Jareth with expecting eyes.

"I don't think so. If there is one I have never heard of it. Once goblin, always a goblin, but I can ask Kelan while I'm over there."

He looked at the wall clock and jumped up.

"Got to go, babe. I need to catch them before they start their public meetings, or it'll be midnight before I get home. And I have a 'special audience' scheduled with you way before then."

He gave her a wink and a smirk before he teleported out of the bedroom and left Sarah sitting there without the chance of a rebuttal.


Sarah decided to go have a talk with Krum, maybe go for a walk with him and get to know him a little better. He had been living with them on the castle grounds now for over three years and she still didn't know much about him. And now it turned out he was a distant ancestor of hers. She still tried to make sense of that one.

Krum had graciously accepted her invite for a walk and had given her a beautiful little flower he had picked in the garden. Sarah gave him her usual smile, and as usual, his big ears turned red as he had a big grin on his face.

"Krum, looks like you and I are cousins. How do you feel about that?" Sarah asked him after walking for about fifteen minutes.

"I like it", he said excitedly.

"Are you ok with being a goblin?" she followed it up with a concerned voice. Krum stopped and looked at her.

"I've been a goblin much longer than a human. I don't remember much from being a human boy. All I know is how to be a goblin. And I know, you always reminded me of my mother. I like being a goblin, I just want to grow up so I can do something besides help Hoggle. Maybe I want a family for myself too, like you have your highness. "

He looked at her with his big goblin eyes. Sarah nodded and smiled as they resumed their walk.

"Well, looks like you got your wish, Krum. You now have the opportunity to grow up and become an adult, have a wife and children, and a career. You can be anything you want to be, except king."

Sarah laughed at the last words and so did Krum.

"I would never want to be king. Too much work and too dangerous. I would like to have my own business, or maybe be a teacher, or a counselor, something that would help other goblins."

Sarah found this very commendable.

She had tremendously enjoyed her walk with Krum. Before they parted in front of the castle she reached into her pocket and gave Krum a little oval picture with a frame around it.

"I believe this belongs to you. It's a picture of your mother", she held out her hand and placed it into his. Krum looked at her with watery eyes.

"Thank you so much", he said with a shaky voice and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. You remind me so much of her, your looks, your demeanor and the way you talk." He sniffed into his handkerchief.

"One of these days I would love to hear more about your mother, my ancestor. She must have been a brave woman to take on Caleb."

Sarah felt compelled to give Krum a hug, and she did. He didn't know what to do at first, but then, slowly, he hugged her back.

Sarah bid him adieu and he scampered off to help Hoggle in the kitchen. Sarah told him he didn't need to do this anymore, but he insisted. "He wanted to", he had said. Sarah made sure he was going to get paid for his work from now on, like any of the other employees at the castle.


Jareth was waiting anxiously on Sarah in his study with some great news. Both councils had approved Mark and Marjorie's application for citizenship and residency at the Labyrinth Kingdom. Sarah jumped for joy and gave Jareth a big hug and kiss before she ran to call Marjorie to tell her the good news.

Marjorie about flipped on the phone and Jareth could hear them scream all the way to his piano. He continued playing as he smiled and shook his head.

"Mark wants to know what's next now", Sarah interrupted his recital of 'Sonata' by Mozart.

"They need to come by in a few days and sign some paperwork with the council, and a license for legal residency." Sarah excitedly passed the information on to Marjorie.

"Oh, they also will get smashed in the head with a crystal ball, it's a requirement", Jareth added with a smirk. Sarah looked at him befuddled.

"Since when?" she wondered and gave him a puzzling look as she pressed the phone against her chest.

"I made that last part up, but tell her anyway", Jareth giggled and continued his playing. Sarah gave him a scolding look at first, but then passed on the message with a devilish grin. There was silence on the phone for a minute before Jareth could hear Marjorie squawking again.

"She didn't buy it", Sarah informed Jareth dryly who continued with his Sonata.

"So, I heard", he busted out laughing and was joined by Sarah.


It took Mark and Marjorie only a couple of days to get all the paperwork in order and to emerge from the Elder Council with their new legal residency cards.

"Now we are legal residents of the Underground. So exciting", Marjorie could barely contain herself.

Mark had also managed to sign a lease and partnership agreement with The Underground Club and was beaming.

"Leaves only one thing left to do. Need to put an offer on that house Marjorie wants to badly", he sighed as he took a sip of his beer. "That could be an issue since we haven't established any credit yet down here."

"That won't be a problem", Jareth replied casually as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a key which he dangled in front of Mark.

"What's that?" Mark asked not quite understanding what was going on.

"The key to the house. I bought that little double spire house right after Sarah felt better. You helped save her life and I want to show you my gratitude", he tossed the key in Mark's hand. Marjorie stood there silent for a moment and then began to cry as the words sunk into her head.

"Oh my god, Jareth, you bought us my dream house?" She hugged him so tight he nearly spit out his beer. Luckily she decided to hug Mark after that, and Jareth checked his ribs for possible cracks.

Sarah had watched all of this unfold in silence, standing off to the side with a big smile. She now walked over to Jareth, placed her hands against his face and gave him one of her most passionate kisses she had ever given him. After she was done, Jareth looked at her stunned and breathless.

"You have a lot more of that coming your way for what you just did for my soul sister", Sarah promised as she looked at him with thankful eyes.

"I can buy them the house next door too", Jareth squeaked with the hopes of another kiss. Sarah laughed out loud and took his hand.

"Why don't we eat dinner before it all gets cold", and she let them all to the dining room.


It was going to be another months before Marjorie and Mark were able to move into the house, which didn't bother them as they had to tie some lose ends in the Surface World as well. It gave them time to get everything done that needed to be taken care of.

Jareth had another surprise for Sarah and Krum. He called both of them into his office on a nice warm afternoon after they had gotten back from one of their walks. Neither one of them had a clue what Jareth wanted. Sarah only shrug her shoulders at Krum when he looked at her with a questioning face.

When they arrived at the study, Kelan, Faron, and the rest of the Elder Council were assembled. Sarah took Krum by his hand as he wanted to run back out. He was not comfortable in situations like these. They were too official for him and he always assumed he was in trouble over something.

Jareth had on his official blue dress frock and stood beside Kelan. He waved them over.

"Krum", Jareth started off, "meticulous research by the Elder Council has proven you are a direct ancestor of the queen by blood. Due to this, you therefore will be granted the title 'Royal Cousin to the Queen'."

Jareth tapped his goblin stick on Krum's shoulders and then gave him a small round amulet that had the royal crest insignia on its front and the Labyrinth engraved on its back.

Both, Sarah's and Krum's mouth hung wide open. Jareth had not told her anything about this. "That man is doing too many things in secrecy lately. What else is he hiding?" she wondered with a suspicious smile.

Krum didn't know what to say, but tears of sheer joy were falling down his cheeks. Sarah gave him a big hug and a kiss on his forehead

"Welcome to the family cousin Krum. You can call me Sarah." she whispered with a happy smile.

"And you can call me Jareth", Jareth added as he stood next to them. Sarah looked at him with loving eyes who said more than any words she could have spoken, and Jareth's eyes were equally full of love for her.

The Elder Council surrounded Krum and congratulated him on his new title before they left, as they had a few more meetings to attend to.

"Dinner is at seven, don't be late", Jareth whispered to him before Krum left.

"And this time someone else will set the table for you, because you'll be eating with us". Krum's face beamed with joy, and he happily skipped out of the room.

"I won't be late", he called out as he was dancing down the hallway.

"You are such a sneak", Sarah told Jareth when they were alone. "What else do you have up your sleeve I don't know about?"

She looked at him with squinted eyes as if she was trying to read his mind. He only smirked, tilted his head at her and walked off leaving Sarah standing there, by herself, wondering about it.

Dinner had been quite nice. It felt like a big family dinner to Sarah. Her and Jareth, the boys and Krum. Krum really loved his little cousins and he had helped them out with their dinner. He almost made as good a nanny as Aria or Aviana. After Krum had left, Jareth and Sarah had retired to the comfortable section of his private study.

"When are you going to tell me about your new song?" Jareth asked out of the blue as he played 'The blue Danube' by Johann Strauss on the piano.

"In due time", Sarah replied smartly. "I'm still working on it. Just be patient", she had to giggle when she looked at his disappointed face. He continued playing with a sneer.

"Well, if you don't tell me about your song, I can't tell you about my plan for us", he continued playing as if nothing had been said. Sarah, however, had heard it and sat up with heightened interest.

"What plan for us?" she inquired, walked over to him, and sat on his piano bench. Jareth continued playing and pretended not to have heard her.

"Jareth, what plan?" Sarah begged him as he ignored her. She finally slammed his music book shut.

"What plan?" She looked deep into his eyes with the look of an angry tiger.

"Oh, that plan I have", he smirked and opened his book again. Sarah immediately closed it again.

"No playing until you tell me", she demanded and finally got his attention. He seemed to really enjoy his little game.

"I am planning to take you on a honeymoon around Europe", with that statement he went back to playing from memory, so he wouldn't need the book. Sarah's mouth hung open.

"What? We are going on what? When were you going to tell me? Jareth?" She threatened to close the piano on his fingers and Jareth decided he had taken it far enough.

"Well, I thought after all the bad things that had happened lately, we could go somewhere away from here for a while. We never got to go on our honeymoon, so I was thinking we could take a two week trip around Europe." He looked gently into her eyes. Sarah was speechless.

"You mean it? We are going on a trip?" Sarah finally asked still looking completely stunned.

"Yep, babe. Just you and I", he played with her hair and gave her a wink. "Please, don't knock me off my bench again. We can't go if I have a hurt back."

He smirked at her and his mesmerizing eyes sparkled. Sarah didn't knock him off the bench, but she sat on his lap and gave him a passionate kiss after whispering certain things into his ear that made him teleport them straight to the bedroom.


"Of course I'll watch Jay and Jeremy", Marjorie insisted. That's what I gave you all those coupons for. Mark has some business he wants to take care off down there anyway, so it'll be a business vacation for us too. Plus, I have Aviana and Aria to fall back on if needed, but I know they won't be needed."

Marjorie had made her case and Sarah hung up with a happy face.

"I guess we're all set", she said elated. "So, when are we leaving?" She crawled over to Jareth's side of the bed and played with his medallion.

"Tomorrow morning. I got us hotels booked in Paris, Rome, and Vienna. I'm going to take you waltzing in Vienna." He gave her a kiss on the nose. Sarah smiled quietly and kept playing with his medallion.

"How are you paying for all this? Do you own a goblin bank or do you just magically make money appear?" Jareth laughed out loud.

"That would be the easy way, wouldn't it? No, babe. We have so much silver and gold down here, I take coins up to the Surface World on a regular basis and cash them in for American dollars, or British pounds, Deutsche Mark, whatever is needed. That's how we get the coffee, eggnog, and chocolate down here as well."

Sarah had never given the financial part of the Labyrinth Kingdom much thought. She found it rather interesting. Her dad would be all over this if he were here. He probably would be the head banker by now. That thought actually made her laugh.

"Works for me", she finally said. "I guess we better go to sleep so we can get an early start tomorrow."

She smiled at Jareth and gave him a kiss.

"I love you Jareth, and I can't wait to be alone with you for two weeks, going all over Europe. It's going to be absolutely magical."

She kissed him one more time and then rolled over as she slipped under the blankets. Jareth followed suit.

"Yes precious, it's going to be heaven for the next two weeks", he whispered, after he had wrapped his arm around her and shut his eyes.