"Everyday we get to give the gift of life, it can be painful, it can be terrifying, but in the end it's worth it. Every time. We all have the opportunity to give. Maybe the gifts are not as dramatic as what happens in the birthing room, maybe the gift is to try and make a simple apology, maybe it's to understand another person's point of view, maybe it's to hold a secret for a friend. The joy supposedly is in the giving, so when the joy is gone, when the giving starts to feel more like a burden, that's when you stop. But if you're like most people I know, if you love someone, you give till it hurts, and then you give some more."

Sarah O'Rourke

Sarah, Jareth and Saoirse were posing for a painting. They were in front of the large arched window leading out to the garden, Sarah was sitting in a chair holding the baby, and Jareth standing behind them, his arm protectively on the back of the chair. They were dressed about as royally as a family could be. Jareth had on his official royal dress regalia, and a white and green baldric across one shoulder onto which were pinned more medals than anyone could possibly count. Sarah wore a black Shantung silk gown, with an identical baldric over one shoulder. (Green and white being the official colors of the kingdom.) The medals she wore were of Labyrinth Champion, Queen Consort, and now because of the probable upcoming war, that of Queen Regent. Saoirse was wearing a long white baby's gown, made from her mother's wedding dress.

Jareth was getting antsy. He was shuffling his feet, sighing, and generally being fidgety. After about his sixth overdone sigh, Sarah was ready to hit him.

This painting would be very important to the Royal family. Sarah, a smile plastered on her lips, tried to tell Jareth to settle down from between her teeth. He just snorted.

The painter stood before them, holding his palette and looking at them very carefully. He was concentrating so much, in fact, that he jumped when Eimile appeared around the corner. Jareth had jumped as well. Eimile looked at him and rolled her eyes.

"Beautiful work, Didymus," she said. "Just be sure to never alarm the makers of the tiny Tuath. One of them will burn you alive!"

The little fox looked confused, but got right back to work. Working in oils was his latest hobby, and he was, truthfully, quite good at it.

Eimile sat down next to Didymus, legs crossed, one elbow on her knees, and her chin in her hand, waiting. She kept trying to make faces at Jareth and Sarah, hoping to make them laugh, or even smile. Instead, Jareth scowled at her, and Sarah managed a small chuckle before she composed her face again.

After another 30 minutes or so, Didymus said, "Your Highnesses, that was just lovely. I feel that for now however, we should all call it a day. Shall we meet tomorrow at the same time?"

Sarah smiled at him warmly, and said, "Of course, Didymus. We'll be here. I truly cannot wait to see your painting!"

Jareth made a small groan of frustration. Sarah subtly stamped on his foot, and he gave her a look that told her how unfair all of this portrait sitting was. She glared at him, indicating Didymus with her head. She didn't want to hurt her friend's feelings.

After Didymus had packed up and left, Jareth headed directly to his office. He was meeting with his Privy Council regarding the Formorians.

Eimile had come in order to transport Sarah's family down from the Above to spend some time with the baby.

"So how come you're so early?" asked Sarah.

Eimile stood up and looked out the window, hiding behind the curtains as she did so.

"I'm avoiding someone," she said, flatly.

Sarah smiled. It had become evident to many that Tadgh, the Commander of the Cavalry, had developed something of a crush on Eimile. In spite of her rudeness, impatience, and ignoring him, he continued to try to court her.

"Poor Tadgh," Sarah smiled, sympathetically.

"Poor Tadgh? Poor me! I'm the one who's being stalked here!"

"You could do worse, you know," said Sarah. "I mean, I know you're all independent and everything, but why not give him a chance? He's intelligent, he's kind, he's funny, and he's gorgeous…."

"Exactly," replied Amelia. "He's definitely hot. But he doesn't just want to go for a quick one nighter. Said he respects me too much for that. Says he wants to properly court me first!" She gave a very unladylike snort that sounded just like Jareth's.

Sarah just shook her head, trying not to laugh. "Have you ever really had an intimate relationship, though? I don't mean sleeping with people. I mean an actual relationship."

Eimile shook her head. "Intimacy is a four letter syllable for- here's my heart and soul, please grind them into hamburger and enjoy. It's both desired and feared. Impossible to live with."

"Still," Sarah persisted, "We don't get unlimited chances to have the things that we want, and this I know. Nothing is worse than missing an opportunity that could have changed your life."

Eimile gave her a dirty look. "That's easy for you to say. You guys are just used to it that's all, you already have it.

You have that thing everybody else wants. You can take it for granted."

"Just promise me you'll consider it."

"Fine. I'll consider it."

"You agreed to that way too quickly. You don't mean it."

Eimile gave an exasperated sigh. "Fine. Fine. I mean it. I do. Can we talk about something else now please?"

"Since you're here, before you pick up my family, why not join me for lunch? I'm pretty sure that Jareth will lock himself up in his office for hours."

Before they seated themselves in the Dining Hall, Sarah laid a sleeping Saoirse in a small bassinet used to keep her close to her mother at all times. Both she and Jareth were aware of the troubles coming on the horizon, and felt more comfortable having their daughter nearby.

Their lunch was delivered by several goblins. Only one plate was broken. Sarah counted that as a good omen.

She and Eimile ate their lunch, Sarah laughing at Eimile's impersonations of Tadgh, Jareth, Hoggle and others. She really had a wicked sense of humor. Sarah was softly rocking Saoirse's bassinet the entire time.

After lunch, they both decided to spend some time in the library. As Sarah stood, she reached into the bassinet and discovered that it was empty.

Her heart stopped. How could this be? She had been with them the entire time! How could someone have taken her?

She looked up at Eimile frantically.

"What's wrong?" asked Eimile.

Sarah's eyes were wild and she was beginning to hyperventilate. "Saoirse! She's gone! We have been with her the entire time and she's gone!"

She collapsed to her knees, wailing, "Jareth!"

Eimile knew he would not be able to hear her tucked away in his office. She took off running. When she got to the office doors, she slammed them open, looking for her brother. He was seated at the large table directly across from her. When he saw her face, he became alarmed.

He excused himself from the Privy Council meeting, and stepped out of the office with Eimile, shutting the doors behind them.

Eimile did not wait for his question. "It's Saoirse! She's disappeared! Sarah and I were with her the entire time, she was in her bassinet, and Sarah was rocking her, and suddenly she was gone!"

He didn't waste time running. He transported immediately to the Dining Hall, where he found the empty bassinet. No Sarah, either.

Transporting into the library, he found her, frantically looking around the furniture.

She looked up at her husband with eyes full of tears. "Jareth, you have to believe me! I never left her alone for a second! She's been with me the entire time! I don't know what happened!" She was talking so fast he could barely understand her.

He bent down and helped her to stand. "Of course I believe you, love. This is bizarre, true, but there may be an explanation of some sort. I'm going to send every house staff member we have to check the castle. I've already magically locked every single door and window. We will find her, Sarah."

She nodded at him and ran into the throne room to do some looking on her own. When she couldn't find her, she tore into the sitting room.

There was Saoirse, lying on the sofa. Sarah was so relieved that she dropped to her knees, held the baby close to her and cried with relief.

"Jareth! I found her!"

Jareth appeared in the sitting room. The relief on his face was very evident. He came to Sarah, holding both her and Saoirse in his arms. He kissed the top of Sarah's head.

"Thank the gods she is safe. We still need to figure out what happened here, but the important thing is that she is safe with us now," he reassured Sarah.

Sarah nodded and held her baby more tightly.

~~~Ó~~~

Later, after Eimile had brought Sarah's family down, her father and Karen were cooing at the baby. Karen loved her eyes. "That must be where Toby gets this from," she said. "It must be hereditary."

Toby looked up at Sarah and grinned. Then he went back to playing with the crystal that Jareth had given him. It wasn't very magical, but it did tell stories with pictures. It was quite interesting, really.

"Oh! Oh – I have a present for your baby, Sarah," Toby said.

And it really was from Toby. In going through the baby department of a store Above, Toby found this little outfit and absolutely had to get it for Saoirse. It was a little sleeper with red and white stripes, and a little hat to match.

Sarah felt her jaw drop. Toby was beaming at her. They shared a secret together, and now that he was getting older, it was becoming more and more fun. She winked at him.

"So you can put her in this and then teach her the Magic Dance," he grinned. Jareth was biting a knuckle to keep from laughing.

"We certainly will," said Sarah, "and you're welcome to join us at any time."

"Can I? Cool!" Then his eyes were riveted on the crystal from Jareth again.

Jareth politely excused himself, saying that he had important kingdom meetings to attend. Sarah's family didn't mind, as they had really come to see the baby anyway.

~~~Ó~~~

That evening, the three of them cuddled up in bed together. They still hadn't found an explanation for Saoirse's disappearance, but she was with them now and Sarah did not want to talk about stressful things tonight.

"You know that Tadgh Monaghan has fallen very heavily for your sister, right?"

Jareth shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Tadgh is a fine man. Probably my finest officer. A good man in a storm. The last thing I want is to see my little sister tear his heart to shreds."

"You don't know that's what will happen. Maybe he's just what she needs."

"Eimile needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. She's far too independent to ever settle down. This relationship, if it ever happens, would be impossible."

He held the baby over his head and asked her, "What do you think, Saoirse? Is your crazy aunt Eimile ever going to get married?"

Saoirse/Jareth responded, in Jareth's baby voice, "Not a chance!"

~~~Ó~~~

Tadgh = TIGE

I'd like to say thank you again for the reviews, they're lovely and they definitely want me to keep writing!

Does anyone have an idea as to where Saoirse disappeared to this afternoon?