Chapter 2.
Jareth entered the Healers chambers with a stern face. "Healer, we've got problems."
"We again, Sire?" The healer was getting use to the way the King now spoke in plural.
The King spun around. "It's been nearly two years and we are no closer to…assimilating! We are still two separate beings in here." He pointed to his head with a crooked finger.
Talbot, the Healer frowned. "Sire I've told you this was beyond my skills. I have asked you to seek the help of others who may know more about Merging. I suggested a Fae healer, who is familiar with the secretive side of your ilk."
The King paced, "I wanted to keep this quiet."
"How does …he feel about this?" The Healer questioned. "He has a say as well, you know."
Jareth's face changed slightly. "I would like to on my own again."
The Healer bowed. "My Lord Quinn, how are you?"
Quinn did not pace; he lounged lazily. "I'm just dandy. Unlike nervous Nelly."
"The Lady Sarah's arrival does not affect you?" Talbot raised a brow.
"On the contrary, Healer. I look forward to…seeing …Lady Sarah again." Quinn said with a husky voice. "We've some unfinished business betwixt us."
Talbot stood up and moved closer. "He can't hear you, can he?" When Quinn shook his head, the Healer gasped. "When did that start?"
"Nearly as soon as we…merged…there were thoughts we each wanted kept…separate." Quinn mused. "Most of the time, we are side by side. I allow him to do our talking for us. Every now and then, I feel the need to…stretch, as it were."
The Healer was now pacing. "You can spend time on the outside, and he has no recollection of it?"
"None." Quinn answered with satisfaction. "Oh and Talbot, it would be better for him just now if he remained unaware."
"Lord Quinn, you play dangerous games!" Talbot shot back.
"You're my healer as well as his. Patient confidentiality…" Quinn reminded the Healer.
Talbot protested loudly. "I will not do anything that puts the Kingdom or Lady Sarah in jeopardy!"
Quinn laughed softly. "I don't want her in jeopardy. I want her in my bed."
"She is the marked one of the King." The healer gasped.
"Talbot." Quinn rose to his feet. "I am the King…or at least I am part of the King." He walked with a slow practiced grace. "And Talbot, it's good to be the King."
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The week after the graduation, Sarah had to cancel out on an evening of gaming.
Robert and Karen had been called out of town on an emergency. Karen's father had been in a serious car accident and they were needed at the hospital. Karen was all the family her father had, and as next of Kin, she needed to be there. Robert had set up all the legal business for his Father-in-law went to make sure everything was according to Hoyle.
Sarah had called Anne and given her a message to give to Giles. She knew Giles would handle His Nibs. It was early on Saturday evening when the phone rang, Sarah knew it was her father checking up.
"Hello, Daddy." She said in a calm tone.
"Hello, Sarah. We arrived and we are at the hospital. Is everything alright there?"
The connection was crackling.
"Yes, Daddy, just fine. The kids are fed, bathed and watching a video." She looked over two where two little towheads were giggling. "We're all fine."
"Are you alone?" Her father asked sternly.
"Yes, Daddy," she snapped. "I'm alone."
"Good!" he snapped back. "Remember what I told you, I don't even want Anne or Ryan in the house."
"I gave you my word! No One comes in though the front door." She repeated.
"Back door too!" He father said hotly.
Sarah clenched her jaw. "I don't know why you don't trust me."
"Just remember what I said." He said. "The Doctor is coming to talk to us. I'll call you again later….be there!"
Sarah hung up the telephone and stuck her tongue out at the receiver. She looked over, making sure Toby had not seen what she'd just done. The little boy was hugging his little sister and laughing at the movie Sarah had put in the VCR. She sighed; at least they were having a good time.
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Giles was at the portal, and seeing only Anne and Ryan he frowned. "Where's Sarah?"
"Babysitting." Anne said. "Her stepmother's dad was in an accident and her folks had to fly out to Florida to handle things. So Sarah's stuck at home with the kids."
"He's not going to like this." Giles warned.
"It gets worse, Giles." Ryan crossed his arms. "She's not allowed to let anyone in the front or back doors…Father's orders." As they entered the portal, coming out on the Labyrinthia side, Ryan asked. "Do you want to tell him or should I?"
"I'll do it." Giles stated. "He's been acting strange of late. And I seem to be able to at least deal with it."
Jareth was pacing the throne room when they entered. He looked magnificent in his dark midnight array. "Where's Sarah?" he asked quickly.
"There's been a change of plans." Giles said stiffly. "She's taking care of her siblings."
Jareth looked over at Ryan, "What happened now?"
"Her stepmother's father was in an accident, Sire. They had to go out of state, and left Sarah at home to keep the kids on schedule."
Anne added. "Hospitals are no place for little kids."
Jareth paced. "Damn…I wanted to talk to her…"
Ryan moved closer. "She's not even allowed to have any one in. Her father said no one though front or back doors."
Jareth's expression changed slightly. "I see." The voice was the same, but sounded different. "Well, why don't you both settle in and I'll see you come morning. We'll have a ride out to the new bridge Giles constructed, shall we?" He stated to walk away.
"Babalouie!" Ryan shouted. "Where do you think you're going?"
Jareth laughed, turned into an owl and escaped though the window.
Anne looked at Ryan. "He's going to make such trouble for her."
"What else is new?" Ryan took his Lady's hand, and headed for the dining hall where Celestia would be waiting.
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A storm was beginning to brew outside. There was wind howling and thunder booming, and a fine rain had started. Sarah frowned; it was very much like another stormy night she could recall. Sarah had to fight with Merlin to get him in the garage. He was soaked, and howling at the lightening.
"Come on you big baby!" she tugged his leash. "This is for your own good!" She shoved the hairy beast into the garage and closed the side door. Coming in the laundry room she removed the water-resistant pancho and shook it out. She kicked off her soaked loafers and pulled off the socks as well. After drying her feet with a towel she padded barefooted into the family room where the movie was just ending.
"Okay, Toby, Kerry, time for bed." She reached down to pick up the little girl.
Toby giggled as a bolt of lightening lit up the night sky. "Storm sounds funny." He said happily.
"Oh really?" Sarah said. "How's that, short stuff?" The little boy shrugged and continued to walk up the stairs with his sisters. Sarah ushered him into the nursery. "Get in the bathroom and brush your teeth and do what every it is you have to do…I don't want any silliness tonight.
Toby laughed at her, but did go into the little bath he shared with Kerry.
Sarah checked on the condition of Kerry's diaper, found it dry and got her tucked up for bed. Kerry now slept with one of Sarah's old stuff toys, just as Toby slept with Lancelot. It may have just been her imagination, but for some reason Sarah felt the old toys were so full of her love they protected the little ones. Kerry's big honest blue eyes were heavy with sleep. Sarah wound up the little music box that she had passed down to the baby. The soft tune had never played the same after her first visit to the Kingdom. Now it played the song that Jareth had composed for her. She sang softly with the music while she waited for Toby. When the little boy jumped into his youth bed, he held his arms out to his sister for a hug.
Sarah knelt down and kissed him, tucked him up and rewound the music box. Again, she sang softly to the little ones. Not even the raging storm seemed to disturb them. Soon they were drifting into gentle sleep, their little faces flush with dreams.
Sarah turned off the light, looked around the room, and went toward the French doors to make sure the latch we properly connected. As she neared something startled her, and she drew back. Wings flapped furiously at the window. The glass began to shutter, and then blew open. Sarah covered her mouth to keep from screaming.
Silhouetted against the stormy sky stood a man with shoulder-length pale blond hair. "Nasty night, isn't it?" He asked brushing off the rain.
"What are you doing here?" Sarah asked in a tight whisper as she rushed to close the out the storm. She shut the windows and locked them again.
"Hello to you too." He mocked teasingly.
Sarah held a finger up to her lips and whispered. "I just got them to sleep."
Jareth snickered, and walked over to the crib. He looked down at the sweet angel face. "She's about the same age as Toby was when he visited us, isn't she?" He looked closer. "Are those the same PJ's?"
Sarah hushed him again; looking over to her brother was wriggling under his blanket. "Don't wake them!" She warned. "No, those are not the same, their a different pair same pattern." She placed her hand on the crib and looked down. "Karen is wild for stripes."
The Goblin King joked lightly, "Makes them look like little prisoners."
Sarah slapped his arm slightly and sighed. "She's got them both in stripes." Then she nudged him. "What are you doing here, I sent you a message didn't you get it?"
"I got it." He teased. "No visitors though the front door or the back."
"Yeah, well?" she waved at him.
Leaning closer, he whispered in her ear. "I used a window…no rule broken."
Sarah lowered her head to the crib rail and moaned slightly. "You have to go!"
"Not just yet." He said softly, and waved a hand. "Now we can talk." He said in a normal tone.
"Shhhh." She warned. "You'll wake them up!"
"No, I won't." He said.
Sarah looked at Kerry. "What did you do?"
"Just deepened their sleep." He said mildly, taking her hand and leading her away from the crib. "I would prefer you didn't have to worry over waking them while we…visit." He looked at her. "I seem to remember you wearing a vest and shoes the last time I saw this ensemble."
Sarah looked down; she had pulled on the poet's shirt without even thinking about it. "Well, my shoes got soaked bringing in Merlin."
"Ah yes, the great hairy beast you keep company with." Jareth brushed her hair back from her face.
Sarah shivered. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing." He smiled. "Yet."
"Jareth, I really appreciate that you came to check up on me…but…" She looked at him. The same cocky smile he had worn that first time, the same handsome and provocative garments…but it was the look in the mismatched eyes that troubled her. It was feral…something wild, something unlike him something…. More like…. She pulled back, "Oh no! How did you get out?" she moved to put the crib between them.
He smiled. "Now Sarah," He circled the crib. "Why don't you play nice?"
"How did you get out? I thought Jareth was in control." She moved carefully.
"He is, most of the time." The darker side teased.
Sarah went to stomp and found a barefoot did not make quite the same impression. "I want you to leave." She pointed to the window he had entered.
Hands on his hipline he shook his head. "No you don't."
Sarah backed away, but he vanished only to appear behind her. She backed right into him. His arms came around and captured her. "Hello, again." He growled in her ear.
"Quinn, stop it." She struggled.
The darker side was not impressed. "I've come to talk, and talk we shall. WE can do this nicely or not." Sarah ceased struggling, standing still in his embrace. "That's better." He softly cooed to her. "Much better."
"What do you want?" She asked.
"Many things, Sarah Williams… I want freedom. I want to do things. Go places. I want my life back…" He said firmly.
Sarah swallowed. "I know you gave up a lot to save Jareth,"
"You've no idea of what I gave up." He warned darkly.
She nodded. "You're right, I don't."
Slowly he turned her to face him. "I'm not even a lingering thought to most people." He frowned. "All anyone sees is Jareth."
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
He looked down, the feral look returning. "Not even a lingering thought, except to you, Sarah Williams."
"Me?" she croaked out, suddenly very much afraid and not sure of what.
"Yes, you…" He sneered. "You've been dreaming of me, haven't you?"
Sarah cleared her throat. "Once or twice…maybe…" She looked around for a means of escape.
"We've unfinished business between us, Sarah Williams." He announced. Her eyes widened in apprehension. "You want to know what I want, well Sarah, I will tell you. I want my kiss." Lightening stuck nearby and the Fae vanished.
Sarah collapsed on the floor and grabbed her knees. "Oh." She began to rock.