I apologise profusely for the length of time it has taken for me to complete this. Maybe it was a little bit of not really wanting to finish this story because i enjoy it too much. I've also been very busy recently- however out of the busy has come this chapter due to pestering from my work collegue who adored this story and wanted me to finish it. My lovely loyal readers this is for you- and also for my darling Tom. Thank you for your inspiration- criticism and helpful banter. Enjoy x [LittlEm]

" Well darling, it has been a few years- yet your ears are not deceived it's me."

Jareth opened his eyes with weary anticipation of seeing the only woman who had ever purged his cold heart. A smile stretched across his creased face as he saw the eyes he had been searching for. Now licked with slight laughter lines and signs of ageing, but still just as beautiful as he recalled.

"You've got a sad look in your eyes darling, aren't you pleased to see me?"

Her soft, delicate hand fell onto his and stroked gently as concern washed over her porcelain face.

"Sarah it's been so long, you just left me love, without a trace. For years I have searched- but to no avail. You vanished from me, from the kingdom without a hint as to where you might have gone. Can you lay blame on me for being sad?"

Sarah's eyes darted to the floor with shame, yet her hand stayed firmly on his.

" I could never lay blame on you Jareth my darling- but please forgive me- "

Before Sarah could even contemplate finishing her sentence Jareth interrupted and silenced her.

"You are forgiven- but please let us not dwell on the past. What's done is done. But Sarah I am still king and have to think of the future of my kingdom, and of its people. You need to take my place as rul- "

The tables had turned quickly as Sarah placed a finger to his lips and silenced the king.

" Did I forget to mention- I'm not alone here…Darling you can come in now."

And with that the door creaked open and in stepped a tall young man. Dark hair that matched his mothers, but his face shone with a fierce intensity that would have rivalled Jareth back in his prime. Then there were his eyes, one a deep, intense brown and the other a piercing blue- a royal trait. Jareth saw the power he once had in this boy, through all his features. The strong jaw on this boy resembled the jaw he once had, the way he held himself, everything about this boy showed Jareth in his prime- this boy was most definitely his son.

"I couldn't enter the kingdom with a child, let alone a young boy – I do know your Goblins, Jareth! So I stayed out in the Wildes, in a hidden village on which I stumbled after I left. They allowed me to stay with the boy- our boy. I've raised him to know his kingdom, the subjects and his role as their ruler."

Sarah paused and looked towards the young man and smiled a little at him. Jareth could see how proud she was of her son- their son. Though Jareth could not blame her for being proud for he seemed a remarkable youth, even if only to look at.

" As soon as I heard the news that you had been taken deathly ill I knew the time had come to return, to present you our son. Your boy and heir… With his strong family name. Jareth darling…"

Sarah turned to face the boy and slowly beckoned him over to Jareth's bedside. Jareth was still at a loss for words but raised a drained hand to the boy.

"Jareth … My boy…"

The young man smiled and took his hand, carefully holding it. With a firm yet gentle grasp.

" Father, your majesty, I know my role, how I must behave and what I must do. I've spent my life training to take your place and to not let you down…"

A smile graced the old mans lips and he looked at the young man who would take his place, and pride filled his heart.

" I am proud to call you my son, and Sarah my love you've done a marvellous job- and I'm still so happy that I called you mine…"

Jareth stopped and brought Sarah's hand to his lips and kissed it gently with all the energy he could muster.

"Never forget my love for you, it lies within you Sarah. Even as the world falls down I will never stop loving you…"

Jareth looked at the woman who sat beside him with tears brimming in her eyes, yet only saw the blushing girl he had once known, whose love he had desired for so long. A smile emerged from the corner of her mouth as she saw him looking at her in admiration – he knew she was smiling for him once again.

His slowly drooping eyes glanced up to see the man, his son, holding Sarah protectively the way that Jareth himself had once held her. Pride, joy and the knowledge his kingdom would be ruled and protected well filled his entire body giving him warmth that he had not felt in a long time.

The old king cast his ancient eyes to the window one last time to see the final glow of day leave the horizon, ending his time as ruler and bringing about a new age.

For the last time his had was laid upon the pillow by his weak body, and his eyes shut with a peace and tranquillity he had longed for, for too long.

The reign of the great king of the Goblin Kingdom had ended, but soon would dawn the era of another…