Chapter 2

Sarah opened her eyes and recognized where she was. She was in Jareth's throne room, although he was not in there. " Hello?" she called. She heard someone coming, and soon saw someone very familiar walk into the room.

"Hello, Sarah." It was Jareth, handsome as ever, looking at Sarah with that same smug yet loving look. "It appears the tables have turned. Now your brother wants you gone." He smirked. "I don't know why he did it, I think he was joking and didn't really think it would work."

"Well, I've made my customary visit to give Toby the rules of the game. He's aware he has 13 hours to solve the Labyrinth. I've made only one change to the rules. If he fails to solve it, I get to keep you here…" he stopped, afraid of Sarah's reaction to his next statement.

"Yes?" she asked with curiosity.

"Instead of turning you into a goblin, you have to marry me and stay here as my queen." He waited for her angry outburst that never came. She contemplated this, almost pleased, although she would never admit that to Jareth. She decided to act angry for the time being.

"What! Who decided that? You or Toby?" with false anger, she glared at him. He really thought she was angry. 'Good' she thought.

"Actually," Jareth said, "he didn't seem to angry at the idea. He asked if you stayed here if he could come visit you whenever he wanted. I told him we could definitely work something out. He wasn't half as angry as you were 8 years ago."

Sarah couldn't help a half smile. "That sounds like Toby. Jareth, please don't let anything bad happen to him. I couldn't live if something happened to him."

Jareth looked at her with compassion she had never seen in him before. It surprised her. "I promise no harm or accident will come upon him. I will even allow you the use of my crystals so you can keep an eye on him." Why was Jareth being so kind to her? She couldn't help wondering if maybe he was married now and that had had some effect on his demeanor.

"So, no Goblin Queen yet?" she casually asked him.

He turned and looked her directly in the eyes and said," I have only even loved one woman, and I'm looking right at her." Sarah could feel herself turning red. "What, no expressions of disgust? I'm surprised at you, Sarah. Have your feelings towards me changed?" She looked at him, saying nothing, and then without warning, Jareth took the last 2 steps towards her and pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. At first she did nothing to reciprocate, then felt her soul react as if she had been waiting 8 years for this to happen. She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck and never wanted to let go. The kiss became more fervent, Jareth wrapped his arms around her waist, caressing her back as the kiss continued with no signs of stopping.

"Ahem…" this interruption broke them apart, reluctantly. They turned to see a goblin, there to inform Jareth of Toby's progress. "Excuse me, my love." Jareth left the room with the goblin. Sarah turned, gasping at what had just happened. Yes, she had wished it, several times, but what would finally succumbing to Jareth mean? What would he make her do? Would she see her family whenever she wanted? Would he treat her right? Her mind raced frantically. Until she knew Jareth better, she would never let anything like that happen again, she swore to herself. She couldn't afford to lose it right now, especially with Toby in the dangerous Labyrinth. She prayed Hoggle or one of her friends would find him and help him.

As she thought this, a crystal appeared in her hand, with Hoggle's face in the reflection. "Sarah! How are you doing that?" he exclaimed.

"Jareth has given me use of his crystals to help Toby." she answered.

"Yeah, we heard 'bout your brother. We found him, darlin'. He was in the same oubliette that I found you in. Guess it runs in the family./ Don't worry, Sarah. I've got Ludo and Didymus with me, and we're all going to help 'lil Toby." Hoggle was so helpful.

" Thank you Hoggle. Please tell Toby I love him, and not to worry about anything." she said.

"Has that rat who calls himself Jareth been treating you all right?" Hoggle asked. "Oh, someone's coming, I've got to go!" and she released the crystal in the air and it popped like a bubble. She couldn't lie to Hoggle, she was feeling so much for Jareth and yet she swore she would never say it out loud.

Jareth walked back in the room with a wanton smile on his face. He stopped so close to her she was having trouble remembering her vow. She stepped back, and Jareth raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?" he asked, looking a little disquieted. He thought maybe he had been too forward and ruined his chances with his only love in the world. That thought troubled him.

"Nothing's wrong, I just think we may have jumped the gun a little with that kiss." she said hesitantly.

"Jumped the gun? I've waited years to do that. You don't regret it, do you?" he asked.

"No…."she began,

"-But what?" Jareth interjected.

"I'm just worried, and confused, and this is all happening so fast. I'm worried about Toby, I'm worried about you and me…" she was despondent.

"So there is a 'you and me'?" he asked. Sarah looked at him with one lone tear running down her porcelain cheek. He wiped it away, then moved to kiss her again, but she turned her head. He was distressed, but he took Sarah's face in his hands and said "I love you, and will never do anything to hurt you. But I will respect you. I won't kiss you again until you ask me. And I won't push too hard for your hand." he smiled. "I've waited 8 years, I can wait a little longer. For you I would wait for eternity." he looked at her, wishing for a hint of hope for him.

"Thank you Jareth. That means so much to me, and makes me feel more comfortable around you." she said, sounding much calmer.

"Well, with that semi-settled, what would you like to do with our remaining ten hours? Revisit the ball inside the crystal? I can do whatever you want me to do." he said, with a sort of cockiness to his voice.

"You could do that?" Sarah asked incredulously.

"Darling, for you I would rewrite history" he claimed. She couldn't help but smile. She felt so much love for this man, but would not admit it.

She would admit one thing- "I do like being spoiled." she said it shyly.

"Then spoiled you shall be, darling!" Jareth declared. "Let's find you a room to suit you and you can change into any beautiful dress you wish to." Sarah thought she might never want to leave the Underground if this was how things were to be. But before she admitted anything, she had to learn to trust Jareth and make sure this wasn't just an act to secure her feelings or trick her into loving him. She wouldn't put it past him. All she could think of at the moment was poor Toby, who had learned the hard way that all the stories she had told him of the Underground and the Labyrinth and Jareth were true. She hoped he and her friends were okay…..