Thanks for all of you who are hanging in with me even though I ... well... never update... (laughs)

Disclaimer: I don't own it...If I did... The movie wouldn't have had such a lonely ending!

Chapter 4

What we all Wonder

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Sarah couldn't eat. It's not that she wasn't hungry; she just had way to much on her mind. Her eggs were cold and she kept pushing them around her plate with her fork. She hadn't even bothered to put any pancakes on her plate. Karen's pinky finger was twirling itself in and out of the necklace and she was smiling way to much for Sarah's taste.

With a sigh Sarah got up and dumped her plate's contents into the trash can.

"I'm full," She lied.

She walked over to the sink and placed her plate and silverware into the small porcelain tub.

"Hey Tob," she said, while she retrieved another cup of coffee, "How about you and I go the park later and play with some of that new stuff you got?"

She turned around to see that not one of her family members had heard her. Toby was running his finger along a miniature red convertible with a look of awe on his face.

"Nevermind," she grumbled and headed into the living room.

Putting her mug down on the ottoman she picked up her gifts from that morning's escapades. Squishing everything under one arm, she picked up her mug and headed towards her bedroom. When she got into her bedroom she carelessly dropped her Christmas gifts onto the bed.

Placing her coffee down on the smooth surface of the vanity, she sat down in front of the old mirror. She placed her head in her hands and thought about everything that had happened.

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After the movie script had been accepted, Sarah had put herself through college. She had graduated with her Communication Arts degree a year early. She had never taken a summer off.

"Summers allow me to think to much," she had told people, "And you don't want to see me when I'm thinking."

She had only just moved into her new house, and was looking for a job. Not that she really needed one. The money that she made from the movie was enough to support her for the rest of her life. She just needed something to keep her busy. Something that wouldn't involve thinking about the Labyrinth or any of its inhabitants. Nothing had shown up yet. Karen had become overly involved in this process, as well as trying to set up Sarah with someone of the opposite sex.

That wasn't working out too well either.

Not that she was complaining; she knew she needed someone. The nights she spent wallowing by herself in her immense cavity of a house, was enough to convince her of that. She felt terribly alone.

But every date that she had been on so far had been a complete disaster. God, she couldn't remember how many there were. She remembered a few of them sure, but half of them were so... well...

Bret was the first. He was nice and tall. His brunette hair was perfect; as were his blue eyes. His laugh was jolly and fun-loving. But no matter how she looked at him, she couldn't see him as a lover. An eventual friend? Maybe. But Lover? Never.

The same was with John, Mike, Jeff, Caleb, Jose, and every other great guy that she was set up with.

God, they were all amazing, but none of them were quite...

'Quite what Sarah?' she thought, 'Not quite what?'

Well, they were all amazing: funny, nice, sweet, and chivalrous. But none of them were...

'None of them were quite Jareth.' she said finally, releasing a sigh. 'None of them would ever be like Jareth, and so I couldn't love them.'

She slammed her fist on the vanity and began to cry. The hot tears rolled down her cheeks like that had so many times before. She reluctantly got up and crossed the room toward her box of tissues. Picking one up, she blew hard.

Wiping away the last of her tears, she sighed.

"It's not fair, Jareth. It just isn't fair."

Sarah sighed and began to rummage through her closet for something to wear.

"Sa-RAH!" a shrill voice called.

'Oh god.' She thought "What is it now Karen?!"

"Phone for you!"

'The phone?' she mused, 'I didn't even hear it ring.'

"Okay, I'll get it up here..." She called back.

Sniffling a bit, she picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"

"Oh, Sarah? Good, you're there. Your Step-mother said you may not want to talk. It being Christmas Morning and all."

"Oh, Jim! No, no, no It's fine. You know you can call me at any time."

"Thanks for that Sar. Well, I was calling you to ask a favor. Its about the Labyrinth"

"And what type of favor would this be Jim?" she asked with a fire in her voice. He knew she didn't want to do anything to it. It was perfect the way it was.

"Now, don't you get mad, but I've been talking with Terry, Brain, and David. They think it's a great idea!"

"Spit it out, Jim."

"Okay, okay. I know I've asked you before, but don't you think that now is the right time for a sequel?...Now, before you yell at me, hear me out..."

Sarah made a small croaking sound, before sighing and closing her mouth.

"Shoot, Jim."

"...thats better... So, I know that this thing is your baby Sarah, but you've got to let it leave the nest sometime..."

Sarah rolled her eyes. Jim was always good at guilt tripping.

"... And fans are demanding we continue the story... If you're worried about the storyline, you can write it yourself, ... or you could ...er... Hire someone... Or get Brain and Terry to whip up their own version!... Look... What I'm trying to say is that everyone here at the studio thinks that continuing the story would be a great achievement, and a lot of fun. Jenny is even willing to do something... But we need your permission to do it... And I think you're taking it way to seriously, Sar. You have to remember that the Labyrinth isn't real. I mean, I want it to be real, and I know that it's certainly real to you, but ... you need to let it go... Stop keeping this fantasy to yourself. Other people deserve to have the labyrinth, too Sar. So, at least tell me that you'll think about it."

Silence followed Jim's small speech.

'It isn't real? Of course it's real. But no one else knows that.' She thought, 'Wait, Sarah! Don't get ahead of yourself. The Labyrinth rejected you remember? You're nothing to it now.'

She stifled the small squeak that threatened to escape.

'You're nothing to it. So it's nothing to you.' Sarah sighed, 'All it will ever be is a dream. It wasn't and isn't real. ...so ...why not?... it's not like they care.'

Sarah could her Jim trying to converse with someone on the other end and she cleared her throat to get his attention.

"So, er, Jim?"

"Yes, Sarah?"

"I don't really think I need to think about it. I-"

"Now Sarah, I think you're making a horrible decision...I mean-"

"At least let me finish, Jim. I did the same for you."

She could almost hear him shrink. No one knew her temper as much as Jim did.

"I don't think I need to think about it, because I think its a great idea... I'll have a draft of the plot over to you by next month."

"U-uh...I ..er... Wow. Thank you so much Sarah!"

Sarah swore she could her someone in the background asking, "She said yes? How'd you get her to say yes?"

"No Problem, Jim. I guess I should get started then..."

"Yes Sarah, yes." Jim said hurriedly, obviously distracted by something, "Thanks so much. I'll talk to you in about a week."

"Okay Jim, See ya."

Sarah hung up the phone before Jim said goodbye.

Well, at least now she would have something to keep busy with.

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A/n: I know I know... I'm evil... but you know you love it!

R&R much appreciated!