Sarah gasped and jumped away from Jareth, breaking the delicate kiss. Jareth turned and saw Toby standing by Sarah's bed, gripping a handful of her comforter to steady himself. He wore a jumper of deep green, his dirty blonde hair sticking up in all directions. Jareth felt a gush of tenderness arise the appearance of the child who had just reached his third birthday.

"Toby? How do you know Jareth's name?" Sarah asked surprised. The boy tottered towards Jareth, big blue eyes staring at him intently.

"Jrrth." He reached up his arms to Jareth and with a smile the Goblin King scooped the boy up into his arms.

"Sarah?" A female voice asked from her doorway. A tall, blonde woman stood just inside the room, confusion and fear on her face.

"Uh, Karen, is dinner ready?" Sarah asked uneasily.

"Yes, it is." The stepmother stuttered.

"Perhaps I should go." Jareth said quietly, handing Toby to Sarah.

"Your Majesty, please don't leave on my behalf." Karen said, surprising him. "You're welcome to stay."

"Excuse me?" He replied, stunned that the mortal know of him.

"Karenyana, at your service." Karen bowed slightly and Jareth remembered. The Underground ambassador to Aboveground.

"Wait a minute, what's going on?" Sarah demanded. How did her stepmother know the Goblin King?

"Karenyana is the Fey ambassador to the Aboveground." Jareth replied with a stunned look on his face. "What I didn't know was that she was your stepmother. Last I heard she was in London."

"That was seven years ago, right before I transferred to Gulf Corps New York office." Karen added.

"Ookaay." Sarah was bewildered. She moved to sit on a clean portion of her bed, Toby snuggled in her arms. My stepmother is Fey? So, what's Toby then? "Does Dad know?"

"Honestly Sarah. You think I would keep something like this from Richard?" Karen scolded, scooping up Toby from Sarah's arms. "And dinner will be ready in ten minutes."

With that Karen swept out of the room, leaving Jareth alone with Sarah. Utterly confused Sarah began cleaning her bed, putting things back into her backpack. Her mind was trying to grasp how her world had been turned upside down with ease.

"Are you okay Sarah?" Jareth asked once she sat down on her bed, accounting book in hand. He still stood framed by her open window, giving her the space she needed.

"I don't know." Sarah studied the cover of her book, not really seeing it. "I don't understand how everything has become topsy turvy today."

Jareth sighed and sat down beside her on her bed, gently taking the book out of her hands. She let go willingly, adding to the list of surprises.

"You should probably know some of our history so you won't be confused." He began, tilting Sarah's face up to his. "For untold centuries, each race has had ambassadors to the others. This helps to keep peace and enrich lives. Karenyana, your stepmother Karen, is the Fey ambassador to humans." Jareth let his thumb stroke her bottom lip, wanting so much more.

"But what does that make Toby?" She asked sitting up fully, gently removing herself from his touch. "Wouldn't he be part Fey?"

"Yes, he is." Jareth answered honestly. "When he reaches the age of twelve he will have a choice. A choice to either stay Aboveground as a human, or come Underground and learn how to use his Fey magic."

"Oh." Sarah nodded. "That way he either gives up his magic or keeps his magic."

"Exactly." He replied. "Underground magic in the human world is very dangerous to both the wielder and those around the,"

Sarah took the news amazingly well, but all Jareth could think about was how that cool attitude would be a valuable asset to him and his kingdom. And a treasure in his life.

Sarah absorbed the information greedily, amazed at how calmly she was taking the situation. Toby has always seemed special, but she had never imagined his uniqueness to be because of a magical heritage. And Karen, Karen, being Fey? Now that would take some getting used to.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Sarah asked. Jareth smiled sadly, and with a gentle touch, ran his hand over her hair. She leaned into his caress, unable to get enough.

"As much as I would love to, sweetling, I have been away much too long." He pulled away and stood, bringing her with him. "My goblins tend to destroy things if I'm away for a long amount of time."

Laughing Sarah asked, "Will I see you tomorrow?" Please.

"I shall try to come around the same time." Leaning down he kissed her temple before stepping away. She was disappointed he didn't kiss her lips. "Until then."

Sarah watched as he poofed into his owl form, leaving glitter and feathers in his wake. With a soft hoot, he fluttered out her window and into the night sky. Her heart went with him to his kingdom, leaving a sweet ache in her chest. Oh Jareth, I'm glad you forgave me for my foolishness. I think I love you.

Shaking her temporary paralysis off Sarah headed downstairs, explaining the situation between herself and Jareth to her father and Karen. She could barely believe it was true, but it was and Sarah couldn't be happier.

"You can't believe how many people tried to figure out why I was so happy today." Sarah giggles as she and Jareth sat on her bed, she leaning back on his chest and working on her English homework. "They kept asking and begging, but I was a tomb."

Jareth laughed at that, enjoying being able to spend time with Sarah, listening to her day. She was levered against his chest, nestled between his legs in the cradle that his body created. He could see himself spending a relaxing evening simply listening to her talk. She had such a fire, such intelligence, that he felt humbled in her presence.

"Since it's Friday, do you think Toby and I could visit the Underground? I miss Hoggle and the others." Sarah tilted her head around to look at him, hope in her icy colored eyes. "That is, unless it's against the rules."

"No, it isn't a problem as long as you and Toby remain in the walls of the Labyrinth." He kissed her shoulder. "If you leave, then you don't have my protection. The wild Underground between kingdoms doesn't tolerate intruders." And neither does the other beings of the Underground.

"Stay for dinner tonight, please." Sarah asked softly, lacing her fingers into his bare ones, spawning heat deep inside him.

Sarah was so happy. She was spending time with Jareth without being intimidated or bullied. She was simply content and enjoying her life. Toby was also more talkative now that Jareth was around. Speaking of, Sarah's door slowly swung open and Toby tottered in followed by Karen who was chasing him.

"Toby!" Karen scooped him up. "I am so sorry about that, but he managed to climb out of his crib."

Toby stretched out his arms and gurgled at Sarah, kicking wildly. Jareth laughed, shaking Sarah with his rumbling chest. She felt like cherished and loved, it was a comforting feeling.

"It's perfectly fine Karen." Jareth replied. "In fact. Sarah just asked me to stay for dinner."

"We would be honored, Your Majesty." Karen replied as Sarah reached for Toby. "Besides we need to explain to you about prom."

Karen gave Toby to Sarah as she spoke, but was looking at Jareth. Her stepmother was right; he did need to know the human customs. He would also need a sound alibi and a more Aboveground appearance. Sarah smiled at a mental picture of Jareth humanized.

"I would love to stay." Jareth answered, watching Sarah handle Toby with an expert touch. "As you said, I know nothing about human customs."

"Good. Do you mind if I leave Toby with you? He'll only make a mess in the kitchen."

"We don't mind, do we?" Sarah paused from blowing raspberries on Toby's stomach.

"Of course not." Jareth agreed. "We'll bring him down when dinner is ready."

"Oh good." Karen sighed and left. Sarah continued to play with Toby as Jareth looked on. A warm, bubbly sensation crept up his spine as he watched the woman he loved play with her little brother.

"Do you want to go to Uncle Jareth? Do you?" Sarah crooned softly, moving out of the cradle of his body. Jareth's heart picked up pace at her words. I would be Toby's uncle if I married Sarah.

Sarah let Toby crawl towards him, and Jareth settled the boy down on his lap with a smile. The young one curled up against him and quickly dozed off to sleep.

"Wow." Sarah mused. "I've never seen him do that before."

"Do what?" Jareth asked puzzled. She simply looked at him, not supplying an answer.

"Sarah?" Jareth said quietly, concern clear. He seemed totally at ease with Toby, not like the other few guys that she'd tried to date. Sarah saw the gentle nature he has towards children and knew that one day Jareth would be an amazing father.

"You're a natural with kids. You must like them a lot." Sarah replied absently, wondering what their children would look like. Or, with him being who knows how old, did he already have kids?

"I have to with my job." He replied easily. "I've always wanted children, but I haven't been able to have any."

"Why?" She grew extremely curious.

"Fey are a passionate people, so to ensure we don't have any stray offspring, we can't procreate with anyone with anyone until we meet our destined ones." The Goblin King shifted so that Toby lay on the bed and not him.

"So you and I - ?" Sarah asked, strangely excited about the prospect.

"Yes Sarah, but I won't push this." He stood and crouched so she was elevated slightly higher than he was. "I want to make memories, court you, get to know you. I want all of you."

Sarah knew at that exact moment how much Jareth loved her, how much he respected her. A comfortable silence fell, only to be broken by,

"Dinner!"

"That's a lovely idea, Your Majesty." Karen gushed. "I don't mind if Sarah and Toby go with you for the weekend."

"Please call me Jareth; after all, we'll be family." Jareth said lightly as he watched Toby dribble mashed potatoes everywhere. "No wonder he got along so well with my goblins, he's as messy as they are."

That garnered laughter from everyone and for the first time Jareth felt like he belonged. He felt encompassed by the love that radiated off everyone, secure in a warm bubble.

"I'm afraid all children are like that, and Toby is more behaved than most." Sarah commented drily.

"Ah, his breeding shows. After all, young Fey are extremely developed and mature." Jareth nodded, glancing at the kitchen clock. Ten-thirty at night, his time Aboveground for the day nearly gone. He suppressed a sigh, knowing in about twelve hours Sarah and Toby would be visiting him.

"As much as I'm enjoying this, I really must go. My window to be here is almost closed." Jareth stood, the others following suit. "The dinner was entertaining Karen. Sarah, may I speak to you?"

"Sure." Sarah followed him out to the back patio.

What does he want to talk about?

Sarah wondered as he led the way to the back patio, admiring the view of his lean body from behind. His cream poets shirt hung loosely about his upper torso until it became tucked into his dark grey tights that outlined a pert and firm butt leading to well muscled legs with feet encased in high black riding boots. As he walked he pulled on black leather gloves, concealing his slender and powerful hands.

"Why did you want to see me Jareth?" She asked once they were on the patio, twilight falling around them. He turned to look at her, eyes solemn.

"I just wanted some time alone with you before you and young Toby join me in the Labyrinth." Jareth replied. "And I wanted to make sure you want this between us."

"Of course I want this." She was surprised by the hesitancy he showed. This must be extremely important to him to be going about the situation slowly and carefully. "I've always wanted this."

"If you are sure." Jareth pulled Sarah into his arms. "I just don't want this to backfire."

Sarah snuggled into his embrace, inhaling Jareth's unique and magical scent. He was a warm and accepting that it made her heart ache for a life with him, a dream come true. She loved him, that was the black and white of it. And ever since that evening she banished him Sarah had kicked herself for throwing away the love she deserved.

"I am completely sure." Sarah said firmly.

Sarah's firmly spoken statement warmed Jareth to the core, giving him hope for a better future. Lifting her chin he laid his lips against hers softly, not wanting to press the boundaries of their new relationship. Sarah sighed softly, opening herself to his kiss. Fighting the heady rush of desire, Jareth deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue between her lips. She was all warm and willing for his attention, gravitating closer to his body.

This can't be happening. Jareth thought tangling a gloved hand into her chocolate colored tresses. Sarah's inexperience at the delicate arts went straight to Jareth's head, making him crazy. The sound of Toby's laughter floated in the air, penetrating the haze of desire.

"Sarah." Jareth gasped, pulling his mouth away from hers. Blood pounded in his veins, but he forced it to subside, biding his time until the moment was perfect.

"Uh, oh. You better leave no before he comes looking for you." Sarah stepped out of his embrace. "Otherwise he'll never settle down to sleep."

"You're right." Reluctantly Jareth took a step away. "Until then, my darling."

"Bye." She smiled softly, adding to the rumpled look of glazed eyes, swollen lips, and fussed hair. She looked absolutely alluring. In a puff he was in owl shape. Hooting goodbye Jareth flew away into the moon, leaving his heart behind.