A/N: OK so I was lazy for this chapter. I just wanted to put the dialogue in so Sarah is in the italics and Toby is in bold italics. Any action is in *astericks* until the very end. It should be easy enough to follow.

Chapter 16: The Truth

When I was fifteen, I was a very angry person. When Dad married Irene, I was scared. I didn't know what to make of it.

Then, you came along and I felt … I felt replaced. I felt like my mother and I no longer had a place in Dad's heart or in his life. I felt ignored and unloved and like the entire world was against me.

I hated you.

You hated me?!

I don't like to think about it, but I did. I hated you and what I thought you represented. So one night, after a particularly bad day, I came home an hour late and Irene yelled at me. I know now that she was worried. I had scared her.

But then, all I could see was the evil step-mother I had turned her into.

After she and Dad left, I took out all of my anger and frustration out on you. You wouldn't be quiet. You just kept crying and crying and I was so angry.

I wish I could say that I didn't know what I was doing, but I knew exactly what I was doing. When I wished for the goblins to take you away, I really hoped that they would. I wanted you out of my life.

You wished me away?

Yes I did, but when you suddenly stopped crying I was more scared than I ever was in my life. And it wasn't because I thought I was going to be in trouble, but it hit me that I didn't want to lose you. I couldn't.

And then, he came. *Sarah had been solemn up to this point, but now, her smile shown brightly.*

Jareth, the King of the Goblins, came to offer me a deal. My little brother or my dreams.

I wanted to take the crystal he offered, but I knew that I couldn't lose you. So, although I knew that he could offer me anything I wanted, I resisted everything that Jareth offered.

Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I fought my way to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that he had stolen. He offered to be my slave and to give me everything that I wanted in return for my fear, love, and obedience.

But my will was as strong as his and my kingdom as great. At the time, he had no power over me. So I offered a compromise. I asked him if I could stay … but he had to return you. He agreed.

So, that's where you've been living all this time?! With the Goblin King from your story!! There are so many things that I wanna ask, Sarah!

And I'll answer them later on, Toby. Do you want to know the rest of the story?

There's more?

Sort of. Anyway, so he agreed. He returned you and I 'left for France'. I've been living in the Underground for about ten years now and Jareth has been my best friend since I was fifteen. *Sarah looked thoughtful*

So, he's pretty special then?

Yeah *Sarah smiled again* He is. Or was … I'm not sure.

What do you mean? You don't know if he's special to you or not?

I mean, he is, but lately things have been different.

Different? … Sarah, why do you look so sad?

Oh Toby. This is where my life was turned right-side up. When I came home, he wasn't acting like he normally does. He was distant and … normal. I mean, for him normal is strange and strange is normal. Did that even make sense?!

*Toby laughed and Sarah joined him* In a weird way, yeah it did.

Ok, well you get it then. I mean, normally, when I come home, he throws me a 'surprise' party with all of my friends. But it isn't the party itself that is the surprise. It's the way he presents it. Once, he glamoured everyone to match their surroundings and everyone stood perfectly still. I had no idea. We were just walking down the hall and as we walked into the throne room, it looked like the room started to move. At first, I was freaked out, but then Jareth started laughing so hard that he was crying. When he fell over from laughing so hard, I realized what was going on.

This year, he just told me where the party was and walked away.

Every night before New Year's Eve, we have a special night. We get all dressed up and sit down to a dinner of messy cheeseburgers.

Wait, wait! You mean, this guy is a King and you're like his unofficial Queen and you guys get dressed up just to get messy?! How weird can ya get?

*Sarah laughed and playfully pushed her brother off the bed* Then we dance and take a walk! But this time, we had a nice, fancy dinner with no dance and a fight.

How romantic!

You're a brat, Toby.

I try.

And then on New Year's Eve, he kissed another woman. And now, I don't know what to do. Do I give up, Tobe? Do I just say 'forget it' and leave him? I've considered returning here and not going home to him. Is that a good choice? Should I stay?

If you're not happy, then you need to be happy, but I think you guys need to talk more. Have you talked to him at all?

No. He won't talk with me and when he tried, I was still hurt and angry. I didn't want to talk to him about anything. So I told him to leave and he went to his cousin's for two months. Then I came here.

Well then, I think you two should talk about this first, Sarah. Maybe something happened that made him change. Maybe he fell in love with another woman? Or he met with a family member? Realized that he doesn't wanna deal with your annoyingness anymore? *Sarah gave him a look at the last one and Toby smirked*

"Toby! Sarah! Dinner's ready!!" Irene called.

Sarah and Toby looked at the door and, taking a deep breath each, got off the bed and headed towards the door.

You just need to talk to him Sarah. I'm sure it'll be ok after that.

If you say so. I guess I'll talk to him when I get back. At the very least to give him a proper goodbye if it doesn't work out.

Ok.

Thanks for listening Toby. I mean, I had Camiya (Jareth's sister) to talk to, but it wasn't the same as talking with you.

Anytime Sis.

The two siblings hugged as Irene called out again, "Come on, you two! The burgers are going to get cold!"

They smiled at each other and laughed, temporarily forgetting about Sarah's problems.

But that didn't last long because soon after Toby's birthday (Monday), Sarah met up with a certain young man who she had not been wanting to see.

A/N: I think I'm going to skip Toby's birthday party and just go straight to the Tyler part if that's ok with you guys. Let me know if it's not.

Not a lot to say about this chapter 'cept for, like always, I hope you like it.

Thanks for all of you who have reviewed!! Please leave me more!