Sarah reached over like a zombie and knocked over the phone instead of picking it up. When it crashed to the floor, she picked it up and checked the receiver.

"Hello?" she asked in a bizarre tone, her head spinning from everything.

"Sarah!" A female voice reprimanded her. Sarah wasn't sure who it was. She recognized the voice, but didn't. It might have been Kate, or her stepmother, or the flower girl for all she knew. The voice hissed, "Where are you?"

"Uh," Sarah stuttered. "Something came up."

Without waiting for an answer she hung up the phone, but picked it up back again to listen to the dial tone. She placed it on the table, leaving it off the hook. Her eyes were glued to it continuing to stare even though her thoughts were somewhere else. With someone else.

What was there to square away? Hadn't she dealt with him years ago? Obviously not… She called him yes, not that she was admitting it--she was dealing with it. Part of her wondered how this could happen. Nate had been so important to her; she had been in love with him. Was in love with him?

She shook her head. She did love him. Didn't she? But then why was she thinking about Jareth? It was just like a song she had heard once; she was some kind of an unknowing fool. She wasn't the sort of person who fell in and out of love so quickly. But there was something about Jareth, something holding her back.

She had Nate, a lover who loved her. She didn't want to break his heart. But then again, Jareth had been first. In her life first, she corrected. She never professed to love him, but she knew, as she had chanted all those years ago, that he loved her. But at the time, it hadn't seemed like love, more like slavery. He had wanted to rule her. But he would give himself in return, a part of her reminded.

Why did he come here? Besides her calling him, he wouldn't come running for just anyone. Did he really love her? She had trouble enough trying to work out her feelings on marriage. Why did she call him? Was that it?

Was she scared of marriage? Maybe seeing how life was with her stepmother for a time had scared and scarred her. The woman she tolerated now, but once, it had been rough at the best of times. And now she had lied to her, or at least hung up on her.

And what of Nate? She didn't want to lie to him either. She was a fool she told herself. What kind of person couldn't make up her mind like this? Choose between a wonderful man who loved her, or an otherworldly rogue who knew her exact faults? Nate loved her, all of her, unconditionally. Jareth threw salt into her wounds like he thought it would make her stronger.

Was that love? Was he trying to make her stronger? She felt so weak. Was he so strong, or was all the weakness in her? Maybe he was trying to make her stronger, through he bizarre fashion of antagonism. Even now, messing with her brain he was controlling her. Someone else should be his unknowing fool.

And yet, she was still tied to him somehow. As her thoughts constantly reminded her, she had called him. Sarah did not want to feel guilty, as she did about Nate. Or Worried about what would happen, or what Jareth might do. Waking from tormented daze, this old love-if it was?- had her bound, but the new love cut deep.

Was Jareth the old love, if it could be called that, and Nate her new love that she felt for. Or was it reversed? Nate the old love that had her bound by obligation almost, and Jareth the new love, for she surely hadn't loved him before, his presence cutting to her quick.

Now she had to choose. But what exactly, she didn't know. Jareth wasn't really offering her anything. Nate wanted to marry her. Did she want to marry him? She couldn't have both, her real world husband and an outrageous suitor, nor did she want both. She didn't know what she wanted.

It was because of Jareth, her inner voice said. Without a wince, she nodded acknowledging it. It had to be. She could not choose between them fairly if he did not have an offer.

"Jareth." She said it quietly, but firmly, calling him forth.

Appearing in a silvery haze, he stood in long black cape that hid his clothes and body, the hood pulled up so only hid face was seen. "Sarah."

They stared at each other, not in malice, but in understanding and consideration. Sarah thought he must know why she called him, but he gave no sign. He tilt his head to the side, keeping his eyes on her, with a shadow of a smile. He nodded to her, closing his eyes, and moving his head slowly.

"Why would you come here?" she asked him directly. Theirs had never been a relationship of avoidance.

"Because you asked."

"Not now, but before."

His eyes fell to the side. It was true that he came just because she had dance around like a little girl and called him to her. But he did not appear to all that asked. He may take children sometimes. He may be cruel at times. But he was all he was because and for her. If she asked him, he would heed her commands. But she did not know this, and he could not tell her. He didn't know how.

"I come when called." He left it at that.

"Do you always?"

"No."

"But you came for me."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Pulling back his hood slowly, his short hair spiked, he sat down across from her. After a minute of avoiding her eyes, he concentrated his anomalous eyes on her own. "We have had this discussion before."

She smiled at that. They had even had a discussion before about the discussion he meant before. All this felt repetitive, but needed to be dealt with. She was ready.

"Does your offer still stand?" After all these years, she finished silently. She asked it carefully, trying to gauge his reaction.

Taking a moment to consider it, his face remained neutral. He knew it did still stand, but he had never thought about it. "Yes."

"What is it?" she asked, wanting to be reminded of the full contract and obligation that came with him.

" 'I ask for so little...just let me rule you, and you can everything you want...just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave.' " Jareth quoted directly. "I think that's the way I placed it."

"And now?" Sarah asked, looking sideways at him. She still didn't like the way that it sounded.

"What would you have?" Frustration brimmed in his voice.

"I want a new offer."

"Why don't you make the offer," he tried to keep his voice in control. "And I will see."

"You are the one who came back!"

"You are the one who called!"

"Fine." She agreed. She would take control. It was her choice to make anyways, this way she would get her way.

"You pain my flaws and rip them open. Stop. I will acknowledge you."

"Granted."

"I will not fear you, but you need not fear me."

"Recognized."

"You will not rule me. I will not undermine you."

"Established."

"Give up every child, and I will love you."

He coughed, taken in surprise.

"Accord canceled." She stood up and turned away.

"Wait."

She stopped.

"Why do you treaty?" He grew curious over her change in demeanor towards him. At least before, her willing to consider being with him.

"I know my other options, I wanted to hear yours."

"Nate?"

"Yes."

"Is that really what you want?" He leaned towards her, settling his deep dark eyes on her.

"I don't know what I want." She confided out loud. Her voice unembarrassed and direct about it.

"Then why make the arrangement?"

"I like to know my options," she said offhandedly, smoothing out nonexistent dust on the table.

"Sarah." He took a serious tone. "We don't belong here." He looked around, surveying the room, and looked back over to the girl he once new, but sat before him as a beautiful woman.

"And I suppose 'our' rightful place is in the Labyrinth?" she mocked him, not being able to resist the temptation.

"There is a throne by mine, yes." He lost his airs and came clean with her. He was tired of the games; he had waited years for this second chance to come around.

But as tired of the games as he was, he was tired of waiting as well. He stood up, his legs like steel posts, his cape fluttering behind him. "I will not chase you any further."

She eyed his extended hand, flicking her eyes up to his, and then back down to the outstretched palm.

"Take it."

-------------- OKay, you have made me feel guilty. And YOU'RE RIGHT! This fic deserves jsut as much attetion as my others. I sometimes forget that the Labyrinth following is a far better crowd than that of Harry Potter. To be honest? I was disappointed too. more in myself tho, but I'll admit it--I have acomplex, and actually didn't think anyone would/was reading. But give me sometime, and I will continue this story. Am i forgiven:Kneels and begs:

Okay, Thanks to Jackinthebagel for reminding me to cite. I tried and didn't do it very well. But, this Song, "The weakness in me" is taken from Joan Armatrading. The lines are pretty much direct, since i couldnt directly write her stuff. but i used it. so Thanks Joan. heh...umm. don't hate me for liking and using other peoples stuff. i am tributing, okay?