Wyatt was astounded at how quickly his son grew into a giggling, running, chattering toddler. A toddler without a mother.

Just as Adora had said, he had found papers of divorce and custody waiting for him at the courthouse. He held his head high as he walked through the town of people who had known him since he was a lad and who were now whispering about his misfortune. Even then he was unsure what he would have done if not for his parent's - especially his mother's - support in raising Jeb.

As he waited outside the school building with a few other parents for Jeb's day to end, he thought back to when his son had just turned four. Before he had realized that he was different.

Wyatt watched his sun chase one of the younger pixies that had lived in the forest beside his property for centuries. Jeb looked so happy and content; he was unknowing of what it meant to have a mother's love and therefore didn't know that he missed it.

Each morning Wyatt was struck with a sense of loneliness as he looked over at the empty side of the bed where his wife used to sleep. Each morning he found his heart hurting a little less than the day before.

"Daddy!" Jeb giggled as he ran into his father's legs, giving them a massive hug. "I love you."

His throat constricted. Before his son had been born he'd never thought hearing those words would hurt so much. "I love you, too, Jeb," he whispered in reply.

The little boy looked up at his father, "Daddy sad?"

Wyatt shook his head, "No, Daddy's not sad. Daddy's happy."

Jeb grinned a toothy grin, "Jeb wanna go see Grandma and Grandpa and Hun'er."

His father chuckled at the lisp Jeb had when he said the dog's name. "All right, kiddo. We'll go after you wash that dirt off your hands and face. Don't want Grandma getting mad at me again."

Jeb giggled at his father, rushing into the house. "Catch me, Daddy!"

Now it was a miracle if Jeb laughed. Ever since the other boys his age had started teasing him about not having a mother.

Presently, the school doors opened and Wyatt straightened up, waiting for the familiar dirty blond head to appear. At nine years old Jeb was both fiercely independent and stubborn. Just like his parents.

Wyatt still wasn't sure how he was going to tell him that he'd been offered a post in the Queen's army as a Colonel. He still wasn't sure how he'd tell his son that he had accepted and they were leaving at the end of the week - just after school ended for the summer.

--

Jareth stood on the balcony that was attached to his tower. His face was turned into the summer wind as he thought on all that had happened in the past nine years.

He thought on his niece, and her avid refusal to even consider one of her numerous suitors for consort. He thought on his sister and brother-in-law, and their reaction to DG when he had taken her to visit them on that first solstice. Mostly, though, he thought on Sarah.

Even now, nearly a decade later, his heart ached to have her close to him. He ached to be able to hold her in his arms again and dance as they had before. In her crystal ballroom.

Sarah would love DG, he knew. She'd love her fire and spunk, and the way she got all of the different races living within the Goblin Kingdom to do what she wished. Sarah would love her as he loved her: as a daughter. Perhaps one day they could be that family he had dreamed of so often during cold, long winter nights that seemed to drag on and on leaving him empty and void.

"Uncle?" a voice asked from the doorway.

Jareth turned at the sound of his niece's voice. So soft and musical, and slightly worried. "Yes, DG?"

"It's almost time for the reception, Uncle." This time he was sure he could sense a hint of resentment laced into her voice. "Are you ready?"

Catching her eyes with his he countered, "Are you?"

She nodded, looking down. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I am trying, I just can't help that I feel nothing when I look at them."

Jareth frowned at her words. He had known that she was having trouble liking the multitude of suitors but this sounded more serious. "Explain."

DG sighed and looked around at the view of her kingdom. "I look at them and try to feel something for them other than as a citizen of the Goblin Kingdom, and I can't. No friendship, no hate, nothing. It's like a void in my heart." She finally looked at her uncle, her bright blue eyes questioning, "What's wrong with me, Uncle?"

Jareth had a sinking feeling in his stomach at her words but shook his head, "I think I know, dear one, but for now we must try to get through tonight. We can think on this afterwards."

The crown princess nodded, her hands hiding themselves in the pale pink silk gown she was wearing. When she looked up again at her uncle, her battle face was in place.

He offered her his arm, "Onward, then?"

She took the arm and the pair began to walk down the spiraling staircase. "Onward."

--

Jeb spent the whole ride to the palace and his new home ignoring his father. How could he do this to him! Just before the solstice, too! It wasn't fair.

Grandma had tried to hide her tears when she had said goodbye. "It's not forever, Jeb. We'll see each other again soon."

"Promise?" the little boy had asked.

She nodded, "I promise. Your grandfather and I will come up to Central City for your birthday, all right?"

Jeb looked down stiffly. "But what about the solstice? I was supposed to watch the moons rise by the lake with Grandpa."

His grandmother hugged him tightly, "I'm sure the palace has plenty of spots for you to watch the moons rise on the solstice with your father."

"But it's not the same."

Her teary smile answered him, "It never is, Jeb. Never forget that I love you."

"I love you, too, Grandma. I just wish I could stay with you instead of having to do with him."

Her face turned hard in an instant, as did her voice, "He has a name, Jeb. And he's doing this to better your life. Think of all the opportunities you'll have at the palace. You might even get to meet the Crown Princess Azkadellia."

He looked down, chastised, "I'd rather stay here with you, Grandpa, and Hunter."

His grandmother just hugged him close.

And now he was on his way to the Shining City on the Hill. A new school, new friends, a new life. A different life. He'd rather just have his old one back.

--

As they descended the steps and made their way to the ballroom where DG's guests were waiting to celebrate her fifteenth birthday with her, she thought upon how much her life had changed since she'd come to the Labyrinth.

It had all solidified for her on her first trip back to see her parents when she was five. The trip had been nothing short of a disaster as far as she was concerned. The only redeeming aspect had been her ability to spend time with Az before her mother had placed a ban on any future visits.

What should have been a happy, joyful time for any family - the winter solstice - had turned into a twelve day celebration filled with tension, curt words, short tempers, and memories best left forgotten. Needless to say when Ahamo had asked Jareth to never come back with DG again, there was no love lost.

DG stood next to her uncle, tears running down her young face as she locked eyes with her older sister. She didn't want to leave Az again, but it seemed like there was no other way.

"I believe it best if you do not come back for the summer solstice," Prince Ahamo said softly to his brother-in-law. "I think it would be best for all involved."

Jareth's face was devoid of emotion as he addressed his sister and her husband, "Best for you, you mean. DG and Azkadellia are another matter entirely."

"I am their mother," Aerenesa said with a tight, clipped tone, "I believe I know what's best for my daughters, and I believe I know how to protect them."

"Daughter. And you're not doing what's best for them, Aerenesa. You're doing what's least painful for you." There was no mistaking the anger in Jareth's voice as he spoke. "Princess Azkadellia is welcome in the Labyrinth at any time. However, I believe it best that DG and I don't come back."

It had been a painful good-bye, made less so by the promise of another evening talk with Az through their bedroom mirrors as they prepared for sleep.

DG held her head high as the Goblin Chancellor announced her and her uncle to the guests awaiting. Birthday parties with a room full of strangers never held any promise of fun.

--

Azkadellia looked at the necklace in front of her. It really was a beautiful piece: two ballerinas locked eternally in a spin, their toes pointed down, and their hands clasping each other. The morutanium had been a little difficult to procure, but after months she had finally convinced Ambrose that it was a good idea to give her enough to craft the necklace and its twin.

They had been made in secret, but it had been worth it. Mother and Father didn't know, and she had no intention of telling them. The necklaces were to be a secret shared between the sisters, crafted by one of the master metal craftsmen in the realm, and already filled with spells of protection and well being.

Az fingered the chain that she already wore. All she had to do now was wait for DG to put hers on and add her own magick to the metal that was to be the visible reminder of their link as sisters.

Softly she started singing, her hand gliding over the pendant softly, "Two little princess dancing in a row, spinning fast and freely on their little toes …"

Tears came unbidden into her eyes: she should be there with her sister. She should stand by her and celebrate her birthday with her. The birthday marking her coming of age as a woman and a Crown Princess.

There was a knock on her door. Az hid her necklace underneath her gown, wiped her eyes, and closed the box where DG's necklace rested.

"Come," she said in the best princess voice she could muster.

Her father walked in to her sitting room. "Can I come in?" he asked softly.

Az nodded, turning back to look at her mirror. "What is it, Father?"

Ahamo looked down at his hands. They held a small book nervously. "It's about your sister."

The princess snorted at that, turning back to face her father, "I thought I no longer had a sister."

His eyes flashed hurt before he nodded his head. Instead of directly answering her question he said, "Today is her fifteenth birthday. I know you still speak with her."

He held out the book to his eldest child as he stepped closer to her. "Can you give this to her? I want her to have it. It's from the Other Side, and it might come in handy."

Az took the book in her hands gently, peering at the title she read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. She looked up questioningly at her father and he explained, "They aren't just words of wisdom for war, but for life as well. Especially for running a kingdom."

He hesitated as he took a step back, unsure where to go now that Azkadellia had the gift for DG. "Tell her that I love her," he near whispered before rushing out of his daughter's room.

The princess looked again on the book in her hand before glancing again at the box where her own present lay on a midnight blue velvet bed. Wordlessly she put the book beside the box.

A/N: Don't expect this too often, but after I posted on Sunday, I have this flurry of activity that was my muse high on caffeine. You all reap the benefits, I suffer the lack of sleep.