A/N: I'm a total flake, aren't I? I wanted a chapter over a week ago, but had things and stuff *insert excuse here*. If you want something to listen to - and trust me it's addicting - check out Ellie Goulding's album. EPICNESS, and it is sort of my muse for this story. I can't stop listening to it when I write this! !

I have no beta for this story so all the mistakes are mine! I'm trying to keep this as canon as possible and remember, it's rated T, so unless I put a big ol' bold warning up you will have nothing to worry about. Thanks again for sticking around, and HI! ! to any new readers! Please read and review and let me know what you think!

And ALSO: I'm thinking there may be a place in here where a lemon may be needed. Since this is rated T I'm thinking of just making it something you'll get if you review on the chapter (it's not for a while), OR I may make a sequel where it's rated M so that younger readers - or readers not into that kind of thing - don't have to worry. Please let me know what you think! Thanks again!

MAY EVE

The fairies went from the world, dear,
Because men's hearts grew cold:
And only the eyes of children see
What is hidden from the old...
~Kathleen Foyle

Chapter 4: Decisions, decisions

"What have you done?" Sarah grumbled as she attempted to sit up in the giant bed she was placed in an unmeasureable amount of time ago. "And how long has it been since you've done it?"

"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, must you be in such a foul mood with me always?" Jareth tsked her as he positioned himself next to her on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling, Precious?"

"I feel like my whole body is in a vice, especially my head. And what do you care? Where's Toby?" She glanced around the room frantically, only making her head hurt a hundred times worse.

"Toby is fine, I've sent him to his chambers to rest from the trip." Jareth explained. "You've been here a mere few hours, unconscious the whole time. Toby has been unbelievably worried about you - as have I - and we haven't wanted to leave your side. Hungry?"

"I can't believe he wished us away! I never wanted to come back here! And no, I am not hungry for anything you offer." Sarah snapped, but her stomach growled loudly in protest. Jareth laughed quietly, making Sarah shiver and flicked his gloved hand producing a meal tray over her lap with a bowl of chicken rice soup, a peach jam and butter sandwich and a glass of water. She stared at it and nearly drooled down her front.

"Now, please, eat to keep your strength. The Healer was here and insists you do not move from this bed for a few days. I will be your slave during this time, and if you are appreciative I may continue as such." He grinned crookedly at her, his pointed eye teeth glistening.

Sarah began to say something quite disrespectful when Toby came running in, his blonde hair disheveled as he rushed towards his sister. "Awe, Sarah, I was so worried about you! I'm so glad you're awake! Come on, eat so you can get better, and here, I gotta give you this." He snatched her water and poured a pouch of the potion Raeywen gave him and stirred it with a grimace. "I know it looks nasty, and it probably is, but you gotta drink it three times a day for three days!"

"Toby I am not drinking that mess!" Sarah held her hand out blocking him from handing it to her. Toby's eyes misted a little and his chin trembled.

"But, if you don't you'll die." He whispered.

"Toby, I am feeling much better at the moment, I don't need that sludge." She continued to argue and Toby began to cry.

"Sarah Willams! I am ashamed of you! Making this boy cry over your imminent death as you refuse his only way of helping you. Drink." Jareth ordered.

"No." Sarah shook her head and Jareth sighed.

"Very well, Toby hand me the drink and remove her meal for the moment." Jareth instructed and Toby did as he was told silently as tears ran down his face. "You have left me no choice." And with another flick of his wrist Sarah was in chains on the bed. He gripped the back of her neck and pulled her to him as far as she'd go and hit a pressure point to make her gasp in sharp pain. When her mouth opened he tipped the glass to her lips and forced her to drink. The liquid sluggishly poured down her throat as Sarah tried with all her might not to gag and once the drink was gone he tossed it in the air and it disappeared.

"I hate you!" Sarah screamed as Jareth removed the chains and began to place her tray back across her lap. He just raised an eyebrow.

"Why don't you want to get better?" Toby's broken voice tore her from her rage and she looked at her very hurt brother.

"Oh, Toby, I'm so sorry. It's just that, well, you can't always trust everything here in the Underground. Everything isn't always as it seems." Sarah tried to explain.

"But the doctor gave it to me to give to you, you can at least trust that!" Toby argued. "I'm tired of watching you fade away! I'm tired of thinking I'm going to a funeral this year! I'm tired of hating Jareth for making you sick, and I'm tired of being tired. No more arguing with me, Sar, you're gonna drink this when you have to and you're gonna flipping like it!"

Both Sarah and Jareth stared silently at the young boy as he huffed and puffed in his rage. Jareth grabbed the spoon from Sarah's soup and raised a bit to her mouth with a raised eyebrow and Sarah gave in letting him feed her. The chicken soup was amazing, the best she'd ever had, and she moaned a little as it warmed her belly. She held her hand up to halt Jareth for a moment and looked at Toby. "There, I'm eating and taking my medicine. You're not going to see me fade away or die, and you can stop hating Jareth if you want. I'm gonna get better, for you." She reached her hand out and Toby took it and she squeezed it. "Please go lay down and rest, I'll see you later for my next dose I'm sure Doctor Toby."

Once Toby left the room she turned her attention to the Goblin King who was feeding her. "I have questions."

"You have dinner."

"I want answers."

"One question for every bite you take, and that's the only option." Jareth compromised. Sarah nodded and took a spoonful of soup.

"What's really wrong with me?" She asked and Jareth wanted to scream. She was so smart and so to the point, he was hoping she'd take these slower than that.

"Being in the Underground for a mere thirteen hours cost you much more than I would have ever guessed. Once you returned home you began to get ill, slowly at first I'm sure, and then quicker and quicker. The more time you spent away from our magic the sicker you became. In short, I inadvertently put a death sentence over you." Jareth figured the truth was the best route at this point if he wanted her to live with him and be happy. It would save him a lot of stress.

"WHAT?" Sarah shrieked.

"Ah, ah, ah, Precious, bite." And he gave her another spoonful of soup.

"So how exactly am I supposed to get better once I go home?" She asked and Jareth winced so quickly she didn't notice.

"You silly girl! You and your brother aren't going home. There's no one to run for you as Toby wished you both away." Jareth tried his original cool demeanor toward her even though he'd rather not knowing she'd throw a bloody fit.

"Damn it, Toby!" Sarah cried out. "Come on with it, then. . ." And Jareth gave her more soup. "And what do you plan on doing with us once I'm well? I'm sure you have better things to do as a King than take care of two humans."

This was where Jareth had to think. He could tell her the truth, or he could just give her a part of it. Perhaps it was still too early in her stay to announce that he was going to make her his Queen and Toby his Prince. He nodded to himself and replied. "You two are guests of the King, you'll be staying in the castle as if you yourselves were part of the Royal Family. You can't honestly think I'd make you live with the likes of Hogwart and his dimwitted kind?"

"Hoggle. . ." Sarah mumbled as he tore her a piece of sandwich. She took the small bite, trying to keep her lips from his gloved fingers. "Is this peach?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Is that your question?" He countered.

"NO! Of course it isn't! Why isn't Toby sick?"

"Yes, it's peach and Toby isn't sick because he was too young to be affected." Jareth answered.

Another bite and Sarah thought about her next question. "Why did you offer me my dreams back then?" This one brought a blush to her beautiful face and Jareth sighed.

"What does it matter, Sarah? You refused me." He frowned.

"I was too young to understand much of anything, what else was I to do? And Toby would have been lost forever." She argued.

"You had bested me, but at the same time I had let you win. I reordered time, moved the stars, turned the world upside down - all for you - and you still didn't appreciate me. I thought, perhaps, your dreams would sway you to finally grant a wish of mine." Jareth responded.

"But I was only fifteen! I wouldn't have known what you were doing if you had slapped me in the face with it all! All I knew was that you played the villain, the bad guy, and I wasn't going to let you win. Had you given me a few years my mind would have been able to absorb all you were saying and offering." Sarah explained.

"Honestly, Sarah, are you trying to tell me if I were to offer you your dreams again right this moment you'd take them?" He looked at her completely unbelieving.

"Understanding what you meant and knowing how I feel, I could see my decision wavering. Jareth, you made me sick and didn't do anything to help me. And I have to think about Toby yet again, what about our parents? And what about his education? I know, personally, I wasn't happy Aboveground after I was sent back, but it's not always about me or what's fair in my mind." Sarah said. Jareth nearly gaped at her, did she not only prove she'd grown up by leaps and bounds but give him hope as well? All in one tiny speech?

"Sarah, fear me, love. . ." Sarah smiled and raised her hand to his lips, he just stared at her.

"You and I both know this isn't the best timing for that right now. But, I'm also not saying to forget about it completely." She replied blushing again.

"I promise you, when you're better I'll show you everything about the Labyrinth and the castle. You will feel at home here, and I can promise you - at your command - I will remove all memory of you and Toby from your family and friends. It will be as if you never existed." Jareth offered.

"I need to talk to Toby about that first." Sarah nodded.

"Take this," Jareth grinned juggling a crystal deftly over his hands and arms. "It will show you - everything."

"That's a different crystal!" Sarah grinned.

"Yes, it's one like I use mostly. Just hold it this way and ask to see whomever you choose and you will instantly. Keep it with you at all times, it's also a tracker so that I can keep tabs on you - safety reasons only of course." Jareth smiled right back.

"Thank you Goblin King." She whispered and pressed her lips lightly to his cheek. "But, this tired me out. Perhaps I'll see you at my next drugging." She grimaced and they both laughed.

~M*E~

"Knock, knock, Sar." Toby woke Sarah carefully and she groaned.

"Be gone evil troll!" Sarah grumbled, but couldn't hide her smile as she peaked through her lashes at her brother. "Oh, you're still here."

"Yep, drink up!" He beamed and she rolled her eyes but did as she was told. Before she had fallen asleep she had vowed to make it up to Toby for making him cry. She was a horrible sister!

"Ugh, that is horrible!" She grimaced. "Hey, Tobe? I got a question for ya."

"What's up?" He asked plopping next to her on the huge bed.

"What if we could make everyone we know forget us? That way they won't worry or be sad while we stay here?" She asked.

"I don't plan on leavin'." Toby bristled and Sarah giggled.

"I've figured, so what do you think?"

"Mom and Dad would forget?" He asked.

"Yep." She frowned a little.

"Do you wanna stay forever, too?" Toby worried his bottom lip, "Cause I won't do it if you wanna go home after this."

"I can't leave, and I don't think I want to either. So, this is all up to you little brother." Sarah said.

"Then let's do it, let's make them forget." Toby nodded.

"Jareth?" Sarah called to the room and instantly the Goblin King was there. "We've decided."

"I know." He nodded and Sarah gaped.

"Stalker. . ." She grinned.

Jareth threw a crystal up and through the open balcony doors and it floated out into the night sky as his heart filled with infinite hope. "Welcome home, Toby. Welcome home, Sarah."