A/N: Howdy! I've changed this story from a T rating to an M rating, because apparently no one is really worried about the whole T thing. AAAAND I'm more of a mature writer anyway, so, I'm tired of being tied down by my own rating system. O_o M IT IS!

My two lovelies: My beta for Damage, JHaines has posted her own fic, please do yourself a favor and check it out! It's just started, but I'm sure you'll all love it. I know I do! And my pre-reader, Ree923 has several kick ass stories that you must check out! Don't deny yourselves, it would be such a pity! Oh yeah, and I don't own anything that Jim Henson does, not that rich. . . O_o

Important note: This chapter is violent, there will be graphic details of injury and death. Be warned. There is also some. . . ahem. . .adult situations as well. *squee*

MAY EVE

The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve; lovers to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.

~William Shakespeare

Chapter 15: Nightmares & Fantasies

Keaira sat on her cot, scratching from the blanket she was covered with. If she was sure, this was made of burlap. And I thought I was a Princess in a castle suite, ha! He does this to torture me. Fine, you want torture Goblin King? She smiled devilishly and conjured a black orb that ebbed and twisted throwing dark shadows on the already dark walls. What is it that you say, how do you like this little slice? Her cackles of laughter reverberated off of her stone room, haunting the dank hallway her room was on.

~M*E~

The Labyrinth was dark, darker than Jareth had ever seen it, and being that usually, it changed with his mood he could not understand why it would be so haunting. He hadn't been more happy then he was now with Sarah wanting to be with him and Toby living with them as if he were Jareth's own son.

When Sarah had wished Toby away he was quite conflicted. He saw something in the youngling that caused him to grow protective of him, wanting nothing but the best for the child. He had taken unnumbered children from their beds and though he felt enough for them to place them with loving Fae parents he was never one to get attached. It could come as a burden if he had. But young Toby's eyes seemed to light up just that much more when he would sing to the lad and the way he trusted him so fully. . .

Though he was desperately heartbroken that Sarah had refused him, he was quite upset that the boy would return home as well.

Now, he had all he could have ever wished for. Anything more would be - as humans put it - icing on the cake.

And Sarah seemed fond of cake. . .

Traipsing through turn after turn in the grand maze before him he became agitated. Never before had she not bent to his will. He, of all, shouldn't be lost in his own labyrinth.

"Toby! Oh, Toby, where are you?" He heard Sarah's anguished call on the breeze but wasn't able to pinpoint where she was located. His heart ached instantly at the sound of terror in her voice. Conjuring a crystal he saw that Sarah was wounded, bleeding from her side, the crimson stain on her white poet's shirt growing in size as she stumbled along searching for her brother.

His stomach gave a sickening twist at this, what or who had harmed his love? He had to get to her.

You'll never make it. . . Keaira's voice mocked him as if it were coming from inside his head.

Attempting to fight his way through the walls he found he was unable to manipulate anything, causing him to find his way through on his own. Without any help for the Labyrinth herself.

"Sarah!" Toby's scream was that of pain and he was also too far from Jareth to see, so once again looking into the crystalline orb he froze, paling and gripping the stone wall for support. Toby had fallen off of a steep edge of the maze and was perilously hanging onto the stone to keep from tumbling to his death. Below, the ground would be soft, but not soft enough for a fall like that, and if he did make it he would be very hurt. The Fierys wouldn't be of any help because the darker the Labyrinth grew, the darker their minds grew.

If the fall didn't kill the boy, they certainly would.

Such a pity. . .

"Toby! Sarah!" Jareth called, frantic with worry but it didn't seem to reach them. He ran and ran, and seemed to be going in circles until he stumbled upon the knockers. "You, let me through." He seethed. The knockers looked at each other and then back to the Goblin King.

"Ock en na oor ill oen." One mumbled. Jareth rolled his eyes, gripped the knocker and knocked twice, hard. The door flung open and he charged though into the thick forest ahead. He knew exactly where he was and if he could get to Toby soon he might be able to save him.

He could hear the Fierys singing and dancing in the distance and continued on quietly. Though he wasn't afraid they would harm their king, he certainly had no time to be deterred. Better hurry, the boy won't have much longer, she purred. Jareth shook his head.

He could see Toby's small body hanging in the distance, running as fast as he could his eyes grew wide as the boy's hands slipped and he tumbled, end over end, down the steep embankment, hitting his little body like a rag doll until he came to rest on the forest floor below.

He hadn't made a sound except for the dull thud that permeated the nearby area when he hit, a slight cloud of dirt surrounded him now. Jareth froze, eyes wide as he took in the sight before him. He willed his legs to move, to try to get to the boy and save him. Though his mind told him there was nothing to be saved, he was gone.

Ha ha ha ha ha! Keaira cackled, clapping her hands. The sound was making him insane. Too late, such a pity!

"Toby!" Sarah's anguished scream shook him and he looked up to see Sarah leaning over the edge seeing the exact scene that Jareth was.

"Sarah. . ." He breathed as his legs finally moved and he took to running toward the boy's lifeless body.

"Jareth! How could you let this happen?" She sobbed from her perch above him.

Yes, how could you, Goblin King? Hm?

He shook his head, tears burning his eyes. "I couldn't get to him in time." He shouted. "Damn this labyrinth, damn this! My magic wouldn't work! What is wrong with this place?"

"You killed my brother. Your kingdom killed him, he's. . .he was just a kid!" She cried.

Murderer! Baby Killer! Keaira's shrill laugh burned his brain, but was she wrong?

Jareth looked at Toby, his small body pale and lifeless, blood - so much more vibrant against the grey - trickled out of his ears, his eyes closed, as if asleep save for the large gash on his head. His arms and legs twisted unnaturally, his back bent. "Why him? Why not me? I might have been able to survive the fall, he was just a boy." He whispered to himself, shaking his head, unable to concentrate.

"I'm nothing, there's nothing, you're nothing. . . I can't live without my brother, I can't live with the fact that I couldn't save him like before." Sarah screamed, her voice hoarse from crying. "It's not even worth it anymore."

"Sarah, don't, I love you! I can help you, we can help each other through this." Jareth begged attempting to go to her, his magic betraying him.

"There's nothing worth living for. . ." Her eyes glazed over, her body robotic as she spread her arms and jumped.

"Sarah! Sarah, no!" Jareth screamed as he watched his beloved fall to her death.

Goodbye cruel world! Keaira shrieked joyfully in time with Sarah's fall. So this is what you're so afraid of. I see, perhaps taking this bit of information into consideration I might have my king after all. . .

~M*E~

"Sarah!" Sarah shot up in bed hearing Jareth's screams. He sounded like he was just next door, and he sounded awful. She jumped out of bed, not even the slightest bit embarrassed that she would be running to him in the chiffon gown she wore to sleep in.

She burst through his chamber door and watched, horrified, as he flailed on his bed, screaming and crying out her name. Oh my God, what's going on? She nearly flew to him and grabbed his wrists trying to hold him down, trying to sooth him. "Jareth, Jareth, shh, shh, it's just a dream. Wake up, please wake up!"

Jareth thrashed again, catching Sarah in the face. She jumped back, still holding his wrists, her eyes stinging from the impact. She had to remind herself he was still asleep, and if he knew he'd struck her he would be even more upset. "Come on now, wake up! You're scaring me!" She climbed on top of him for more leverage.

The idea would have been funny, the way he thrashed about reminded her of one of her nights at the Honky-Tonk bar where she was double dog dared to ride the mechanical bull. She was on it the longest to record. Over twelve seconds. It felt like a lifetime.

"Sarah! Toby! No!" Jareth screamed, his face red and contorted in pain, tears began to stain his face and she wrapped herself around him trying with all her might to get him to stop.

Jareth's eyes flew open at the tight contact, but they were unseeing until they locked with hers. He froze and gasped, new tears falling as he understood it was all just a. . .

Nightmare.

"Sarah. . ." He breathed. Her eyes widened and she began to cry from the rush of adrenaline that had been coursing through her body. He turned so that they were face to face on their sides. He gripped her tightly, embracing her so that he could feel that she was really there. "Oh, Sarah. . ."

"It was only a dream, you're OK now." She soothed. They stared at each other for a time before he leaned in slowly and captured his mouth with hers.

"You're here, you're really here." He sighed as he trailed kisses over her face, her neck, and her shoulder where the night gown had slipped. "I need to feel you, I need to you you're safe."

"I am, we're alright, nothing's happened." She promised and allowed him to explore her over her thin garment. She should have been embarrassed, perhaps even unsure of this new development.

Sure, they'd kissed before, caressed each other before, but this was brand new and it was in bed, his bed. The passion and the insistence coming off of him took all of her fears away, though. This wasn't just lust, this was something deeper, something needed.

"Sarah, you and Toby. . ." He began. Sarah covered his mouth with hers.

"Shh, it can be discussed later, everything is fine now." She said, stroking his face.

"I love you, Sarah." Jareth's eyes seemed to shine even more intensely even in the darkness of night and Sarah's heart stopped. He loved her, the Goblin King loved her. It wasn't as if she didn't know he cared for her, but love?

"Oh, Jareth!" She exclaimed. "I love you, too."

Hands began searching for flesh but suddenly, Jareth stopped. "We cannot do this unless you know exactly what you are doing, Sarah."

"What do you mean? Of course I know what I'm doing here. I'm a little too old for the birds and the bees talk." She blushed. And what a way to kill the mood, she thought riley.

Jareth smirked at her, his sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight. "You silly woman! If we continue we will be bonded and you will be my Queen. There are more things to worry about Underground than unplanned pregnancy."

"Oh!" Sarah gasped. She looked at him, though he smiled his face still held something haunted. Knowing he loved her, knowing she loved him, knowing she was being preened to become Goblin Queen anyway, what really was the risk in this? She'd had sex before for less. The feeling in her gut and in her heart was painful just thinking about turning him down now.

With a nod, mainly in answer to herself, she kissed him again. She put all the passion, all the love, all the pain she'd felt for him all these years into this one kiss and he was breathless.

"Are you sure?" He asked, hating that he continued to push her away, but knowing that if she wasn't sure she would hate him in the morning.

"Stop talking, Goblin King, just stop talking." She growled and began running her hands down his sculpted chest. She'd dreamed of this night, to feel his soft skin over tight muscles, to feel his heart beating under her hands, it was all so surreal.

He pressed her back into the mattress and with a flick of his wrist her night gown was gone. She flushed as he stared intently down at her body, drinking her all in slowly. "Perfect. . ." He smiled.

His hands explored her flesh, squeezing and pinching, sucking and kissing as she wriggled beneath him and called out his name. Trailing wet kisses from each breast, down her stomach and to her hips, he hitched her knees over his shoulders and with one more devilish look in Sarah's eyes he devoured her sex with a moan.

She tasted so sweet, so warm, and as his tongue circled and suckled on her bundle of nerves she bucked her hips in time with his movements, pressing herself to his face harder each time.

Testing her, he placed one finger inside, curling upward as he moved, his tongue still working her insistently. A second finger joined the first and then a third and with a nip of his teeth she shuddered violently, crashing over the edge, his name reverberating on the walls.

Deep, throaty laughter caressed her as she came down from her climax and he climbed up her body once more, kissing her soundly. The taste of herself on his tongue drove her mad and she wrapped her legs around his waist, begging for more, her nails scratching painfully down his back. Jareth hissed in both pleasure and pain as he kissed her behind her ear.

In one swift movement he was inside of her and his world imploded. No fantasy, no imagination - even that of the King of Wishes - could have conjured such a sensation as this.

"Jareth!" Sarah gasped, her head pressed back into the pillows, her eyes open wide.

"Sarah, My Sarah!" Jareth growled as he began to move, pulling nearly all the way out just to plunge back into her. She raised her hips, giving him more access to her and he pressed his lips to her pulse point.

The sensation coiling in Sarah's belly was almost maddening, she was so close, but he kept her just there. She wanted to scream in frustration, to push him and take over. A wicked grin spread across her face as she bucked her hips and watched as Jareth matched her expression, allowing her to flip them over.

As she relaxed onto him from her perch, she felt him fill her completely. With a shuddered breath she began to move, her nails digging into his chest. "Yes, claim me, Sarah. I am your slave!"

"Oh, God!" Her loss of the English language wasn't lost on either of them and as she began to lose control of herself he sat up, hugging her to his body.

Their movements were frantic and as they both came close they stared into each other's eyes, sparks flew, but Sarah wasn't sure if she was imagining that or not as they both came together, Jareth biting into her shoulder, hard, causing her to shudder more violently.

As they came down from their high he pulled her down onto his chest and drew lazy circles on her bare back. She was just about to be consumed by sleep when she heard him whisper to her.

"Good night, my Queen."

A/N: Well, well, well. . . I'm pretty sure Princess Nut Case's plan totally backfired! But, she's not gone yet, so beware! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I know I loved writing it. Please let me know what you think by reviewing, it means the world to me!