Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, that belongs to the awesome late Jim Henson and awesome still kicking it Brian Froud and the still sexy David Bowie. Thanks guys for such an such a wonderful movie!

Warnings: This story is rated for mild language, some violence, David Bowie's Area, and of course sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. Oh yeah and David Bowie's Area, I mention this twice because there is going to be a lot of it.

Current Music: As The World Falls Down by David Bowie

And as always, a special thanks to my beta, HippieAthena! And to all of you for reading!

Chapter Nine

As The World Falls Down

Sarah and Jareth looked at the meager pile of things left in the sack. The goblins had ransacked their things, all the food was gone, Jareth's trunk was gone, and most everything else. All that was left were the less welcome gifts she had gotten. The wine she got from Sir Didymus, The underground weed and pipe from Hoggle, The leather 'goblin queenie' bikini made by the goblins, and a large frothy white gown. Jareth scowled at the lack of choice for him. "Little buggers made off with everything, clearly The Bog of Eternal Stench is not enough of a deterrent against thieving. Well precious, which of these little numbers would you like to wear? Personally I would have you naked all the time, gives me much easier access to your lovely assets."

Ten minutes later Jareth had Sarah's handprint on his face and was dressed in black leather outfit very similar to the one that she had first seen him in. Sarah appeared just like she had before in a dream ballroom induced by a peach. Jareth had used a little of his magic to alter the clothes she took off earlier and the leather bikini to make something he could wear with his usual flair. Thanks to Slepnir Jareth had his pendant back. Sarah wondered about the pendant. "Hey Jareth? Does that pendant do anything?"

Jareth finished fastening the dark gossamer cloak around his shoulders and looked at her. "Its my crown. It symbolizes absolute authority over this land and all subjects within it, besides it looks good with all of my outfits. Beyond those things, it doesn't particularly do anything, though I may have spread a rumor among my subjects that it is the sole source of my magic. My enemies waste their time and their resources to steal a useless pretty bauble, one of my better ideas. Oh would you like a pendant like mine?" Jareth gave her a radiant smile and offered the sickle shaped pendant to her.

Sarah scowled and stared at Jareth with a raised eyebrow. "I thought you said this was your crown?" Sarah paused for a moment and remembered all the goblins and Jareth's dark side calling her 'wife' and 'queenie'. Sarah's eyes widened as she realized what Jareth may be asking her. "Are you asking me to be your queen?"

Jareth swallowed nervously and gazed into curious eyes looking for any sign that she did not want him. He held out his pendant with the same desperation as when she confronted him and broke him. This time he would be careful with his words. He did not want to risk scaring her off. "Well, even though we have not fully consummated, in this world you are already considered my queen. I must confess my love that among goblin traditions, giving a girl a magic fruit, serenading her, and dancing with her in front of goblins is considered a marriage. At least by goblin standards. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but as soon as I get my kingdom in its usual ordered chaos, if you'll still have me, will you be my queen?"

The words barely left Jareth's mouth before they were covered by Sarah's lips. When they parted for breath and Sarah squealed with delight. "Of course! I'd love to be your queen! And later when everything is in order I want to finish what we started and truly be your queen." Sarah bombarded Jareth with more kisses that left Jareth in a euphoric daze and a wide happy grin on his face. Sarah put the sickle shaped pendant around her neck and took a few moments to admire it. She looked back up at him, his euphoric dazed expression hadn't left his face. She pointed a finger at his chest. "But! I want a real wedding! With a big cake, and my family and friends there!"

Jareth couldn't agree more. "Of course precious, but lets make plans for a real wedding later. That peach dream wedding didn't turn out as great as I had hoped anyway."

Sarah remembered a certain goblin with a camcorder that she desperately wanted to get back. "Damn, you keep distracting me! We need to get that tape back!" Sarah dragged Jareth to the direction to the Goblin City.

Sarah and Jareth stood in open shock at the changes made to the Goblin City. The awful stench of chicken shit hit them like a sack of bricks. The city streets were covered in heavy layers of feathers, straw, and bird droppings. If Sarah and Jareth hadn't known that the streets were made of cobbled stone, neither of them would ever have known. In the center square where there once stood a fountain was a statue of a giant chicken in flamboyant clothing and Jareth's pendant. A group of goblins were gleefully tearing it down while singing "Ding dong the cock is dead, the cock is dead! The bastard took the crown and ruled with dread! But Kingy's back and finally got some ass! So coward cock turned tail and fled! So sing with joy for our queen with balls of brass and ruts with King on the grass!"

Sarah ignored Jareth's protests to calm down and readied her frying pan to give some tone deaf goblins more brain damage than what they already have. A familiar gruff voice stopped her. "Sarah?"

Sarah spun around and saw Hoggle standing there. She stared at Hoggle for a moment wondering if he was real. Her vision became blurry and tears threatened to spill. Sarah's grip on her frying pan loosened and she dropped it on a goblin's head with a loud thud. Sarah ran to Hoggle and she gave him a hug, ignoring his muffled protests and stubby feet kicking in the air. "Hoggle! I thought I'd never see you again! I thought you guys were ignoring me or that maybe you guys were imaginary or that- Oh sorry Hoggle I was babbling what were you saying?"

Sarah set Hoggle back down and the curmudgeon old dwarf cleared his throat. "Not that I'm not happy to sees you or anything but could you not hug in front of him?"

Hoggle pointed a grubby finger in the direction of a pouting goblin king. Jareth drawled dangerously. "Yes, me. Please try not to hug hogparts in front of me, will you precious?"

Sarah giggled at her love. 'I can't believe he's still jealous over Hoggle of all people! It's kinda cute really...' Sarah threw her arms around Jareth and gave him a peck on the mouth. "His name is Hoggle and you don't need to be jealous of him."

Hoggle looked at the couple feeling more and more awkward. He cleared his throat to get their attention. "Umm, I hate to interrupt, but... umm what I was trying to say before you was smothering me, you two might want to go check out the gift shop an' see what the goblins are fussin' over. Ludo and Sir Didymus are in there now tryin' to keep the goblin's grubby hands off all of the uh... how do I put this delicately? Ah yes, the hottest items to hit the shelves since the first post cards of our national landmark."

Hoggle turned their attention to a garishly colored ramshackle building with a badly painted sign that read: "Giff Shoppe" in bright sloppy letters. It was jam packed full of goblins and the occasional chicken. In the window were strangely familiar items on display like a pair of tight pants and women's underwear. Jareth and Sarah rushed into the building, kicking goblins out of their way, and found all of their stolen items being sold off. Worse still was many copies of a certain tape flying off the shelves and into a ravenous crowd of goblins. Ludo and Sir Didymus were fighting off the crowd, trying in vain to keep the goblins from leaving the store with the stolen items or the illicit tapes. Sarah called to the ginger-furred troll and the knight. "Ludo! Sir Didymus! I've got the front of the store covered!"

Ludo and Sir Didymus looked up at Sarah with similar ecstatic expressions, happy to see their friend after months of separation.

"Milady!"

"Sawah!"

Hoggle came up behind Sarah and handed over her frying pan. "Here ya go Sarah, I thinks you'll be needing this."

Together with her friends Sarah managed to get back most of her stolen items, unfortunately some goblin got away with a few copies of the tape. Jareth who had disappeared during the fray emerged from the back of the shop holding a terrified goblin by the scruff. "Ah, Sarah, I found the owner of this establishment." Jareth scowled, and spat the word out as if calling the shop anything remotely decent took considerable effort.

The goblin cowered and shuddered under Jareth and Sarah's withering glares. The goblin broke down in tears. "I-I is sorry! Please don't b-b-bog me! You can have anything in the store you want! Free! Just don't banish me to the bog!"

Jareth glowered at the pitiful goblin. "You will turn over all of my queen's stolen property, and you will help me burn those deplorable tapes! And burn those awful postcards while you're at it! If you can finish that in, oh say, the next hour or so I shall be lenient. Does that sound reasonable to you Sarah?"

Sarah nodded. "That sounds okay, but!" Sarah had her frying pan out as quick as a snake the cast iron skillet just stopping a hair's breadth from the terrified goblin's face. "If I ever catch even a single of those damn tapes I won't just burn your stolen merchandise but this establishment as well. Am I clear?"

The terrified goblin nodded. "Y-yes your majesty! I-I-Iv'e rethought me life an' decided that sellin' turnips might be a better career for me!"

Jareth unceremoniously dropped the goblin and watched as he ran away as fast as his short legs could go to the back of the store. Jareth looked admiringly at his queen. "My queen, you are magnificent! Seeing you terrify that goblin into submission has me turned on!"

A blush rose to Sarah's cheeks as her eyes took his mismatched eyes glazed with desire and sent a pleasurable tingle to her loins. "I think I can understand why you enjoy drop-kicking goblins into the bog, but I hope it isn't your idea of foreplay or anything."

Jareth tossed his head back and laughed. "Oh my queen! I assure you, I can think of much better things for foreplay!" Jareth then pulled Sarah against his body and whispered, "And some of those things could be this curious riding crop or some rather enchanting peaches I happen to have."

Sarah grinned wickedly. 'Time to turn the tables on him.' She leaned in and whispered huskily into Jareth's ear, "Only if I can use them on you."

Jareth's eyes and mouth widened with utter delight. "Oh, you precious thing! You always know just how to turn my world..."

The goblin king and queen leaned in closer, their lips seeking the other's. The sound of a cough reminded the two that they were not alone. Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus stood not more than ten feet from the couple. "Umm, your majesties," Sir Didymus began diplomatically. "Perhaps if my king and my queen wishes to be umm... alone, perhaps ye should seek out thy bedchambers my king."

Hoggle rolled his eyes and added with his usual grump, "Humph! Newly weds!"

Sarah flushed from embarrassment and Jareth's distracting proximity. "Sorry guys, I guess I got carried away. I really am happy to see you, I really would like catch up, but-"

Jareth cut in. "Sarah. Go talk with your friends, I can clean up here and then I can give you the grand tour of the royal bed chambers, which I can guarantee are goblin-free."

Sarah kissed Jareth squealing "Thank you, Jareth!" She then pressed her body against his and whispered into his ear, "When I'm done catching up with my friends, we will finish what we started, no more interruptions."

Jareth felt the breathe leave him in anticipation. "I have just the place in mind where no one can interrupt us. Remember where the Escher room is? Meet me there."

Sarah gave Jareth another kiss and skipped away with her friends. Jareth watched her with some trepidation as her three friends showed her all the changes made to the goblin city. He thought of his bedchambers in the castle. 'I hope her friends can keep her busy while I ready my bedchambers for our long delayed wedding night. I must complete the bond with Sarah sooner than later.' Jareth felt threads of magic connecting and forming between himself and Sarah, like neurons in a brain or the roots of a tree. 'That first kiss in the park and that delightful romp in the courtyard garden has been re-strengthening the bond she almost severed when she spoke those six dreadful words. It has bought me some time, but if I wish to cement that bond and keep myself from fading away I must deflower her completely. I do hope I can make her first time a very pleasurable experience, I can't remember the last time I've coupled with a woman. Damn, I guess when Sarah exorcised most of my neurosis all the memories of my past liaisons went with. Oh well, on the bright side this means a fresh start with the woman I love and at very least as my body displayed in the garden I'm nowhere near inept at pleasuring a woman. I suppose I can always brush up my skills with some light reading, I know my library has many books on that particular subject. After I finish burning those gods-be-damned tapes and making my bedchambers presentable of course.' With a wave of his hands Jareth had a bonfire started and tossed one tape after another.

Sarah looked around the goblin city as she told her friends all that had happened to her since last Christmas. The Goblins were tearing down effigies and posters of a rooster wearing Jareth's pendant. What really surprised Sarah were all the flowers growing around the ramshackle buildings. Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus took her to a tavern called 'The Moonage Daydream', it was apparently a popular place for all the creatures of the labyrinth. When Sarah and her three friends entered everyone in there simultaneously turned their heads and stared at Sarah with awe. As she walked in she heard whispers.

"Its the queen!"

"The girl who ate the peach and wedded the King!"

"She's the one who solved the labyrinth!"

"Didn't she and king just you know..."

"She saved the king and our home!"

Sarah and her friends were immediately seated at the best table by the owner, saying that everything will be free of charge for "the savior of the labyrinth and the king and her friends." The tavern was run by non-goblins, which would explain why it was so clean and why the food was actually edible. If it weren't for all the magical creatures in the place Sarah would have thought this was a seventies-themed disco club. The tavern played songs by her father and stepmother's favorite rockstar, Gareth Kingsley. The place even had some of his memorabilia lining the walls, 'Wow, Dad and Karen would love this place, except for all the goblins and the chickens littering the dance floor. Huh, I wonder if Jareth is a fan of Gareth Kingsley? Come to think of it he looks really familiar...'

Dawn had started to rise from over the hills of the Junkyard and over the city walls. Sarah was finishing up her story. "Well, and then Jareth and I found that horrible shop and you guys. Thank you for helping me get back my stuff. It's amazing how much has happened and it's only been a couple of days. I can't believe how fast I've fallen for Jareth. Its dawn already, I guess I've been talking for awhile. So guys what happened here? When did you guys build this place and why did you put a chicken in charge?"

Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus looked at each other. Hoggle spoke first, "This place has been here for years, Jareth may be a rat but he sure knows music. As for the rooster, the goblins thought he was Jareth and was voted in. Honest mistake, since they both look like big chickens, anyways. No offense to you, Sarah, seeing as you is married to him an all."

Sarah looked at the posters of Gareth Kingsley, a rockstar from the seventies, and realized why he looked familiar. "What? Is that Jareth?! I grew listening to his music, my parents are fans. Huh, I thought he died or something, I guess I know now. I'll have to get Jareth to autograph my dad's Gareth Kingsley records. I'm glad you guys are doing okay."

Ludo gave Sarah a hug happily rumbling "Ludo happy Sawah happy!"

Sir Didymus raised a glass to the labyrinth new queen and loudly proclaimed "Milady, or rather, your majesty, I am most delighted that not only is the old king Jareth back, but that thou art the new queen as well, may you reign! Long live King Jareth and Queen Sarah!"

Everyone turned to the four of them and raised their glasses as well, happily toasting to their new queen.

Sarah gave everyone a beaming smile. "Thanks everyone, I'm flattered. I'll do my best til the day I die, which if I exercise and eat right won't be for another eighty years, but that's a long way off."

Sarah's friends gave her a puzzled look. "Umm, why are you guys looking at me like that for. I'm mortal, you know, someday I will grow old and die. It's a long way off, so I'm not going to think about it. I hope Jareth will be okay I haven't really talked to him about the whole age difference and aging in general yet, but we have lots of time before we need to worry."

Sir Didymus cocked his head. "Of what speaketh thou, my queen? Did not thou eat the peach, brother Hoggle hast given to thee?"

Sarah looked at Hoggle, "Wait you mean that magic peach that gave me that freaky dream? From what I hear giving girls roofie-peaches is the goblin equivalent of an engagement ring. I'll admit everything in that dream was perfect, except for the guests, but yeah I did eat it. I still forgive you Hoggle."

Hoggle looked relieved. "That's good. When you told me how happy Jareth made you, I felt less bad 'bout giving you that peach. You'll be happy to know that you won't have to worry 'bout growing old anytime soon, or ever for that matter. That peach came from the fabled tree of life. Jareth keeps it in his garden, I remember cuz' I sprayed the darned thing for fairies."

Sir Didymus helpfully cut in. "And thou willst not need to worry about romantic interlopers either, thanks to the magic that binds my king and queen together!"

Sarah felt a lead weight sink at the bottom of her stomach. 'Wait, I'm immortal? That's good right? Wait, that means watching all my family grow old and die! Crap! Wait a minute...' Sarah's brain had finally processed what Sir Didymus told her. "Wait, what romantic interlopers? What has magic got to do with that?"

Ludo was the one to answer Sarah. "Sawah have King's mark."

"Marked? Hoggle what does Ludo mean by marked"

"Oh boy, you see..." Hoggle had the same look on his face when Sarah asked her father where babies came from. "How do I put this delicately? Ah yes, you see, when someone like Jareth has his eye on a special lady, he gives her a fruit laced with his magic. It's called a present. If the lady likes him a lot she'll eat his present. Then he sings to her and they'll dance together, and... Do I really need to spell out the next part?"

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "I think I know what the next part is. Jareth already told me how goblin marriages work, but what does that have do with preventing any romantic interlopers."

"Goblins and beings like Jareth is different. Beings like Jareth mate for life, goblins don't. When Jareth made that peach, he made sure that no man or woman can come between himself and you. Ever wonder why those dates your stepmother set you up with never work? That'd be Jareth's magic mark, can't be seen but it can always be smelt. Wait Sarah, where're you going?"

Sarah fled the tavern, feeling sick to her stomach. She ran toward the castle where she knew Jareth was. 'That bastard! That glittery manipulative psychotic jackass!' She strode into the castle with the same determination to confront a psychopath who stole something precious to her. A year ago Jareth stole her brother, even though now a year wiser Sarah knows he was simply doing what she wished for. Now Jareth stole something else precious to her; her freedom. He took from her the freedom to live as a human and die as a human, and worst of all he stole her freedom to choose who to love. 'That manipulative bastard made it so that if he could not have me than no one will! I'm going to get answers out of him, even if I have to wring his neck to get them!'

Sarah found the Escher room and saw a trail of candles, red rose petals, and glitter. Sarah felt a pang in her heart at Jareth's romantic gesture. Tears stung her eyes, her anger faded to sadness at what Jareth had done to her. 'I have always wanted the perfect romance, but at the cost of my freedom?' Sarah followed the trail Jareth set for her with a heavy heart and determined footsteps. Sarah found herself falling to the place where she confronted Jareth a year ago, but it looked different. She fell onto a magnificent and grand bed with pristine white sheets that blended well with her frothy white gown. Gossamer white silk hung everywhere, fluttering in an unknown breeze. The smell of vanilla from candles magically floating around her and the light floral scent from red rose petals dotting the bed created a sensual atmosphere. A familiar silken voice came from behind her. "Does it meet you approval, precious? This is the very heart of the labyrinth. You are the only other soul that I have ever let in here."

Sarah spun around to look at Jareth. He was dressed in white and silver, wearing a cloak of snowy peacock and owl feathers. Light was illuminating his blond mane, creating the illusion of a halo. If Sarah didn't know any better he looked almost angelic. 'More like a fallen angel.' Jareth pulled her onto his lap and nuzzled her neck. He began to work on the fastenings of her dress when she pulled away from him in protest. "Wait, Jareth! We need to talk! I-"

Jareth silenced her with a finger to her lips. "If it's about those blasted tapes, I burned every copy I could find, but I also decided to see what was on them. Before you get angry with me, I discovered the goblin filming had the lens cap on half of the time. The other half was out of focus and he kept shaking the camera. Honestly love, we had worried over such a little thing. The loch ness monster has clearer pictures then this."

Sarah shook her head. "It's not about the tape. Jareth about the peach I ate when I first came here..."

Jareth held out his hand. "Wait!" With a wave and flourish of his hand a crystal appeared and turned into a peach. "Thanks to you the tree is in full bloom. Care for another bite?"

Jareth smiled devilishly as he offered her the peach. Sarah backed away from the proffered fruit as if it were a poisonous snake. Jareth creased his brows worried at the sight of her fear. "What's wrong? I promise you this time it won't send you into any poisoned dreams, this time it will be just us. No goblins, no more interruptions, and this time we shall both take a bite."

Sarah looked from the peach to the man that was offering it. "My friends told me that when I took a bite of that peach that I was forever 'marked' by you, and that I was no longer a mortal."

Jareth grinned proudly. "Of course! I know it must be a shock to you and I was worried at first how you would react. When I gave you that peach I was even more worried what would happen if I didn't." Jareth pulled Sarah closer to him and gently caressed her face. He gazed intensely at her with the same barely controlled fury and desperation as their confrontation a year ago in this very place. "I would rather die then to see your innocence defiled by an unworthy boorish man or to grow old and die! The mortal world is far too cruel and ugly for a goddess like you! But I need not worry about that anymore, now that I have finally won your heart, we can be joined at last!"

With a manic grin on his face and a maddening glint in his eyes, Jareth took a vigorous bite of the peach, delighting in its taste and offered it to her. "Years have I waited to be with you! Even before you were born, your eyes haunted me in visions. Let us make love and become one my queen, my goddess, my Sarah!"

Sarah felt her heart drop like a lead weight into the pit of her stomach. She looked at the man she fell in love with in horror. He gazed into her with a madness she had been blinded by love to see. His arms embraced her close to him in a iron vice-like grip. He crushed his mouth against her in bruising and desperate kiss, that tasted of peaches and magic. Sarah pushed him away from her, her chest heaving and gasping for breath. Peach juice moistened her lips. Sarah felt a sense of horror creep into her as she remembered the way he kissed, the way he pleasured her with his tongue, and the way she had enjoyed it all. "You bastard! You never gave me choice! I can't believe I let you touch me! Oh god and to think I was going to give you my virginity! I should have kept walking when I saw that owl on the ground in the park! I should have thrown you out the window when your naked ass appeared in my bedroom!"

Sarah fled from Jareth, ignoring his voice calling her name so heartbreakingly. She concentrated on that feeling of magic, calling it to take her far away from Jareth, picturing her room strongly in her mind. She felt the familiar tinglingly feeling of being magically transported. She suddenly felt like her navel was yanked and landed on hard ground instead of the carpet of her room. She was in the outskirts of the labyrinth with the morning sun being blocked out by ominous grey clouds. What once was barren was carpeted by flowers like a desert after a welcome rain. Jareth appeared in a shower of glitter. He looked imploringly at her. "Sarah! Please wait! This land needs you, I need you! Before you, this land and I were on the verge of death. Look around you at the life you give this land and its king! Look at the power you wield!"

For each step Jareth took forward, Sarah stepped back away from him. She shook her head. "Jareth, you're insane! You haven't changed at all! You're still the same psychopath that steals baby brothers and offers poisoned fruits!"

Jareth held the peach out for her. "I have changed! You changed me to be what you wanted me to be. I did everything you asked for. All I desire is the same thing that I know that you too desire; to be loved. We can experience what so few ever find and always long for, we can have true love. Isn't this what you want? An adventure? Magic? A prince charming that falls desperately in love with you? A happily ever after? More? All I am asking is for you to believe in me and love me!"

Sarah felt anger well up inside her. "So you'll give me everything I want except the freedom to choose my fate?! I wish you'd drop dead!"

The sky above grew darker, the wind picked up blowing the fragile flower petals away. Jareth recoiled from Sarah in horror. "Sarah, what have you done?"

Without warning black vine with dagger like thorns erupted from the earth, lashing out like snakes. Sarah felt Jareth push her out of the way from the vines' ambush. Before Sarah could thank him she looked down at his chest and screamed in horror. One of the vines had pierced his chest like sword. Crimson red blood stained his white shirt. Jareth put a hand to her heart and with dying breath sang words that Sarah had heard once before. "But I'll be there for you-ou-ou. As the world falls down."

Sarah felt his magic enter her and transport her away from him. Uselessly she reached out to take him with her. The last thing Sarah saw were the black vines descending onto Jareth. With his blood flowing from his wound, and a hand still clutching a half eaten peach, he sang to her with dying breathe a song of falling in love.

Author's Notes: Please don't kill me for the cliffhanger, there will be a happy ending! The sequel "A Goblin Halloween" promises this. Anyways so even more David Bowie references with the goblin disco tavern being named the Moonage Daydream. I also decided to go with the more subtle pseudonym, 'Gareth Kingsley', for the Goblin King to travel the human world then this usual fandom's favorite of 'Jareth King'. And please note that updates will be slow for awhile with school and holidays eating up my free time. I sent chapter ten over to my beta but I have not been able to start on chapter eleven. If I get enough reviews I might be convinced to put up chapter ten as soon as I get it back from my beta ::hint hint::