"How much longer are they going to be up on the roof? Sarah does have school tomorrow - and the neighbors could see them." Robert was pulled away from the bedroom window by an amused Karen.

"No one can see them. Let Sarah have this time with her friends, she has a lot on her mind."

"She should be thinking about dances and normal teenage things. Not a Goblin King and a bunch of fantasy creatures."

Karen looked hurt, folding her arms across her chest. Never a good sign.

"I'm a fantasy creature if you don't remember, and you didn't have a problem growing up with me as a best friend."

"You're only half Fae, and that was different. You aren't a goblin."

"Robert, you've known about my world for years and you know we are basically the same as humans in most ways. We love - more strongly than most I admit, but we are loyal to those we give our hearts to and you well know this."

"After leaving me for twenty years," he said glumly as he watched his wife climb into bed.

"I gave up my world for you as soon as Sarah was born. I came back and became her godmother even though Linda couldn't stand me. Not all of us are trolls and boogey men. And even a Goblin King deserves love."

Robert had the good grace to look embarassed as he hugged his wife.

"I know, but it's just - Sarah is my only daughter. I don't know if I can give her up to another world."

"Sarah is more than you know, Robert. And no matter where she ends up someday, she'll always be your little girl."

Karen reached up and pulled her husband next to her to hug him.

"Love is stronger than fear, my darling. But trust is the shield love needs in order to triumph."

Robert smiled softly and kissed his wife good night.

"And how can I doubt such a beautiful wife?" he teased.

"You can't, of course," she giggled as he turned off the light.

JSJSJS

"The fool's off moping in his room of stairs," the High King huffed, pacing his bedroom floor. Seline watched him with mild amusement from their large ornate bed.

"Logan, you're going to wear a hole in that antique rug you are so fond of if you do not stop pacing."

"One little mortal child bringing our son to utter humiliation," King Logan growled. "Honestly wife, I realize that Kareena was your friend's daughter, but must her entire family come to mock us?"

"She prefers Karen now and no one has mocked us. The child has captured our son's heart." She put up her hands in a helpless gesture, smiling. "It was as it was when I captured yours, my king."

Logan grinned a bit at that. Seline had let him chase her until she caught him as the old saying went. Why should his son have it any easier. But - a mortal girl - and one who had rejected him so completely? He stared at the wall sconces, watching the flickering lights of the candles. Once upon a time, he had thought life was as easy to understand as a flame - passion and heat that somehow never burned out. Now he understood that flames sometimes burned those it sought to protect. Jareth's love for the girl was such a flame. Fae love was uncontrollable, and if not returned, deadly.

"Her choices were all to save the boy. He is safe - and once Sarah realizes that she may have misjudged our son, there may be a chance to make everything right again."

"But if she refuses him again," the fear in Logan's voice caught Seline off guard. Jareth's heart would literally break if Sarah did not consent to be his queen within the next year. Jareth had been so callous about love, never guarding his heart against something that he thought he could have control over, his parents each wondered if it would be Jareth's downfall.

"We must have faith that the Labyrinth has picked the correct bride for Jareth. Love is stronger than fear, my darling. But trust is the shield love needs in order to triumph."

"Ah the inscription from the Great Hall of Kings. Well, who am I to doubt my beautiful queen and her words of wisdom?"

"A wise king who trusts his queen of course," she laughed as magically, the candles went out placing the room into darkness.

JSJSJS

Jareth sat at the top of his puzzle stairs, glaring into space , drinking heavily. He had done everything for her and she mocked him in the center of his castle, the very heart of his power. She was to be a queen, his queen, if only she would realize it. And now, in a year's time, he would be dead. Killed by love's poisoned arrow. How poetic, the evil monster slain by innocence.

He took another gulp of ale and sneered. He'd be dead and she'd be free to dance and cavort with her little human boys. It was enough to make him vomit, but he liked his feathery cape and would not smear it, even for love. He burped, then laughed mirthlessly. He was a fool thinking that he'd be happy dead if only it would make Sarah smile.

Would Sarah rejoice at the news? Would she have another party with her unworthy friends, traitors to his crown, as she was traitor to his heart? He would be replaced by his parents in a year, perhaps a cousin, or a lord from a nearby kingdom. It mattered not to Jareth, his future was clear.

He fumed again in silence. Why should he wait a year? The girl did not love him and he would only drown in pain during the coming months. He stood up and glanced out one of the room's windows seeing the desolate wreckage of his Labyrinth below. It was decided. He would choose his fate. He would die this night a man. He would go to the little human child and show her - something. He thought a minute then remembered. Yes. That was it - he would show her that she did not rule his world.

"I've got - got no power over her? Hah! She's got no power over me, I tell - tell you," he slurred, standing quickly. "I will end this farce now. She will see how her defiance has destroyed and toyed," he laughed again. "I like that," he made his voice deep and ominous. "Destroyed and toyed with the great Goblin King Jareth."

Transforming into an owl, he raced out into the night. The fact that he narrowly missed hitting his head on a few trees meant nothing to him. His life was over anyway, what was a mere concussion in the face of a great and tragic suicide. He flew onward, lost in thought. There would be songs sung for him, perhaps a play or two. And they could pick an ugly old crone to play Sarah because that was what she was going to end up as - a lonely old woman untouched by a lover's kiss. Serves her right, he thought smugly.

Just as he got to her house, he got a bit dizzy and crashed into a large birdbath right in her back yard. Glancing up, he saw the girl come to the window and stare.

Well, he thought, the show's about to start.