A/N to anon - well, Jareth wouldn't tell Sarah something when he could show her...I'm thinking that he wanted to have her find out on her own that she could feel him thinking of her and then ask him about it. However, Seline has never been known for her patience and Sarah *did* ask about the pin...

Karen came home and put Toby down for a quick nap. She heard noises coming from her bedroom and cautiously entered. The adjoining bathroom door was open and she could hear Robert talking to himself.

"So much pain," he was saying. She peeked her head inside and scrunched her nose. "Why do I smell something burning?"

Robert looked up at his wife and shook his head. "I had no idea of the damage humans could do to your kind. I had no idea that we can be the monsters, Karen. I'm ashamed of myself and it's all because of Jareth."

"What happened? Did Jareth tell you something?" Karen watched him from the doorway, not sure of his mood.

"More like showed me something," he muttered and told Karen the entire story. She didn't look surprised, only sad that Robert had learned about human cruelty to her kind in such a way. She pulled him from his sitting place on the edge of the tub and led him back into their room. They sat on the bed, holding hands and she waited for him to continue.

"That little girl, she trusted Jareth with her life and he helped her."

"Of course he did - he's their protector, human, Fae - it doesn't matter. Jareth loves children and only takes the unwanted when asked." She looked around. "Where is Jareth, anyway?"

"I don't know, he brought me back here and disappeared. He didn't look well, Karen. He was saying things about how Sarah was going to leave him and he was going to die. And how happy that would make me. Maybe I did think that in the beginning, but - heck Karen - I don't want anyone to die. There is too much of it in both our worlds as it is."

Karen thought it over and her lip curled in frustration. "That damned pin. I knew it was a mistake to give it to a fifteen year old girl. Sarah isn't going to know to block her flirting and Jareth's jealousy is making him ill."

"Flirting?" Robert frowned. "Another Fae?"

"No, Seline and I were talking earlier and she mentioned Devlin - Alia's uncle, and how smitten he seemed with Sarah. She doesn't like him like that, but if Devlin was flirting with her. Well - Jareth would pick up on her emotions. Lordos are quite persuasive even if rebuffed."

"And she did rebuff him?" A bit of the old Robert was back, protective father of his little girl. Karen allowed herself a small grin.

"She did. Like it or not, the girl's in love with Jareth." Robert nodded.

"I'm beginning to see why that is, he really has another side to him. He has the instincts of a loving parent with the children he meets. He's good for Sarah and I just didn't want to see it." Karen kissed his cheek.

"Let's hope that someday soon she sees it as well, my love."

JSJSJS

Jareth watched as Alia and her family finally got the chance to meet. He felt exhausted but stayed long enough to accept thanks from Orthos Delmorten and the other one. Devlin. He glared at the younger Lordos noble, feeling a twinge of violence on the edge of his already weary mind.

He smelled Sarah's scent on him as if he'd been closer to her recently than necessary. Jareth bit back the growl that overwhelmed him and merely bowed to the men. Alia was asleep in a soft bed, surrounded by stuffed animals and warm blankets. Jareth waved a hand and a small Goblin King doll appeared in her arms.

"I trust you will keep the child safe."

"She is home. She will thrive," the older man said. "We thank you for your assistance, sire."

Jareth knew he should return to Karen's house but he was in the Under Ground and so was she. Against his better judgement, he flew to his mother's castle and into his room. There she was, asleep in his bed, looking like an angel. His heart constricted, she was so beautiful, so innocent.

What would she think of the man who dragged her father into what he'd had to do tonight? Why were these feelings coming over Jareth, feelings like she would be stolen from him by Devlin - or others here who would see her as the pure, loving girl she was? He leaned over her, brushing hair from her face and she sighed in her sleep.

"Jareth," she whispered and he froze, thinking she was awake. He stared at her, longingly and risked reaching out to hold her hand.

"My Sarah," he whispered back, "how I long for you to know how much I truly need you." He leaned in and kissed her lips gently. Standing up, he turned from her, feeling weak and tired. She deserved so much more than what he could offer her, but he knew he would not leave her until she sent him away. The waiting for the inevitable would burn his soul, but he would wait for her ultimate rejection.

"Jareth?" The voice was more alert now, awake. He turned back to her questioning eyes and smiled sadly.

"I returned Alia to her family, I only wished - to see you for a moment. I shall leave."

"You shall not." The tone in her voice surprised him. Forceful, yet not demanding. She got out of bed and walked over to him, determination in each step. When she was in front of him she held out a hand and brushed his hair back from his face. At his curious look she grinned.

"You did it for me a few minutes ago," she teased. He gave a reluctant grin back and sat in one of his oversized chairs. After a moment's hesitation, he pulled her onto his lap and held her silently.

"We need to talk," she said, finding a comfortable spot as he became somewhat less comfortable. It took all he had not to kiss her until she was begging him to do so much more.

"We do," he agreed, watching how the moonlight hit her skin like a caress. He wanted to follow the path the light took, dipping down into the valley between her breasts. His breath caught as he saw she was staring at where he was and he almost felt guilty. Then she shifted in his lap and he only felt the need for her. "You met someone today."

"I met a few someones today. Jenata is a very sweet girl. You should be proud of her."

"You met her?" Jareth smiled softly. "I am glad. But you also met someone else. Someone you - liked. I will not stand in your way, Sarah. I am proud, but I will not force my suit," he said slowly. Sarah gave him a look of disbelief. Then she smiled.

"He is rather handsome," she agreed and his arms tightened around her. "And sweet. I'm sure he has had much experience with the ladies. So much he could teach me."

"You wish to learn more from him?" The death glare Jareth gave her almost sent her into giggles.

"Of course - such a sweet old man."

"Old? Who? Who else did you meet?" Jareth demanded, pulling her to him. Sarah laughed at the rage in his eyes.

"Ambassador Delmorten of course - who were you talking about? Those three - women who dance half naked in your room? Who think they own your heart? You dare come act jealous when you have who knows how many conquests running around here thinking they have a claim to you?"

"I have no conquests, unlike yourself. Or do you deny Devlin holds an attraction for you?" Jareth's eyes glittered in the darkened room and she felt a little uneasy holding his stare.

"You already knew about Devlin? You and your little spying pin, is that the way kings get their information? Through fancy jewels because of course just asking is out of the question." She gave him a look of smugness.

"It does not spy and you are a fine one to talk about asking me anything."

"What does that mean? I ask you things." At his look of disbelief, she shrugged. "And I don't have the benefit of giving you a pin that tells you everything about my moods."

"You don't ask how I feel about you, you do not tell me how you feel about me. I can only feel what you do when you are thinking of me."

"And if I was with Devlin and you still felt something?" Sarah challenged him and he stared back, breathing heavily.

"You were - thinking of me," he said haltingly. "I am - pleased."

"You don't look pleased," she said, tilting her head to study his expression. "You look jealous."

"Jealous? Do not be absurd - kings do not get jealous, we take what we want and enjoy." He caressed her back lightly and she leaned in closer to his face to stare into his eyes.

"Are you enjoying? I can never tell," she found herself giggling. "I still don't know if I should trust you, but I do."

"Sarah," he started to lean in closer and she jumped off his lap and pointed to the window.

"I said I trust you - but only to a point. You sir, are hiding things from me and I will find them out one way or another." He tried to grab her and she batted his hand out of the way. "Out, you. I need my sleep and you need to figure out how to ask for what you want instead of assuming pretty words and tight pants will get it for you."

"Tight - so you have noticed," he smiled, coming closer. She shook her head.

"We have a date at the end of the week, correct?" One dark brow arched and he felt giddy at her teasing. "You have till then to figure out what you want and how to convince me that I want it too. And as for Devlin," she sighed, fluttering a hand in front of her face, making Jareth's own turn red with the beginnings of anger. "You just let me handle that situation. No more spying."

"I was not -" he said and she glared.

"I will keep the pin, because I like it. But if you think you are going to sense anymore of my emotions, you will find a way to ask me what's going on instead of sneaking into my room and thinking you can control me."

"Your room?" Jareth's grin was wide now and Sarah blushed, looking away.

"Get out of here Goblin King, before I forget I like you."

He bowed and turned effortlessly into an owl, swooping down to kiss her head with his beak before flying out of the room. When she was sure he was gone, she smiled.

Courtship was turning out to be more fun than she'd imagined. But he was still hiding something from her and she was going to figure it out. She resolved to talk to the one person who would never lie to her, first thing in the morning.