"Devlin must be dealt with," Jareth muttered as he stroked his Sarah's hair. "He has much to answer for and I have lost my patience."

The king moved to sit up and was surprised when Sarah pushed him back onto the bed. Grinning slightly, he brought her hand to his lips, kissing it gently. He felt her shivers and his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Can't wait for the wedding?" His lips parted letting his tongue slide smoothly over her palm, sending chills down her spine. She pulled her hand away and tried to rise from the bed.

"Stop that. You aren't getting out of that bed until you are feeling better." His arms pulled her close and she noticed how much better he was feeling. Blushing, she smacked his shoulder. He winced.

"New bonding mark," he reminded her. Sarah bit her lip and tried not to laugh.

"Sorry, forgot." She kissed his chin then rested her head on his chest, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Jareth, you have a little explaining to do."

"Of that I have no doubt - but of what exactly are you speaking, Precious?"

"Eliza." The ice in her voice shook the Goblin King, just a little, and he wondered how to answer. Jareth had the good grace to look a bit uncomfortable for a moment, then hid it behind a mask of indifference. "And what of your suitor, Jake?"

"Jake?" Sarah's eyes grew wide as she leaned back to stare at him. "What are you talking about? He's my friend."

"He wishes to be more." A good offense seemed a wise strategy.

"That's ridiculous, I invited him to go to the shelter with me once and he said he had other plans. Would he have done that if he wanted to spend time with me?"

"He would if his other plans involved being as close to you as I am now. He was quite upset to learn we are courting, you will have to tell him you are taken now and have no use of his affection." The imperious tone was more familiar to Sarah than the loving voice he had been using and she raised an eyebrow in response.

"He's still a friend and we weren't discussing him, we were discussing you kissing Eliza."

"Were we? My mind is a bit blurred. I almost died, you know. I would think you'd be doing your best to look after me instead of interrogating me on past misdeeds."

"Oh you do realize it was a misdeed then? That is progress, I suppose. Though you're right - I do need to talk to Jake. I didn't know he thought of me like that." She smiled at the thought. "I wish he would have told me." Arms of steel trapped her and Jareth's eyes blazed in fury. She was a bit nervous but oddly enough, excited at the same time.

"You wish? You wish for that - that - boy to hold you as I am now holding you? To feel you next to him -" she hushed him with a long kiss that slowly eased his outrage and made him moan softly into her mouth. He tasted like wine and power and something just short of dangerous. She decided she could spend an eternity trying to decide what his magic tasted like and hoped Jareth felt the same way about kissing her. Pulling back, she whispered to him, letting her true feelings show.

"I only wish that so that I might have told him that I wasn't ready for that kind of relationship. I wasn't, you know. Not until you." At his smile, she giggled. "You are more insecure than I was."

"Nonsense, I told you that you were mine and so you are."

"You never told me that," she argued. "You asked to court me."

"Same thing, woman. Now you will never leave me again."

"I still go home after the end of the week. That's tomorrow."

"You need to say goodbye to anyone in particular?"

"I'm not telling Jake he isn't my friend," she rolled her eyes as she answered. "But I'm fifteen. I have to finish high school - maybe college. Then we can be together."

"High school, yes. But college can be obtained both on your world and here. You will need knowledge of both worlds to become my Queen." At her look of confusion he explained. "We have a university that is based in your world - many worlds actually. We do have computer connections between worlds, you can study anywhere you'd like. There is much travel in this universe and it is helpful to have knowledge of as many cultures as possible. Your credits here will transfer to the university on Earth and you will graduate in three years instead of the usual four."

"And what will I major in, your highness?" Sarah asked, amused.

"Whatever you wish, silly girl. This - this is acceptable to you? Being of my world and of your own? I know you would never leave your parents to remain here permanently, but I have missed you Sarah. Don't let me be without you for longer than necessary."

Sarah thought about it for a few minutes. Could it really be this simple? Just love him and let things fall into place? She'd never really be happy until they were together, but she did still need her connection to her world. And he was offering a way for her to have both. She breathed out a small laugh and shrugged. Well, why not?

"Jareth, you're right, it's a great idea. Karen and Dad could visit here with Toby and you could come see me in my world until," she blushed.

"Until?"

"We get married," she whispered shyly. He smiled at her and kissed the top of her head before gracefully rising from the bed. He pulled her up gently and headed for the door.

"Where are we going?" Sarah asked. Jareth smirked, bowing to his lady.

"We, my dear, have a renegade Lordos to catch. Then a betrothal ball that needs to be repeated. I doubt either of us enjoyed how the last one ended. Although it did get you into my bed so all's well that ends well as you humans say." He winked at her and she blushed a more obvious shade of scarlet. Sarah could feel the heat on her face and groaned inwardly. When was she going to be used to his wicked humor?

Voices outside the door got their attention. Seline was obviously still guarding the infirmary door, but who was she talking with? Hoggle? And the girls?

"Jenata and Alia - what are they doing here?" Sarah asked, slightly alarmed. "They shouldn't be wandering around with Devlin loose." Jareth took Sarah's hand and held it as he opened the door.

"Well then, let's find out what is so urgent that their magic found this place."

"Magic found the infirmary?"

"I'll explain later, " Jareth promised. Sarah shrugged, smiling.

"Warn me ahead of time, I'll need to pay attention to more than your kisses." Jareth stood there stunned for a moment before flinging open the door. But Sarah was pleased to see a faint tinge of pink on his cheeks for once.

Seline, Hoggle, and the girls were all talking at once. Jareth watched in amusement for a moment then coughed. All heads turned to see the Goblin King and his beloved Sarah holding hands and smiling.

"Jareth, you are out of bed," Seline said worriedly.

"Uncle, you have to stop Alia's uncle. He's a bad man - he took us away, and Alia zapped a guard and Sir Didymouth found us and," Jenata was yelling.

"Didymus," Sarah corrected. Did everyone in Jareth's family make up names for people?

"Jareth," Alia said, "I can feel him nearby, he's really close."

"Sarah!" Hoggle said, pushing past everyone to grab Sarah's free hand and pulling at her. "I need to get ya out of here. Devlin's around here."

"Higbert," Jareth said smoothly. "As you can see, I am well. Thank you so much for your concern for my Queen. I am fully capable of protecting her."

"She ain't your anything," Hoggle sputtered and Sarah gently took her hand back from the dwarf.

"Hoggle, Jareth and I are getting married when I'm old enough." She felt a pang of confusion at the stunned look on his face, then decided to focus on the girls. "Devlin kidnapped you? How did you get away?"

"I told you. Alia zapped the guard and then Sir Didymus," she glanced at Sarah who nodded, "found us and brought us here."

"And the castle's magic must have known to bring you to me," Jareth muttered almost to himself. "Well then, let us go to my study and we'll discuss strategy. A wave of his hand and they all disappeared into a glittery burst of light.

JSJSJSJS

Devlin paced outside the Goblin Kingdom. They were searching for him, the large group of goblins shouting at each other to grab a weapon and 'hunt down the filthy monster' who had attacked their king. Monster? Him? Devlin growled. He was a king, or he would be just as soon as he managed to get his women, kill Jareth and get back to his homeworld.

But how to gain entrance? The guards were Phooka and not known for their mercy against those who would hurt those under Phooka protection. He would have to hypnotize the guards, Making his way towards the gates, he felt the swirl of magic surround him, building in strength.

"Allow me entrance," he intoned to the guards.

"Did you hear something Loren?" the wolf headed guard said to his friend. The rabbit headed guard twitched his whiskers.

"Just your annoying voice, Bertram," Loren answered. "When does our relief get here?" He looked down to see Devlin glaring up at them.

"Look, it's a little man," Loren said, amused. "Wearing a fancy cloak, think he's someone important?"

"I am important! And I demand entrance into the kingdom," Devlin growled waving his arms around. Strangely enough, his sense of magic was gone. It must be stress, he reasoned.

"Ach, how important can he be? He's not even in a carriage, what kind of important man goes around walking around?"

"We walk around, Bertram - and we're important," Loren said wryly. "We guard a big gate and argue with little men."

"I won't warn you again," Devlin said, his ire growing. "Let me in!"

"The little man is warning us, Bertram," Loren said, whiskers twitching again. "Whatever shall we do?" He looked down at Devlin. "Here's a little secret Lordos - hypnotism doesn't work on Phookas."

Devlin's eyes widened and he flung his cloak around himself, disappearing in a blast of heat.

"Good going, idiot," Bertram grumbled. "He got away."

Loren tilted his head as if listening then grinned. "Nope, he's in the castle now on his way to the infirmary."

"And that's good?" Bertram yelled in disbelief.

"Aye, it is. You canna have a grand battle without the villian and the hero in the same place now can ye?"

"Well as long as he's in there, let's go follow. I could use a bit of fun."

"Agreed," his friend laughed and they teleported to the infirmary.