Hey guys. Here is the next chapter. I would really appreciate your feedback as this section has not been easy to write.

Also, sorry about the depressing dip that the story is in at the moment...it will come out of it, I promise. But we must let the family have their grief.

Lots of love,

FY.A

When Sarah awoke, the first grey half-light of the pre-dawn was just beginning to creep its way across the sky. She felt cold and empty and for a few moments she could not remember what had had happened. Jareth's chest pressed against her back and she could his arms clutching her tightly, a faint tremor running through him. Carefully she turned over in his embrace. His open eyes met hers.

"Have you slept?" she asked him softly.

He shook his head, pulling her tighter against him as though scared that if he let go she would vanish from him. As he did so, she could feel him shivering.

"Are you cold?" she asked him, placing her hand against his chest but again he shook his head.

"I'm going to check the children," he said and is voice was flat, emotionless. He leant forward and kissed Sarah briefly on the forehead, before swinging his legs off the bed and crossing to the door. Sarah lay there and watched him go. Without him the bed felt cold, impersonal. Not a place in which comfort could be found. She rolled over and waited for Jareth to return.

Jareth moved quietly down the corridor to the rooms in which his children slept. Softly he pushed open the door of Phoenix' room open and stepped across the threshold. Phoenix was lying on her stomach, her head turned towards the door and her thumb in her mouth, a habit that still showed itself in her sleep, despite her fourteen years. Toby was sitting in the chair at the bedside, leaning forward as his head rested in the crook of his left arm, his mouth slightly open as he slept. Phoenix free arm was stretched out towards him, and as Jareth moved further into the room he could see that her hand was resting on the back of Toby's neck. Toby's right hand rested in the small of Phoenix' back, fingers splayed to the contours of her body, only the thin sheet separating them from skin to skin contact.

Jareth froze in his movement into the room, staring at the scene in front of him. Unbidden, the monster within him began to uncurl as the need to throw Toby far from his daughter threatened to overwhelm him. He was just contemplating whether it would be better to send Toby to an oubliette or the bog, and had just about decided on the former, when Toby twitched, and his eyes flickered open. Slowly he raised his eyes and met Jareth's cold glare. Jareth jerked his head, indicating for Toby to move away.

Carefully, Toby sat up, gently removing Phoenix' hand where it had slipped down the neck of his t-shirt. He stood up, stretching the aches from his back and legs, the stiffness that had come from sleeping in such an awkward position. He looked down a Phoenix, who had not stirred from her sleep. He wandered over to the open curtains, and peered out across the Goblin City, up to the stars that were just beginning to fade under the assault of the sun. He felt Jareth's cold grip on his shoulder and turned to face the ice fire gaze.

"What were you doing?" Jareth was barely concealing his anger.

Toby ran a hand over his face. "Just sleeping I reckon," he replied and his voice sounded steady, though he took a step back from Jareth's intimidating presence.

"Why were you sleeping in here, Tobias?" Toby shivered and attempted to meet Jareth's eyes again.

"I went to the kitchen like you said and when I got back you were going to bed and Phoenix was asleep. Thought she might be scared if she woke up alone so I sat in the chair." He rubbed his hand over his close cropped hair in embarrassment. "Must have fallen asleep." He glanced back at Jareth again.

"Now you listen here Tobias," Jareth's voice was full of ice as he looked protectively down at his sleeping daughter, "my daughter has been through too much. More than any person should have to endure." He paused so that his words could sink in. "She does not need some strange man running his hands over her body, do you understand me?"

Toby licked his lips, preparing to tell Jareth that he had not meant to put his hand on Phoenix back, and that in any case she had had her fingers curled over the back of his neck, but he hesitated a moment too long. Toby was thrown back against the wall and held there, as though someone had their hand round his throat, although Jareth had not moved. His eyes blazed as he stalked towards where Toby was struggling, pushing his face close the boy's before saying in an icy whisper:

"I said, Do. You. Understand. Me?" Wordlessly, struggling for breath, Toby nodded his head. The pressure round his neck gave way and he sagged against the wall. Jareth looked down at him contemptuously. A noise from the side distracted them as both men turned towards the bed. Phoenix shifted in her sleep, her bare shoulders light against the pale blue sheet. Slowly, she rolled over, the sheet slipping down to her waist, exposing her young breasts. For a moment both men just stared.

And then, "OUT!"

Although Jareth had whispered the word it carried all the force of a bullet at point blank range and Toby was halfway to the door before he could blink. He leant against the corridor wall, his heart hammering in his chest, the image of Phoenix slowly turning over replaying itself in his mind. Jareth closed the door quietly behind him before turning to Toby.

"Watch out Tobias," he said silkily, though Toby noticed that his hands were shaking. "You don't want me as your enemy."

"I...I, I," Toby began, not sure what he had been going to say, but Jareth interrupted him.

"Now get out of my sight," Jareth hissed. "There is a guest room at the other end of the corridor. I wish you good morning." Jareth inclined his head, intimating Toby's dismissal. Toby turned and hurried quickly down the corridor, grateful to get out of Jareth's presence.

Jareth watched him go, the fire in his eyes fading as Toby softly shut the bed chamber door. He leant his back against the wall, letting his head fall back and closing his eyes. He let out a deep breath, wondering why he had reacted so strongly, knowing the boy's intentions had been good. Knowing the erection that had tented the boy's jeans was merely a natural in his sleep.

But still.

That was his daughter.

And she had been through so much.

Jareth took another deep breath and shook his head in an attempt to clear the sleep deprived fog that was clouding his thoughts before stepping forward and softly opening the door to the twins' room.

Rath's empty bed jeered at him, the jibes cutting at his soul as he took in Rath's pyjamas, thrown haphazardly over the unmade sheets, his clothes spilling out of the small chest of drawers that Sarah was always nagging him to keep tidy. He pushed the door wider and stepped through, turning towards the side of the room that was Nathaniel's. It was as clean and neat as Rath's was messy. Jareth's eyes turned to the bed.

Nathaniel was sitting on his pillow, his arms wrapped round his shins and his chin resting on his knee. He was shivering in the cold room but had not bothered to light the fire. Jareth sat down on the bad next to him, swinging his feet up and leaning back against the headboard. He slipped his arm round the boy's narrow shoulders and pulled him back until he was resting against his shoulder.

"Sorry," Jareth whispered. "Did we wake you?"

Nathaniel shook his head.

"Been awake long?" Jareth tried again.

Nathaniel merely shrugged. Jareth fought the irrational annoyance that was rising within him.

"Did you sleep well?"

Shrug.

"Did you sleep?"

Pause. Then Nathaniel shook his head.

"Why not?"

Shrug.

"Did you block the dreamless sleep I gave you?"

Shrug. Which Jareth took to mean yes.

"Why?"

Shrug. All the while Nathaniel was staring straight ahead of him, his face expressionless. Jareth took a deep breath, like a diver preparing to take the plunge.

"Was it perhaps because you wanted it to hurt. You wanted to be able to feel it?" Jareth held his breath.

Nathaniel slowly turned his head to look at Jareth, before returning to staring straight ahead. Carefully, he nodded his head. Jareth licked his lips, trying to work out how best to proceed.

"Do you want to tell me?" Nathaniel did not respond. "Alright," Jareth took a deep breath and lightly touched his finger tips to Nathaniel's temple. "Do you want to show me?"

Nathaniel turned his head slightly towards Jareth and slowly shut his eyes. Jareth stared into the passive face of his son for a few seconds before closing his eyes too, bracing himself for what was to come.

Nathaniel's memory seemed to show the world through brightness that Jareth could not understand. Mentally he blinked, focussing his mind more intensely on what Nathaniel was trying to show him. There was a whirl, as though Nathaniel had hit a fast forward, and Jareth got the brief impression of himself pushing Nathaniel against the wall and telling him to protect Sarah, an image of Sarah tied in her own sheets. Irrationally, the corners of his lips twitched. And then the strange pulling that had taken over Nathaniel's dematerialisation, and a sense of shock on the discovery of Pan's tomb. The appearance of Time. Nathaniel's temptation to join him, the power attracting him. Rath's intervention and the fight that ensued. The wide smile on Rath's face as he performed proper magic for the first time. His laugh's and shouts of joy as he changed the arrows to rose petals. Nathaniel's memory slowed down as Rath shouted and laughed.

"See Nath?" he laughed. "I can't wait to tell Daddy! It's like coming alive all over again."

The image of the sword tip disappearing back into Rath's chest as he pulled it out not quite quickly enough to avoid Nathaniel seeing. Rath's words, falling into the tomb. The blackness followed by Nathaniel's light.

And then the pain came, along with Nathaniel's realisation that Rath was dying. Trying desperately to keep Rath talking. And then the singing. Singing their lullaby.

"Sleep in sweet repose."

Rath's glazed eyes. The light going out. And then the silent screaming. The silent screaming that was still resonating round Nathaniel's head as they sat together on his bed. A scream so loud and full of pain that try as he might he could not hear it.

Slowly Jareth withdrew his fingers from Nathaniel's temples, suddenly aware that tears were coursing thickly down his face as Nathaniel's blank eyes stared up at him.

"Nathaniel," Jareth whispered, not trusting his voice, "Nathaniel I am so sorry."

Nathaniel looked up at him for a few seconds, reading the sincerity in his father's eyes. Then he nodded his head. Jareth wrapped his arms tightly round the boy, pulling him close, gently rocking him in his embrace. After a few minutes he whispered in Nathaniel's ear.

"Nath...thank you for showing me. I know it must have been...hard...to do. Now let me help you. Let me send you to sleep for a few hours. Not long. I won't let you sleep through everything. I promise you that." He looked down into his son's eyes. "But let me stop the pain, the screaming, for a little. At the moment it is all I can do. Will you let me?" Nathaniel stared up at him, before nodding his head. Jareth sighed in relief and lifted the corner of the covers so that Nathaniel could slip underneath. When he was ready, Jareth leant over him and once more place his fingers to the boy's temples. As Nathaniel's eyes flickered shut and his breathing deepened, Jareth leant close and whispered in his ear.

"And remember, we love you. And none of this is your fault."

Carefully, Jareth got up off the bed and left the room, pulling the door shut quietly behind him. He stalked, stiff backed, down the corridor, slipping through the doorway into his own bedchamber and sliding into bed. He pulled his knees up to his chest, curling into a tight ball as the weight of what he had seen in Nathaniel's mind brought the tears to his eyes once more.

It was the trembling caused by Jareth's sobs that woke Sarah from the fitful slumber she had fallen into while awaiting Jareth's return. Softly, she moved to press against his back, raising herself on her elbow so that she could wrap her arm round his chest and look down at him.

"Jareth love?" she asked him gently, placing a soft kiss just below his ear. He winced slightly at the contact, but slowly uncurled, turning to face her.

"They were singing," he choked, his voice unusually high.

"What love? I don't understand. Who was singing?"

"The...the boys. Rath pulled the sword out and they fell through the clock. He was bleeding to death and thought the world was going dark. They were looking into each other's eyes Sarah. And singing. Brother, brother you and I...Sleep in sweet...repose." Jareth's voice broke.

"Oh God," moaned Sarah, burying her face against Jareth's neck as tears filled her eyes too. "Oh God."

"He...he was smiling. He said Pan was smiling at him. And the light just faded from his eyes as they were singing..."

"Stop Jareth...stop I can't hear it." Sarah's voice was hard, grinding over her emotions. "I won't listen."

But Jareth seemed to be unable to stop.

"Nathaniel closed his eyes and lay with him. And his blood was covering the floor. Nathaniel is screaming. But...but we left him with Pan. He is lying on the ledge and Pan has his arm round him." Suddenly Jareth rolled over so that now he was looking down at Sarah. "You don't think he's lonely do you? You don't think he's cold? What if he's scared out there all by himself? What is he misses us? He's never been away from home before. Sarah?"

Sarah had her hands over her ears, shaking her head. "Shut-up Jareth, just shut-up."

Jareth stared down at her for a few more seconds before seeming to wilt, the fight leaving his body.

"It's my fault," he whispered.

Sarah didn't move for some time but when she finally turned to him, he was lying with his back to her, his eyes shut and flickering beneath his lids. And she could not bear to wake him from his first sleep in so long.

Please let me know what you think if you have a moment! xxx