Hey everyone. Once again, really really sorry about the delay – Christmas and all that. But you don't want excuses. So here is the next chapter. Please let me know what you think. xxx

Nathaniel stood on top of the mound, the wind whipping his hair back from his eyes, his hand clasping tightly onto that of his mother. His father stood behind him, staring at the cracked clock face set into the grass. Jareth rested a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Shall we do it?" Jareth tightened his fingers and led Nathaniel and Sarah to the stone seal at the entrance to the tomb. He felt strange. Disconnected. The dead body of his son lay just a few metres away. He reached out and touched the stone.

"Jareth..." began Sarah but Toby reached and touched her arm, silencing her. Jareth dropped to his knees staring blankly at the stone. He had been unable to save him. He was dead.

Phoenix stepped forward and wrapped her arms round Jareth's neck.

"It's ok Daddy," she whispered to him. "It's not your fault."

Jareth nodded into her hair, his hand absently caressing her back. He looked up at Nathaniel.

"Are you ready?" he asked, stretching out his hand but Nathaniel shook his head.

"It'll be neater if you do it."

Jareth looked up into his son's eyes and then bowed his head. "Sarah?"

Sarah moved to stand behind Jareth, placing her hand on the back of his head, supporting him. She guided Phoenix and Nathaniel to rest a hand on each of his shoulders. She gestured to Toby but he backed away.

"No, it should just be his family," he muttered. Inside he felt guilty about his impending desertion.

Jareth closed his eyes and stretched out his hand, feeling the rough contours of the stone, planning. After a few seconds he stilled.

"Think about Rath," he whispered. "All the things you remember. Why you love him. The fall of his hair. His smile. His deep love and empathy. Send it all to me."

As they did as he said he felt the tips of his fingers grow warm. He touched the stone once more, below the epitaph to Pan, and carefully he began to write.

And Rath Lawrence Amrit

To whom a Great Debt is owed,

Who is truly immortal in memory and love.

'Oh, then, be a man — and, whatever betide,
Keep truth thy companion, and honour thy guide.'

Jareth stared at the lettering before him, dry eyed and still. Behind him, Sarah took hold of Phoenix and Nathaniel and led them away, leaving Jareth a few moments of blessed peace before he had to resume his role of father and king. He shut his eyes and reached with his consciousness as high and as far as he could, straining to feel the presence of the dead that filled the graveyard around him. And all at once he heard it, soft and clear like the gently bubbling of a stream in summer. Rath's voice in the meadow. Words meant for Jareth alone, not his companions who led him to paradise.

I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,

And oh my grave the warmer sweeter be,

If you should bend and tell me that you love me,

And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

Jareth leant forward so that his brow rested against the stone seal. "I love you Rath," he whispered. "I love you."

Jareth rose to his feet and turned, feeling the love swelling in his heart for his family, knowing that Rath was happy. He walked over to where Sarah was talking to Toby and snaked his arm round her waist, kissing her on the cheek.

"Come on," he spoke into her ear. "Let's go."

Sarah turned her head and brushed her lips across his. "Yes," she said.

Jareth turned, his eyes seeking Nathaniel. "Are you ready?" The small boy shook his head. "Do you want to stay a bit longer, on your own?"

"I can take myself back in a while," he said quietly and Jareth looked at him sternly. A transport would be the most powerful piece of magic Nathaniel had attempted since Rath's death. "I can do it Father."

And suddenly he seemed older once more, holding himself with the confidence that had outlined his bearing before any of the tragic events had occurred, and Jareth knew too that Nathaniel could do it. And that he had to be allowed to. To prove his independence and to move on. He turned to Phoenix, but she too shook her head.

"I want to walk," she said. "Through the Labyrinth."

"Phoenix don't be ridiculous!" Jareth exclaimed, reaching out to grab her arm, but she darted out of his way.

"I want to walk through the Labyrinth," she said again. "I can call Elixsyure if I get tired."

"Young lady, don't you dare dispute my authority." Jareth was towering dangerously, his mismatched eyes sparkling with ice.

"I'm not a little girl anymore," Phoenix shouted back.

"You are a child."

"Jareth?" Sarah placed her hand gently on his arm and he turned his ferocious gaze on her. She flinched, but held her ground. "Jareth, she is the same age I was when I found my way through your Labyrinth."

"That was different," Jareth muttered through gritted teeth. It felt like the ultimate betrayal to have Sarah disagree with him. "Phoenix is not you. She is not as resourceful."

"I was a spoiled brat."

"She has no magic."

"Neither did I."

Jareth glared at her for a moment and saw that spark in her eye that had defeated him once before. He knew he would have to concede. "Tobias goes with her," he shouted and grabbed Sarah's wrist, pulling her into nothingness as he transported them the hell out of there.

"No Jareth! I need to talk..." Toby let his hand fall as he realised he was too late. "...to you."

Nathaniel stared at them for a few moments and then turned, starting to climb back up the mound in which Pan and Rath lay. He sat down hugging his knees.

Phoenix smiled sweetly up at Toby and stretched out her hand to him. Toby glowered down at her and set off towards the edge of the meadow but he stopped short as he heard her laughing voice exclaiming after him.

"Toby, you're going the wrong way."

He turned on his heel and marched back towards her, following her as she began to skip away towards the turned, her hair catching the sun. There was something new in her eyes. Nathaniel watched the exchange with interest. Something suddenly now made sense that had puzzled him since Toby's arrival. He hid a grin and glanced to his side, as though expecting to see someone who was not there. His face fell again but still he whispered, "Well how about that."

He would tell his father when he got home, he decided. But first he was going to spend some time with his brother.

Jareth and Sarah appeared in their bedchamber in the castle but Jareth did not let go of her wrist. He spun her round, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her hard.

"Don't ever undermine me like that again," he roared and sparks of electricity fizzled in his fingers and hair.

"She's old enough not to be treated like a child," Sarah answered back and Jareth pushed her backwards so that she sprawled on the bed. He leaned over, a sneer on his pale face.

"I would use the device but I require access which it would not afford me."

Sarah felt herself grow wet, his hard look enhancing the sensation. But still she was angry with him. "You are so protective. Over protective. At some point she will leave here. At some point she will fall in love. At some point she will look to another man for her protection. Not you."

Jareth snarled and ripped Sarah's shirt open, exposing her breasts and leaning down, biting into the soft flesh. "But not yet. She is only fourteen." He lowered his head and bit again and Sarah's head rolled back in the mixture of pain and pleasure.

"I...I was fourteen," she gasped, "...when I fell in love."

Jareth raised his head from her breast and looked at her with cold, ice dancing eyes. He plunged mouth to her lips, ravishing her tongue and raping her throat with the depth of his kiss. His hand pushed down and ripped open her jeans and he reached into the air, a thin chain forming in his hand. He tore his mouth from hers. Phoenix may not be his forever, but Sarah was. He grinned nastily.

"I have a present for you," he muttered against her mouth and sank his teeth into her lower lip. Sarah tasted blood and she whimpered beneath Jareth's assault, turned on so strongly she thought she was going to melt. Jareth grinned savagely again and unwrapped the chain from round his hand. Three interlocking chains in the shape of a Y. Her breath hitched and her eyes widened.

"Scared Sarah?" Jareth jeered. She didn't reply. He bent his head and kissed her. As he did so he reached between them and clipped the first nipple clamp into place. Sarah gasped into his mouth but he didn't let up. Laying the chain across her chest he clipped on the second clamp and gave the chain a small tug. Sarah groaned and her torso lifted up off the bed, following the pull of the clamps. Jareth moved his hand down and pressed hard against her clit before pumping two fingers into her shivering body. Sarah came hard and quickly, but before the fluttering had subsided Jareth clipped the third clamp to her clit and tightened it. Sarah moaned and struggled weakly.

"Not so eloquent now, are you my dear," Jareth whispered smoothly.

"Bastard," Sarah muttered.

Jareth wrapped his hand into the chains at the point where they interlocked and tugged gently. Sarah let out a little scream. "And don't you ever forget it again."

In a second he had vanished his clothes and plunged into her, letting out a sigh of satisfaction as he began to pump relentlessly into her, his hand still fisted in the chain, tugging in a rhythm altogether different to his thrusts. Sarah came again and Jareth leant down and nipped her neck, pushing her on as he continued to plunge into her. He could feel his own completion approaching and tugged harshly upwards on the chain. Sarah screamed.

"Who do you belong to?" he asked harshly.

"Oh God," Sarah moaned as he pulled even harder.

"I said, who do you belong to?"

"You, Jareth. Oh God, only you!"

Jareth vanished the chain, allowing the blood to run back into Sarah's sensitive nipples and clit. She cried out in pleasure at the sensation and came long and hard, her arms wrapping round Jareth's back, pushing him deeper and pulling her with him as he released his load into her.

For a few moments Jareth held himself still above her before he rolled off, stood up and walked out the room, his clothes materialising on his body as he left. Sarah lay on her back panting, staring up at the ceiling.

As Sarah walked through the castle looking for Jareth she heard the main door open and diverted to see who it was. Nathaniel stood silhouetted against the daylight, looking taller and older than he had ever done before. Sarah crossed over to him and put an arm round his shoulders.

"You got back alright then?"

Nathaniel nodded. "Mother, there's something I think you need to know. About Phoenix."

Sarah nodded her head. "I think I already know. I was looking for your father."

"He's in the study," Nathaniel told her, looking down the corridor.

"How do you...oh never mind. Come on."

"You want me to come to?" Nathaniel looked surprised at being invited to such an adult conversation.

"You might be twelve, but you are far from a child. And I know you love your sister very much." Sarah smiled at him.

"It was always Phoenix and Rath...I kept them at a distance...I thought I was better...because of the magic." Nathaniel lowered his eyes to the floor.

"So change that," said Sarah. "Come on."

When they entered the study Jareth was standing with his back to the door, looking at a picture of his three children that had been painted by Hoggle one summer day a few years ago. The dwarf was no artist, but there was something about the picture. He had captured something in each of the children that made them uniquely them. An insight into their souls. Phoenix was sitting cross legged on the grass wearing a daisy chain and smiling. Rath lay facing the artist, his head propped in both his hands and his feet kicked up behind him. He wore a cheeky grin on his face, as though he had just stuck out his tongue seconds previously. Nathaniel was lying between them, his head resting on Rath's back and his legs draped over Phoenix' lap. He had his hands in his pockets and his eyes were shut, but there was a slight quirk to his lips as though he knew he was in the position of power, on top of his siblings.

Jareth did not move when Sarah and Nathaniel entered, but after a few moments he spoke.

"It's Toby isn't it."

Sarah was so shocked that Jareth had said Toby instead of Tobias that for a few moments she hesitated.

"Yes, I think so."

Jareth's shoulders seemed to slump and Sarah crossed to him, wrapping her arm round his waist and letting her head fall onto his shoulder. Nathaniel stood uncertainly in the doorway.

"She's too young," Jareth whispered.

"She's got your fire. Your determination. She knows her own mind."

"How do you know it's not just a temporary infatuation? She has not met many young men after all." Jareth was clutching at straws and he knew it.

"She knows," said Nathaniel quietly. "I saw it in her eyes in the graveyard."

"Would you rather she married the son of a council member. Perhaps young Horatio who was so enamoured of her that he kept pawing at her until she spent the rest of that ball dancing with you or Rath." Sarah was referring to the Summer Ball of the previous year. Nathaniel had refused to dance with his older sister. "Or perhaps one of your cousins?" Sarah knew this was a low blow, but the ghost of Raemon was enough to stir Jareth's reactions.

"NO!" he said vehemently.

"Then who? As you know it will happen one day."

"Toby saved yours and Mother's lives. And he cared for Phoenix. He's seen her at her worst and he still cared," whispered Nathaniel.

Jareth dropped his head and sighed. "It seems I am left with little alternative, unless I wish to become a villain in the eyes of my daughter." Sarah ran her hand over his cheek and smiled gently at him. "But I ask for one thing. A little more time. Four years. Let her reach eighteen. Then, if she still wishes it..."

"She will," broke in Nathaniel and Sarah shot him a look.

"...If she still wishes it, then..."

Sarah bent down and kissed him on the lips. "Thankyou," she said sincerely.

"My God," whispered Jareth and he looked stunned. He felt like his life was spinning out of his control. "It seems that I have now lost my son and my daughter."

"You haven't lost her Jareth. Things change. You always knew it would happen." Sarah took his hand in hers.

"Yes," Jareth brought the hand to his lips and kissed it. "But not so soon."

Nathaniel hopped up so that he was sitting on Jareth's desk. "No," he said quietly. "You will always have me."

Jareth looked at his son and felt a deep glow of affection. "And thank God for that." He enveloped Nathaniel in his arms.

Sarah stepped up behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders. She whispered in his ear so that Nathaniel couldn't hear, "And me. Forever and ever."

"Come on Toby, stop being so sour." Phoenix flicked her hair over her shoulder and twirled in the air. Toby watched her. Her hair, brilliant in the sun. Her blue eyes shining. Her bright smile, just for him. Had there ever been anything more beautiful. And she wanted him. He longed to take her in his arms. She smiled at him and beckoned and suddenly he found that he could not resist anymore. He started towards her, feeling a heat burning in his eyes.

Toby stopped abruptly and drew in his breath, his heart beating faster. Phoenix let out a surprised little scream as she spun once more on the spot and found herself held tightly in her father's warm embrace.

"Hello Daddy," Phoenix laughed but her smile faltered a bit at the serious look on Jareth's face.

"We need to talk," Jareth said gruffly, looking over Phoenix' head at Toby.

Toby swallowed, feeling nervous. He bowed his head in acquiescence.

Any reviews would be greatly appreciated. FY.A xxx