Biggest apologies for how long it took me to post this chapter. A lot of things came up and it just completely zapped my will to write, so hopefully that won't last long lol. Thank you so much for your support and I hope that you'll enjoy this last chapter to The Lovers, The Dreamers, And Me.
But down in the underground
You'll find someone true
-David Bowie, Underground
Two years later
Sarah's first wedding was a grand occasion. Grand, but a big headache. Her mother wanted a reason to show her off, and Ethan's family wanted very specific, fancy things that she felt she didn't need. She was pressured to choose a bunch of women from Ethan's family as bridesmaids, since she didn't have that many female friends. The dress, food, and cake had been elaborate and way over a budget that she originally wanted to spend. Linda even hired a famous singer to sing a specific song for them, despite Sarah wanting to choose another song for her first dance. Carol was no help either and clashed with Linda on what to do to the point where Sarah had to play mediator out of guilt and cowardice, trying to convince herself that it didn't matter that she didn't get her dream wedding because in the end, it was her marriage that mattered most.
It was still a beautiful occasion and in a way, a relief, because she didn't have to do much of the planning herself. Still, it felt very busy and she hardly got to see Ethan on their first day as husband and wife.
Her second wedding, on the other hand, was exactly what she wanted. It was intimate, special, and she got to wear a dress of her won choosing. Lucky for them, Underground wedding customs were much more flexible. There was no judgement in a wedding being as grand or as simple as you'd like, although most wealthy families used it to show off. Since Sarah would have a coronation to cement her place as queen regent anyway, it was a nice excuse to not have two big events.
Though it was not the large, elaborate wedding of her childhood dreams, she and Jareth had the final say in everything. For the location, they held it at the park where Jareth first watched Sarah recite the lines of the little red book in spring. A light summer breeze with the scent of blossoms hinted lighter days ahead. The water from the lake scattered the sun's light like little stars that fell to the earth. The moss on trees were still vibrant and soft to the touch, adding to the brilliance of the colors of nature.
Jareth's immediate family had been in attendance, including his aunt, High Queen Titania for this was the wedding of a king and queen after all. Sarah's parents, Ben, and Toby were of course there. Samuel, Lorraine, and Mara were also invited along with Sarah's three friends.
The goblins watched through the crystal, as they were promised a bigger, messier celebration for Sarah's coronation.
Technically, Ethan's brother and sister, Greg and Pam, were invited but they declined out of politeness. They knew that this was a special occasion for Sarah and her new family though they each sent gifts. Since the argument during Thanksgiving, Ethan's parents and Elena didn't make an effort to even try to reconcile, which was fine with Sarah as sad as she was. She no longer had hope for them, just as she no longer had hope for her mother, who probably wouldn't have remembered the date of the wedding even if her assistant told her so.
Besides, Sarah had all the love and family that she needed.
When her parents had been informed of Jareth's real identity, Karen promptly fainted while Robert was deadly quiet, trying to wrap his brain around it all. They took it well, needing to adjust but at least they weren't angry or upset. In fact, once they understood how much Jareth really loved Sarah and that their visits to the Above would be regular, they accepted her new love and treated him as one of their own.
Ben was the ring bearer, smiling in his shiny blue bowtie that he chose himself. He was a little "too old" to be the ring bearer, according to his Grammy Karen but there was no one better. He took his role very seriously, keeping a very close eye on the rings until they would be placed on the fingers of his parents.
They didn't have a "flower girl" so Toby opted to be one, wearing sunglasses and tossing petals at people from a fanny pack with the most serious face possible as the crowd laughed to no end. At one point, a handful of petals ended up on Julian's mouth, who laughed so hard he fell off his chair.
Sarah chose a simple, light blue Celtic dress as a homage to the dream she had of Jareth the night Ben asked him to make her happy. She made the dress with Karen and embellished it in silver and golden strands with Lorraine and Ava. They accessorized it with a flower crown, silver earrings from Illiana, and dainty silver shoes by Mara. She designed it with the intent of wearing it in the future for other events.
For her first wedding, Sarah was walked down the aisle by her father. For this wedding, Ben was the one who walked her down the aisle, puffing his chest out in pride.
There was not a dry eye in as the bride and groom faced each other, their wedding officiated by the High Queen of the Underground herself.
Jareth's breath stopped in his throat as the love of his life stood in front of him, glowing like a candle in the darkest of nights.
Finally, the King of Dreams was granted a dream of his own. The best part was that this was no dream.
It was reality.
Sarah took his hand, looking him in the eye as she recited her vows from memory. "For a long time, I felt that I didn't really belong anywhere. I drifted through life, checking boxes that needed to be checked. I convinced myself to be content. I detached myself from the people I love and focused only on what I could accomplish to escape how empty I felt inside. As an adult, I pushed down the fairy tale dreams of my childhood in order to 'grow up.'"
Her lips trembled, breath wavered. She averted her eyes, trying to hold back the tears. Jareth just rubbed her knuckle with his thumb, letting her take her time. "Jareth, when you first came into my life, I saw you as a villain. A foe to vanquish due to my fairy tale dreams. But, things aren't always as they seem. You gave me the ability to look into myself. You showed me how much Toby really meant to me. You showed me how capable I was of love and how I could have magic in my life, even if it was a little bit. You showed me that I'm more capable than I ever thought I was. You showed me that I could reach for my dreams and do anything. I fell in love, and when that love died, I was in pain but not broken. I remembered what it was like to be confident and reach for my dreams even subconsciously. That's how much you have influenced me. Then, you came back into my life."
She intertwined his fingers into hers. The world blurred into the background as Jareth came into sharp focus. "You stayed by my side and became my dearest friend. You encouraged me to reach for the stars. You treated, and continue to treat, my son as your own. Not just through the big things like rescuing us at our most trying time, but in the little things like making up after an argument or being incredibly patient. Because of this, I, Sarah Lynn Williams, take the King of the Goblins, Jareth O'Brien, to be my husband. I vow to show you my love for you every day. You'll never feel alone or abandoned because I'll always bat for you. You are the most wonderful person, and I hope that the way I treat you will always reflect the respect and love that I have for you. You are my heart, Jareth."
Jareth leaned in to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. Taking her hand, he placed it on his heart. "From the moment I met you, you intrigued me. I had no idea what was in store for me." He winked, causing the wedding party to laugh. "My Love, I was resigned to being alone and have been so for a very long time. At least compared to human years. I didn't think it was possible for me to be loved as you have loved me. Now that I have you, I promise that we will be equals. We are partners in life, whether that's in something as mundane as completing chores or as grand as ruling a kingdom. You have vanquished me, Sarah, and have won my heart in return. At a young age, your dream was so powerful that you brought out the song of my heart that I thought I had long forgotten. You say that I showed you how capable you are of love? Well, you do the same to me. For the first time in my life, I want to fully give my heart to someone. I trust you with it, because I know that you'll be good to it. I vow to love you until my last breath. It is with this vow that I, Jareth O'Brien, take Champion Sarah Lynn Williams to be my wife and queen."
With his free hand, Jareth touched Ben's shoulder. Ben averted his eyes slightly, looking a little shy at Jareth's intense gaze. "To you, Sarah, and to you, Ben. I not only promise to love Sarah with all of my very being, I promise to always love Ben. No matter what happens, you are my son. I will comfort you, teach you, and be there for you. We may not be father and son by blood, but it does not matter for blood of the covenant is thicker than water of the womb."
Ben handed them the rings. It was not of the Underground custom to have wedding rings, but they wanted to do something of Sarah's culture. Though Sarah said she did not want a fancy engagement ring, Jareth gifted her one anyway. Her engagement ring was crafted of silver, intertwining like branches of a tree with a jade stone in the middle. For their wedding bands, they had matching silver bands with infinity knots all around the circle, symbolizing their forever love.
High Queen Titania tied their hands with a golden cord in a simple hand fasting ceremony to truly declare them married. She blessed their union as husband and wife, king and queen. Jareth lifted Sarah up before they could even untie the knot, kissing her excitedly for all to see.
For the rest of the day, they had fun spending time together. They had a very emotional first dance, played games to see how well they knew the bride and groom, lightsaber battles (thanks to Ben and Toby), and multiple Underground games. It got to the point where they had to separate Jareth and Sarah, since those two were obliterating absolutely everyone in every game when they teamed up.
When evening came, everyone lit sparklers to light the newlyweds' way to a portal directly to a beach house where they would spend their honeymoon. After that, she would officially move Underground with Ben and take her place as the Goblin Queen and Ben as a prince of the Underground.
When they were finally alone in the bedroom, Jareth held a long, flat package to her. "I've brought you, a gift."
Smiling coyly, Sarah took it from him. "What is it?"
His leery smirk told her exactly what the gift was. "I'm guessing it's not for an ordinary girl?"
"I believe we have already established that you're anything but, Precious."
Sarah slowly pulled on the ribbon. Her eyes flickered to Jareth, who had the same expression a child would on Christmas morning. "How much of this gift is actually for you?"
He just winked.
She finally opened the lid of the box, torn between laughing and face-palming.
It was a Princess Leia bikini outfit.
"Really, Jareth?" She snorted, unable to hide her laughter. "You think giving me something to wear in the bedroom that another beautiful woman has worn is going to give you bonus points?"
He had the audacity to look a little sheepish. "I suppose I had not thought of that. Is it really an offensive thing to give you?"
She came to kiss his brow reassuringly. "No, I was just teasing. I know that you love me. I'm sorry for making you worry, it's a funny gift."
He knitted his eyebrows together. "Funny? I thought this would add to our bedroom activities."
She picked up the bikini. "It's a little hard to explain, mostly because Star Wars is such a cultural phenomenon in my world with a lot of strong opinions and crazy fans. It almost feels like you, someone who's on the same level as fantastic myths, wouldn't be touched by it."
Sarah pushed him to the bed, crawling onto his lap and holding around his neck. "The fact that you are aware and touched by it is endearing, really. I promise it's not a bad thing at all. I'm happy to wear it for you." She leaned down, giving Jareth a slow and sensual kiss. She took her sweet time tasting him, touching him. Her hands traveled down to his shirt, untucking it.
She broke the kiss to kiss down his neck and up to his ear, just the way he loved it. All while tugging on his feathery hair. Oh, how she loved her husband.
Husband. The word made her tingle all over with happiness.
"Just so you know," Jareth rasped, feeling himself grow hard underneath his wife. "I was not thinking of another woman when I bought it. I thought of you the whole time. Ever since we watched that film and you said that you used to wear it, I couldn't stop picturing you in it. It's about you, always about you."
He turned her around to quickly unlaced her corset, but Sarah stopped him. "No, that's going to take too long. I need you now."
She divested him of his pants. Still in her wedding dress, Jareth impaled her on his cock, groaning at how wet she was. They furiously reached their climax, collapsing on the bed.
Sarah crawled on top of Jareth, kissing him sweetly. "I'm so happy to be your wife. I love you."
Jareth wrapped his arms around her, overwhelmed with the love that he had for the woman who captured his heart. "My queen, you have made me the happiest man in both worlds."
After cleaning up, they decided to go on a midnight walk on the beach. After all, the moon was guiding their way and the iridescent kelp washed on the shore, giving the tide the illusion of stars.
"Oh, before we go, I have this present for you too." Sarah handed him a gift bag.
Jareth pulled out a toy zucchini, laughing to no end. "How thoughtful of you to gift me something to remind me of… myself."
"Not quite to scale though, is it?" Sarah teased. "I couldn't find one your size."
"That's fine, you're free to use the real thing whenever you want." He winked. "You cannot tell anyone what this was for." He placed it on a shelf. "Otherwise, they'll assume that I'm that small and it'll ruin my reputation."
"With those tight pants, I don't think anyone would assume you're that small."
Hand in hand, they walked on the beach, sand between their toes and their love between the stars.
Ten years after the first date
He laid flowers on top of the gravestone, placing his hand on top of it, as if it was the shoulder of the person who was buried underneath. He cleared his throat, crouching down. He had never read the gravestone before. Here lies Ethan, a man who made the world a better place to be when he was in it.
Of course it would say that. That's who his father was. That's how anyone who knew him described him.
"Hi Daddy." Ben smiled. "It's been a while. I used to talk to you a lot when I was little, before I really understood what dying meant. Truth be told, I did it even when I fully understood. I never stopped missing or loving you. I hope you know that, wherever you are." He sniffed, wiping tears from his eyes. "I wish you hadn't missed so many milestones. Going to kindergarten. Graduation. My first real job. Learning how to shave. My first kiss. But it's okay, I know you would have been there, and that's enough for me."
He stayed silent for a bit before speaking again. "I remember so much about you, but also so little. Mom says I laugh like you do. Uncle Toby says I take my coffee like you. You always made me feel loved and happy. We went on the best adventures, like the time you took me to feed ducks. Or Disneyland. But my favorite memories are when you would read to me, and today, I can't enjoy reading enough. What I remember most is how much you love me. And I will never forget it. Even if you're dead, you're still here with me. I hope to make you proud."
He wasn't sure what to do or say now. It felt wrong leaving, so he just sat on the grass, watching a snail crawl by. He counted the pedals on a wild flower and marveled at how green the grass was. There was something comforting about life thriving even through death. He had no idea how long he had been sitting, the Pacific Northwest's cloudy sky consistently overcast. At least it wasn't raining.
It was also comforting to just be near his body, even though the body itself didn't mean much to him, not truly, because it wasn't his father. But it used to be. It used to hug him. It used to love. He used to be there. He would never forget how much his daddy had been his best buddy. A small tear fell onto the gravestone. "I love you, Daddy. I miss you. I will never forget you. Ever."
He went on his knees, hugging the cold, hard stone. It was a reminder that this was all he had left of his Daddy's warm hugs and snuggles as he was carried to his room when he fell asleep on the couch. He sobbed, his face cutting into the rough stone and salty tears exacerbating the pain. "If I could, I would wish that I could see you one more time to say I love you."
He was so far in grief, Ben didn't notice the magic near him. Not far from where he was, the sound of magic and glitter swirled into the shape of a tall, formidable man. He was dressed in a poet's shirt, cinched at the waist, complete with tights and heeled boots. His fell as he took in the sight before him. "Ben?"
Ben jumped, his heart rate spiking then calming as he watched the Goblin King come to his side. He crouched down, holding Ben to his side, letting him cry into his shirt until he could no longer cry. Ben practically leapt into his arms, clutching him tightly. The King rocked him back and forth. "Oh Ben, we were looking everywhere for you."
Ben looked down in shame. "I'm sorry, Papa. I didn't realize how long I had been here for."
Jareth hushed him gently. "Do not apologize. Your mother and I were worried. We value your freedom and don't want you to feel frustrated or that you're being tracked. At least let us know if you are leaving realms for your own safety."
"I thought I would be back by breakfast, wasn't paying attention to the time," he mumbled. As a prince, it was imperative that his location was at least easy to find. "I didn't mean to make you worry."
"I know, my son. I know." He rubbed Ben's back, listening as his breathing slowed.
Since Ben wasn't making a move to stop hugging Jareth, he wasn't about to let his son go either. They both quietly watched as a brilliantly-colored butterfly landed on the gravestone before coming to land on Ben's finger. Ben gasped in delight. "Hi there."
It stayed on his hand a while longer before flying to land on his nose. Ben couldn't help but gasp while Jareth chuckled at the adorable sight. It made him glad that his 16-year-old son did not think it was "too lame" to be fascinated by the beauty of the world.
Soon after, it flew away. Ben stared longingly after it. "Do you think that it was a sign of something?"
Jareth hummed thoughtfully, taking time to think carefully on his answer. "I don't think it matters whether it was a sign or not. The important thing is that you know in your heart that he loves you and if possible, he would send a sign."
Ben nodded, satisfied with that answer. "I wanted to come this year. I'm kind of embarrassed it's taken me this long, to be honest."
Jareth patted Ben's back. "Know this, you wanted to remember your father as he was when he was alive, not after he died. That's not a bad thing. Visiting graves is more for the living than the dead, if we're completely honest with ourselves." He looked up into the sky. "But, perhaps they are listening to us and saying something back. We just have to pay attention."
Ben hesitated before asking. "When you and Mom would come to lay flowers, would you two say anything?"
Ben had always been open to Jareth about how he missed Ethan, but never quite broached the subject of his mother and his father to Jareth or Sarah. It just felt too awkward and he hoped that it wouldn't upset Papa.
He needn't have worried.
Jareth smiled. A true smile, not one that was reserved for when he was trying to maintain control of his facial expressions. "She would. I never have, I'm just here to support her. Having you made his death much harder on her." Anticipating Ben's next question, Jareth continued, saying, "She would always allow me to listen in, though I often give her space." He turned back to the gravestone. "Perhaps I should say something."
Ben smiled warmly at him. "Do you want me to give you space?"
Jareth shook his head. "No. In fact, I'd like you listen."
He cleared his throat, all the memories of Sarah and life after reuniting with her came flooding back. She was changed forever from the love of the man buried underneath them which has extended to Jareth's own life. "I realize, I've never come to speak to you before. I suppose I want to thank you. Thank you for being a good man, for taking care and loving Sarah. She had many happy years with you. Because of you, she has learned that love is possible. Your love has touched her, and because of that, it has touched me. You deserved to have lived a long and happy life, but I say with confidence that you lived it fully."
With his arm still around Ben, Jareth reached over to squeeze his son's shoulder. "This is Ben. He has grown to be a near spitting image of you. Though you had him for such short years, he has remembered your love and has become a fine young man I'm sure you'd be proud of, because I am proud of him. I am not perfect, but when I married Sarah, I vowed to love and raise Ben as my own. As far as I'm concerned, he is as much my son as my blood children. I hope to do you proud too, despite never meeting you. Your goodness and life has done so much for so many."
Ben stared at Jareth in silence. Through being his son, he had learned so much about his Papa. Jareth was freely affectionate and unguarded around his family. And still, Ben had never knew that his Papa harbored these thoughts. No wonder his mother fell in love with such a wonderful man. "Can we go home?"
Jareth took Ben's hand, transporting home together in the living room. He offered him a handkerchief. "He would absolutely be proud of you. I know because I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Papa." Ben dabbed his eyes. "You've done so much for me. Thank you for loving me as your own. I'm lucky to have two fathers who love me."
Jareth hugged him, happy to hear these words. "Your mother once told me that Ethan is easy to love. So are you. Your mother and I, on the other hand, are not."
Ben laughed. "No way."
"It's true," Jareth grinned, his pointy teeth flashing. "At least, that's what she says about herself. I disagree with her on that. We are both very stubborn people. But I love her very much."
Ben smiled at him. "I know. I'm really glad that you two fell in love and got married." He sniffed a little. "I feel a lot better, but I just want to go sit outside alone."
Jareth squeezed his hand. "I understand. Aunt Ava and Roselyn will be here soon though, so come inside in an hour or so."
A few minutes later, he came across Sarah in the library breast feeding their youngest child, Alondra. He had sent her a message the moment he found Ben to let her know that he was safe. She immediately put her arm around her husband, the babe still suckling. "How is he?"
"You didn't watch?" Jareth spoke into her hair.
Sarah shook her head. "No, I wanted you two to have your space. I wanted to come but I didn't want to overwhelm him."
Jareth detailed what had happened, including his own words to Ethan. Sarah held his face in her hand, lovingly kissing him. "Thank you. And I love you."
"I love you, my Precious Love." He kissed her fervently, thinking for the billionth time how happy he was to have her.
They went to the window where they could see Ben, sitting alone. Jareth was now holding Alondra, marveling adoringly at his sleeping daughter and emotional for his oldest son.
Sarah squeezed his arm. "Ben's so grown and mature. So much more than I was when I was his age."
Jareth chuckled lightly. "Not hard to do when you wished your own brother away at that age. Envious, are we?"
She swatted him playfully. "I'm proud. Every parent should wish for their kid to be better than they are. I want a better life for my kids than I did. But more than that, I wish for them to be better people and to have a healthy personality with the tools they need to thrive, no matter what life throws at them. That's how a parent should be."
Ben sat on the bench that his grandfather, Robert, had built. He enjoyed observing nature within his own home, feeling incredibly lucky to have the life that he was living. Even as a prince of the Underground, Ben had the luxury of being able to carve out his own destiny as he was not expected to take the throne since the Goblin Kingdom did not pass down the throne by bloodline.
"Hi Ben!"
Ben couldn't help but smile at the little voice. His six-year-old brother, Will (short for William after Sarah's maiden name), climbed on the bench next to him. Will took after their mother, though he had striking grey eyes like his aunt Ava. He was Ben's little buddy, always following his older brother around and wanting to emulate him as much as possible. Ben thought it was rather cute. His little brother was one of his favorite people in both worlds. "Hey bud."
Will gazed at his big brother with a slight frown. "Are you sad?" Straight to the point. "I got you this rock."
Ben grinned at the rock with the little smiley face drawn on it. It was the same rock Iglepus had given him on that first Halloween. "Thanks, it does make me feel better. Hey, you want to share pretzels with me? Not too much though, we're having dinner soon."
Will nodded excitedly. Ben put his hands together, summoning the bag of pretzels from the cabinet with his magic. "What did you do today, Will?"
Will launched into a fantastic story about exploring the Labyrinth with Papa and Mara. He then jabbered about how he and Mama read a book to Baby Alondra before taking his naps and running errands with her. "Papa says I have to start training soon."
Ah, combat training. Jareth had requested for all of them to enter some sort of self-defense training at the very least. Ben started not long after his parents married. It was not one of his favorite things to do, but it was made bearable by seeing his progress and bonding time with his Papa. "Yeah, but it's good though! You can join me and Papa. And you'll get stronger legs to kick goblins with."
Just as he finished saying his sentence, Ben smacked a goblin that was sneaking up behind him, reaching for the pretzels. "You didn't think that I wasn't aware, were you?"
Blaggerspout pouted. "I wants pretzels!"
"Ask nicely!" Will huffed, folding his arms the way Jareth would do. "Or I will ninja chop you!"
Blaggerspout sat on the ground, pretending to cry. "Please pretzels?"
"Close enough." Ben tossed a few in his direction. He heard another shuffle behind him. "Yes, you can have it too."
"Oh boy!" Evie took a couple. "Thank you, Benny!"
"I'm pretty sure you're the only goblin with a brain around here," Ben muttered. He patted her head. "You're welcome, Evie."
They shared their pretzels with a few more goblins before Sarah came to fetch them. "Boys?"
"Hi Mommy!" Will ran to hug her. "We had pretzels."
"I see that! Did you have a good time with Ben?" She scratched his dark hair.
"Yeah!"
"Go and help your Papa greet your Auntie, I'll be inside with Ben in a sec."
"Okay."
Ben eyed his mother in confusion. "Is something wrong?"
She shook her head, holding his hand. She was glad that he still let her do so. "Oh honey, nothing's wrong on my side. I'm just asking to see how you are. Are you okay?"
He shrugged. "I just really, really miss Daddy."
"I understand that." She looked to the sky, squeezing Ben's hand. "I miss him too."
Ben stopped walking. He never broached the subject with his mother before, since it was such a personal thing, but couldn't help his curiosity. "What is it like to miss him? I mean, you're married now and you really love Papa but you loved Dady too…"
Sarah signaled for them to keep walking through the Queen's garden. In the Queen's garden, she not only asked for flowers to be planted but vegetables and fruits. Anyone was free to take from the gardens, no matter who they were. Not far from the residential areas was an owl sanctuary that she had constructed after Hope the Owl was healed. Any and all owls, especially barn owls, were placed under special protection by the King and Queen themselves. The crowning jewel of the garden were the two peach trees that they planted on the day of her coronation that was now next to a small pond. She plucked a peach, handing it to Ben and taking another for herself.
It was not a topic she would talk about often. In their home, they hung up pictures of Ethan and Ben or with Toby, but none of Sarah herself with him. It was a part of her life that was important but had passed. She still had those photos in their storage box, but those would be given to Ben whenever he decided to move out. As would Ethan's personal belongings like his wedding ring. If Ethan was mentioned, it was more in the context of an old friend and a wonderful father. She spoke about him more with people who knew him, like Toby or her parents. Jareth, bless his heart, was always respectful of it and never said anything otherwise but it was still at least somewhat awkward to talk about a man who loved her in the past.
"I miss Ethan much like I would miss a friend. I love him very much, and the friendship we had transcends the romance that we had." She gestured for him to sit under the tree's shade with her. "I don't really think about our romantic times that often, even before I reunited with Jareth."
Ben thought carefully. "Papa says that you're his soulmate. If that's true, what happens if… if Daddy never died? I don't like to think that he had to die for you two to be together. But I know that you guys really adore each other."
Sarah pursed her lips together. "I've found that it's better to not think of 'what if.' What if you hadn't been born? What if this or that happened? What if I ended up acting and never met Ethan anyway? What if I never wished Uncle Toby away? What if I was born centuries earlier?" She took a bite of her peach. "But, to humor you, honestly I probably would have married your father until one of us died. I can say with confidence that I would have been happy until I died. Maybe Jareth would have found a wonderful person that wasn't me to rule beside him. Like I told you, I loved Ethan and he was a good man. I wouldn't have even thought to look at anyone else, no matter how gorgeous they are. Yes, even Jareth. But I can also say that if I was with Jareth from the beginning, I wouldn't have eyes for anyone else either. We worked together on our relationship and our lives so much that when I see my future, I always see him. He believes in soulmates, but that's in the sense that we are so compatible, perhaps more than me and Ethan. Or maybe that's just in different ways, I'm not sure."
"But you don't believe in soulmates like a destiny sort of thing?"
She shook her head. "Not in the way that we're destined for one person, no. If soulmates exist, how is that most people choose to marry the people that they have proximity with? Like you mentioned, it doesn't feel right to think that Ethan died so that I could marry Jareth. I believe that we choose each other. I prefer that too, because love is a choice. I choose to love Jareth every day. I choose to love you and your siblings." She looked directly into Ben's eyes. "I have truly loved only two men, and I married both of them. It was different with both of them."
She tossed a rock into the little pond. "The way I see it, I married Ethan because I wanted to grow old with him. I married Jareth because I want to live forever with him. Ethan was my past and Jareth is my future. Ethan has influenced a lot of who I am now, but Jareth will continue my journey with me forever."
She patted his hand and stood. "Does that answer your question?"
"Sort of." He tossed the peach pit up, juggling it. "I mean, all that's really important is that life just happens. I guess it's like what Neil Gaiman said about Destiny's Garden."
Walk any path in Destiny's garden, and you will be forced to choose, not once but many times. The paths fork and divide. With each step you take through Destiny's garden, you make a choice; and every choice determines future paths...The paths diverge and branch and reconnect; some say not even Destiny himself truly knows where any will take you, where each twist and turn will lead.
Sarah wholeheartedly agreed. "Yes, that's right."
They walked in silence back inside. Well, almost in silence. They could hear goblins fighting but Sarah learned that if she was involved in every single goblin battle, she would never get anything done.
"Hi Ava! Hi Roselyn!" She waved.
"Sarah! Ben!" Ava and Roselyn came to kiss both their cheeks before sitting down to dine. Ava was absolutely glowing. "We have exciting news to share with you all!"
"Are you two getting married?!" Will yelled at the top of his lungs, knowing his parents wouldn't really reprimand him until after the dinner.
"Will!" Sarah said, shaking her head and sighing.
"Actually, that is exactly why we're here!" Ava clapped her hands together. "We have decided to get married!"
Jareth nearly choked, amazed and happy for his sister. She and Roselyn had been a couple for many years now and they certainly hadn't expected this news since Ava had told them all that there was no need to get married to show their love to each other. He definitely was not expecting this announcement. "My deepest congratulations."
"Oh how wonderful!" Sarah hugged her sister-in-law. "I'm so happy for you two. Welcome to the family, Roselyn."
"When's the wedding?" Ben asked, just as excited as everyone else.
"Not sure yet, but perhaps next year?" Ava looked to Roselyn for confirmation. "Roselyn wants to continue her scholarly studies in Terina, and it would be easier if we were officially married."
"Not that I'm swaying you from marriage, Aunt Ava," Ben commented. "But you're a Princess of the High Court. No one would dare to require you to provide paperwork as a spouse of a scholar."
"Well…" Ava trailed off, wanting to be sensitive to Ben since he was the one who suffered most during the ordeal with the Erlking. "You know ever since my Grandfather has been exiled that people had seen the High Court as exploiting our privilege. It's best to go through the route everyone else does, even if we know that it'll get approved."
"I agree," Sarah chimed in. She was always worried about potentially abusing her powers. "The optics would look good and there's no reason you shouldn't do the same as anyone else. Good question though, Honey."
"Well, when you put it that way, it makes sense," Ben nodded thoughtfully.
"How is Toby?" Roselyn asked politely. She turned to coo at Baby Alondra.
"He's doing well," Sarah smiled, though it didn't meet her eyes. "He's still practicing law Above, representing children who are in a variety of horrible situations. He's taken up some new hobbies like carpentry. Says it keeps him focused. He's still practicing magic, so I'm happy to hear that."
Jareth reached out to hold her hand. At this point in time, Toby had no plans to move Underground. They hoped that he would make that decision, but weren't going to force him into it. For Sarah, it was hard enough that her parents would die relatively soon so knowing Toby could meet the same fate was difficult to swallow. However, it was his life and as sad as they would be if they would outlive him, they would always support him.
He brought her hand to his lips gently. Having known each other for longer than a decade, Sarah knew exactly what he meant by this simple gesture.
I will uplift you and comfort you when you need me most. When your world falls, I will not abandon you. I will be by your side.
Twenty years after the wedding
"We're having a baby!"
Alondra squealed. "Oh my goodness! I love babies. Congratulations."
Toby had his arm proudly around Beatrice, who was positively glowing. "Thank you, Alondra. I'm sure your little cousin will be very excited to meet you."
Sarah coughed discreetly, holding out a hand behind Jareth's back. "Pay up."
Jareth rolled his eyes. "Fine." He slapped some bills into her hand. "How did you know they were having a child?"
Sarah scoffed. "The mysterious dinner announcement? Both our parents and her parents there? Our family? What else could they have wanted to announce that was big news?"
"Perhaps they wanted to move to another kingdom like Ava and Roselyn did?" He offered. He eyed the money that she was stuffing in her pocket. "What are you going to do with that?"
She shrugged. "Buy the cat some fancy cat furniture? Why?"
Jareth groaned. "That insufferable creature gets more spoiled than anyone else."
"Nuh, you did not just say that!" She swatted his arm. "After that hour-long back massage I gave you last night?"
Jareth had the most content look on his face. "That happy ending you gave me was also incredibly-"
"Zip it, mister," she chastised him, though it did nothing to stop him. If anything, his lecherous grin grew. "My parents are here."
"Might I remind you, we have three children and created two of them together. I think your parents are very aware of what happens in our bedroom."
Of course, since this was Jareth, he had the audacity to wink.
Sarah folded her arms. "You insufferable-"
"At least I would have used the money for something useful."
"Like what?"
"Like buying you new lingerie."
"Aside from the fact that it's probably more for you than me-"
"Oh, you're full of bog water. You sometimes wear it on your own time to feel sexy."
"-As I was saying, considering how many times you've ruined my underwear-"
"Difficult not to when you look so delectable in them."
"-You absolutely should be the one to replace them."
A collective groan from their parents and children brought the two monarchs back to the rest of the conversation. Jareth raised his eyebrow. "What did we miss?"
Will made a face. "Uncle Toby says if they have a son, he's naming him Luke."
Sarah blinked. "Oh no."
"What?" Toby shrugged, feigning ignorance. "I think it's a perfectly suitable name."
Sarah pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're just taking advantage of the fact that your lovely wife is faerie and not human so she doesn't quite understand how many times you're going to pretend to be Darth Vader."
Ben high-fived his uncle. "So, does that mean that I can take my place as Ben Kenobi and can train him in the ways of the force?"
Will and Alondra groaned.
"That poor child." Karen shook her head.
"Well, I don't mind the name. I've seen Star Wars, it's a noble name," Beatrice pipped, rubbing her belly.
"Have you thought of a name should the child be female?" Beatrice's mother asked them.
Beatrice was still glowing. "Well, in case of a girl, we were thinking of naming her-"
"Please don't say it," Sarah mumbled into Jareth's shoulder.
"-Leia."
"God damn it." She groaned as loudly as she could in protest.
"You know what would make it even more perfect?" Toby wrapped his arms around Beatrice. "If we had boy-girl twins-"
"Aaarrrggghh!" Sarah and Jareth's whole family complained together. "Luke and Leia, we know."
"Hmph!" Toby exclaimed, looking down on them. "You guys are really supportive, you know that?"
Sarah put her hands up to show innocence. "Hey, just wanting to make sure your kid doesn't totally hate you when they grow up. But in all seriousness, at least those are actual names and I guess we are Underground."
"I appreciate it," Toby said with finality, looking very happy about the choice of naming his children.
Three hundred years after the wedding
Covered in a simple shroud, the family watched as Robert Williams was laid to rest next to Karen Williams. They had requested to be buried simply, joining with the earth once their bodies could no longer house them.
While Jareth could not find a way to make Robert and Karen immortal like Sarah, Ben, and Toby, he did find a way to extend their lives long enough to witness their grandchildren grow up, which was more than so many people had. Sarah counted it as a blessing, but it didn't make it any easier to see them die.
Overcome with aging and fragility, Karen passed first. Robert followed her a few months later, his broken heart too much to bear. Though they had more than three lifetimes longer with Sarah's parents than they had expected, it still felt too short. It was especially important to her to have them with her as her mother more or less stopped trying to contact her when she died and most of Ethan's family never spoke to them again.
She sat in the middle of the owl sanctuary, scratching the head of one tiny owlet that reminded her of Hope, the same little owl who bravely aided Jareth when he ran the Labyrinth against the Erlking.
Several other barn owls flew closer, gathering around Sarah. She smiled a little, touched that they could sense her sorrowful mood and came to give her comfort. A few were nuzzling into her side. Some carefully observing. Others giving her space to grieve.
"You're all so sweet." She gathered a few into her lap to pet them.
After sitting for about half an hour, Samuel and one of the owl caretakers strode into the sanctuary. The caretaker gave a quick bow and greeting to Sarah before continuing her duties. Samuel came to stand next to her, speaking formally since they were in the presence of the caretaker. "My Lady, The King would like to know how you are and if he may see you. He is currently in a meeting and would like for me to pass on that he will see you as soon as you would allow."
Jareth knew to let Sarah grieve on her own for a while. He knew that she needed that space before someone should join her. How grateful she was for such a thoughtful husband. "Thank you, Samuel. Please inform His Majesty that there is no need to rush. I will be going to the grove of peach trees after this, so I will meet him there." She stood. "In fact, I will be heading there now."
Samuel bowed to her. "I know I have already done so, but I would like to offer my condolences. I would also like to express my admiration for the way you have risen to face with life difficulties and crises. Should you need my assistance in anything, please do not hesitate. Especially if you need the ear of a friend."
Sarah patted his shoulder. "Thank you, dear friend. I think I will take you up on that offer another day."
He nodded. "I am happy to aid you. I will inform His Majesty."
An hour later, Jareth found her making rocks skip in the pond under the shade of the peach tree. "How are you faring, Love?"
Sarah shrugged. "Under the circumstances, okay, I guess. It was really hard to see Karen suffer and Dad missing her. Death isn't the worst thing, not when the alternative is to waste away while alive."
He pulled her close, kissing her forehead. "I understand that sentiment."
"I didn't realize how much it would suck to outlive the people I love. I guess that's a price of immortality," she mumbled. "But I wouldn't trade it, because I have you."
Jareth brought her on his lap, kissing all over her face and rocking her back and forth. "And you always will. I promise you that."
Sarah knew how lucky she was to have Jareth. He was there when she tried to visit her mother, only to find that she had forgotten their appointment to meet up. He was there when she watched the other people she loved died. He was there when she and Will got into the worst of arguments or when the economy was horrible on all of them. He would be her rock until the day they decided to leave the land of the living to cross to the land of the dead.
Two thousand years later
Lorraine finished adorning little crystals into Sarah's hair. "What do you think?"
Sarah twirled. "I look lovely. Thank you, Lorraine. Not just for your help but for your constant friendship."
"I am honored, Sarah." She lifted the dress over her head. "It is rare for two monarchs to be on the throne of the Goblin King or Queen this long, so I'm proud to be here to witness history."
She couldn't imagine that they'd be the throne that much longer though, since Alondra had an affinity with the Labyrinth. She would most likely take over once her youngest child got married. "It has been an honor to serve as the queen of this place. To think that I've been here for two thousand years as queen is wild to me. So many things have changed. So many events have transpired."
Since coming Underground, Sarah had found her place as queen. It was not easy, far from it. However, she had support from not only her goblin subjects, but everyone else as well. Since Jareth's reign, the Goblin Kingdom had known peace and progress. Even more so when she joined in as queen as a patron of the arts.
Living this long brought a lot of heartache, but it has brought her more joy than she could have imagined. Toby lived his life for a while Aboveground, originally choosing to stay mortal as he had fallen in love. He even got engaged. However, that fell through and he would eventually meet Beatrice, the love of his life and with children of their own. In fact, they became quite close with Ruben and his family as their children were close in age.
Their children were thriving too. Ben and Alondra were both married with fulfilling lives and Will was enjoying being the fun uncle for now. Perhaps he would marry later, but he enjoyed his freedom for now. They all remained close to their parents, visiting often and working together to build a better world for everyone around them.
Sarah slipped her arm into Jareth's, beaming at him. "I can't believe it's been two-thousand years since we started to rule together. You even longer on the throne. I think the ball we're holding to celebrate it has more guests than any event we've ever held so far."
"I think so too." He took a moment to discreetly kiss the back of her neck. "And you look more beautiful than I've ever seen you. Except perhaps when you're naked."
She placed a hand on his chest, raising her eyebrows. "Behave. Or I'll punish you."
He chuckled. "Careful, I may enjoy that. In all seriousness, I find you more beautiful with each passing day. I am filled with joy just being here with you."
"Oh, Jare," she breathed, kissing him softly. "You have been by my side for so long. I'm so lucky to have you. To heal with you. To build a family and kingdom with you."
The doors opened, cheers erupting from all sides. Looking out into the ballroom, they could see goblins, family, lifelong friends like Mara and Samuel, and dignitaries congratulating them.
The couple turned to each other, sharing the first dance. After knowing each other for so long, they could glance at each other and know that they were thinking the same thing:
They would always have each other to love and cherish.
All credits for whatever quotes I've used to their respective authors. The quote about Destiny comes from Neil Gaiman's 4th Sandman volume: Season of Mists.
Like I said in the beginning of this fic, I am inspired by many things that shaped this story. One of them was Jennifer Connelly's love story with her husband, Paul Bettany. She had a son in a previous relationship (never married though, but it sounds like they co-parented well). Her husband loved her son as his own and has said "he is my son 100%" although he often says "stepson" in interviews, perhaps to give respect to his son's biological father who raised him too. He and Jennifer had two kids after that which is what inspired William and Alondra in this story.
I have never written an epilogue that takes place thousands of years later, so you have RMBiehl to thank for that suggestion! Her reaction to Jareth saying that his zucchini was bigger than the one at the store is why I kept referencing it in later chapters lol!
This story was very personal to me, and it means the world that so many were touched. The world is really difficult and scary right now, and sometimes we feel like throwing our hands in the air to give up. Like Sarah and Jareth, we can't afford to do that. Do what you can to help yourself and others. Know that our world is absolutely worth caring for.
Btw, the phrase "blood is thicker than water" is actually "blood of the covenant is thicker than water of the womb" which totally changes the meaning from "family is more important than anything else" to "family chosen is the true family." I thought it was perfect for Jareth to say to Ben. Their wedding rings with infinity symbol intertwining around it is inspired by Bowie's wedding ring. It's beautiful and I would google the picture if you can!
I hope that this epilogue ties everything up. If you notice something's off, definitely tell me. Thank you thank you thank you for your continued reviews! You guys are amazing! I hope that you will leave a review, whether you read it right after I finished publishing this chapter or years down the line. Thank you thank you!