The first thing she became aware of upon waking was soft music and a low male voice humming along.

"…Share each day with me…" The humming continued as the music played.

"Say you love me…"

Sarah whispered back, "You know I do."

Looking down at her, Jareth released the crystal in his hand, letting it float around them. Music forgotten, he smiled. "You're awake."

Sarah sat up, wincing slightly as her body protested her sleeping on the ground. "How long have I been out?"

"An hour at the most." He brushed the leaves that had fallen and tangled in her dark hair. Eying the crystal he asked, "Did you embed the whole thing in there?"

"I tried. Score only. I still have trouble with words- they come out jumbled. I wish there was a way to contain the actual recordings and not what comes from my memory."

"It'll come in time. We'll work on it together." He waved his hand and it vanished. "Besides, I like your version better; less screechy and synthesized. That Loud Webby person writes a lot of rubbish."

She smacked his shoulder. "Then you weren't just humming along just now?"

"That part happens to be one of the more well written pieces." He stood and offered his hand to her.

Sarah took it and tucked her arm into the crook of his. They started walking back towards the castle. After a few minutes of companionable silence, she spoke. "What are we going to do?"

"'We' will do nothing- the choice is up to you."

"You have no thoughts or feelings about it?"

"Of course I do. But a year is about equal to a blink of an eye to the Fae. We live for so long that…."

She interrupted. "Have you ever Borrowed?"

He looked down at her "Yes, in my younger years. It's a good way to find out if Bonding is agreeable without actually being Bonded."

"Who was it?"

His eyes focused on something or someone she couldn't see. "Henrietta. Pretty little blond, had legs for miles." Sarah frowned at that.

"You know she's responsible for all the chickens here- had a fondness for them. We were together for a few centuries before she went back to her husband."

"Chickens… Wait, what happened?"

"Nothing, as far as I could tell. She just missed him, is all."

"You mean she never saw him, in all that time?"

"They had regular visits, but at the end of the day she came home to me."

Sarah stopped walking and turned to look at him. "Did you sleep together?"

Jareth's eyebrows glinted with remembrances of wicked pleasure. "Yes, we partook in all aspects of Bonded life."

She swallowed thickly at that. "Will I have to, too? If I say yes, will it be expected?"

"It's expected before you're officially Borrowed." He started walking again, leaving Sarah behind. She stood for a minute or two, mouth agape. She snapped it shut and hurried to catch up.

"Expected?! He isn't going to try anything during his visit?"

Jareth took her hand in his. "Not as long as we're in the same bed." He smiled wolfishly. "However, I wouldn't put it past him to try and engage in a ménage a trois."

Sarah's eyes grew as big as dinner plates at this. "Oh, no, absolutely not!" Jareth started laughing heartily and kissed her on her nose.

They arrived back at the castle with Sarah still fuming over chickens and a trois's. Storming up to their bedchamber, she decided to try and soak her feelings out in their tub, and Jareth knew well enough to let her be.

'She'll cool off and come to terms with things,' he thought as he walked towards the castle library. Most of the texts were in ancient tongues, some of which even he had a hard time reading, but they were well organized, thanks to Sarah. That was one of the first things she did when she started spending more and more time in the Underground while they were courting.

"Your library is a mess," she stated as she walked into his throne room.

Jareth looked up at her, his concentration of whacking a riding crop against his boot broken. "It's organized chaos." He waved his hand at the assembled chickens and goblins. "As is this."

She pursed her lips and pointed at the crowd. "That is goblins and chickens doing what they do: goblin-ing and chicken-ing." She pointed back towards the general vicinity of the library. "That is a mess."

He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. 'What is it with her and cleanliness? Things are fine the way they are-' his thoughts were interrupted by a goblin puking on a chicken who turned around and pecked him square in the face. 'Well, maybe not that fine…'

Letting them fight, he addressed her. "What do I get if I allow you to clean it?"

"A clean and organized library."

"And…" he prompted.

"And me spending more time here."

His ears perked up at that. She had been spending a few days here and there in the Underground, but always returned Above well before nightfall. It wasn't as if they hadn't been intimate. They had, for some weeks now, but she still resisted sleeping over. He could use this to his advantage.

"Spend the night."

"What?" she asked.

"You can clean the whole Labyrinth if that's your wish as long as you start spending the night." He got up off his throne and walked towards her.

She stared at him- trying to figure out if he had an ulterior motive. She loved spending time with him Above or Underground, but she was afraid that if she stayed too long in the Underground, she'd lose track of time and forget about important things like school, her family, her job ,even. She pointed up. "What about that?"

Jareth looked up. "You mean that stain on the ceiling? It's been there for ages, but you can try cleaning it."

Sarah giggled as he snaked his arms around her waist. "Not that. My other life."

"Ah, your other life. If I had it my way, you'd stay here forever. Preferably in my bed… naked." He nuzzled her neck and chuckled at the provocative image. "No, as long as you're here and until we can make more… permanent arrangements, I'll pause your Aboveground life. It'll be like you never left." Standing straight, he looked into her eyes. "Agreed?"

She kissed him on the mouth. "Agreed."

Humming tunelessly at the fond memory, he opened the library doors. Just as clean and organized as she preferred. All the books of similar languages grouped together, wooden bookcases and tables polished to a gleam. Nary a chicken in sight. There was even a small grouping of Sarah's Aboveground books. A few fairytales, American history, cookbooks and a fair collection of trashy romance novels. Jareth picked one up and examined it. The Pirate Bride, the title announced. A half-naked, dark haired man who had more muscles than what was natural posed with a swooned redhead in his arms, her bountiful bosom threatening to fall out of her bodice.

"Honestly, who looks like that? And why does she read these… am I not romantic enough? After all, I paint her mornings of gold on the third Thursday of the month."

"Mornings of gold?" a voice sneered from a dark corner. "If that's your idea of romance, I'll have her agreeing to being Borrowed before the week is out."

Jareth tossed the book back with the others. "Severus," he said coldly. "I trust you had pleasant afternoon."

Severus placed the book he was reading on the table next to him. While Jareth's collection leaned more towards Fae texts, he did have a few rare Wizarding tomes. "I did, although it would have been more pleasant had Sarah been there. Was she able to 'clear her head,' as she put it?"

Jareth walked over to a side table that held a decanter of brandy. Unstopping it, he poured two glasses and, handing one to Severus, he said, "She'll warm up to the idea. But it's not a definite yes, you know. And you do have six months before she has to accept or not."

"That's more than enough time."

Jareth sat in the matching armchair next to Severus and took a long draw from his glass- a little longer than what was accepted in polite society. He had feelings about what Severus Snape was trying to do, but per Fae law he couldn't object if Sarah chose to be Borrowed. He was allowed to privately feel unhappy about the whole thing, though. How dare Severus encroach upon his happiness and try to take what was his? He wondered idly if Henrietta's husband had felt the same way when she had been Borrowed centuries ago by him. Or how any of the Bonded Fae noblemen felt, for that matter. Was it just him? Was he making it a bigger issue than it was? Perhaps he should just burry his feelings and keep moving forward. Hadn't he himself told Sarah that a year (or more if she wanted it) wasn't that long? Which it truly wasn't, not to his kind.

He contemplated the remaining brandy in his glass. She was different. That's what must be causing these feelings. It was not unheard of, but extremely rare for his kind to Bond with a human. According to the Fae history books, theirs had been the first bonding in a millennia between a Fae and a human. His left palm twinged suddenly, pulling his attention away from his musings. Even though he couldn't see the scar- due to keeping his hands gloved- he remembered their handfasting fondly. Sarah's alabaster skin wrapped in the finest cream, gold lace. Hair pulled back in a riot of curls cascading down her back. Instead of a crown, she wore a headpiece reminiscent of her peach induced masquerade, which wasn't a fantasy, but a reality dressed as a dream for the both of them.

The minute the crystal blade had sliced through both of their palms, their worlds changed forever. She gained a bit of his magic and longevity, and he… well, it wasn't as if he didn't have feelings. The Fae did, but theirs weren't as strong as humans. He already had a deep love for Sarah, but it was like there was a gauze or a wall in between him and the completeness of the feeling. He didn't feel connected instantly; like Sarah's slowly developing powers, he felt more and more connected to the way he felt about things over time. 'It must be her humanity,' he thought. 'That has to be why this is so unsettling to me.'

Glancing over at Severus, Jareth considered his half-brother. He had gone back to perusing the book he'd picked up earlier, evidently comfortable in their silence and not sensing the turmoil rolling within Jareth. Being half-Fae and half-Wizard, Severus Snape had been an outcast, a bastard in both worlds. Being a half-blood didn't matter to the Fae gentility, but since he was born a bastard (all babies born of Bondings or Borrowings were considered part of wedlock), he wasn't considered part of them. He was barred from attending large Court gatherings, which is why he hadn't been present at Jareth and Sarah's handfasting.

Jareth had still been considered young by Fae standards- a few years before he was of age to Borrow- when he and his parents got word of Severus' existence by goblin courier. His parents rarely fought and their temperaments complimented each other; they worked in tandem to rule the Goblin Kingdom fairly. They each had high cheekbones and fair skin, which Jareth had inherited from them both, but he favored his father's wild, blonde hair, which paired well with his mother's blue eyes.

So, it had been a bit of a shock for Jareth to see his mother, Orrla, so incensed over the situation. Open relationships, liaisons, even rolls in the proverbial hay, were accepted as long as certain rules and etiquette were followed. An illegitimate son of the Goblin King followed no rules.

"There are spells, potions, even. Why weren't you more careful?" she asked her husband, Eldon, who looked sheepishly at her for a moment.

"Well, they just invented this new drink, Firewhisky, and I had too much, and she was very pretty. You know I cannot resist beauty, my Wife."

Orrla huffed in annoyance and turned away from him. "Fine, just make sure he's taken care of, and that no one in Court knows."

Eldon placed his hands on his wife's shoulders, trying to comfort her. "Done."

To make things easier on the child, they decided that he would be raised in the Wizarding World, his true parentage hidden from them as well.

As he got older and was made aware of his true father and older half-brother, Severus was allowed to visit the Goblin Kingdom. However, the citizens of the Underground knew him as a distant cousin of Jareth's. Even though Jareth was much, much older than Severus (by Fae standards), physically, they looked to be around the same age. In fact, at the first proper meeting of both young men, Severus punched Jareth square in the left eye- permanently dilating the pupil. Jareth took to the unusual look instantly, deciding that it added to his overall charisma, and no grudges were harbored on his side.

However, Jareth had a feeling that Severus had never gotten over his feelings of jealousy at him having had a loving family, respect and the acceptance of others. That's probably why he wants to pursue Sarah- to glean some happiness from me, even if it is quite literally borrowed. Finishing his drink, Jareth swiftly stood up and left the library, saying nothing to the dark man who sat in the dark corner.

As soon as the door shut behind Jareth, Severus snapped his book closed and smirked.

Sarah sighed as the steaming water relaxed her sore muscles. She had forgotten how relaxing baths were, since it was much easier and quicker to shower in the Aboveground. The Aboveground… she hadn't been there in a while, too busy with becoming accustomed to married life, being a queen, having magic powers. I really should visit. See how Toby and Karen are doing. Dad too… Her family had taken to Sarah dating a Faerie king from the Underground quite well, all things considered. Well, they were eased into it, actually. It was three months of secret dating before Sarah felt she was ready to introduce him to her family. And even then, he had glamored himself to look like a plain human with the backstory that he was an exchange student at Sarah's college. It had fooled Karen and Robert completely, Toby… not so much. The six-year-old boy was cautious around Jareth King at first- feeling as though he had met him before, despite the insistence otherwise from his parents.

The truth was revealed two months later at Thanksgiving when the turkey moved on its own. Jareth and Sarah groaned, knowing who was the culprit: Goblins. They had followed their beloved King for a bit of Aboveground holiday merrymaking. Karen, Robert and Toby were too surprised to move, so Jareth picked up the serving knife and fork and carefully split the bird in half, revealing the goblins within. Shouting a happy "Hi King; hi Lady!" they continued munching on the remaining stuffing.

Toby started giggling. "Knew it," he squealed with delight.

Jareth winked at him while Sarah cleared her throat and addressed her family. "There's something you should know…"

After getting over their initial shock, Jareth the Goblin King was accepted into the family as much as Jareth, the college student, had been. But the wine that he had brought might have had something to do with their easy acceptance.

"You put something in it, didn't you?" Sarah accused, poking him in the chest.

A flash of wicked humor crossed his face. "Just a hint of blueberries. Underground blueberries," he clarified. Aboveground blueberries only had the slightest calming effects when eaten. Underground ones, however... well, a small handful could knock even the strongest Fae off his feet for several days. "I was only thinking of you, my dear. You've told me many times before how stressful your family could be."

She couldn't lie- at the time she was annoyed with him for influencing her family that way, but it did make everything easier. And now they could laugh at it, at least.

A barn owl swooped in through the large window which overlooked the Labyrinth. It landed on the floor next to the recessed tub and cocked its head, eyes filling with warmth for the woman before it. In a flash of glitter, Jareth lounged in the bird's place. "My love," he murmured, leaning forward kissing her cheek. "Feeling better?" He removed his ever-present gloves and trailed his left hand in the water.

"Yes, I do."

Finding her hand submerged in the water, he raised it to his lips and grimaced after kissing its fingertips. "You're pruning."

"I hadn't realized I had been in that long."

He grazed his damp hand across her cheek, leaving a streak of water behind. "Let's get to bed, hmmm?"

Sitting with her back to him, Sarah gave a moan of pleasure. There was nothing better than having someone else towel dry her hair. He had gone a step further and was now brushing her locks until they gleamed like highly polished mahogany. "What did you do for the rest of the day?"

He picked up another section of hair and worked on it until it shined like the rest. "Sat with Severus in the library."

"Did you talk about… it?"

"No, nothing I could say would assuage him."

"Oh." She looked at her lap. "Jareth, what would you do if I said yes to it? How would you feel?"

He continued to brush, working out a tangle. "I would miss you, dearest, but it's not like I wouldn't see you." He sighed. "As to how I feel- I wouldn't be pleased, but I would do nothing to stop you."

She looked over her shoulder at him. "Would you Borrow someone in turn?"

He stopped brushing. "No. You are the only one for me." He put the brush on the nightstand and turned her to face him. Kissing her deeply, he tasted the essence of Sarah that he so adored. Like sunshine and freshly bloomed meadows. First flights over a new spring. Relishing in the taste, he took the kiss deeper- probing and wrestling with her tongue. After a few minutes he pulled back, breaking the kiss. "It seems that we're at a disadvantage. You're naked but I'm not." He chuckled and leaned forward, suckling on her left breast and making her arch into him. "I have a challenge for you: successfully remove my clothes with magic, and you'll be rewarded."

Her face and upper chest were flushed with desire. He could make things even more interesting… for him. Waiting until she closed her eyes to concentrate, he reached for the hidden nubbin between an already glistening thatch of curls between her legs. Gently playing and pinching it in between his fingers like she liked, he elicited a second moan from her. "Not fair," she cried, slightly jerking her lower body towards his busy fingers.

He responded with, "You say that so often…" And only increased the pressure, dipping in two questing fingers which found her wet and ready.

She suppressed another groan and tried to distract herself from what he was doing to her body. A Queen will face many distractions in her lifetime. She must learn to block them out and focus on what was important. Sarah squeezed her eyes shut tight and concentrated. It was one of the more complex spells that they had worked on as she started to get more comfortable with her powers.

She was afraid to open her eyes, afraid to see if she failed. Her unasked question was answered quickly as she felt skin slide against skin. Kissing his way up her front, Jareth's hands slid around her back, helping her lie beneath him. "Good," he murmured against her neck.

Then he teased her some more. Sliding his cock in between her wet folds but not entering, drawing out what they both wanted. It's a game they've played many times before.

"Please," she keened, capturing his mouth in a searing kiss, wiggling her lower half, trying to impale herself on him.

He bit the side of her neck and started to say something like "patience is virtue" but never made it that far, as she took things into her own hands- literally. Simultaneously lapping at his flat nipples raising them into tiny peaks, she took him in her hands and positioned him flush in front of her entrance. With a feral grin, she caught his eyes. "You try my patience," she purred as she thrust downward until he was buried deep within her.

He let out a slight curse at the sudden rush of moisture, heat, and tightness. No matter how many partners he had before her, none could compare to how she felt. She felt complete. She felt right.

Thrusting slowly, inching towards a quick tempo, he kissed her bruised mouth and looked into her eyes. Like fathomless, deep green pools, he could get lost in them forever. He wanted to get lost in them.

They shuddered as he quickened his pace, and she met him thrust for thrust. "Mine," he whispered.

"Mine," she whispered back. Tempo quickening into a frenzy, they both fell over the edge together.

It wasn't until later, when the moon painted them both in silvery light, that Sarah allowed her thoughts to wander. Jareth was out cold- he always slept deeply after a bought of lovemaking. Snoring lightly was his way of marking the occasion. Would Severus snore? Would he be tender and loving like her husband, or would he be full of darkness and forbidden passion? Again she wondered how he would taste compared to the Faerie man whose arms she was wrapped in. Would he be full of burnt molasses and fire smoke? Sharp venom and mixed with the warmth of a crackling fire? What would…?

She quelled her thoughts before they went any deeper. I mustn't think of it- consider it. She looked up at her sleeping husband. He was the reason she was here. If it wasn't for him, she'd be living her life out in the Above happy, but she was sure that she'd always have a feeling that something was missing As such Sarah couldn't imagine her life in any other way. And accepting her life- their life- meant accepting all that came with it.

Multiple ANs: I do not own any of these characters as they are property of their respective owners. This chapter was beated by AnonyMiss J.

My original intent was to post once a week, on a Thursday or Friday, but I am really excited about this chapter, so you guys get it early.

I have to give credit to other things that might seem familiar. For example, the crack about about banishment to Wisconsin in Chapter 2... that actually was an idea from the Kevin Smith movie, Dogma. Check it out if you haven't. A big bonus is that Alan Rickman plays the voice of God.

Goblins in the turkey. That was inspired from a Homer Simpson episode (I freaking love old Homers), A Dozen and One Greyhounds. Greyhound puppies inside of a cooked chicken. Goblins seem funnier to me, though.

Oy, and the sex scene. That's my first ever written one. I've read a lot of them over the years but never actually wrote one down from my own imagination. It took about three glasses of wine before I could put my thoughts into words.