Title: A Faded Memory

Author: Devlyne (Originally published as BelleAngeli)

Published: 9/21/2015

Disclaimer: I do not own Labyrinth, Jareth or Sarah. Nor do I in any way resemble Jim Henson, The Jim Henson Company, Henson Creature Shop or Disney. I do own Chris but I wish I didn't.

A/N: At long last, the real Chapter 8. This is the first new content in nine years; rejoice. Or don't, just read.

If you have not gone back and read all of the revised chapters, then going forward this might not make sense. As I revised, the story arc and idea changed slightly. I'm going in a different direction. Also I have not read Return to the Labyrinth, but I am aware of it, so any resemblance is purely coincidental.

Chapter 8: Wrong Way is the Right Way

Sarah wished that she'd had a camera on hand to catch the look on Chris' face when she'd opened the door. He looked nothing short of astonished. She wasn't certain what he had been expecting to find when stopping by but it was not this. There were flowers clutched in one hand and what looked like a small box of chocolates tied to their stems. If she were to hazard a guess, Chris had gone by the museum and found out that she'd call out of work that morning. He had assumed that she was at home bawling her eyes out and that he could comfort her. He was wrong, of course, because someone else had beaten him to it.

A sheepish look crossed his face as he looked Sarah over, the flowers and chocolate forgotten. "I...well, that is to say, I thought..." Chris stammered a moment before composing himself and clearing his throat. "I called the museum to see if you would have lunch with me later. You didn't return my call last night." Or this morning, but, he was wise not to add that admonishment in. "So I thought since you weren't feeling well, I would stop by."

Never mind that she wasn't feeling well because of the argument they'd had the night before. Sarah let her brow knit a moment as she listened to him. It would be so easy to throw her arms about his neck and forgive him. She could tell him that yes; she would go with him to D.C. and be his housewife. It would be so easy to just do that and stop fighting. Her head canted as she heard Jareth shifting just beyond the hallway.

"No, I didn't. I thought you were pretty clear on what you wanted, Chris. You said if the answer was no, not to call you back." Sarah murmured. Her arms folded about her chest as she continued to block his view in to the apartment. "I haven't changed my mind."

Oh, but she had, she almost had. If it weren't for that dream and those pills, Sarah had changed her mind and planned to call him this morning. She would have said yes and they'd have gone on together to live their lives. Her dreams would have stayed forgotten and Jareth a memory. Would that have been so bad a fate? No, Sarah didn't think it was bad for some people, but it wasn't supposed to be hers. She'd all these dreams and aspirations; when had they fallen by the wayside?

Chris stood before her uncertain what to say. There had to be that one magic phrase which would change her mind, make her see reason. His eye went to the chain still on the door then back to what he could see of her through the crack. She was keeping space between them so that he couldn't get any closer. It was disappointing, to say the least, but he still hadn't found his words. No, he needed time.

"May I come in?" He whispered, eyes on her face. "So we can talk about this a bit more?" As though talking about it would change Sarah's resolve.

Did Chris see that she was ready to break? Sarah wondered if he could feel her indecision or knew her well enough to know. If she let him in, then there was a good chance that Sarah would give in to what he was asking her. She was so close to the edge of it all. Her eyes drifted closed in thought a moment before she stepped back to unfasten the chain. Jareth was in the apartment and he wasn't going to let her drift away again. He'd promised to help.

A faint frown tugged at Sara's lips, eyes lifting to Chris before she murmured. "I should warn you; I have company." And that company was now standing down the hallway gazing at the young man framed in the doorway. "This is ...Jared, an old friend."

Jareth looked as though Christmas had come quite early and almost bounced forward. This was definitely not the strong, stoic Goblin King that Sarah had dreamed of so many times. No, whichever mask this was, it was a bubbly one. There was a small part of her that feared for Chris but another part reveled in what she thought might come next. Jareth would not be on his best behavior now that a chance for mischief had presented itself.

"You must be Christopher." Jareth said; his deep voice taking almost a playful tone as he offered his hand. "Jared Keating. It's my pleasure. Sarah has told me so much about you. I don't get to see my old friend often..."

He was laying it on a bit thick and Sarah elbowed Jareth as he pushed past her. A faint grunt let her know that he had gotten her message but it was likely ignored. Chris looked completely taken aback by the man grasping his hand and shaking it. He leaned to the left to get a better view of Sarah who only smiled and shrugged in answer. Jareth was Jareth and that was all there was to it. There was no excusing him or making amends for him, nor stopping him.

Chris looked to Sarah for help but she did not give it. Who was this man and why was he in her apartment? She had never mentioned an old friend but then maybe it had slipped her mind if they weren't in regular contact. His hand shaken before Jared had let him go and stood back to look him over. They needed to speak alone, him and Sarah, so that she could explain herself.

"Yes, I am...I'm sorry. I think Sarah forgot to mention you. Jared, was it?" Chris said, shooting another look at Sarah before his eyes returned to Jared. "I just need a few minutes alone with Sarah, if you don't mind. I don't want to interrupt your visit."

Jareth's smile widened, if possible, and he nodded his agreement. "Oh, yes, of course, of course. I'll just be in the kitchen with the sandwiches. It was so nice to meet you. Sarah, I'll finish up breakfast." His hand touched her arm in an unusual show of comfort as he passed heading back to the kitchen.

Sarah's eyes followed the man back down the hallway until he disappeared. Her suspicions had aroused as Jareth had never been one to give in at the drop of a hat. No, he had something in mind and Sarah was afraid to find out what. She returned her gaze to Chris, arms folding across her chest. He wanted to talk and they could talk right here, it would do. There was no way she was letting him further in to the apartment.

"There was no reason to mention him." She said, her voice kept soft and low. "I called him last night to talk. I didn't expect him to drive all night to get here and I wasn't going to turn him out once he was." Lie after lie falling from her lips, but what else could she say?

Because in the end, what did it matter that Jareth was here? Chris could be mad, if he wished, since they were still dating. Well, that was the confusing part of the situation. Were they still dating? Chris had said that if her answer were no, that their relationship was over. Granted, Sarah had not given him an answer but he had also said that not calling back would be taken as a no.

Chris frowned, murmuring, "I was hoping you had changed your mind or at least thought about it."

"It's only been a few hours, Chris. I called Jared to talk, and then I went to bed and slept. It's not even ten yet. Did you think I had changed my mind that fast?" She answered, frowning at him.

A loud crash resounded from the other room followed by the clattering of pots and pans. So, Jareth's plan was to create as much of a distraction as possible so that they could not talk. Soon there were other sounds coming from the kitchen; the sounds of cabinets and drawers opening, glasses clinking and silverware tinkling. Sarah frowned and glanced up the hallway.

"I haven't changed my mind, Chris." She murmured, glancing at Chris then back down the hallway. "I need a few days to think about it. It was nice of you to stop by, but I need to save my kitchen from Jared. I'll call you." But she wouldn't and they both knew it.

If Chris left now, it was the death of their relationship. The flowers faltered in his hand a moment before he laid them on the hall table for her. She hadn't changed her mind and she wasn't going to come rushing back to him. Chris turned back toward the door to leave. He wanted to argue with her, to make Sarah see reason, but the other man was here and might not like that.

"Okay." Chris whispered. He felt defeated; not an hour ago, he'd been certain she would welcome him back. "Call me if you need anything."

He turned back and stooped to kiss her cheek but paused, thinking better of it and at last leaving. Sarah closed the door behind him and put the chain in place. She stood with her forehead resting against the door as she calmed her racing heart. He was gone and there was an end to it, that was what was important.

The kitchen had grown silent and that thought filled her with dread. What was Jareth doing now? Her steps carried her back down the hall to gaze at the man. He was sitting on one of her bar stools, sipping a cup of coffee and picking at the sandwich that she'd already made. Where had he gotten coffee? A glance about the kitchen showed Sarah a pot on the stove half full of water and the jar of instant coffee from her cabinet.

"When did you learn how to make coffee?" She queried, shaking her head at him. "For that matter, how do you know what coffee is?"

Jareth snorted, waving a hand at her. "Coffee is the drink of traders and kings, brought from places far and wide to those who could afford to pay for it. Oh, I'm sure there were lesser forms, like this, in that time." His hand waving over the cup of instant he was drinking. Obviously, it was not up to his fine standards.

"Now that he is gone, we can get down to business." Jareth uttered, trying to sound bored but failing. He frowned at the trepidation filling him. They had to talk about this. "I want to take you back to the Underground."

There, the conversation had begun and he had managed to broach the most pressing topic. Jareth wanted Sarah back in the Underground. His reasons were many and varied but the most pressing was a need to save her from this place. He'd gone over this again and again earlier this morning when they'd been talking. It was the only way to rescue that beautiful soul so that he could gaze upon it once more.

He was expecting an argument on the subject. Sarah would argue with him and say that she could not leave her life. Wasn't that what had caused the breakup the night before? He had heard the message playing on her answering machine and heard what the man said just now. Chris had been asking Sarah to decide between her life here and whatever life he was offering. She'd turned Chris down so it felt natural to expect that she would turn him down as well.

"At least hear me out before you argue with me." Jareth went on without giving Sarah a chance to answer him. His eyes were on the cup of coffee, focusing there instead of on her still form. "I don't think that the city is good for you, Sarah. Look at what it's done; it's sucked the brightness out of you."

"Do you remember what you were like?" He murmured this, voice dropping to near whisper. "You were glorious and I was envious of that passion you had. I'd been in that Labyrinth answering summons for ... well, for far longer than your lifetime. Do you have any idea how many people wish their children and siblings away? It's disgraceful." Except, once again, Jareth capitalized on it by taking the children.

"I have ignored so many requests to take babies and small children away. Why do you think it was you I came to?" Because he had been watching her, that day in the park and many days before it. In his boredom and loneliness, the Goblin King had sought a soul like his. Once his soul had burned bright but the tedium of time had seen it begin to wane until he'd found Sarah.

With Sarah, Jareth's soul had begun to recover itself just a little bit. He watched as she dressed in her gowns and costumes, recited her lines and dreamed of faraway fairy tales. It made him wistful and the loneliness bitter. From time to time, there were others who would visit him in the Underground, but Jareth had a reputation for being difficult to deal with. None of the other Kings and Queens of Underground wanted to deal with his impish ways and mood swings. Over time, Jareth had found himself alone except for the goblins.

"There is brightness about you, Sarah. I know you will tell me that you are not the same person; you aren't. You grew up." His voice was sad as he spoke. The coffee cup rotated on its base between his fingers, blue eyes studying the rim and pattern. It was easier to gaze at that cup then to see her face. "You have dreams. They are still inside of you and I want to help you make them a reality."

He wanted to help even if it meant she would not stay with him. As before, Jareth realized that caging Sarah would be of no use. Her spirit would die and he would lose everything he loved about her. "I can help you fulfill some of those dreams in Underground. There are wondrous places to behold and creatures to see. If they don't spark and fuel that beautiful imagination, then there is no hope left for you."

"I believe that there is hope left for you. I believe I can fix this damage." Jareth looked up from his cup, at last, and found Sarah standing just across the counter from him. Her dark eyes were gazing in to his blue as though she were looking for something.

Did she think that he was still lying to her? It had only been a few hours and before that, years. He had never given her a reason to believe him before now. She searched his face for a few moments more before leaning away from the counter. Had she found what she was looking for in his face? He dearly hoped so.

Sarah leaned away from the counter and gave careful consideration to her reply. Would she go with him to the Underground? Could she? She was still struggling with believing he was real; the visit with Chris had dispelled most of that doubt. Chris had asked her to leave her life but she'd told him no. What made answering Jareth different? Her lips pursed in a frown, but she did not answer right away. To be honest, he was glad to see her thinking rather than reacting to his words; she needed to think.

"Let me eat, and then we can talk about this." Sarah murmured at last and turned away to fix her own sandwich.