A/N: I just realised that the way I've been indicating a change of scene or time hasn't come through and shown when I submit my chapters (The usual way of using asterisk's.) Hopefully I've sorted it out and that my other plan works...sorry about that!

Also, the chapter title is a quote from Bowie's song, Changes :)

Please keep the reviews and motivation coming!

Do you know what Sarah is going to do?

TIME MAY CHANGE ME

The next couple of days were filled with increasing despondency and nostalgia for Sarah. The more her aunt distracted her with outings and long one sided chats, the more she felt like she wasn't doing anything or making any decisions on what she was going to do.

She just didn't know how she would ever be able to get Jareth's attention again and she felt more lost than she did when she was in the Labyrinth.

She was past shedding any tears- what had happened was effecting her more deeply than anyone would ever be able to imagine and she became increasingly drawn in to herself.

Sarah couldn't try to forget about him- it was completely impossible.

Far away in his castle, the goblin King sat in his windowsill, looking out over his Labyrinth with a far off expression in his eyes, twirling a crystal ball gently in his hand. The day was fading, and it was quickly becoming night as he watched the sun slowly sink until it was hidden behind his maze and out of sight.

He had been sitting there for a long period of time, he didn't know exactly how long but he remembered the sun had still been fairly high in the azure sky when he had gone to be lost deep in his intense thoughts.

Now, the first few stars twinkled and the horizon was painted in magenta. A light breeze blew up from the far off hills, beyond his Labyrinth- the nightly mistral. Jareth's blonde hair gently blew back and fluttered quietly across his face, tickling his skin. His fingers tingled as he made two more crystal balls magically appear in his hand, moving them all around his palm in a circular motion.

His face was set in an unreadable, quiet expression- if one were to see him they might even say he looked calm and peaceful, but inside, Jareth was far from peace.

One by one he blew each crystal gently and watched them drift off out of his hand and into the night. He watched them float off across the Labyrinth until they were all out of sight. His gaze wandered over to the ashen moon that was just beginning to rise and he let out a soft sigh, barely audible in the still, heavy silence of the night.

"Sarah dear, you're father called." Aunt Gail said, opening Sarah's room door without knocking, and coming in. Sarah lay on the bed, deeply lost in thought. On her aunt's entrance however, she sat up.

"What did he say?" She queried, hoping he would have said something along the lines of going home.

It had been 5 days spent at Aunt Gail, but already it'd felt like an entire lifetime and Sarah was both mentally and physically tired. She didn't know how her aunt could keep it all up- every day going out, long talks and so much tea Sarah thought she might be sick. She was ready for her own bedroom again, her familiar life and her familiar books and toys.

"Oh, he says I should check how you're doing because he thinks another week here would do you good!" Aunt Gail replied beaming happily, coming over to sit next to Sarah on the bed.

Sarah groaned inwardly. A whole extra week? She could've sworn she hated her dad.

And behind it all is most probably Karen, Sarah thought, scowling. A frown creased her face and her aunt noticed.

"Oh it's not that bad, we'll have a spledid time!"

"I know, Aunt Gail, it's just, I'm missing my dad a bit." Sarah lied, trying her best to look convincing. Her aunt's face softened.

"Do you mind if I go for a walk?"

"Sure honey, just don't forget to be back before dark- you know I get awful worried if you're out for long." Her aunt said, standing up.

"Don't worry, I'll take Merlin with." Sarah got up and smiled at her aunt, as they left the room together. Gail walked to her own room and as soon as her aunt was out of sight, Sarah dashed for the front door, yelling for Merlin.

A bit of fresh air would do her a ton of good- she didn't know why she hadn't thought of it earlier.

"Oh Merlin." Sarah sighed, sitting down with the big shaggy dog under a tree in a park not too far off from her aunt's house. It was much different from the park in her neighbourhood- there were less trees and the grass was a lot longer and unkempt- it was clear hardly anyone ever came here.

Sarah frowned and looked up to the sky, rubbing Merlins head gently, where he sat beside her. She was so happy to escape her aunt for a bit and she yawned as she looked up to the gentle afternoon light filtering through the maple leaves. It was rapidly becoming autumn, and a few crimsom coloured leaves drifted down as a light breeze whispered through the branches. But for the time, the air was still warm and comforting. Sarah leant back and rested her head in a pillow of dry, burgundy leaves that crackled as her weight shifted.

Merlin gave a little whimper of contentment as he lay down as well, placing his head on Sarah's leg.

Another breeze stirred the leaves and Sarah closed her eyes, listening to the lulling sound it made as the dry autumn leaves stirred.

She let her thoughts wander- she still hadn't figured out what she was going to do and it felt like a constant nag in her mind, something she could not take her focus from or stop worrying about. But for the time she lay still, under the tree, the late afternoon light dancing across her beautiful face and closed eyelids as the wind blew. She let her mind open- her thoughts were free.

It was so peaceful that Sarah starting drifting off into a light sleep without realising it- that kind of sleep where you aren't quite fully asleep but rather dozing with your senses half switched off and your mind still wide awake. The vision of a vast maze came into her mind, seen from above- a birds eye view. She saw a great white owl soaring over the maze. And then, Sarah remembered something that had felt as though it'd happened years ago- herself exasperatedly exclaiming "I wish the goblins would come and take you away..." To a crying Toby. Sarah frowned, her eyes still closed. Everything had come back to her in bits and flashes, and now it all made sense.

Suddenly, she knew what she had to do.