It was almost midnight and Sarah was taking a shower. She let the warm water wash over her cold body, trying to keep calm as she blocked all of her thoughts. The hot water did wonders to her tight muscles, making her body relax; it felt amazing. And as Sarah stood there she wondered if she would ever feel this peaceful again.

No, she thought sadly. No her existence would be anything but peaceful. If Jareth had his way, her life would be nothing but a puzzle; an endless guessing game for him to enjoy and her to despair in. The Goblin King was the Master Creator of Chaos, and she would be his puppet when midnight came.

Sarah pushed the depressing thoughts from her head and chided herself firmly. You only have a little while left so you had better enjoy it while it lasts Sarah.

After a moment more, she got out of the warm shower into the cold bathroom. She quickly wrapped her large purple towel around herself and then wrapped a smaller towel around her head of hair trying to keep some of the heat she had gained.

The young woman had purposefully brought her clothing selection into the bathroom with her so that she would have privacy as she dried off and dressed.

As Sarah put her clothes on she couldn't help but smile at her choice. Her 'outfit' consisted of an ugly old sweater that was far too big for her and an ankle length skirt, both of which were a nasty puke colored green.

Well, at least I won't look nice when Jareth comes for me. With her mind set on this small victory, Sarah walked out of the bathroom and back into her room. She slowly opened the door to see Tetra sitting on her bed re-reading her copy of The Labyrinth for the fifteenth time that night.

"Find anything we can use?" Sarah asked, knowing full well that there was nothing useful in the book. If there had been something, they would have found it hours ago.

"Nope, nothing," Tetra said truthfully, "Just the same old, same old."

Tetra looked up from her reading and her eyes bugged out of her head almost instantly. After her initial shock had passed Tetra's mouth turned into a scowl of disdain.

"Sarah, what in All Hallows name are you wearing?"

Tetra looked her up and down and looked like she was going to have a heart attack at any moment.

"They were my grandmas," Sarah explained taking a seat on the bed beside her appalled friend with a smirk. "So I figured they might help tonight."

"Help what? Make Jareth run screaming for the hills because your clothing choice is butt-ugly?"

Sarah laughed, good-naturedly, but a voice interrupted her, making both her and Tetra flinch.

"Quite the contrary I assure you."

The voice came from the window, and the girls exchanged glances; there was only one person alive with a voice like that.

"What is contrary," Tetra asked boldly looking over to where he stood next to Sarah's window seat.

Tetra mentally drooled as she took in the man, trying to keep her mind on the task at hand. But with his black poet shirt and tight gray pants, she was having very little luck. But she forced herself to listen as the Goblin King answered her question.

"Nothing Sarah can do will make me run." He said coolly, crossing his across his chest, which made him seem imposing.

Sarah hadn't looked at him yet; her eyes were glued to the ground in front of her. What's wrong with me? She wondered angrily.

She was feeling mixed emotions, and they were annoyingly opposite; polar opposites in fact.

The first was feeling was hate. Sarah hated Jareth for what he was doing and what he was putting her through. The girl wished he would just disappear before her eyes, and she could wake up knowing it was all a bad dream. The simplicity of the idea made her want to laugh out loud.

And the other emotion she was feeling was scaring her and she blushed as she realized what it was. It wasn't fear or angst, like she had expected. No. It was something she had only felt several times in her life, but it was very acute.

She was . . . lusty . . . towards Jareth. Sarah blushed as she studied the fibbers of her carpet, mentally smacking herself repeatedly.

Momentarily, Sarah saw a pair of knee-high black boots standing in front of her, and felt her stomach clench and then drop altogether. She kept her eye on the carpet, knowing that she couldn't look up at him . . . Not when she was feeling like this.

Jareth bent down in front of her so that his mismatched eyes could study her pretty face.

"Sarah, look at me."

Sarah looked up slowly, her eyes meeting his, against her better judgment. She knew she wasn't ready for this confrontation, but she knew she couldn't postpone it forever.

"Have you considered my offer?" He asked, his eyes locking on hers the second she lifted them.

"I-I-I," Sarah stopped herself, taking a deep breath. She wouldn't give Jareth the satisfaction of seeing her make a fool of herself, so she began again in a steady voice her eyes meeting his full force.

"I have, Jareth."

Jareth lifted an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

"I have made my decision . . ." She said before she faltered again, her emotions almost getting the better of her. Sarah took a shaky breath trying to clear her mind.

"Sarah don't," Tetra said quickly putting a firm hand on her shoulder. "Don't listen to him. You don't have to answer now, if you don't want to."

Finally Jareth's gaze shifted to the other girl, his air turning dangerous almost immediately.

"Tetra, is it?"

Tetra didn't answer, but nodded once clenching her jaw clenched tightly.

"If I were you Tetra," Jareth suggested sneering her name like it was detestable. "I wouldn't be so hasty to butt into my friends affairs if I were you."

"Is that a threat?" Tetra asked bristling.

Jareth's laugh rang throughout the small room at Tetra's visible anger. It was very throaty and melodious making both Sarah and Tetra shiver uncontrollably.

"No Miss Grace," he chuckled. "I make no threats, merely suggestions." He smirked, turning his attention from Tetra back to Sarah.

"What is your choice, my love?" He asked gently, all traces of his cocky self, gone within an instant.

Now was the moment Sarah had been dreading. The moment where she gave away her freedom and put away all her dreams.

"I-I-,"She stuttered, trying to bite past the declaration of submission she was trying to spit out.

It seemed impossible to say the words. She had come so far and now it was all in vain. The Goblin King had won.

"I will be your bride Jareth," Sarah said finally bitter tears quietly falling from her eyes.

Jareth reached up with his gloved hand and caught one of her tears on his finger. He looked at it carefully with unblinking eyes that seemed sad.

"Very well."

Jareth held up his tear stained finger and twisted his hand in a circular motion. Instantly in the tears' place was a small ball made entirely of crystal.

"Your dreams were never meant to be taken Sarah," The Goblin King said as held the dream crystal in his hands.

"But they are being taken, Jareth."

He looked up at her and gave her a sad smile.

"Yes," he agreed, bringing his hand up to her blotchy red cheek. "Please Sarah; try to understand that I have no choice." Jareth pleaded softly. "My kingdom is dying. Without a Queen at my side the Underground, my people will cease to exist . . . I am doing this because I must."

"But you're also getting what you wanted," Sarah accused, bitterly. "All trouble you've gone to is not merely a service for your kingdom."

Jareth was silent for a moment before he said the only thing he could.

"I love you Sarah," He said once more extending the crystal to her. "And I am offering you your dreams."

Sarah stared at him, her eyes blurring with her tears. But even without her vision she knew what the crystal showed.

"Will you be my Queen? Will you help me rebuild the Goblin City with a firm hand? And will you except your future by accepting your dreams?" Jareth inquired as he grazed his pointer finger across her chin and cheek.

Sarah knew what her answer was, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. So she purposefully turned her head to look at her best friend who had been sitting silently at her side. Tetra was crying too and as Sarah met her eyes and understanding passed between them.

"I love you Tetra," Sarah said, wrapping her arms around her friend in a tight hug.

"I love you too, Sarah." Tetra whispered as the two held onto each other and cried. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

Sarah nodded, "Yes Tetra. I have to do this. . . I have to go."

"I understand chickie-boo." Tetra said pulling away from the hug. Then she leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently.

Sarah sobbed quietly as her friend asked, "Is there anything you need me to do?"

"Tell Toby the truth . . . when he's older." She begged. "Please don't let him forget me, Tet."

"I won't," Tetra promised, as she leaned back to smile at her friend.

Sarah sighed in relief.

As long as he knows the truth someday, there's hope for the future.

Tetra smiled at her friend and gave her the thumbs up sign. "Go, have your happy ending, Sarah. And don't you dare worry about anything here. I'll take care of Toby and your Dad."

"Thank you," Sarah whispered to her best friend and in that moment she felt her heart break as she left her old life behind and reached for the dream crystal. Jareth handed it to her willingly before nodding his thanks to Tetra.

Tetra looked at Jareth with her teary eyes, "You better take good care of her, or I'll be coming for you, and your tight crotch pants."

Jareth smirked, "Sarah will be safe. You have my word."

Sarah ignored the exchanged between the two, her attention completely locked on the crystal. She looked into it and saw what her life could have been. She saw everything she had ever wanted and loved, encompassed in the small orb, and she was lost within it, for it was a completely blissful image.

Jareth watched Sarah for a moment before he slowly leaned in and claimed her lips in a kiss.

"Sarah Williams, Queen of the Goblins." Jareth couldn't help but smile against her lips at the thought before he pulled away.

"I will live within you." He promised, picking her up in his arms and standing. Nodding once more to Tetra he smiled and in a shower of glitter and fabric, Jareth and Sarah were no longer in sight.

Tetra could have sworn she heard someone crying, but then again it could have been the wind. The girl cried softly, as she realized the truth of the matter.

The Goblin King had won, and Sarah was gone.