Disclaimer: You all know the drill, I don't own Jareth or the Labyrinth or anything to do with it, but Wren is my own creation and I am swearing that if you take her, you give me permission to hunt you down. And I would, too. I'm highly possessive.

Sammi C.: Ahahaha! I didn't even think of that! I might just use that, somewhere… who knows? Yay! Hugs!

Yami Moon: What? Why? Don't feel unloved! We all love you! Especially the GK! Isn't he sweet?

Anij: Hee! Sweet! I couldn't resist for 41. Ahahaha! My personal favorite answer was 28. Thanks to Contraltissimo for that one. It just seemed to imply that, well, he'd been on fire before. Ha!

Ghostofthewaterflame: Ah, that's okay – I understand. I'm glad you like it!

Notwritten: Ah, thank you!

Contraltissimo: DUDE! Hee! Duncan keeps flying around in my head! How can I update, with a gargoyle guardian in my head? I DON'T GET IT!

Baby.turtle.cute: Aw, thanks! Don't worry, I'm trying to update sooner! Blame Newton… he bites me too often. I've got to put him on a diet or something…

Music recommendations:

Black Tie, White Noise by David Bowie – I just… like this one. It's very good.

Stagger Lee by Lloyd Price – took me ages to get my hands on this, mostly because I couldn't remember what it was called. Slightly morbid, still a way fun song.

See Me Through by Rascal Flats – not much of an RF person, but I've been listening to this a lot… heh…

Okay, now, today I realized that I've been ignoring a HUGE plot-bunny… and because I've been putting him off, he's gotten even bigger. I'm naming him Newton. So, time to deal with him. Oh, this is huge. Be warned, this and the following chapters are going to be laden with extreme plot and (hopefully) some funny stuff 'n' fluff, too, but… plot galore. Can't be helped. Newton will eat me if I ignore him any longer.

So, on we go with part one of Wren's vacation! (slow starter, I apologize)

Wren's Vacation, part one:

"What? Lisa!" I whined. Yes, I knew I was whining. But, I mean, c'mon, no one would blame me for it.

Lisa obviously didn't blame me. She seemed just as upset as me. "I know, Wren, I know, it stinks."

Bill slammed the table, hard, "Isn't there something we can do? Talk to someone about this? It's not right!"

Lisa shrugged to us, "Company changes, and there's not much I can do. New rule is that vacation time does not roll over if you don't use it. It does, however, go to sick time, but unfortunately sick time can't be used in bulk, like vacation time, so technically if you don't use that, you lose it as vacation," she sighed, "And things will be rolling over in about a month. Technically, because this is short notice, my higher-ups are letting us use a little of the time after it rolls over, just because some of us have quite a bit stored up and they don't want us all gone at once – though it would serve them right if we were, if you ask me."

I frowned. "This is crappy."

Lisa gave me a sympathetic look, "I know it is, but we should just be grateful that it's still our time, even if sick days. So… I don't know. I guess you all get to pick when you get to take your time, if you chose to do so, over the month and a half. After that, we get a standard of either two or three weeks a year, depending on how long you've worked here."

There was a collective shrug among my teammates.

Well, later on that evening, I sat in my room, after deciding that I might as well take my remaining week of vacation the upcoming week, and trying to think of what to do with my time.

I didn't have very many options, really. Since this was sudden, I could try to get a vacation package put together, but it was likely that I would have to pay more than I could afford for it. So, no big traveling. But… then what? Usually, I discussed this sort of thing with either Lachlan or Persephone, but Persephone was at some kind of business conference in Toronto, and I still wasn't quite talking to Lachlan after his behavior on that stupid double date he'd roped me into.

What the heck do I do with a week off? I had five days, a whole workweek, off. I did have a few more days, but I decided to go ahead and let them roll into sick time, in case I needed them later.

I asked my parents, and they didn't know what I should do, either. Dad had a great idea, of just going to a local spa or something… which wasn't too shabby of an idea, except that I didn't think I could afford it anymore than I could any other vacation package. I didn't tell him that, though. Mom said I should get out of town, even if it was just upstate, but she didn't want me to go alone, and wanted me to ask Orla to come with me. I thanked her for the idea, but said I wasn't interested in going upstate. I didn't confess that I didn't want to upstate with my sister in the same vehicle, where she could hassle me about my boyfriend.

So, I was stuck. What to do, what to do…

"Did your pet fish die, Wren?"

I looked up, not very surprised to see Jareth lounging in my beanbag chair. Again. I swear, he probably had his name stitched on it somewhere, by now…

I frowned, "I don't have a pet fish."

He crossed his legs absently, "I assumed something had died, by the look on your face."

I snorted, "And, so, you assumed that the something was a pet I've never mentioned and you've never seen?"

He waved a hand at me, "It was merely a guess. Who died then?"

"My vacation time rollover."

"I beg your pardon?" He looked adorable when confused.

I snorted as I flopped onto my back on my bed, looking at the ceiling. "No one died, Jareth. We got notified today that, unlike the previous years, our allotted paid vacation time won't rollover. Instead, it will go to sick time, which is okay, I suppose, but you can't just use a week of sick time. Long story short, I've got next week off, five whole days, and I'm at a loss as to what to do with them."

The mattress dipped a little and the top of my head bumped his leg as he sat by me on the bed. "What would you like to do with that time?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. It's all so sudden. I can't afford to go anywhere, and I hate to just sit around the house. I've asked everyone and don't know…"

He made a kind of regal snorting noise. "I am offended, Wren. You have not asked me."

I blinked. Dude, he was right. I looked up at him, "Gosh, I'm sorry! You're right, I didn't. I'll ask you now, then. What do you think I should do?"

He pursed his lips, thoughtfully, "You like travel, and exotic places, do you not?"

"Oh, that I do, GK. What do you have in mind?"

A very sly grin spread across his face, "What of the Underground?"

I shot up and faced him, a sudden thrill shooting through my veins, "What?"

He shrugged, "You state that you do not have the monetary means to travel, but do not wish to stay – why not spend some time in my realm? Come with me-" was that a slight plea in his face? "-to my castle, for a week, as my guest. You can say in your own suite, visit the Labyrinth and places that you have never seen before, and it would not place any financial burden on you. There are," his gloved hand reached out and captured mine, squeezing it, gently, "There are so many places I would love to show you, Wren… I would be honored to take you anywhere you liked."

I swallowed. What an offer. Expedia couldn't top that, for sure. "What… what about my family? What do I tell them?"

He rolled his eyes, "Tell them you did find a trip; tell them whatever you like. Pack your things, more for show than anything else, as any guest of mine is rarely for want of anything they need, have your mother or father take you to…" he faltered, "To a bus station or train station or whatever, wave farewell, and from there you can count your crystals and join me here."

I looked around my room, my eyes huge with ideas and wonder. I could spend a week in a magical realm with my boyfriend. And… I could pass off the ruse to get there, easily enough. It was doable.

Jareth was eyeing me carefully. I caught his gaze and studied him. There was something in his face, I couldn't tell what it was, exactly, but I could tell how he felt. I'd been to his castle, yes, but not much to his kingdom. Ever since we'd started dating, he'd mostly spent time with me, Aboveground, doing things in my world. My world, my work, my family, my life… but I had the distinct impression that perhaps he was longing to have a turn, to show me his world. His life, his work, his whatever – it didn't matter. I smiled at him.

"You would want me around for that long? Five workdays, plus two weekends? That works to about ten days. You'd like to have me around for ten days, with you, in your world and possibly in your way?" I grinned.

He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it. "Wren," he said, "I would be honored."

"You're doing WHAT?"

I flung around, dropping one of my shirts as I spun, to face my brother, who had just barged into my room.

I pointed a finger at him, "Get out of my room, Lachlan. I'm packing."

He didn't hear me. Instead, he gave me that brotherly 'look'. "Mother tells me you're going to a spa for a week, upstate, and by bus?"

I shrugged, "I don't want to drive. Too dangerous to drive alone, you know, and my car could probably use new tires – that I can't afford at the moment – before I take it out of town…"

Lachlan shut my door and leaned on it, "Wren, you can't lie to me. Tell me the truth."

I reclaimed my shirt from the floor and shook it off, while giving him my own look, "Well, I'm not going to be drinking, I can tell you that."

He groaned, "This again…"

I threw my shirt in my duffel bag, "Yes, this, Lachlan! How dare you, after what happened, come in my room and act like you have any right to tell me what I do for my week off? I won't go telling mom and dad that their baby boy drinks beer, but I will tell you that I'm furious at you for being so stupid!"

"It was just a beer, Wren," he hissed at me, looking furtively at the door, "And I was nervous. It was to calm my nerves!"

"And what about my nerves?" I hissed back, getting right back in his face, "I was introducing my boyfriend to a member of my family, I was scared stiff, and you know full well that alcohol makes me nervous! Urgh," I turned my back to him, "Whatever, it's your choice to do what you like. I'm going to the spa upstate, to relax, and I don't want to think about this anymore."

Lachlan snorted, "Spa? Yeah right. What does Jared think of that?"

"It's Jareth, not Jared," I corrected with a smile, "And I don't need his permission to go away for a week. I told him my plans, he knows, and he's fine with it."

Lachlan was silent for a minute.

"He's going with you, isn't he?" he said at last.

I gasped and whirled around, "Excuse me!"

Dang him, Lachlan could read me like a book. He smirked, somewhat bitterly, "He is, I can tell. You're spending the week with him."

Okay, not good. Lachlan was right, but wrong in his assumptions on what I'd be doing. Jareth and I had a complete understanding, and I had faith in that, but Lachlan wouldn't understand. I could tell by the concerned look on his face that I was, well, a heck of a lot closer to Jareth than I actually was.

I put a hand on my hip, "Lachlan, don't start. Don't even give me that look – I'm gonna see the sights, relax, and enjoy myself, not have an intimate week with a man. I'm not like that, you know better of me. So, yeah, I'm not, I swear… and, even if I was, that would be my choice as much as drinking beer is yours."

He frowned at me, "You know, I'm a little tired of the assumption from you that I'm constantly drinking beer. I think I've had a grand total of maybe ten beers in my life, never more than one in a single night, and never without good reason. I swear to you, Wren, I've never gotten myself drunk, so just… stop."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "I'll stop making assumptions about you boozing when you stop drinking the booze."

Lachlan raised his eyebrows, "What about Jareth? You can't tell me he doesn't drink. I totally see him as a wine connoisseur."

I swallowed. "He does drink wine, I'm sure, but that's different. He never drinks around me, because he knows it bothers me." I couldn't rightly say that, as a King, wine was expected of him…

"Oh, it's different, is it?"

I glared, "Yes, it is! You wouldn't understand!"

"Really? Because I'm your brother? And I wouldn't understand it, oh, because he's your lover?"

I heard the smack before I realized I'd swung. My palm stung viciously, and Lachlan reeled backward. I'd slapped him, hard. Lachlan regained his balance and turned to me, his mouth open wide.

"I care for Jareth very much, but I abandon my morals for no man. He and I have discussed this and he feels as I do on the matter, and so I remain as virtuous as I always have," I said, my voice eerily calm, "And if you ever speak to me so disrespectfully again, it won't be my palm that connects with your face, it will be my fist."

In my head, I was as shocked as Lachlan was. Never, ever, had I raised a hand to my brother… or stood up for myself in such a way. I was standing squarely and straight, feeling rather tall as I did so, and wondering what other kinds of effects Jareth had had on me… I was acting like him! Yikes…

My brother met my gaze, rubbing my face, and… just as he knew I'd been lying to him earlier, he could tell I wasn't now. He blinked and shook his head to clear it. "I'm sorry, Wren," he said, sheepishly, "You're right, I know you better than that…"

My shoulders relaxed, and I rubbed my hand, "Then you would also know how hurt I am,"

He raised his eyebrows, "Hurt?"

"Yes, brother," I said pointedly, "You told me you would support me and Jareth. You said, back when you helped me on the grill, that any man who cared about me as I do about him couldn't be all that bad… and then, on the date, you were rude to him, and to me. And then this? You come barging in here, saying what you did, thinking the worst of not only me, but the man I care for. It hurts, Lachlan. I feel like I don't know you anymore."

Still rubbing his cheek, he looked about my room, absently, thinking on what I had said. He sighed once, before turning to me, openly. "You're right. I broke my promise to you… I do trust you, Wren. I know you're a strong person, and I should accept your choice in Jareth. I was wrong to be so distrustful of him."

"Dang straight." I folded my arms across my chest.

My brother looked at me, "I'm sorry Wren."

"You should be," I said, stubbornly. I was angry… but quickly cooling. "I accept your apology."

We stood there for a long moment, just looking at each other. Finally, he broke the silence.

"I was right, though, wasn't I? You are going to be spending the week with him, aren't you?"

I sighed and turned back to my bag, "I have you on trust-probation, Lachlan. As such, you are not privilege to that information. I'll say it's probable that I could be, but I'm not about to confirm anything. Not yet."

Things were silent again as I packed. Finally, I heard him turn my doorknob and open the door. "Have a nice week, Wren," he said softly, "And, by the way, Nokomis says hello. Actually," he laughed a little, "She said to tell you, 'hallo space boy'. She said you'd understand that."

I smiled, "A David Bowie song," I said with a laugh.

I heard him laugh, but he didn't say anything as he closed the door and left.

"Honey, we can stay until you leave," my mother said, firmly, as my father hefted my suitcase from the trunk.

I shook my head, "It's just a bus station, Mom. I'll be fine. And I have my cell, so I can always call you, if I need it. I'm fine!"

My father shook his head, "You're mother and I don't want to leave you alone. It's not safe for a young lady to be a lone…"

I shook my head, "But, I'm not alone, I swear! There are plenty of people up there… Gosh, look, I asked you to drop me off so I wouldn't have to leave my car here, but I didn't ask you to coddle me, okay? I'm a big girl!"

My mother smothered me in a tight hug, "Oh, I know!" she cried, almost teary, "But you're still my baby!"

I growled, "Cut the umbilical cord, Mah!"

My father snickered. He reached out and pried Mom's hands from me, "Okay, we get the point. We'll let you have your freedom. But, we pick you up… Saturday night, right?"

I smiled, "Thanks, Daddy. Yes, Saturday night, I'll call you when I get in."

My mother pulled a face, "Oh, you don't know what time the bus arrives?"

"Momma," I said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "I do, but traffic is always unpredictable. It could be seven, as scheduled, but I wouldn't be surprised with the weekend traffic if it was nine. I won't have you both sitting around here for two hours, so I'll call you on my cell when I get in. Me waiting twenty minutes is preferable to you waiting a hundred and twenty."

She nodded, "And you'll call when you get up there, right?"

I shook my head, "Momma! No, I told you, my cell will probably be out of range! Daddy," I turned a sympathetic eye to my dad, "Help me out here!"

He put his arms around my mom and turned her back towards the car, "She'll be fine, honey," he said to her, seating her in the passenger's seat and shutting the door, "You have a good trip, Wren."

I hugged him and smiled, "I will. A week of rest and relaxation, and then a day to recover from my vacation before going back to work. I can't wait!"

He got in the car and pulled out, waving. Mom was waving, too. I approached the bus station, feeling only slightly guilty for lying to them… but, only slightly. I'd be much safer with Jareth than up at a stupid spa upstate, anyway. I'm sure if they were able to get past the Goblin King thing, Underground thing, and staying in the same castle as a man thing, they'd be happy of where I was visiting.

I sat with the other passengers until time for the bus to leave, just in case Mom or Dad decided to come back, for whatever reason. When the bus was ready, and the passengers began loading, I went to the bathroom and locked myself in a stall. I waited until I was certain the bus was gone, and that the bathroom was empty, and then, taking a tight grip on my suitcase, counted my ring.

Magical travel isn't quite as nice with a suitcase as it is alone. Why, do you ask? Because… well, I don't know. Perhaps it's just my luck with these things. Either way, I somehow ended on my rump, with my suitcase across me. Muttering to myself about magical travel and stupid suitcases, I got to my feet…

I was in the throne room – but I'll be danged, it was a heck of a lot cleaner than I'd ever seen it. The floor looked nearly dirt-free. Impressive.

I turned around spying Jareth with his back to me across the room. From the looks of things, he was instructing a small team of goblins with mops and buckets on how to wash the floor… I grinned.

"Are you cleaning up, and teaching goblins to mop the floor, just for me?" I asked loudly, and grinning madly.

Jareth spun and gave me a lopsided grin while extending his gloved palms towards me. "Well," he said, sauntering towards me, "This would be your first official stay, after all. I have to make an impression."

I snickered, "Mission accomplished, I'd say. I'm highly impressed." A small goblin snickered across the room, and Jareth rolled his eyes.

But then, when he was close to me, so the goblins across the room couldn't quite hear us over the sound of slapping mops and sloshing buckets, his features softened and he enfolded me in his arms. "I am thrilled that you came, Wren."

I frowned up at him, "Did you think I wouldn't?"

He shook his head, "That is not what I was meaning… I was referring to you agreeing to come, at all."

"Again, did you think I wouldn't?"

He shrugged, "There are many places in the Aboveground that are very tempting to visit. I was sure you had your heart on something else."

"Had I known," I said, playing with the ruffles on his shirt, "That I could spend my vacation here, I think I would have taken that time months ago."

I looked up and met his eyes… we just stood there for a long while. Jareth's face was blank, as though he was inwardly contemplating something as he watched me. My mind was on him. What was he thinking of?

He smiled suddenly, stepping back and taking my hand, pulled me in the direction of the doors leading out of the throne room. "Well, Lady Wren, let me escort you to the suite that shall be yours for the duration of your stay as my guest."

"Oh, hang on," I turned back to grab my suitcase, "My bag… huh?" it was gone.

Jareth smiled, slyly, "Already taken care of, my dearling. Now, if you would follow me…"

He slowly took me to the rooms he'd prepared for me. I had the sneaky suspicion that he'd made them specially for me, or decorated them just for me, or gave them some kind of personalization, and was hoping that I'd be pleased. The pace he set so that I would remember their location…

Okay, that just made me snort a little. His castle, while I surely hadn't seen all of it, was very familiar to me. Was that more of my growing Jareth-sense? I didn't know. But, I knew quite a bit of it…

Ah, but I was still flattered senseless by his thoughtfulness.

He specifically led me to his chambers, first (minds out of the gutter, if you please), so that I would know the location from there, if I needed him for whatever reason.

"You know my chambers," he said with a slight chuckle, "And your rooms are merely down this corridor and across the hall. Should anything concern you, do not hesitate to come and find me. If there is an emergency-"

"Do you expect me to have an emergency?" I interrupted, suddenly.

"No, I do not," he said, not upset by my interruption, "But the term 'emergency', but definition, does have the connotation of being unexpected. No, I do not expect for any troubles or concerns, but I would rather mention it than have you fearful if any unexpected situation should arise."

I smiled, "Thanks,"

"You are most welcome. As I was saying, should there be an emergency, hold onto your ring and call for me. I will come right away – but I caution you, when I say I will come right away, I do mean that. So, only save that for an extreme circumstance…"

"Okay, so if I stub my toe while in the bath tub, I better deal with it on my own, else you'll be right there. Got it."

"Ah, here we are," he stopped in front of two double doors that look much like his own chamber doors, with the exception that there were vines carved into the wood, running around the edges and carved roses near the hinges. He released my hands and made a show of opening the double doors wide and leading me inside…

Oh, if he wanted to impress me, he'd really gone the extra mile. I nearly stumbled as he took my hands once again and led me through the doors into… my suite. I don't think there was a nicer room at the Biltmore. I was speechless for a moment.

A queen sized bed was set length-wise in an alcove that closed off with sheer, jade colored curtains on the far left as I walked into the room. The main floor was sunken slightly and covered in plush emerald carpet. Also to the left was a small corridor… Jareth explained that it led to the washroom and bath. On the right side of the room, there were two archways, etched with more carved roses. One led to a walk in closet, in which not only were my own clothes unpacked and hanging up, but also several other things that… yeah, I'd have to look more closely at them later. The closet was also equipped with a vanity and a dressing table. The other archway led to a small, personal study. From the looks of things, the study held a small writing desk and had a few shelves with books on them. It looked as though anything I had packed that wasn't an item of clothing had been neatly arranged in the study.

Also on the right side of the room, in between the two entrances to the closet and the study, was a large, ornate fireplace. Above the fireplace was a beautiful clock, with, of course, thirteen hours on it. The fireplace was gorgeous… my house has a heating system to it, not a fireplace, so I was naturally thrilled to have one in the room. It was exactly opposite of the bed. In front of the fireplace, there were two beanbag chairs, both royal purple in color, and in the very center of the room there was a low table with a vase, filled with sterling roses.

But… really, that was just what was in the room, and how it was arranged. The stunning part was the room itself… Crown molding was amateur compared to this. Intricately carved vines and flowers ran all around the room, in anyplace where wall met ceiling. It was stunning. There were also a few mirrors on the walls, and directly opposite of the doors there were two paned doors that led to a balcony, my like Jareth's chambers had.

Okay, so, basically, the place was amazing. I loved it.

I couldn't hide the wonder on my face as I looked about. After I was sure I couldn't take anymore of it in, I somehow managed to look at Jareth… he was watching me, closely.

He grinned, "I take it the lady likes it," he said, softly.

I jumped at him and wrapped my arms around his neck, "I love it! You put this together for me? Oh my word… Jareth, this is fantastic, thank you!"

He laughed, "Anything for you, Wren," he gently kissed the top of my head, and then stepped back again from me. "I shall leave you to your room, then," he said, "And shall see you in the morning."

"Okay," I said softly, still in awe.

He paused just before he backed out of my room, shutting the double doors behind him. "Pleasant dreams, dearling."

Once I was alone, several things happened, all of them silly and would have been embarrassing had Jareth been there. First off, I danced around the room, making happy squee noises. Then, I took a closer look at my closet, and a closer look at the study… okay, so I just ran through them, like I was five. Then, I realized, I needed to use the bathroom, as that disgusting bus station bathroom had been nightmarish. I'll spare you the details of my episode in trying to figure everything out, and merely let you know that I did, eventually, and then was exhausted and ready for sleep.

That bed… first of all, it made me feel like a princess. Second of all, it was the most comfortable thing, like, ever. I had changed into my pajamas and washed my face and whatnot, then crawled into bed. I laid on my side, staring into the glowing fireplace. When had that lit? Automatically? Meh, who cares? It was very relaxing.

I couldn't wait until morning, and wondered what it would bring for me…

A/N: I apologize for this not being the usual random stuff… blame Newton. I swear! He's been biting a lot lately… stupid plot bunny… anyway, this is chapter one of five, regarding Wren's vacation. Then, chapter 26, I have something special planned. But… we'll see when we get there.

Meanwhile, do review. I ADORE reviews! Hey, you there! Yes, you, the one who's been reading this fic loyally and hasn't ever reviewed yet. Why not submit one now? C'mon… you know you want to…

Much love,

Marti