Disclaimer: I own nothing!

By the time Jareth finished the story, Sarah was snuggled into his side with her head resting on his shoulder.

God, I love this cushion. She thought dreamily. It's like I'm sitting on a marshmallow.

"The end. What shall we do now, precious?" The Goblin King asked, closing the book and gazing at her playfully.

Suddenly becoming fully aware of their lounging position, Sarah quickly sat up.

"Uh, um…I-I don't know." She snatched the book from his hands and crossed the room to put the book back on the shelf, face red as a fire-engine.

The grand piano caught her eye.

"D-do you p-play?"

Dammit! Would you stop stuttering? You sound like Porky Pig!

"Proficiently. I can play any instrument you could name." Jareth said mildly.

Of course he can.

She was tempted to name the Jew's harp, but ultimately decided against it.

Knowing him, he'd probably sound like the god of music, no matter what he played.

"I'll take your word for it." She chuckled. "Would you play me a song?"

"I'd be glad to. What would you like to hear?"

Sarah looked at him, but immediately had to avert her face. The sight of Jareth reclining in the cushion, shirt slightly open and ankles crossed casually, made her skin tingle.

"A-anything. Play whatever you want."

With a smirk, he rose from his spot and sauntered to the other side of the room. Seating himself on the bench, he gently placed his hands on the keys.

A delicate, somber melody drifted through the air and Sarah walked over to the side of the bench, enraptured by the notes.

His fingers drew a lonely, haunting tune from the instrument.

She felt tears prick her eyes at the tragic beauty of the music.

When it ended, Jareth's eyes stayed glued to the ivory.

"I've never heard that song before." She tried to say amiably, but failed to hide the sorrow in her voice.

"I wrote it myself."

A long pause hung between them.

"It's so sad." She whispered kneeling down to his level. "Why?"

He turned to her, his face melancholy.

Before he could give an answer, a strange wind picked up through the library. Jareth's back went ram-rod straight and his gaze snapped to the open window on the left wall.

The goblins on the walls were frozen in the same manner.

Sarah instantly felt anxious.

"Jareth? What wro-"

"Shh!" He hissed. "Listen."

She blinked in confusion, but stayed quiet and tried to hear what had the fey male's attention.

It was faint.

Very faint.

A voice.

She couldn't make out any words, but it almost sounded like the wind itself was talking.

Slowly, a coherent sentence formed:

I wish the goblins would take you away, right now!

Sarah gasped in horror.

Jareth stood from the bench and marched determinedly around the piano.

"Jareth! Jareth, wait!" She called out, stumbling after him.

But she wasn't fast enough.

Jareth leapt forty feet up to the sill with the grace of a jungle cat. He then spread his arms and transformed into a barn owl. With a flap of his white wings, he disappeared through the window.

The wind died down.

The goblins started to cackle.

"NO!" Sarah screamed, hurrying to the door and throwing it open in a panic.

She raced through the Escher room for God knows how long, heart pounding in her ears.

No! Please, no! Throne room! Throne room! Where is that throne room? Take me there, now! Please, I need to get to the throne room!

A baby's cry alerted her to the archway at the top of the steps to her left. Darting through it, she ran down the short winding staircase that led into the crowded throne room.

There were goblins everywhere. Laughing, shouting, drinking, rough-housing; it was absolute chaos! Chickens and pigs weaved in and out of the horde.

But Sarah's focus was solely on Jareth, who stood in front of his throne, bouncing a human baby girl in his arms.

She felt the rage bubble up inside of her and she clenched her fists.

"SHUT UP!" She shouted at the top of her lungs and the room fell silent, except for the screaming baby.

The goblins back away as she stomped up to the Goblin King.

"Let her go." She ground through clenched teeth.

"I can't do that. Sarah." He calmly replied. "She belongs to me now."

"She does not belong to you!" The woman yelled. "She belongs with her family and you have NO right to take her away from them! This is wrong! This is kidnapping!"

Jareth's expression hardened in anger.

"I have never kidnapped a child. I answer the call of those who wish children away. I take what is offered to me."

"That doesn't make it right!" She argued. "People say things they don't mean all the time!"

"And if they do mean it?"

"Wh-what?" She faltered.

"I'm well aware of the capricious nature of humans, but down here, words have power, Sarah. Words are your honor and blood. Besides, not every human speaks without thinking."

He briefly freed one of his hands to form a crystal.

"This child was given to me without a fight." He tossed the crystal to her. "See for yourself. There is no one running the Labyrinth for her."

Sarah peered into the orb. It showed the front wall of the Labyrinth and the hill, where she started her journey fifteen years ago.

There was nobody there.

"I'm not some ghoul who steals children for a laugh, Sarah." Jareth said, rocking the infant in his arms. "I protect them. When they are wished away specifically to the goblins, I take them away to a land where they'll be happy. I take them to a family that will always want, love and protect them."

The baby's cries gradually ceased.

"Your world is not as commendable as you think, Sarah. Over half of my subjects were once human. All were purposefully wished away to me by siblings, friends, even parents. Gookie, Fip and Sir Didymus are among them."

…Some of us goblins are strict carnivores, but there are quite a few of us that have one or two random, non-meat preferences…

…I like bread! Always have. Don't know why, I just do…

…Sir Didymus, he's been known to enjoy a watermelon from time to time…

Dread filled Sarah's chest as the memories assaulted her mind and she put two and two together.

"Oh my God."

"Believe it or not, Sarah," he added, "you are the only human in history to conquer my Labyrinth and win back the child. Few bothered an attempt, but only you succeeded."

She stared at the Goblin King helplessly. What could she say to that?

"New one! New one! New one!" The goblins began chanting quietly.

Sarah swallowed the dry lump in her throat.

"Does she have to become a goblin?" She asked meekly.

"I'm afraid so, precious." Jareth nodded solemnly. "The island won't let her stay as she is."

"The island?"

"It is not I that turns the children into goblins, nor is it the Labyrinth. Goblins are indigenous to this island, the magic here ensures it. All I can do is buy time."

"Thirteen hours." She guessed. "If the wisher chooses to run the Labyrinth."

"Correct."

"But then, why am I still human?" She wondered aloud. "And what about you?"

"My magic is too powerful for the island to change. The fact that I'm holding this child is the only reason she's currently still in human form. You, on the other hand, are still human because you were not wished here. You came voluntarily."

Sarah's expression was puzzled.

"When a wish is made," he explained, "it's like a seed is planted. A seed of magic. When children are wished here, the magic in the island allows the seed to grow, eventually transforming them, permanently, into goblins."

He watched the dozing babe with tenderness.

"Since you weren't wished away, you don't have the seed. Plus, the deal you made binds you to me, so my magic protects you from the island's power."

"New one! New one! New one!"

After a moment, the Goblin King stepped firmly toward Sarah, holding the child out to her.

"W-what are you doing?" She stammered fearfully.

"Don't be afraid, precious." He soothed. "She won't remember her human life. She won't feel any pain and I promise you she'll be well taken care of."

Sarah hesitated, but the earnest light in the fey's eyes comforted her. With a resolute sigh, she took the sleeping baby and cradled it to her chest.

It was truly adorable.

Her smooth, cream-colored skin was complimented by the leaf-green onesie with pink flowers printed on it. Shiny auburn curls adorned her little head.

She's so soft. Like a feather.

There was no swirl of glitter, no loud noises, no bright flash, there was just a steady alteration. The skin turned dull-grey, the hair color deepened to a muddy burgundy. The ears grew thin and pointy and the fingers and toes changed from ten of each to six. The nose drew up like a pig snout and two sharp fangs protruded from between its lips.

With a yawn, the goblin awoke and its now-red eyes peered up at her curiously.

"She'll need a name, Sarah." Jareth informed her.

She thought for a minute.

"How about…Sish?"

"Sish! Sish! New one is Sish!" The goblins cheered.

The goblin babe grinned excitedly, flashing a row of needle-like teeth.

"I'm Sish!" She giggled before hopping down from Sarah's arms and joining her wild, new family.

Sarah watched her celebrate with the other goblins, satisfaction coursing through her being. She was barely conscious of Jareth putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Sish. That's a pretty name." He stated. "How did you come up with it?"

She shrugged.

"While I was holding her, I thought about how soft she felt. Then, I thought about how she was wished here and I just combined the words. I figured it was unique enough for a goblin name." She quipped, turning to him with a wink.

"It certainly is, precious." He purred before flinching at the sound of a brass pot crashing against the wall.

"Come," he urged, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the main door, "let's get out of here before they start juggling chickens."

A/N: Man, it was hard getting this chapter started. For the song Jareth played, I pretended that it was Jacob's Theme from The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. It's a beautiful piece, but you can really imagine any sad piano song you want in there. Make me feel glad that I worked so hard and review for me, please? Pretty please with a chocolate-covered Jareth on top?