All I Ask of You

Love me, that's all I ask of you

Coffee. Sarah smelled coffee. She opened her eyes and blearily looked around. The clock on her bedside table read 11:37 a.m. She dragged herself out of bed, purposely ignoring the indention in the mattress beside her.

"Not going to think about it," she told herself as she pulled on her pink fluffy robe. "No thinking before coffee."

Sarah shuffled zombie-like into the kitchen where she was greeted by a somewhat subdued and rather rumpled Goblin King.

"Good morning, Precious," he said, handing her a steaming mug of dark liquid. "I made coffee." He gave her a small smile.

"Thanks," she replied, accepting the cup. She wasn't sure if he had actually made coffee using her machine or if he had just conjured it up out of thin air, but she decided it didn't matter. Either way, coffee was magic in a mug.

Jareth nodded to her as he sipped from his own mug, but said nothing else. Sarah studied his face. He seemed pensive, bothered even.

"Shouldn't he be turning cartwheels down the hall or something?" she asked herself. "After all, he finally bedded the Champion of the labyrinth."

Sarah watched as Jareth moved absently around her small kitchen, obviously lost in thought, and she wondered if perhaps he was as confused about their present situation as she was. Where did they go from here? Was she supposed to just pack up and run off with him back to the Underground?"

"Sarah," Jareth said, temporarily broken from his thoughts, "Would you-"

"Jareth, I don't want to be the Goblin Queen," Sarah blurted.

Jareth stared blankly at her for a moment. "Well," he began, "I was going to ask you if you would like some cream in your coffee, but thanks for letting me know."

"Oh," Sarah replied stupidly. She did a mental face palm. Holy hell, Williams!

Jareth glumly handed her the pitcher of cream and then turned and stalked into the living room. Sarah followed him.

"Jareth," she gushed, "I didn't mean to…I mean, we should probably just…It's not like I don't *gulp!* have feelings for you…"

Jareth sat down on the sofa and looked up at her. "Sarah," he said gently, "I've never said anything about you being the Goblin Queen."

"I know," Sarah answered, taking a seat beside him. "I just don't want you to expect…"

"I don't expect anything of you," he said flatly.

Sarah frowned and leaned back against the sofa. "Ok, good. Fine."

They sipped their coffee in silence for a few minutes before Sarah spoke again.

"Don't think I'm going to start popping out any Goblin Princes for you either."

Jareth nearly choked on his coffee.

"What?" he exclaimed. He set his mug down on the aptly named coffee table and glared at Sarah. "What on earth Above or Below makes you think I want to have any offspring?"

Sarah got up from the sofa and walked toward the window. "I don't know," she answered. "Don't you need an heir to the throne or something?"

The Goblin King sighed and shook his head. "I'm immortal," he told her. "I have no need for an heir. Seriously Sarah, cut back on the television."

"Don't tell me what to do," Sarah snapped angrily. "I don't know why you're even still here. You got what you wanted. You should probably get back to your goblins, Your Majesty."

Jareth jumped up from the sofa and whirled around to face Sarah. "I got what I wanted?" he cried furiously. "How is it that you know so much about what I want? I don't appreciate you making assumptions about me, Sarah. But of course, you always did enjoy forcing me to play the villain. You think I'm always after something, don't you? You thought I came here looking for a queen or an heir or maybe just a good fuck." He noticed Sarah's wince, but he continued in his tirade.

"Did it ever occur to you, Sarah dear, that maybe the only prize I seek is you?"

Sarah opened her mouth to speak, but he held up his hand.

"Before you can make any more assumptions, let me assure you, Precious, that I want more than the physical pleasures of your body. As for you becoming my queen, I admit I had considered it. Why wouldn't I? And if you were my queen, of course I would want you to bear my children."

"What am I supposed to do then?" Sarah asked quietly. "Do I just walk away from everything I have here and return to the labyrinth with you? Don't get me wrong, I love my friends Underground and that whole crazy mess of a place, but I have a life here. I have a promising career and a real chance at fulfilling my dreams."

Jareth shook his head. "Sarah," he said, "You once willingly gave up your dreams for someone you loved. I would never ask you to do that again, even for me." He turned and sat back down on the sofa and Sarah moved to join him.

"Jareth," she said, laying her hand on his arm. "I haven't forgotten that you played a large role in giving those dreams back to me. I just don't see how we could ever make something like this work. I don't want to leave this life behind and I know you can't give up your place as king."

"Certainly not," grumbled Jareth.

"So where does that leave us?" asked Sarah. "Do we just live our separate lives apart except for occasional conjugal visits?" Sarah was grateful when Jareth gave a little laugh.

"You forget, Precious," he told her, "We don't live on opposite sides of the continent." He flicked his wrist and a crystal appeared. "I'm only a wish away,"

Sarah smiled. "That was unbelievably corny, Your Majesty," she said with a laugh.

"Corny or not, it's true," Jareth replied. "You see such a limited view of things now, Sarah. Where did my little dreamer go?"

"I grew up, Jareth," Sarah answered. "As much as I may have once been intrigued by the idea of being a fairytale queen, I'm afraid now I have to choose reality."

"Reality, eh?" Jareth said with a smirk. "This is coming from the woman who makes a living playing pretend."

Sarah sighed. He had a point. Still…

"That's different," she argued.

"No, it isn't," countered the Goblin King. "It's your reality, your job. Ruling the goblins is my reality, Sarah. It's no less real than yours, despite what you believe. You have your lights and makeup and special effects. I have magic. And I possess the option of having the best of both worlds."

"What is that supposed to mean?' Sarah asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jareth smiled and cocked his head to one side. "I mean, if you wished to have your life here and come back with me to the labyrinth, it would be possible to do so."

Sarah stared at him confused. "How?" she asked. "Wouldn't that be confusing?"

"At first," Jareth answered truthfully. "But you would get use to it quickly. You forget that time flows differently between our two worlds."

"That means…?"

"That means that you could come here and bask in your spotlight and win lots of statuettes and attend glamorous parties, and then return to the Underground and hold Court and kick goblins and play with wished-away babies and attend more glamorous parties…" Jareth smiled, seemingly to himself.

"Sounds exhausting."

"Not so much."

"You talk as if you have experience," Sarah said, regarding him strangely. He turned to her and grinned.

"Perhaps I have," he said. "Do you like the song 'Be My Wife'?"

"Um…sure. Why?"

"No reason," Jareth answered. He studied Sarah for a long moment before speaking again. "Sarah, I won't ask you to make any definite decisions right now. Think things over. There is no clock ticking this time."

Sarah gave him a weak smile. "Thank God," she sighed. "You know, that was probably the problem last time. You rushed me. You can't rush a girl, Jareth."

"Duly noted," Jareth said as he got up from the sofa. "I must go now."

Sarah frowned.

"Only for a little while, my pouting princess," Jareth told her. "If you'll remember, my kingdom has become the epicenter of a goblin orgy. I should probably be getting back to try to clean things up before the Council."

"Well, good luck with that," Sarah said, making a face. She held her hand out to Jareth who took it and pulled her up from the sofa before wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her soundly and her knees went weak.

"Would you be so kind as to open a window?" Jareth asked when he finally released her.

Sarah nodded dazedly, and moved to the opposite wall where she rolled up the blinds and pushed open one side of the picture window.

"Thank you, Precious."

She watched in amazement as Jareth transformed into a snowy owl. He flew around the room and landed on her shoulder for a brief moment before fluttering out the open window. Sarah watched him disappear into the smoggy sky and then closed the window. She retrieved the empty mugs from the coffee table and took them to the kitchen, singing as she walked.

"Be my wife…"

She stopped and nearly dropped the mug she was holding as the words Jareth had spoken earlier clicked into place.

Holy talking hands and hats!

"Jareth!"


A/N:

Fluff and angst and cheese and corn and coffee. I'm stuffed! I think I may end this here. I really don't want to get into the mechanics of Jareth and Sarah trying to make a relationship work to the tune of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Even I have limits. Thanks to all who have made comments and recommendations. I'll be starting something new soon, so stay tuned!

Yes, "Be My Wife" is that "Be My Wife." And yes, I was implying exactly what you're thinking. How could I not? Mwahaha...

*I have too much fun making up exclamations for Sarah: Holy talking hands and hats, Great bog-greasing goblins, etc. I have seen some great ones in other works as well. My favorite thus far is "bloody farting goblin gods." What about you? Share your thoughts in the little box below. Thanks!

Fanny