Something's are worth waiting for...

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF JIM HENSONS CHARACTERS I DO J

Hopefully this is to everyone's liking Jyes, I do realise things speed up quickly in this chapter but it's just the way it goes J

CHAPTER 3

Jareth was in his study when it happened, like a whisper travelling on the wind...

"Jareth..."

He felt the pull and suddenly the room he was in started to disappear. Momentary darkness before another room started to come into focus. Looking around, he didn't recognise the place but it was still shifting into focus. He knew he was Aboveground though, just by the metallic smell in the air. As the focus started to sharpen he could make out two figures in front of him. They were extremely close, young lovers maybe? He couldn't understand why he had been called and was just about to transport back when he saw a flash of brown.

He'd recognise that flash of brown anywhere. Sarah?! What's more, now that the room had settled, he could see that these two people were not lovers, but rather in-between a grappling match. What was worse, it was between a man and his Sarah.

He clenched his fist and suddenly the man flew backwards, off of Sarah and with a flick of his wrist, Jareth sent him flying into the opposite wall with a sickening crunch. Jareth looked at the crumpling mess on the floor before him.

Hmmm, still alive, but how long will that be, he thought, contemplating unbelievable torture towards this piece of filth that dared touch his Sarah. Suddenly remembering who was standing in the same room as him, he whipped round to face her.

"Jareth..?" She managed to stammer out. He could see her shaking

"Sarah" He breathed. He couldn't believe it was her. As if in slow motion, he saw her knees give out and seconds later he had her in his arms as she collapsed, fainting. A few hundred years ago, he had been used to woman fainting at the mere sight of him, this however, was different. Oh, how he had dreamed of having Sarah in his arms again but not like this. Nevertheless, he would take whatever contact he could get for now. Cradling her to him, he slid down to sit on the floor, seating her on his lap and brushing her hair away from her face, tenderly caressing her cheek with his gloved hand. He was certain that any second now she would wake up, smack him squarely in the face and run away screaming. But she surprised him, like she always had done. She slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by those that she had seen a million times in her dreams but these were full of concern and she definitely wasn't dreaming this time.

"Jareth?" She asked, sitting up slightly and putting her hand to her forehead.

"Sarah, are you alright?" his voice laced with concern.

She sat up straighter, saying "What am I doing...Where am I? Are you really here?"

It all came out in a rush of words. Her faced flushed hotly as she realised she was sitting on his lap and he had his arms around her still. Her eyes fell upon Markus's still body, a gash to the side of his head bleeding slightly onto his white shirt. The realisation of the situation hit Sarah like a ton of bricks. Swivelling bodily on his lap, she took Jareth completely by surprise and threw herself into him, hugging him fiercely. She started to sob into his chest.

Jareth, momentarily winded by the force of Sarah throwing herself against him, was stunned by her reaction. Automatically, his arms pulled her closer while one hand rubbed her back whilst he rocked her slightly. Her tears were short lived.

Pulling away just as quickly as she fell into him, she looked at him. He couldn't read her face, her beautiful, tear stained face but her eyes told another story.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him again.

"I was called, Sarah" He replied simply.

"But, I thought you were dead haven't seen you for 10 years! Why now?" She questioned him.

"Because I was called" He said again.

"But..."Sarah trailed off. Everything began to fit into place. She had called him, in her moment of desperation and, like the hero, he had turned up. As she thought all this through, he continued to absentmindedly rub her back with one hand but reached out and tucked some stray hair back behind her ear.

"If I knew that simply calling you would bring you to me, I would have done it sooner" She said finally.

Jareth felt his heart ache at her words. Did he dare hope that she felt for him exactly what he had always felt for her? Was the old saying true? "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". Did he dare...

Without a second thought, he lifted her face to his with one gloved hand and whispered "Sarah" as he leaned in to kiss her. She leaned forward, ready for what she had dreamt of for nights on end...her eyes fluttering shut as he came closer...

*Groan*

Jareth and Sarah stopped practically nose to nose and both simultaneously look over to Markus, who seemed to be coming round. Before Sarah knew what was happening, both her and Jareth were on their feet although she was still tightly wrapped in his arms.

"He's waking up. What would you have me do to him, Precious?"

"What do you mean?" Sarah stammered, fearful of the reply.

"He tried to touch you inappropriately. What will his punishment be?" Jareth explained.

"You can't hurt him, Jareth, he's my boss!" Sarah said incredulously and slightly shocked that hurting Markus was even an option.

"He dared to take advantage of what's mine "Jareth yelled suddenly, pointing at Markus.

"What's mine", Oh, my Sarah thought, going deliciously hot all over.

She laid a hand upon Jareth's that was still pointing at Markus and he lowered it, taking hold of Sarah's hand in the process.

"Is...Is there any chance you could change what happened?"She asked him quietly.

"How do you mean, precious" He asked.

"Well...you said you reordered time for me before..."She trailed off.

Realisation hitting Jareth, he smirked at her and said "A simply amnesia spell will make him forget what happened in the last few hours". Letting go of Sarah's hand, he conjured a crystal.

"I think that would be for the best" Sarah said, eyeing the crystal that Jareth was dancing around his hand. He nodded once then tossed the crystal towards Markus.

Markus groaned again as the crystal hit him and then began to stir. Sarah made to go towards him but Jareth held onto her fast and steered them both past Markus, out of the warehouse and onto the shop floor. Sarah spotted Kirsten waiting outside for her and she pulled Jareth down the nearest aisle before Kirsten saw her.

"Jareth, where do I begin? I can't believe you are here and what you did. Thank you. My friend is outside waiting for me but...I don't want you to go" She became teary again.

Jareth sighed and lifted a hand to caress her cheek. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes, fearing the tears might fall.

"Sarah, my Sarah. I'm so glad you called me to you. Be rest assured I will not be far away from you from now on" He said.

"You mean, you're not going?"She asked.

"Not while you are still in close proximity to that...man. He has to know that you are..." He shook his head. Don't hope too much, but testing the waters wouldn't hurt, He thought to himself.

He started again "No, now that we have found each other again, I intend to never let you go" he leaned down and gently caressed his lips against hers.

Sarah gasped and, grabbing onto his cloak collar, she pulled him closer to deepen the kiss.

End of Chapter 3.