Chapter 13

Heard about a place today

Nothing never hurts again

Daddy, daddy get me out of here

I'm, I'm underground

~*/*\*~

Everything felt - weird. That was all she knew could think of to describe the state she was in at the moment. Her head was swimming, but it also felt like she was floating. Dani moaned and rolled over. She clutched the pillow her head rested on and took a deep breath in before sighing with contentment.

Reluctantly, she opened her eyes. When did she get back to Sarah's? Blinking her eyes revealed that she was not in the guest room at Sarah's apartment. Dani frowned and sat up to look around - bewildered by what she saw.

The room looked like one from a medieval castle. Stone walls and draperies - the shape of the windows and a balcony that just screamed Romeo and Juliet. The bed she sat on was a canopy bed - almost fairy-tale-like in the way the wood was carved. The color of the sheets and blankets were a soft blue, like the color of the sky on a cloudless day.

A knock at the wooden door alerted her. Dani wondered whether this was a dream or if it was real. The last thing she remembered was the park, the boys, Jessica - the wish -

The door opened and Jared entered hesitantly. He looked different though. His normally well groomed hair was now sticking up like he was a rock star, and his eyes looked so much like the stage makeup from a production of A Midsummer's Night. He was dressed in really tight pants that made her blush and look anywhere but down. The poet-style shirt was open at the chest and an odd, crescent shaped pendant hung from his neck.

"Jared?" Dani frowned curiously. "Okay, now I know I'm dreaming!"

"I am afraid not, Danica," the man informed her. "And I must apologize, but I have deceived you. My name," he introduced himself with a nod of his head, "is Jareth, king of the goblins."

Dani shook her head. "Dreaming. Totally dreaming! I have a fever, and I've gone on a trip to Oz!"

Jared-now-Jareth approached her and, with a flick of his wrist, offered her a crystal ball. "Look into this, Danica," he ordered quietly. "This will help."

Dani took the ball. Why not? This whole thing was a dream anyway. She looked at it and frowned, her mind clearing and no longer feeling weird. She saw lots of things when she looked into it. Conversations had with an owl that watched her from a tree outside her attic bedroom, a conversation had between Sarah and Jared - whom Sarah kept calling Jareth. So many other things and instances appeared in the crystal, that Dani couldn't quite comprehend all of them, but somehow knew to be true.

She looked up at Jareth, accepting all of this to be real, and hesitantly asked, "Jareth?"

He smiled sadly and stretched out his hands as if to say 'ta-da' and said instead, "At your service."

Dani stared at him, still trying to wrap her mind around what had happened. "Then, that book -?"

"A somewhat historical account of an ancestor of mine," Jareth explained as he pulled a cushioned chair closer to the bed and sat on the seat. "There are many stories of my people in your world - the Aboveground - as we call it now. I believe a few of your Shakespeare's works talk about us. A king of ours from many centuries ago - Auberon and his court. I knew Puck."

"You knew - wait - what?" Dani flustered curiously. "How old does that make you?"

"My people don't age the way you mortals do," Jareth explained slowly. "In your mind, I would be - many centuries old. To my people, I am about twenty or thirty - think of a cat I suppose."

Dani wrinkled her forehead in thought. "So - what exactly are you? Like a fairy or an elf?"

"Nothing so nonsensical as that," he chuckled. "We prefer the old terms such as fae or seelie."

The teenage girl shook her head in wonder. Suddenly, she straightened and looked at Jareth with a worried look. "You're not - going to turn me into a goblin are you?"

He threw his head back and laughed. Dani would have felt offended, but she couldn't really bring herself to feel anything. When Jareth settled down to an occasional chuckle, he answered, "No, that was how my ancestors used to deal with people they kidnapped, but I have so many goblin subjects, I don't need anymore. No, sometime in the last two centuries, we returned to the old ways. Stolen or rescued mortal children are adopted by a fae family that cannot have their own children. We call you Changelings."

"I don't want to be adopted," Dani protested, "I'd be considered an independent adult soon if I was still - back there." She wasn't sure if she should address her "home" as the Aboveground or something else.

Jareth nodded. "I understand, but you may want to reconsider." He turned toward the door, which he hadn't shut when he entered the room. Dani's eyes followed his and saw Eddie standing there.

She felt relief and worry when she saw him. What was he doing here? She didn't remember Jessica wishing him away. What happened?

Dani held out her arms for her cousin, a smile on her face. He joyfully ran and jumped up on the bed. Without needing to be asked, he began telling her what happened. "I wished myself away!" Eddie leaned his head back to look up at Dani as he explained, "Jessica wouldn't do whatever Jareth said she had to do to get you back, so I wished myself away. I didn't want you to be gone. You're my family!"

"Eddie," Dani murmured in surprise. She looked up at Jareth, who was watching the scene without allowing his own thoughts to show through.

"He is still too young, Danica," Jareth stated. "And you would not be allowed to keep him with you unless," he held up a hand to stem the protests from the pair so he could finish, "unless you, Danica, agree to become the ward of the family in which I place Eddie."

"What does that mean?" Dani asked hesitantly.

"It means," The Goblin King continued, "that you will not be adopted, but you will have a place to live and someone to look after you and your affairs until the time comes that you - choose a husband. Eddie would be with you and for all intents and purposes, your brother."

"Couldn't I be a ward too?" Eddie asked. "I don't want another family. I just want Dani."

Jareth looked at Eddie. "She will always be your family, but she cannot look after you. She herself is still too young for that sort of responsibility. I am not saying she is incapable, but if we could give her the opportunity to grow up the way she always deserved, don't you think that would be better, Eddie?"

The boy sat quietly as he thought about this.

"Besides," Jareth continued, "I can guarantee that man and woman I place you with are very kind and would love you both."

Dani looked at her cousin and thought about her options. She could stay with Eddie, live with complete strangers, and wait until she was old enough to strike out on her own. Or, she could strike out on her own now and possibly never see Eddie again while he lived with complete strangers. The first option seemed more appealing.

"Will I see you again?" Dani asked, startling the man sitting before them.

"Beg pardon?"

"Will I see you again," Dani repeated. "I've never been very good at making friends, and so far you're the only one I know here."

Jareth chuckled. "If only you knew," he murmured to himself. In a louder voice he continued, "I am never one to miss events and we faes do enjoy a good party. Also, it is my duty to check in on the wished away children from time to time, so I will most certainly will come pester you and steal your books, if," he added, "that is what you wish."

"Can I visit Sarah?" Dani asked.

She watched the man's amused expression fall back into his mask of silence. Jareth looked away and sighed heavily. "I am afraid you can never return to the Aboveground once you've been wished away." He looked up at her and with a sad expression said, "And I am afraid Sarah can never return to the Underground again."

"Again?" Dani questioned.

"She's been here before?" Eddie interjected for her.

Jareth nodded. "A long time ago. Some of my subjects still visit her when she is alone."

"That's not fair," Dani whispered as she hugged Eddie.

A smile quirked the corners of his mouth, but Jareth refrained from commenting. "I can inform her of the circumstances and reassure her that you both are safe," Jareth offered. "She may not be pleased with me though," he added as an afterthought and ran a gloved hand through his wild hair.

"I guess that's better than nothing," Dani agreed. "We could even write letters to her, let her know from us that we're all right."

Jareth smiled again and nodded. "Yes, that should be fine."

~*/*\*~

Sarah paced the living room space and clutched her cell phone in her hand. "Call! Why won't somebody call me!"

A knock at her door made her jump. She hastened to the stairway that would lead down to the door. Was it Dani? No, she had keys. So did David - unless something had prevented the two from using their keys? A policeman? That thought sent her stomach plummeting.

Shakily, she unlocked the door and opened it to reveal the last person on Earth that she expected to see again. But in the back of her mind she knew she should have known.

"What have you done with her, Jareth?" Sarah demanded heatedly. "Where's Dani? And Eddie?"

"Danica was wished away," Jareth explained. He was wearing his own clothes this time. He knew Sarah's husband wasn't home and would most likely not interrupt their conversation. "Could I please come in?"

Sarah fumed, but stepped aside to let him into her home. Once she had shut the door again, she stormed up the stairs after the Goblin King. "What do you mean she was wished away? You mean she didn't do the wishing?" Sarah asked. "And who knew the words? That book was - I thought I'd lost it!"

"I'm surprised you assumed it was Danica who wished herself away. Or perhaps," he continued icily, "you assumed she wished Eddie away, and she is currently running the Labyrinth." Jareth shook his head and looked at her imperiously. "Really, Sarah, I am surprised that you think so little of Danica."

"I didn't mean - stop doing that!" Sarah protested angrily. "I didn't think she would wish Eddie away at all! Of course I thought she wished herself away. After all the stuff she's been through -"

Jareth waved off her arguments and continued speaking. "As for the book, it was among those items in the attic which you allowed Danica to keep. Her cousin, Jessica, was the one who wished Danica away. Eddie just decided to wish himself away."

"Is Jessica running the Labyrinth for them?"

"She refused," Jareth replied with a shrug. "Besides, she would only be able to retrieve Danica. Eddie would not be able to run for himself."

"I'll run for both of them," Sarah decided with an air of finality.

"You cannot, Sarah," the Goblin King refused. "You were not the wisher, so you may not run. Besides, you've already been through the Labyrinth, and as you said - I have no power over you. You are barred from the Underground now. Magic does not work for you anymore, and you would be repelled from my realm every time you tried to enter."

"You can't keep them and turn them into goblins!" She shouted at him.

"I have no intention of turning them into goblins. And I'm not keeping them as prisoners. I am finding them a good home where they will actually - for the first time in a long time - be wanted!" Jareth replied, his voice raising to meet her own. "They agreed to the terms, I did give them the option. They have already met the couple that wishes to adopt them." He produced letters from his billowing sleeve and handed them to Sarah.

"Here," he said irritably, "these were written by Danica and Eddie. They wanted to assure you with their own words that they are doing well and are happy with the arrangement."

Sarah took them hesitantly. "How do I know these aren't faked or you didn't drug them with those peaches of yours?"

Jareth made a sound between a sigh and a growl. "Believe what you will about me, Sarah, but you can determine for yourself whether they are content or not."

She took the letters and read the one that appeared to be in Eddie's hand first.

Dear Mrs. Williams,

This is Eddie! Dani and Jareth said I should write this so you know we're ok. I am! Jareth is really nice and his goblins aren't really scary. They're funny really. I like this one guy who said he isn't a goblin, but he hangs out here alot. His name is Hoggle (he says hi). Jareth let us meet the people who want to adopt me and Dani. They're really nice. Alot nicer than Mom and Dad. Wish I could visit the shop, but Jareth said I can't. Tell David I said hi and that I'm sorry I can't play soccer with him anymore.

Bye!

Eddie

Sarah smiled a little at the boy's note. At least he met Hoggle. The grumpy dwarf would take care of the boy and most likely visit Sarah later to give her his impression on the whole situation. She then took the letter written by Dani and opened it. If anyone would give away whether they were all right with this situation or not, it would be Dani.

Hey, Sarah.

I'm sorry I couldn't do this in person, but Jareth explained that the magic that sent me here is keeping me here - that I'm a part of the Underground now. It's hard to understand and explain and I'm sorry if I'm doing a bad job explaining why I can't come see you. I promise I'm not being held here against my will or something. Jareth didn't kidnap me - more like he rescued me.

I'm sorry I left for school that day, maybe I should have stayed in bed. I have a feeling that Jessica would have wished me away eventually. So I don't know if it really mattered when it happened.

Jareth has probably explained that I have to stay here since Jessica didn't run for me. That's okay with me though. I don't want to come back. I never really fit in there. I am going to miss you though. I have a chance here though. No one here will judge me for how I look or accuse me of horrible things like they did back at school there. I am sorry I wasn't able to finish school for my dad. Jareth said I could keep studying - but it's not like I'll get a diploma. I hope Dad understands.

I met a couple of your friends here. Didymus and Hoggle. They said they'd come see you later. I also met the couple that want to adopt Eddie. I'll be living with them too, but I won't technically be adopted. I'm okay with that. I don't think I want to be adopted. They're good people. Eddie likes them already.

I'm really okay, Sarah. I wish I could do a better job at convincing you. Hoggle said I could talk to you through a mirror, like Skype or something. Maybe when I figure out how to make it work I'll send you a message or whatever.

Hope you can forgive me for leaving. Thanks for being my friend.

Dani

(P.S. Can you give Jareth my things? Like my books and Dad's medals? I think Eddie wants his Redwall books too, but Jareth might be sending the goblins for them later.)

Sarah felt tears stinging her eyes. She would miss that girl. When Sarah looked up, she saw Jareth standing with arms crossed. He watched her with a guarded expression. She couldn't help but see him as she had seen him as a teenager. A man who frightened and intrigued her. A man who had taken her brother away and had no compassion. Sarah realized a long time after that incident that he had only been trying to help her, even in his own selfish way. He had been showing her the importance of family, independence, and growing-up. Jareth's childishness had shown her her own childish tendencies. If he had never taken Toby, would Sarah have stayed that selfish girl who only dreamed and dreamed? Never worked or loved or cared?

Now Dani was with Jareth. Dani always saw Eddie as the most important thing in her life. If Eddie hadn't wished himself away, would Dani be content to stay in the Underground? Sarah didn't think so.

Perhaps, the Aboveground - as Jareth called this place - had acted for Dani how the Underground and Labyrinth had acted for Sarah. Perhaps Dani's place was there instead of here.

"Thank you," Sarah said quietly. What she was thanking him for, she wasn't sure. "If you'll wait a moment, I'll go get the things Dani wanted."

"No need," Jareth replied. "I have already had Hoggle and the others collect them. I planned on taking them whether you believed me or not."

Sarah shook her head and bit back a retort. Instead, she said, "You couldn't just wait?"

"When have I ever waited?" Jareth replied, his lips curved into a smirk. If she didn't know any better, Sarah was almost certain he had been joking.

"Is Hoggle staying?" Sarah asked as she turned toward the hall. She still intended to make sure everything had been taken. She heard Jareth following her, which was strange - this man from her girlhood fantasies in her adult domain. He seemed so - out of place.

"He wanted to get Eddie's things," Jareth replied lazily. "I'm sure Hogbrain will return later. If I don't find some other task for him to do of course."

The brunette woman stepped into the guest room and instantly saw something on the bed. She reached for it and held it out to Jareth. "She might want this," Sarah suggested. The red book felt so strange in her hands. It looked strange. Like Jareth it didn't belong here.

"She finished that book," Jareth replied. "Besides, I can't take it with me. Its magic won't let me."

Sarah stared at it, worry in her eyes. "I don't want to keep it here!"

"Perhaps," the Goblin King suggested with a tilt of his head, "it could go in your shop. You own a bookstore after all."

She started shaking her head, green eyes wide. Before she could vocalize her fears and arguments, Jareth added, "It could teach some other person a valuable lesson. Or perhaps rescue someone else from loneliness."

Sarah's arm fell to her side, the book in her hand. The look in Jareth's mismatched gaze made her believe that, yes he did know what he had done for her and Dani - yes he had grown up as well since meeting them.

"I suppose I could find a place for it on the shelves," Sarah admitted nonchalantly. Looking around the room once more, she shook her head. "Looks like Hoggle and the goblins did a thorough job."

"I threatened them with the bog of eternal stench," the king replied easily. "Of course they did a thorough job. Now," he said, "I believe I will take my leave."

He turned toward the door. Sarah was sure that the moment he walked through it, he would disappear in a shower of glitter. Instead, he paused at the door frame and said, "Sarah?"

"Yes?"

Jareth didn't turn around, but spoke anyway, "Thank you." Abruptly, he walked through the door and disappeared.

~*/*\*~

Several Years Later

A young man with shoulder length brown hair ran along, dribbling a strange looking ball. A little girl followed him, her black hair fluttering around her cherub face. "Wait, Uncle Edward!"

The man laughed, "You have to catch me, Chelsea!"

Several yards away sat a woman with cropped black hair. Her mismatched blue and green eyes watched the pair as a chuckle worked past her smiling lips. The bundle in her arms made a mewling protest, garnering her attention.

"It's okay, Grant," the woman comforted. She stroked the little blonde curls poking out of the blanket before humming a tune. "Heard about a place today, Where nothing never hurts again -"

~*/*\*~

A boy wandered a bookstore. He had slipped in to avoid the attention of a group of kids from school. He would have to go home soon, not that he really wanted to. His brown eyes wandered the various shelves of fantasy novels. Eventually, his attention fell on a little red book.

He pulled the small volume off the shelf and stared quizzically at the gold lettering: Labyrinth.

"Oh, that's a good one," a woman's voice spoke from behind him. He turned to see the shopkeeper. A woman with streaks of white in her brunette hair. Her green eyes sparkled in a way that made him positive that she was a nice person - who also had a secret.

"What's it about?" The boy asked.

"A lonely girl," she answered.

He scrunched up his face. Why would he want to read about a girl?

"Who wants to rescue her brother from a terrible Goblin King," the woman continued. "But, it's only a good book if you can handle it."

"Handle it?"

"Yes," the woman answered as she took the book from the boy's loose hold. She flipped through the pages and smiled at the contents. "This book is rather intense - so I'd say a very strong person would need to read it. Not for the faint of heart."

"It's just a book," the boy retorted, shifting the weight of his backpack.

"I suppose it would be to anyone who didn't believe in magic."

The boy's brown eyes lit up with excitement. "Magic?"

The woman nodded, a smile on her face.

"Well," he replied with a shrug, "maybe I could read it - some of it."

"If you think you can handle it," the woman replied as she turned and walked to the cashier's counter. The boy trailed behind her. He watched as she opened the front cover and took out a pen.

"How much will it cost?" The boy asked.

"For this book?" The woman tilted her head in thought. "Hmm. Nothing."

"Nothing? As in - free?"

The woman nodded and asked, "What's your name?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Well, I should think you'd want your name in it."

The boy stood on his toes to see several other names written on the book's inside cover. Both boys' and girls' names. The very last name on the list was Danica Trent. The name seemed vaguely familiar to him, but he couldn't remember why.

"PJ," he answered. "PJ Pruit."

"P - J," the woman repeated as she wrote. "That short for something?"

"Peter Junior," he replied with a wrinkled nose. "It sucks."

The woman chuckled. "PJ it is." She shut the book and slid it across the counter toward him. "Enjoy the book!"

PJ took the book and stuffed it into his backpack. "Thanks!"

The woman watched the boy dash out the store. Her eyes followed him as far as she could track him out the wide display window. Briefly, she glimpsed an owl perched on a store's awning across the street. She smiled at it as it seemed to bob to her like a gentleman bowing.

It too took flight and flew off in the direction of the boy.

"Sarah?" A man called to her from somewhere in the back.

"In the front, David," she replied.

David appeared from behind one of the rows of shelves, a stack of books in his arms. "Who was that?"

She smiled once more. "A lost and lonely boy."

The End

~*/*\*~

Author's Note: I'm sosososososo sorry that it took me so long to update! I also apologize if this feels - unfinished or rushed. I decided I wanted to end at 13 - as well as I felt like the story was just dragging. It was a fun piece to write, but I'm getting Labyrinthed out. After Troll Bridge, I'm going to stop Labyrinth fics for a while. Sorry!

I hope you all enjoyed this story. Despite all the sappyness and disjointedness. Thank you for sticking with it and bearing with me. :)