Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks go out to all those who reviewed it.
I think this chapter should definitely get the action going again.
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Chapter 16
It was another week before Sarah returned to her own apartment in New York, and one after that before she started working again. Murray, her agent who was grateful for the return of his biggest client, was able to get something immediately. The job was only a few episodes of some cop show or other, a recurring role for a few episodes, but it felt good to be busy again.
There was only one problem and it started at the end of the third week after she returned to New York. It was her first day off in two weeks and she intended to spend it with her son, having had to leave him with a nanny while she had worked. She woke up to Jays morning cries for breakfast as usual but while she was feeding him she felt the wave of nausea,
After Jay had finished his breakfast, and been replaced in his cot, Sarah had to run to the Bathroom. She emptied her stomach into the toilet bowl and then waited for the feeling of nausea to subside.
She didn't really think much about it and once she was feeling better she simply went through the day with her son as planned. It was the next morning that the cogs started turning in her mind. When on the third day the same thing happened she finally made a doctors appointment, he took blood to send off for testing. A few days later she was called back for the results
Sitting in the waiting room Sarah started to feel really nervous. When her name was called she almost jumped and she felt herself shivering as she walked into the Doctors office. She sat down in the chair that he indicated.
"How are you feeling?" The grey haired, portly gentleman on the other side of the desk asked politely.
"OK, really not looking forward to those test results."
"Well as you may have already guessed the test was positive, congratulations you're pregnant."
Sarah looked far from happy at this news. She felt her stomach drop like a stone and the desire to be sick rise in its place.
"I know that this may be a hard question, Miss Williams, but do you know who the father is?"
"Yes, I know who the father is." Sarah responded as if she'd been given a cancer diagnosis.
"Are you sure?"
"Unfortunately."
Titania woke in the night knowing instinctively that something was wrong. It took a little bit longer to work out why. The uneasy feeling continued while she sent out her magic to locate what ever was causing the emotion.
She was surprised when her magic found who had interrupted her sleep. With a wave of her had she was fully dressed and transported once again to the New York apartment of Sarah Williams.
"I thought we had gotten over the hysterical crying stage?" She muttered as she approached the weeping woman.
Sarah was crouched by the crib that held her sleeping son.
"Sarah what has happened?"
The mortal woman turned her tear stained face towards the High Queen, "I'm pregnant. Congratulations your going to be a grandmother."
Titania was unsure whether she was happy or sad. None of her children had produced heirs yet and she was happy at the prospect of a grandchild even if Jareth wasn't her natural child he was family. On the other hand her heart went out to Sarah, this was not the outcome she needed to help her get over Jareth.
"Sarah I am so sorry."
"I don't need pity, your Majesty." she said wiping away the last of her tears. "I know you are probably trying to hide your happiness, the Fae value children because they have huge fertility problems." her voice was hard.
The High Queen chose to stay silent.
"You can go inform the Goblin King that he's going to be a Father." The now angry young woman spoke suddenly
"You want to see Jareth?" The redhead was more than just slightly stunned. She thought that Sarah would refuse to let her Step-Son know.
"No, I don't want to see that jealous, arrogant bastard, I want to make him suffer. He isn't allowed anywhere near me or my family, and that will include his own child."
Titania had tried to reason with Sarah make her change her mind but the young mortal was adamant that she did not want to see Jareth. The Fae Queen had pleaded that if Sarah wished to raise the child alone then the least she could so could do was not to tell the father at all, but it seemed that any amount of discussion was not going to convince the still grieving women.
On returning to Avalon the High Queen sought out her husband to ask for his advice. Sarah had made her promise to tell Jareth about the pregnancy, despite her personal views on the subject the Queen was going to have to inform Jareth. All Titania could think about was the damage that it would do to both parties to pursue this path.
"Is the girl safe and well?" The High King asked when he noticed his wife hovering outside the door to his personal study.
"Safe, yes, but I would not really class her as well in mind. There is another problem." She responded.
"Well are you going to come in and tell me about it?"
Titania gratefully sank into the armchair opposite his own but didn't know where to start.
"I haven't seen you look like that since I told you I wanted to bring Jareth to here with us in Avalon."
"I think that this situation may be worse." She had to pause before she continued, "Sarah Williams is pregnant."
Oberon's jaw dropped in surprise but then the corners of his mouth started to rise. "I shall have to go congratulate my son."
"This may not be a happy situation for him."
"How is the fact that one of my sons finally sired an heir a terrible thing?
"Because Sarah wishes to raise him in the mortal realm without Jareth's assistance."
Oberon looked aghast, "She wants to keep the child a secret?"
"No, she wants me to pass on the message and then remind him that he is not allowed to interfere in her or her family's life."
She could see the colour rising in Oberon's cheeks. "She wants to taunt my son, and raise my grandchild without allowing him his birthright?" The rage was barely contained in his voice.
"Yes and there is very little you or I can do about it."
"I am Oberon, High King of the Fae, there is a great deal I could do about it."
"Husband what do you intend to try and do? Your magic will be useless and hers is a completely unknown quantity. You have met Sarah, her will is a strong as yours, she will not change her mind."
"No what I intend to do, woman, is to talk to my idiot son and make him go beg for that girls forgiveness. This is not the time for him be arrogant or act like a petulant babe, my grandchild's future is at stake." Without any further word he vanished from the room.
Titania sat in silence for a moment, mulling over the conversation. She had hoped that Oberon would have chosen to be more level headed. She should have known better really. With a short sigh she followed her husband to the Labyrinth.
The small group of goblins that had taken it upon themselves to follow and look after their "Lady" Sarah were now very confused. To them children were a reason to be happy but somehow, the almost back to normal, Sarah was now crying again. The goblins, unsure of what to do, debated the problem amongst themselves, without much success really.
"We could throw Lady a party." One said
"You silly and forget the time you threw party for Kingy." A second reminded him.
"He wasn't that angry I landed on the bank not in bog itself." The first replied slightly offended.
"Lady not used to Goblin parties she might not take it right way." The third chimed in.
"Why don't we just take her back to Kingy? She was happier before she came back above." The forth suggested for the umpteenth time.
The second goblin sighed, "You haven't been using ears. Lady not happy with Kingy. She'll throw us in the bog for sure."
When she arrived in the Throne room of the Castle beyond the Goblin City Titania found that her husband had already begun his tirade of abuse at the Goblin King.
"Oberon!" She called out to silence him. "Your anger will not improve the situation."
"Fine then. You explain to him what an idiot he has been, the large mess he has made and that he needs to fix it."
"Yes Step-Mother please explain. What is it I've done now?"
"I had to visit Sarah Williams today."
"I haven't contacted Sarah since she wished me out of her life, for the second time." The Goblin King seemed irritated by his parents intrusion.
"And that particular ban still stands, however the damage was already done."
"In what way?" Jareth's face began to show his concern. "Is Sarah alright? You promised me she was safe!" If his Father was getting involved then something was very seriously wrong.
"She is safe. The problem is that she is pregnant, that is what we are here to tell you."
"Why didn't she call me directly? I know she can, I gave her that power." Jareth continued to be concerned and could feel that something bad was still coming.
"She doesn't wish to see you."
"Why wouldn't she want to see me? She is carrying my child now surely that changes everything."
"Yes it gives her yet another reminder of what you did to her." Oberon chimed in and received a harsh look from his wife for doing so.
"But a child changes things!" The Goblin King insisted, rising from his throne for the first time and beginning to pace.
"Yes, a child changes things. One changed you from a devoted lover to a jealous monster!" Titania retorted.
Jareth kept silence not wishing to admit the validity of his Step-Mother's statement or argue pointlessly against it. He simply continued to pace.
The next to speak was Oberon, finally making a connection with something that his son had mentioned. "You gave a human magic?" He sounded shocked and was staring at his son.
"I gave Sarah the power to call me, she hasn't ever done so, that is why I had to take her brother. In the end it was the only way I could see to obtain her."
"Are you sure that is the only power you gave her?" His father recovered enough to ask.
"Yes, why?"
"Because she certainly has more than that now." Titania responded before her husband could. She was looking out of one of the throne room's windows.