I apologise for the wait and the short chapter. I hope to get another one out soon. Thanks for the continuing support.

Please check out the chapter for my new story "With the Right Leverage" when it appears. It was written to try and help me get back into this one but before I knew it I had about 10,000 words so I thought I should start publishing it too.

Reviews are welcome and very much appreciated.

cheers

Chapter 26

The hand-off to Oberon and Titania went smoothly and the doting grandparents disappeared to spend quality time with Jay.

"If I didn't know the damage you could do I would worry that you'd never see Jay again." Jareth commented when they were safely seated at dinner in a quiet restaurant a few blocks from Sarah's apartment.

Sarah looked uncomfortable at that thought.

"Don't worry, I meant that as a joke." He instantly tried to reassure her.

"It's not that. The idea that I have those types of powers... I'm human, maybe in my head I'll never really believe I can do those things."

"We don't know the extent of your power. You were given a great gift."

"As much as I love the Labyrinth, could I ever really belong in your world?"

"Do you really belong in this one any longer?"

"My family is here, the life I know, the Underground is filled with so much I don't know or understand and that frightens me."

"That doesn't sound like the Sarah who faced me and declared "My will is as strong as yours"." Jareth grabbed her hands, wishing that he could have taken off his gloves first, to touch skin-to-skin. "I promise you, Sarah, I will protect you, your children, your family. You will never have to use your powers unless you want to."

"I've trusted you would keep me safe for a very long time." She gave the hands that held her own a squeeze. "but if something happened to my son or this baby," She moved one hand to her stomach, "I don't know what I would do."

"Whatever you did I would be right there behind you." He looked deep into the green eyes of his love hoping to see the defiant gaze he fell for so many years before.

The discussion was interrupted by the appearance of the waiter. Somehow they arrived at the dessert course. Neither Sarah or Jareth could particularly remember what they had eaten. On the walk back to Sarahs' home Jareth revelled in the feeling of having his arm around her and in the new found harmony in their relationship.

Deep under the Avalon Palace Prince Eric stewed in his resentment and anger. His confinement was an insult to his position and unlawful, not that such things every mattered to Oberon. The guards were disrespectful the conditions disgraceful. A diet of bread and water meant he was always hungry. He was allowed one jug of ice cold water to wash himself with. His bedding had not been changed since the beginning of his incarceration. It was all his brothers' fault. Jareth had always been their Fathers' favourite, a bastard allowed to be raised within the Royal family and gifted with a throne that should have been his as the legitimate heir, and now to be locked up in a dungeon for trying to retrieve what was rightfully his.

It was just his luck that his son was under the protection of the Sarah! That mortal whore had threatened him and caused his bodily harm, him a Royal fae, and received no punishment. Jareth would be in huge trouble when Eric was free. His first port of call would be the council. He would claim his son and then inform them that Jareth had gifted magic to a mortal woman. That was the one thought that sustained him.

"What have you done now!" The strident voice of his wife rang out beyond his cell door.

"Thalia?" He stood and rushed to the door to peer through the bars at the pale petulant face of the woman he had married.

"Well who else would it be?" The nasal whine continued. "No one likes you enough to bribe the guards the way I had to, personally I would be glad to leave you here to rot."

"Now is not the time to start up that old argument."

"Well if you could act like an adult maybe we would actually have respect in society!"

"I act like an adult!" Was his instant retort.

"I don't have time for this I'm leaving. I might actually thank your father for giving me this reprieve from your company."

His voice turned sly, "Not when you know why I'm down here."

The Labyrinth was at it again. The corridors were changing too fast, there were too many dead ends. All the inhabitants knew that something was wrong. The Goblins had taken to the throne room and weren't budging turning the Goblin city into a ghost town. The fire gang had retreated into their caves and hadn't caused trouble in days. She was trying to say something but most of the populous were too elemental to realize they had to inform anyone.

Hoggle knew something was up, he'd taken to haunting the mirror portal to try and catch Toby to try and make contact with Sarah. He needed to make sure she was safe, the babe too. He had a bad feeling.

After their pleasant walk back Jareth escorted Sarah to her door.

"I believe this is where I must leave you. The first date etiquette suggests that I kiss you and ask if I can see you again."

"Every thing about us is backward isn't it?" Sarah asked with a smile on her face. A smile that Jareth couldn't resist tasting. He pulled her into his arms and buried his fingers in her hair, fitting his lips to hers. Enjoying the softness of her body against his own. His tongue moved along the seam of her lips entreating entry.

Sarah had no defence against the onslaught, the lean, muscled strength of his body. The taste of him pure magic, addictive. She found herself pressed against her front door with no memory of moving.

It was Jareth who broke the kiss first his chest heaving as he dragged air into lungs starved of oxygen. The feel of Sarahs' breast against him as she too tried to recover bringing certain uncomfortable sensations from lower down to his attention. Their eyes met and held, pupils dilated with arousal. Sarah reached up and cupped her bare hand to his cheek, the skin smoother than silk as he nuzzled like a cat into her palm.

"Would you like to come in for Coffee?" Sarah didn't want to lose the moment.

Jareth took a deep breath, "You know it wouldn't just be coffee." He took another breath and created a small space between them. "My parents will be bringing Jay back soon and I have no intention of being caught making out like a teenager." He smoothed down the hair his fingers had tangled in.

"Well back to first date etiquette then you've kissed me goodnight now you need to ask to see me again." She couldn't resist running the back of her fingers down his cheek one last time.

The sensation was nearly his undoing but he managed to find his voice again. "Can I see you again?"

"I'm going to my Parents house for lunch tomorrow. Come with me?" She was still staring into his eyes.

"Are you sure?"

"What's said is said. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't mean it."

"Then yes, I would be delighted."