Altha waved a wrinkled, grey-blue hand over the human's scarred stomach for a few seconds, then withdrew her hand. "It's healed and you no longer need potions of any kind."

With a relieved smile, Sarah rolled her shirt down and sat up in bed. "Thank you, Altha. For everything."

The healer sadly frowned, looking away.

Concern wrapped in her gut.

"There is something else that I have to tell you," she quietly began. "I didn't want to tell you during the healing process due to risk of stress." She looked her in eyes with sympathy. "There is a high chance that you may not be able to have children, Sarah."

Sarah's eyes grew as her blood chilled at those words. That can't happen. That only happens in soap operas, right? Well, she did notice that the wound was low, but she was certain that it wasn't low enough to cause permanent damage… Or at least she hoped. "Are you sure?"

"I'm not saying that it's a hundred percent, but there is a chance of damage."

"What is the percentage?" She asked, dreading the answer.

The elder took a deep breath. "Eighty."

The woman released a breath, looking away, replaying her words. What if it was true? She might not be able to have children? She knew there was some point in her life she wanted kids, but she was already thirty. Now she might not even have kids at all? She would never give her father grandchildren or her brother a niece or nephew. She would never be called a mother. What would she tell Jareth?

Jareth…

He was a king…

"He needs an heir," she quietly said, looking at the elder, "doesn't he?"

The alchemist sadly nodded. "Eventually… Yes." Her yellow eyes dulled with heartache. "But the chances are–"

"High enough…" she murmured.

Altha slowly nodded.

She slowly laid back in bed. "I just wish to be alone at the moment, Altha."

The healer released a depressing sigh, and carried on her way out the room, gently closing the door.

The woman rolled on her side as her mind was thinking about… everything.

It was like she was fourteen years back and once again she was looking into his pleading and hopeful eyes while offering her a crystal. All she needed was her determination to return home and it would've been exactly like fourteen years ago. Instead of determination, it was heartache. She wanted to see her family again and if she could see them once a week or something, then she was all for it, but there was more than just that… Jareth needs an heir.

Still trying to be strong, she gently placed a hand on the King's narrow cheek with a sad smile. "Oh, Jareth… I love you. I really, truly do."

Cold horror washed over his face. "No," he murmured. His heart was breaking in his eyes and the sight nearly broke her own. It was like his fragile, beating heart was in the palm of her hand, and she was just slowly squeezing it. "No. Sarah. Please." He took her hand, holding it as if it would disappear at his touch. "Don't. We can work this out. I'll let you see your family once or thrice a week or-or whatever you want. Sarah. Please. I…" He took a calming breath, but his eyes were terrified and desperate. "I don't want to be alone again. I want to be with you. I–I…"

Sarah slowly stepped forward to him, taking a deep breath, hoping that she was making the right decision. "I know you would sacrifice so much me."

"Sarah." His voice was was thick with pain; his heart no longer being able to bare it. "I beg of you– Don't go. Please…"

"I love you so much, Jareth." Her heart was numb to the point that she couldn't even cry if she wanted to. She already cried too much after Altha told her. She wanted her family and he needed an heir. It was not going to work. No matter how much she cried for him, she needed to be logical. Like she told him: This love would just cause them both pain. "But this time, I'm giving you up."

His eyes widened. "What?" He stared at her, confused and suspicious. "What are you talking about?"

Sarah withdrew her hand, bowed her head, then looked back at him. "You're a king. You need an heir…" She gave a tight swallow. "I don't think that I will be able to bare you children. I don't want you to–"

He violently waved the crystal away, clenched her arm with the other hand, and barked, "What?" He forcefully walked forward, making her walk back. "An heir? You're worried about that!"

Her back struck the wall, staring at him with startled eyes as his grip tightened.

"You were tearing my heart out because you're worried about an heir?" he shouted with a pale fire burning in his eyes. "I could care less about an heir!" He slammed the bottom of his fist on the wall above her head. "I watched you turn your back on me, I gave you up to save your life– I even thought I watched you die! I would've had my throat cut if it meant having you live! Now, you are going to leave me again for the final time because you fear that I need an heir?" Betrayal washed over him like a desperate rain after a fire. "I don't need an heir. I need you! I always needed you."

Tears started to burn her eyes, realizing what a fool she was.

Her desperate lover released her arm, placed a hand behind her neck, leaned forward, and whispered, "Don't give me up for such foolish things, Sarah, just give me up for your life. I beg of you…"

She didn't want to leave him. She didn't want to give him false hopes. She just wanted to love him and defend him. She wanted to be his. Love shouldn't be put first over a good, caring family like her own, but love was never an easy thing to find either. It was a chance she was willing to take and Jareth was going to be her side through the rest of the way. She was going to love him as long as they were together.

"Your wish is my command," she whispered.

Jareth kissed her with his all of his heart's desire.

With a heavy heart, Sarah inserted the wax-sealed letter into her family's mailbox in the middle of the night. After three days of planning what to say to them, nothing came to mind. She was gone for three weeks without a trace. What was she going to tell them when she could only drop by a couple times a week? She didn't want to switch back to the worlds every day and night– That was just too much. It was probably better that she just stayed missing because less questions and less worrying for her safety. Besides she could still send letters to keep in touch like postcards, right? This page and a half letter will hopefully be some reassurance. With a sigh, she looked out to the dark, white house that held her sleeping father, brother, and stepmother. She then turned to Jareth, who standing behind her and held out a gloved hand to her.

She accepted it and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they started to walk down the dark street, summoning a crystal in the other hand. He tossed it into the air and the couple disappeared without a trace.

I hoped you enjoyed! I want to thank you for the support. It really helps!

Becoming a King is the prequel's title.

R.I.P David Bowie, you will be missed.