Chapter 1

Owls and Rainy Evenings

I can still remember the rain that evening. How it whispered and sang, how it drummed its chilly fingers steadily against the windshield of my brother's sleek, black '67 Mustang as we glided down the sleepy city street, blending its rhythm easily with the rubbery swish of the windshield wipers and the quiet thrumming of a Scottish guitar playing over the radio. Street lamps, traffic lights, and neon signs illuminated the waters speckling and trickling down the cool glass, shifting them into a shining collage of red, yellow, blue, and green. Strangely beautiful, considering such radiance had been created with artificial light. I peered up through the water-stained glass. The late June sky above us was a dark canopy of thunderheads, heavy but not ominous, the western edges already turning a faint orange to indicate that this shower would be done before night fell completely. I sat back in my seat with a quiet sigh.

"You know, Will, I could have made the drive myself."

A muffled snort burst from the driver's seat to my left, cleaving the air and abruptly interrupting the almost pleasant undertone of masculine harmonies that had been accompanying the radio. Soon followed a clever voice, slanted here and there with the hint of a British accent...rather like mine. "Could you, now? Using what, I wonder... You know you're not to touch the wheel of my darlin'." The voice's owner patted the dashboard affectionately. Why he felt the need to act such a complete fool over a car, I'll never know, but I suppose it was only right for him to be proud. He'd been working and saving for the 'Stang since he was twelve years old.

I rolled my eyes and scowled at the rain patterned window of the passenger door, resting my head against its coolness and watching as my breath crept its misty way across the glass. "I could have taken the Subaru... Dad says I can use it whenever I like."

"Sure. Just as long as 'whenever you like' doesn't involve an evening excursion in pouring rain. Do you want to worry our poor mother sick? Everybody knows that you're shite behind the wheel and I shall always be the better driver!"

At last, I turned my glare on the imp in the driver's seat. Of course, he was smirking at me, waiting for my reaction... Bright, mischievous green eyes. Mop of dark hair. Cheekiness infused in every feature. Will. My ever-attentive, ever-irritating twin brother. He was barely six minutes older than I, but he never failed to lord those six minutes of "extra charm, wisdom, and life experience" over my head. Mischievous as he was, however, he was always looking out for me, always there for me...like a self-appointed bodyguard. Even approaching the grand old age of 19 with his big plans and his bright future, Will always took it upon himself to protect and care for his "little" sister.

I let my eyes go wide in imitated shock. "How dare you? You horrid, insensitive bugger. How dare you hurl the truth in my face like that?!"

Visibly content with his success in needling me, he winked and reached for the radio volume. "I aim only to please, sister of mine."

The remainder of our journey passed quickly, time filled with The Proclaimers, intentionally bad sing-alongs, and various ridiculous accent imitations. As we moved up the tranquil neighborhood drive to our destination, our brother-in-law, Jamie, waved to us from the sheltered front porch of the pricy cream-colored suburban house that he shared with our sister and their two children. Will pulled up to the curb by the carefully manicured front lawn with its powder blue mailbox marked Evans and waved back enthusiastically before turning to me with a smug expression.

"Okay, kid. That'll be eighty-four dollars, tax and extra expenses not included. I'll write you a bill. Now get your stuff and get out."

I punched him hard on the arm, causing him to yelp loudly, though his grin only brightened. "There's your payment, ya devil. Thanks for the lift. Have fun bowling and tell Ryan and the guys I said hey."

He ruffled my hair playfully. "Will do! I'll text you the scores later. Maybe I'll even bring you a slice of cold victory pizza for breakfast tomorrow."

"That's my lad." I grinned at him, hooked an arm through the straps of the backpack at my feet, and hopped out. Golden light of evening began to filter through the fading clouds and the rain lessened to little more than a gentle mist as I trotted up the porch steps, the sound of Will's car engine fading away behind me. Things to do...places to be...

"Hey, Lara," Jamie greeted me warmly with a one-armed hug and a smile. "Glad you could make it."

"Of course! Wouldn't have missed it for anything," I said, smiling up at him. My brother-in-law was dressed quite handsomely in a pair of slacks, smart leather shoes, and a dark charcoal blazer over a neat button down shirt of blue that enhanced his eyes. His sandy brown hair was neatly styled and his overall posture casually displayed the cool, quiet confidence that came so easily to him.

"Is Kat almost ready?"

"Yep. She's just getting the kids settled." He glanced at the screen door, through which the empty hallway could be seen, and leaned toward me conspiratorially. "Between you and me... She's been driving me crazy all evening. 'Do you think Lara will manage? Do you think the kids will behave? Maybe we should just order takeout and call it good.' You'd think she didn't know how to celebrate an anniversary, and this is our sixth!"

I rolled my eyes. "You know Kat. Seeing smoke where there's no fire. Freaking out about giants when they're only windmills. It's a talent of hers."

"AUNT LAWA!!!!" A streak of blue and gold crashed through the screen door and plowed into me, latching onto my legs with a grip like iron. I staggered slightly and looked down into the huge, beaming eyes and wide, toothy grin of little Alec. Just two months shy of three years old, Al was cute as a bug. He had such a sweet little face with golden curls above eyes of blue and a button nose to round it all off. Anybody to catch sight of the handsome wee prince would find themselves easily and instantly smitten.

I grinned and lifted the boy in my arms, holding him out so I could look him up and down. He wore only a blue t-shirt and a Winnie the Pooh pull-up, his chubby legs bare and kicking. "There you are! You ready for a brilliant time with your favorite aunt?" Al nodded eagerly, curls bouncing as a high pitched giggle drifted from the house.

"You're his only aunt, Aunt Lara."

I smiled through the screen and winked at the young speaker. My 5 year-old niece pushed through the door and trotted over to us on bare feet. Her ashy brown hair had been neatly brushed and her little lilac colored dress (clearly a favorite) was adjusted to perfection. Her eyes, the same clear blue as her brother's, sparked with youthful excitement.

"Hello, Calpurnia. My, don't you look lovely!"

The little girl smiled shyly and shuffled her feet, giving a sudden squeal of delight when her father scooped her into his arms and tickled her. "I think she looks pretty as a goblin princess, don't you, L?"

I grinned. "Oh, yes. The fairest goblin princess I've ever seen!"

Callie laughed and squirmed. "I'm...n-not a goblin, Daddy!"

"Your Aunt Lara knows lots of goblin stories, Cal," came yet another voice from beyond the screen door. "You'll have to get her to tell you one."

My sister floated out to join us on steps as smooth and graceful as a dancer's. Her honey blond hair was twisted up in an elegant French knot at the back of her head and she wore a flattering dress of midnight blue that hung mid-calf and swayed delicately with her movements. In her right hand she held a small pair of trousers, obviously abandoned by my squirming nephew. She brandished them in my face. "You see what they do to me?! Animals!"

I laughed and snatched the article of clothing from her, proceeding to wrestle their roguish owner back into them whilst he shrieked joyously and wriggled in my arms. "What's the big idea, Alec? Don't you like to wear pants any more?" The boy just shook his head, eyes twinkling mischievously. I grinned at Kat. "They get their talent for irritation from Will and me. It's either that or Jamie was a little beast."

"Hey!" Jamie protested. "I was a perfect angel! Just ask my mother."

"No, I see you and Will in them constantly." My sister put her hands on her hips. "It's enough to give me nightmares!"

Katherine was the eldest, the first of the Tyler Trio, as we had been affectionately called back in England. Gentle Kat...so like our mother in so many ways. To my eyes, she was perfect. She was the daughter parents coveted, the wife good men dreamed of, and while she had lost most of her accent during our ten years of American citizenship, she was still very much the loving British mother. I wished that I had taken after her more... Where Kat was calm, I was restless. Where she was sweet, I was surly. If someone angered her, she always managed to be the bigger person, taking it in her stride and diffusing the situation simply by remaining tranquil. But not me. I could rarely avoid more heated confrontation, often laced with monstrous insults...and sometimes with fists flying. As if all that wasn't enough of a contrast, I also lacked her beauty, being shorter and plainer of face...favoring dark hair over blond. The rose and the rapier... Even our eyes were different. Kat's were warm and hazel like our father's, whereas mine were an almost cold sort of...undecided color. It's probably safest to call them grey.

"It takes skill to be mischievous," I said primly, setting Alec down and shrugging off my pack so I could hand it to Callie. "Take this to the living room for me, will you? Careful not to drop it and don't open it until I say. Dragons are fickle creatures."

The girl's lips parted in wonderment as she gazed up at me with curious eyes. "There's a dragon in here?"

I winked. "It's a surprise." Callie smiled softly and walked into the house, stepping as lightly and carefully as if she carried a basket of sleeping kittens. Alec followed quickly behind. Straightening up, I cast an appraising glance between my sister and her husband. "Now then...you two are a fine looking pair. Better get out of here so I can ruin your children."

Kat led me inside to their enormous kitchen to familiarize me with the extensive list of emergency protocol she had left on the refrigerator. The children had already eaten supper, but not dessert and I was to remember that I mustn't give them too much sugar. Simple animal crackers and a glass of milk would do. They could watch TV, but only one program and it had to be over with at least half an hour before bed. Make sure the bath water wasn't too hot. Use only the peach scented baby shampoo for the both of them. Their pajamas were laid out on their beds. Make sure to take two minutes a piece when brushing their teeth. Calpurnia could do part of it on her own with supervision. Above all, make sure they were in bed by exactly 7:45. Not a minute before or after. She then proceeded to hug me and kiss the children no less than six times each before Jamie took her by the arm and led her toward the door. I walked them out to the silver Nissan parked in the driveway, enjoying the cool, post-rain dampness of approaching night on my skin as I waited for them to depart. Kat hesitated at the open car door and turned to look back at me, those little worry lines of hers creasing the skin between her eyebrows.

"We'll be fine," I assured her. "Go on and have fun. It's high time you learned to celebrate your anniversary properly! Besides, you'll be back around midnight, yes? That's...what? Only five and a half hours. Enjoy them."

My sister paled. "Five and a half..."

"Get in the car, Katie," Jamie said gently. "They'll be fine. What can happen in just five hours?" Kat sighed, offered me a feeble smile, and stepped into the car. Jamie caught my eye and gave a wink. "Thanks again, Lara. We really appreciate it."

I just waved a dismissive hand. "Not at all, mate. Have a good time...and make sure that she does, too."

My brother-in-law smiled, slipped into the driver's seat, and started the car. As soon as the engine was running, my sister rolled down her window. "Call me if anything happens, Lara. Anything at all." The car backed out of the driveway and turned down the street. "My phone will be on all night! Don't hesitate to-" Her husband rolled up the window. I laughed and waved as they pulled away, my sister's eyes remaining glued to my face until they turned the corner and drove out of sight. Poor Kat... Learning to unwind a bit could only do her good. Taking in one last grateful lungful of the living evening, I turned to make my way back to the house.

I didn't notice the owl until I was half way up the steps. To this day, I'm unsure as to how it...well...he was able to snare my attention so easily. It was as if my eye had been supernaturally drawn to him...almost like a moth to flame. The owl was perched in the lower branches of the large elm tree that grew off the right side of the yard. Tyto Alba. A barn owl. He sat perfectly still, like a pale shadow amongst still damp leaves and branches, watching me closely. I paused a moment and studied the creature, puzzled by his presence as it was quite rare to find them in the city like this. I've always loved owls...and this one was particularly beautiful. The feathers on his chest and heart-shaped face were white as snow whilst the ones on his back and wings were a mix of burnt gold, brown, and cream. And his eyes... His eyes were shining black coins in the gathering night and they radiated a strange, inhuman intelligence that was at once captivating...and almost unsettling. In spite of this, I found myself smiling.

"What brings you here, friend?" I asked softly, keeping my voice low so as not to frighten the owl. "Don't you belong to the wild places?"

The bird blinked at me curiously, then, as if in response to my words, tilted his head so far to the right that it was almost upside down, closing one of those brilliant black eyes in a strange parody of a wink. What the...? I stared at him. The owl stared back, opened his eye, straightened up, and repeated himself in the opposite direction, tilting his head left. A light burst of laughter escaped me at this near comical display. Was this the owlish equivalent of pulling faces?

"Alright then, Odd One."

The bird corrected his posture primly and fluffed his feathers, clicking his curved beak in satisfaction. It was almost as if he had wanted me to laugh. What a funny old world this could be... Still smiling, I finished climbing the stairs and made my way to the door, strangely aware that the owl was casually observing my every move.

Once inside, I found my two young charges waiting for me patiently in the kitchen, little hands folded in their laps and eyes full to the brim with eager sweetness.

"Right, my little salamanders!" I said, clapping my hands together and smiling devilishly. "Who wants ice cream?"

An Author's Introduction: Greetings! And welcome to my first story.

Let me begin by thanking you personally, my beloved Reader, for taking a chance on my wayward scribblings.

There is a modicum of risk involved in writing a Jareth/OC story, as such a thing is obviously not the most popular selection in this particular franchise. Our beloved Sarah will always be the paragon of heroines; brave, beautiful, clever... One cannot help but wonder what her life would have looked like after her time in the Labyrinth, with most imaginations deliciously drawn toward her inevitable reunion with her one-time enemy, culminating in their eventual reconciliation and her ascension to the role of Queen by his side...

I live for those stories...but, the thing is...there are so many of them.

I want to ask different questions. Questions that I hope to put to my OC and see what kind of answers she can come up with. I want her to be a fresh face in a familiar setting. A new vehicle through which we can explore a world we all love so much. I realize that leaving Sarah to her own beautiful life Aboveground may be a recipe for a lukewarm reception...but that is a risk I am willing to take. This is a story which commands my heart and demands my time, and I am grateful beyond words for your willingness to come adventuring in the Labyrinth with me :)

Now then...my beginning is a bit of a slow start, just taking a little time to introduce you to my people and set the stage a bit. The (crystal) ball will be thoroughly rolling by Chapter Three, I swear it. I know what you want, you see... You're here for Jareth. Well, you shall have him, I promise you.

Please accept my apologies for any errors/short comings in advance. Questions, concerns, or sarcastic comments are always more than welcome and greatly appreciated. A story is no good without an audience...and my only wish is to spin a tale worth your time.

Oh, and I do not own Labyrinth (though Heaven knows, it owns me.) The credit for such a glorious creation belongs to the beautiful mind and beloved imagination of our dear Jim Henson. I claim only the Tyler/Evans family...and a number of upcoming others.

I do hope you enjoy!

Yours,

FireDancer