Star
I smiled down at Toby as he drifted off to sleep. "Twinkle, twinkle, little- "
"Bat." The velvety voice came from just behind me.
I swallowed hard. "I don't think it goes like that."
"No? I thought you liked Lewis Carroll."
"Sarah?" Toby's voice was muzzy with sleep. "Who's that?"
I tucked the covers a little tighter around him. "An old friend, honey. We'll go outside in a minute. Go to sleep."
"No, I know Jareth. I talk to him all the time. I meant Lewis Carroll."
I turned pointedly around, both my eyebrows raised.
The bastard just smiled, shrugging a shoulder at me. "Lewis Carroll," he said in a low, gentle voice, "is a fine writer your sister will tell you about later. Till then, sleep well, little man."
Toby smiled, nestling further into the sheets. "'Kay. 'Night, Jareth. 'Night, Sarah."
My eyebrows were going to be permanently stuck at my scalp. "'Night, Toby." I pointed emphatically at Jareth and then out of the room.
Jareth made a gentlemanly gesture of opening the door, mouthing, "After you."
I shook my head as he followed me to the front patio, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. "How long?"
"Ever since you declared you needed all of us."
I blinked. "Fine, I needed you. Me, not my little brother."
Another shrug. "Haven't you enjoyed your blossoming relationship with him?"
I crossed my arms. "Yes."
"Who do you think steered him so positively? Toddler memories are so...whimsical."
I stared at him.
"You wanted your baby brother back. I gave him to you."
I swallowed. "I didn't ask you to."
"You didn't need to."
"I'd say thank you, but I suspect you being involved in his life is a double-edged sword."
He flashed a wicked smile. "Wouldn't want to be bored, would you?"