Chapter Six

Your No Match for Me

Sarah began reading, her eyes scrolling across the paper. It took her about an hour to finish it, and by the end she was in tears. She WAS so much like her mother. It was like reading her own thoughts, her own wishes. Her mother loved Jareth, but he did not love her back. Nor would he put up with her wanting to have an affair with her husband.

But, he wanted Sarah. He loved her from the very moment he saw her, apparently. Gods know why. Sarah couldn't figure out how someone could love someone while they were still young, but apparently Jareth just knew that she was his true love from the moment he laid eyes on her.

Sarah's mother had been very unhappy with her husband, which is why she left. She wasn't too fond of Sarah either, that is, until she wished her away. Sarah was upset, in every aspect. She came down out of the library and went out into the garden, in search of Jareth. She needed someone with her. She wanted it to be Jareth. She searched for the longest time, finding no avail she sat by a pond and buried her face in her arms as she brought her knees to her chest.

She cried for a long time, until she felt a strong hand on her shoulder. She winced slightly, at the shock that someone was there. Then she put her hand on his and he sat by her. She cried more. Jareth could no longer stand it, she was crying so bitterly.

"Please stop," he said.

"I'm sorry," she said wiping her tears "I'm not trying to."

"I know," he whispered and looked at how sad she was. There was no magical reason why he mother had left. No special secret to give that'd explain everything. It was plain old boredom. Her mother had gotten bored with her husband and wanted someone else. She didn't REALLY care about Sarah; she didn't care about her husband at all. She left no comfort, only the bare, bitter truth. "If it makes you feel any better," Jareth said quietly "I never had a mother either."

"How come?" Sarah asked.

"She died when I was born," Jareth said quietly "I got a stepmother soon after that." There was a long pause. "Not saying you should get over it or anything, but you should be happy."

"Why?" Sarah frowned. She couldn't see any reason to be happy.

"You have people that care about you," he said "your father cares about you and Toby loves you dearly. And all your little friends here... including me."

"Gods know why she loved you," Sarah teased through tears and Jareth smiled.

"My word," he gasped jokingly "you're just sarcastic no matter what, aren't you?"

"I think I learned it from Hoggle," Sarah gave a shaky smile.

"I'm not sure you need a reason to love someone," Jareth said "you just, do."

"Coming from someone who knows," she teased again.

"But then," Jareth smiled "all us men think about the same thing right?"

"Well," she smiled and then laughed for the first real time that day. Jareth smiled, at least she wasn't crying anymore.

"Being married is dull," Sarah grumbled.

"Well it's not exactly a real marriage," Jareth pointed out "I'm sure if it was there'd be more, activity."

"I told you that you were a pervert," she muttered teasingly and Jareth's lips formed a thin line.

"Is it better to be a pervert or to do the real thing?" Jareth asked.

"Well," Sarah pondered this a moment "I suppose if you just think about it you're a cowered or have some respect for the person. But that's the only thing holding anyone back." Jareth gave a smile. "You have no respect," she teased.

"Are you calling me a cowered?" he asked, a little shocked but more amused than anything.

"So what if I am?" she asked standing to her feet, grinning like a cat.

"Remember when we talked about making mistakes?" Jareth asked, walking closer to her. Sarah nodded and started to back up; trying not to laugh at Jareth's mixed expression. "And how you were teasing me?" Sarah nodded again, but kept backing up. "Well you made a big, BIG mistake." With that Sarah dashing into the garden. She ran, full blast until she came to a hedge maze. Sarah gave a dry look, a maze in the middle of the Labyrinth... interesting. She hid in the hedges themselves and Sarah saw as Jareth faded into the area.

He walked directly past her and stopped, just inches from where she hid. She couldn't help it; she burst into fits of laughter. Sarah tried to run through the rest of the hedges but with no avail, she got stuck in the branches on the other side. Jareth chuckled as he approached her, struggling in the thick brush. With an amused sigh he unhooked her and she stepped away from the wall.

"You cheated," she said.

"I always cheat," he laughed.

"I know," she pouted and then gave a cocky smile "it's because you know your no match for me."

"Excuse me?" he asked, feeling quiet interested.

"You heard me," she laughed "you know you can't beat me fairly so you have to cheat."

"How much do you want to bet that I can beat you at anything," he smiled "easily?"

"I'm not making a bet with you," she laughed.

"Are you scared?" he teased and she let out a sigh.

"Alright," she said "I need to know what you think you can beat me at and what I'm betting, exactly."

"It's a game;" he smiled "I'm not sure if you've heard of it. I count to one hundred and you hide, then I-"

"Yeah," she said "it's called Hide and Go-Seek."

"So if I can't find you," Jareth said.

"Then," she thought a moment "you can't argue with your father while I'm here." Jareth gave an annoyed look.

"That's too hard," he grumbled.

"Aww," she teased "poor Jareth."

"Alright," he said "if I get something hard then so do you." He thought for a long time and then he smiled "when I win, you've got to answer some questions for me."

"Is that all?" she asked.

"There is no limited numbers," he said "and you have to answer truthfully. And I can ask anything."

"Alright," she smiled "you've got to find me in twenty minutes after your done counting."

"Ready?" he asked "Set? Go. One... Two...Three..."

Author's note: My goblins would like to thank everyone on of you SO much for reviewing so nicely. And they'd also like to say a HUGE thank you to LadyAniviel because she mentioned them in her author's note. She also happens to be my editor! YAY! And her story Dancing With Danger, geez I love it (read that one too!!). Anyways! Thank you all for reviewing, some of you are the only thing that keeps me posting. Well, I better go, my goblins are asleep and snoring VERY loudly. By the way... would anyone like to adopt a goblin goblins all look up in annoyance oh you guys know you don't like living here either! I'm keeping a few but about ten of them say that there aren't enough bathrooms in this house for seventeen goblins and... well, they need a good home! lol.

Much love to all!

Amber Lee

AKA: CreativeImagination

P.S: Also, read MoonJava's stuff too. Her stories I also love, and she's also a cool person to talk to!