Disclaimer – I do not own anything relating to the Labyrinth no matter how much I wish that I do but I do own all original characters.
Rated T for Language
Sorry for the delay between chapters but I'm getting a bit stuck. Add that to the fact that I am starting to write a Star Wars fic and well, there you go.
ReviewsWickedGame – Yea, that review pissed me off a bit as well so I waited until I had calmed down a bit before I replied to it. It confused me slightly as well but no matter. I'm glad you like the story. And yea, she is having a bit of a rough time isn't she.
Lealie Dryer – Glad you like her. I can't be doing with all these soft people who take everything at face value.
Ailias Kurai – Oh don't worry about that. She is not going to turn sappy. She will stay the same sarcastic bitch she is. But, if you think she is turning sappy, tell me, 'kay? Thanks.
Thanks for all the reviews, I appreciate it. It keeps me going.
Chapter 10 – Long Conversations
"My lady. My lady" those two words penetrated her sleep riddled brain as she started to wake up.
J-lea opened her eyes and saw a pair of brown ones looking into hers. J-lea started and rolled to the side, out of the bed and landed on the floor roughly.
"Ow" J-lea groaned, "Fuck"
"My Lady," a female voice cried. The owner of said voice came rushing around the bed and kneeled next to her.
It was a teenager, who couldn't be any older than Elektra. She was wearing a teal dress with brown hair flowing down her back.
"My lady, are you alright?" asked the girl. J-lea looked at her sleepily, one eye shut in pain as she shifted slightly.
"I'm fine, thanks. And please don't call me that" J-lea replied. The girl looked confused.
"Don't call you what?" she said. J-lea raised an eyebrow.
"My Lady" the girl opened her mouth to interrupt, "My name is J-lea. So, please, use that instead"
The girl frowned then nodded slowly. J-lea smiled.
"Great. Now, who are you?" asked the shorthaired girl.
"My name is Teela. I am your maid," said Teela, "His majesty told me to serve you"
J-lea sighed and rubbed her eyes as she got up. She held a hand to Teela who just looked at it strangely.
"Take it" J-lea said, "I'll help you up"
The maid did and J-lea pulled her up easily. J-lea smiled at the maid before picking up the sheets that she had been entangled in when she fell off the bed.
"I hope to God he wasn't watching that" J-lea mumbled while Teela looked horrified that J-lea was picking up his own sheets.
"You shouldn't be doing that yourself, it is my job. Do not bother yourself," cried Teela. J-lea sighed as she placed the sheets on the bed and looked at Teela.
"Okay. Lets get a few things straight" J-lea said, "I have done everything around my home for pretty much all my life. I can't stand watching other people do things for me. So as much as I appreciate you trying to help me, I would like it better if I did it myself" seeing Teela's upset face, J-lea continued, "It's not that I am displeased with you. I just prefer to do these sort of things on my own"
The maid just nodded and walked out of the room, shoulders hunched.
J-lea raised her brow again as she watched the maid leave.
"Okaaaay" J-lea muttered before she started exploring.
The door opposite her bed was the way out. There were doors either side of the room as well. The one on the right led to a walk in closet, which was filled with trainers, combats, jeans and different types of tee shirts, all of which were in different colours.
'Thank God, he didn't put dresses in here. I would have killed him' she thought.
Walking over to the other side of the room, she found a bathroom. A BIG bathroom at that.
When she walked in, her jaw dropped.
"Okay, this is overkill" she said as she walked into the middle of the room. The bath was large enough to fit six people.
After she had gotten over her shock, J-lea ran a bath and climbed in. After relaxing for ten minutes, she climbed out and put a towel round her and walked back to the closet.
'What to wear' she thought, grinning. She picked out a pair of white trainers, white combats and a red tee shirt. Looking around, she found a selection of trench coats in the corner. Grinning to herself, she picked out a white one a put it on.
J-lea was searching through her pockets for her personal effects when she heard the door open. She glanced over at the door and saw Jareth walk in with Teela following him.
"Good morning" he said. J-lea glanced at him again before replying.
"Morning" she said as she found her mp3 player and stored it in a pocket.
"I hear you are being difficult," Jareth said conversationally as he watched her rummage through her clothes.
"Difficult, you say?" J-lea asked, "No, not difficult, just me" she finished with a grin as she straightened up, having found all of her things. Jareth raised an eyebrow before turning to the maid.
"Leave us"
Teela nodded and left, closing the door behind her.
"You seem better today," Jareth noted. J-lea folded her arms over her stomach.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm still mad at you" she said. Jareth sighed and nodded.
"I had expected that" he replied.
"I'm glad you did. You didn't think that I would just forget about all those things you said, did you?"
"Can we not get into this at the moment? Neither of us have had breakfast and I think it would be prudent to argue on a full stomach instead of an empty one" Jareth said. J-lea rolled her eyes.
"Fine, fine. Lets go"
Half an hour later saw the two of them just finishing up breakfast. The two of them sat in silence.
"You are angry with me aren't you" Jareth said, slightly shocked.
"Well what did you expect?" J-lea snapped as she stood up and walked over to a window, "Me to just forget it? What was it you said? Oh, yes, that was it. Maybe I just put a mask on with you just as I did everyone else. Dammit, Jareth. I was myself, all the way through. I shed my mask the moment I saw you"
Turning around, she continued.
"Why did you say it, Jareth? Tell me, why?" she demanded quietly. The King stood up and walked over to her and looked out over the Labyrinth through the window.
"I, too, was angry. Even though I knew you would do it, I didn't like the fact that I had, once again, been beaten. I also didn't want to feel the pain of losing someone that I loved and as such, I closed myself off. I reverted to the cold bastard I used to be before I fell in love. I didn't mean to cause you so much pain"
J-lea sighed and leaned back onto the window frame as she looked down and closed her eyes.
"I would have stayed, you know" Jareth's head snapped around to look at her, "If you had just given me proof that Kiara was safe at home, I would have stayed"
It was Jareth's turn to look down as he replied.
"I didn't know that" he admitted honestly, "I wouldn't have said all of the things I did if I had known. I am sorry, you know. I didn't mean what I said"
He looked into J-lea's eyes and she saw nothing but truth and love. She sighed before walking to him and putting her arms around his waist while she rested her head on his shoulder. He stiffened for a minute before he relaxed and pulled her close.
"You know what?" J-lea asked, her voice slightly muffled. Jareth looked down.
"Not personally no" J-lea cuffed him slightly on the shoulder, making him grin, "No, what?"
"I lied. You do have power over me. Always have" she admitted, then she groaned slightly, "Damn you, Jareth, I'm going all mushy" she whined.
Jareth laughed and J-lea just gave him an impish grin.
Just then, a goblin came into the room.
"Your Highness, General Madbane is here, requesting an audience with you"
Jareth nodded and gestured for the Goblin to leave. When the midget had left, Jareth groaned and buried his face in J-lea's shoulder. J-lea laughed.
"Jareth, you have to go," she said. He looked up at her.
"But I don't want to" he whined as he pouted in a very un-kingly way. J-lea leaned in and kissed him lightly.
"I don't want you to either but you must. You are a King after all"
Jareth heaved a great dramatic sigh before he kissed her forehead and pulled away and walked across the room. He stopped just before the door.
"I trust you know your way back to your room should you want to go there?" he asked. J-lea nodded and grinned. He grinned back before walking out.
As J-lea watched him go, she couldn't help but think she was where she belonged.
She was home.
Phew. Finally done.
So, what did you think? Please review.