This story has been in the works for a while. It is a revival of one that was posted before then lost. Thankfully the muse returned. I tried to keep the characters as close to the originals as possible. As usual, I own nothing but OC or Mary Jane characters. Hope you enjoy.

Sarah sat on the bank and stared out over the calm water. Nine years had passed since she had been on this bank last. Yet she remembered that day perfectly. She had been acting out a scene from Labyrinth, her favorite story. Sarah rested her forehead on her knees and sighed. So much had changed since that day. She had been a dreamer, a fairytale princess in search of a kingdom. All she had found was heartache.

"You have no power over me." Sarah could still see the look in his eyes. A mixture of shock and disappointment. Sarah wasn't sure, but she thought she had seen a look of pure undeniable pain in his eyes just before he had tossed the crystal into the air. Six little words had destroyed him. The look he had given her then still haunted her. She had never admitted just how much those words had hurt her as well. At that time Sarah had truly understood Jareth. It was the only time she had understood him.

"Why, why?" Sarah murmured to herself as she fought for control of her emotions. She desperately wished she could just forget those memories, forget him. Forget the last nine years and the pain that had come with them. But she knew she never would. They were a part of her. And they had led her to this moment.

"I could ask you the same question Sarah." The voice was cold, hard, unforgiving. Though there was no laughter in the voice it seemed to mock her pain. It was a sound she never expected to hear again.

Sarah jerked her head up and looked around, but the park was empty. Or so it seemed. Sarah turned back to stare out at the glittering water again, but her body was still tense, waiting. She knew she had rid herself of him, she was sure of it. But somewhere in the back of her mind she had always wondered if he was truly gone. A snicker caught Sarah's attention and she jerked around again.

"Where are you? I'm not scared of you. Come out Jareth."

A figure emerged from the shadows of the trees. He hadn't changed. Sarah studied the man before her. He still wore the same flowing shirts with breeches and knee high black boots. His hair was still the long blond style she remembered, with a hint of blue that matched the vest he wore. He hadn't aged a year though so many had passed. "Did you really think you could defeat me so easily?" Jareth smirked down at Sarah.

"What are you doing here?" Sarah didn't move from her place on the ground, but she stared at Jareth with a defiance that couldn't be denied. She refused to back down.

"I think I should be asking that question. You've been gone for a while. What happened to you Sarah?"

Sarah turned away from Jareth. Her shoulders sagged as she thought of all that had happed since that fateful night in the Labyrinth. She hung her head in defeat. "Life happened, Jareth."

"Why come back?"

Sarah couldn't be sure if there was a note of disdain in his voice, or wariness. She didn't respond. She didn't even acknowledge that she'd heard the question. Instead she stared out at the water, almost as if she was trying to memorize it. But she didn't really see it anymore.

Jareth silently moved next to Sarah. She didn't look up. Jareth sat down and studied Sarah carefully. She had grown in the time that had passed. She was no longer the childish young girl. Physically she hadn't changed much. Her hair was still long and dark. She was still slender. And though she still looked young for her age, she also looked tired. Her once vibrant green eyes were now dull and worn. She seemed ready to give up.

"Come to the Labyrinth Sarah." The command, if that was truly what it was, was unexpected.

Sarah laughed cynically. "I seem to remember a time when you told me to leave the Labyrinth. Why invite me back now?" Somewhere in the back of her mind she realized that he was facing her in her own realm.

"Don't mistake my offer for generosity, or kindness. I made you an offer nine years ago. You turned it down then but don't be so quick to decide this time."

Sarah looked at him quizzically. He had mentioned his generosity only once before. Nine years ago when she had faced him in the Labyrinth he had claimed to be generous. She had seen nothing generous about his actions while she was in the Labyrinth. Could he really have a generous side?

Jareth stood suddenly. "There is nothing for you here Sarah. Remember my offer." Then he was gone.

Sarah slowly raised her head and looked around. She may not be able to see Jareth but something told her that he wasn't far away. With a sigh Sarah stood up. She had been so happy here once, so carefree. Recently she had been wishing more and more for those days.

Sarah left the park and walked the short distance to her childhood home. Every step was a memory. The large white house still looked much the same as she remembered. Sarah paused at the end of the yard, a feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. She had to go inside, but she felt more like running as far away as possible.

Sarah gave herself a mental shake and forced her feet to move forward. She crossed the lawn and made her way up to the front door. The house was too quiet, reminding Sarah of her reason for returning. She reached above the door and felt for the key she knew would be there. The key was always there, though it was never used. Sarah pulled the key down and unlocked the door.

The air was musty inside. The house probably hadn't been opened since the accident. Sarah could almost picture Toby running around the house with a truck in his hands while her father sat reading the newspaper in his chair. Her step-mother would be readying herself for a night out. But that wasn't the case now. There would never be another day like that.

Sarah climbed the steps to her room, expecting it to be empty. When she opened the door her breath caught. Everything was just as she had left it. Her shelves still held her stuffed animals. Trinkets sat covered in dust. On her vanity she noticed her old copy of Labyrinth, next to the picture of her mother. Silently, Sarah curled up on her bed and let her mind remember.

Sarah opened her eyes and sat up on the bed. She had fallen asleep some time during the evening and had slept through the night. Groggily, she stretched and walked over to the window. The morning sun was bright as Sarah opened the curtains. Sarah squinted against the light as she gazed outside.

The view, the house, everything was exactly as she remembered it. The only difference was that her family was gone. Sarah shook her head and closed her eyes. She refused to think about the accident that had killed her father and step mother. The same accident that had left Toby in a coma.

On impulse, Sarah walked to Toby's old room. She opened the door but couldn't move past the doorway. Memories that she had fought for nine years filled her mind. She remembered the crib that had once been in the room; the crib that Toby had outgrown years ago. She remembered the way she had wished her little brother away, and then had been taken to the Labyrinth herself. She remembered the guilt she had felt, and the new found acceptance of her life. Sarah turned and left the room, closing the door tightly behind her.

She went back to her room and sat in the chair in front of her vanity. Uncertainly, she picked up her old Labyrinth playbook. She flipped it open and read the writing scrawled in the inside cover. It was a note that her mother had written to her when she had sent the book as a gift. She had been so angry when her mother had left. And even angrier when her father had remarried. Sarah sighed and closed the book. She had once dreamed of being an actress, like her mother. But she had abandoned that dream years ago.

Sarah laid the book on the vanity and stood. She couldn't help but remember her last night in the house. She had beaten the Labyrinth. She had saved her brother. And she had grown up. The reality of life had hit her, leaving her with a new sense of disillusionment. And though she had hoped to keep her friends from the Labyrinth close, she had had to give up seeing them soon after her return from the Labyrinth.

A quick flash caught Sarah's attention. Sarah looked at the vanity mirror but saw nothing. Sarah blinked and looked again. Only her reflection stared back at her. Sarah took a deep breath and concentrated on the mirror. It had happened once. It was possible that she could talk to her friends through the mirror again. After several minutes of staring at the mirror Sarah blinked and turned away in frustration and disappointment.

"Allo."

Sarah turned back quickly, scanning the vanity. "Is someone there? Hello?"

"Over 'ere." A little blue worm poked his head up from behind her music box. "Now that you're 'ome I can get back to the Missus." William began to crawl away.

"Wait, what do you mean now that I'm home? Who knows I'm here?"

"'Ow should I know? I'm just a worm."

"Wait." But William was already gone. Sarah plopped down on her bed and closed her eyes. "What is going on?" The room was quiet in response. The grandfather clock chimed, reminding Sarah of the time. Resignedly, Sarah stood and made her way downstairs. She had to get back.