Title: A Faded Memory

Author: Devlyne (Originally published as BelleAngeli)

Published: 2/10/2016

A/N: So. You have reached the end. This is the epilogue set many years after the end of the story. It is deemed optional because you can draw your own conclusions as to what happened.

After the epilogue, there will be a note briefly detailing what I believe happened between the last chapter and this epilogue. No, there will not be a sequel. Thank you for reading.

The (Optional) Epilogue: What Sacrifices are For

The woman was gazing at her male companion as though searching for some confirmation of his thoughts. They had been deep in conversation for the last half hour and she had yet to get anything resembling a serious answer from him. Anyone who knew the couple would have hardly been surprised by this but to an outsider it was a curious thing to watch.

"Are you sure?"

Her eyes had drifted to the kingdom lying before them. When she'd come here, it had been a desolate place of sand and little growth. There were forests bordering the land but they had been unhealthy and festered with a sickness. It was all green now and in the distance she could see dots of color where flowers and other plants were beginning to bloom. No longer was the land barren. It had been built on its master's emotions and when those emotions had bloomed the land had come to life. Many had come to see what had changed the king and his kingdom or rather who. They welcomed many visitors these days.

His smile was an indulgent one and the man leaned to press a kiss to the top of the woman's head before murmuring. "I was never more certain of anything in my life."

"But it will be crowded, and you hate crowds."

There was a soft laugh from the man as he took her hand and squeezed it gently. "I do, it is true, but crowds are necessary when one is having a party. It was not my idea to invite the whole kingdom and then some."

"Not inviting them would have been rude," she groused, "but I wish I hadn't. We could avoid the party."

The man smiled at the hopeful look upon his wife's face. He wanted to tell her that yes, they could avoid the party, but it was not possible. The diplomats and other courtiers had come from far and wide across the kingdoms to attend. No, they were stuck going now. He wished with all of his being that her anxiety would melt away or that he could soothe it in some manner. It was far harder to find the words than it would have been to wave it away with magic.

"My dear, I will never be far from your side." His hand lay over hers where it touched his arm. "We will face this together as we have faced many worse situations and we will triumph." That hand lifted to touch her chin and raise it so that she looked in to his eyes. "Afterward, we will retreat to our little haven and shut the world out for a while. Is that acceptable?"

The woman took a deep breath and let it out slowly before nodding to him. Her fingertips lifted to the man's face and caressed along the planes of his cheek. They were there, together, as they should have been from the beginning. At last, the woman drew away and took another deep breath to steel her emotions against what was going to come. They would go to the party and make a good showing of it. When it was all done, they would go to their secret place and forget the world existed for a while. He would not be King and she would not be Queen. There would be no demands on them.

"Come, we must go or we'll be late. That's a bad precedent for a host and hostess." The man murmured in her ear before tilting the woman's head up enough to kiss her lips. He released her from his embrace a moment later but took her arm to guide her away.

"How do you think they'll react when we tell them?" She wondered aloud.

He smirked before answering. "I'm hoping for a mixture between overjoyed and terrified."

"Jareth." She scolded.

He grinned and answered in a mocking tone. "Sarah."

"All I can say to whomever may be listening; I hope the baby doesn't turn out like you." The words punctuated with several light pokes to his side though Sarah could not help the smile on her lips. The Labyrinth was brighter than it had been in a century which was a testament to how excited he was over the news.

Jareth chuckled, pulling her close to his side. "Come, my Sarah, let us share our good news with the Kingdoms."

The End

A/N: So what do I believe happened?

The first few months and years would have been spent finding Hoggle, Didymus and Ludo. And then the other kingdoms would have noticed the change in the lands around the Labyrinth and its citizens. They would have grown curious and visitors would have come to the kingdom to see what was happening. There would have been rumors that Jareth had a new adviser, or lover, and that she was firmly guiding him in a better direction. Oh, he never would lose his mischievous nature, that's just who Jareth is, but he would have become a better ruler and person. This would have opened up trade and negotiations with other kingdoms which Sarah would have helped oversee so that Jareth didn't piss someone off.

As for Sarah and her mental health issues, they would have improved over time, but never fully disappeared. I believe even at the time of the epilogue she was still suffering depression and some self-doubt. Jareth loved her enough to help her through this and he had already begun to learn how to support her, so that would have grown and continued. He'd have helped her find activities to occupy her mind. And believe me when I say, he would have filled as many days as he could with wonder for her.

I think Sarah asked to go back and visit Overland, but didn't like it once she got there. Even so Jareth would have offered, probably still offers from time to time, but I think Sarah is happy in Underground. He would continue to offer in an effort to keep his promise until she asked him to stop. She would, by the way, ask him to stop one day; maybe after their first child was born.

As for how long Sarah was able to live, my answer is: as long as imagination.

Thank you again for reading.