As The World Falls Down

Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth, or any characters and situations related to Labyrinth, nor do I own David Bowie (sadly, he's too old for me) nor do I own Jennifer Connelly, or any of the other cast members in the movie. (I do own though, the movie on DVD and the sound track on CD)

Chapter One

1988

Sarah Williams sat in front of her vanity mirror and frowned, she was seventeen; she couldn't say she looked it, not that that was a bad thing necessarily, it was just annoying.

On the floor next to her Toby laughed as he played with Lancelot, even after two years he still loved the stuffed toy, often ignoring other toys in order to lavish attention on the old bear.

Had it really been two years?

Toby was now three years old, he showed no signs of remembering his visit to the world of the Goblin King, Jareth, he walked like a normal kid, chattered like a normal kid, he was a lot more solemn than most kids but Sarah chose to believe that he just took after her, and it wasn't an adverse side effect of close contact with Jareth.

She shuddered to think of what could have happened if she hadn't gotten Toby back, would Jareth have treated him well? A part of her instantly conjured up images of the Goblins, would he really have been turned into one of them? Maybe he'd have been like Hoggle, sweet as Hoggle was she shuddered at the thought and Toby looked at her curiously then giggled and carried on playing.

Don't dwell on it! She told herself sharply, she ignored her own advice though, she always did, instead the side of her that remembered Jareth's kinder nature surfaced and reminded her that he wouldn't have hurt Toby,

"He had no reason not too!" She argued, well aware that she was arguing with herself,

Didn't he? Wasn't he in love with her?

"He's a goblin, they don't love."

That didn't stop you falling for…The voice was silenced by Sarah covering her ears with her hands and chanting,

"Shut up, shut up, shut up, I am not in love with the Goblin King!"

"That's good to know, dinners ready." Sarah jumped and looked sideways, her step-mother Karen stood with an amused smile on her face, grinning wryly Sarah asked,

"How long were you stood there?" Karen smiled,

"Not long, hungry? We're having chicken and mashed potatoes." Smiling Sarah scooped Toby up and followed Karen downstairs; Toby laughed all the way down.

1989

Sarah stretched as she stood up from the library table, with finals coming up she was spending more and more time studying and less time reading. Packing her books into her bag she glanced at her watch and cursed, it was almost five o-clock, her parents would be worried.

Picking up her bag she swung it onto her shoulder and winced as the heavy texts bounced off her shoulder blades, it was times like these she wondered why she was taking advanced English and Sociology. Crossing the almost empty library floor she waved goodbye to the librarian and pressed the button for the lift, humming a tune that had been in her head all day, though she couldn't quite place where she had heard it before. The lift door opened and Sarah stepped into it, all around her mirrors showed her something she really didn't want to see, long brown hair, big grey eyes, a wide mouth and a slightly upturned nose; it wasn't her appearance that displeased her though. At eighteen she looked like a high school freshman rather than the senior she was.

She hadn't aged, and that worried Sarah.

It took a long time for the lift to arrive at the ground floor and Sarah was grateful when she finally stepped out into the lobby, she'd always been somewhat claustrophobic, but the lift was preferable to carrying a heavy bag down several flights of stairs.

Picking up the pace slightly Sarah crossed the lobby and pushed the doors open, it was a warm day and she smiled as she felt the sun on her face, it was nice to be outside after being cooped up all day.

"There's such a fooled heart, beating so fast in search of new dreams, a love that will last within your heart, I'll place the moon within your heart…" she sang, ignoring the curious stares of the people around her; breaking into a jog Sarah swerved to avoid a small child and stepped into the road, a brief moment of pain, a scream and darkness, and Sarah knew no more.

When she awoke Sarah groaned and sat up, her right arm throbbed though she wasn't sure why, and her head felt tender, she didn't know about that either. As her vision cleared Sarah looked round the room she was in and realised it wasn't her own, she didn't know where she was, fighting the urge to panic she slid out of bed, as her feet hit the cold stone floor a wave of dizziness hit her and she sat back down quickly.

"Oh I wouldn't get up just yet; you were in quite an accident." A voice said cheerily, Sarah felt her eyes widen at the voice, that voice, that arrogant, infuriatingly English voice. Him!

"You? What are you doing here? Where am I?" Jareth raised an eyebrow and smiled,

"Tsk tsk, such ingratitude, and after I saved your life as well, you're in my home Sarah, or should I say your home." Sickened Sarah forced her wobbly legs to move and stood; turning to face him she winced at the pain in her arm and head but refused to think about it.

"What game are you playing now Jareth?" Jareth's eyes widened in surprise,

"Game? I don't know what you're talking about. I merely saved your life and have brought you here to live your dreams."

"What do you know about my dreams?" Sarah said in a small voice, she shivered and looking down saw she was wearing a thin cotton night dress, it was long and full sleeved edged with white lace, despite the fact it covered everything she felt naked and crossed her arms over her chest protectively,

"What accident do you keep talking about, I wasn't in any accident." Jareth shrugged and sitting in an arm chair pulled an apple out of nowhere, taking a bite he said softly,

"Ah, but you were, quite a nasty accident as well, I saved you a second before you died and brought you here. The problems and worries of your old life can be left behind now; here you can be anything you desire."

Horrified Sarah sunk to the floor ignoring the concerned look Jareth was giving her,

"So this is your game is it? Kidnap me, fake an accident, I wouldn't come willingly so you bring me by force? You're despicable!" Jareth winced but Sarah didn't see it,

"I want to go home, now!"

"If you go home you'll die." Looking up Sarah saw the hurt in his eyes and ignored it,

"I want to go home." Standing up Jareth simply shook his head; his platinum locks flew around his face,

"I can't allow it, you wouldn't survive the journey." He knew he was being petty but god damn it, he'd waited three years, and he wasn't accustomed to waiting for anything.

"I survived the first time." Sarah argued,

"You were near death, I had to do something; I couldn't just let you die!"

"Why?" Sarah wailed standing up and throwing herself onto the bed, Jareth threw his hands up and stalked across the room, standing in front of her he said,

"Sarah, look at me."

"No." Obstinate females. He thought sourly before crouching down and gently touching her shoulder, she flinched and Jareth felt a pang of guilt, she was afraid of him, he lived to please her and she feared him.

"Why do you think I, the Goblin King, would save the life of you? A human female." Sarah was silent for a moment before she looked up, her eyes were red and she sniffled before saying,

"You've toyed with me before; maybe you just like playing games with me."

"You asked for me to take your brother, I merely fulfilled your request." Sarah was silent again and Jareth sighed, she was being more obstinate than she thought she would be, surely he deserved some gratitude, after all, he'd saved her life. Oh sure, she hadn't asked to be saved, but really, what did that matter? People's lives were saved all the time, and they didn't begrudge their rescuers, or pout that they hadn't simply been left to die. Standing up he said,

"Did you want to die?" Sarah looked up and blushed before looking down,

"No! But I wasn't in an accident."

"Yes, you were."

"Liar!" Sarah hissed, sitting up she shivered and with a wave of his hand Jareth lit the fire in the bedroom, Sarah jumped in surprise, she hadn't noticed the large stone fireplace, looking around she took the time to observe the room she was in, despite his outlandish sense of dress he had marvellous taste in furniture, a bit masculine, but marvellous none the less.

"This room could be yours you know." Jareth commented, he winced when Sarah glared at him and turned away from him,

"One day in this room is more than enough!" She said not caring if she hurt his feelings,

"Five you mean." Her eyes widened and she felt sick to the stomach,

"What?" She asked weakly gripping the edge of the bed to steady herself, resisting the urge to throw up she gripped her pounding head and looked at him fearfully,

"You've been unconscious for five days now."

"Oh God."

Jareth watched as Sarah gripped her head with a moan, reaching out he lightly brushed her hair with his finger tips,

"Don't touch me!" She screamed and Jareth once more sighed,

"I can get rid of your headache if you want, it's obviously bothering you."

"Please?" With an inward sigh of relief Jareth spread his fingers and concentrated willing her headache to go, after a few seconds Sarah's grip on her head lessened and she sighed then straightened up,

"Better?" He knew it was, but he waited for her answer,

"Yes, thank you." Her thanks surprised him, he rarely thanked anyone, her use of the word please had raised his eyebrow as well, he never begged, it was demeaning, what morals these humans had, even in pain they insisted on manners. Jareth had no use for manners, they got in the way; his servants would do what he commanded regardless of his saying please. They lived to serve him, what use had they of the word please? Or thank you for that matter. Ah well. Humans were a mystery.

"Hungry? I could go for a snack."

"No, thank you, I'd like to go home now, Toby needs me, and so does Daddy."

"Sarah, if I send you home you could die, there's no saying that the humans could save you." Sarah nodded, her mind already made up, Jareth could tell she still didn't believe him about the accident, with a sigh he ran a hand through his hair, his entire body yearned for her, he wanted to hold her, to hear her say his name without disgust, to love her, to have her love him in return. She obviously wasn't ready yet, still attached to her old life. Very well, so be it.

"I'll send you back, but eventually you'll see, your life is here, with me."

Sarah looked up, it was the first time Jareth had ever really admitted his feelings, and for once the arrogant tone had left his voice and the smirk had left his lips, he looked oddly vulnerable and Sarah found herself wanting to be in his arms, dancing, the way they had danced so long ago. Shaking her head she smiled,

"I don't think so, thank you though." Looking into his beautiful two colour eyes Sarah was surprised by the longing and sadness in them, she hoped that they weren't reflecting her own feelings,

"Will you do me one favour before you leave?" He asked,

"What?" Jareth smiled and with a flick of his hand a crystal appeared,

"Say my name, say it without hate or fear say it just once." Sarah opened her mouth and Jareth tossed the crystal to her, she caught it automatically,

"Jareth."

"Honey you're awake, oh thank God!" Groggily Sarah looked up at the faces looking down at her, her father holding Toby, Karen and a man she didn't recognise,

"What? Where am I?" Her father smiled and wiped the tears from his eyes,

"In the hospital sweetie, you were in an accident; you've been in a coma for three weeks now." Weakly Sarah swallowed the bile that rose to her throat,

"How bad was it, the accident I mean?"

"That doesn't matter right now." Karen said quickly, smoothing Sarah's hair and smiling,

"No, its okay, tell me, I need to know." She watched her step-mother and father exchange glances with the man who was obviously a doctor,

"Sweetheart, you died."

Authors Note: O….kay, well, obviously I'm a huge Labyrinth fan and couldn't resist trying to write a fic, this is my first ever Labyrinth fanfic, so be gentle…lol.

I'm not sure how well I did with characterisations, I figure after what happened to Sarah in Jareth's kingdom she would have grown up a bit, plus with it being originally set two years then three years after the event in the movie, she would have matured, she's no longer fifteen, so can't get away with being a brat anymore.

Jareth's always been my favourite all singing all dancing, breeches wearing antagonist, plus the fact he's played by an Englishman helps as well (I'm English, its not some weird English fetish) and David Bowie does rock.

I actually wrote this by hand because my laptop has broken, and I wrote the first two chapters of this story whilst continuously listening to the Labyrinth CD on my headphones, I would have driven my boyfriend mad if I had insisted on it being played out loud.

So anyway, Chapter two is fully written, and just needs typing up and editing, because I have to use my boyfriends PC it's a bit difficult, he's an animation student in his final year of Uni and is animating directly into the PC, so obviously I don't want to take up too much time when he could be working.

So, if you would be so kind as to review, I enjoy reviews that praise (obviously) but I also enjoy ones that instruct, just don't flame, if you don't like my fic, tell me, but theres no need to be rude.

Lady Athena Lionfire