Chapter Seven

The Frying Pan Incident

She'd locked up and took Jareth outside. She'd gotten him to stop arguing with her long enough for her to make a request.

"Okay," she took a deep breath. Arguing with Jareth was a full time job, full of emotional rollercoasters and a lot of screaming and heart wrenching moments. "I'm going to make you two promises. One, I won't go back on my word about you helping with Blaine." He seemed to relax some on this and nodded. "And two, tonight I don't want to argue with you about Blaine or anything else. So I'm not going to." He nodded again. "So will you please try and not argue with me? Please?"

"Whatever you want," he smiled at her.

"Oye," she covered her face with her hand and took a deep breath "and would you stop that?" He grinned and shook his head no. "Come on hero," she grumbled and took his hand "we gotta get going." She'd reached home and, lucky her, Blaine was home for once. "How ironic." Jareth started for the door and she pulled him back. "Not today."

"You said-" he started.

"And you can help me with the Blaine problem," she promised "but please not tonight." Jareth looked annoyed, which scared her a little, him being aggravated was never a good thing. He looked as if he'd made up his mind and she caught his hand. He paused and gave her an annoyed glare. "Please," she pleaded "just not tonight. I want to have fun. Just ignore him tonight and we'll deal with it tomorrow. I'll kick him out tomorrow, okay? Just not right now, please?" He looked at the pickup truck and then at Sarah and sighed. He set a mental note that he'd torment her later for making him wait to deal with Blaine. But that in itself was a whole other victory.

"Yeah," he nodded "okay." She looked at the door, about to go in and she paused. She put her arms around Jareth's neck and hugged him again. She laid a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You'll find I can be manageable," he gave a smug grin hugging her back "under the right conditions."

"You'll have to teach me," she murmured "but not right now." He nodded.

"Call me when your ready," he added and she headed inside. He vanished, but would keep close watch on her while she was home. He sat in this throne room, and subconsciously put his hand the spot where she'd kissed him. He smiled secretly to himself.

"Where have you been?" Blaine's voice slurred. Sarah froze in the doorway and mentally prayed he wasn't drunk. He came out of the back room, unshaven, eyes groggy, god knows what all over his shirt.

"Work?" she asked meekly. Oh Sarah, she growled to herself were did all of that teenaged defiance go? You know for a fact Jareth's watching you and you were worried about him seeing you helpless getting your face punched in? What better is this?

"Work!" he howled and lumbered forward.

"Yeah," she started "work. You know, a JOB. Oh wait, you don't, do you?" He started swinging halfway down the hall. "Oh damn," Sarah's eyes went wide "bad move." She scrambled into the kitchen, though he wasn't much faster than Jason in Halloween. She grabbed the first thing she saw… a frying pan. When he came around the corner she brought it down as hard as she could… too bad it wasn't Blaine that came around the corner. Jareth had happily locked Blaine in Sarah's walk-in closet. Apparently she wasn't aware of this and knocked him in the head with a frying pan. He crashed his unconscious self to the floor. "Oh," she breathed and dropped her weapon on the counter "Jareth wake up." She put his head in her lap and checked if her was breathing. "Oh I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"Ow…" he moaned "by the gods, did you have to hit me that hard?"

"Oh Jareth," she laughed slightly "I'm so sorry. I thought you were Blaine coming after me. Are you okay?"

"Not really," he managed "I normally don't see double." He blinked a few times. "I believe I'm going through quiet enough abuse from you today."

"I know," she giggled a little "I'm sorry. You are aren't you?" He gave a crooked smile. "Are you gonna be alright?"

"I think so," he said, rubbing his head. "Oh," he smiled "I locked your man in the closet."

"Don't call him that," she grumbled.

"Of course not," he winced finding the bump "you've got a bruised Goblin King." He took her hand in his and placed it on his head "right there."

"Oh," she gave a short gasp. There was a very large knot on his head. "I'm sorry. You want a band-aid?" She laughed.

"No," he grumbled not finding her humor funny. He gave a short grin "but you can kiss it and make it better." She rolled her eyes. "Hey," he growled "I'm seeing double here and I don't even get a kiss for my heroic efforts?"

"Heroic efforts against a frying pan?" she mused. He folded his arms and pouted like a five year old. "Come on, Goblin King of mine," she tried to give him to stand up. He grinned at this new title and got to his feet. She set him down in a chair and she took a look at the bump. "Still seeing double?" He nodded. "Close your eyes," she ordered and he gave her a testing look. "Just do it." He closed his eyes and she leaned his head back, then forward, then to the left and to the right. She put her wrist on his chin and popped his neck, both left and right. Slowly, she moved her hands across his scalp, gently boring away pain. It was something like what he'd done to her, only different. Because she was doing it to help him, rather than annoy him, and somehow that made it more enjoyable. Pressure points relived stress and pain and then she stopped and sat down.

"What was that?" he asked, feeling much better.

"Just," she shrugged "something I learned."

"Something you learned," he repeated "well whatever it was," he stretched "I feel much better." She merely nodded, happy with her work. "I take it I don't get that kiss then?" She smirked at him and shook her head slightly.

"I'm saving it," she said, smiling a secret smile. He didn't say anything for a moment and just took her in, her sitting there, obviously happy with herself… and maybe him too. "Alright," she got up "I'm going to change." Jareth grinned. "Now Jareth don't-" she paused a moment and cut herself off. "I trust you." She turned and went into her room and took the close from the dresser. Jareth was tempted, he really was but… something in him was proud that she trusted him. Sarah changed, nice jeans and a beige chemise with long see-through sleeves. It looked sort of medieval, but that was good for where they were going. She tied her hair back in a French braid and put in a pair of silver flower earrings. She grabbed a pair of sandals and made her way into the living room. Jareth looked at her, with just a little too much veneration. But that was good, it meant he hadn't watched her.

"Wow," he just looked at her and she blushed.

"Okay," she grumbled "thank you."

"Should I change?" he asked and she shrugged.

"Normally first timers don't," she shrugged. He nodded but his clothing became a bit more appropriate. Jeans, white shirt, brown leather vest, and his hair was pulled back. Sarah let a small grin creep up on her face.

"What?" he asked and she just shook her head. "No," he insisted "tell me." She laughed and shook her head again. He chuckled and picked her up in his arms. "Tell," he said putting his forehead against hers "me."

"Nothing," she smiled "you look very handsome." He grinned. "Can you put me down now?" He set her down gently and took her hand. He wrapped one arm around her waist and they both vanished.

Author's note: Man, I expect reviews when I get back on Monday guys. Seriously, the best thing to a writer is to know her readers liked her work. Sometimes my reviews get me through the day. Most make me smile, some make me laugh and as Lyn knows, some are terribly predictable. Some of you talk to Conner, other's don't seem to think he needs to be acknowledged. Some are personal to me, others terribly formal. I like it all, people are unique in ways to which I'm astounded. Tez is always so nice to Conner and he loves her terribly. She's funny and good to joke around with, and we share our problems. She also breaks into song quiet a bit, a habit I've developed from her. Amie is older than me, so she kinda feels like an older sister sometimes. I can talk to her about just about anything and she seems to understand. Her and Conner have an abusive relationship (as I like to say) throwing things and teasing each other. They both really love the other though. Lyn always writes the same two words 'write more'. And see, Lyn is only telling me what I already wanna do:laughs: LadyAniviel always thinks Jareth is absolutely charming in my fics (which you have no idea how glad I am for!) while theshadowcat is also an older family member to me, since she tells me to do my homework :laughs: Chaimera is terribly kind on her reviews and, talks about schooling with me (makes me feel so much better understood). Moonjava always reviews so quickly and so nicely to me. And so many more! You guys keep me smiling or laughing or being though the day, you and my stories. I just wanted to thank you all, even if your name isn't posted, you've made me smile or laugh at one point in time or another.

So thank you all very much. You have no idea how much you mean to this very odd, somehow interesting, muse loving, sixteen year old girl living with her menopause-stricken mother. You have NO idea. A day without me writing… ick, don't wanna think about it. Writing, and you guys, and YOUR stories keep me going, (among other things but you're a HUGE part). I just wanted to say thank you.

Amber Dawn Lee