Disclaimed!
Rated PG13
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Author's note: Really, I know I have two other stories that need my attention but this one is begging for it! It will (should) be sweet and short with a handful of chapters at the most. Let's see where it takes us.

Prologue

"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way though the land of ice and snow to take back the time that you have stolen." He stated as he watched the woman climb out of the car and make her way into her house. She turned a key into the lock and opened the door, disappearing inside.

"Well, well, well. It looks like I've found you at long last... mother."

Chapter One
Sixteen years previously

Sarah was slowly putting away the Christmas decorations adorning her mantle, walls and window of her apartment. The air was freezing and no sane creature would be out there this time of night or the type of weather. Once the decorations were stored in a large plastic container and put into the storage closet, she made herself a cup of hot chocolate and curled up on her favorite chair in front of her fireplace. The warm glow of the fire cast a soft romantic light over the room, softening edges and shadows alike.

Sarah contemplated her life. She lived in the same town as her parents and brother but had moved out of their home and into this small apartment when she turned eighteen. She worked in a small antique shop just down the road for a large man who was more obsessed with the profit made then with the objects he sold. He was a fat man with little to no respect for his employees. Sarah was one of the longest as she began at eighteen and was now almost twenty one.

Three long years and I am still trapped there. I wish… I could only hope that something would happen to that man!

The only true reason Sarah was still there was because she loved the job. She loved dealing with the antiques and unlike her boss she knew the value of most of the artifacts. Her boss had said repeatedly that since he had no other children he would give the shop to the highest bidder. Sarah was the highest bidder in her eyes and she wasn't going to pay in money but in management. She would love to manage the little shop if the power hungry money scrounger would ever take notice.

If only her parents could be happy with that goal. Against the wishes of Karen and Robert, Sarah opted not to continue her studies. She didn't enjoy it all that much when she was in high school and saw no reason to repeat the experience. She was happy and that was all she truly cared about. Her brother loved her like no other and she had a handful of good friends. What more could a woman ask for?

She had never gotten with a man, never had a boyfriend of any sort, and she didn't really want one. For some reason whenever a man would get to close to her he would be deterred. Not that she ever felt interest to be involved in a relationship anything more complicated then 'just friends'. She did want something though, something that felt like a half hidden memory. Yes, she wanted something but she just didn't know what. Not that it bothered her anyway. She was happy with her simple little life and now that she finally had her head out of the clouds, perhaps she would like to farther a career in antiques… but that meant school.

Lost in thought and hardly paying attention to what was happening, a large white something hit her window. She rushed to and pulled open the sliding window in her living room. There in the flower basket was a large white owl looking for all the world like a frozen half-starved creature. Without hesitation, Sarah gently picked up the frozen bird and placed it in a basket. Covering the poor thing with a blanket she set it in front of the fire and watched as it was slowly revived. It opened its eyes first then let out a tired hoot. The eyes closed again and it slept peacefully.

Sarah found it extremely odd. The owl slept for a long while until she could not wait any longer and crawled into bed herself. It hadn't even put up a fight when she picked it up and as far as she knew, wild birds of any kind were very temperamental and they hated the feel of human hands.

Sarah woke in the middle of the night to scratching. Something was scratching close to her bed, on the floor. She reached and turned on her bedside lamp. Looking over, she saw…

The owl and it was scratching long deep grooves on the polished hard wood floor.

"No! no, no no. stop. Stop it! This is a rental. Oh no, oh no! I'm going to loose my deposit." Sarah jumped from the bed and began flapping her arms to chase the owl away. "Shoo! Go away!" the owl gave an exasperated 'hoot' and hopped away from the ugly scratches. Sarah rubbed her eyes of the remaining sleep and ran her fingers lightly over the grooves. It almost looked like writing in the wood. Her head cleared and she realized what she was seeing. It was a name. Just one.

Jareth.

The word escaped before she could stop it and the lamp went out with a clash of thunder. She stumbled to her feet and went for the light switch. Turning on the light, her fears were recognized and the owl was gone. In its place, the tall blond man lounged on her bed.

He's back, he's back and there was just one thing he wants. Sarah.

Jareth smirked to himself and he placed his arms behind his head. "Well, well ,well. Good… Evening Sarah. How are you?"

She backed away from the bed and her whole face was lit with terror. "Why are you here?"

Jareth sighed. Perhaps this wouldn't go as smoothly as he thought originally. "There is a lot of unfinished business between us, my dear. I truly apologies for making you wait this long but I have been detained. Matters of state, you understand." He swung his legs off the bed and stood up in one fluid motion. He walked towards her slowly "Yes," he whispered. "A lot of unfinished business."

"Wha-." She visibly swallowed. "What unfinished business? I won… didn't I?"

Jareth smirked. "Sarah, my dear, you only won the battle but I believe I will win the war." He gripped her chin forcefully in one hand, his eyes entrancing her. "Do you dare to disagree?"

Sarah felt strangely light headed as she tried to gain her bearings but his sudden physical proximity overwhelmed her senses. She tried to answer with a 'no' but it escaped as a gasp. His smirk widened as he lowered his face to hers.

No he's not! He wouldn't! His lips were millimeters from hers. Oh god! He would and he is! Oh God help me!

Even if Sarah did have enough control over herself, she wouldn't have stopped him.

The sun shinning on her eyes woke Sarah from a peaceful sleep, the best she has had in a long while. She was contented and well sated and, as she turned to climb off the bed, she noticed that she was not alone. A blond tussled head turned toward her and breathtaking eyes met her own. "Morning love."

Sarah just stared at him, not knowing what to say. Was she supposed to say good morning back? She took the easy way out and grabbed her wooly robe from the foot of the bed to ward against the cold and unfriendly goblin eyes and nearly ran into the bathroom. Half an hour later she came out with her hair wet from her shower and dressed in loose sweat pants and a hoodie. He was lounging in her bed, waiting for her.

He's got some nerve! However her temper was vastly improved from her shower and she settled on being courteous. "Good morning. Are you hungry? Do you want something to drink?"

Warm rich laughter filled the room, "Ah Sarah, I would love to drink your blood and eat from your flesh, however I will settle for coffee and perhaps what ever you want."

She frowned momentarily, not for the beginning comment about her blood and flesh, she was fairly certain he was joking (she rather hoped he was joking), but for the coffee. She had none in the house and told him so. "I only have tea. Sorry, I'm slightly sensitive to the caffeine…" she left the sentence hanging, trying to gauge what his reaction would be. When he didn't say anything she began to panic. "I have hot chocolate if you would like."

More laughter filled the room.

Present day

The raven balanced on the upper most branches of the bare oak tree. Fall had descended in the flat dusty planes of Yorkton, Saskatchewan and Marianne Williams stared out her bedroom window watching the raven as it gripped the branch for dear life when a gust of wind came up.

The raven watched back, or appeared to try. Its black sleek feathers blown askew and seemed to stick up all over. Mari felt a twinge of pity for the creature. It was getting colder by the week and summer was quickly falling away. In a month they might even get the first snow fall.

Mari sighed and lifted the window as wide as it would go. She watched the raven for a few more moments but it still refused to move. She sighed again, this time in anger. "Fine then! Freeze for all I care! I was just trying to help." She slammed the window back into place and stalked away from it and into the living room where her mother sat reading in her favorite chair. She threw herself onto the couch and crossed her arms in frustration.

Her mother looked up from her book with a patient smile, "What's wrong sweetie? I heard the window slam."

Mari turned on her side to face her mother. "Oh mom! Why doesn't anything ever go right?"

Sarah Williams placed the marker in her book and moved to sit beside her daughter. The thirteen year old girl leaned on her mother with a sigh of relief. "Oh dear, did something happen at school?"

Mari frowned. "Why do you know so much?" She shook her head. "Of course something happened at school! I have no friends there and they all look at me like I'm so different, just because I'm new."

"Mari, my Mari. It's only the first week. Things will get better. Why don't you join a group or a club? I'm sure they have something you will be interested it."

"Yeah maybe." Mari closed her eyes and just relaxed into the couch. Her mother was stroking her hair, combing it threw with her fingers.

Sarah broke the silence. "What were you doing with the window open? It's too cold out there you know, and the heating bill isn't going to be getting any smaller this winter."

Mari smiled crookedly. "Oh no reason. I was just playing around. You know how kids are these days, full of rebellion and mischief."

Sarah chuckled. "And full of wit as well, apparently. I can barely keep up with you now!"

"Mom you never seem to have any problems with it." Mari sat up and stretched. "I think I'm going to bed now though, I'm tired."

Sarah looked slightly stunned. "Are you sure? It's only nine. You still have half an hour before your bed time."

Mari nodded. "Maybe I'll read for a little while." She kissed her mother on the cheek. "Good night."

"Good night." Sarah curled up in her chair again and opened her book, "Oh darling?"

"Yeah mom?"

"Lock your window please and keep the blinds down. We have to start insolating the windows for the winter."

"Whatever you say mom."

Mari entered her room once more and took a quick peek out the window before closing the blinds. The raven was still there, looking more harrgerd then before and definitely more chilled. She whispered out the window as if it would be able to hear her through the glass. "Go into the attic, there is a hole in the peek. At least you will be warmer and out of the wind." She sent up a silent prayer to whoever answers them for the bird to find its way into warmth. She made sure the window was locked and the blinds secure before crawling into bed and taking out a comic book. She didn't even make it through the second story when she was out like a light.