Chapter 13

A few hours later and Jareth was now pacing in his study. By now, like Sarah, his feelings of anger had all but left him and were now replaced with serious pangs of guilt. Jareth knew he shouldn't have lost his temper so badly with Sarah but he also was highly annoyed that she was so quick to doubt him and his pride was deeply wounded. He was also completely terrified that his screaming at her, apart from making her more angry, might have somehow convinced her that he had reverted back to his old arrogant ways. This is why he didn't immediately return to her side now. He wanted time to plan his apology as well as nurse his bruised ego. Jareth stopped pacing and sighed. Well the longer you stay away Jareth the worse it's going to be so you might as well go back now. Just as Jareth was about to disappear he heard a voice calling to him that did not belong to Sarah. Finding this extremely odd, no one calling him anything other than your majesty on a daily basis, Jareth decided to greet the caller.

Karren having whisked Sarah out the door stood in the middle of her bedroom. She felt a little foolish for trying this but she wasn't sure she had much of a choice.

"Jareth…Jareth can you hear me?" Silence, then a whirl of the wind and a voice from behind Karren.

"Well Karren I didn't expect you to be calling for me." Karren turned to find Jareth standing behind her. He looked rather pale and there were bags under eyes. "To what do I owe the pleasure," he asked rather dryly. Karren snorted.

"Ok cut the crap Jareth, I asked you here so we could talk, all right?" Jareth tilted his head questioningly. He needed to be a little nicer after all Karren was a direct link to Sarah and he didn't want to seem like he was being mean to hear in any way.

"Yes of course Karren, is all right if we sit down," he asked gesturing to her bed, "I'm really very tired." Karren nodded.

"No it doesn't look like you got any sleep." She patted his shoulder. "Thinking too much were you?"

"Yes I got no sleep at all. At first I was very angry but after a while I was just plain sad and then I felt guilty as hell." Jareth was silent for a moment then, "I'm sorry Karren for causing a disturbance and upsetting your daughter so. It really was not my fault but I should not have lost my temper so easily. Comes from years of ruling goblins I guess." Karren chuckled.

"I understand Jareth, but that's why I'm here. It seems to me from what you've described that you have been alone for a great number of years." Jareth squirmed uneasily at the shift of the conversation.

"You assume correctly."

"Well Jareth than I am going to help you. I've been married to Sarah's father now going on seven years. And trust me we have had quite a few squabbles. And I know that we women as a species can be hard to live with but there are a few things you have to understand. Starting with the fact that almost ninety percent of the time we are right, even if you don't think so at the time we usually turn out to be. You cannot let your pride rule your mood Jareth. If we get involved in arguments we don't like to fight. Be patient with us and calm us down. Don't raise your voice and try to win because it will only make us angrier than we already were." Jareth looked significantly annoyed.

"I do not think this is entirely fair. I am a king after all I do have some say in what goes on in my life!"

"yes you do Jareth but you have to be gentle around Sarah she is a free spirit and she won't bow done to you. She will listen and respect you but that is all she couldn't do anything else because it goes against her nature."

"I know that and that's why I love her. For all those reasons and everything that she is. If she was like everyone else and bowed down before me she would not be my Sarah." Jareth was breaking down. The conversation with Karren was overworking his already fraught emotions. He laid his face in his hands and sighed deeply. "I just wish I understood why she doesn't trust me at all. I've done everything I ever could to prove to her that I could be kind and gentle and loving. Then at the first sight of trouble she looses faith in me." Karren felt really horrible. This was not what she wanted to accomplish with this conversation. She thought about it for a minute before gently placing an arm around Jareth's shoulder.

"She has not lost faith in you and she feels absolutely terrible. I think, much like you, that sometimes Sarah's temper just gets the better of her. And in the end I don't think it's entirely her fault. Sarah is very… sensitive about the issue at hand." Jareth looked up.

"What issue Karren?" Karren looked away shyly.

"Well I'd rather her tell you this but she never would so… well Sarah gets very uptight when it comes to fidelity. When she was a little girl her father had an affair with some woman he was working with. It wasn't me and I never knew until a few years ago. Anyway Sarah's mother found out about it and was absolutely furious. She moved out and started dating that guy Jeremy she worked with. They started traveling a lot and Sarah starting seeing her mother less and less. It took a couple months for the divorce to be final and then Sarah barely saw her mother at all. It broke her family up and she was very angry at her father for a long time. It's also why she hated me especially when Toby was born. She saw her father being with me as another form of him cheating on their old life with me and the new baby. She resented a lot of people because of it. Eventually she cooled off about it and even we became close but she is still very sensitive about that sort of thing. She has no tolerance for people who cheat. I have a feeling when she saw you with that girl it scared the hell out of her and just broke her heart all over again, Jareth." Jareth sat very quiet. Now he understood why Sarah had behaved so irrationally. She was just scared.

"I never knew any of that. Now I understand. Karren you have to know that I would never betray Sarah's trust like that ok? I would never hurt her and I'm going to make her realize it." He stood offering Karren his hand helping her up. "No where is my fiancé?"

"I told her to go to the ball. I'm sure she would be a lot happier if she had a date."

"She will have much more than that Karren. Thank you for explaining all of this to me."

"You're welcome Jareth, and please remember one thing." Jareth arched his eyebrow.

"And what's that?"

"I'd like three grandchildren, two girls and a boy." Jareth laughed like a maniac.

"Karren I will get on that as soon as possible." With that he disappeared in a puff of glitter leaving Karren in her room. She walked over to the vanity and wiped the glitter off her face.

"Well," she said chuckling, "I don't envy Sarah having to clean this stuff up every time he poofs off."

Why oh why did I ever listen to Karren and come to this thing! Sarah was standing by the punch bowl watching the scenes unfold before her. She was completely depressed and having a horrible time. All she had done from the moment since arriving was wish she had just stayed in the car. Some how, she didn't know how, but the room had been decorated oddly the same as a certain bubble ball she had attended once. This bummed Sarah out more than she could bare. It was that she didn't look nice or everyone was being mean to her, several of her friends had come up to talk to her and quite a few boys had asked her to dance.

No Sarah was just too sad to care about balls. She wore the dress Jareth had given which now that she thought about it reminded her more and more of a wedding dress. Just as she was about to cry someone came up behind her.

"And don't you look absolutely radiant tonight precious," a voiced whispered in her ear. Sarah inwardly groaned.

"Jared I am not in the mood to deal with you tonight. Please for once just listen to me and leave me alone." Jared laughed and whipped around in front of Sarah to corner her between himself and the punch table.

"And now would I want to do that hm? Especially when tonight you look so sexy and you don't have that ugly tag along with you."

"If you're talking about Jareth, he's my boyfriend, so you better get off me…"

"Well if he's not you're boyfriend," Jared said leaning in closer, "then why isn't he here with you tonight? You've been by yourself this whole time." He leaned in and kissed her neck. "Are you guys separated now."

"Ugh Jared get off me I do not nor will I ever like you." Sarah shoved Jared off of her and got passed him before he could pin her again. "And quite frankly it's none of your business. Now I am going to leave, go slobber all over some other stupid girl." With that Sarah turned to leave. She was going out the back door, getting into her car, and going home. She made it out the door and into the alley way behind the gymnasium when someone grabbed her hand.

"That was very rude of you Sarah!"

"All right listen here Jared you daft idiot I said I don't…"

"Oh you don't do you," Jared screamed as he thoroughly pinned her against the cold brick wall. "Well I think you do and believe me I'm going to give it to you." Sarah was extremely frightened. Being this close she could clearly smell alcohol on his breath and she knew he was totally serious.

"Jared please don't do this," she choked out. Jared just pinned her tighter to the wall and brought his lips crashing down onto hers. Sarah began sobbing profusely and after many failed tries to push him away, Sarah merely shut her eyes and gave into whatever was about to happen. Then there was a thud and a loud scream and Sarah fell to the ground. She opened her eyes to see Jared on the ground bleeding out of the right side of his head and Jareth to her left with a bloody fist and an expression of pure rage. Jareth made a move toward Jared and Sarah quickly stepped in knowing full well that Jareth was about to do something truly wicked.

"Jareth please don't," she begged placing her hands on his chest. "Please he's really drunk and I don't think he's all there, please just don't hurt him anymore." Jareth's eyes flared like mad at the now unconscious boy on the ground and he was breathing very heavy. Then Sarah was completely surprised to feel Jareth relax a little.

"If you do not wish me to hurt him then I will not, however I fully believe I should murder him for ever having placed a finger on you." Jareth placed an arm around her shoulders protectively and led her back into the door. Sarah grabbed his hand and led him into a classroom outside the gymnasium. Once inside any composure she had left disappeared and she immediately began to sob. Jareth brought her into his arms in a enormous and well needed hug.

"Sarah please don't cry," he whispered, "I'm here now and nothing bad is going to happen. He won't hurt you anymore."

"It's not that Jareth, it's just… I'm so sorry! I was horrible to you all because I let my anger get the better of me for a minute. I just don't want you to be mad at me anymore."

"Ssh," Jareth said placing a finger gently on Sarah's lips, "I am not angry with you nor could I ever be. I am also sorry that I lost my temper with you so easily and I should not have yelled at you. My kingly behavior I guess," he chuckled making Sarah smile. "But I understand a little better now why you acted that way and I want you to know right now that I would never betray your trust in such a way. Do you believe me?"

"Yes Jareth I do believe you. Trust me this will not be an issue in the future. I felt horrible this whole time we weren't talking and I don't want to do it again." Jareth smiled and hugged Sarah tighter.

"What do you say we return to your ball Sarah?"

"I'd love that your majesty." Jareth kissed Sarah before taking her by the hand and leading her back into the gymnasium. It was then Sarah noticed that Jareth was dressed in a more normal version of his formal regalia. His hair was shorter and pulled back. He looked gorgeous but she also noticed that somehow her own clothing had magically changed in the last few minutes. Her fancy ballroom dress had been toned down somewhat and now accentuated her more adult figure. Sarah couldn't deny it, she looked better and she and Jareth had to be the most attractive couple there. This was confirmed as every head turned to watch them come in. Sarah laughed and Jareth took her hand and led her onto the dance floor.

"So did my outfit not suit you your highness?" Jareth chuckled.

"Well that dress was based off your fantasy when you were fifteen, so I figured you would want something a little more appropriate and form fitting." Sarah snorted.

"That and you wanted to look at my ass glitter boy." Jareth pulled Sarah closer to him and raised his eyebrows.

"You know Sarah if you keep calling me such a name then I shall have to come up with a nickname for you."

"Oh really like what glitter pants?" Jareth whirled her around and around the dance floor.

"Well how about beautiful, amazing, gorgeous, intelligent, sexy, or vivacious?" He dipped her and kissed her on her nose.

"Hm I seem to like all of those."

"Well," Jareth said leaning in close to her, "I do try to witty and charming you know." Sarah grabbed the back of his neck.

"Will you please just shut up and kiss me already." Jareth obliged and kissed her. The entire room was all eyes on them as they whirled around the dance floor. Their moment was interrupted by someone on the loud speaker that Sarah instantly recognized as her art teacher.

"All right ladies and gents it's time now to announce our King and Queen of the ball. This honor goes to the couple who most adheres the theme of the evening. So why don't we open this and see who we are being ruled by shall we." He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. Sarah watched as all of the popular girls from her school jumped up and down with excitement and laughed a little.

"Ok well this is a surprise. This years king and queen are Sarah Williams and her prince charming." Suddenly there was a light shining on her and Jareth. Jareth looked at her and they both erupted into laughter. Jareth led Sarah onto the stage where they were crowned.

"And now it's time for the King, uh excuse me sir what is your name?" Jareth bowed.

"It's Jareth."

"Ah ok then it's time for King Jareth and Queen Sarah to have their own dance." Jareth led Sarah back onto the dance floor. The lights dimmed and suddenly Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper began to play. Sarah outwardly groaned.

"What's wrong Sarah?"

"I hate this song Jareth. It's so cheesy. It's nothing like our song… I'm getting a little tired of this. I wish we were…" Jareth lifted her chin.

"Be careful what you wish for precious," he chuckled, "but out of curiosity what do you wish for hm?" Sarah rolled her eyes and pulled Jareth down to kiss her again. Then she whispered into his ear.

"I wish it was just you and me Jareth. I want my dreams. I want you. I want to be your queen and everything else." Jareth stopped their dancing and grinned. I will make you enjoy those words Sarah. I think it's high time we had some alone time precious.

"What do you say Sarah that we show these people what real magic is?" Sarah smiled and let Jareth pull her into her arms.

"Why Jareth I think that's a marvelous idea." Jareth summoned a crystal out of thin air which he immediately threw at the ground causing them to vanish into a puff of glitter leaving all the ball guests starring in disbelief.

A/N: Hey guys once again I am sorry for the delay. Trust me this is not the last chapter. The best is yet to come especially in the next chapter. There will be about one more chapter and a prologue and yes I am going to write in a wedding. Thank you to all those who have been reading but PLEASE I need some feed back so I know what you think because no one has reviewed in a while. I really need to know what you guys think. So pretty please review and I promise I will give you best chapter yet.

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