Author's notes: This is a homage to my longtime love of all things Labyrinth. I apologize in advance for all the Irish/Celtic/Welsh myths I will be butchering (ahem…borrowing); I do my best to be accurate, but I'm definitely not a mythology expert. I also owe a great debt to Subtilior, NecessaryObjects, Pika la Cynique, and everyone else in the Labyrinth fandom who has brought Jareth and the underground to life. Many of the elements of this fic were inspired by the work of others, though I hope that I've created something original here. Feedback and criticism are always welcomed and very much appreciated.

Ch. 1: The King

It was Sarah's first winter in New York City. Central Park glistened under a blanket of snow, and she wandered aimlessly through the twisting footpaths, enjoying the stillness. She had been in the city six months and she still felt a bit claustrophobic, surrounded by the tall buildings and grit and bustle. It made her feel itchy, somehow. Sarah had never lived in a city and she had expected it to be a grand adventure. But to her surprise, she found herself missing the tranquility of her parent's little suburbia, the quiet that settled in at night and the sight of tall trees out the front window.

Not for the first time, Sarah wondered what on earth had possessed her to become a lawyer. After the Labyrinth, none of her fanciful daydreams really seemed compelling. It was hard to be swept away in a dream of princes and ballrooms when she had lived it. And it was hard to dream at all when her flightiness had nearly gotten her brother killed. So Sarah had packed away her bears and dolls and toys and put up sensible posters of nature scenes. She read fantasy sparingly, and only when it wouldn't interfere with real life. She became practical, dependable and utterly normal.

Karen was delighted. And Sarah herself was content. A part of her still wanted to dream the day away, but her sensible side won out. At least, it usually did.

When the black-gloved hand tapped her on the shoulder, Sarah didn't even jump. Ever since the Labyrinth, Jareth had visited fairly regularly. He would appear in some completely incongruous place, talk about nothing in particular and leave just as abruptly as he had come. As Sarah grew older, Jareth had become more daring. He strutted, he flirted, and more than once he came perilously close to touching her. But he never crossed the line, and there had been no renewal of his offer from the Labyrinth. Sarah told herself that she should be grateful. Life as the Goblin King's possession held no appeal for her, even if by some miracle he should still want her.

"Enjoying the snow, my Sarah?"

She wrinkled her nose.

"Don't call me that."

"But the look on your face…"

Sarah tried to shove him, but as usual he was too fast for her.

"How do you like the city?"

She sighed.

"It's...different, I suppose. Noisy. And the lights are so bright that you can hardly see the stars. But it's alright. I have a nice flat, and I like my new boss."

Jareth had been walking beside her. Now, suddenly, he stopped. Feeling unaccountably nervous, Sarah turned to face him. She swallowed. He wore the usual boots and poet's shirt, but his jacket today was white and made of something soft. It made her want to burrow in and shut out the world. With a will, Sarah dragged her eyes away from his chest and tried to focus.

"What was that?"

Jareth rolled his eyes.

"Do try to pay attention, Sarah." She suppressed a shiver at the sound of her name. "Sarah…" He paused. Unaccountably, she though, the Goblin King looked nervous. "You could see the stars whenever you wanted, my Sarah. If you wished it."

It took Sarah a moment a moment to process what exactly he was saying.

"Oh, no. No, no, no. We are not doing this again, Jareth." She looked at him to see if he had been joking after all, but his face was inscrutable.

"If by 'this' you refer to that disastrous moment in the labyrinth, I heartily agree." Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. "But this is not the labyrinth, and you are not a girl any longer. There is no need for tricks here."

He waited expectantly. Sarah slowly backed up.

"I don't know what you're asking."

He cocked his head, his eyes knowing.

"Don't you? I think you do." He stepped closer, so close that their faces were only inches apart. "They weren't the right words last time. Close, but not right. 'Fear me, love me, do as I say.' Not words to inspire passion, are they?" Sarah shook her head mutely. "Your kind says it much better. 'Love, honor and obey.' "

Sarah gave a strangled squeak. She put up a hand and then dropped it quickly when it rested against the soft white jacket.

"You can't marry me."

"Why ever not? "

Sarah paused. A thousand answers flew through her head, but somehow she ended up blurting out the one she didn't want to say.

"Because…because you don't love me!"

Jareth smiled. It wasn't his usual sarcastic smirk. It was gentle, and wistful, and held just the slightest bit of something underneath that made her shiver. She had never seen him smile like that before.

"Sure of that, are you?"

Sarah valiantly tried to gather her suddenly scattered thoughts.

"Of course you don't love me. You can't. You're this immortal king who shows up for a laugh at the crazy mortal when things get boring. You're probably supposed to marry some perfect princess with long flowing hair and have tons of little Goblin Kings." She paused. "Besides, who ever heard of the handsome faerie king who married the lawyer? The Brothers Grimm would never forgive you."

Sarah attempted a smile, but it felt strained. He just couldn't love her. It was impossible.

"I am sure marriage to a perfect princess would please my dear mother immensely. But I do not want a princess, my Sarah. I want you."

Sarah gulped. For once, the Goblin King wasn't beating around the bush. She held up a desperate hand.

"Wait. Just…wait. How do I even know you're real? I mean, I'm talking to you, but maybe I'm just crazy. Everyone else seems to think so. They can't even see you." She waved a hand out to indicate the park, and the other walkers who were giving Sarah a wide berth as they edged around her on the path. "Maybe I've finally snapped, and I'm actually comatose in some hospital—"

Jareth made a noise that sounded remarkably like a growl.

"You are not in a coma, Sarah. I assure you, I am entirely real, and I am asking you to marry me."

Sarah stood still and simply blinked at him. She was definitely dreaming, she decided. This was far too impossible to be reality. Cautiously, she reached out a hand and poked at the decidedly solid-looking chest in front of her. Jareth arched an eyebrow.

"Precious, I understand the sentiment, but don't you think a public park might be a trifle…exposed?"

Sarah squeaked and tried to yank her hand back, but Jareth was too fast. He held her hand in both of his, leather-gloved fingers languidly tracing their way over her bare palm. Sarah felt a blush rise in her cheeks and tugged again.

"Jareth, I think you misunderstood. I never meant-"

For the first time, Jareth began to look the slightest bit angry.

"So all this," He gestured sharply between them , "was a game to you? You liked having the mighty Goblin King as your personal pet?"

"No! No, that's not what I meant at all." Sarah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. There was a tight knot in her stomach, and she felt almost like crying.

"Jareth, we're friends. You're probably the only real friend I have now. But you never even tried to kiss me! I mean, if there was anything between us, something would have happened already, wouldn't it?"

Sarah winced. She hadn't meant to say all that. Jareth abruptly let go of her hand, and Sarah had a moment to feel relieved before he stepped even closer.

"Nothing between us?" His voice lowered intimately. "Precious, I assure you, had I cared to try, you would have been mine years ago. And you wanted it. You wanted me to kiss you, touch you-"

"Stop it!" Half-hysterical, Sarah shoved at him, but his grip was unrelenting. More gently he went on,

"I have waited. All these many years, I have waited. You wanted to grow up. It was only fair to let you enjoy this world of yours, before you came to mine." He paused, their faces inches apart. His eyes were soft, and almost…pleading? Slowly, as if he was waiting for her to jump away, Jareth raised one gloved hand to her cheek. He let it rest there for a moment and murmured,

"I could give you everything. Everything you ever wanted, do you understand? This isn't a joke, or a trick. I want you. And I would make you happy."

Sarah swayed into him, nearly hypnotized. Everything she had ever wanted…she had no doubt that he could give it to her. And what reason had she to refuse, really? Deny it though she would, the magic of the Labyrinth still called to her, though the memory of her fateful visit had long since become faded and worn. She wanted that world. She wanted the hidden doorways and the sparkling crystals and even that ridiculous bog. And most of all, Sarah realized with a little shock, she wanted to be loved by the Goblin King. Perhaps she always had.

Sarah opened her mouth to answer. Slowly, something that Jareth had said began to sink in.

"You want me."

"Yes." His face was more vulnerable than she had ever seen. "More than anything."

"Is that all?"

He looked puzzled.

"What more is there? I want you, and I will give you everything." His face turned slightly derisive. "I assure you, my Sarah, you will never have a better offer."

Sarah took a deep breath. All at once she felt as if she were standing on the edge of a very high cliff. You have no power over me. She never could take what she was given, she thought bitterly.

"The book said that the king had fallen in love with the girl. Is it true, Jareth?"

Jareth's two-toned eyes widened a little and then narrowed.

"It was a story, Sarah. Of course the king fell in love."

Something in Sarah twisted. Had she always known that it would come down to this? She hadn't ignored Jareth's advances all these years out of some misguided nobility, she realized. It had simply been self-preservation.

"I need to know, Jareth. Is it true?"

His hands came up to grip her shoulders, hard enough to leave bruises.

"Look at me, Sarah. Look me and say you don't want me."

Sarah looked. It was like looking into the ocean, deep and dark and utterly inscrutable.

" Tell me the truth."

His jaw clenched, and Sarah knew with horrible certainty that he was going to lie. And when he did, everything between them would shatter to ashes.

"It was a story, Sarah. Nothing more. If you hoped for something that I cannot give, then I am truly sorry."

Dear God, Sarah though, he had actually told her the truth. There was silence between them, then. Neither of them had any idea what to say. Finally Sarah managed,

"I think I always knew. You want me, but you don't love me. I don't even know if you can."

"Does it matter so very much? You would forget, eventually. It is the way of the underground."

She gave a half-laugh that sounded more like a sob.

"But I would always know, wouldn't I? Don't you understand? Somewhere, I would always know."

"So this is your answer? You would give up your dreams for this?" Jareth swept out an arm to encompass the frozen park, the leaden sky and the dark peaks of the buildings. "Heed me, Sarah. Walk away and you will regret it the rest of your long, long life."

"I know."

They stared at each other in silence, and Sarah's heart twisted at the hope in Jareth's eyes. He still though that she wouldn't leave him. Sarah leaned up on tip-toe and brushed a kiss, light as a phantom, across the Goblin King's cheek. It was the first time that she had ever touched him voluntarily, and Jareth's mouth curved in surprised pleasure. Before his arms could come up to hold her, she stepped back.

"I'm sorry, Jareth." She knew it was pathetic, but the man had just broken her heart. Saying anything more would undo her. Sarah turned and walked away, and she did not look back.

A week later Sarah woke up to find a necklace on her pillow. The tiny, perfect crystal hung from a silver chain that flowed like water through her fingers. Sarah could feel the magic vibrating beneath her fingers, pleading. Make a wish. She opened her mouth to call out for Jareth and clenched a fist over her mouth before she could say the words. Instead, she sat on her bed and cried for a very long time. She did not think that she would ever see the Goblin King again.