Naaaw I'm gonna miss you guys... this is another long one.

Chapter title courtesy of the song by the same title - Eric Howden, Raised by Swans.

Reference to Narnia is from 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe', C.S. Lewis.

As always the lovely nothingnothingtralala has spun a web of magic over this chapter. Huge kudos to her as always, this story would not be what it is without her and I feel like it belongs just as much to her as it does to me!

"Sarah."

Her name was a caress in his mouth.

A tingle of pleasure ran up her spine. She still wasn't used to that warmth in his voice; she hoped she never would be. Basking in the surprise of it every day would be the best kind of constant for her heart, even on the days when his eyes were tentative and full of questions. Somehow she felt like she possessed infinite patience for that uncertainty, sown so quickly by another but buried so deeply that destroying it might take many lifetimes. It was of no consequence that there was sometimes still doubt in his eyes; so long as she was reflected within them, there was hope.

Trust must be earned, after all.

She felt his gloved hands skim down her bare arms as she continued to look out at the Labyrinth from the rooftop. Those damn gloves; she couldn't seem to dissuade him from wearing them. She knew some of his reasoning was vanity. He felt that his scarred hand was ugly and liked to keep it hidden. Perhaps it was more than just that though; those scars were a souvenir from the painful bond which had once existed. To see them was to remember, and so they were concealed. One day those gloves would no longer be required, but that, like all things, would also take time.

"Sarah-love," he whispered into the back of her hair.

She felt a rush of pleasure whenever he used the expression which had once been something foreign to him. He never said it directly, this was as close as he ever came, but it was only a word, after all, and every action he made told her all she needed to know.

Her lips curved as she tilted her head back towards him, her eyes still lost in the Labyrinth.

"Mmm?"

He slipped his hand beneath the weight of her hair and tucked it over one shoulder, running his gloved fingers across her exposed neck.

"Are you hiding out here?" he asked.

She slanted her neck, allowing him access to the length of her throat. "Of course not, why would I be?"

"But you are avoiding me," he whispered into the soft skin just below her ear, brushing warm lips against flesh.

"No," she gasped, heart fluttering. She couldn't think of any reason why she'd be avoiding this.

"Don't lie, precious," he murmured, running his bottom lip along the bridge of her ear. "You know that isn't fair."

Her voice was husky when she replied. "Not fair… you're the one not playing fair." She turned towards him with every intention of levelling the playing field, only to watch him step away from her. He held his hands up in passive surrender, clearly dividing them as he took another step backwards.

Her smile faltered. "What's wrong?"

"With me… absolutely nothing," he said, "it's you I'm concerned about."

Sarah frowned, confused. "There's nothing wrong with me."

"I've just employed the same technique you've been utilising to win me over for weeks now, Sarah," he sighed. "It just took me awhile to notice you were doing it since it was such a pleasant distraction."

"I'm all about pleasant distractions," she grinned, taking a step towards him.

His mouth quirked as he took another step in the opposite direction.

"Jareth," she warned.

"Sarah," he echoed, raising a finger to halt her. "My self-restraint only stretches so far when it comes to you."

"Who asked you to restrain anything?"

She shot him a wicked smile and stepped forward again. Jareth took another step back with an equally mischievous look.

"Why are you avoiding me?" she frowned.

"Ah," he replied, "didn't I say that it was you who has been avoiding me?"

She stopped chasing after him and put her hands on her hips, irritated. "Evidence to the contrary, sir. And how, pray tell, did you decide that anyway?"

"I realised that the subject matter of some of our conversations has been upsetting you. It has led you to avert my attention to… more enjoyable activities."

Sarah felt her mouth go dry. He knows.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she heard herself reply.

"Sarah," he sighed, "I've been revelling in your light for long enough to notice it dimming. You're not happy."

She felt a rising sense of panic that wouldn't move to manifest itself. Her fingers tensed but didn't clench into the fists she wanted; her feet stood frozen and her tongue was heavy in her mouth. How could he know? Was he angry that she hadn't told him? Did he doubt her now; doubt that she loved him since she'd kept it from him?

"I am happy, of course I am." She babbled, flustered. "I love you, this is exactly what I want and I-"

Easily he closed the gap between them and placed his hand firmly across her mouth, effectively silencing her. "Hush now, listen for a moment," he said, sighing again. "And now we're touching again, that's never a good thing." He gently removed his hand from her lips and stroked the line of her jaw before stepping away.

"You're unhappy, I'm not a fool. Perhaps I am an idiot since it took me this long to notice, but with changes to the Labyrinth and your general presence my attention has been misdirected. You can't avoid this forever, Sarah."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied dully. She knew that her resolve had crumbled when the first wet tear slid down her cheek. She was going to tell him, of course she was gong to tell him, but she just needed more time to figure things out for herself first.

"Precious," he whispered reverently, kissing her tears away. "You must talk to him, I know that it's hard, but you're both suffering this way."

She inhaled painfully.

It's not that. He doesn't know. Thank goodness, he doesn't know.

"I know you haven't wanted to talk about it, or even think about it for that matter, but it can't be avoided any longer. He's just a little boy, Sarah."

Sarah shook her head, still weeping but now in helpless relief. He was talking about Toby; this was about her brother, not the secret she was keeping from him. He was right about one thing; they'd both been distracted recently. She felt ashamed. She had been so daunted by everything that had happened since returning to the Labyrinth that she'd pushed Toby's needs aside. How long had she left it for now?

Sarah had refused to look in on her family after coming to the Labyrinth, despite the fact that Jareth had offered. She had known it would take a different sort of courage than the type she was familiar with: the hurts would run too deep. She did want to know if they were doing well, but the thought of seeing them thriving without her, deprived of even the memory of her, would be too painful.

Jareth had been right that she hadn't understood what she was giving up, but she still didn't regret her decision. That didn't mean she couldn't mourn the loss of her family, even if they weren't aware that she was gone. Every moment they'd ever shared was a secret for her alone to keep now, precious memories that only she possessed. Or so she had thought.

Toby remembered.

He had remembered everything, and not a day went by that he was not distraught over the loss of his sister. He was just a child, after all, and completely overwhelmed by the well-meaning adults who could not understand where his delusions of a sister had suddenly sprung from. She had looked in to see his sorrow and confusion, his hurt, and it had tested her decision as she had thought nothing could.

"I don't know if I can manage this," she answered Jareth honestly. "What if he hates me? It's my fault and I don't think I can handle it if he... I started thinking that maybe if enough time passed his memory would fade, but it won't, will it? I still don't understand why this has happened."

"It's not a question of understanding," he murmured. "Are you really going to let his grief continue? That's not the Sarah I know. This is exactly why you're fading; you can't keep all that misery boxed up. A very wise woman taught me that."

Sarah half choked on her own sniffled laugh. "I taught you that."

"Well then, precious, best pay attention to your own wisdom," he smirked.

She took a shuddering sob. "It's just, when you told me, when I Iooked-"

"He was frightened and alone and lost. I understand it was hard to see the result of your decision gone astray, even more so since it had gone unknown for so long. But he's a child, Sarah, and his sister is gone. No one else remembers, no one believes him… this isn't going away. I don't think you want it to, not really."

Toby.

Sarah nodded, wiping her wet eyes. "You're right; I know you're right. I just don't know how to face him right now. I thought he would forget, they all forgot, why is he the only one who remembers?"

Jareth paused, pulling her close again in an effort to soothe her. "It's you who has forgotten; he too was once an inhabitant of the Labyrinth, if only for a brief time."

It was Jareth who had discovered what had happened to Toby. She knew it had been hard for him to tell her, fearing what action she might take in response to that knowledge, aware that she might leave the Labyrinth.

Yet she had done nothing. So awhirl with her own personal concerns and the small sliver of hope that his memory might still alter; offering him the idyllic life that she always had intended him to have. She'd been too much of a selfish coward to face him and admit that she'd abandoned him, with good intentions, perhaps, but that was still a fact. Jareth's bravery in telling her about his struggle had put her to shame.

At least a month must have passed in the mortal realm now, and longer than that in the Labyrinth. So much had changed here, but nothing had changed for poor Toby.

"Okay," she agreed, steeling herself for what needed to be done. "You're right; I need to see him and try to explain what has happened." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "So how exactly do I do that?"

Jareth allowed himself a small smile. "There are many methods," he explained. "You could visit him in a dream, but others have put it in his mind that he's having trouble with reality as it is, best not to leave any doubt of the encounter. Or you could… go to him."

She glanced up to see the pained look in his eyes. She crossed the space between them and took his hand. Removing his glove she tenderly kissed his palm. "I would come back," she assured him.

His smile was tight as he withdrew his hand. "I don't think you can make me any such promises until you have at least spoken with him." His voice was strained as he spoke.

"I would sooner bring him back here with me than lose you." Sarah confided, and then raised an eyebrow at the thought. "Can we do that, bring him here?"

He gave her a quizzical look. "Doesn't that somewhat muddy your plan for that strong and perfect Williams family?" he asked. "Although I suppose if you wish him away then they would-"

"No, no no," cried Sarah, waving her hands. "That's not what I was suggesting at all. I meant for a short visit, like a free pass."

"A pass?"

"Yeah, like a lifetime membership to the Labyrinth… or something."

Jareth's mouthed twitched at the notion. "Although I'm not familiar with the concept you're referring to, I think I get the gist of your idea. It can be done, but he'd need something to tie him to the Labyrinth, otherwise he'd never find his way in and out. It is a Labyrinth after all."

Sarah smiled. "I have just the thing," she told him, "but you're not going to like it."

He didn't like it; she had known he wouldn't.

She fiddled with the ring in her pocket. Serra's ring, now ownerless. She had sought it out on her return as a whim, not realising she might actually find some future use for it. The ring had become a part of the Labyrinth now, just as her own ring had. It held the same connection to the Labyrinth as her own and would act as a map for Toby should he ever choose to use it. Jareth objected to the article itself, rather than the premise, but she had reminded him that he was above sentimentality, or so he always pretended.

She clutched his hand tightly. "Okay," she said. "I'm ready."

He looked at her in a way which told her he was anything but.

She leaned forward and knocked her forehead against his chin, squeezing his hand. "Every second I am away I will feel like I've left half of myself behind. Can't you trust that I'll return to retrieve it?"

He kissed her forehead. "You love your brother-"

"And I love you," she finished. "Don't drag this out, the sooner I go the sooner I can come back."

He gave her a meaningful look. "Before you go I should at least tell you-"

"No," she interrupted ruthlessly. "You don't have to tell me anything. I don't want to hear some undying confession from you, a promise of eternal adoration or even gratitude. Every word you think you have to say, save it. Polish those thoughts while I'm gone, let them keep you company. Time will pass slowly here and quickly there, but I will come back. If you have something to say to me I don't want it said because you think you're losing me. I'm not going off to fight in a war; I'm going to give my brother a ring and a reason." She smirked cheekily at him. "So just wait for me like a good boy, okay?"

His hesitation gave her strength. It was no easier for her to leave him; she was flooded with emotions. She was worried for her brother – how would he react to her, how could she explain what had happened and what her intentions had been? She feared for Jareth, waiting here alone, eaten up by the same doubts she'd been fighting to abolish for months. She had not lied though. Half of her heart would remain here with him and she would never be whole again without him, even she would suffer from this brief separation.

As she caught the look of resignation on his face, she nodded, and felt herself shift from the Labyrinth and into the mortal realm. It was funny that she never quite seemed to get used to that sensation of rushing wind and power; perhaps it took a very long time. When the sensation faded she was standing in Toby's bedroom, but there was no sign of her brother.

She stood momentarily confused in the silence. He should be here; Jareth said he would send her straight to him… unless something had gone wrong with the magic? But this was his bedroom. As she glanced around she heard a whisper of a sound, and as she listened it became clearer, the room was not silent at all: someone was reciting numbers.

The voice was coming from the wardrobe and Sarah realised that it was not just random numbers being spoken, but the sound of someone counting.

"Toby?" she called, uncertainly.

The numbers stopped abruptly. The wardrobe door creaked open, just a crack.

"Sarah?"

She smiled at the sound of her little brother's voice. "Hey buddy." Her voice cracked as she spoke.

Ever so slowly the wardrobe door opened enough to reveal the little boy hiding within. He was like a wraith, a shadow of the brother she had left behind. There were dark circles under his eyes and his cheeks were overly flushed and sticky with tears. It was painful to see. Her heart throbbed and her eyes filled with unshed tears.

"Did it work?" he whispered, eyes wide and haunted.

She blinked away her tears; every explanation she had practiced had deserted her. "I'm sorry," she wept. "I'm so sorry I left you behind."

Her brother's bottom lip trembled as he stepped out of the wardrobe. Hesitantly he reached out and clutched at the hem of her cardigan, testing to see if she was real or not. When his hand found the fabric he started to whimper quietly, cheeks wet with his sorrows. He wrapped his little arms around her waist and blubbered into her top.

"I knew you that went there," he sobbed. "I knew that you existed, even though they kept telling me it was lies."

"I'm sorry," she sobbed.

"You had to go the Labyrinth, Sarah, you needed to make things right with the Goblin King. That's why I was helping you. I tried to tell mum and dad so they wouldn't worry when you went missing, but they thought there was something wrong with me. They kept telling me that you didn't exist."

He broke away from her for a second, as if needing to reaffirm that she was actually there, then buried his face in her top again. "No one would believe me until even I wasn't sure anymore. I figured if I could go to the Labyrinth and check for myself it would be okay, but I didn't know how to get there because we didn't figure it out. I thought maybe I wasn't able to figure it out like you had because I'd started doubting whether or not it was true." A fresh wave of tears spilled over his cheeks. "I looked for a toadstool ring but I couldn't find one. Then the teacher was reading a book to us at school about a place called Narnia and I thought maybe there was a way to go through the wardrobe, but it's just a wardrobe," he sobbed. "That's why I was counting. I thought maybe I was wrong and you were just hiding. In hide and seek you have to count and then you can find the person you're looking for-"

The rest of the words trailed off with his tears, and she held him tightly against her chest as silent regret flooded her own cheeks.

"You found me," she told him, "and I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry." She kissed his head and smoothed down his hair, rocking him in her arms. It was a sign of his weakness that he let her; if he was his usual self he would have evaded her hug, telling that her he wasn't a baby anymore. They stayed like that for a long time before his hysterics were finally pacified, but he made no move to leave her arms when he calmed down, his little hand still tightly clutching her cardigan.

As she cradled him gently she started to tell him the rest of the Labyrinth story she had once shared with him, everything that had happened since the last telling. How his cleverness had given her hope, using her ring to direct herself through the dream, and Jareth. He was a subject that was far too large to cover in one telling, but she told him the important bits, even his name, everything except the secret that she was keeping only for herself.

She explained what she had intended in wishing herself away. That she had thought she could fix their broken family, that the sickness their father had might go away if she disappeared, and that even he might be better off.

"I don't want to forget you, Sarah," he whimpered.

"I know," she said, "I know. It was a stupid adult decision; I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. I'm sorry Toby."

He looked up at her miserably. "You don't want me to forget, do you?"

"No," she whispered, hugging him tightly. "I didn't want any of them to forget, not really, I just thought it was the best thing for everyone."

"You're not going to stop being my sister now, are you?"

Sarah laughed hoarsely. "Of course I'm not; I'll always be your sister."

Her answer brought the ghost of a smile to his face, pulling at her heartstrings. Her brother gave her a searching look as he finally slipped from the circle of her arms, plonking himself on the floor stubbornly.

"You love the Goblin King, don't you, Sarah?" he asked.

The meaning behind his words rang in her ears, a mirror to those Jareth's has said as she had left. As if she could only choose between them and never have them both. Even their look of anxiety was the same.

"I love you both," she said.

"But you're still going to leave me, aren't you? And mum and dad too," he cried.

Sitting next to him she took his hand in hers and rubbed his palm with her thumb. "Do you know that Jareth once told me that I was very greedy? He was right too, I am greedy, and even though I try to do the right thing I think I'm still spoiled sometimes too. You think that I will leave you for him, and he thinks I will leave him for you, don't you think you're both very similar in thinking? Secretly, however, I'm so greedy that I've decided I will have you both."

Toby gazed up at her with a look of such desperate longing that it pierced her heart. "Can you do that, Sarah?"

"Well… it's not something I have to do at all," she smiled. "It's actually all up to a brave little boy."

She opened Toby's palm flat in her hand and traced the crease of his lifeline.

"See this," she said, "that's your future, right there. This bit here is where you first went to the Labyrinth when you were only a baby," she pointed. "See how after that your fate line crosses your life line?"

Lost, Toby frowned. "What does it mean?"

Sarah grinned. "Well, I don't know. Maybe it means nothing, or maybe it shows that you have an important link to the Labyrinth?"

"What link?" he sulked, "is the link you because you're going back?"

"Maybe," she said, shrugging. "Or maybe it's this line right here?" She pointed to the crease which divided his palm from his ring finger.

He scowled. "That's not one of the future telling lines, Sarah," he told her, "that's just a finger."

"Oh, is it, Mr Smarty Pants?" she teased. "Well, if it's just a finger then we'd better put something on it to make it more important." She pulled Serra's ring, now Toby's ring, from her pocket and slipped it over his ring finger. It was far too big for him.

"Maybe I didn't think this through," she relented. "It's way too big." As she reached to remove it again, Toby pulled his hand away, cradling the ring.

"No," he cried. "It fits me really good."

She gave him a bemused smile. "I'm not taking it away from you; I just think that maybe I should get it sized down-"

"No," he squealed stubbornly. "I like it this size, and then when I grow big it will still fit me forever."

She bit her lip, chagrined. "Do you understand what it means then?"

"Course," he muttered proudly, "It's the same as yours, isn't it?"

She smiled at her brother. "It's even better than mine actually. This ring is a magic ring, it can help you find the Labyrinth, but it can also help you go there, if you want to."

Toby looked at the ring for a long time, and without taking his eyes from it spoke quietly to his sister. "This is how you get to have everything, because I can use this to come visit you and we can still see each other."

"That's right," she murmured.

"But you're still going to leave, aren't you?"

She smiled sadly, brushing back her brother's hair. "I have to."

He studied her now, as if trying to figure something out. Giving her another look which seemed well beyond his years. "You really do love him, don't you?" he asked.

She closed her eyes, thinking of the secret she was keeping, and Jareth. "I do."

"What will happen to you though? You're mortal, you'll get old and he won't."

She opened her eyes again and admired her brother; he was always taking the next mental step. "Time in the Labyrinth is different to here, slower, much slower. Things don't work the same way as in the mortal realm, you'll likely to grow up far faster than I will."

He pouted. "I don't want to become your big brother one day though, that'll be weird."

She pushed him playfully. "Well maybe things will change for you too one day. The Labyrinth is your second home now. When you grow up maybe it will become as important to you as it is to me, perhaps you'll make it your first home.

Toby looked thoughtful. "Maybe one day when mum and dad don't need me anymore," he said.

"They will always need you," she told him gently, "we all will."

For the first time since she'd appeared in his room he gave her his old smile, full of sunlight. "I think this is a good solution, Sarah," he said. "Because now I can be greedy too."

It was more than she could ask for. Being able to give Toby his mother, father and sister was like a miracle. Having both her love for Jareth and Toby made possible, despite everything, she truly was lucky.

She was not sure how long they sat like that on his bedroom floor. She listened as he gave her a window into the Williams family again, talking about Irene and Robert in a way which was surprisingly less painful than she had thought it would be. It was a feeling of nostalgia and normalcy, like hearing someone talk about characters in a book or film she was fond of. She, in turn, told him about the Labyrinth. What it was like to live there and the changes which were occurring every day.

They both paused when they heard Irene call Toby to dinner from downstairs.

Toby looked up at his sister and chewed his lip. "I have to go down soon, mum has been really worried, but things are going to be okay now, aren't they?"

Sarah smiled. "I hope so."

"You have to go soon too, don't you?" he asked.

"Probably."

"Is he waiting for you?"

She tilted her head to one side as she twisted the oversized ring on her brother's finger, a ring with a long history. "He's been waiting for me for a very long time."

Toby nodded, coming to a decision. "You should go then."

Sarah felt taken aback. "I can wait till you come back to your room, I can stay hidden-"

"Nope," he shook his head. "It's time for you to go now. Later on tonight when I come back from dinner I'll come to see you." He grinned his gap toothed grin proudly, already eager to try out his new magic accessory.

She gave him a wistful smile. "I'm not sure how long that will be for me exactly, it might be awhile before I get to see you again."

He scowled. "Don't be a wuss; can't you wait a few days to hang out?"

She laughed out loud and then quickly stifled it, fearing it would be heard from downstairs.

"You're right," she sobered, following her brother to his bedroom door and lingering, less than eager to watch him go.

As he opened it he looked over his shoulder at her. "You better not be here when I get back," he warned. As he stepped out into the corridor he turned back one final time before leaving her alone. "Sarah."

"Yes?"

He grinned. "I'll see you later."

She stood in the doorway for what seemed an age after he had left to go downstairs. She felt conflicted. Here she was, in what had once been their shared home, and it no longer felt like the place she belonged.

"Jareth," she whispered, as she stared at Toby's closed door. "Please bring me back."

The familiar currents of air picked her up and she slipped from one place to another. The William's neatly furnished home disappeared and she was back amongst the familiarly crooked backdrop of the Labyrinth.

Jareth stood before her, his face a complex tapestry of emotion as he looked at her. His hands were balled by his side, his whole body rigid, and when he opened his mouth no sound came out. For him everything was just below the surface, like an elastic band strained to snap, but ever held in check. His second attempt to speak was far more successful. "Welcome back," he rasped, his eyes overly bright.

She stepped up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning into him, feeling the tight planes of his body relax beneath her. She curled her fingers through his hair and whispered into his ear. "I'm home."

"Wise man, where is your bird?" Sarah asked the elderly fae gentleman who had just entered the dining hall. His parrot was not on his shoulder today.

He gave her a distasteful look. "We're no longer forcibly joined you know. I think he's rather enjoying his freedom; I know I am." He dusted his shoulder as if to prove his point, then his eyes softened. "He turned back, you know."

Sarah glanced up in surprise. "He wasn't always a bird?"

"No," said the old man wistfully, "he wasn't. He was very young when he was put into my keeping, before he... changed, just a little boy."

"A human boy?" she asked. "How old?"

The old man snorted, as if woken from his reverie. "Haven't I told you hundreds of times now that my name is Kael?" he frowned.

She shrugged. It wasn't easy to adjust to all of the changes occurring within the Labyrinth, this was certainly one which required fortitude. Quite a few of Jareth's staff had followed him into exile, all of them twisted as the Labyrinth had darkened and slipped into despair along with its master. Now that things were improving she watched every day as the landscape brightened, things grew, creatures regained their original form.

That was not to say that everything in the Labyrinth had great changes to make. There were many races and beings amongst the Labyrinth's inhabitants who remained much as they were. There were also many who still awaited the transition into their true selves. Kael, whom she had known once as 'wise man', had been one of the first to noticeably return to a form similar to Jareth's own.

Jareth had told her that the fae did not have friends per se, but if they had then Kael was as close to one as he had ever had. She knew the feeling must be mutual since the old man had followed him into exile.

"If you're looking for him he's out by the gateway again," she told Kael.

The old man sighed uneasily. "Actually I was looking for you. Does he go out there every day now?"

"Every day," Sarah nodded sadly.

"I think he might be waiting in vain," said the old man quietly.

Sarah glanced up at him in surprise. "Some wise man you are then," she said, shaking her head. "They will come, I know they will."

The old man gave her a bemused smile. "As you say then," he agreed. "I wouldn't dare argue with a girl who can change destiny."
"More like nudge it back on course," shrugged Sarah, winking at the old man.

There was the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly from the doorway, interrupting them both.

"I'll just show myself in then, shall I?" came a disgruntled voice, followed by a grumpy little man.

"Hoggle!" cried Sarah.

"Ah," lamented Kael, "that's right; I came in to tell you that there was a guest here to see you."

"Don't bother, I've seen to it myself now," huffed her short friend.

Kael shrugged elegantly. "Then I'll leave you both alone to talk," he said, slipping out of the room.

Hoggle glared after him. "I like his bird a lot more than I like him," he muttered under his breath.

"Hoggle!" Sarah laughed reproachfully. "What's wrong? You're even surlier than usual today."

The dwarf kicked his foot moodily. "My legs have got me in a grump is all," he admitted. "They haven't been the same since I was all stony, get all stiff sometimes."

Sarah sighed. "That's why I keep telling you to go and visit the fountain, the waters there do wonders. I bet it would fix them right up."

"No doubt," he sniffed, wiping his brow. "But I'm not quite ready to go back there just yet, gives me the willies to be so close to that place again."

Sarah bit her lip. Perhaps she was being unsympathetic; of course that place would hold bad memories for him.

"Okay, okay," she agreed. "I can see how it would be an unpleasant reminder of your rocky past." He shot her a rude look at her joke in poor taste. "Why don't you let me go and bring some back for you?" she asked.

"You just stay here and rest," he grumbled. "Not good for ya to be running all over the Labyrinth every day."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Fine then, but you have to promise to go soon."

Her friend kicked his foot again and gave her an uneasy look. "Maybe, I don't know. I'm going to be real busy ya see."

"Busy?" Sarah paused. "What are you doing that's more important than your own health?"

"Well me and Ludo-"

"Ludo!" cried Sarah. "Is he here too, where is he?"

Hoggle gave her a guilty look. "He's out in the courtyard… with Toby."

"Toby… Toby is here too?" she frowned. "Why didn't you all come up to say hello then?"

"I'm getting to that," he said sullenly. "I told them all to stay there, because what I had to say would sound better if it was coming from just me."

Sarah felt instant alarm bells go off in her head. Something has happened.

"What is it?" she asked, grabbing his arm. "Is everyone okay, is Toby hurt? What's wrong?"

He shook her off gently. "Calm down Sarah," he said. "It's nothing like that."

She took a deep breath to calm herself, thank goodness. Toby had been tearing though the Labyrinth on his long and frequent visits. She often worried that he'd run afoul of some trouble bigger than himself when she wasn't there to watch over him, so she'd set her friends to the task. They all got along like a house on fire but, much to her mortification, found far more trouble as a group then he ever had on his own.

"It's about Sir Didymus," said Hoggle quietly.

Sarah felt her heart skip a beat. "You found him?" she asked weakly.

He shook his head. "That's exactly it, Sarah, we haven't found him. So many things are fixing themselves back to rights in the Labyrinth but be haven't heard a peep from the silly sod. We decided… we're going on an adventure of our own. No doubt he's still caught up with that nasty fuath, probably off somewhere bowing and calling her 'lady' without a trouble in the world. It's time we tracked him down and brought him back."

Sarah looked at her little friend who was trying very hard not to make eye contact.

"You're taking Toby with you," she accused.

"It was his idea Sarah," he told her, his eyes begging her understanding. "If we don't take him with us then he's likely to go off on his own."

It was a hundred Labyrinth years too early for her little brother to be running off on any adventures. She'd box his ears for not telling her first and use the whole journey to teach him about the dangers of the Labyrinth.

"Fine," she said, standing and brushing off her skirt. "Let me change into pants and some better shoes first then. I'll have to let Jareth know too."

Hoggle gave her a stubborn look. "No," he said.

Sarah stopped, still half stooped over her chair. "No?" She blinked. "What do you mean no?"

"No, you're not coming with us."

"What?" she cried. "Of course I'm coming with you! Sir Didymus is my friend, and you're taking my little brother along. Of course I'm coming."

"No, Sarah," he argued. "You're not."

She banged her hand against her knee angrily. "What's wrong with you?" she yelled. "Of course I'm coming, you might need me."

"We need you here, Sarah."

"What are you talking about? I'm not doing anything here. How can I be useful from here? I'd be much more useful out there helping you than I am here."

"No," he disagreed. "Don't you understand what you actually are, Sarah?" He gave her a reproachful look. "You're the heart of the Labyrinth, Sarah, Jareth's heart. Your place is here with him. What will you do if you leave and everything crumbles, if all the good your presence has done reverses?"

"He's not that weak," she argued.

"Maybe not," shrugged Hoggle, "but that's not the only reason. There's no way the Goblin King would ever allow it."

Sarah felt her fury rising. "He doesn't rule me," she spat. "He doesn't get to decide what I can and can't do. He can't stop me, he knows better than to try."

"He can and he will, Sarah. He's not going to let you endanger yourself in your condition."

Sarah stopped, she felt herself go cold. "What are you talking about?"

Hoggle sighed heavily. "He's not going to let you risk his child, Sarah."

She closed her eyes. A sinking feeling washed over her; denial raged within her. "What child?"

"Sarah," he frowned. "How long can you keep pretending for? The nausea, the seesawing emotions, it's even started to show now." He pointed to her stomach. "Only someone who had no idea of what it all means could…" He stopped dead, eyes widening with realisation, "no."

She gave him a pleading look; she wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

"You haven't told him yet, have you?"

She didn't respond, just continued to look at her friend, hoping it would all go away somehow.

"Sarah," he gasped. "You're pregnant with his child, you have to tell him! How can you be keeping this a secret from him?"

"It's complicated," she croaked.

"Looks pretty simple to me."

"It's not," she snarled. "Do you think I like keeping secrets from him, considering how he might react if he realised that I was? Do you think I like this?" She wrung her hands, helplessly. "I just don't know what to do Hoggle. I don't know how to tell him."

Her friend sighed, pushing her back down into her chair. "There, there. Don't get yourself all worked up now," he mumbled, patting her head. "Tell me what's worrying you, we can work this out."

Furiously she wiped away the tears which were gathering in the corner of her eyes, choking as she drew an uneasy breath.

"There's so much history here," she started. "First there are his people, disgusted at the thought of mixing blood with humans, and I'm carrying just such a child. Then these centuries of seeing humans abusing and wishing away children. How could his heart not harden to the idea of parental a relationship? Will this be a burden to him? Is it something which will frighten him when he's finally started to comprehend what it is to love?"

Hoggle rubbed her back, nodding understandingly and making sympathetic noises.

"Then there is love itself," she whispered. "What of that? He loves me, of that I am certain, but loving a child is something entirely different. Is he capable? He has said that the fae do not love their children, can he love this child? I can't do this without him, not on my own."

Hoggle took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Sarah, no matter what comes of this you will never be on your own. You are loved here by more than just the master of the Labyrinth; you are the heart of the Labyrinth, its brightest star. We would never abandon you."

Sarah gave her friend a wet smile. "It's just that I wasn't prepared for this, I hadn't even considered it. I had thought my life we be something ordinary. I wanted children one day, I did, but first I thought there would be a normal progression, love, engagement, marriage."

"Even in the mortal realm things are not always so," chided Hoggle. "Does it worry you, not having a formal union with him?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I don't even know if such a thing exists for the fae. I can't ask him without it seeming like I'm pressing for something he might not be ready for and… what shape would the union take? In the mortal realm it's a promise and… a ring, but I could never expect him to make the same bond with me which scarred him so badly in the past. I don't think he's ready to be that vulnerable with me or to place that much trust in me."

"Sarah," Hoggle murmured. "He loves you, and you were right, he's stronger than I gave him credit for. Stronger then you're giving him credit for now. These things, you need to work them out together, as partners. You can't shoulder this responsibility alone."

Sarah wiped her eyes again, angry that she couldn't seem to stop the tears. "I do have to tell him, I know I do, but it's such a difficult time. He's had more important things on his mind. Now that his link with Serra is officially broken the gateway has opened again; he waits every day to see if they will come. He doesn't say it, but I know he is waiting for them, to see if his family will make that journey."

Hoggle shook her gently. "That is not more important, nothing is more important than this, Sarah. He has a right to know, he would want to know. It's wrong to keep it a secret and it's not good for you either. This is joyful news; you should be sharing it proudly. How would your child feel if it thought you were too ashamed and frightened to accept it?"

"That's not true!" she cried. "This child is everything, our child, it's precious."

"Then you must share it with him, Sarah," he said gently. "You can no longer keep this a secret."

She hung her head. He was right; she couldn't hide this from Jareth any longer. No matter what changes were occurring within the Labyrinth, this was the most important of them all.

"You're right," she nodded. "I know you're right. I will tell him."

"Today."

A bolt of anxiety shot through her. "Today?"

"Yes, Sarah, do not wait another day to do it. Your resolve will weaken if you do. You must tell him today, before Ludo, Toby and I leave on our journey."

She stared at her friend helplessly. "You're still going?"

"Would you have me stay? Knowing that Sir Didymus is out there somewhere and might be in need of help?"

She shook her head violently. "No," she replied, tiredly. "Of course not; but what if something happens to you all? I feel so useless staying behind here."

"This is your place now, Sarah. There are things here that only you can do." He placed a gentle hand on her stomach, his eyes soft. "Besides, you forget, I still have an ace up my sleeve. Should we encounter any danger greater than the sum of us, I too know the name of the one who rules the Labyrinth." There was a mischievous twinkle in her friend's eye. "Although I'll expect you to entreat his forgiveness on my behalf should I ever need to use it."

Sarah laughed, sobering with the thought that this was indeed the best sort of protection her friend could take with him. Should he encounter trouble he held influence over the most powerful being in the realm with nothing more than a name, although she knew he'd hesitate to use it.

"Then you need only one more thing friend," she said, realising that there was, indeed, at least one more thing she could do for him. Carefully she slipped her mother's ring from her finger, offering it to him.

He sucked in a breath. "Sarah, this is your link to the Labyrinth. I cannot take this."

Ignoring his protests she slipped it over his finger, where it stuck snugly, only halfway down his gnarled digit.

"Sometimes I can still feel a flicker of Sir Didymus through the connection," she told him. "Toby has his own ring, but he does not know Sir Didymus to recognise him through the bond like you and I can. This is something that I can do to help you find him. Remember, he is my friend too." She smiled. "Besides, this is a symbol of my resolve, and an act of faith. Faith that Jareth will give me another ring to replace this one someday." She licked her lips nervously, touching the empty place were the ring had been. "It's proof that I will tell him today, so that you can leave without any doubts."

Hoggle gazed at the ring on his finger, wiping his own eyes which were no longer dry. "Fine then," he muttered. "Just you see, we'll find him and bring him back safe."

"I know you will," said Sarah, leaning down to hug her little friend.

"Right," he said brusquely, brushing off the hug. He pretended to be irritated by her affection but actually looked very pleased. "We best get moving then, they'll be getting worried down below."

She nodded. "Then I'll see you out."

Waving them off was hard, knowing that three of the people she loved best were off to find another who was close to her heart, and all without her help. It was not the hardest thing she had to face today, though, and she fortified her nerves as she walked through the gardens to find Jareth. If Hoggle could find his bravery, then so too could she.

As usual in recent days Jareth lingered near the gateway. Inactive for so long now, the entrance to the Labyrinth realm was little more than a stone arch fringed with roses. One could walk forwards and backwards through it with little effect, but then, this side was not open to travel.

She walked up behind her lover and wrapped her hands securely around his waist. His hands came down to cover her own.

"They will come," she whispered to him.

"Who will?" he asked diffidently, pretending he had no idea to whom she was referring.

She grinned at his incorrigible nature. "Your family, they will come."

"I'm sure I hadn't given it a single thought," he shrugged.

He was tricky, as always, in his untruths. She shook her head in exasperation. "No, because you've given it many, no doubt; you can't fool me with clever word games. Your continued presence out here is very telling."

He sighed, glancing back at her over his shoulder. "What a wicked girl you are to always know my mind," he said, as if greatly vexed by the thought. "I'll have to lock you up in an oubliette."

She paused, nervous. "That's not true, I don't always know it," she admitted.

"I beg to differ, precious." He laughed, but seeing her serious face stopped and broke her hold, turning to face her properly. "What is it?" he asked, cupping her face in his hands, his eyes full of concern.

She smiled thinly, trying to find the words to tell him of the secret she had long kept to herself. Just as she thought she had the words captured, her confidence faltered, and she lost them. "How long do you think it will be before they come?" she croaked instead.

He frowned, and then, glancing at the gateway, smiled grimly. "I don't know that they will come at all. The fae are not like mortals, they have no love for their children."

His words were a knife in her resolve, and she had to take several steady breaths to remain on her feet. "They will," she rasped, "I know they will. Even if it is not fondness that will bring them, there are other emotions which will drive them to it."

He cocked an eyebrow at her, pulling her head to nestle against his breast. "Such as?"

"Curiosity."

"Ah," he said, his voice rumbling against her ear. "Quite so, forever is a long time to not satisfy such an interest, especially when it has been barred to them for so long."

She listened to the steady beat of his heart, trying to find her courage. "I've just been talking to Hoggle," she said, rubbing her hand across her empty ring finger.

"Oh?"

His voice made her glance up to see a rather impish smile curving his mouth, causing her to smile in turn.

"You like him don't you?" she asked. He continued to grin, saying nothing.

"I think you've become fond of him over the past few months," she accused, with a roguish grin.

He sniffed, trying to look indifferent. "You get used to people."

She grinned, biting her lip. "But what nobody knew was that the Goblin King had become fond of the dwarf, and given him certain privileges."

"Psssh," he snorted. "Rubbish, I haven't given him anything."

"Who'd have thought," she teased. "Even you couldn't have predicted that."

He traced the line of her earlobe and playfully tugged on it. "I saw a great many things you don't know about," he said, unconsciously brushing a hand over his dilated pupil.

"Right," she drawled. "So you knew one day we'd be standing here in the garden together like this, waiting for the in-laws to arrive?"

He smirked. "Can you prove otherwise?"

She snorted. "Oh great and powerful one; so you knew that one day we'd end up together after everything?"

He simply gave her a mysterious smile.

"Really?" she groaned, a disbelieving pout pursing her lips. She pretended she found his claims perplexing, but instead, sensed in them an opportunity. She paused, drawing courage. "Then I suppose you know exactly what I'm about to say about my first born child then?" she asked.

The words fell like stones.

The humour between them vanished. She felt his body stiffen, his face slashed by a look of agony so raw and volatile, that in his desolation he didn't even bother to hide it behind his usual mask of indifference.

She cursed her idiotic mouth. Of course he didn't know, he couldn't see her future, and not because he had no power over her, but because it was so tightly wound with his own that it was hidden from him. She had made light of it, but in so doing she had said the only remaining words which could still terrify him with their foreshadowing.

Regretful, she raised a hand as if she could smooth the misery from his face. Taking his hand and placing it lightly on the slight swell of her belly. "Then I will tell you," she said quietly. "I misspoke just now; it is not my first born, but ours." She smiled at him softly, hoping he would understand. She was as terrified as he that this news would not bring him the elation she had felt upon realising it. "We're going to have to learn to share."

His understanding did not come quickly, so lost in the darkness was he for a moment, but she watched as it finally blossomed into life. When it did there was such joy in his face that it almost pierced her heart with its radiance. As his hand caressed the small life between them, a look of wonder passed between them as his eyes filled with tears. She knew then that the last of the shadows hanging over the Labyrinth had been banished, and that forever after, the Labyrinth would be a placed filled with light.

Well, it's finally over people, I hope you found the ending satisfying. I know there are still a few open aspects to this story, but I think that it's a good way to end of a story when there's still some room to grow.

Missing me already? Well then why not go check out the prequel/extra chapter/afterward I've posted (I really do spoil you all). It's called Straw Into Gold if you want to have a look. I'll be posting the first chapter of my new Laby fic in the next couple of days. I hoped to get it up here with everything else but those extras really ate up my time so it's still got some fine tuning before it'll be up to scratch. In case you're looking for it down the track it'll be called The Bittersweet Taste of Revenge, and will be a fic which is both similar and different to this one. Still dark, lots of misunderstandings and, of course, Jareth x Sarah.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support on this project, especially for taking the time to review and let me know what you were thinking/feeling as you read. New comers and old hats alike, thanks for the follows and faves, corrections, suggestions and over inflated praise. XD

Huge kisses to my beta nothingnothingtralala, she's been too swamped to get through these as fast as I've been spinning them out, but is still very patient with me. She is currently working hard on the last three sets of edits, despite her other numerous priorities, including her own fic - Goblin Spies and Unexpected Visitors - check it out if you haven't already, she's so talented! Anyway, I seriously think my writing would not be what it is without her, she's been a huge support and we all have a lot to thank her for, I've no doubt when she gets these back to me they'll be 100% better than they already are.

Phew... okay, that's it... it's not like I'm winning an oscar here.

Kaytori: Have a little faith, I'd never leave that adorable little tyke out in the cold! ;D

Jareth had no choice in reversing the wish, but he did have a choice in reordering time. The only reason he actually reordered time was because the outcome of her wish would be that she would be dead, due to the time different between realms. The only way he could stop that from happening was to reorder time after being forced to reverse the wish so that she wouldn't die. She knew this and manipulated hm, playing on the fact that he wouldn't let her die since he thought she was destined to be his partner.

Yuppers, totally right about the realm being open now, glad you got that!

Smiles 1998: After reading your review I was really fat, but very satisfied.

artseblis: You won't have long to wait, the new one will be up shortly!

Getsunohimesama: I blame the purple beans for Toby's genius, those beans have a lot of explaining to do. While I was writing that chapter I was like, 'this is way to clever for an eight year old!' but he was all I had to work with so he just had to be clever and adorable at the same time. I'm glad you liked the fluff, I find it tough to write sometimes but I like it so much!

J Luc Pitard: Happy ending acquired. Some friend resolution, not all though :) It's nice to think about them heading off a new adventure though, isn't it?

msjuliett: I hope that it was!

arynwy: What can I say, I got paranoid about that ring coming back to bite me in the ass - so I found a use for it!

qiana: Finally together! Well until my new fic where I have to start from square one again, this pair are truly incorrigible.

Honoria Granger: Fluff and lemonade coming right up, actually there wasn't a huge amount of fluff... hope it was still satisfying.

Jetredgirl: Glad you liked it, I'm exhausted from all the twisting, time to lie down.

Wudelfin: *hands you a tissue*

UltimatePhangirlZoe: Woot I'll accept my hearts then, the formatting on fan fic net can be very odd sometimes.

Shiroikami Oh yeah, they're a wily troupe indeed. Not that I'm saying they did steal those horses but... (they totally did)

Deer-Shifter: Prequel get. It was tempting to move from one of the extras all the way up to the inevitable meeting with Sarah (and maybe beyond) but I fear if I do I'll never let this story go, and I'm sort of desperate to get my new one rolling out, so it's shorter than it might have been had I say... won the lotto on Saturday and taken up full time fanfiction.

Morefindiel: More tears, more writing - I hear and obey.

Luna: Sorry! I missed your guest review last time because it was still awaiting my approval. Gah, Stephen King, noes! I just watched Pet Sematary for the first time a few days ago, talk about buzz kill. Hope you took some happy home with this one and it avoided all Kinginess (unless it's Goblin Kinginess of course).

SarahRose29: Thanks!

Willownightwolf: Sheesh and you were trying to get off before the ride was finished, you may now exit the queue.

Aleta Wolff: Hope this ending was a happy one for you. Thank you my Portuguese friend, for all your lovely reviews.

JennaSoprano: Hahaha I'm glad people forgave me the cliffhanger, I'm not sure I would have in your shoes.

LingeringSentiments: Every ending is a new beginning. Aw I'm glad you liked my last lines on the previous chapter, I did sort of preen over them a bit myself.

obsessive360: I'm way to nice to break those darling siblings up, just love messing with you all ;D

Bee-Cee-Kay: Dude, you just made the cut off as I was posting this! Thanks, glad you enjoyed the originality, I'm trying to keep it fresh. We all love our tropes, but we also love a nice break from them too, am I right?

And my guests who requested more angst and more in general - the new one will be a major angst fest, promise. (Psst, there's Jareth POV) Okay, I'll stop plugging it now.