A/N: There is mention of the Christian religion in this story, but solely for the purpose of it being a common subject during the Christmas holiday season. But, there is also a bigger section on a Greek myth, so if you know the myth, you can skip over Sarah’s telling of it (I’m trying to show she is a storyteller, which is important for later). I am not an artist nor am I an art major, so if I use incorrect terms or titles for pieces (because I did my research on the internet and who knows how accurate it is these days), please let me know so that I might make corrections. Again, all praise and glory goes to Storm Child for totally inspiring me to say the right things and DJ & Angie for their indispensable betaing skills.

Ch. 16: Too Much, Too Soon

(Rated R for sexual content and language towards the end: of course my R might be your PG13)

Six o’clock came too soon, but Sarah forced herself to get out of bed. Toby would kill her if they didn’t make it to church on time; being Joseph was so important to him. She walked into the boy’s room and flipped on the light, receiving a reluctant groan from her brother, but Brendon remained asleep on his stomach. Sarah smiled and apologized to Toby as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

She sat on the bed beside her son and gently shook him awake, singing, “Wake up, wake up! The prince has been borne.”

Brendon turned over and squinted his eyes from the light, “Prince? But baby Jesus was a king.”

“I know, but Bambi was a prince.” Sarah said, pulling back his covers all the way to his feet, “Now, come on. You can eat your breakfast while Toby takes his shower.”

Sarah was surprised to find her mother in the kitchen making breakfast. Linda saw them come in and looked started, as though she thought she had been caught doing something wrong, “Good morning. I hope it’s alright that I’m doing this. I figured with you getting the boys ready, and your father never really cooking well, I’d give it a try.”

“Yeah, it’s okay. Thank you.” Sarah smiled at her, really meaning it.

Linda’s eyes registered some astonishment at the genuine gratefulness directed at her and she nodded, “Is there anything specific you’d like me to make other than pancakes and eggs?”

“That is something you’ll have to ask Brendon.” Sarah said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

“Can you make waffles?” Brendon asked his grandmother excitedly.

Sarah scuffed her son’s hair, “Silly, we don’t have a waffle iron. Stick with pancakes.” Then she added, to tease Linda, “I’m sure she won’t burn them too badly.”

Linda placed a hand to her hip, saying with a convincing Australian accent, “Them aborigines taught me a thing or two about cookin’. I can even fry eggs on a rock. These flap jacks ‘el be ready in no time, mate.”

Brendon laughed and moved to help his grandmother fix everything. Since there was just the five of them this morning, and they wouldn’t all be eating at the same time, Sarah set clean plates onto the kitchen table, then moved to poor herself a cup of coffee, grateful that her mother had started it. She had never cared to notice what Linda did that was motherly, assuming that ‘the star’ wouldn’t know how to lift a finger for herself, let alone others. For Linda to willingly have started breakfast on her own, and from the looks of it, be able to cook well, exceeded Sarah’s expectations. One thing Sarah had to admit, it was nice to have another able hand around the house.

Her father rushed in, fixing his tie, “I almost forgot the church is taking family portraits today. Did you want to match colors again this year, Sarah?”

Sarah’s eyes went wide. She had nothing to wear. “I forgot about it. I didn’t buy the boys new outfits. With the play and everything, there was just no time.”

“Is it typical for pictures to be taken at this church?” Linda asked, a little apprehensive, “Because if there are going to be lots of camera’s, my agent…”

“No, no.” Sarah started, “They just take the photos so they can keep track of everyone who attends. Next to Easter, this is the day most people attend. I wouldn’t be too worried about publicity.”

At seven thirty, everyone was fed, all freshened and dressed in their Sunday best, although at the moment heavy scarves and coats hid it, and rushing out the front door. Toby was the one everyone waited on because he wanted to make sure his costume fit just right over his church clothes. Sarah had rushed him, telling him he could fix anything that needed fixing at the church, and he was the last out the front door before she shut it. Just as Sarah was locking the door, she heard the phone ring; no one would call that early in the morning unless it was important. She ran into the living room where the nearest phone was. She smiled broadly when she recognized the voice on the other end.

“Jareth, what are you doing up this early? Church isn’t until nine.”

“I wanted to hear your voice. I’m glad I caught you before you left.”

Sarah sighed knowing she had no time to chitchat, but wanting to talk, “We were just leaving now. You almost missed me.”

“I’m glad I didn’t.”

Sarah blushed, “Me too.”

“Sarah,” Her mother walked into the house, finding her in the living room, “Come on, your dad’s about to drive off without you.”

“Jareth, I have to go. Did you need something?”

“No,” She could hear the disappointment in his voice. “I shall see you soon, then.”

Sarah nodded to the receiver, thinking, ‘I love you.’ She wanted to say it, but didn’t. “See you at church. Bye.”

*

Jareth handed the phone back to Irene, still unaware of how to operate it.

“Thank you.” He mumbled, frowning as he stirred a spoon in the coffee Roy had set before him.

Irene hung the phone back on the wall, then sat down at the breakfast table between her husband and the Goblin King.

“Why did you want to talk to her? You’ll see her in an hour.” Roy asked, then spooned some cereal into his mouth.

“I want her to know I’m thinking of her.” Jareth shrugged. A man should never wake up in bed alone, and the way she had kissed him last night had stirred a need… “She is, after all, my wife. I want to be with her.”

“Well, don’t be too pushy about it. Too much too soon could ruin the whole thing.” Irene said. “And don’t try to do anything in church. One does not show affection in a church.”

*

Sarah smiled as she watched her brother perform on stage. He was so proud that he was in charge of leading the live donkey around the stage, and he was cautious of the girl playing Mary not losing her balance and gently pulled her down to the ground when they reached the inn. Sarah kept her eye on her son, too, who stayed in the background, a Shepard guarding the real sheep. Brendon only had one line compared to Toby’s many, but he said it strongly. “Look, a star!!” As any parent, Sarah was so proud that she wanted to stand up and praise him then and there.

Sometimes, though, she was distracted by the hand that held hers. Before the service started, Jareth had been so happy when Irene had spotted Sarah in the crowd and he immediately made his way to her. Sarah noticed he didn’t seem as apprehensive in this smaller Presbyterian assembly, as he had been in the large Cathedral the previous night. He was polite to her mother and father, asking how their morning was and other small talk, which was cut short by the starting of the service.

When Jareth settled next to Sarah, he placed an arm around her shoulders, and after a few minutes, inched his other over and took her left hand in his. Sarah liked being held by him and relaxed into him, but when his thumb started to rub over her ring, it bothered her. She glanced at him when he first did it, during the scene when Joseph led Mary out of Nazareth and headed to Bethlehem, but Jareth’s eyes were intently watching the presentation, unaware of what his hand was even doing.

The third time she felt her ring moving, she glanced at it and saw that it was nearly to her knuckle up her finger. Sarah gasped, causing Jareth to jerk beside her in surprise.

“Shush.” Her aunt hissed beside her, leaning her head towards Sarah but still keeping her eyes on the pageant.

“What’s wrong?” Jareth whispered, ignoring Irene.

“Nothing.” Sarah breathed, putting her other hand over the ring. After his focus went back to the pageant, Sarah moved Jareth’s thumb out of the way and placed her fingers over the ring, trying to pull it all the way off; but it wouldn’t move. She wiggled it, twisted it, but all she succeeded in doing was putting it back to where it had been before Jareth had moved it. Then it dawned on her; only he could take it off.

The sanctuary started filling with the sounds of clapping and cheering, and Sarah realized the pageant was over. She had missed the last of it, lost in her thoughts. She smiled as though she had been paying attention the whole time and stood with the rest of her family to applaud her son and brother. After the actors moved off stage, the pastor moved to the podium to give his short Sunday morning message.

After the service was finished, Toby and Brendon rushed to find their family, awaiting the praises for the performance.

“So what did you think?” Toby asked, standing on his knees in the pew in front of his sister.

“You did very well.” Linda chimed in.

Sarah smiled at her for giving her brother praise. Sarah had to admit, even though Toby wasn’t Linda’s real son, after his own mother’s death, Linda had been there whenever he needed her. Sarah turned her eyes back to her proud brother. “And Tracey stayed on the donkey the whole time, thanks to you.”

Brendon crawled onto the pew next to his uncle, “My sheep peed on stage.”

Everyone laughed.

“Come on, we’d better hurry up and get you out of those costumes for the picture.” Irene said, coming up behind Toby and patting him on his tush.

Sarah looked wearily over at the line already formed for the photographer, saying under her breath. “I don’t think there will be any rush.”

“What’s going on?” Jareth asked her once the boys were led away.

“Oh, some stupid tradition. Pictures for the church directory.”

“It’s not stupid.” Her father leaned forward from his seat so he could see them, “I have done it every year since I was seventeen. It’s good to belong to something.”

But apparently at this church, belonging had to be according to their rules. The person in charge of organizing the photos would not allow the Carlson and Williams families to take their picture together, saying that for an accurate church directory they had to be separate according to their relative household unit. Sarah went on to argue that if that were the case, she and her son should have theirs done separate from her brother and father, even though they had the same last name and address. “It’s your waste of film.” Needless to say, Sarah got her way.

Linda was reluctant to join the photo, not wanting it to be used in any way other than for the directory since she was bound by multiple contracts that she legally couldn’t break. But she sat in a chair next to Irene, and Sarah, her father, and Roy stood behind them while the boys, now out of costume, stood on each side of the chairs in front of the taller adults. When Jareth stood off to the side, Sarah coaxed him to stand by her; he shook his head and averted her eyes, whispering that he was not family. She would have none of it and grabbed his hand, pulling him into place beside her and holding his hand to keep him there. Thirty seconds later, they were all blinded by three flashes of lights, one from the main camera, and two from a Polaroid camera so they could keep a copy of themselves for each family.

*

Over the years of attending church, Sarah’s family had developed a ritual of going to a buffet for lunch, and today was no exception. Roy and Joey were the happiest for the tradition; all you can eat at one base price. Even the Goblin King had to admit that the food displayed on the many rows before him looked most appealing compared to the home cooked meals he had partook in the past few days. He was especially relieved to see a large variety of non-meat and non-starch products in a section with a large sign that read Salad Bar. Sarah, first and foremost a mother, helped Brendon fix his plate and sit down before she went up and fixed a plate of her own.

Sarah was getting some salad when her uncle came up beside her, “You still wanting me to get that gift for your mom tomorrow?”

Sarah kicked herself for forgetting to bring her purse. Of course she wanted the pendant, “Yeah, I do. But I’ll have to run the cash by your place later on tonight.”

“We have that party to go to. “ Roy said, taking a bite out of a carrot, then setting the rest of the vegetable on his plate, “Joey will be at a friends, but Jareth will be home, since we can’t bring him along. You can leave the cash with him.”

Robert, who was spooning dressing onto his own plate, overheard and chimed in, “He could spend the evening with us, if you’d rather him be with company.”

“Might not be a bad idea,” Roy said, winking at Sarah, “I don’t think Jareth would object getting away from us for a while.”

“Great. Linda was thinking of taking the boys to the art museum at the university, since they just brought in that exhibit on Asian carving in…” Robert shrugged, trying to remember what his ex-wife had studied, “something to do with that Zen class she had a few years ago--so if it wouldn’t bore him too much, he can come along.”

*

Jareth was anything but bored on the visit to the museum. When they had first arrived, the patrons and employees went berserk over having a movie star in their presence. Linda handled everything very professionally, signing a few autographs, then asking everyone to allow her family to experience the exhibits like normal people. Everyone backed off, but every once in a while someone would approach and she was kind. For the moment, Jareth sat next to Robert on one of the many benches scattered throughout the exhibits, and what he observed intrigued him. Granted, he had no interest in human cultural artifacts, but he had much to observe of his family.

Robert kept an eye on his son and grandson but barely glanced at the relics around them. Sarah appeared very comfortable around her mother as they discussed different motifs and styles of the art they viewed; Linda, on the other hand, walked on eggshells, afraid that her daughter’s suddenly tolerable disposition towards her might change any moment. Brendon, Jareth noticed, shied away from other people around him, as though he felt he would get in the way or not be noticed by them if he got too near, but his uncle tried to get him to be bolder. Toby led his best friend along, pulling him over to look at all the neat things, getting Brendon interested in whatever he discovered. Jareth admired Toby’s natural instincts to uplift and protect Brendon, such a rare quality of friendship for one so young.

“See anything interesting?”

Jareth turned his head up to Sarah, who had a teasing grin on her face, and answered, “I was just watching your brother. He treats Brendon like a true friend.”

Sarah’s smile faded somewhat, “They have both been through much and needed each other.” She reached out her hand for Jareth to take, and when he looked confusedly at her, she prompted, “I want to show you something.”

Sarah led him through the museum, through rooms displaying different eras and styles, until she stopped him in a room of more Modern Art. The print she stopped at made a lump rise in his throat and his mind curious to what Sarah was trying to pull on him. If she knew who he was, then she should say so and get it over with. But she didn’t say anything as she herself stared at the picture.

“Is this what you wanted to show me?” He finally voiced calmly.

Sarah nodded, yet kept her eyes on MC Escher’s print, ‘Relativity.’ “I always get dizzy looking at it, and yet, have a trust that I will always keep my feet on the ground. And if I did loose my sense of gravity, someone would be there to catch me if I fell.” Sarah felt Jareth’s palm become clammy and stiffen around her own. Her heart quickened; he recognized it, more than just the drawing. Sarah started to think that perhaps he hadn’t been given a mortal life or mortal memories at all, that he might actually know his real identity. She had thought that perhaps, since she had wished so many things against him, the magic had given Jareth a normal mortal life, with a background, family, and researchable history. Now she wasn’t so sure. Maybe her wishes had only prevented him from knowing anything to do with her. “What do you see?”

“A room of many paths but no escape. It’s all a trap to keep one within.” Jareth was curious as to how this was so similar to the room that surrounded the gate between their two worlds. He looked at the nameplate beneath the picture but was unfamiliar with the name of the artist. “I wonder what led this Escher to create such a puzzlement.”

Sarah smiled, finally looking at him, “This is hardly his most confusing piece. Unfortunately, this is the only replica of his work the museum has. You should see the copy they have of Salvador Dali’s ‘Persistence of Memory.’ Now there is a man who was a bit off his gourd.”

After looking at a few of the other pieces in the room, Sarah led him back the way they had come, finding her family now in a room full of replicas of ancient Greek and other statues. Her father was sitting by himself again while Linda led the boys around the room, reading the description of each display to them. Toby and Brendon stood in awe under the statue of Nike, ‘Winged Victory,’ saying how big it was and how funny it looked without a head. Next, Linda led them to the statue of Poseidon, or was it Zeus? She smiled and joked to the boys at how uncertain scholars were when it came to things from unwritten history.

Sarah wasn’t exactly happy that her mother had allowed the boys to come into a room depicting naked people and she was thankful that there was only one sexually suggestive statue: Cupid and Psyche. Cupid held his beloved as if he did not want to leave her, and Psyche reached out anxiously for his touch, unable to see her love. The statue was white, but in the story, the lovers only met in darkness. Seeing it made tears come to Sarah’s eyes as she thought of her own romance, so slashed and torn. In some stories, Cupid forgave Psyche for her betrayal after she tried so hard to show him she was sorry. Sarah looked to Jareth as he gazed on the statue, wondering if this life he now led was a means for him to ask forgiveness. He recognized the room Escher painted, she was sure of it, which meant that he had to know of his past in the Labyrinth, even if only subconsciously. Could she forgive him if he knew at all?

Jareth turned to Sarah with a query on his lips, but at seeing a tear stream down her cheek, her eyes focused on him, his question was forgotten. He brushed away the tear with his thumb, “Sarah, what’s wrong?”

Sarah turned her eyes back to the statue, not wanting to let her true thoughts slip, “Their love was tragic. It makes me wonder if I will have the same fate.”

Jareth gazed at the statue a second time but was confused and turned back to her, “They look very much in love. I am not familiar with their story. Will you tell me?”

Sarah nodded, but before he let her start, Jareth led her over to a bench so they could be comfortable. Once settled, Sarah took a deep breath to calm herself and remember the tale, “Cupid was the god assigned to monitor the coupling of humans, but he never expected to fall in love himself. When he saw Psyche, he knew he could love no other. So he sent a message to her family that she was to be taken to some odd mountain and left to her fate. She was his destined love against her will. A wind came and took Psyche to a great palace where she was waited on hand and foot by invisible servants. During the darkness of night, when she was all-alone, Cupid came to her, made love to her, and she became happy with him. She so longed to actually see him instead of just being able to feel him, but he told her she could not and had to accept it. And she did for a time. But not being able to see her own husband nor the servants that served her day after day, Psyche started to get lonely. After much prompting, Cupid allowed the wind to carry her to her family, who told her she had wed a monster. She at first did not believe it, but after a while, doubt poisoned her mind. She even confessed her doubts to Cupid, but he urged her to be faithful for just a while longer, and all would be revealed to her. But, as we say, ‘curiosity killed the cat.’ Psyche lit a candle as her lover slept beside her, readying herself to view a most hideous creature, but she found that he was quite the opposite. His beauty startled her so much that the wax from her lighted candle dripped, burning him and causing him to wake. Psyche had disobeyed him, and for her betrayal, he abandoned her.”

Jareth nodded in understanding, “And because Brendon’s father betrayed you, you feel as though you cannot accept his love…or any one else’s love ever again.”

Sarah teared up at hearing the acceptance in his voice of her rejection. She reached out her hand to his, “No. There is more to their story. Psyche knew that she had done wrong and did all she could to get him to come back. She resorted to going to his mother, Aphrodite, wondering if she might know a way of reaching her son. But Aphrodite abused her position and made Psyche her slave, giving her impossible tasks and telling her that if she did these things, Cupid would certainly love her again. But mother never told son that his wife sought him out. Only through others telling him of Psyche’s suffering did he come to her rescue and hear her story on why she had ever doubted him. He took her back and their love grew stronger.”

Jareth placed his other hand over hers, wondering if she was trying to tell him that she was aware of his knowledge of their past together and was willing to look beyond it, “I hope that I will never betray you.”

Sarah leaned her head up, “I know you do.”

She placed a soft kiss to his lips and held them there a moment, glad that he didn’t try to take advantage and make it go deeper. After a moment, she released him and rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes to force the tears away. Could she just forget it all and let Jareth live this life, never having to hear a word of his past deeds? Even as she felt his warmth, absent for so long, her mind was losing a struggling battle with her heart; the mind didn’t want to forgive.

Jareth wrapped his arms around Sarah as he contemplated the statue and the story behind it. Psyche was chosen against her will, yet she loved her captor. Sarah, like her, had no choice in being the bride. He knew that she was in love with him, but that could fade. Jareth only hoped Sarah was the same in heart as Cupid and willing to forgive. Real love remained even in times of dislike.

“Sarah?”

Sarah sat up when her father walked up to them. He was holding something in his hands and she realized it was the cell phone as he said, “Donna needs to talk to you.”

Eyes rising in confusion, Sarah left Jareth’s side and took the phone from her father. “Hello?”

“Hey, Sarah. Glad I found you. I did leave a message on your answering machine. But anyways, I just wanted to remind you about the party tomorrow night.”

Sarah silently cursed, having forgotten, “Of course, I’ll be there.”

“And you’d better not come alone. I mean it. I will kick you out if…”

Sarah laughed as she looked at Jareth, “I promise I won’t come alone.”

There was silence on the other end, but after a moment, Donna gasped, “Did you meet somebody?”

“Kinda. You saw him on Friday, the one my uncle brought in.”

Donna shrieked, causing Sarah to pull the phone slightly from her ear, “I’m so happy for you! So who made the first move? You or him?”

Sarah blushed. Donna was her closest friend, but with prying ears around to listen to her end of the conversation, she started to inch away from the room, “He did. But he was really careful. They had told him of my past, and he didn’t want to go too fast if I wasn’t ready.”

“Wow. If you ask me, you should keep him just for that. It’s not often you’ll find a man willing to think of you first. Even I have trouble in that area with Thomas.”

“And don’t I know it.” Sarah teased, reminding Donna of how she constantly laid all her troubles about her husband on Sarah’s shoulders, “But that’s what friends are for.”

“Speaking of friends, you have an angel in disguise. Someone dropped by a gift for you after you left on Friday. It’s at the office, so come by tomorrow and pick it up.”

“That is a surprise. And I take it you won’t tell me who it is from?”

“Nope. You’ll just have to come in and find out.”

“Okay,” Sarah sighed, “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

*

Finished with the museum, everyone was ready to go home and crash. Sarah offered to take Jareth home, but he wanted to stay a while. Besides, Roy and Irene said they wouldn’t be home until after 11pm, and it wasn’t even six yet. Pizza was the food of choice, on Linda of course, and the entertainment chosen by the boys was ‘Gremlins.’ Again, Sarah’s motherly instincts made her hesitant to allow her six year old son and eight year old brother to watch such a horror film, but it was the censored version on television. Sarah snuggled into Jareth’s arms as they watched TV and ate pizza. As usual, her father had disappeared somewhere, but her mother stayed attentive with them.

The gremlins fascinated Jareth in their destruction, worse than even his goblins. He had no idea such creatures existed on Earth and was curious as to how anyone had been able to train them enough to perform on queue and be filmed. Partway through the movie, he noticed a faint noise rhythmically rasping near his ear. Only when he tried to move and felt Sarah’s weight against his side did he look down on her sleeping form. He removed the plate of half eaten pizza from her hand, placing it on the table beside him, then tried not to wake her as he eased himself into a more comfortable position. He angled his back against the arm of the couch, then rotated Sarah so that she lay on his chest, her head just above his heart.

Only when he heard Linda whisper did he realize someone was watching, “I’ll take you home when the movie is over.”

“I’d rather stay the night.”

“To be with her.”

Jareth nodded his head, then looked at Brendon, “To be with my family.”

Sarah opened her eyes with a start, having heard the scream of the gremlin that was being fried in the microwave. She turned her head away, having always hated this scene of the movie since childhood. It was then that she saw the white fabric of the men’s shirt against her cheek and the rise and fall of the chest she was using as a pillow. She took him in a moment, his smell and feel as his warm arms held her; things she hadn’t had time to memorize before. He realized she was awake when she moved her arms out from under herself to wrap around his waist and moved with her as she nuzzled into him to get more comfortable.

When the movie was over, Sarah reluctantly left Jareth’s arms and went into mommy/big sister mode, “Alright you two, march upstairs and get ready for bed.”

“But we don’t have school tomorrow.” Toby pointed out.

Sarah placed her hands on her hips, “That doesn’t matter. I’ll not have you sleeping in until god-awful hours in the morning just because you wouldn’t go to bed at a decent time. Now go.”

When they were gone, Linda stood up from the couch, “I’ll put them to bed so you two can be alone.”

Sarah frowned, even though she was thankful for her mother’s offer, “I have to get him home anyway.”

“Alright.” Linda shrugged as she left the room.

“I could spend the evening here.” Jareth added hopefully as he came to stand closer to Sarah.

Sarah shook her head, “You have to be at that job tomorrow, and all your stuff is at Roy’s.” She glanced at the clock, to see how much longer they had until the Carlsons would be home. They were expected back at 11 o’clock, and it was only 9:30. Sarah’s eyes gleamed mischievously, “I can take you back, and we can finally have a few minutes to ourselves.”

Jareth couldn’t help but grin wickedly at her suggestion as he placed his arms around her waist. “That sounds promising. And perhaps we can start where we left off last night.”

It might have started off with heated kisses as the night before, but soon enough they had created an inferno neither wanted to be free of. Jareth had barely unlocked the front door of the apartment before Sarah was all over him. Between trying to touch him and feeling his kisses, Sarah tried to concentrate as much as she could with freeing Jareth of his shirt, all the while leading him upstairs to her relative’s bedroom. Part of her screamed that she shouldn’t go this far, not when she had doubts that Goblin King wouldn’t suddenly make himself known if this is what he had wanted all along, but the part of her that hoped Jareth would never change and her physical need won out. And there was a fear, a feeling of taboo in her conscious mind that what she was leading Jareth to do must be done in private, behind closed doors, away from other eyes. Not that the act itself was wrong--her mind couldn’t have been further from believing that; he was after all her husband--but simply the thought of being caught in someone else’s house was thrilling and frightening all at once. And either Jareth was in agreement of mind with her, or simply too engrossed with pleasuring her to notice where she had lead them.

Even when his calves bumped into the bed, Jareth did not protest. She was leading this expedition and he would follow her as far as she would take him, and if it be a journey straight to her heated core, so be it. Jareth groaned as Sarah moved her fingers to unfasten the button of his jeans and wriggled her fingers between the fabric and his skin, easing them down his thighs. He pulled back from her and removed the remainder of his clothing, eyes unwavering from her form. He didn’t give her any time to study him, being himself too full of desire to not remove her clothes and feel her nakedness against his own. Soon enough, they were on the bed, making their love to each other known.

“We’re home!”

Jareth grunted as he moved within Sarah, too far gone to stop now. Sarah writhed beneath him matching his every thrust, unaware they were no longer alone.

“Jareth?”

Sarah’s eyes shot open and she gasped, reaching out her hands to stop him. With a jagged breath, he whispered her name as a plea, his dilated eyes begging they finish what she started as he looked down on her. Sharing the same need for fulfillment, Sarah kissed him fiercely and reached a hand down to fondle him, hoping it might help him finish quickly. She didn’t care if she came. A moment later, he choked out her name as he emptied into her.

Roy opened the bedroom door on them and immediately shut it again. They could hear him say something and Irene respond back confusedly. Sarah’s body shook from being unfulfilled, but she forced herself to move, not wanting to be seen indecently by her family. Jareth didn’t seem as though he cared to have been discovered, and he only put on his pants after Sarah thrust them at him. The handle on the door shook, and Sarah raced to the bed, covering herself in the sheets.

Roy was unmistakably furious as he entered the room, shutting the door behind him quickly to keep Irene out. “What the hell is goin’ on here?”

Sarah was frozen with embarrassment, having nothing but her bra and panties on under the sheets, and her eyes went wide hearing Jareth’s reply, “We are doing nothing that isn’t natural for lovers to do.”

“Lovers? Sarah, you’ve only known him three days. I thought you were better than some slut…”

Sarah glared at him, clutching the sheet to her breast. “Like you weren’t any different. You might have been older than I am now, but I’ve heard stories of where Joey came from...”

“I love your aunt.” Roy barked.

“And I love your niece.” Jareth intervened, “And I will keep her honor.”

“Honor? You don’t know the meaning of the word.” Roy chided, “You were f*cking her right here in MY bed!”

“It wasn’t my original intent, but it was with her consent.”

Sarah froze when she heard Jareth’s words; he openly declared he loved her and wasn’t ashamed to speak of what they had done. But her uncle didn’t care and kept on his interrogation. While they kept bantering back and forth, Sarah was trying to dress herself and keep the tears from pouring down her cheeks.

Finally, she couldn’t take it any more, “Okay, you’re right! We are moving too fast. But I’m tired of wanting, I’m tired of waiting. I’ve been waiting for six years. All the world knows I’ve already been ruined with my terrible mistake…”

“No, Sarah.” Jareth couldn’t stand by and let her belittle herself, not when he was the reason others questioned her honor, “Brendon isn’t a mistake; don’t place such a curse upon his head. Your aunt told me she never believed he could have been created without love. No matter how much you were hurt, love is never a mistake.”

Roy heard Jareth’s words and calmed; he did love her. But Roy couldn’t fight the urge to protect Sarah, even though the Goblin King proved more and more to be a man worthy of her.

Roy cleared his throat, “You two composed enough to have Iri come in?”

Sarah sat on the bed and nodded. Irene stormed into the room once the door was open, “What’s the matter with you?” Then she saw why Roy had shut her out, “Sarah? Jareth? What’s going on?”

Sarah stood off the bed, “Nothing. I was just saying goodnight.” Sarah fumbled for something in her purse, then pushed a wad of cash into her uncle’s hand. She looked seriously into his eyes, “Don’t forget to get that for me. I still want it.” She fled before anything else could be said.

Once Sarah was gone, Irene started, “Did I miss something?”

Roy looked down at the cash in his hand and crushed it in his fist, “I open the door, and what do I find? Jareth banging Sarah.”

“Oh my god.” Irene gasped, turning her eyes to the Goblin King, “Then, does she know?”

Jareth shook his head, knowing she was asking if Sarah knew he truly WAS her husband, “Not yet.”

Roy pushed Jareth’s shoulder with the palm of his hand, “And not ever. You might have made her do the mistake of sleeping with you, but never again.”

Jareth warned guardedly, “I will take her as many times I like and as many ways she chooses.”

“Both of you, stop it.” Irene stepped between them, “I will not allow that type of talk under this roof. Both of you are right, and both of you are wrong.”

“How do you figure?” Roy challenged.

“Jareth didn’t tell you Sarah was his wife, by marriage?”

“What?!!”

“I don’t remember our joining, but I do have honor.” Jareth edged seriously to Roy, “You, sir, may not have made any vows in your lifetime, but I made a most important decision to never bed anyone save the woman I wed. Sarah wears my ring.”

Roy avoided Jareth’s eyes for a moment and sought refuge and understanding from his wife, but she nodded in agreement with what the Goblin King was saying.

“So, you see,” Jareth cocked his head, “As long as she’s willing, and she WAS willing, I have every right to bed her.”

“That is where you are wrong.”

Jareth snapped his eyes in confusion to Irene, “Why?”

“If she ‘bed’ you tonight, on her part it was adultery.” Irene sighed, “She doesn’t know she is still your wife or that you are still the Goblin King. To be with you now, not knowing the full truth, would be to her being with another man.”

“I see.” Jareth said, sinking down onto the bed. Sarah didn’t know him at all, did she? He didn’t know if she saw him with simply a physical attraction, since everything pointed to her believing her relationship with the Goblin King an abomination. No, he knew their relationship was more than merely corporeal. Her touches weren’t wanton, they were loving and tender; she cared about his needs, body and soul. But if he was the first man she’d been in a relationship of any kind since Brendon’s conception, she was moving too fast and probably didn’t realize it. He didn’t know if he could do it, but he would try to not let her passion guide their pace. As Irene had warned him that morning, too much, too soon could crumble any relationship. A foundation must first be built. He said softly to the air, “I will not have her thinking she is a whore.”

“Good. Now that we are all at an understanding, we have to get you to work early in the morning.” Irene said, picking up the remainder of Jareth’s clothing and tossing it to him, “If you don’t mind leaving, we’re going to bed.”

*

Sarah drove ignoring the speed limits, wanting to get home and wash herself. She couldn’t believe she had been so reckless with a man she hardly knew, no matter how genuine in his affections he was with her. She had barely known the touch of a man in her lifetime, and being stroked so lovingly was intoxicating, she couldn’t help but make love to him. Tears formed in her eyes as she knew she didn’t regret it, although she felt she should. She loved him.

Authors A-H