Disclaimer: Henson. For those of you who are also reading "Linda's 
Wish", there are a few things mentioned here that have not come up 
yet in that story...of course they will, but I haven't posted them 
yet and probably won't for a few days (Give it a week). It's not a 
huge spoiler or anything, but if you want to wait on this story until 
that one is finished, you have my permission. AN at end.


Chapter 7: Remembrance of a Meeting

Roy and Jareth walked on in silence a while longer, headed to a 
thrift store down the block from Norton's shop where Roy figured they 
could find cheap shoes for Jareth. The king had been walking around 
in his white boots for two days and no matter how well crafted they 
were, they definitely would not do, especially since it was after 
Labor day.

At Roy's huff, Jareth inquired what the man was thinking, and he 
answered, "I was just thinking about Sarah. She is the most generous 
person I've ever known; yet even her own mother resents her…and 
always has. Hey, it is your job to take unwanted kids, ain't it?"

"Only if they are wished too me, I cannot just steal them." Jareth 
was again annoyed at how his position was misunderstood.

"Well, what if Sarah's mom wished her away?"

Jareth shook his head, "If so I would not have returned her. I 
haven't had anyone earn back their child for nearly a century."

"Don't talk like that," Roy joked, "It makes me feel young."

*

Jareth wasn't exactly pleased with the footwear that Roy chose for 
him--brown leather loafers and a pair of black sneakers--but it was 
another step for him to fit in with this world.

They returned home to Irene and told her of Sarah's knowledge of the 
Goblin King and Roy's suspicion that Linda had wished Sarah away as a 
child.

"I know how we can find out for sure." Irene stated, "Ask Linda."
Roy sneered, "Like she'd even pay spit for the likes of us. She's 
probably not even in the country."

"Well it doesn't hurt to try--unless Jareth doesn't care to know."

"I'm intrigued as to how I am known by Sarah, so please, proceed."

At four, Joey returned from school and went straight to his video 
games--deliberately ignoring anything he was told. Jareth didn't 
like feeling guilty for this boy's hatred when for all he could tell, 
it was unjustified. But if Joey hated him so much without having met 
him before yesterday, that indicated his cousin's hatred for the 
Goblin King was even greater. If Jareth had met Sarah, what could he 
have possibly done to her to receive such loathing.

Suddenly, Irene gave a successful yelp from the couch. "Linda, hi. 
I've been trying to reach you for hours…Yes, Sarah and Brendon are 
fine. Now, I have a quirky question to ask you, but just give me a 
simple yes or no. Have you ever met the Goblin King….because I just 
know." Irene nodded and smiled broadly to Jareth, but kept her 
attention on what was being said to her on the other end, but then 
she frowned, "When she was three? Why did you make the wish 
anyway…." Irene rolled her eyes, which landed on Roy and she mouthed 
the word `career.' "And you didn't want her back but he gave her to 
you anyway…Did he now?"

"I did what?" Jareth asked, desiring to listen first hand to what she 
was being told, but Irene shushed him and listened to Linda a few 
moments more without speaking.

Irene then nodded with sad eyes to the air, "Uh…Right. I won't say 
anything to her...." For a second her eyes flared with fire, "Don't 
you threaten me with your lawyer. We've got enough on our 
hands...Okay, yeah, you can go."

After she hung up, Jareth stood over her intently, "Well."

She didn't look at him, but said shortly, "You know the answer."

"There was more, tell me."

Irene shook her head but at Jareth's threatening stance, she 
huffed, "You told her Sarah was the fulfillment of some prophecy--
that even the book said she belonged 'Underground'."

"A prophecy?" Roy looked to Jareth, who himself was confused.

"Yeah--something about an earthquake." Irene shrugged.

"By the fairies." Jareth whispered, "It can't be true."

"What?" Roy asked.

"I was told my queen would come when the Underground shook, but, it 
hasn't happened yet."

"Linda said it happened when she was there."

Jareth paced the room, trying to reach into his mind to find what was 
missing, how he could be missing so many years of his life. "I don't 
remember." His eyes fell on a picture of Sarah on the shelf above 
the television and he picked it up "Even if I can't, surely Sarah 
shouldn't remember if she was only three…" Judging by the picture he 
now held of her, she looked still like a teenager, not yet a 
woman, "that was what, fifteen years ago?"

Irene shook her head, "Twenty. The picture you are holding was taken 
four years ago."

Jareth hadn't looked at this picture before. In the ones of Sarah in 
the upstairs hallway she was younger and her eyes held happiness, 
dreams. In this picture, however, her dreams were gone and her eyes 
showed a sorrow that reached her soul. And she wasn't alone. A 
blonde toddler of two sat on her lap. His eyes weren't shining 
either. Jareth felt as though he had seen this boy, a different boy 
from who he understood to be her brother in the pictures upstairs.

"Who is this child?"

"Sarah's son, Brendon." Irene answered with a fondness, "Our little 
fighter."

"Son?" Jareth was astonished. From what he'd heard of this virtuous 
young woman it was the last thing he would have expected to hear of 
her. No one had mentioned the son before now; no doubt there was an 
unmentioned husband as well, "Where is the boy's father then? He's 
not in the picture."

Irene sounded disappointed as she nodded, "No one knows who his 
father was and Sarah's too full of hatred to speak of him. I think 
she hides that she loved him, who ever he was." To herself, Irene 
said, "She's too strong not to have done it without love."

Jareth brushed his fingers over both faces in his hands, "Bastard was 
a fool to have left them."

"That bastard, unless he was a teenager like her, would have been 
sent to prison if he'd have stayed around," Roy growled, "She was 
only sixteen."

"Is that too young for mortal girls to have relations?" Jareth 
asked, "Because I am quite sure children have been wished away by 
girls younger over the ages."

"That might be, but in this age it is completely wrong." Irene 
snapped. She seemed to be too angry to remain idol, so she began to 
stack the magazines that were strewn over the table, "Girls that age 
are still babies themselves, don't know what they want out of life 
yet. It ruins them--but Sarah didn't let it ruin her. She didn't 
drop out of high school, not even when Karen died. She kept going. 
Sarah's always been strong, and even more so for Breni." Finished 
cleaning, Irene flopped herself onto the couch again, "But it 
destroyed her in a way. She stopped dreaming, stopped wishing for a 
future."

Jareth placed the photograph back on the shelf, "Unfortunate."

"Yeah," Roy stated, "I can tell you, before Brendon was borne, she 
was going to be something--maybe even follow in her mother's 
footsteps and be an actress."

"Linda was an actress?" Something about that term tickled Jareth's 
mind, "I don't know if I've ever seen this woman. Do you have a 
photograph of her as well?"

"Photograph?" Roy got up and walked to a cabinet beside the 
television and pulled a small box from it, "We've got better than 
pictures of her. Joey, turn that thing off so I can show Jareth 
her `movie.'"

Joey didn't bother arguing and just left to his room--without turning 
off his game.

"That boy…" Roy shook his head as he put the tape in the VCR, "Well, 
let me fast forward. There is this one part where Linda acts just 
like her actual self."

"I don't know why my brother ever married her." Irene started to 
grumble under her breath.

Jareth watched the picture move forward until it finally got to the 
point Roy mentioned. The woman had long, black hair like her 
daughter, but her green eyes were seductive and movements cat like 
the way she was touching her co-star…

"I remember her," Jareth said gruffly, "Charming woman."

"What did she do?" Irene asked.

"She tried to seduce me so she wouldn't have to fight for her 
daughter."

"Sounds like something she would do." Irene said, shifting into the 
couch and folding her arms, "She was always cheating on Robert."

"Do you remember anything else?" Roy asked.

Along with the memory of Linda came images of the one she wished to 
him. The ground did shake, and so had Sarah, her tiny body 
convulsing from the mere touch of his bare hand. Jareth nodded to 
them, "When I touched Sarah, my magic invaded her body and she began 
to shake, as did the whole Labyrinth. And then she lay so still; 
even my goblins had thought I had killed her. I had never felt guilt 
until that day." He said the last bit softly, a self-revelation.

"But she didn't die." Roy said.

"No." Jareth answered thankfully.

"That doesn't explain why you gave her back. Linda didn't deserve 
her and didn't want her." Irene reminded him.

"Nor did Sarah deserve to be turned into a goblin!" Jareth shot back 
as he looked down on them. They looked at him strangely for his 
sudden outburst; they couldn't possibly know what he felt for that 
child, how hard it had been giving her back. He sat down Indian 
style on the carpet, eyes looking at nothing as he voiced his 
memories, "I had never seen such a lively, happy child as Sarah. 
Usually parents who wish their children away have something to 
complain about--the child misbehaves, the child is misshapen--but 
there was no reason for Sarah to have been loathed by her mother. 
She was so full of love for Linda, and she had a caring heart…
although she was mischievous." He laughed to himself; "She stole a 
toy from a goblin and tried everything to keep it for herself, even 
enact revenge when it was finally taken away from her." He shook his 
head and looked back at the couple, "I just couldn't let her be 
changed."

Roy smiled knowingly at him, "So this prophecy had nothin' to do with 
your decision."

"No. I didn't even know the prophecy existed until after I had 
already given her back. Besides, she was only three years old. And 
had I kept her…." He chuckled, "I certainly cannot gain an heir 
through one who is a goblin."

Irene frowned, "If you saved her, then why does she hate you? It 
doesn't make sense." A bell went off from the kitchen and she 
rose, "That's the lasagna. Dinner will be ready in about five 
minutes. Roy, get Joey."

Jareth rose from the floor, "Roy, let me. I'd like the boy to stop 
seeing me as the villain."

"Good luck."

Jareth went up to Joey's room and tried the handle, but it was 
locked. He shook his head, forgetting that here, he had to ask 
permission to enter rooms that were not his own. He was frustrated 
with all the formalities this world held. If this were his land, 
he'd be able to enter any door, no questions asked, but he wasn't 
king here. He had to ask if he wanted things done. Jareth raise 
his hand and knocked on the door. The boy gave a reply, to which the 
king answered, "It's Jareth. I need to speak to you."

"Go away." Joey shouted.

"I will not." Jareth said sternly.

"I wish…"

"Stop!"

"She said if you ever came near me to wish you to HELL for what you 
did."

What the hell had he done? "Joey, as far as I know, I have never met 
the woman."

"Yes you have. She said so."

Maybe the boy had some answers, "What did she tell you then?"

"She said you took Toby and made her go through the Labyrinth and she 
beat you anyway, but then you came back and tricked her."

Sarah beat him? No one had ever completed the Labyrinth; he or the 
maze had always decided when to give a child back on what he observed 
of the wisher while they tried to win their child back--but if she 
told Joey she completed the Labyrinth, surely he would have 
remembered such a feat. "She is lying."

"No she isn't. I've read the book, it's all there." Joey said through 
the door.

"I don't believe it."

Jareth heard the door unlock and Joey stepped out, "Believe it. I 
can't wait to see what she does with you tomorrow. I bet you'll wish 
I'd have sent you to Hell instead of having to face her."

Jareth smirked at him, "Think she has that much power, do you?"

"I know she does."

"Listen," Jareth began, trying to sound calm, "The only thing of 
Sarah I know is that I gave her back when she herself wish wished to 
me. If she wished her brother to me also, than that is her fault, 
not mine. All I know of Toby is what I have seen of him in these 
pictures. Her hatred is unjustified and I would like you to forget 
what ever she's told you and look at these facts. I am liked by your 
parents and am grateful to them for assisting me. I have not harmed 
nor lied to either of them, or to you. Take me for who I am now, in 
person, and not from the tales of someone I don't even know." Joey 
stared at him blankly, "Do I make any sense?"

"Dinner's on the table," Irene called up the stairs.

Jareth lay a soft hand on Joey's shoulder, "Joey, do you understand?"

The boy surprised Jareth as he shrugged off his hand, "You're a 
pretty good diplomat. Really do know how to be a king, manipulate to 
get what you want. You almost had me fooled."

Jareth backed off, "I'm not trying to force you into anything 
unreasonable. You can continue to hate me if you so choose, but I am 
telling the truth."

The boy shook his head in mock laughter, "Let's just go eat."

No matter how much Irene tried to start up a conversation, the men 
with her were in no mood for talking. Jareth was polite and answered 
any questions she might have for him--how he became king, how often 
people really wish their children away--but he never went into detail 
unless he felt the information would make him more acceptable in 
Joey's eyes. Joey didn't avoid Jareth's glances as he had earlier 
that day; the boy seemed confident he had figured the Goblin King out.

After dinner, Jareth imitated Roy and put his dish and utensils in 
the dishwasher and then went to rest on his makeshift bed, which at 
the moment was being used by Roy for what it was, a typical couch. 
While sitting, there was nothing else to do but watch Joey play his 
video game on the television. For once, Jareth missed the goblins--
at least when watching them he saw variety. They would even hold 
contests to amuse him; such shows were often outrageous and so 
chaotic that they often forgot what they were doing and instead ended 
up having a mass brawl. Goblins were far more interesting than 
watching a stationary car have things move around it. The only 
remarkable things to entertain him these two days on Earth were his 
change in appearance and the information linking him to the one 
person he felt could help him get home. It would be hard waiting for 
the next fourteen hours to pass before he would finally get to meet 
Sarah and get solid answers to what was going on.

It seemed Joey tired of this game and he put in a new game 
entitled `Mortal Combat.' Just watching one round peeked Jareth's 
interest. There was strategy to this game, placement of moves and no 
guarantee anything would lead to victory. But this game didn't 
interest Roy, who left the room, telling Joey to be in bed by ten.

"Joey, may I join you?" Jareth voiced once his friend had gone.

Joey pushed the pause button and turned, "You're joking, right?" 

"No. We do not have such games in my world." Jareth said as he moved 
to sit on the floor beside the boy, "Teach me." 

Joey shrugged and plugged in a second controller, "Okay. So who do 
you want to be?" 

"The man with lightening." 

Joey looked at him funny, "What do you want to be him for? He doesn't 
do anything special other than make lightening and sink through the 
floor." 

"Humor me." 

The boy huffed, holding out his controller so Jareth could mimic his 
movements, "I don't really know his moves that well, but if you push 
up and B, he'll shoot lightening, and push down and he'll sink into 
the ground. Other than that, just push the buttons, see what you can 
make him do." 

They started their game of combat, and Joey completely blew Jareth 
out of the water. Jareth tried to not let his lack of knowledge of 
such games frustrate him, but the thought kept creeping into his head 
that he was being beaten by a child. He didn't even realize it, but a 
grunt or two escaped his lips every with miscalculated move. 

Suddenly Joey reached to the game machine and turned the game off, 
right in the middle of a battle. 

"What are you doing?" Jareth asked. 

"You sure don't know much about fighting." Joey said, almost sounding 
disappointed. 

"I assure you, I am quite able of fighting," then Jareth grinned, 
jabbing Joey gently in his side. "Would you like a demonstration?" 

Joey held up his hands in submission, nearly looking frightened, "No, 
no, that's alright." 

Jareth frowned and moved a bit away from the boy, "I didn't intend to 
scare you." 

Joey huffed, putting on a false air of surety, "Me, scared of you. 
Ha." Joey grinned, as if he had thought of a funny joke, and reached 
into his collection of cartages and pulled out one with a very 
brightly colored label. "Let's see if this is more your style." 

On the screen came strange cartoon creatures that made cutesy 
chirping noises and the music was very cheerful. Jareth wasn't 
amused; this game looked childish. He wondered what the boy was 
trying to pull. Joey set up the creatures Jareth was supposed to 
fight with, then handed Jareth his controller back. 

"What is this game?" 

"It's Pokemon." Joey said, settling down on the floor again, "You 
tell the Pokemon what to do and they fight each other until they're 
knocked out." 

Jareth didn't voice his protest; he might as well be silent and give 
it a chance. Besides, spending the time with Joey seemed to be easing 
the boy's nerves about him. It turned out, Jareth wasn't disappointed 
with this Pokemon game; in fact, he enjoyed it more. The use of 
buttons was more direct, and it was similar to Mortal Combat in the 
need for strategy but lacking in the area of unnecessary bloody 
violence. 

Five minutes before ten, Jareth found the switch to the TV and turned 
it off. 

"Hey," the boy shouted, "I was going to beat you. Piece of cake." 

Jareth grinned, "I doubt it would have been that simple. Dewgong 
isn't strong against lightening, which was my next move." 

"Dang." Joey said, realizing Jareth would have beaten him. 

"Go on up. I do not want to make you disobey your parents." 
While Joey gathered his game equipment and put it in the cabinet, 
Jareth moved to pull out the blankets Irene had stuffed for him 
behind the couch and arranged them somewhat as sheets over the 
couch. He then went into the downstairs bathroom and put on the 
sweat pants and t-shirt she had left for him to sleep in; he had to 
admit they were comfortable too. When he came out of the bathroom, 
he was surprised to find Joey still there, waiting for him on the 
makeshift bed.

"J, can I ask you something?" 

Jareth was taken back by the boy's informal addressing of him; not 
that objected, it was just...Joey sounded civil. "Of course." 

"You're a king, right. You rule over ugly, farty goblins and take 
babies 'if' they are wished to you." 

"When the occasion calls." 

"Then what are you doing here? Why did you leave your kingdom? Did 
you get kicked out? Did you come to get Sarah back for defeating 
you?" 

"Do you want all of those answered at once?" Jareth smirked at him; 
so many of the same questions he wanted answered for himself, "It's 
quite simple. I DO NOT KNOW." 

"You have to know something. You can't have complete amnesia." 

"Amnesia?" 

"It's what we call it when we forget big pieces of stuff." 

"It seems I have lost memory of the past 20 years." Jareth said, 
moving to sit next to the boy.

Joey looked at him funny, "That would mean you don't remember Sarah." 

Jareth nodded, "As I told you before. Do you finally believe me?" 

He shrugged, "I don't know. Who do I believe, my cousin or a stranger 
who she hates?" 

Jareth shifted uncomfortably, "I am sure if I were in your position I 
would suspect the same thing, but look at it this way. I am lost and 
I need help. That is all I am asking. Whatever brought me here, I 
don't care about it. I'm in this world now, and until I figure out 
how I got here, I'm going to live in it like everyone else. And I'd 
like your help doing it." Jareth turned seriously to Joey, "I know 
only what I am taught of this world. I'm grasping things slowly…but 
your parents can only show me so much. Will you help me?" 

Joey pondered it a minute, not looking at Jareth, "Uh, well, I 
guess...but Sarah's really convinced you're bad." 

"Are you?" 

Joey shook his head, "I don't know." He stood, still shaking his 
head, trying to figure things out as he headed up to bed. Halfway up 
the stairs, he paused, "You were right."

"About?"

"I shouldn't have judged you. You're pretty cool."

Jareth had been nearly ready to give up on the boy; he smiled. "Thank 
you. Now go."

"I'm not saying I trust you." Joey flashed him a sly smile.

Jareth frowned at him, but a teasing frown as he pointed up the 
stairs, "Go."

Once Joey was upstairs, Jareth smiled to himself with his success in 
reaching the boy. He was sure the house would be more civil now 
without Joey arguing over him. He looked around the living room for 
a moment, trying to decide if he wanted to find something to do or 
just go straight to sleep. It didn't take but a second for him to 
decide that sleep would be nice.