Disclaimer: All Labyrinth characters are copyrights of Jim Henson Productions and affiliates. I claim no ownership of copyright.

Chapter 4:    Looking Back

As Sarah opened her window, Jareth flew past her, hovering by the door a moment as he transformed in an explosion of silk and glitter. Sarah stared in awe, still transfixed by his magical powers.

Jareth stood before her, dressed in garbs less extravagant than she had seen him in before. The billowing white blouse held tight against his body by a black leather vest left much of his chest exposed, the large charm he wore glinting what rays of light fell upon it. She tried to focus on the face and not the body, though even in his eyes she felt it hard to think.

"Thank you for inviting me in," his voice replied slowly. Sarah managed a nod as Jareth continued. "So, you're wanting to return to the Underground, do you?"

"Yes," Sarah finally spoke. "I...I couldn't say so before, not when Toby needed me."

"But you seemed so sincere, Sarah. Could it be that your were playing the part as well?" Jareth smiled, savoring the effect he knew he had on this girl.

"I was sincere!" Sarah tried to defend herself. "I wanted to save Toby and my friends. Everyone thought your were gone!"

"Of course they did," Jareth retorted with a smirk. "It wouldn't have looked real if they knew beforehand that I was making you come to me on purpose."

Sarah flinched. "On...purpose?" Jareth looked around the room a moment, eyes trailing over all of the items strewn about the room. He tried not to laugh as Sarah urged him to continue. "Jareth, tell me what you meant!" Pulling a chair aside, he sat down and stared at Sarah. "Look around you, Sarah. Everything in your room...they look strangely familiar, don't they? Haven't you seen them somewhere before?" Furrowing her brow, Sarah looked from him to her dresser. Her eyes widened as they fell upon the blue figure resting there. It looked like Jareth!

"That's right, Sarah. My plans for you went far beyond the kidnapping of your baby brother..."

'Why hadn't I noticed before?' Sarah asked herself. She looked at her dolls, the pewter bookend, and her books. They looked like Sir Didymus, the Fireys, Hoggle, and the goblins. "You were watching me?"

Jareth nodded, the look on his face softer. "Ever since you first read that book." He tilted his head towards the dresser, indicating the script that rested inside.

"But...why?"

His gaze drifted towards the floor, as if hesitant to relive the history behind their meeting. "Not now. I shall explain soon enough." He rose to his feet. "Shall we get going then?" his hand reached out for hers.

Sarah turned towards the doorway, Toby crying softly from her parents' bedroom. 'I wish I could say goodbye, Toby...' she thought to herself.

"Don't worry," Jareth offered. "You'll have the ability to appear in this mirror, just as your friends did. You can speak to them whenever you like." Though perplexed by his ability to read her so easily, Sarah still grasped Jareth's hand. "Alright. Let's go." A crystal appearing in his other hand, Jareth thrust it towards the ground, enveloping them in a cloud of white smoke.

* * *

Hoggle was once more by himself, his halfhearted steps having led him into the forest near the goblin city. He wanted to cry, yet for some reason the tears would not come. "Oh, Sarah..." he sighed gently. "I was a fool. How could I ever expect you to..." The words gave way to silence as Hoggle looked at the tree before him.

"It's a...peach tree?"

Hoggle had never noticed the tree before. The sunlight shone through random boughs and branches, making the tree glow with life. Peaches glistening with dew adorned every limb of the tree, and kissed the air with the scent of sweet nectar.

Moving closer, Hoggle touched the trunk. He remembered when he had given Jareth's peach to Sarah. She had been so happy when he'd given it to her, Hoggle had almost believed that Jareth meant no harm. But when her face had turned solemn, it was like a knife in his heart...much like he felt right now.

Although he had run away from her in that moment, one of Jareth's bubbles had found its way over to him. He had seen Sarah in regal splendor, a pearl far more precious than any he held in his sagging pouch. 'What I wouldn't give to have been one of those dancers...' Hoggle had thought when he watched her.

Staring up at the tree, he was now determined to get one of those peaches. The trunk was too smooth to climb, and none of the branches hung low enough for him to reach. Grunting, he kicked the tree hard. The tree trembled slightly, but yielded no fruit. With all his might, he tried to shake the trunk with his own hands, but it was not enough. He slumped at the base of the tree with a sigh.

A cry from above made him look up. Perched on a branch was a beautiful black bird, the soft white feathers of its belly fluffed up as it rested. The bird cocked its head to stare at Hoggle intently. Hoggle stared back, finding himself asking aloud, "You wouldn't be willing to drop one of those peaches for me, would ya?" To his amazement the bird stood upright and made its way towards a nearby bunch.

"Hey, thanks!" Hoggle smiled, returning to his feet as he watched. The bird began to nip hastily at a stem, wriggling it in its beak until the peach was free to fall into Hoggle's waiting hand.

"How can I repay you?" he began to wonder. As he looked into his pouch however, the bird flew into the air and vanished.

Hoggle stared at his gift intently. He wanted to take a bite, but not just yet. Setting it in a small pouch, he began to walk towards the goblin city...where Sarah would be arriving soon.

To be continued...

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