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Last Resort	By : jinx1764 Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 7045 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth, don't make any money, this is a work of fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 9
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"Hello?"

"Mr. Williams? It's Eric."

"Eric! Hello, it's been awhile...how have you been?"Robert Williams, Sarah's father, responded cheerfully honestly surprised to hear from his son-in-law. Ever since the separation and pending divorce, contact with Eric dwindled; something that Robert regretted since he sincerely liked Eric. Robert always thought Eric had been good for Sarah.

"Mr. Williams..."

"Please, Eric, call me Robert. I hope you know that whatever happens, you'll always be family to us."

"Thanks, Mr. Will- Robert. I appreciate that." Eric sighed over the phone his tone seeming to relax a bit. "Robert, have you spoken to Sarah recently?"

"Hmmm...well, not for a several days. Karen? Karen, honey..." Eric heard Robert calling for Sarah's step-mother in the distance, "Have you spoken to Sarah lately? No? Okay, thanks. No, I don't know. Eric's on the phone and wanted to know. I'll find out. Eric, is something wrong? Sarah and Lizzie are alright aren't they?" He sounded acutely concerned, his pitch increasing.

"Yes, they're both fine. I just dropped off Lizzie at her mother's earlier and they're okay. But...did you know that Sarah's seeing someone?"Eric tentatively asked unsure how Robert would respond.

"No, I didn't know that." Genuine sorrow filled Robert's answer. "Do you know how long?"

"No, but the guy looks just like her old Goblin King portraits so it must be a previous boyfriend." He spat out forgetting who he spoke to.

"Eric, I think that's unlikely. Sarah lived with us during most of those paintings and we've never met or heard of any old boyfriends matching that description. She always said he was an imaginary character and painting him helped her illness. You think he's real?"

"Robert, once you meet this guy, Jareth, you'll think the same thing. I'm telling you he's the spitting image of her Goblin King character. I think she's known him for years and now he's back and she's done with me." Eric sounded bitter and angry causing Robert to flinch in sympathy; he'd always wondered how strongly Sarah truly felt for Eric but since she said she loved him and committed herself to marriage Robert never questioned her motives. Sarah's tortured childhood haunted him, he felt a failure as a father, and he hesitated to rob her of any happiness she found.

"Jareth, huh? Well, perhaps we'll have to pay our granddaughter a visit this weekend. I would definitely like to know more about this person."

"Well, watch yourself around him."

"Excuse me?"

"He sucker punched me when I was at her apartment just asking questions." Eric smoothly lied to her father. "Then he tossed me out and she didn't say one word against it!"

"Really?"Aghast, Robert was shocked. While he may doubt his daughter's love for Eric he'd never known her to be disrespectful or cruel to him. Curiosity piqued he decided to call on Sarah as soon as possible and to see for himself who this Jareth person could be. "Well, I glad you called Eric and I'll be sure to visit and see what's going on. Keep in touch. Bye, now."

Robert hung up and stood clasping his chin in his hand thinking about this dramatic development and Eric's reasons for calling him. As a lawyer Robert made it a practice of studying human interactions and motivations and as much as he liked Eric he didn't fully trust his motivation for involving him. Robert had always thought Eric a good husband and father but a tad on the jealous side; a tendency that usually set Sarah off with his mild controlling behaviors. Nevertheless he would visit his daughter to see who and what was new in her life.

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Monday morning dawned early; Lizzie's school started by eight and Sarah needed to finish her commissioned series. After packing Lizzie's lunch, walking her to the breezeway of their building, and seeing her safely on the school bus; Sarah returned to her apartment and checked on Jareth. For a being so newly human he certainly settled into human habits quickly enough. She enjoyed watching him sleep face down, decidedly naked with her bed sheets modestly draped across his lower torso and the side of his face buried in one of her feather pillows. His blond hair haphazardly askew around his relaxed face, he looked so carefree.

She decided she could watch him all day and never tire of the view. He was simply beautiful even as a human. A human... the concept was surreal. Jareth as a human didn't seem real but then most things in her strange life didn't seem real so why should a transformed Fae King be unusual? Part of her wanted to skip her work and wake him in a most pleasant fashion but he appeared so peaceful and she really did need to finish the prepaid commission; only one painting remained. Giving his lean, moonlight body an admiring, lingering gaze she turned and left her bedroom for her studio.

Jareth awoke feeling refreshed and nearly normal, so much so that he twisted his right hand at the wrist expecting a crystal to manifest. After a moment of shock he remembered that he was currently mortal and a frustrated sigh escaped. He mustn't allow himself to become distracted from his goal and forget his reasons for being in the mortal realm. Something easy to do around Sarah. A few languid stretches later and a quick trip to the bathroom-a quick lesson from Sarah had showed him the finer points of modern bathroom usage and grooming techniques; he dressed in a simple cotton robe and went looking for Sarah.

He found her working furiously on her art and leaned comfortably against the door frame. He watched her paint; her passion and power woven effortlessly into the oils. Even without his Fae sight he could see the magic forming in the colors she was so strong. If it weren't the source of his Labyrinth's demise he would grant her this power permanently just for the pleasure of watching her. Eventually she realized that he observed her and she turned to face him.

"Jareth! Oh! I didn't know you were awake." She paused mid brush stroke, arm up and outstretched. He raised one palm dismissively.

"Quite alright, Sarah, I enjoyed watching you work. Even knowing the source it is enthralling." Sarah blushed then set her brush down into a turpentine jar. "I'm curious. If I don't go back to the Labyrinth once the time expires...what do you think will happen to my art?"

The question shocked Jareth. He knew Sarah wished to consider all of the options but until that moment he refused to believe that she might not return with him. Thinking of her alive in her realm while he and the Labyrinth ceased to exist shook him. He blinked a few times then cleared his throat.

"Well, I suppose since your symptoms and abilities are sourced from the Labyrinth's magic they would disappear once...we...disappeared."

"I would be a normal human again; as if I never had this power?" She quirked her eyebrows in both hope and fear.

"It's possible. It's also possible that the sudden change might cause its own form of damage. I'm unable to predict the outcome, Sarah, since there is no precedent for this or you." She nodded her understanding with a small frown. Jareth remained silent at the door.

"Well, this painting has to sit for awhile and I need to go to the gallery or Carol's going to believe I've left the country. Care to join me?" She walked to him and pressed herself against his tall length. He felt so good. Smelled as just as wonderful. Whatever was she going to do?

"I'd love to, Precious." He embraced her tightly. A sudden fear gripping him; suddenly he and his Labyrinth's future seemed a bit gray. In such a short time how was he to convince her to leave her life for him and his world's needs? Should he even try? Things so clear days ago were now muddled and confused.

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Sarah made sure Jareth dressed in appropriate attire from his new clothing she purchased. For some reason he continually wanted to wear some of her more colorful silk scarves as accessories complaining that modern male clothing lacked brilliance and character. They wasted nearly an hour arguing fashion points regarding the appropriateness of a plain cornflower button down cotton shirt with jeans compared to the same shirt accented with a silk, purple scarf tied jauntily around his neck.

Jareth refused to relent his position on the scarf until Sarah announced its removal or he would never see her in the nude again. Deciding that a nude Sarah ranked over any fashion necessity he relented, however ungraciously. Sarah collected the two finished paintings that she previously packed and Jareth quickly divested her of them claiming that a gentleman would never allow a lady to carry such a burden. That earned him a lovely smile and his chest flared reminding him of the magic binding them from the Labyrinth. He'd become so accustom to the sensation in the last few days that he'd nearly forgotten it existed.

Sarah greeted the daytime doorman, Jackson, as they exited her building and introduced Jareth to him for both of their benefits. Stepping to the street Sarah hailed a cab without hesitation earning a glare from Jareth as he feared she might be run down by the crazed drivers.

"Bagby Art Gallery 2100 40th street." She requested of the cab driver. She shifted over in the rear bench seat to make room for Jareth and her paintings. He reluctantly entered the dangerous looking vehicle and remained rigid throughout the intense trip to the gallery.

"Relax. I've been riding in cabs for years and I'm still in one piece." She teased him but still reached over to clasp his pale hand.

"Yes, well, years or not one mishap is all it takes. I much prefer my mode of travel." He stated through his tight lipped grimace.

"Unfortunately, that mode isn't available to us. Hang on, we'll be there in a few minutes." She squeezed his hand in reassurance.

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"Sarah!" Caroline Bagby greeted her star artist and close friend with open arms entering the main room of her art gallery from the rear office. Daniel, her assistant called her to the front as soon as Sarah and her guest arrived and Carol wasted no time greeting them.

"Carol! Hi!" She warmly hugged the older, black women in return. "I'm so sorry I didn't get all three paintings done this weekend but there was a bit of an emergency and I got distracted."

She indicated Jareth as she explained. She and Jareth had decided on a cover story before they left since questions were sure to abound. They agreed to circulate Eric's misunderstanding regarding Jareth being the model for Sarah's paintings. Even though it was false it was easier and more believable to use that story than to tell the truth about him. Carol glanced towards the tall, lean man accompanying her good friend with a critical eye.

"He's the emergency?" Sarah nodded while Carol continued. "And the distracted I bet."

"Carol!" she swatted her friend's arm at the implication.

"Hmmm...am I wrong?"Carol waited with her hands on her hips as Sarah flushed and Jareth quirked an eyebrow. Carol spoke to Jareth with a curious gleam in her eyes and stepped closer. "Have we met before?" Jareth tensed attempting to disguise it by bowing slightly and introducing himself.

"I have not had the pleasure; I'm sure I would have remembered so charming a lady. My name is Jareth Noble. An old friend of Sarah's in town on short notice." He used every bit of courtly charm he knew at the risk of overwhelming Ms. Bagby in order to assuage any concerns she may harbor.

"Well, well, well, aren't you a smooth talker!" Carol glanced over her shoulder to her friend with a grin on her face "Sarah, where ever did you meet this one?"

"You wouldn't believe me, Carol. Jareth, the paintings, please." Sarah gestured for the two packaged paintings he carried under his arm and he handed them over gracefully.

"Daniel!" Carol called her young, long-haired, brunette assistant over to collect them. Daniel carefully took them from Jareth with a very friendly smile and a wink which startled Jareth before disappearing with them into the back.

"Sarah, the last one will be ready this week, right?" Carol moved back to Sarah, temporarily forgetting Jareth as she spoke business.

"Absolutely, I finished the first two layers this morning which are drying and I'll finish the rest this week. Carol, I really am sorry I didn't get it finished." She added sincerely but Carol put her hand up to stop her apology.

"Don't worry about it. The client hasn't called about it yet and you're rarely late so it's not a problem. Just don't let Mr. Distraction over here delay that last painting."

"He won't...I promise."

Jareth watched with a great interest the conversation between the two women. Carol was all business but was obviously a close friend to Sarah. She appeared to be older, probably Sarah's mother's age, a bit plump but not overly so and taller than average with a great deal of fashion sense. Likely Carol had many male admirers as a young woman; possible a few remained, he speculated. She radiated confidence and sensuality. She obviously took great care with her appearance. Her hair was in a tasteful updo and she wore a classic modern type of black pantsuit that Jareth found quite flattering to her figure, accented by bright colors and bold jewelry. He found that he liked her for her fashion sense alone. That she seemed to genuinely care to Sarah added to his esteem.

The two women continued talking and ignoring Jareth which was fine with him. It gave him time to explore the very interesting gallery. He leisurely strolled about with his hands clasp to the small of his back admiring the various styles of artwork displayed. Years passed since he had been able to enjoy a public art display and he chose to take the opportunity to do so now. It reminded him of his favorite piece depicting his castle hanging in his private chambers. A wave of homesickness struck him unexpectedly. He swallowed thickly to hold back his emotions.

'This is ridiculous.' He thought. 'I must get a hold of myself.'

Jareth walked further into the gallery entering another room and found himself staring at himself. Without words Jareth stood motionless in front of the large oil portrait of himself in full Goblin King Armor Regalia appearing stern and intimidating. The black cape swirled around his strong form and the high collar framed his wild platinum hair which twisted in the same wind. The portrait depicted him at the height of his power. How he envied the King in the painting.

"You found it." A voice said in his ear startling him and turned finding Sarah behind him. "I knew you would."

Jareth gazed at her with something like awe in his eyes. "Your work?"

"Of course, it's always been my favorite." She smiled and looked at the portrait.

"Why?"

"Because it was the first time we met. The first time I ever saw you. You were so beautiful. I never forgot the wonder of that night even after all the pain and doubt."

"You thought me beautiful? You were supposed to find me frightening and intimidating." Jareth frowned at her then returned his gaze to the portrait. Sarah laughed.

"Don't worry, Goblin King." She whispered in his ear seductively. "You were all those things and more." A thrill ran down his back at her words; he turned so that their lips brushed together and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"More?"He purred.

"Much more." She agreed draping her arms around his neck.

"What on Earth are you two doing in my gallery?" They pulled apart at Carol's approach and she 'tsked' them. "I told you he was a distraction, wears it like a cologne. Well, what do you know, I have met you before. You look just like Sarah's Goblin King!" Carol stated looking back and forth between Jareth and 'his' portrait.

"Carol, I'm sorry I never told you before but Jareth modeled for my Goblin King portraits. I met him a long time ago before I knew you and he just had the look I wanted for the character." Sarah gave her friend a sheepish grin and half shrug.

"He modeled for you? But I thought you worked from your imagination?" She gave Sarah a skeptical glare.

"I usually do but this was an exception. It was a long time ago and Jareth wanted to keep his privacy."

"That's correct, Ms. Bagby. My family is very sensitive to media attention and I chose to keep my involvement private years ago." Carol scowled at him.

"Not because of her past?" She accused. Jareth drew himself up straight and gave Carol a firm look.

"I would never abandon Sarah for any reason, least of all selfish ones." The older woman returned the glare until she felt confident that Jareth meant what he said.

"This true, Sarah?"

"Yes, Carol. Jareth never knew about my problems until recently. His decision had nothing to do with me." Carol nodded at Sarah's explanation and gave Jareth another strange look, as if she were peeling back his layers. Sarah fidgeted and grasped Jareth's hand to pull him towards to front door.

"Well, we've got to run, Carol! It's been good to see you. I'll get that last one done and drop it off as soon as possible." She guided Jareth away from Carol and out of the gallery before her friend could stop them. Carol followed them to the front door stopping at the reception desk to speak with Daniel.

"Did you see his resemblance to her Goblin King portrait?"

"Yes, Ms. Bagby. Spooky!" Daniel shivered. "I never liked that painting anyhow, gives me the creeps. Way too realistic...I always think he's going to reach out and grab me. But her friend is cute." Carol gave him a wan smile and nod.

"I believe he's spoken for, Daniel. Well, that story they gave me is complete crap. She never had a model; I don't care what she says. I don't know what they're up to but I'm worried about her. Daniel, let me know if you hear anything about Sarah. And I mean anything!"

"Yes, ma'am." He replied. She gave a last concerned look out the front door after Sarah and Jareth then returned to her office.

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"Do you think she bought it?" She asked him.

"I had not realized we were selling her something." Jareth replied in a confused tone, head cocked to one side bringing forth a small smile from Sarah.

"No...I mean do you think she believed us?"

"Ah...it's difficult to know. She's a perceptive woman who cares for you a great deal."

"That's the problem. If she doesn't believe us then it'll be impossible to convince everyone else." Jareth gave her a questioning look so she explained. "Carol discovered me and knows more about my art than anyone else. If she's says it's so than no one will question it."

"I see. Well, as long as we can convince everyone for the near future a few weeks is all we need." Sarah's expression grew pensive as he reminded her.

"Oh yeah, a few weeks." Jareth stopped walking and placed his hand on her arm.

"I didn't mean to remind you of it."

"No...it's okay. You're right. We need to keep our eyes on the ball."

"There's to be a celebration?" He looked confused again and this time Sarah laughed out loud.

"No, I meant that we need to be focused on our goal." At which he nodded. "Jareth how is it that you know about so many human sayings and technologies and not others?"

"Sarah, while I am a man of great knowledge and experience, even I am not aware of everything." Somehow only Jareth could make such a pretentious statement sound humble.

"And while I'm asking." She continued. "Why are you so formal today?"

"We are in public and a gentleman always displays his best manners with a lady in public." A sincere smile graced his lips, his light blue eyes glowed, his cornflower shirt making then more intense, or perhaps it was the emotion he displayed.

"Oh. Well in that case, you may continue, sir." Sarah answered playing into the part and gave him a quick peck on his lips, slipping away before he could grab her. "Come on, I'll buy you a pretzel!"
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Last Resort