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Falling --COMPLETED	By : jinx1764 Category: G through L > Labyrinth Views: 10231 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth, don't make any money, this is a work of fanfiction.

Chapter List
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Epilogue

"Jenea, sister, I need your help." Jareth's words echoed in his mind as he paced the great hall, lightly swatting his thigh with his riding crop. Time moved differently in the realms. How much time passed Aboveground as he planned and plotted with his siblings? Would Sarah forgive his delay? Would he?
"Jareth," Jenea said from behind him.
He turned. "Have you finished your preparations?"
Her hand flitted about as if his question wasn't truly serious. "You think me a dawdler?"
"Jenea…"
"Of course I finished. Though Alare was no help. He dislikes this idea of yours." Her casual hand became a pointed finger directed at him.
"And you?"
She shrugged, frowning. "I know you too well to argue. You will do as you wish."
Jareth chuckled low in his throat and crossed his arms over his black armor. "As if you would do any different."
"You know I wouldn't."
"Then you support me."
"I support the end result," she said with gleaming eyes.
"Ah, to have such faith in another," Jareth took her hand in his, "sister dear, whatever would I do without you?"
"Be lost forever, I'm sure." She squeezed his hand. "Both the Labyrinth and the courtiers have agreed to suspend all challenges for one year. Not a moment more."
"If I should require…"
"An Underground year, Jareth," she added.
He swallowed his next words, then dropped her hand. "Ah."
"If you fail after that time, then the kingdom is forfeit."
Jareth exhaled through his nose, his lips pinching to thin white lines. "Have they no honor? You and Alare are blood!"
Jenea's harsh laugh echoed through the hall and she threw her head back. "You truly expect them to uphold such Regencies with your return? Really, Jareth! You expect too much of them."
"Jenea," he said in warning.
"They would devour Alare in seconds, and they cannot decide whether I'm too much of a woman or too much like you."
"You are neither!"
"I am both!" Partially crouched, she fisted her hands at her sides. "And they rightfully fear such a mix."
Jareth flung an arm toward his hall of waiting courtiers. "Then they are fools! They should be grateful to have such prowess leading them."
Jenea straightened and relaxed. "At least we are agreed upon that."
Silence fell between them for the span of several heartbeats. Eventually Jareth spoke in a sullen voice, "They leave me barely a month Aboveground to succeed."
"I know, brother."
"How can I—?"
"You will!" Jenea framed his face between her hands, her thumbs caressing his cheeks. "You will. I have faith in you and your Sarah."
Jareth swept his sister into a tight hug, his face buried in her neck. "Jenea, take care of yourself and Alare. And if I don't return before the month is out..."
Jenea finger-combed his feather soft hair. "I know you will, Jareth." She lifted his head, reluctantly, and met his sad expression. "Go now and complete your mission. We'll be waiting for you."
He nodded, feeling his eyes sting. He wouldn't cry, not now, not in front of Jenea. "Say goodbye to Alare for me?" If he saw his gentle brother now, he'd certainly lose his composure.
"Of course." She nodded as she stepped back, hands clasped in front of her. "I'm sure he'll understand your need to rush."
His need to rush. What a banal way to describe the aching surrounding his heart. Without Sarah breathing had become difficult, like inhaling molasses. He'd waited as long as he dared as he repaired the damage to the Underground—both physical and political—knowing full well that Sarah likely hated him for his abrupt departure at the most inopportune time. Will she forgive me once I explain it was out of my control? Jareth grimaced. Will she give me a chance to explain? Jareth took a deep breath, adjusted the black dragon scale breast plate of his formal Goblin King armor, then tugged his gauntlets snugger.
"Well?" Jenea waved a hand in a shooing motion. "What are you waiting for? Quit stalling."
Scowling, he arched a brow. "Sister-dear, I am not stalling."
"As if anything you did could fool me, Jareth." Jenea crossed her arms, chuckling. "What do mortals say? Ah, yes, just rip it off."
Jareth grabbed the trailing edge of his dark cloak and swirled it about his torso with a dramatic flourish. "Thank you for the advice!" Then he vanished in a puff of gray-white smoke, leaving a fluttering sparkle of glitter.

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Boots in hand, Sarah strolled through the thick grass from the Compound's entrance, now left unlocked, to the river that wound past it. Sunlight beamed down in comfortably warm waves. She squinted in the brightness, its clarity a balance of a perfect spring day. Gone was the strange yellowish overexposure appearance to the atmosphere and in its place crystalline blue sky and white clouds hung overhead.
Cool blades of the emerald carpet threaded through her bare toes, and she swung her boots to and fro as she walked. Hands free of weapons or other gear. How long had it been since she'd felt this…free? Had she ever?
The scent of fresh water and the sound of rushing rapids reached her before she reached the top of the low hill. She'd walked the way many times since The Shove ended. It helped her think, getting away from everyone, even Toby. Sarah sighed…especially Toby. Ironic. I spent most of my life trying to get him back and now I spend most days hiding from him. She loved him, but he was full of questions. It exhausted her.
Reaching the crest of the small hill, Sarah circled in place. The Compound's entrance stuck out like a partially buried broken stick rather than a watch tower. The outer wall's repairs were coming along, but she wondered if defense would still be necessary now that the world was healed. Water flowed incessantly through the previous dead riverbed, and within days the ground had bloomed with life and growing things. Within weeks they'd discovered hidden troves of edible plants and herbs. Had gardens once been near the Compound, or had the world's rebirth brought forth new life? Perhaps both. And now, months later, life grew positively luxurious with food, water, and free trade from roving bands of friendly traders.
Sarah ran a foot through the thick grass, deciding she didn't care how they'd been so fortunate. The world was reborn and that was all that mattered. Running a hand through her loose bangs, Sarah settled into a cross-legged sitting position and set her boots down. She plucked several blades of fresh grass, wove them through her fingers, and inhaled their pungent life. Had anything ever smelled so good?
She closed her eyes and lay down until her back rested on the soft ground and the sun warmed her face. The urge to make snow angels in the grass nearly overwhelmed her. Her heart thrummed with a bursting sort of happiness, yet something held her back.
Jareth.
A pang deflated her elation, and she pressed her hand to her breastbone. Would the ache ever diminish? No matter how she tried, this pain always returned to chase away her new happiness. And why shouldn't it? He left you.
A sob snuck out, and she slapped her other hand her mouth. God forbid if anyone overheard her, even way out here. She was Fixer. She was stronger than this. So a man lied to you, slept with you, then left you. So what. That's nothing no in the Nowhere.
Except…this wasn't the Nowhere any longer.
Tears leaked from behind her tightly closed lids. "Jareth," she mumbled from beneath her hand, "where are you?"
Something blocked out the sun, casting a shadow over her and bits of something sprinkled on her face. Sarah opened her eyes to see Jareth, the dark Goblin King extraordinaire in all his spiky haired glory leaning over her—his head 180º to hers.
He smirked. "Contemplating my demise, Sarah dear?"
She squeaked, leaped to her feet, and spun to face him. "What the hell!"
Straightening, Jareth tilted his head slightly, his long glittery head brushing his high collar, as he narrowed his eyes at her. "My apologies for startling you, but I couldn't resist."
"Wh…I…wh…" Sarah clenched her fists.
He sauntered closer. "Yes, my love?"
"Don't!" She pointed at him. "You don't get to do that!"
"Do what?" He reached out.
She slapped his hand away. "You…you, gah!"
"Sarah," he drawled, lowering his chin to his chest armor.
"Don't Sarah me!" She stalked up to him, finger to his chest. "You vanish, leaving me alone for months—"
"It's been months, then?"
"And you expect to come back here and act like nothing's happened?" She poked his armor.
Jareth scowled, but Sarah ignored the darkening of his eyes. How dare he just pop back into her life like his leaving didn't matter. How dare he smirk at her! How dare he—
"Sarah," he clasped his hands behind his back, "allow me to explain."
She crossed her arms and tapped a bare foot. "Oh I would LOVE to hear your explanation!"
"You see—"
"Except I don't care!" Sarah turned on her heels and stomped off, leaving her boots behind as she ran down the hill.
"Why you little…" Jareth grabbed her from behind, wrapping an arm around her waist, and held her back against his chest.
"Let me go!" She kicked and flailed.
"Sarah," he whispered in her ear.
"No!"
"Sarah, love, I'm sorry."
"You…what?" She went limp in his arms.
"I said," he brushed her hair from her ear and circled the shell of her ear with the tip of his sharp nose, "I'm sorry."
Heat bloomed from the persistent ache in her chest, spreading outwards to her limbs and that special place between deep inside. She swallowed hard and breathed heavily. "W-why?"
Jareth traced his lips along her bare neck and tingling chased down her spine. "I did not mean to leave you. That was an unanticipated side effect of our magics combining."
"Our magics?"
"Yes." Gently, he encircled her with his other arm and pressed his palm to her lower abdomen while he nibbled her earlobe.
Sarah moaned and leaned her head back into his shoulder. "…explain…"
"You see your world now? The changes?"
"Uh-huh."
"We did that."
"When we…?"
"Yes, my love." His breath warmed her ear and his hand shifted lower on her torso. "And when we declared ourselves to one another."
"Declared?"
He spun her around and clasped her face in his gloved hands, his fingers tangling in her long hair. "I love you, Sarah Williams. I've loved you the moment I saw you and every moment since."
"Jareth," she grabbed the edges of his breastplate and tugged him close, "I thought you'd left me. I thought…I thought…" She screwed her face up in a sob.
He rested his forehead to hers. "Haven't you learned by now that I will never abandon you? Whether for revenge or love, I would follow you until the world fell down."
"I love you!" A crazed laugh escaped her, and she flung herself into his arms.
Jareth kissed her, spinning her around beneath the crystal sunlight. His black armor gradually faded away and his black cloak and clothing lightened to a pale sparkling cream. Glitter exploded. A rainbow appeared, swirling and dancing around the couple until they faded from view.
'Jareth, we're not living Underground permanently. I have work to do Aboveground,' Sarah's voice said in the air.
'Yes, my Queen.'
Sarah's laughter echoed over the green grass to the Compound, and Toby smiled.

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SO! It's finished! OMG! I am so sorry for the crazy delay. I had meant to write this last chapter months and months ago, but life got away from me. I had a lumbar fusion summer 2014 (lots of pain before that, then lots of recovery getting in the way of my writing), then I had to hurry up and finish the second book of my original trilogy, Nightmares of the Queen, which I published last month under my pen name Jacqueline Patricks. Right before that, however, life threw me another curve ball and I lost my job in February. So I've been job hunting since then too. Crazy how life puts so many things on pause. Unfortunately, fan fiction gets put on the low end of my priorities. I'm still working on the original version of Falling called Fairytale Apocalypse, which is 2/3 done and I'm hoping to have it out later this year. I'm also working on the final book to the above trilogy, Destiny of the Queen, due 2015. AND I will be finishing Oh, Now Why the Concern next. There's a few more chapters left to that one.
Thank you for everyone that's hung in there. And after all this time, I'd really appreciate any comments and reviews. Let me know what you think. I hope this isn't too anticlimactic after so much time. Take care!
www . jacquelinepatricks . com
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Falling --COMPLETED