A Little Girl's Fear...

Sarah was up and dressed early the next morning. She didn't expect to sleep much the night before, but she was pleasantly surprised to sleep straight through to her alarm clock. She dressed in some nice slacks and a sweater and got ready for work. She moved around the house quietly as to not wake up Ary and Jareth just yet. She had stopped just at the end of the stairs to gaze at him. His head was resting on the pillow she had given him. The blankets were still folded but moved from the couch to the floor. He was laying on his back, still dressed in the same clothing as the night before, his hands folded over his chest. His head was turned to the side toward the couch. Sarah felt her breath catch in her throat. He looked so vulnerable and so handsome, in a strange and mystical way. She shook her head, pulling her eyes from him and walking into the kitchen.

She went to the task of making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for Ary and filled her Thermos with grape Kool-aid. She put some chocolate chip cookies in a bag as well as a napkin and a quick little note to Ary to tell her that she loved her. She then put everything into her backpack for school.

She was in a fine mood this morning, she believed this partly due to the fact that she still had not gotten a headache yet. Perhaps Jareth was more powerful then he knew? She also knew that today was Friday, which meant the weekend was coming. Work was closed for the weekend and that meant two days off. Ary was going to Toby's this weekend, which meant that she and Jareth would be left alone. She didn't know how she felt about that just yet. It seemed that Jareth could be trusted. He had not been devious or even arrogant in anyway. Perhaps he really had changed.

"You're up early." His voice, soft and calm startled her and she jumped. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." He chuckled softly walking into the kitchen. He was still in the same clothing and she was amazed to see that his hair looked neat despite just waking up.

"You didn't frighten me. Just startled me, that's all. It's going to take some getting used to someone else in the house. It's always been just Ary and myself."

"Work again today?" he asked eyeing the outfit she wore.

She nodded. "For some reason the thought of going to work doesn't bother me this morning. Perhaps because I had a decent day yesterday. Would you like some coffee?"

"Some what?" He gave her a puzzled look as if she had just started talking in a language that he didn't understand.

"Coffee. Oh don't tell me that you have no coffee in the underground."

"What is it?"

"Something to drink. Adds a little perk to your morning." She handed him a mug of the steaming beverage, which she had just made up for herself. He took the mug into his gloved hands and peered into it suspiciously. "Go ahead try it. It's not poisonous."

He eyed it warily and then took a small sip. His brows lowered over his eyes and he drew his mouth away quickly. "How can you drink this? It's..it's ..repulsive."

"Ok, I can see that you're not going to be a coffee drinker." She took the mug from his hand and drained half of it before taking her lips from the rim of the glass.

He eyed her drinking it with disgust. "As Ary would say, ewww."

Sarah laughed and clasped the mug in both hands. "You really don't mind spending time with Ary do you? You even call her by her nickname."

"She is a wonderful child and she is yours. I would gladly remain in the presence of any child you put into my care. She is different from any child I have ever met, and I have met many. She shows no fear for a child so young."

"She is fearful, not of many things but she is fearful."

"I've yet to see fear from her."

"I know, which is quite a mystery itself."

"I'm afraid that I don't follow you."

Sarah let out a sigh and leaned back against the kitchen counter. "Ary doesn't know her father and she might never know him. In fact I would be glad if she never met him. She was a normal, happy child until she started school. She learned from other children that they all had fathers, even if they didn't live with their mothers. She began to feel like the outcast at school to the point where she with drew into herself. She became very fearful of men. She has to have all women teachers at school."

"Why is she afraid of men?"

Sarah sighed again, putting the coffee mug down onto the counter. "I asked her that myself. She didn't want to tell me at first but I finally got it out of her. She's very sensitive and needs to feel loved at all times, like any child does but even more so. Her father left before she was born. She knows that hurt me so it hurt her too. She told me she never wanted a father or a man in our lives because he would just hurt us. So you can imagine my surprise to look up and see you holding my daughters hand in my living room."

"I had no idea. She showed no fear to me at all. I was amazed by her courage."

"And that's what I don't understand. The Ary I know would not have called you and she would have been very afraid of you, but she's not and I can't explain that right now. I just know that she puts an incredible amount of trust in you and I swear, if you ever hurt her, you'll pay dearly. She's been through enough."

"And so have you Sarah. I'm not here to hurt, but to help. I thought you would have noticed that by now."

"I have noticed it, but that's another thing I can't explain. Why answer my little girl's plea? Why come to me after 20 years and offer your assistance?"

"Sarah...please don't" He couldn't believe it, he was pleading with her... The King of the Goblins was pleading with a mortal woman. He couldn't look at her, couldn't answer this, not yet..not yet...

Sarah didn't understand his sudden discomfort and she didn't think about it any further as Aryanna burst into the kitchen.

"Good morning mommy!" she rushed to her mother hugging her tightly.

"Good morning, sweetie. Sleep well?" Ary nodded.

"Hello Goblin King."

"His name is Jareth, love." Sarah informed her. She knew Jareth didn't like to be called by title. It sometimes offended him, yet he had tolerated it with Aryanna.

"Jareth? But that..that was the name I saw written all over the blue book. Is he the same Jareth you wrote pages and pages about?" Sarah's face turned beet red and an amused smile played across Jareth's face.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Sarah asked turning quickly to the cupboards.

"Can I have....Fruit loops?"

"Sure, get your favorite bowl and spoon and sit at the table." Ary did as she was instructed and Sarah poured her cereal and milk into the bowl. "Ary, you'll have to go over to Melanie's this morning to pick up the bus. I have to go into work early."

"Aw do I have to? Melanie's mom always asks sooo many questions. Can't the Goblin K-I mean Jareth walk me to the bus?"

"Ary that's rude to ask, he was kind enough to get you yesterday afternoon."

"It's all right I don't mind." He told Sarah taking a seat at the table.

"Jareth."

"Really Sarah, I don't mind. It's not a difficult task."

"Please mommy? I won't get to see him all weekend." The little girl frowned.

"Of course you will, I'm not going anywhere." He told her.

"No, but she is." Sarah injected. Jareth gave her a puzzled look. "She spends every other weekend with my brother and his girlfriend."

"And Snicker, don't forget Snicker." Ary chimed in happily.

"Yes and Snicker, Cheryl's cat."

"He's so fat and cuddly." Ary added.

"So Toby will pick her up from school. Uncle Toby has your things for the weekend and I'll bring Lancelot by so that you will have him."

"Promise mommy? You almost forgot him last time."

"I promise you'll have him."

"Yay! So can Jareth bring me to the bus? Pul-ease?"

Sarah shook her head and laughed. "If it's all right with Jareth, it's all right with me."

"Please Jareth?" Ary gave him her best smile.

"How can I resist?"

"yay!!!!!"

"All right, calm down and finish your cereal. Jareth do you want something to eat. A bagel?"

"If it tastes anything like coffee, no thank you."

Sarah let out a chuckle ."I promise it doesn't." He nodded and she put a bagel into the toaster. A short while later it popped up and she offered it to him on a small plate. He took a bite and nodded.

"Very good."

"Would you like butter to put on it or cream cheese?"

"Cream cheese, ewwww!" Ary giggled, making a face.

"I think I'll try the butter on it." Sarah laughed at this and put the butter on the table in front of him as well as a knife. She poured him a cup of juice and he and Ary ate in silence.

"Ary, I've laid out your clothes for today, your lunch is right here in your backpack. And please don't forget to brush your teeth. Jareth she needs to be outside 5 minutes before the bus comes and it comes at 8:15. If she isn't outside early enough the driver won't stop."

"All right."

" I appreciate you bringing her out."

"It's not a problem."

Sarah went to Ary and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Have a good day sweetie."

"You too mommy. I love you." She reached up hugging her mother.

"I love you too. Jareth, I'll see you later this afternoon. Ary, please show him how to work the tv and the radio in case he wants something to do and anything else he asks about, ok? Like how to use the microwave or run the shower."

"Sure mommy."

Sarah rushed away to the door, grabbing her coat and quickly putting on her shoes. She reached for her purse, which she had left on the chair to find it missing. It suddenly dangled in front of her in Jareth's hand.

"Have a good day." He told her handing it to her.

"Thanks." She felt her cheeks reddening under his intense gaze and reached for Lancelot who was by the door. She quickly left the house rushing to her car. How was she going to deal with a whole weekend alone with him???