One traitor meets another....

Aryanna was bubbly and very active this morning. When Sarah found her she was playing in her toy room, already dressed in her favorite play clothes that she had brought from home. She proceeded to tell her mother how much fun she had at the ball. She had met twins who she spent the night with. Jareth stood quietly in the doorway, his presence unknown to the little girl as he watched mother and daughter interact. The child seemed to be enjoying herself thus far, but there were still 2 weeks to go. Jareth knew the little girl had taken a liking to him just as he had a soft spot for her. But he nor Sarah knew if she liked him enough or even loved him to consider him being her father. He listened quietly as Ary talked about her tea party with Megmora and how much fun it was to play tea with a dragon. He would have to thank his old friend for making the child so happy.

Sarah led her from the playroom and when Ary saw Jareth leaning against the doorframe to the room she ran at him hugging him tightly. It wasn't an uncommon gesture for her. When she was happy or excited she was very affectionate.

They had breakfast on a balcony overlooking the Labyrinth. Ary was pleasantly surprised to find that her mom had packed her favorite blue cereal bowl as well as her favorite cereal, Fruit Loops. Her mother and Jareth ate biscuits, eggs, and assorted fruit. Jareth made sure that Sarah had her morning coffee.

The Goblin King decided to take the two ladies on a tour of his gardens as the day was warm and sunny. Megmora joined the small party by her own choice. Jareth watched as the half dragon pushed the little girl on a swing that hung from a large old tree. If he didn't know any better he would have believed that the dragon had taken a liking to the child. It was well known in the castle that Megmora did not like children and she wasn't thrilled about mortals either, but since meeting Sarah and Aryanna, Jareth believed that her opinions had changed.

Sarah stood with Jareth as they watched the dragon push the little girl, the child laughed happily as she swung into the air. Jareth took the time to slip away with Sarah and they walked together through the gardens, her arm through his. He was in a wonderful mood. The gardens were beautiful with flowers blooming everywhere. It was well kept and so quiet except for the birds that sang and Aryanna's laughter. They didn't stray too far from the girl and the dragon and took a seat on the edge of a white marble fountain.

Sarah leaned her head against his shoulder and he kissed her hair, before wrapping his arms around her. She closed her eyes content with being in his arms. The sun felt good against her skin and the joyful laughter of her daughter filled her ears. She wished the rest of her life could be like this day. She lifted her head to peer at Jareth who was gazing at her intently. He smiled, his sharp canine like teeth sparkling in the sunlight. He lowered his head to kiss her. Nothing earth shattering, but just a simple affectionate kiss.

The alone time didn't last long as Jareth heard Megmora calling for him.

"Yer Majesssty??"

"I'm here Megmora, by the fountain." Jareth released Sarah and stood, moving away from her seated form. He stood a little taller, looking more like the Goblin King, then Sarah's Jareth, just as Megmora appeared around a large shrub. She was out of breath and grinning.

"The child, yer majessty, she wissshes for you to pusssh her on the ssswing."

Jareth smiled. "Of course." He turned to Sarah offering a gloved hand to her.

She shook her head. "I'd like to stay here, if you don't mind. Just for a little while. I'll be along shortly."

He nodded, flashing her a dazzling smile before he stepped along side Megmora. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think that you were enjoying yourself." Sarah heard him tell the dragon as they moved away.

Sarah smiled as she watched them go and smiled even more when she heard Aryanna asking Jareth to push her and high so that she could see above the walls of the garden. She sat quietly, gazing at the gardens around her.

"So it's true." That voice, so familiar. She turned her head to face it.

"Hoggle!" she cried out. There was the little man. He didn't look any different then how she remembered him, dressed in clothes not too different from the last time she saw him, jewels still hanging from a belt at his side. She jumped up off the fountain, moving towards him, smiling the entire way. She frowned when he backed away.

"Don't Hoggle me! I didn't believes it was true, buts I seen it was, with me own eyes!" His large brows were lowered angrily over his blue eyes and he was pointing an accusing finger at her.

Sarah swallowed. She was so happy to see Hoggle but he seemed so angry with her. "Hoggle, what are you talking about?"

The little dwarf's face turned red and he jumped up and down. "What am I talkin about? What am I talkin about? I'm talkin about you and him! I didn't believe it was true when everyone else talked about it. I thought it was just a rumor, but I just seen it with me own eyes! You're a traitor!"

Sarah pulled back, clearly hurt but his accusations. "A traitor?" she echoed.

"A traitor!" he pointed, walking towards her, his jewels clinking at his side. "I seen ya with him! I did! Sittin all cozy in his arms before he left!"

Sarah blinked. "You mean Jareth?"

Hoggle rolled his eyes. "Who else would I mean? I seen you two together. You was with him! You fell for the Goblin King's charms! Traitor!" he cried out angrily.

"One traitor meets another...and after all these years." came a cool voice. "How very fitting." Jareth stepped forth from some trees and moved to Sarah putting his arms possessively around her. Hoggle's eyes widened and then slanted with anger. Jareth raised his chin, looking as arrogant as ever. "Well well well. If it isn't Hoghead?"

"Oooooohhh! It's Hoggle!!!" The dwarf cried out, his face bright red.

"Whatever. You really are a contradiction, do you know that?" he said coolly.

"What are you talkin about?" Hoggle demanded. Sarah noticed that he seemed to have no fear for the Goblin King that once scared him.

"You claim that Sarah is a traitor for being with me now, yet if I remember correctly it was you 20 years ago who betrayed me to help her. That makes you a traitor as well." The Goblin King said coldly. Hoggle opened his mouth but snapped it shut. "Nothing to say now, Hoggle?" Jareth stressed the use of his name.

"I just wants to know why? You hated him!" Hoggle asked Sarah. There was some sadness and some jealousy in his voice.

Sarah shook her head. "I didn't hate him Hoggle. How could I hate the man who gave me my dreams?"

"But he didn't! He tried to make me bring you backs to the beginning, he made me give ya that peach!""

Sarah smiled at the memory of the crystal ballroom. "Yes he did. He was playing his part as the Goblin King, but he also did everything I wanted. He took my brother when I asked him to and he gave me a chance to win him back. He gave me a chance to meet my fantasies."

Hoggle sighed, his shoulders slumped. "Why didn't cha call us Sarah?" there was definitely sadness in his voice.

Sarah felt guilty for not calling him again. She felt guilty for not calling any of her friends. She sighed. "Because I wanted everyone and....and that meant." She glanced at Jareth who still looked every inch the insolent king she remembered.

"That meant me as well." Jareth finished, his voice still cold as he glared at the dwarf.

Hoggle shot him a look. "Ya don't need him Sarah! He's only gonna hurt ya." Sarah shook her head and kneeled before Hoggle putting a finger to his lips. "No Hoggle. He's not."

Hoggle gently moved her hand away. "How ya know that?"

"Because she knows that I love her." Jareth said loudly, clearly. It was the first time he has said it aloud for someone else to hear, other then Sarah and her daughter. His love for Sarah made him feel vulnerable, and he knew it was something he would need to get used to, because his love for her would not change.

"You don't know what love is!" Hoggle cried out, ignoring the King's heartfelt confession.

Jareth rolled his eyes. "Oh not this again." He put his hands on his slender hips.

"You don't love her!"

"Yes I do!"

"No you don't!"

"Stop it both of you!" Sarah cried out. They were acting like little children. "For once you are wrong about Jareth, Hoggle. He does love me and he's proved it many times. I'm sorry that is hard for you to understand or believe but it's the truth."

Hoggle crossed his arms over his chest. "He don't know what truth is. All he knows is lies and deceptions."

"On the contrary Hoggle. Jareth has been nothing but honest with me." She was standing now and Jareth was by her side, making his place known to the dwarf. Sarah was his, and his alone.

Hoggle swallowed as he gazed at the pair. He hated to admit that they made a wonderful couple. Sarah with her long dark hair and hazel eyes, her strong will and The Goblin King with his wild blond locks, pale skin and a will as strong as Sarah's. "And you loves him in return, don't ya?"

Sarah lifted her chin defiantly. The look on her face, her stance reminded both the dwarf and the Goblin King of the Sarah from so long ago. "Yes I do." Her stance softened. "You're my friend Hoggle and I hope you can understand things."

Hoggle smiled at the word. "I'm stills your friend?"

'Of course you are and I hope that we will remain friends for a long time. I hope that you and Jareth will be able to get along, for my sake at least."

The dwarf looked up at the Goblin King and back at the grown woman who once was a child. "All right. I'll try to be nice to him."

Sarah looked at Jareth who sighed. "Fine, but I'm only doing it because it pleases you."

Sarah smiled. "Good. Now shake hands. "

Jareth and Hoggle both growled and awkwardly shook hands.

"Wonderful. Now let's go see my daughter."

"Daughter? Ya gots a daughter?" Hoggle asked surprised. He then looked at Jareth. "Tells me it's not his." The Goblin King slanted his mismatched eyes.

"Hoggle!" she cried out horrified. "That wasn't very nice!"

"I was just telling me honest opinion. We got one of him running around, we don't need more like him."

"Why you little..." Jareth started rushing forward. For the first time Hoggle looked genuinely scared and he backed away from the enraged King.

"Jareth stop! Hoggle apologize. That wasn't very nice."

Hoggle sighed. "All right, I'm sorry."

Sarah took Jareth's hand and started to lead him away when she saw him refuse Hoggle's apology. "Ary must be wondering where we are."

They found the little girl playing with Megmora. The dragon was blowing smoke rings from her nostrils and Ary was rushing around after them, trying to catch them before they drifted too high. Hoggle smiled when he saw the child. She was beautiful and looked so much like Sarah.

"She's beautiful...just like her mum." Hoggle said aloud as he watched the child.

Sarah smiled sweetly and she noticed that Jareth looked annoyed. She nearly giggled at his expression. Surely he wasn't...? Maybe he was jealous.

Ary suddenly noticed her mother and the Goblin King and stopped her running. "Mommy look! Meg is making rings for me to catch!"

"Meg?" Jareth questioned.

The dragon smiled, her sharp teeth visible. "She has given me a nickname."

"So I see."

"Ary sweetie, I want you to come over and meet someone. Someone that helped me through the Labyrinth when I was here." The little girl bounded over gleefully rushing between Sarah and Jareth. "Aryanna, I would like you to meet my friend Hoggle."

The dwarf smiled as sweetly as he could. "Hello."

"He's little!" She giggled.

"Ary!" Sarah scolded angrily. She shot a look at Jareth when he grinned wickedly almost encouraging the child.

"No it's all right. I am who I am." Hoggle shrugged.

"You knew mommy?"

"Yes, a very long time ago. I helped her through the Labyrinth."

"You helped her get back Uncle Toby?"

Hoggle nodded. He remained silent studying the child. He wasn't very good with children and didn't know what to say to her. He was surprised and relieved when Jareth saved him.

"Ary, let's go play so that your mother can talk with Hoggle." Sarah smiled her thanks at the chance of being able to talk alone with her old friend. Jareth nodded sweetly and then picked up the child in his arms, spinning her wildly across the small open meadow. Both of their laughter filled the air.

Hoggle frowned as he watched. It was obvious that Sarah's daughter adored the Goblin King and he had a funny feeling the Goblin King felt the same way about her.

Sarah watched as Jareth asked Megmora to blow more smoke rings and he quickly began to pull forth crystals that he hurled effortlessly through the center of the smoke rings. They exploded into different colors when they reached the other side of the ring. They reminded Sarah of small fireworks. It wasn't long before Jareth gestured for Ary to try and get one through and the game was on.

"I would never have thought ya would return here...and with him no less." Hoggle sounded bitter and he didn't care. "You called him, but you didn't call us." He shook his head, clearly upset.

"I didn't call him Hoggle."

"Ya had to. He couldn't go to ya unless ya called him."

"I didn't call him. I haven't thought about Jareth since I was a teenager, I've had a lot more important things on my mind. Like raising my daughter."

"How did he enter your life then?"

"That would be a better question for my 8 year old daughter."

"She called him?"

"Oh yes and somehow convinced him to stay with us to help make me happy again." She gazed at Jareth dreamily as she watched him and her daughter continue to play their new game. "And he has made me happier then I could have imagined."

"Are ya gonna live here now?"

His words broke her out of her dreamy thoughts. "I don't know Hoggle."

"I don't understands ya? He makes ya happy and ya don't know if ya will stay?"

"It's not my decision to make. It's Ary's. I want to stay. I'm already enjoying it here. But I want what's best for my daughter. She doesn't have a father."

Hoggle sighed. He was disliking this whole situation less and less. "And ya want the Goblin King to be her father?"

Sarah nodded. "Ary will need to make the decision herself. I won't put her through what my father put me through. My step-mom was thrown into my life. My dad never even bothered to ask me if I wanted a new mom. He married her, just like that...I wasn't even invited to the wedding. I was visiting my real mother for the weekend and my father married this other woman...just like that." Sarah shook her head. 'I won't do that to my daughter. She likes Jareth but I don't know if she likes him enough to want him to be her father. She can choose." She gazed at Hoggle with tear filled eyes. "I'll know her decision in a week or two."

Hoggle merely nodded. "I should go. Got places to go, people to see, work to be done."

"Will I see you again?"

"If ya want to." He shrugged.

"I do want to see you again Hoggle. Have you seen Ludo or Sir Didymus?"

'I have, but not for a long time. Didymus went back to guarding the new bridge that crosses the Bog of Eternal Stench." He shivered at the thought of the place. "Ludo went off on his own. He wanted to stay with Didymus but couldn't stand the stench. I don't knows where he went."

Sarah nodded sadly. "Thanks Hoggle." She bent to kiss him and he pulled violently away from her, pointing a finger at her.

"Don't ya kiss me! Last time ya did that we almost ended up in the bog!"

Sarah giggled. "I forgot about that."

"Yeah well I didn't. I gots to go. Don't let your guard down around that rat who calls himself Jareth."

"Don't worry about me Hoggle. I can take care of myself."

Hoggle nodded, somewhat satisfied and he left the gardens.

Sarah sighed and turned to watch Jareth and Ary. They were playing hide and seek now and Megmora had joined in. She smiled as she watched them, settling herself down on the soft grass. This sure beat typing all day at the office.