Hoggle heard unfamiliar voices approaching from the other end of the hall and dodged into an adjoining room. Closing the door but not completely he peeked through the cracked opening of the door watching and waiting for them to come into view. He almost ran out of his hiding as he finally heard a familiar voice and recognized it as Sarah’s immediately but decided against it. Seeing Sarah brought a smile to his face but he was reluctant to show himself. It looked as though she was surrounded by friends, she obviously didn’t need him and he would most probably just get in the way. He stepped back shock written on his face, as Sarah looked his way as if she had seen him. Looking about the room for a hiding place he froze as the door was opened.

Discussing some spells with Willow, Sarah’s attention was pulled away from the red head as she felt someone watching them. Approaching a door she noticed slightly ajar, Sarah forced it opened and smiled warmly as she recognized her friend Hoggle standing before her. “Hoggle!” she exclaimed excitedly, she had not seen him since she had helped him come out of his own mind.

Hoggle looked to the ground, foot grinding into the floor as he held his hands behind his back, “Hi, Sarah” he answered sheepishly. He was surprised when Sarah crouched down beside him.

Standing beside Riley, Buffy looked over the small figure that Sarah recognized. For some reason she didn’t think that he looked like a goblin but for the life or her had no idea what exactly he was. Before she could inquire Willow beat her to it.

“Who’s the friend?” Willow asked with a warm smile on her face.

Sarah looked to the others as she rose, standing beside Hoggle, “This is my friend Hoggle. Hoggle this is Willow, Buffy, Riley and Xander.”

Hoggle looked to the group shyly not sure how to act around humans, Sarah had been the only one in which he knew. “You here to help Sarah?” he asked with slight hesitation.

Buffy smiled, he was not at all like the rude goblin creatures she had met, “Yep, Slayer and gang to the rescue.”

Hoggle rose his brow, not sure how to interpret her words. Not feeling overly comfortable he huffed, “Got to go. I…uh gots duties to do…Bye!” hurrying away from them he rounded the corner heading away as quickly as his small legs could carry him away.

Riley looked to the others, “Well, that was interesting.”

Sarah frowned as she watched her friend’s retreat. Worried for her friend she smiled to the others, “Hey, you guys go ahead, I’ll catch up with you later.”

No one was given time to reply as Sarah rushed past them in the direction that Hoggle had fled. Willow shrugged, “I guess it’s just us then. Let’s explore.” She secretly crossed her fingers hoping that they would accept.

Remembering what had happened the last time she went snooping around the castle Buffy shook her head, “No way, the last time I did that I got griped at by a talking door and thrown on my ass.”

Willow looked disappointed, “Okay, but I’m going. Anyone want to join me?” She looked around at her group of friends hoping someone would come along.

Xander shrugged his shoulders, “Sure, I’ll go. Its not like I have anything else to do.”

Willow jumped with joy taking him by the arm as she led him down the hall away from Buffy and Riley, “Bye. See you guys later!”

Taking Riley’s hand in hers, Buffy smiled warmly up to him, “I hope after all of this we’re able to bring Willow back. She’s liking this place way too much.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Bringing Buffy closer he leaned down to kiss her, “It’s not that bad.”

Buffy grinned against his lips, “Well, if you put it that way.” Pulling away from his kiss she pulled him with her as she headed for they’re appointed room. Might as well take full advantage of their free time while they were here.

Quickly making her way down the halls Sarah scanned ahead of her in search for Hoggle. To her relief she saw him just as he was rounding another corner, “Hoggle, wait!”

Hoggle stopped in mid stride as he heard Sarah call his name. Turning around he waited for her to catch up.

Catching up to her friend Sarah looked to him worriedly, “Hoggle, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothins. I just didn’t wants to be a bother.”

Sarah crouched down to hug him, “Oh Hoggle, you’re never a bother. Why would you think such a thing?”

Hoggle blushed as she hugged him, “Err…I don’t know.”

Smiling warmly down to her friend Sarah looked away towards where she had left her other friends, “You know Hoggle after all this is over I’m staying here.”

Hoggle was shocked, never did he imagine that she would willingly stay here, “You…you are?”

“Yeah, this place is my home. It’s always been my home and you’re like family to me.”

He was at a loss of words as to what to say. He’d never been a part of a family, “Family? But what abouts your parents and Toby?”

Hearing Toby’s name made her heart ache a little, sighing Sarah sat on the floor beside Hoggle as she looked to the wall in front of her. “Toby is the only one that I’ll miss. My mother doesn’t try to contact or talk to me anymore. My dad barely ever even looks at me let alone speaks to me.”

His heart pained and then angered. ‘How dare they treat her like that? She deserves better.’ Patting her knee he met her eyes in concern, “You alright?”

Sarah greeted his question with a weak smile, “Yeah, there’s something else I need to tell you.” She waited for his reply.

Hoggle sat beside her on the floor, “Go on.”

Taking in a deep breath Sarah looked to her friend, “You know everything about me being the only one to ever solve the labyrinth. Well, it seems that I was meant to all along.” She waited for a reaction but all Hoggle did was lean against the wall listening. “There is this book that describes a young woman defeating the labyrinth and returning a time later. It says that her powers will become great and that she will become the defender of right. Two weeks ago I found out that I had become a Slayer, someone to kill vampires and defend against the forces of evil. Hoggle, the young woman described in the book is me.”

Hoggle soaked in her words, not totally shocked about the revelation. He had always known that there was something special about Sarah. Finally it all started to make sense, how she had known that he was hiding behind the door watching, how she was able to help him escape his mental prison, how she had defeated the labyrinth.

Sarah turned to face Hoggle slightly concerned with his silence, “Hoggle?”

Hoggle blinked bringing himself out of his musings. Smiling to her he wasn’t sure what she was wanting him to say, “The defender of right. Then why aint ya taking care of that Goblin King?” he asked suddenly as the vision of her in his arms flashed through his mind.

She was a bit shocked at the sudden change of subject, but she was wondering when he would say something about her and Jareth being together. “Hoggle, I love him and he…”

Hoggle cut her off in mid sentence, “Well, he don’t deserve it. He aint no good for ya’s.”

Sarah stood from the floor slightly angered at his response, “Hoggle! That is not true. I know he can be a bit hard to get along with.” Softening her voice she crouched down taking Hoggle’s hand in hers, “Please Hoggle, I love him and he loves me. I have never felt as complete and happy as I do when I’m with him. Please be happy for me.”

Hoggle frowned as he got back to his feet, if it wasn’t Sarah asking he would have never even considered it, “I don’t likes it but since you asked.”

Hugging him in a bear hug she smiled with relief, “Thank you Hoggle this means the world for me.”

Hoggle shyly pulled away, “Well, don’ts be expectin me to be all liking his Royal Highness. I still thinks Jareth’s a low down rat…but I’m happy that you’re happy.”

Sarah shook her head, “Well, that’s a start.” A frown crossed her brow as she felt an odd sensation, something was wrong. Hurriedly she ran towards the library hoping that her intuition was wrong leaving Hoggle standing alone in confusion.

Rounding the corner she bolted into the library already feeling a sinking sensation as she saw a few books scattered about the floor near the adjoining room’s door. Cautiously she made her way towards the door hoping that Giles was all right. Sarah swallowed hard as she saw the mess of papers and books about the floor. There was no sign of Giles anywhere and the book that had been sitting on the desk was gone.

“Jareth!” she called out suddenly fearing the worst.

He was there in an instant as he heard Sarah’s call, “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Sarah was relieved to see Jareth, “Can you find Giles?”

Seeing the mess of his study and the expression on Sarah’s face she did not have to ask him twice as he summoned one of his crystals in search for Giles location. To his dismay Giles was no where within or around the castle. Jareth shook his head, “He is no where within the castle grounds.”

Her hand came up to her forehead in worry, “Could you get the others? They need to know that he’s missing.”

With a cool wave of his hand all were present within the room. Xander and Willow looked about them in bewilderment not at all use to the sudden change in atmosphere. Buffy and Riley were busily tidying their clothes as they were caught in the middle of something.

Buffy was not a very happy Slayer, “What the hell?” she stopped herself before she was about to word her anger as she saw the mess within the study. Seeing that Giles was no where in sight she immediately asked, “Where’s Giles?”