"Hmph." Rapture, playing with a crystal in the sunlight by the pool, listened as Riot read her the morning paper. "Jareth's not even pressing charges anymore. At least Benton could have gotten in some trouble."

"Well, it saves me getting in trouble," Minx huffed, standing beside Riot.

"It doesn't save Jerrica Benton," Riot said. "She's being investigated by social services. She's the head of a house for orphaned girls; any allegations of wrongdoing have to be looked into." He shrugged. "Pizzazz will love this."

"But…if Jerrica is stuck doing that, then will the Holograms still be playing for the Sun Records party?"

Riot’s cell phone rang, he spoke into it briefly, then hung up and turned back to Minx. "Ask, and you shall receive. No, Minx, they just cancelled. Eric says they’re looking for a few acts to fill their slots. I told him we were available." He leaned back. "Now get out of my light…"

*****

Jareth didn’t see the harm in taking a short evening visit to Starlight House. Sarah was still there, staying with Cindy, since her mother didn’t feel it would be appropriate to take her on the set. He knew as well as Sarah did that Linda Williams only concern was making sure that the producer fell madly in love with her, and teenaged daughters on the set tend to stifle a seduction.

It was surprisingly easy to find an open window. In the night, the girls often left them open to catch the lovely night breezes that smelled of the ocean. He’d learned this from previous excursions in his owl form, and found that the best method of getting inside. He simply found a window high above the camped out reporters and fluttered in and became himself.

Laura’s room. The guitar was on the bed, and he could hear the shower running from behind the closed bathroom door, and her soft little voice singing her own songs. He liked all the Starlight girls, but he felt a particular kinship with her. A head full of dreams…like his Sarah. No, Sarah was not his…but no matter what, he would always give her that fond tag. He was unable to think of her any other way. With a smile, he left and walked into the mansion. It was labyrinthine in itself, but he had no trouble navigating it. He found his way to the living room easily. Sarah was inside, tired and irritated, and giving the social worker her share of trouble. "No," she was saying, "I didn't see anything like that. Cindy loves it here, all the girls do. I can't imagine why you'd think-"

"We just have to ask, you understand," the lady replied.

"No, I don't. It's ridiculous. I hope you all get sued."

"I seriously doubt it."

Jareth cleared his throat. Sarah immediately sat bolt upright, but the other merely turned around. "Sir?"

"If you're done with the young lady, I'd like to speak to her for a moment."

"I'm quite done," she answered, standing up primly and gazing down at Sarah with disapproval. The girl never noticed. Her eyes were trained on Jareth.

"Good day," Jareth prodded. The woman bustled out.

"What do you want?" Sarah demanded.

"To speak to you."

"About what? Does Jerrica know you’re here?"

He looked at her for a moment, sizing her up. She was stronger than ever, and certainly more beautiful. He fought the urge to smile at her, to simply embrace her like an old friend and say, "Sarah, so good to see you, how've you been?" She had never understood the game, still didn't. What would be the use of explaining the confines of the story to her, of treating her as an equal and a friend instead of an adversary? But he could be the hero now, couldn't he? He could, if he wanted to. He did smile then, anticipating her surprise.

"Sarah, I want to put the past behind us. We are not bound by a fairy story any longer. It is just you and I."

"Nice try," she snapped, cutting him off. "I don't know what you're up to, but it won't work."

"I'm not up to anything."

"What do you call this?" she cried, raising her hands and indicating the general situation Jerrica and Starlight House were in.

"I call it a mistake. And not mine. I had nothing to do with this; Jerrica is the victim of the same people who tried to defame me."

"Just lies!"

"I never lied to you," he answered, growing angry.

She put a hand to her head wearily. "I don't know that. It's almost like it was just a dream, what you did to me."

"I did nothing you didn't ask for. I did only what you wanted. And you learned."

"I learned," she admitted, sighing. "I learned. Oh, be careful what you wish for, truer words were never spoken." She looked at him. "What do you want from me, then? What do you ask for?"

"Only what I said. That we forget what passed between us. We were trapped by a story, Sarah. I was trapped, forced to be the villain. I won't do it any more."

She tilted her head, thinking. For one horrible moment, he was sure she would say, "Generous? What have you done that’s generous?" But instead, she said softly, "You mean you want to be friends."

"Yes, if you would like."

She stood there, considering him. "I think I would, Jareth. I really think I would."

Outside the room, Danse listened. Eavesdropping was becoming a disturbing habit, but she had meant it when she said she was going to find out who Jareth really was. And now she knew. She leaned against the wall, the realization hitting home, her breath caught in her throat. Yes, she knew.

Sarah had told the truth.

Jareth was the Goblin King...

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