Texas wrote the song….I took the liberties to add a story. I hardly
EVER write Sarah/ Jareth stuff…. what the heck has gotten into me? ;)
It's my first Laby Songfic – though I wrote TONS of them for the X-
Files before (who couldn't, with all that angst?) You be the judge.

Put Your Arms Around Me: A Songfic
by Caillean

~Are you ready maybe are you willing to run~
~Are you ready to let yourself drown~
~Are you holding your breath~
~Are you ready or not…~

Sarah gazed across the labyrinth from her vantage point on the hill.
When she had said the words just a few moments earlier, she expected
him to come to her, tell her how he had dreamed of her all these
years. Tell her that he had loved her all along, and asked her to be
his queen. After all, she was in her twenties now, she was old enough.

She had not expected the curt greeting as if he didn't know her, the
sneering face which had somehow disappeared in her dreams over the
years to be replaced with a loving gaze. He had not changed, it
seemed, though she certainly had.

"Don't you remember me?"

"Remember you?" An evil smile. "Remember the spoiled child who wished
her little brother away? Remember the girl who ignored all my gifts,
rejected my offer of dreams, and never let me have a chance? Of
course I remember you, as I remember all the other spoiled children
who travel through my lands."

"But," her voice, quiet. "I've grown older."

"As have I. And we shall grow even older standing here. You have 13
hours…."

~Are you ready maybe do you long to confess~
~Do you feel that you're already numb~
~Are you sure of yourself~
~Would you lie if you're not…~

Jareth watched her through the crystal. How many years had it been
since she had traveled through his labyrinth? How many sleepless
nights had he spent, wondering if the young girl had grown, fallen in
love, married? Why was it, that while only on the verge of womanhood,
she had caught his eye? All those years ago he had been drawn to her
spirit, if not her body. Now, when she was a woman, and she had
called out to him… what was he to do?

Welcome her with open arms? Ask her to be his queen? Damn it, he had
more pride than that.

And yet…

Why was she here? Had she meant it before, when she said he had no
power over him?

Or… had she lied?

~You tire me out don't want to let that happen~

"I have completed your maze."

A languid wave. "Of course, you may go."

"No."

~A secret scream so loud why did you let that happen~

"Why do you do it, Jareth? Why do you shut life out?" A step
closer. "Why do you shut me out?"

"Why do I shut *you* out? Why… why have you come back here? Why did
you even bother? It is too late in the game; you are no longer a
child of fantasy tales. Why return?"

"Because." She smiled ruefully. "You have power over me still."

~You let me believe that you were someone else~
~Cause only time can take you~
~So let me believe that I am someone else ~

They stared at each other across the abyss. Years separated them.
Years and lonely days and fantastical dreams so far from the truth.
But they were beyond dreams here.

Once, there was a childlike innocence.

Now, there was only the truth.

~Maybe are you ready to break~
~Do you think that I push you too far~
~Would you open yourself~
~Are you reckless or not~

It would only take three steps, she thought, and she would be
standing in his arms. Was that what she wanted? Was that what he
wanted? No, she would not go to him like this.

"Jareth."

He looked up, met her deep brown eyes with his own of ice blue, and
smiled ruefully. She would come to him as an equal, or not at all.

"You know the truth Sarah; you know you have held me within your
power for some time now. You know I love you."

She crossed the distance between them.

~So put your arms around me~
~Make me believe~
~Take me, take me somewhere, somewhere~
~Let me believe…~

END