Title: I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday

Rating: G/PG

Fandom: labyrinth

Parts: 3

Disclaimer: I don't own labyrinth, the title is from the song of the same

name

Summary: Sarah is reunited with her true father with interesting results;

sequel to Do you Really Want to Hurt Me

The teenager huffed as she stomped up to her stairs, anxious to retreat

to her room, her inner sanctum. That was where she could deal with her

anger, that was where everything was about her and everything was all

right. No stupid rules, or stupid parents that didn't mind their own

business...just because she didn't act like a regular teenager!!! What

did they want her to act like...some boy-crazed half wit who got lousy

grades and stayed out all night long? Why couldn't her parents be proud

of her for once instead of giving her the twenty question routine: Why

don't you go out with friends? Do you have any friends? Why are you so

quiet? Is there something going on that you're not telling us? Why

don't you date? Don't you like boys? Do you need to see someone? Would

you feel more comfortable talking to someone else? Why aren't you

normal?

            Sarah slammed the door as she entered and crumbled on the bed. This

was not exactly what she had had in mind after returning from

that...place. She wasn't sure if it had been a dream caused by stress,

or if it had really happened, but she was beyond that now. She would

grow up; that didn't mean she would behave like a moron, though. She

sat up in shock and shrieked as someone over the height limit dared to

set foot in the Sarah Zone.

            "Sarah...can't we talk about this?!" Karen asked.

            "I try to talk, you just keep asking me questions!!!"

            "We're just worried about you-"

            "WHY? Because I can't get a date? Because I get good grades? Because

I'm a responsible citizen and have good hygeine habits? WHAT MORE DO

YOU WANT FROM ME!!!???"

            "Let her go, Karen...she just needs to cool off." Sarah grimaced at

her father's voice. That was his reply to everything: just let her go.

No "My, but I'm proud of you, Sarah," No "Gee I know you're life has

been a little tough but I do love you and I'm sure glad you're my

daughter, Sarah," Not even a "Sarah, I know it's bribery, but just to

show you that I know you're alive, how about I buy you a new piece of

jewelry to heal past wounds?" Nope. It was always, "Leave her be," "Let

her go," "She just needs to cool off." No wonder she barely knew her

father any more...it was like he had gotten bored with her after she

had grown too old to take to the petting zoo.

            Sarah gave her stepmother a hard stare as her eyes found the one

picture of her real mother that was sitting on her dresser. Rolling her

eyes, the woman left to see to Toby. Now that was someone she could

identify with, at least. Ever since that...thing, she had held a

particular fondness for the boy, maybe because it was by watching her

parents take care of him, she could see they did have hearts, after

all. Or maybe they just had a new toy to play with. Sighing, she

considered the picture. Her real mother didn't even write anymore...too

involved with some part or another. She knew that was life, that was

the way things were, but still...

            It wasn't fair.

            Little did she know that there was someone who was proud of her, there

was someone that loved her with all his being, there was someone who

would kill to have her back in his life, but little did she know that

by her actions, that was all but impossible.

            Sighing, she lay back down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. To

put the situation in teen language: it sucked. She breathed deeply as

she recalled stories she had used to love to hear, used to love to lose

herself in...With only a little hesitation, she got up and went to the

closet and stood face to face with THE BOX. The box that held all the

so-called childish things she had put away...and for what? To get

color-coordinated file cabinets and desk organizers? To read teen

magazines that practically made her gag every time she opened one up to

the new quiz that tested how well you conformed? In short, the

situation didn't just suck. It sucked really bad.

            Slowly, she examined the contents: costumes, toys, stuffed

animals...books. Oh, the books! She had loved them ever since she was

little, loved to crawl inside their worlds where she was the boss or at

least she could hide from all the craziness of the real world. Smiling

slightly, she sorted through them until her hand automatically clasped

around a small volume with a red leather cover. Upon seeing it, she

recoiled as if attacked by a viper. That one was definitely not an

option...but still...

            Unable to put it back in the closet, she tossed it on her bed and

continued her search. Taking out a book of stories, she smiled as she

read Hanzel and Gretel...she had always loved the ending, where the

children escape from the wicked witch and arrive safely home to be

welcomed by a loving father...

            She had thought it would be that simple, that Karen was the enemy. But

in reality, neither one was much of a gem. Sighing, she sat on the bed

and paged through the book, smiling softly at the illustrations and

tracing the borders of the pages with a delicate finger.

            "Sarah I-" Sarah looked up in shock at the woman who had dared to

invade her space for the second time that evening. Uh-oh...she had that

look...that shocked look grown-ups got when they saw someone they

thought was absolutely beserk, that

I'm-telling-the-other-parent-and-we're-going-to-have-a-talk-and-there's-

nothing-you-can-do-about-it look. "Sarah...I should have known! How can

you expect us to treat you like an adult if you keep acting like a child!

Really!" With that, she turned on her heal and headed downstairs to break

the news to the man of the household.

            Anger burned in the girl's eyes...this was insane! Why couldn't they

just admit that she was different...she had other interests, so what?!

Inside, the wish that was always there boiled up into her soul...the

longing to be somewhere where she would be appreciated and loved...the

longing to be home...

            Abruptly, instinct took over. She had no idea why she said it, or why

she would even think it. Maybe it was because her eyes fell on the

other book, maybe it was because she couldn't think of anything else to

say...maybe it was because that deep, deep in her being, she knew she

didn't belong there. She knew she had to go back to where she was meant

to be.

            "I wish...I wish...I wish the goblins would come and take me away,

right now!!!"

*********************************************

            Jareth immediately straightened in his throne...it couldn't be...after

all these years of waiting, and then thinking it was finally over...it

had happened! The version of the words took him by surprise, but it did

make things easier in the long run. Standing up, he prepared for her

arrival...

            They would have so much to catch up on; more than she knew. But he had

to find a gentle way to tell her without scaring her too much...but

first things first! He had to take care of the ungrateful surrogates

that had raised her for him. Conjuring a crystal, he sent it on the

winds to the Williams household...soon they would no longer remember

they had a daughter...and neither would the other mother, the actress.

Humans; they couldn't really appreciate a good thing until it was gone,

anyway, but the last thing he needed was for someone to figure things

out and come after her. Now all that was left to do was wait...she'd

be able to get there with her own magic, now that the spell had been

broken. Of course, she'd have no idea until he explained a few things

to her...

            Smiling slightly, he barked orders to his minions to prepare her

chambers. His daughter would soon be home.

I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday part 2

Sarah blinked as she woke the next day...she felt strange, almost

light-headed. Things were different...Moaning softly, she turned her

head to see what time her alarm clock read...it wasn't there. Blinking

more rapidly, she tried again...it still wasn't there. Raising up onto

an elbow didn't help at reproducing the stupid alarm clock at all, but

it did give her a view of her room...or, at least, the room she was now

in.

            Her eyes widened in shock and slight horror as they took in their

surroundings...a beautiful medieval bedchambers that was absolutely

huge Antique furniture filled its corners and a lush fur rug covered

the floor. It was then that her body caught up with her eyes and

realized that the bed she was in was *definitely* not hers...it was ten

times better. Covered with a fern-green canopy and matching comfortor

that seemed to mold itself over her body in a way that was simply

delicious, it was one of the biggest, softest, most comfortable beds

she had ever seen and felt. Every one of her teenage instincts screamed

Go back to bed!!! Get your sleep...can you believe all the pillows you

have?! Shut your eyes, blast it! The logical part of her knew she had

to get up, though, and being quite a logical person in situation such

as these, she obeyed.

            Her feet sunk deep into the rug and she fought a contented sigh. Her

head turned at a snap from the an ember in the fireplace...*I have a

fireplace?* she thought, smiling slightly at the thought, then

immediately trying to snap herself out of that moment of euphoria. That

was insane! She wasn't at home...she wasn't supposed to have a

fireplace!!! *Fireplace, bad! Tiny bed, lots of stuffed animals...good,

maybe....what do you mean, maybe!! Of course it's good, that's where

you're supposed to be...isn't it?*

             She jerked herself out of the mental battle between emotions and

logic as her gaze found the mirror over the vanity. Sarah's mouth fell

open in a silent "o" as she stared at the girl's reflection...was it

her? It looked like her but somewhat more...mystical. She still had her

large brown eyes, but now they shone with a magic light. Her fair skin

was much paler, much more aristocratic looking and her hair was still

long and dark, but now it was more lush, had more of a presence...it

was like after doubting herself for the first part of adolescence, her

image was suddenly brought into focus. Obviously, it freaked her out,

but she was entranced by the change, as well...

            The feeling welled up inside her again and she frowned, only slightly

startled by the now-perfectly sculpted lips that mirrored her action in

the looking glass. She felt different, but not in a bad way...more like

she was...complete? But she was a teenager! She was supposed to feel

like she was in constant turmoil and chaos!!! This time, though,

emotions kicked logic out of the picture and she became more curious

about these developments...what had happened to her? And where was she?

Briefly, she furrowed her elegant brows as she considered what had

happened the night before...

            *Okay...had a fight with Dad and Karen, stormed upstairs like normal,

was interupted twice, found the box of stuff...read a book....took out

another...* Her eyes widened as she remembered the words she had

uttered in total defeat...but nothing had happened! She had cried her

eyes out, gotten cleaned up, then went to bed, same as every night.

*That's normal...routine good, appearing in a strange room and looking

fantastic ba-oh, shut up!* Emotions were quickly taking the high

ground. So...if she wasn't in that...place, where was she?

            As if in response, a tingling began in her mind and made its way down

her neck, shoulder, and arm until it stopped at her fingertips. It grew

more intense by the second, as if she had to let it escape right that

moment! It almost grew too painful when suddenly, automatically, her

wrist flicked and a crystal appeared in her palm. So that settled it,

then...she was back in the labyrinth. But why was she in the castle?

And why the hell did she have magic!!!!??? *That's not supposed to be

possible...normal human, good, turning into some magical thing..oh,

shut up! You know you're excited! Just go with it! You've got a great

room, a huge bed, a fireplace, you look great, you've got magical

powers just like-* At that, logic ran back into the picture.

            Jareth. He was in the labyrinth. Where she was...very close, most

likely. Then she was most definitely in danger...he would kill her!

After what happened last time, that was all he could want to do...this

was probably just some sort of compensation, like a last meal or

something...

            *Speaking of food...I'm hungry. I need to eat...I wonder if there's

any food around here...I'm so hungry, I'd even eat peac-NO!!! Don't

think that don't think it don't think it!!! You remember what it did to

you the last time?* Logic was becoming stronger...

             But then a force even stronger took hold. *But I'm hungry!!!* Okay,

so the first order of business was to get food....hmmm....more like the

first order of business was to get dressed, she realized, looking down

in awe at the beautiful nightgown she was wearing. It was floor length,

sleeveless with an empire waist and was pale blue in color. *Wow! If

this is your nightgown just think of all the amazing clothes that are

here for you in the daytime!!!* Sarah started to cross to a wardrobe to

see what, exactly lay in store for her, when another problem presented

itself. No, wait...the first order of business wasn't to get

dressed...the first order of business was to get rid of the crystal in

her hand! But how?

            *Didn't Jareth just throw it up in the air and it disappeared?* she

reminded herself. Nodding in reassurance, she tossed the sphere up into

the air where it majestically hung there, as if suspended only on her

whim...

        ...for about two seconds before crashing to the floor and

shattering into pieces.

******************************

            Jareth chuckled slightly at Sarah's expression...magic did take a

while to get used to and she hadn't had the ability since she was an

infant. He let his own crystal disappear to give her privacy while she

dressed and headed towards the dining room. He would meet her there and

attempt to give her some sort of explanation that she wouldn't run away

screaming from.

            From his throne, he spied one of the brighter goblins and ordered it

to escort its mistress to breakfast. Then he raised from his throne,

checked his appearance to make sure he was worthy to be seen, then

started towards the dining room.

3

Jareth's heart leaped as Sarah made her appearance...after all these

years, to finally have her back! And she looked absolutely

stunning...her face, her hair, her...

            blue jeans?

            Why in the Underground was she dressed like a human!!!? He had given

her any sort of clothes she could possibly need....and she had magic!!!

Why had she conjured a pair of blue jeans and a T-shirt!? Keeping his

expression calm, he spoke upon noticing her frightened expression.

            "Sarah...you don't have to be afraid! You're not going to be hurt..."

            "Yeah right! Why should I trust you!?" she shot back, and he winced at

the bitterness in her voice.

            "Because...." He knew he should be discreet, he knew he should tell

her all the background first and then spring it on her...but hey, this

approached had worked for that guy in the mask in that one movie, so

maybe the direct way was better! "Because, I'm your father." Her eyes

widened and slowly an odd sound began to fill the air.

            Sarah was laughing.

            "Please! At least tell me an excuse that's reasonable!!!" she said,

falling into a chair from laughing so hard.

            "Are you done yet? All right, then...if you need proof, I can give it

to you," he said softly, producing a crystal. Slowly, slowly the images

began to form...and her story was told to the princess.

*****************

            Sarah's mind was spinning...this had to be a bizarre dream! A little

too much caffeine, that was all! But then what was with the

feeling...the feeling that everything was true and this was as it

should be? As the images of her birth, her real parents, her mother's

death, her fate flashed before her eyes she struggled to comprehend

that everything she had known before wasn't meant for her. She really

was different. Finally, when the crystal had vanished she looked up at

Jareth. Her father.

            "Why didn't you just tell me the first time!"

            "Because I couldn't or else I would never have you back."

            "What if I didn't want to come back." She regretted it the moment it

was spoken. The look on the king's face didn't help any, either.

            "If you truly cannot find it in your heart to forgive me and to accept

this land as your home then I will send you back with no memory of

this. You will be free to live your life as you see fit and never be

plagued by me again..." He almost didn't say it; she could tell he was

struggling to decide whether to bother adding the next sentence. "But

I'll miss you forever, Sarah...I love you. Her mind slowly began to

comprehend the sentence...had she ever been told that by Karen and her

dad...except he wasn't her dad. Jareth was her dad...*Jareth's my

dad?!* Shaking herself out of the sudden realization that there was

truly nothing on earth for her, she raised her eyes to meet her

father's mournful stare. Her father....she still couldn't picture

it...he was so stoic, so unemotional...so...alien, almost. But he had

said he had loved her...something the man she had thought to be her

father had never said...making him seem more alien than the king, the

father she had never known.

            "I'll stay...I can't go back," she sighed. "But won't they-"

            "They won't remember you...only Toby will have a slight memory of his

visit here, but nothing that he won't think a dream." Nodding she

struggled to consider all the new information.

            "Sarah...this life will take getting used to. I must warn you....you

have to learn to use your magic, you'll have to get used to your

surroundings and the goblins...you'll have to get used to me. But know

that I will try to be patient, I will try to do my best to help you,

because I don't want to ever lose you again. Nodding, she tried to

understand that Jareth was actually uttering those words...in the back

of her mind she shuddered at the memory of all the dreams she had had

about him...somehow, this situation never came up.

            "Now...it might be more...appropriate for you to change into..."

            "What? What's wrong with this? It's comfortable!" she replied, staring

at him blankly.

            "In this realm most of us dress more....suitably," he finally

finished, choosing his words carefully.

            "What, so now I'm a slob! Great...just great...well thank you Mr.

Fashion Plate!!" she said, volume rising with each word...she didn't

know why she was yelling, it was just a natural reflex she had when

dealing with really bizarre situations, a category this definitely fit

into. "I'm sorry if I can't do magic right yet, if I can't dress

right...If I didn't know not to leave the first time...I'M SORRY!!" she

screeched, standing up so fast the chair fell over. "I...I....I can't

do anything right!"

            Sarah turned away quickly and covered her face with a hand...how

embarrassing. She just had so much to take in, to process, to deal

with...she would be living a completely different life from now on. And

she couldn't even please human parents...how was she supposed to deal

with Jareth!!? There was no way she would last...maybe she had made the

wrong decision, after all..

            She looked up through her tears as gentle arms enfolded her and turned

her towards her father. Looking up at him her mouth opened slightly as

she struggled to comprehend the fact that the goblin king was actually

crying. Silently, he held her and ran a gloved hand over her hair,

reassuring her with his presence and strength.

            Finally, he whispered, "Yes, my dear daughter...you do many things

right...you came back to me, you followed your heart. You have no idea

how proud I am of you, or how proud your mother would be...I do love

you, with all my being. I know it won't be easy, and I know it will

take a while, but I'll be here for you, no matter what." She pulled

back slightly and looked into tender, mismatched eyes. The feeling of

completeness resonated throughout her soul as her father bent and

softly kissed her forehead and she knew that finally, finally she was

where she belonged. She was home.