Title: Old Secrets, New Complications - UNFINISHED

Fandom: Labyrinth

Rating: PG so far

Disclaimer: I own nothing of labyrinth, Jara and co are my creations

Summary: Sequel to here we go again that's been sitting around forever.

Sarah deals with custody issues, Emily says the wrong words and has to

solve the labyrinth, Jara tries to help out Sarah and ends up confronting

her past. Or all that will happen when I actually get it written. heh.

Ch. 1

            The clock in the study ticked with its usual, monitored, repetitive beat,

but there was something about it that seemed almost mocking, that drove

the graveness of the situation deeper in her heart instead of to the back

of her mind. Wringing her hands slightly, the woman tried to concentrate

on anything except the wait that she was engaged in...none of the books on

the study's shelves held any interest to her at the moment; she had

probably read them all, anyway. She didn't care about the maps and globes

that were lying about, and she sure as hell didn't care if any requests

were made by any frustrated children at the moment...Surely, though, the

wait was almost over...

            From her side, Sir Didymus glanced over at the goblin queen with large,

sympathetic eyes. "Perhaps it will only be a bit longer, milady," he

soothed, and Jara nodded, biting her lip. It probably wasn't anything...it

would probably be good news, too...she would just be calm and collective

about it, and everything would be fine.

            Jara looked up as the door to the study swung open and the tall figure of

Karius, Jareth's cousin and a doctor, strode in. Glancing again at the

clock confirmed that it had only been a little longer than an hour, but it

had felt like an eternity. Slowly the man walked over to a chair in front

of hers and sat down. Jara's eyes followed him the entire way. He didn't

look like he was about to speak...was he avoiding her gaze?

            "Well, anything?!" she blurted suddenly. *So much for staying calm,* the

queen thought wryly at her apprehension.

            Karius sighed and met her eyes, prepping himself for what he had to tell

her. "Jara, I've done every test I can...I can't find any reason why you

shouldn't be able to have a child. Both you and Jareth are perfectly

healthy...maybe it just isn't time yet," he added upon seeing her anxious

expression. She bit harder into her lip, not caring if it bled or not. It

just couldn't be...after all her good intentions, after all her hopes and

dreams...what was wrong with her?

            "But it's been three years," she insisted, nearly kicking herself as her

voice began to tremble slightly. "Surely there must be something you can

do!!!" It took every ounce of her composure to ignore the burning

sensation that tugged at her eyes. She wouldn't cry...not in front of

people. Karius leaned forward and grasped her hand in his, drawing her

eyes up to his so that he held her complete attention.

            "I've done all I know how to do...Maybe we just need to let nature take

it's course. I'm sure everything will be all right." The doctor smiled

slightly and she nodded reluctantly after a moment. Sighing, Jara stood

with her old friend, knowing there was no way she could argue this.

            "You're probably right...it's just that..." No, they wouldn't understand.

"Never mind..." she sighed and Karius gave her an understanding gaze.

Focusing her mind on other things, she turned to Didymus. There was no way

she would have stayed sane if she had to have waited for the news alone,

and Jareth was off somewhere.

            "Where's Jareth?" she asked quietly. She wouldn't be able to postpone the

news for long...

            "He's in the labyrinth, milady...Checking sections that might need

revising...and he said something about a hunting expedition," the fox

added, frowning slightly. Jara did the same...the sport was never one that

was encouraged in the Underground, and she had never known Jareth to even

approve of it, let alone participate it. He was up to something...she

would just have to wait until he was ready for her to know about it.

Nodding slightly, she turned and headed towards the door.

            "All right...I'll be out, in the labyrinth probably...taking a walk..."

            "Dost thou want me to accompany thee?" Didymus asked immediately.

            "No...I think I need to be alone."

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

            She glanced over at the clumps of trees that made up the Firey Forest

before deliberately walking past...she didn't know if she could handle the

inhabitants' crazy antics at the moment. Instead, Jara headed straight for

the crystal plant maze, not bothering to turn into an owl or transport

herself there. She wanted to use her own two feet...wanted to know that at

least one part of her body still worked the way it was supposed to. Her

gaze softened as she gazed at the glass-like vines and flowers...this had

been the first section of the labyrinth she had ever created, right when

she had been appointed Jareth's second when she was eighteen. Since that

time it had been a good place to find solace and comfort in her soul when

she needed to be alone.

            As she entered a pathway, she kicked at the ground lightly, sighing as

small blades of grass that had been severed by her shoe flew up

momentarily then fell on their whole counterparts. That was just how she

felt...she looked all right, but was she really whole, really working the

way she was supposed to? Frustration mounted and for the first time in her

life Jara was tempted to scream about how unfair everything was. She had

never felt so inferior, not even when she was going through adolescence.

She had been born a female, and now she couldn't even carry out the one

main function that being female meant. So deep in thought was the queen

that she didn't even hear the rustling sound at first...that could have

been because she was so used to it, though. It was a sound that she had

heard many times, right as the vines of the maze grew together to close

off an opening...

            Her eyes widened slightly as the sound registered in her mind. That

wasn't supposed to happen to her!! So did her magic skills not work

either, now? Turning confirmed what she had heard...the pathway behind her

was completely closed up. *I'll just have to keep going, then,* she told

herself before turning back to start up the path in front of her. The

rustling came again, and an opening at her side quickly closed up, as did

the one at her other side. Her pulse quickened slightly as she realized

that the only means of escape was through the opening in front of her,

something that she wasn't about to let slip away. Taking a few quick steps

forward, she started to hurry as the vines began to quiver with life.

"What the...no!!" she cried out as it closed up right as she reached it.

Great, so now she was trapped. *What if...what if someone else is doing

this...to trap me in here?* she thought suddenly, a thought that she

didnt' like one bit. She began to spin slowly so as to not let anyone

sneak up on her in surprise...

            A small gasp escaped her lips as she noticed a shadow in the far corner

of the enclosure. Someone had been watching her the entire time!! Despite

her stoic nature, she began to back up slightly as the shadow crept

forward, the owner slowly being revealed as it did so.

            "Jareth!!!" she bit out, her eyes narrowing slightly as the goblin king

stopped a few feet in front of her and leaned against a wall of the

enclosure. From his stance he seemed like he had all the time in the

world. "You almost scared me to death!!!" she accused, her temper flaring

slightly at the amused smile that he let slip. "Besides, I thought you

were hunting...that's what Didymus told me," she added, letting the the

slightest bit of irritation slip into her voice. As usual, it didn't phase

the goblin king one bit. His smile only grew wider as he took a step

closer.

            "I am..." he purred and Jara couldn't help but shiver as she realized

what he meant. Of all the times...

            Jareth strode closer until they were only a few feet apart. "I've caught

you...there's no way out," he added, turning to nod at the walls that

surrounded them. "Do you give up?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

            "Give up? I don't know the meaning of the words...never!" she replied,

her chin raising defiantly. If she was one thing, she was stubborn.

            "Never?" Jareth echoed, sobering slightly. "Never's a long time,

love...even longer than forever." That was all too true, but she didn't

have time to wax philosophy with her husband, just like she didn't have

time to do what he was proposing!! It was all just ridiculous...Why would

he even want to, anyway? Surely he knew by now...she knew Karius wouldn't

waste time warning him about what had happened...

            The realization of her meeting with the doctor sunk in once more and she

turned as the burning sensation reached her eyes once more, this time

successfully producing tears. "Why would you even want to bother with

defective prey, anyway?" she whispered, raising one delicate hand to cover

her face as she felt her shoulders hitch. He was at her side in an

instant, holding her close and smoothing her hair. The tears turned into

frustrated sobs as her legs crumpled and she knelt on the ground, Jareth

following her all the way.

            "Shhh...it's all right...Karius told me what happened...Now, this doesn't

make it your fault, Jara...it's not either of our fault's. Believe me, I

wish it were mine so at least we would know...but it just happened. Maybe

it just isn't time yet." A bitter sigh shook her frame as she struggled to

speak.

            "I-I love you s-so much...I w-wanted to give you an heir, and I can't

even do that!!" she mumbled from against his clothing. In response, Jareth

gently moved her head to his shoulder and held her tighter.

            "I married you because I love you, not just for your femine

capabilities...although that did help," he added wryly. "Even if it does

turn out that you can't have children, that won't make me love you any

less...it won't make me want you any less, as well...I want you to know

that no matter what, I will always love you, and will always think you are

the most beautiful, amazing woman I know...it's the truth. No matter what

may happen, we go through this together; as long as we have each other,

we'll be fine, all right?" he asked, pulling her away slightly. Jara

nodded, her eyes believing as he gently brought her face up to meet his in

a tender kiss. Pulling away, he wiped the tears from her face carefully,

and she smiled softly, knowing that the time for tears was passed. There

was nothing more she could do at the moment, and the current situation

suddenly presented itself once more.

            "Why, your Highness...I do believe you've made your catch, after all.

What do you plan to do now?" she murmured playfully, her voice steady once

again. Jareth echoed her smile, relieved that she would be all right for

the time being. Playing along, he stood and began to circle her slowly, a

frown of mock concentration on his face.

            "Well, I suppose the first thing to do would be to collect a trophy," he

mused quietly, reaching down to deftly remove the amulet she wore.

Wrapping the chain around his fingers, he began to walk around her again,

very close. "And now I believe I'll collect the pelt..." He gestured, and

Jara inhaled slightly in surprise as she realized that he was now holding

the tunic and tights she had been clothed in. "Now then, I can admire my

catch, and what a lovely catch it is, might I add." The goblin king smiled

warmly, letting his gaze travel over his wife as he dropped her clothes in

a pile near a wall before coming back to her side and slowly kneeling down

in front of her again, mere inches from where she was.

            "And now?" she managed, her voice little more than breath.

            Slowly he wrapped his arms round her waist and brought her to lie down on

the soft grass and flowers that had fallen from the crystal plants that

made up the section of the labyrinth they were in. Leaning over her, he

smiled gently as he ran bare fingertips over her cheek, neck, and shoulder

before tracing her collar bone. "Now I plan to enjoy the fruits of my

labor..." he whispered, lowering himself to where she waited and covering

her mouth with his. Jareth contiued, allowing the kiss to become more

passionate as Jara slowly began to respond, grateful for the enclosure of

the crystal sanctuary.

            For the first time since the beginning of history, hunter and prey met

each other and both came away equally satisfied.

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

Ch. 2

            Sarah lugged the box up the stairs, silently admiring the sight of the

new house...her house. Things were going quite well for her now, as they

should be. She had worked her way up again, becoming a regular in Broadway

shows. She had even earned enough to buy the beautiful house in New

Jersey...close to New York, but far enough from the madness; she had

wanted to raise her daughter in a normal environment. *As if anything in

my life is normal!!* she thought in amusement.

            Things had been better, but she doubted that they would ever be

classified as regular. She peeked into Emily's room to make sure the girl

was all right. Her daughter was playing with her toys quietly; her room

had been one of the first in the house to be unpacked. Upon seeing her

mother the girl jumped up and ran quickly over to where she stood.

            "Mommy!! How much longer till it's my birthday!!?" Sarah laughed as she

watched the almost-four-year-old jump around in excitement.

            "You'll have to wait until tomorrow, kiddo."

            "And then Grandma and Grampa will come?"

            "Yes," Sarah said patiently, shifting the weight of the box slightly.

            "And Uncle Toby, too?"

            "And Uncle Toby, too...listen, babe, I'll be glad to talk to you, but

I've got to put this box down before my arms fall off!!" The girl squealed

with laughter at that statement.

            "You're not turning into a firey, are you Mommy?"

            "Yes...and I'm coming to get you!!" Sarah plunked the box down and

grinned before chasing her daughter back into her room. "The Labyrinth"

was Emily's favorite bedtime story...little did she know how real it

actually was. Sarah had been careful to let her Underground friends visit

only when Emily was at preschool or visiting relatives. Recently, she had

talked with the royal couple, themselves, about when she should reveal her

life's secret to her daughter. They had decided that a visit to the

Underground would be perfect as a birthday present for Emily. Sarah got

the feeling that Jara also wanted to see a little kid, just to perk

herself up. From what she had gathered from Didymus and Hoggle, things had

not gone as planned for the royal couple.

            But for her things really were going quite well. She was on Broadway but

still managed time for her daughter. The only real glitch in her life was

the fact that her ex-husband just couldn't seem to stop trying to get sole

custody of Emily. There had been several attempts, but none that held any

real merit. Sometimes she also felt lonely, but when one was in the

business, there was not much time for a personal life...or at least that's

what she kept telling herself.

            Sarah was jerked out of her reverie by the tones of the doorbell. Briefly

she wondered why something that was supposed to sound inviting and have

more of a warm, welcoming ring always managed to sound annoying. Sighing,

she jogged to the door as the rings became more impatient.

            "I'm coming, I'm coming!! Miranda, what's up?" Sarah asked her agent as

she flung open the door.

            "This just came off the presses and I thought you should see it," the

other woman said grimly, her grey eyes betraying the calm sense her

exterior wore as she handed Sarah the tabloid. Sarah paled slightly as she

read the headline out loud.

            "Broadway Sensation Goes Off Deep End?" she whispered, glancing up at her

confidant in horror. "What in the world is this?!" she said, her voice

straining not to yell as she frantically paged through the paper, the task

made all the more frustrating as the slippery pages rubbed and stuck

against each other, unyielding against her trembling fingertips.

            "It seems like Tom got an earful from Emily during their last visit and

decided to use it to his full advantage...basically he's accusing you of

not being able to tell fantasy from reality and subjecting your child to

your delustions," Miranda sighed as she ran a hand through her copper

hair.

            "Does he have a case?" Sarah whispered, and the silence that followed

seemed to dangle in the air, as if the scale would crash either way if

anyone spoke.

            "He might...he's gotten statements from some of your family and friends

and twisted them around...they'd be harmless otherwise, but with what he's

accusing...He's also found another lawyer, a very good lawyer. The date

for the next hearing has to be set still but...I'm sorry, Sarah, biut I

don't like the looks of this. If it was anything else, I wouldn't worry,

but..."

            "It's about my image...yeah, I know, but I could care less about that! If

he gets hold of Emily..." she said, her words choking on tears she was

fighting to hold back. Tears wouldn't do any good now, only action. "I

just never thought faerie tales could be incriminating evidence," Sarah

sighed, chuckling bitterly.

            "My advice would be to pack up and go to your parents' house for the

weekend...that would be the safest place for the both of you."

            "Right...I'll get on the phone and let them know plans have changed...Do

you really think he has a strong case?" she asked, looking at her agent

and manager hopefully.

            "I really don't know what to say...it seems like some people are actually

listening this time...just be careful and keep in touch. I've gotta run!"

she sighed, checking her watch. "Tell Em happy birthday for me. Did you

get my gift?"

            "Yeah, she'll love it...she adores stuffed animals. I'll see you later,

Miranda, and thanks for the warning!" Sarah sighed as she shut the door.

Some things would just never change.

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

            That evening Sarah rushed to pack the necessary things for a trip to her

parents' place. Thankfully when she had called they had said she could

stay as long as necessary. She smiled at the irony of her isolated teenage

years from them, and now she needed them desperately. Thankfully, Toby was

already there so he wouldn't have to waste a trip. Emily bounded into the

room and plunked herself down on the bed, regarding her mother silently

for a few moments.

            "Mommy, I'm bored!" The three words that meant the end of the world to

young children everywhere. It was a mantra to the young, to those that

needed rescuing immediately. Unfortunately, adults didn't usually see it

that way; it usually lost something in the translation.

            "I know, sweetie...I've just got to finish packing and then we'll

leave...just think, we'll be at Grandma and Grandpa's tonight!" The little

girl seemed to perk up at that.

            "Will you tell the labyirnth story in the car?"

            "Sure...in fact...why don't I give you a present from me right now?" She

had been pondering the decision all day and had finally come to terms that

it might give Emily an escape route if things got sticky.

            "A PRESENT?! YEAH!!!!" Sarah rolled her eyes and wondered exactly what

the ingredients in Kool-AID were.

            "Come here, kiddo," she said, making room for her daughter on her lap.

"Now then, you're familiar with the labyrinth story, right?"

            "Of course, Mommy! I do have ears!!" the girl said, giggling.

            "Quiet you, or I'll dump you in the bog!"

            "Smell bad!!" Sarah had to laugh at the girl's impression of Ludo...ah,

to be a kid again.

            "Well, would you believe that it's all real?" She watched in amusement as

the child's eyes grew as large as dinner plates.

            "Really? You're making this up!!"

            "Nope...I swear on my life's blood! It happened to me when I was

fifteen...and I was able to go back when you were just a baby-"

            "You mean the baby in the second story is *me*?" Emily asked, entranced.

            "Yup...now if you remember, I can never go back, my friends can come and

visit me but it's impossible for me to ever return to the

Underground...but you, on the other hand, happen to be an invited guest."

            "Really, you mean it!?" Emily squealed.

            "Mm-hmm...you happen to have an open invitation from the Goblin King and

Queen."

            "Would I have to solve the lab'rinth?" Sarah chuckled slightly as her

daughter turned serious.

            "Of course not...not if you're invited and don't wish anyone away."

            "Okay...then how do I get there?"

            "You say your right words...'I wish I was at the castle of the Goblin

King and Queen right now,' and there you'll be."

            "Really? I wish-"

            Sarah put a finger to the girl's mouth. "Not yet...let's let Grandma and

Grandpa have a look at you before you go on any adventures. I do want you

to promise you'll be careful when you go, though...and don't tell anyone

about this."

            "No one?"

            "Not a soul."

            "Not even Daddy?"

            Sarah winced inwardly before answering. "Not even your father. Promise?"

Emily seemed to consider her options; Sarah could see the gears working in

her little head.

            "Okay, Mommy! I promise!" Sarah relaxed slightly at the words.

            "Good girl. Now, why don't we start loading these suitcases in the car?"

            "Okay!" Sarah smiled as she watched her daughter follow her down the

stairs and through the hallway to the front door. She frowned as she saw a

familiar car parked in the driveway. And a familiar, but definitely not

welcomed, figure walking towards the door.

            "Emily, go wait in your room for a few minutes."

            "But Mommy-"

            "Don't argue! Please, just go!" Emily nodded slightly and ran up the

stairs.

            Sarah sighed and mentally collected herself before opening the door. It

was times like these that made her glad she was an actress. She steeled

herself and willed her hand not to make a fist as she opened the door to

reveal the grinning figure of her ex-husband. He hadn't changed much. He

was still tall, with sandy-brown hair and green eyes, and up to something.

            "Sarah! How've ya been?"

            "Not bad, considering what you've been up to," she answered, keeping her

voice even.

            "So you've seen the papers, hmm? Look, you know I don't mean anything by

it, I just want what's best for my daughter!"

            "You mean *our* daughter...if I'm not mistaken I was the one that gave

birth to her...I vividly remember the labor pains."

            "Yes, but it takes two to tango...aren't you going to invite me in?" he

asked, pushing his way past her into the hall.

            "Look, let's just skip the small talk...why are you here? What is it this

time?"

            He turned back to face her, serious. "I came to warn you...I have a case

this time...and I will get custody of Emily...you don't have time for her,

Sarah...I can support her and be around more often than you can. I don't

want something happening to her because of your delusions." It was times

like these that Sarah regretted ever relaying the incidents of her

childhood to Tom. She had done it with the intention of publishing a book,

sort of feeling out an audience, but now he had ammunition.

            "I told you those were childhood daydreams."

            "Well, I remember something a little different...even if you did call

them dreams, you were pretty into them...I don't know if I could in good

conscience have you raising Em."

            "Look, you get to see her...I at least grant you that privilege...why do

you really want her? From what I've heard you're successful managing

Andrea." Sarah grimaced at the mention of the costar Tom had had an affair

with. It didn't help much when she heard he had become her manager.

            "I have a right to raise my child."

            "Let me guess, tired of paying child support?" She cocked an eyebrow and

leaned against the wall. He pointedly ignored the statement, choosing

instead to walk down the hallway, eyeing the house.

            "Looks like you've got quite a place here...it doesn't look like you need

my checks...where's Em?"

            "None of your business...look, we're going away for awhile...why don't

you just leave and we'll take care of this in court?"

            "Nonsense, I'd like to give my little girl her birthday present."

            "You sent it in the mail...it arrived yesterday."

            "Well, at least let me wish her a happy, uh..."

            "She's four, Tom." The actress rolled her eyes.

            "Right, a happy fourth." He grinned sheepishly and started towards the

staircase.

            "Hey, Emily, come down here...guess who?!" he called up to the girl.

            "Daddy?" Sarah stifled a groan as a dark-haired head appeared over the

railing. "Daddy!" Emily ran down the stairs and into her father's waiting

arms.

            "Hey kiddo! How are ya!" Tom grinned at Sarah over the girl's head.

            "Great! I'm this many tomorrow!" She held up four fingers.

            "I know...how'd you like to spend your special with your old man?" Sarah

paled slightly and watched as her daughter turned serious after casting a

questioning look to her mother.

            "But we're going to Grandma and Grandpa's...Uncle Toby's gonna be there!"

            "You can go up there some other time...come on, we'll go to the movies

and get ice cream!" Emily wiggled out of his grip and went ot her mother's

side.

            "I wanna go see Grandma and Grandpa...and Mommy said she'd tell me the

labyrinth story on the car trip." She knew her father wasn't a huge fan of

stories, but he didn't understand what the big deal was.

            "Oh, come on, Em, I'll let you pick any cartoon you want! You're too big

for your Mom's silly made-up faerie tales!"

            "But they're not silly or made uup! Mommy told me so, herself!" Emily

clamped a hand over her mouth after she realized what she'd said. Sarah's

blood ran cold and a rock seemed to form in her stomach as she listened to

her daughter's words.

            "Is that true, Sarah? Do you really believe all that stuff really

happened?" All she could do was look at him. "Then maybe I have a stronger

case than I thought...come on, Em, you're coming with me."

            "No! I didn't mean to tell, Mommy! I'm sorry!"

            "It's okay, hon...why don't you do what we talked about this afternoon?"

            "Say the words?"

            "Yes...I think this is as good a time as any."

            "So now you're giving her weird commands? Sarah, I've got to put my foot

down somewhere," Tom said, triumphant in his discovery.

            Sarah glared at the man she could've sworn she had once loved. "Look, you

can do whatever you want to me...but you're not taking Emily...not just so

you can rub it in my face or get your revenge or whatever. Leave her out

of this!"

            "Stop acting crazy, Sarah! I've got you...and there's nothing you can do

about it!"

            "Oh? Emily, go ahead." The woman softened her tone when she looked over

at her daughter who was pressed up against the stair railing. She knew the

child hated to see anyone fight, but most of all her parents. The poor

thing looked positively scared to tears...not to mentioned confused. She

only hoped she'd say the right words and not the ones she had heard in the

story so many times.

            Emily nodded, eager to please her mother. She straightened up and looked

at the woman lovingly before speaking. "I wish the goblins would come and

take me away, right now!" In a flash of light, she was gone.

            Sarah tried not to scream, struggled to keep standing. She should've

repeated the words for her again before she urged her to say them. She

only hoped Jareth would be understanding. Sarah tried not to cry as she

turned towards her ex-husband to find him on the phone with the police.