Title: (Not) Again This Year
Fandom: Labyrinth
Author: Apache Firecat
Characters: Jareth/Sarah, Hoggle
Rating: G/K
Summary: In which Jareth catches Sarah red-handed.
Word Count: 500
Written For: LabyFic 187. Impressed and Fan FlashWorks 464. Joy
Warnings: Future AU
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.






Sarah gasped as her husband suddenly appeared behind her. She did not see him, but she nonetheless felt his presence. He could no longer even emerge into a room underneath a cloak of invisibility without her being aware of him. Their bond was simply so strong that she could no longer keep from sensing him whenever he drew near. She gasped and threw her arms out, but there was little she could do to hide the project for which she had deliberately not attempted to receive his permission.

"Again?" A weary sigh pierced the air behind her, and she felt a flicker of his power. Although she knew he would never use it against her, she knew just as equally that he did have a tendency to take his frustrations out on the poor Goblins, and a simple thought from him could forever banish that which she had labored over for hours. "What have you done to my throne room this time?!"

With her arms still stretched out, as though she could somehow bar him from being able to destroy her creation, Sarah whirled around to face him. His eyes twinkled and he bit back a grin at the way her chin jutted out slightly and determination filled her gaze. Her pose was reminiscent of her first journey in his labyrinth, and he was well tempted to thrust the bloody thing behind her into the labyrinth and let her work it out just as she had saved her brother that time. Unfortunately, he was also quite certain -- as sure as she was that he'd want to destroy the thing -- that she would have the tree back in his throne room before the traditional thirteen hours were over.

"Sarah, Sarah, dear wife," he slowly shook his head as he all but tutted at her, "have you learned nothing from our holidays together? I know you like your Christmas traditions from above, but -- "

"They won't get it!" she declared. "Not this time! They won't make a mess! I promise!"

"Here comes one now!" Wyrm called.

"Hoggle!"

"I'm on it," grumped the Dwarf.

A Goblin barreled into the room, rolling head over feet and aiming straight for the tree. A spray of water hit the Goblin, and he straightened immediately with a yelp and rushed from the room.

"That's very well," Jareth said, eyeing both the Dwarf holding a plastic, water-shooting pistol and the rather impressive tree. He had to admit that she had rather outdone herself this time, with the beads and fabrics she had collected throughout the Labyrinth and used to decorate the stately tree. He almost liked the thing, but it had been such a catastrophe every time she had attempted it before -- "However, I must point out that Hoggle does have other duties."

"I've thought of that," Sarah said quickly, "and have trained others to take his place when needed."

Jareth paused before finally admitting, "Very well."

"You mean it can stay?!" Sarah gleefully clapped. Her joy confirmed it.



The End