A Forgotten Love

Chapter 4

Sarah opened her eyes to see sunlight filtering through her bedroom window. She had a good stretch and hopped out of bed. She was pretty excited about heading home today, but a little apprehensive at the same time. Her relationship with Karen in the past wasn't exactly the best, but things may be different now that she was no longer a teenager. She walked into the kitchen and made herself a cup of instant coffee. "Not exactly Starbucks, but it will do." She had to make do with drinking it black because she didn't have any perishable food in the fridge since she was leaving.

Sarah plopped herself down on the couch and made a sour face as she drank the not-so-good-coffee. Her mind had strayed back to the events the night before. She couldn't help think about the tall man with blond hair... "Well, whoever he is, he is pretty hot in a freakish off-putting sort of way..." Sarah finished her coffee and decided she better get a move on.

She packed her bags, made her bed and got her apartment ready to be unoccupied for the summer. She took a hot shower and threw on her favorite pair of jeans, her NYU sweatshirt and an old baseball cap. She wanted to get on the road as soon as possible, so she quickly gathered her bags and made her way to the door.

As she locked her apartment, she thought, "Well, at least I won't have to spend the summer alone."

Sarah threw her bags into the trunk of her old mustang convertible and then slid behind the wheel. "Time to go Betsy, make me proud!" she laughed as she patted the dashboard of her old Car. She had picked it up a year ago at a small used car lot. She couldn't resist the freedom of a convertible. As She pulled out of her driveway, she looked up at her apartment one last time and thought, "Too late to turn back now." And then she was off.
***
Jareth Sat on his throne looking as bored as ever. He had spent many of his dthisthis way, but then again, goblins are pretty lousy conversationalists. He was dressed in his usual ensemble of gray breeches with a white lacy shirt, complete with black leather vest and tall black boots. As he sat tapping his crop on his boot, hand on his forehead, an older goblin came dashing into the throne room with a quick bow.

"Excuse me your majesty...I just heard something you would want to be aware of."

"Yes Goresh, what is it now?"

"Your majesty, I just heard... the girl, she is on her way home."

"Are you sure? When did she leave??" Jareth stood up quickly and became very anxious.

"She left this morning, she is on her way home.

Jareth moved his hands ever so gracefully and produced a crystal orb. As he gazed into the crystal he saw Sarah in her car driving in the direction of her home. He didn't even turn away from her image but simply said to Goresh, "Leave me."

Goresh hurriedly turned and left the throne room. Jareth moved back to his throne and sat as he gazed at her image in the crystal. "It has been far too long my love...but now you are finally returning to me."
***
Sarah pulled into her driveway three hours later, as an excited Toby came barreling out of the house to greet her. She had to admit, it felt pretty good to be home; like a piece of her she had lost had finally been found. She gave Toby a hug and a kiss and said, "You have to stop that growing, you will be taller than me soon!" Toby smiled and attempted to help her carry her bags into the house.

"Ah, Sarah, you're home. I'll get the rest of your things, go grab something cold to drink."

"Thanks dad, I am pretty thirsty. I'm a little tired after that long drive too, do I have time to catch a quick nap before dinner??"

"Sure honey, I'll check on you in a couple of hours."

"Ok, well, I'm gonna go catch a nap Toby, but we can do something after dinner."

"Aww, Ok...Don't sleep to long."

Sarah laughed and started towards her room. She hadn't been here in what felt like forever. It had been six years actually. She had always wanted to make it home for the holidays, but they always had plans with Karen's family...not exactly her idea of a good time. She climbed the stairs and opened her bedroom door. Her room was exactly the way she had left it. She still had her old bed, her vanity and even that shelf on her wall that she used to keep Lancelot in... "Lancelot!" she thought. "It would be so great to take a nap complete with her old favorite teddy bear.

Sarah opened her closet and began pulling boxes out. She set them on the floor and started to sift through them. "Nostalgia...that was what Dr. Simms had called all of this stuff. Maybe tomorrow, I will go through all this stuff and see if it helps me remember anything. Lancelot! There you are...oh I missed you."

Sarah grabbed her teddy bear and went to lie down on the bed. She curled up into her favorite position and hugged Lancelot tight. She fell asleep almost instantly.
***
Jareth summoned Goresh back to the throne room. "Any news?"

"Yes your majesty. The girl just arrived at her home, and I believe she is asleep."

"Well done Goresh, I am retiring to my bedchambers, I do not wish to be disturbed for any reason."

"Yes your majesty."

Goresh once again departed from the throne room, and Jareth vanished from the throne room. When he re-appeared, he was in his bedchambers standing in front of a floor length mirror. He reached out his gloved hand and moved it gracefully across the surface of the mirror. The Mirror Shimmered as if made of water and changed to show him Sarah's Bedroom. He could see her curled form asleep on her bed. Jareth took a step back and his mouth curled into a devilish Grin.

"What are you dreaming of my love? Soon, we shall see."

Jareth walked away from the mirror and stretched out on his luxurious bed. It was a massive four-poster bed with a delicate mosquito netting surrounding the perimeter. On the bed were the softest satin sheets. He just lay there on his bed gazing at her sleeping image. He was so anxious to confront her, he was tempted to pass through the mirror and wake her...but no, that wouldn't do...he would be patient and let her come to him.

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Chapter 5

Sarah Yawned, "Oh, hi dad...is everyone waiting for me for dinner?"

"I thought we would all go out to dinner tonight, you know, as a family."

"Ok...where are we going?"

"Well, I thought we would go to get Chinese food."

"Sounds good, I will get ready and meet you guys downstairs."

"Ok Sarah, but make it quick...we got one hungry boy downstairs."

Sarah laughed and shut the door behind her father. As she passed by the mirror on her vanity, she caught a glimpse of her reflection. "Oh God!! Look at my hair...well, so much for leaving it down, it looks like a rat's nest!!" Sarah threw her hair up in a ponytail. As she went to grab her face lotion off of her vanity, she had a strange feeling...kind of like she was being watched.

Sarah turned around quickly but there was no one there. She moved to the window and didn't see anyone there either and a shiver ran down her back. "Calm down Sarah, its just nerves. You haven't shared a house with Karen in the past six years, now they want to pretend to have a perfect family...whatever." Sarah took a deep breath and took a last glance in the mirror and that's when she saw it.

The distinct image of a tall man with Bond hair and mismatched eyes...the very same man she had remembered the night before...

Sarah Let out a quick cry and fell over her vanity chair. When she looked back up at the mirror, the image was gone. "Get a hold of yourself, Sarah...It's is just your imagination." At that moment Sarah's father burst into the room.

"Everything ok? I heard you scream."

"Yeah, sorry dad, it was just a spider...I killed it. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh, I see. Are you ready to go?"

"Yup. Never been more ready."

Sarah and her father left the bedroom and headed downstairs to meet Toby and Karen.
***
Jareth stood in front of the floor length bedroom mirror and let out a very evil laugh. "You will come to me Sarah, I will make sure of it."

He slowly reached out and touched the mirror again so that he could see into her dark bedroom. This time, he slowly passed through the mirror and into her room. He snapped his fingers and the room was illuminated with just enough light for him to see. He had much better night vision than mortals do, but he did have a very impatient nature.

"It wouldn't hurt to usher her memory along a little...now all I need is something to help jog her memory."

Jareth moved his hands ever so gracefully in an artful movement to produce one small but perfect peach. He gently set it down on her pillow. With one last look around her bedroom he turned with a swish of his cape and stepped back through the mirror."So "So Sarah, Tell me, what classes are you planning to take in the fall?"

"I was planning on taking more of the required biology courses like microbiology and cell biology, but this semester, I think it would be fun to add some more marine biology courses to my schedule. I'm thinking of taking a marine Mammals class. I heard they actually take you out in a boat to go observe whales and dolphins."

"That sounds like fun. So, any boyfriends yet??"

Karen couldn't resist asking this question. Sarah knew it had been burning in her mind since she had stepped through the door. "Not anyone serious. I have gone out with a couple of guys, but I just didn't really have anything in common with them. My so called relationships haven't lasted more than a few weeks."

"Oh, I figured you would have some gorgeous hunk of a man hanging on your every word by now."

"Not exactly..." Sarah laughed. "I have so much going on with school and my job that I haven't really had time to get out and date too much."

"Well, those guys are missing out on a great catch like you."

Sarah was a bit shocked by Karen's comments. She had never really gotten along with her stepmother, but the more she has been around her since she has been home, she didn't really see that horrible ogre of a stepmother anymore. Sarah began to realize that maybe she had misjudged Karen all those years ago and had carried a really ill conceived notion about what kind of person she really was. Karen really had to have some good qualities since her father seemed to be so smitten with her.

"So Sarah, if you don't have plans tomorrow, I was wondering if you want to go with me to the mall...I have to buy a present for my niece's birthday. Maybe we can do a girl thing together. Ever have a pedicure??

"I don't have any plans for tomorrow, that might be fun. And no, I have never had a pedicure. Does it hurt?"

"Oh Sarah...you are missing out. Guaranteed, after your first pedicure you will be an addict!"

Sarah's father laughed and said sarcastically, "Just don't get carried away and come home with tattoos..."

"Too late..." Sarah muttered.

"What was that?"

"What? Oh, nothing" Sarah blushed.

The food couldn't have arrived at a more perfect moment. Sarah grabbed some pork fried rice and some beef teriyaki. "Oh, this is so good. I haven't had really good Chinese food in, like, forever!"

"So Toby, how about you and me have a nice night tonight and watch a scary movie and have some popcorn together??"

"Yeah!! That sounds like fun! can I stay up late tonight Dad?? Please, please, please...I'll be good I promise."

"We'll see buddy, eat your dinner."


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Chapter 6

Sarah got the living room ready while Karen and her father retired to their bedroom early. She yelled up to Toby to put on a pair of pajamas and come downstairs.
As she sifted through the various DVD's they had, she grabbed a copy of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. "Not exactly a scary movie, but at least Toby will be nightmare free."

Toby came bounding down the stairs and caught the scent of popcorn. "Mmm, what are we watching sis?"

"I thought you wouldn't mind watching Harry Potter...I haven't seen it yet you know."

"You haven't?? What planet are you living on?? Everyone has seen Harry Potter...everyone cool has anyway."

"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence...but I will be cool after I see it right?"

"Definitely..." Toby laughed.

Toby curled up on the couch with Sarah as the movie started. About half way through the movie, Sarah looked down to see a completely asleep Toby curled up in a ball in her lap. She paused the movie and carried his sleeping body up to his bedroom. She laid him down on his bed and tucked him in. Sarah suddenly had a very strong feeling of Déjà vu. She couldn't explain it, but she felt like she had tucked Toby into bed sleeping before as she brushed her hand lightly across his cheek.

"That's silly, of course I would remember this, I babysat all the time." She couldn't help feel if there was more to it than that. As if she felt like she was seeing him through new eyes with a great appreciation. "Well, I am going to finish this Harry Potter movie, it is actually quite good" She thought.

Sarah crept back downstairs and finished watching Harry Potter.

***

Jareth entered his bedchambers once again, not wanting to miss Sarah's reaction to his little gift. "All you have to do is take a bite..."

He sat in a large cushy chair with one leg draped over the side. He was now dressed in his more private bedclothes which consisted of a very similar lacy shirt that hung open on his chest and a pair of black tights that hugged the lower portion of his body. He was not wearing his boots, or his gloves. He stared intently at the mirror and waited for his long time obsession to arrive...

***

Sarah Shut off the DVD and headed up to her bedroom. She was really glad to be able to spend time alone in her bedroom. She opened the door and walked directly over to her vanity. She lit a few candles and a stick of Nag Champa incense. She reached inter her bag and pulled out the tape recorder. Once again, she listened to the recording from Dr. Simms' office. Sarah still had no clue what all of that meant. But at least now she could put a face with that Name...Jareth...

Sarah stood in front of her vanity mirror with only the soft light from the candles. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Without even realizing it, her hand strayed to her breast as she lightly caressed them in front of the mirror. As she opened her eyes and gazed intently at her reflection, she began to wonder why no guys had taken real notice of her... "I can be sexy..." she thought to herself. Sarah pulled her nightshirt off and stood naked in front of the mirror wearing only her skimpy black thong panties.

Jareth's Jaw dropped. He was expecting to see Sarah eat the peach and fall under his spell so he could manipulate her in her dreams. He never thought for one minute that she would be standing there naked for him to see...And be thinking sexual thoughts about him no less...She had whispered his name before she had pulled off all of her clothes. Jareth felt himself growing hard just looking at her. She was flawless. He walked over to the mirror and reached out his hand to the glass. He wanted desperately to reach out and cup her breast firmly, but something held him back. "Not yet...All in good time." He pulled his hand back and decided just to watch instead.

As she stood in front of the mirror, she felt her nipples harden under her palm. She felt a flush in her cheeks and suddenly began to feel warmth spreading between her legs. She slowly reached a hand down and began to feel the velvety softness that beckoned to be touched. She let out a low moan. She had never been with a man before, but she still had desires that needed to be fulfilled from time to time.

This was almost too much for Jareth to stand. He knew that if she didn't stop soon, he would not be able to contain himself. Initially, he had felt an attraction to her, but he had planned on using it to seduce her to get revenge on her for turning him down. He had never been turned down by a woman before, and he didn't take very kindly to it. To him, it was like a slap in the face that he was never able to forget. His plan was to seduce Sarah, take her virginity, make her fall helplessly in love with him, and then walk away. Now as he watched her in the mirror, he began to question who would seduce who.

Finally, Sarah brought herself to climax, and she collapsed down onto her bed.

Sarah's release was not a moment too soon for Jareth. He literally had to force himself to keep his mind clear and not let her actions make him weak. He watched as she pulled her pajamas back on and sat back down on the bed.

"Where did this come from?" she thought. "I don't remember bringing a peach up here...maybe Toby brought it up here for me while I was taking a nap."

Sarah held the plump little fruit up to her nose and breathed in its sweet scent. "Curious..." she thought. She gazed at the peach for a moment and before she could stop herself she took a bite.

Sarah fell back on the bed and as her grasp loosened and she drifted off into a fantasy, the small peach rolled out of her fingers and onto the floor...


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