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Moving Forward
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She'd done it. She told Jareth her deepest, darkest secret and he didn't mock her or laugh. He didn't tell her how silly or stupid she was or that she should know better or preach platitudes. No, he didn't do any of those things. He just loved her. Albeit with a whopping dose of tough love, but as Sarah reexamined their conversation she accepted the necessity of his action. At least he left out smacking her sensible like that lady from Airplane, and really...hysteria was never her thing.
'Does drinking yourself silly count?' Tutu inquired.
'No, and I wasn't hysterical then either just a bit...emotional. Can you blame me?' A snort from Tutu...
'I suppose not...but hey...you're finally going to make an honest woman out of you.' 'Isn't it the other way around?' 'Yeah...but you kept dragging your heels. Jareth would've upgraded your honesty months ago so you've only yourself to blame for this one, hon.' That's right... now they were engaged! She'd done that, too. Faced her fears of commitment upon realization she actually hated being without him. Alone time was well and good, but weeks alone without a social life and your love gone? Perspectives tend to clarify with Jareth far away...without her knowing where or when. Her sense of loss compounded overcoming any other fear. The tipping point of her emotions: she sat in her home, alone and drinking, celebrating a goal she realized she cared nothing about, craving only him. The sum of her current life condensed at the bottom of a solitary wine bottle. This was no way to live, no way to be happy, contentment forever a fingertip out of reach. Then she knew, she understood...finally. She ran from herself and it was time to stop the futility of her endless marathon.
In his bed, they lie in the pre-dawn Underground hours, alternating talking and making love in the privacy of his chambers. All goblins and other residents banished until the King decree otherwise. He told her details of his journey to ancient Samaria, and how his friend, Suggur, revealed elements of his past previously unknown to him.
"So, let me get this straight," Sarah said, "according to Suggur you're
not the Source of All Magic, a.k.a. the Tablet of Destinies, but you stole the Source thousands of years ago?"
"Yes." Jareth nodded, his fingers combing her tresses spread over his chest from her head reclined position upon him. Meanwhile, her fingers traced aimless patterns on his sensitive skin. He shivered pleasantly.
'oooo, that's nice...tell her to keep doing that...' "This Tablet is an artifact of immense power endowing its possessor with the ability to rule the fate of all beings in the universe."
"According to Sumerian myth...yes..." He closed his eyes trying to focus on her words rather than her fingers.
'Her fingers...' Jareth heard his voice sigh contentedly.
'He smells good, Sarah...yumminess... and he's all ours.' "And not only are you a god, but you're the ancient Sumerian god Ninurta who once guarded the Tablet."
"Mmm...Apparently..."
"But you were discovered by your father Enki who punished you by casting you out of Heaven to suffer amongst us lowly mortals forever, hence the fallen god routine."
"Something like that, yeah." He cringed at bit at her last description delivered so bluntly, but whether against mortals, him, or his absent father figure he knew not.
"So..." she twisted her head up from his chest to look at him, "where's the Tablet?"
"The Tablet?" Her question surprised him. Jareth assumed she might be more taken aback at his potential personal history rather than worry about the mythical Source. Honestly, he hadn't spared two moments on the object.
"Yeah, if you stole this artifact what'd you do with it?" She sounded genuinely curious.
'
That...is a very good question. Why haven't you ever thought of it?' "Uh..." Jareth answered both Sarah and his conscience.
"Do you even still have it? Did you hide it somewhere? Or did your father take it back when he caught you? If so, why do you still have your pendant?"
"Well...um..."
"And how exactly is your pendant," she tapped the ornament lying near her face on his sternum, "connected to this Tablet?"
"It's a symbol...nothing more," he said casually and so quickly he startled even himself. He frowned in thought while Sarah continued unaware of his distraction.
"Really? It could be anything, Jareth. If Suggur said you once guarded this powerful artifact...?"
"According to Sumerian myth," he shrugged.
"Were you the only guard?"
"He didn't say."
"And you rarely take it off and never allow it more than a few feet from you..."
"Merely habit," he said, again frowning at the forced casual tone in his voice, "...what are you aiming towards, Sarah?"
"Only that maybe the necklace is more than a symbol of your connection, maybe there's a physical connection to the Tablet." He considered her suggestion. It bore merit, ironic that Sarah should think of it before him and yet...perhaps he
had been made to forget certain aspects of his history. His head felt fuzzy for a moment then abruptly cleared. Mentally he shuddered, the implications of his existence before Suggur...forgotten. All that he was before...gone... as the desert devours the living so it delivered his post-theistic remains. The absent-minded caressing action of his hand on Sarah's hair and body stilled.
"If you're correct, Sarah? Then what...how do we confirm this?"
Sarah laughed, "I may not rejoice at my choice of blood-sucking career, however, it's taught me a few things: the value of gathering pertinent information and how to research said information."
'Oh man,' Tutu complained, '
I hate researching! Can't we delegate this?' 'No, chill out!' Propping up on his elbows, Jareth leaned forward and kissed her, "Brilliant idea, I knew I fell in love with you for a reason," he said with a grin.
"Yeah, it'll be like college again—research party!" She said returning his kiss and rolling him over on top of her.
"I had no idea research excited you so much," his said in a sultry voice, his hips wiggling against hers as he slipped in between her legs, "when do we start?"
'Say now, say now!' Voice chanted.
'Shut up before you jinx it!' "Well..." she licked her lips and arched her back. He felt marvelous! "As soon as you like...oh crap!"
'No, no, no, no, Sarah! Whadya doing?' "What?"
"We've got to combine research with family obligations."
"Ah...," his body stilled, "Afraid you lost me."
"I called Karen before you got back, told her about making partner..."
'Why don't I like the sound of this?' Voice asked.
"And?"
"And I still need to tell my dad and Karen wants us to visit. Toby even suggested dinner out."
"Bloody hell, Sarah, you know what you're telling me?" Jareth wanted to be elated, tried for pleased, but heard his own voice sound...aggravated, frustrated, anxious. He rolled off, flopping next to her. What the bloody hell was wrong with him? After striving for this day for years, waiting for Sarah to willingly invite him fully into her heart and life; now he panicked with everything about him changing...
'That's what I'd like to know. What is the bloody hell wrong, you git? She needs you, she wants you, and she's bloody well naked!' "Yes, do you?"
"You want me to meet your family?" Was that his voice ending on that ridiculously high, wavering note? Some King of the Goblins he made...more like laughing stock of the Underground.
'Can't face a few mortals, Jareth? You're a right ponce, you are!' "Uh-huh," she nodded warily, "and they want to meet you. I want you there when I tell my father...if that's okay..."
'He's gonna run! Oh crap!' 'No he's not, Tutu, he's just overwhelmed, give him a minute.' 'Bloody, buggering hell...' he cursed mentally.
'Yeah, I'd say that about tidies it up nicely,' Voice agreed. '
I think she's figuring you out, old boy, better not cock this up.' He gulped, "Of course I want to meet your family, Sarah." Jareth smiled broadly as he slid his arm around her shoulders, hoping she didn't notice the apprehension ghosting his eyes. "I can think of nothing better. And I'd be honored to be by your side when you inform your father," he added sincerely. She needed him now, not later, not after his own life sussed itself out. Time to take turns supporting each other; real relationships were complex sometimes and he remembered why he'd avoided love before now. But he didn't regret, never regretted, finding love with Sarah. She made the difficulties worth it.
With a deep out rush of air, she sighed, "Thank goodness, for a second there I thought you might ditch." She leaned down and tucked her head into his neck. "We'll figure all this out...we'll research, meet my family, more research, maybe even locate the Tablet—"
"And we must decide upon an appropriately ostentatious engagement ring, Precious."
"Oh...that's right! Definitely before we have dinner with my family."
"Without doubt...I can hardly be introduced as your fiancé without a ring on your finger."
. .
jsjsjsjsjsjsj
.
. "Hello?"
"Karen, hey it's me."
"Sarah! It's so good to hear you voice again so soon!"
"Thanks, I...uh... wanted to talk to you about that visit and...um...bringing Jareth."
"Oh...oh...Sarah...really?" Karen's tone became a bit short of breath, "That would be wonderful!"
"You haven't told Dad right?"
"No, no, of course not, just like you asked."
"Good...uh...good..."
"I know what Toby said; still we'd love to take you two out to dinner to celebrate." Sarah heard the tentative note in her step-mother's voice. How could she refuse?
"Sure, Karen, we'd love dinner. Would this next weekend be too soon?"
"Oh no! It would be perfect! I know Robert's big case is finishing up this week so his weekend should be open."
"Great...that's..." Sarah sighed heavily, "I guess we'll see you this Saturday then?"
"Please, just come to the house and we'll take care of everything else."
"Okay."
"And remember, we love you, Sarah."
"Thanks, Karen, I love you guys, too."
Sarah listened until Karen's phone disconnected then she hung as well. A few more days until the big moment she'd been imagining for the fifteen years plus. She glanced over to Jareth who reclined at his bedroom table covered with numerous fresh foods. He'd conjured, for her express use and convenience, an Aboveground phone which he placed next to his bed. She still didn't quite comprehend how the magic 'wireless' connection between here and there worked, but...hey...sometimes one didn't examine gift horses.
"All set, my love?" He asked her sliding his bare feet from the table top to the floor. His black, silk lounging pants drifted gracefully around his legs, and accented his chiseled, pale chest. Standing, he prowled to her.
"As much as ever..." She really did not look forward to facing her dad, but it might be okay...maybe he'd finally come around. She needed to try, for now she allowed Jareth to divert her.
"Excellent," he said crawling onto the bed next to her, "I guess your ring is the next order of business then, hmmm?"
"Guess so..." she agreed lying back as he slithered over her.
"Any ideas on that, my love?"
"Uhhh..."
'
We're supposed to think right now? I don't know...round metal with some sort of rare stone?' Tutu said sarcastically.
Jareth trailed kissed up her bare abdomen and chest, she shivered and he asked, "Shall we get back to that?"
"Uh-huh..." she mumbled and nodded vigorously, losing all rational thought to his expert ministrations as he plucked her every nerve until she sang then screamed in pleasure
