Chapter Seven: Healing;

I have been torn apart,

Cut and sliced till my blood stained the floor,

But I have healed;

I have been burned and shredded to tatters,

And yet I have healed.

My eyes have seen death and horror,

My Soul imprinted with their black ink,

And still I have healed.

The scars add up,

Each another story,

Yet they are nothing but white shinny flesh,

Mere imperfections on the canvas of my body.

I have hurt and bled,

Mourned and cried,

But I have healed,

I shall always heal. --- Healed by Gaton of Bletesh

Never before had the Labyrinth been so silent. As still as it was at that moment. All eyes landed on the elegant couple that stood before the stone altar. Their slim bodies draped in black silk and lace, hair neatly brushed and yet still just hiding their tear stained cheeks.

Upon the altar the two laid a carefully wrapped bundle, both carrying it as a new born babe. All watched in awe as the man leaned over and placed his hand upon the wrapped arm of the dead child. They had never seen this man cry; never once had he allowed his subjects to see him weak.

A small and elegant hand slid over his and together as the entire Court watched as they sang soft and low, a crystal like covering encasing the body on the stone. The more passionate their voices became the darker the crystal turned till the entire altar; child stone and all; had become black marble.

With nary a word the couple turned and returned to the castle. Everyone who passed the marble tomb could not help the tears from falling as they read the inscription along the top;

Sweet Prince; You have brought love and in return were loved….Never to be forgotten, we love you still.

"How long will you be staying?" His voice was soft, but Sarah could hear the apprehension in it. After Toby's letter and Sarah's revelation the two had spoken about the future, at least that she would remain Underground for awhile. Though they never discussed how long, or the more important issue; them.

"How long will you allow me?" She was leaning against the wall, her eyes adverted away from the window where she knew she would be able to see Toby's tomb.

The soft sound of footfall filled her ears as Jareth moved to gather her up into his arms. He had waited so very long to hold her like this, never in his wildest dreams had he believed it would be under such sorrowful circumstances. Never would he have wanted it that way.

"I believe the mortal saying is 'forever and a day.' You must know Sarah that your place is here, at least in my eyes." She turned her body around so she could snuggle into his chest. How could she feel so content in his arms when not an hour ago they had laid her brother to rest?

"Mine as well." She knew there was a soft smile upon the Goblin King's lips as he held her tighter against him.

"But what of us, what do you expect?" Her words were somewhat muffled as her mouth was covered by the folds of his shirt.

"I expect nothing, but hope that you will give me a chance to do this the right way. The way I should have done it in the beginning. If nothing comes of it you are still allowed to stay, I will be content to simply see you everyday." She nodded slowly, her eyes lifting from the black silk of his top to stare directly into his.

"I think I would like that, but Jareth can we go Above just for a couple of hours?" His fingers tracing a path from below her ear to the end of her chin he gave her a perplexed expression.

"My Dad and Karen, they have no idea what happened to Toby or me. I don't want to talk to them, I'm not sure I could really explain this without them sending me to a mental hospital.

"I just want to make sure they are alright, and maybe leave them something so they at least are not left wondering." He hadn't really thought all that much on the Williams and how this might affect them. He most likely should have, Sarah was right. If they were to show up at their house and explain that he, the Goblin King and a Fae, had stolen away their children from the hospital. And now that he had been unsuccessful in saving their son he was going to keep their daughter in the Fae realm with him and court her. He was sure the authorities would be involved.

"Of course, why don't you go and get what you need and we will leave as soon as you are ready." Her smile was small, but it still took his breath away.

Robert sat at his desk, his head in his hands as he tried to figure out how to fix what was left of his family. He daughter was gone and son was most likely dead, and now his beloved wife was quickly falling apart. He wasn't sure if he could survive if she were to leave him as well.

His head jerked up as he heard the doorbell ring. He knew it was wrong and destructive for him to hope that news of his children would be waiting beyond that door every time someone knocked, but he couldn't seem to help it.

He ran hoping to get to the door before his wife, sadly her beating him by thirty seconds. He stood behind her listening to her sobs start anew. She turned to show him a bundle held tightly in her arms. She handed him the letter that had come with the cloth. He had to lean himself against the doorframe as he read.

I am so sorry Dad and Karen, I tried to find help, but I was too late. Know that Toby is happy now and no longer in any pain.

I love you both, but I can no longer return. My place is here, and I am happy and cared for. I will miss you, but this is for the best. --- Your Little Girl

With a sinking feeling he realized that the cloth his wife held was the hospital blanket that had been wrapped around his son when he was taken. He took his wife into his arms and both of them grieved in the middle of their open doorway. Neither of them noticing that across the street stood two very out of place people holding onto each other as they watched the scene before them.

"So that is it? Their story is finished?" Drystan seemed relieved, he had never really been one of the Observers in the Cathedrals before. His job had always been to gather the rosebuds and place the charmed flowers in the bell jars in the rose chambers. This had been this first time his main job had been to watch the goings on, to be a witness to history.

"No, it is merely beginning. I have a feeling that their story will be many volumes long." Iseult smiled a knowing smile as she set a large leather bound book on a stand beside the now blooming rose. She gazed up behind her husband to the portrait on the wall where from its silver burnished frame smiled a young boy with hair as flaxen as straw and eyes the color dew dappled gems. Many, many volumes indeed.

The End

A/N: Ok well I'M BACK!!!!!!! Hehe ok my computer had died on me and I hadn't been able to get it fixed and that is why I haven't been around. I now have a new computer and net so I will be able to get on more often now, but if I don't update often I'm sorry as my sister is getting married in September and I'm Maid of Honor and have the Bride's Maids' dresses to make and the Bridal shower to throw as well so I will be rather busy. But I will try to have something out every now and then. {Though as I lost all of my writing I am slowly starting to try and re-type everything from memory}

Now, this is the end, I would say that there will be no sequel, but as I learned with the Crystal Swan I should never say that. Lets just say that I have not planned any but don't hold me to that, my Muse is rather a busy little bee. I hope this didn't sound too rushed, but I really did plan for it to end like this. But at least until I come up with a sequel {if/when} the last bit is up to you what it means.

Disclaimer: Nope don't own it, fifve dvds of the movie yes, but the rights....no...sadly!

Also, once I am done with this and "This is My Winter" I plan on writing another Labby, in fact I have I don't know how many lined up. On my Author's Page there is a poll. Click the links to find a journal entery to a preview of the story. I have four up and I have everything ready to write each of them. I thought I would allow the readers to choose which one they would like to read next. I will write the one with the highest votes next. The poll will be open until I finish "This is My Winter"