Disclaimer: I do not own Jareth, Sarah or the idea of the Labyrinth/Underground. Pretty much everything else is mine. Now if only I could make a profit off of this…

Summary: AU "And if you say his name three times, he jumps out and eats your heart!" Sarah Williams never really wanted to believe in the terror that is ghost stories. Unfortunately, her luck in trying not to believe just ran out. J/S

Warning: Characters may be extremely out of character. There will be much oc-ness. May contain very bloody scenes.

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Three Times

By: Kadasa Mori

Part VIII – The Not-So-Happily Ever After

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Lounging on the couch in the living room and looking very out of place was a wild blond haired, mismatched eyed Goblin King. He yawned, booted feet up on the back of the couch, arms folded under his head. His ears were tuned to the clock, counting each second as they passed and waiting for her to get home. He smiled faintly as he thought of her. She was meeting with her editor right now about the next book in line. She'd done quite well in the past few years, writing a series about devils and demons. Merlin's head suddenly shot up off the ground. For a moment he just sat there staring at the door before getting to his feet and trotting to the door.

As the car pulled into the driveway, his feet swung off the couch and he sat straight, magazine quickly in his hands. The door opened and she stepped inside. Merlin was the first to receive her attention, a pat on the head and scratch behind the ears before she dropped her keys in the basket and slipped out of her shoes.

"Afternoon Merlin," she cooed. "Were you a good boy for me?" He wuffed and licked her cheek. She smiled and kissed the top of his head before stepping into the living room. "Afternoon Goblin King."

"Afternoon," he replied and gave her a kiss. "How was work?"

She grunted in reply and tossed her bag on the floor and headed for the kitchen. "Jason's art gallery opening is this weekend," Sarah informed him as she flipped through the mail.

"Oh?"

"He wants us both to come."

He made a face. "Hn."

She smirked and walked over, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned over the couch. "I know, I know. You hate art."

"If you know this then why are you making me go?"

"Because I will not go alone." She stood straight and headed back towards the kitchen. "Besides, you're my bodyguard remember?"

He scowled. "Stupid wish." That was her excuse for everything. 'I need to go to the store. Come along bodyguard.' 'Kira's bridal shower is this weekend and you're going bodyguard.' 'Jason wants to celebrate finally getting Kara to go somewhere with him willingly so let's get going bodyguard.'

She just smirked and continued into the other room. "What do you want for dinner?"

"Is everyone coming over?"

She rolled her eyes. "Do you ever listen? Jason's art-"

"Art gallery is opening this weekend and he wants us both to come. What does that have to do with everyone coming over?"

"We're all getting together then, not tonight."

"Ah… then whatever's fine."

She scowled at the back of his head before looking back into the cupboard. "I don't feel like making food."

"So order out."

"Says he who brings no money home."

He looked at her upside down. "Says she who made a fortune off her last book." She stuck her tongue out and grabbed the phone to order pizza.

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As Saturday night rolled around, Sarah found herself in a pretty evening dress, seated at a table at Jason's art gallery opening watching Jareth interact with everyone else.

It had been six years since she called the fae into her life. She smiled as she watched him chat with Jason and Alan, or rather, listen to Jason talk non-stop at him. Alan had done well for himself, making more than enough money to support Kira and the large family Kira wanted in a few years after she'd taught for awhile. Jason had this gallery opening and was doing fantastically well, his art flying off the shelves.

Kara made her way over and he shut up instantly to grin brightly at her and wrap an arm around her waist. She didn't brush him away but she obviously sent him a 'remove arm please' look which was promptly ignored.

Kara was becoming a popular doctor in the ER. She tolerated no mistakes and no laziness. Everything was to be cleaned and ready at all times, all ties tied and knots knotted. Many lives had been saved with her on the floor. The strawberry blond turned to ask Jareth something to which the blond fae nodded and replied, Alan and Jason laughing.

Sarah frowned. That could only mean she was the subject. Damn fae. As though knowing what she was thinking, he glanced in her direction and winked. She rolled her eyes and turned to look at the other group.

Toroku had his arms around Samra's waist, head on her chin. Toroku was also doing very well in his business as a… something with legal matters. Samra had graduated to become a layer and only lost two out of thirty cases so far.

Evie and Ryuu stood next to them chatting. Evie had started out in the law profession but quickly lost interest in that, turning to a librarian status. Many made fun of her for it but they weren't the ones taking care of the state books and getting access to restricted reading material on a day-to-day basis. Her job also helped Samra for she could easily find books Samra might need to win her cases.

Ryuu… well no one really knew what he did but perhaps Evie and she wasn't telling. He made enough to support everyone though so it wasn't question. Jason often joked that he must be the prime minister of something to make that much money. Ryuu just smiled like 'I know something you don't' but didn't elaborate.

Valdis, Haimon and Honou sat in another corner, Honou and Haimon talking about something, Valdis looking completely bored with it. Valdis had gotten sick of her tutors and joined Sarah in college in Sarah's third year. She thrived there in law and became a cop. Haimon, because he had nothing else in mind, also became a cop and they were partners in the law force with a much better arrest record than the other members of the unit. Azrael(Valdis' brother) joked that it was because she was so much more violent and often instigated the criminal into trying to hit her so she could take them out. Haimon would just sigh and get them into the car before she could kill them.

Honou was the head of his family business and often very, very busy with no free time. But whatever he did, he did it well. He'd tried to explain it to Sarah once before finally just giving in and saying, "it's like being the president of Microsoft." She just nodded and put that down as very rich, very busy.

"My lady." She turned as Jareth walked up. "Would you like to head home? Everyone else is." She nodded and held out her hand. He grabbed it and pulled her to her feet, leading her over to say their good nights.

As Kira's arms wrapped around her, the blond whispered, "see ya next weekend?"

Sarah pulled away and nodded in confusion. "Sure. Party?"

She grinned widely. "Announcement."

"What kind of announcement?" Kira put a finger to her lips then a hand on her stomach. Sarah was confused then her eyes widened and she inhaled sharply. "For real?!" she hissed quietly. Kira nodded happily and put her finger to her lips again before turning to say her good byes to Samra.

As they reached the parking lot and began walking down the street, Jareth raised an eyebrow and asked what she was so happy about. Sarah just grinned widely and replied with, "it's a girl thing."

"Ah. Shall we?" he asked, holding an arm out. She wrapped her arm around his and they disappeared.

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"And she says 'your breath smells!' and refused to go on a date with me! I mean come on! I eat flesh and blood! It's not possible to have good smelling breath when you get raw human flesh!"

"I hear yah," Sarah replied back with a sigh, fingers typing out her story on the computer. "I had a guy do that to me in college after I'd had a garlic parmesan chicken sandwich. Boy, he regretted that."

The dragon glanced up from the controller he held. "Why? What'd you do to him?"

"Kicked him so hard he probably lost the right to procreate."

Wincing, the dragon returned to his game. "Sarah, you've no right to do that to a male unless he's truly committed some heinous crime."

"Like trying to eat the flesh off my face?"

"Well… I didn't actually get around to trying now did I? Goblin King stepped in before I could."

"But you still thought about it."

"Which in no way is crime against you. I'm sure many dragons have thought that."

"You're the only dragon I know."

"Well… damn it Link! I pressed 'A'! Kill the damn spider!"

"You do know there's a dragon you have to kill in that game, right?"

"Of course, but it's a wimpy dragon. Deserves to be kill-RIGHT DAMN YOU! RIGHT!"

"It's nearing eleven," Jareth announced as he walked into the room.

"Is it?" both asked faintly, distracted by their electronics.

"Yes." When neither moved, he growled. "Which means stop playing games and leave so I can go to bed!"

The dragon scowled at him then snarled at the TV as his character died. "Damn it Link!" He clicked a few buttons before shutting it off and standing. "See you tomorrow Sarah."

"Later Arnie." The dragon disappeared.

Jareth sighed and flopped back onto the bed. "I can't understand why you two are such good friends."

"We're not friends," she replied, leaning to the side to jot a few things down. "We're complaining buddies."

"Even though he tried to eat you?"

"Yup."

"Hm…"

The two had become good 'friends' over the past year. After Sarah had wished, the dragon had reappeared numerous times to try and devour her. After the tenth time, she'd merely greet him as he tried to grab her only for his hand to burst into flames. After the twentieth time, she began leaving out cookies for his arrival. After the thirtieth time, he burst into a fit of tears and began complaining about his life while they ate cookies and shared stories.

Now it was a weekly ritual for the dragon to play video games and complain about his life while she worked on her stories or played against him and complained about hers. Jareth only tolerated it because it made him laugh when she'd beat him at a racing game and he'd try to bite her only for his mouth to fill with fire.

He waited a good fifteen minutes before sitting up with a sigh. "Are you almost finished?"

"Almost," she answered, eyes glued to the screen as her fingers tapped away. "My editor wants the manuscript by Monday and I'm still finishing the last chapter."

"You're not done with that yet?"

"No," she snapped. "I can't think of a good ending."

He was behind her suddenly, kneeling at her side to look at the screen. "How about, 'and so the demon had stolen her heart but in return she'd healed his.'"

She turned to look at him, quiet for a moment before scrunching her nose up. "That… is incredibly sappy."

"I know." He clicked the save button and turned off the computer.

"Hey!"

He picked her up and headed for the bed, setting her down. "It's time for sleep Sarah. I'm tired and your clickity-clackity is keeping me up." She scowled and slid beneath the covers, waiting until he'd gotten settled to shift over. "Besides, you need sleep if you're to finish your soon to be number one in the nation novel."

She smiled. "You really think so?"

"I know so." He kissed her forehead. "Now sleep my brilliant writer."

As Sarah cuddled up beside him, a small smile crossed her features. Her demon had indeed stolen her heart.

"Your heaviness is restricting my need for air."

Happiness gone.

She was so gonna kill him.

With a growl, she reached for her pillow. Why the hell did she ever listen to that stupid story? "Goblin King?"

"Hm?" he mumbled, half asleep already.

She raised the pillow above her head. "Remind me tomorrow morning, if you're still alive, to kill Kira for telling me about you."

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To all readers and reviewers,

And so ends Three Times! But don't be sad! Another Jaerth-is-a-demon story is coming out soon!

Of Demons and Goblin Kings
Princess Sarah of Sylvan lived a quiet life, day after day, the same routine. When a demon, a fae, the same species that had slaughtered her mother years before drops in front of her, her routine shatters. But if he thinks she's just gonna roll over and let him kill her, he's got another thing coming.

Such shameless advertising huh?

But yes, Three Times is complete and finished. It was a great run! Thanks to all who read and enjoyed over the past 5months-13days! Thanks to everyone who reviewed/faved/watched!

Over and out!

Kadasa Mori