Chapter 1

Figures danced around in a white crystal ballroom while she looked breathlessly around. Her puffed sparkling white dress shimmered in the lights and the crystal decorations in her puffed black hair glimmered with each turn of her head. Her green eyes searched for him, the one who had brought her here. What she didn't see as she was searching for him was that he was watching her. Finally, she turned and there he was Jareth, the Goblin King, and they looked at one another for seconds before he moved towards her. Then they were dancing and she was entranced by him.

A knock resounded upon the door, echoing through the house, startling the young lady that had been slumped over, sleeping, on her desk. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and stretched her back, wondering why she had begun dreaming of the "ball" again and what had woken her. Another knock upon the door, and she laughed at herself. She stood and made her way to her front entryway to open the door, wondering who would be visiting her. Opening the door, she couldn't believe who was standing on her front doorstep.

"Jareth." The name whispered across her lips. There he was, the man she had been dreaming of. His clothes were of her world and his hair was short, but it was him. She found herself preferring his other appearance, the one of the Goblin King, as only that seemed to suit him. However, she could find no fault with the way he was now. His blond hair was only about 4 to 5 inches long now and his usual face markings were gone. He wore a black suit with black dress shoes and a white undershirt with a charcoal tie. Everything about him spoke professionalism and he had a businessman type aurora surrounding him. She might have been draw into it if she didn't know the real him that existed behind this façade standing in front of her.

"Sarah" he replied with a slight smirk and a nod of his head. She was really growing into beautiful woman. More so each time he saw her. She wasn't fully aware of his previous visits yet, but perhaps in time he would reveal his secrets to her.

"I've said no magic words." She responded sharply, steeling herself against his charms. She knew better than to trust him. She should hate him. She should despise the fact that he was here; standing on her doorstep, yet the only emotion she could pin down was that of excitement. What was happening here, to her?

"Darling, do you really think that is the only way to beckon me to you?" he asked with a slight laugh. "You think I don't feel you wanting me, calling me, beckoning me to you when you dream, when you wish for me, when you even think of me? I'm very much attuned to you, my dear Sarah."

"O ha ha ha Jareth. Don't make fun." She taunted back, cringing at the thought that he may know her dreams. "Why are you here?"

"Tisk tisk, my dear, isn't it bad manners to leave a guest standing outside in the cold." Jareth taunted. She frowned at him, it wasn't even cold outside.

"It's spring, Jareth, it isn't cold." She dared him.

"My my, how your manners fail you. Whatever would your parents say?" He teased before stepping closer to her and placing his palm on the door. "Now, won't you let me in?" He questioned lightly, placing pressure on the door.

"Like my saying no would ever stop you." She murmured under her breath as she stepped out of his way, and turned to make her way to the living room. She heard the front door shut behind her and the lock click into place. She turned into her living room and flopped down into one of her recliners, curling her legs underneath her and leaning against one arm. Jareth followed her into the room, and settled himself upon her couch facing her.

"So, are you ever going to tell me what you are doing here, in my world, in my house?" She questioned him. Curiosity was settling deeper within her, and she felt a mixture of anticipation and dread. What would have brought Jareth to this world?

"Perhaps" He responded, while perusing the room he was now sitting in. She seemed to have a well-kept house, though he would have preferred more. She had a big bay window to the back of the couch where he was sitting, a small wooden coffee table with a glass top between his couch and the two recliners on her side of the room. To his right, there was a small fireplace with bookshelves framing its sides filled with her library of books and movies. To his left, a TV was fixed on the wall centered between the couch and recliners and there was the doorway leading to the rest of the house positioned to the left and behind one of the recliner. It was small, but cozy and decorated in her taste. Glancing at her, he noticed how she rolled her eyes and he found himself grinning.

"Does it meet with your approval, your highness?" She stated sarcastically, having caught him examining her living room. "Never mind, I don't care about your opinion."

"That's not fair" he replied, reminding her of her time within his kingdom. Sarah stuck her tongue out him in response, content just to sit here with him in her home. As soon as that thought crossed her mind, she panicked. How could she find herself comfortable with him in her domain? She knew who he was, what he was, and knew better than to trust him. Jareth noticed her tensing.

"I'm not a child anymore, Jareth." She commented.

"That, I can agree with." He drawled, his eyes glancing over her in appreciation. Though she was curled in the chair in a very unladylike manner, he still found himself admiring her. Then again, he had always admired her. She still had her sparkling green eyes and long jet black hair, those had not changed. However, now her lips were fuller; especially the lower one, her legs were longer, and she had a few more curves. She was wearing comfy, soft knee length black shorts and an emerald green high cut tank that emphasized her eyes. It was a look of comfort though she still made it look good. Sarah rolled her eyes at his comment and Jareth found his grin growing.

"Though, I see we still have much of the same personality." He commented. He wondered if she would ever tire of rolling her eyes when displeased. Sarah swung her feet back out from under her and leaned forward in the chair.

"Enough small talk, Jareth, why are you here?" Sarah asked impatiently. She had strived to forget him, yet had always found herself longing for him. She had never understood her longing for him; he was cruel and mean and had always been. He had kidnapped her baby brother and wanted to turn him into a goblin. How could she long for someone like him, yet no other man had ever held sway with her heart since him and his being here was not helping in the slightest now.

"You are still as feisty and impatient as ever, dear Sarah. Did my labyrinth teach you nothing of patience?" Jareth taunted, enjoying the sparks in her eyes. The green always seemed to brighten when she was mad or passionate about something. Sarah narrowed her eyes at him.

"I learned plenty from your labyrinth but patience wasn't one of them. I recall being a little pressed for time when I was there." Sarah remarked, tight lipped. His labyrinth, o how she missed it. Within the first week of being home, her dreams were besieged with images of the Labyrinth. What should have been nightmares became her sanctuary during some of her darkest days. How could a world in which everything had seemed to turn against her hold such a warm, homey feeling for her.

"Yes, you never did fully learn to understand it, did you Sarah." Jareth remarked.

"Jareth, enough of this, why are here? If you won't tell me then I must ask you to leave. I am still governed by time and you are wasting it." Sarah retorted, growing tired of this small chatter. All it was doing was making her remember what she had so desperately tried to forget. She wanted him out of here before his face could damage all the defenses she had fought so long and hard to erect.

"I am here, Sarah, because of you." Jareth stated simply, before leaning back into the couch and watching the expressions cross her face; first confusion, then anxiety, then concern.

"What do you mean because of me?" Sarah asked, determined not to panic until she knew the full truth of the matter. If there was one thing she had learned from the Goblin King, it was that he enjoyed playing one for the fool and she refused to fall into any of his traps. Jareth smiled.

"Maybe I shouldn't say because of you." With Jareth's first statement, Sarah felt some hope return, only to have it dashed by the next part. "Perhaps I should say for you." Sarah felt chills run down her spine as her eyes widened in despair on the man in front of her. Jareth stood and walked over to lean against her mantle above the fireplace, keeping her in full view. Sarah sank back into her chair, trying desperately to absorb what he was saying.

"I told you, Sarah, you never fully understood the rules of the Labyrinth. Nothing is as it seems. You won the labyrinth and with that success there is a price, though many would consider it a prize. However, you were not ready when you won so I've allowed you your freedom, but I'm afraid that freedom is now at an end. It is time for you to return to the labyrinth." Jareth kept his eyes on her face with his statements. He knew Sarah, she wouldn't take this well but it was time she returned home. Sarah began shaking her head.

"No. No, you can't do this to me, Jareth. I've not said the words, I've not wished for anything from you. I can't go back. You can't take me back." She cried desperately in denial. Though she had secretly loved him and the Labyrinth, she knew she couldn't go back. To return would ensure her destruction, she wasn't sure she could escape unscathed a second time. What game was he playing here? Jareth walked towards her and looked down at her.

"I can assure you that you can go back and I will take you back. You cannot escape the Labyrinth a second time. You must pay the price of winning the Labyrinth. I will not allow the destruction of the Labyrinth on some girl's whims." Jareth said his voice hardening.

"I won, which ensured Toby's return, nothing more. There was nothing more to winning." Sarah cried.

"That is where you are wrong, Sarah. There is more going on that you don't understand, things you can't comprehend at this time. But let me impress upon you this, you will return and in time, perhaps you will understand." Jareth cut across her denials. He glanced at his watch. "Time is running short. We must return soon." Sarah looked up at him with stricken eyes.

"Wait, you can't mean to leave now. I still have things to do even if I were to go with you. You can't just come barging back into my life and expect me to go with you all willy-nilly. I have a life here, Jareth. A damn good one and I am not going to let you ruin it." Sarah had stood up and faced Jareth half-way through her little speech. Jareth grinned, a toothy almost evil like grin.

"That's what you think!" Jareth laughed as he grabbed Sarah's forearm and pulled her into his chest. Wrapping both arms around her struggling form, he held them still and with a flash, they vanished from Sarah's abode.