Author's Disclaimer: Hi again! Once again, I still don't own Labyrinth. Also, guess what? It's time to meet our favorite tight-panted male! Enjoy!
Baby It's Cold Outside
Chapter 2: Welcome to the family-(There's no place like) Home for the holidays
Sarah ventured to the front yard, shooing Toby away saying that those owls were dangerous, and one had to be older and more careful to deal with them, so she would take care of it on her own. To make sure she wasn't watched, she sent him to the backyard to prepare the yard for the annual Williams football game. After that, she went to go face him, uncertain of what to expect.
By the time she turned around after closing the door, she no longer saw the owl in the tree, instead, she only heard footsteps crunching the fallen leaves in the yard. She looked up, and saw him for the first time in a long, long time.
And did he look good.
Drat it all. Why were the dreams never better than the real thing?
"Hello, Sarah. Fancy seeing you again after all this time. I thought you'd never wish for something again, the way you were going. Not that I'm upset you did, as it is high time you did. You sounded miserable, and you needed me. Thankfully, something finally clicked. Well, here I am, to make all things better. How can I help?"
Sarah was in shock. And awe. And trying desperately hard to process everything he had just said, realizing that something not quite right was said, in addition to the part about being upset and getting better, but this was no time to consider all those implications….
"I, I, I-"
"Am rather curious to know why a turkey needs to be perfect for today, but that can wait. Well, are you going to introduce me to your family or not?"
Whoa. What did he just say?
"Wait! Hang on a second! Do you hear what you are saying?"
"Oh yes, quite clearly. Why? Do you think me in jest, or unsure of what I say? I can promise you, I am fully aware of what I am saying, and what I want. And I intend to make you fully aware of it, too, now that you have finally let me back into your life. So, shall we continue this conversation in your home, or mine? It's cold outside here. Much warmer back at my place, with a fire, hot cocoa, a bed-"
He had now managed to walk up to her, put his arms around her, and pressed his body up against her, making it even harder for her to think coherently. Worse, he was now making circles on her hands with his fingers in delightful ways that she was having trouble ignoring… Snap out of it! You are not being manipulated into going to the Underground, no matter how nice he is being!
"No. Jareth, we need to talk, but not right now. My family is waiting for me; I need to get back inside, and you need to leave, now."
"I don't think so, precious. Not any time soon if I can help it."
"Oh, you will, you arrogant, assuming-"
But she was cut off from making any more complaints about him since he chose that moment to kiss her, quite senseless in fact. And in a very good way. She hadn't felt that feeling in a really long time, the way he kissed, with all his pent-up emotions, passion, and desire for her, as he hungrily ravished her mouth, kissing hard and long, using his tongue as much as possible, goading her into responding back with equal force. Before too long, she too had her arms around his neck, angling herself to better receive him in her mouth, and even moaned once, enough to make Jareth grin and then growl as well with his pleasure.
But she was not to be an exhibitionist forever.
For that was when Sarah suddenly heard the strangled gasp of Karen, who had become worried about Sarah being outside with that owl for so long, that she had come to investigate, only to find Sarah in the arms of an older man, who most obviously liked Sarah. Now, Sarah would have to stop.
"Sarah? Who is this? And why haven't you told us you are dating again? I'm so happy for you! Though I do wish you had told us sooner, so that we could set up an extra place for him at the table, but this is wonderful news! Wait until Robert hears this! Come on inside, you two. You'll catch cold out here, it is so cold outside. Come inside and meet the family, whoever you are. You are very welcome to, I promise!"
And with that, Karen rushed inside to tell the rest of the family, while Sarah was greatly confused, and worried about what she would have to explain, until she looked up and saw the satisfied grin on Jareth's face as he looked at the front door, and saw what he had done.
"You jerk! You knew that was going to happen, and you did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Of course. It was the only way to ensure that I would be able to come inside and spend time with you and meet your family."
"You are not going into that house-"
"And that is where you are wrong. I have already been cordially invited by Karen, and I couldn't pass up such an open and welcoming invitation like that and be rude, could I?" He was smiling so much right now, and there was nothing she could do about, literally or figuratively. Part of her brain refused to function as she saw him smile like that, the other part of her knew that he would get in somehow, despite her protests. Oh well, no way to stop now. She could only hope that he would be nice. At least now she would make her family really happy to see her with someone.
If only there were some way to make things easier for her to deal with Jareth. She wasn't ready to deal with him, as she quickly discovered. He was still very much the predator from the Labyrinth and seducer from her dreams. And that was when she thought of it. "I'll invite the goblins to come over too! I bet they would like that!" That was easy enough since they visited her regularly once a month, so that she could give them chocolate and receive inspiration for writing how-to articles on working with children. She just had to call them in her mind (how that happened, she still didn't entirely know, but was not worried by it). It was right after she called them that Jareth looked at her just as they were going inside.
"Sarah, what did you just do?"
"Me? Nothing. Why?"
"Well, I could have sworn you just used your magic to call the goblins to visit you again, and I can't imagine why you want to do that now when you have me here to keep you company. No matter, perhaps I am imagining things."
"Wait a second. I have magic? Since when did I get magic?"
"Sarah, how can you forget? You memorized that book at one point in your life. Do I have to repeat it? 'But what no one knew-'"
"Oh, that. I see. Is that why I can see them whenever?"
"Yes. Though I still don't see why you would want to, since they just trash whatever place they are visiting."
"Well, that isn't the case when they visit me. In fact, I have shown them how to clean up after themselves very well when they visit my apartment."
"Then count yourself lucky. It certainly does not carry on to other places they go."
"I see. I'll keep that in mind."
It was then that Sarah's father, Robert came to the door. He looked appropriately shocked upon seeing Jareth, and so it greatly pleased Sarah that the next words out of Robert's mouth were, "So, you're the new boyfriend. Please come in. If I so much as see you upset Sarah in any way today, you will be thrown out of this house, personally. Whether by hand, foot, or shovel, you will. Just as a warning. Today is a special day for Sarah and the family, and I don't want you messing it up. Welcome to the family."
It was on days like this when Sarah was glad to have the family she had, and that she still celebrated with them so that she would not be left alone with him today. Instead, they would meet on her turf this time, at her home. There's no place like home for the holidays.
Author's Notes: After all, if you are from a northern area, Thanksgiving does tend to be a little cold. Why not try to take advantage of it? Also, for all reviews for the first two chapters, they will be included on the first chapter not written by then. Enjoy! -tmwillson3
