I am so pleased with the reviews so far, thank you all for reviewing and favoriting my story, it means a lot and I sincerely read every one of your reviews even if I don't respond to them directly. You're so kind!

QueenBookDragon: So sweet of you, thank you! I have too many ideas and not enough time to write them all. It will be about 13 chapters yes, maybe an epilogue or so? Something like that. I hope you will enjoy these next chapters!

Honoria Granger: Ah bless you. I'm glad to always see your reviews because you are so honest and so that means a lot!

Little China Girl: For someone who can't freaking cook (me lol) I find the IDEA of cooking really cute but I know that I'll probably argue with my boyfriend a lot when he cooks for me. I do offer to clean if he cooks though!

tyraleanne: Aww so glad you love them! I hope you will enjoy this fluffy one too!

December 20th

As her parents were working and Toby at school, Sarah ventured to the library with a hot cocoa in her hand. She browsed a few books, completely in her element and hoped to have a few books read for fun during winter break before school starts again.

She picked out a biography about Abraham Lincoln. Humming in satisfaction, she turned around and nearly spilled her cocoa at the sight.

Jareth had been right behind her and scared the crap out of her with his feral smile.

She hit the side of his arm with the book (playfully of course, she never hurt him) and he couldn't stop laughing at her.

"Oh the look on your face!" He leaned against the shelf opposite from her and wiggled his eyebrows.

"You suck." Sarah walked passed him but he was too quick and blocked her path.

"I am trying to read a book and you're in my way." She frowned at him. Or rather, she tried to. The corner of her mouth twitched and Jareth absolutely knew it too.

She sighed. "Okay why are you here now? Can't you find someone else to harass?"

Jareth made a pouty face and uncrossed his arms. "I got my work done early today. And there shouldn't be anyone wishing children away so yes you're the most fun and readily available person to harass."

Jareth said that it had been over 20 years that someone wished a baby away by the time Sarah wished Toby away and in fact, no one had wished a child away since Sarah. And she was still the only one to beat his labyrinth.

Sarah tilted her head and beckoned for him to follow her. "If you're going to be here now, maybe we can sit by the fireplace and play a few games?"

"I'd be delighted." Jareth beamed. "Maybe I could pick out a book too."

After a few games of connect four and chess, Sarah got Jareth to get his very own library card. He looked at the little card affectionately and signed his name in loopy and neat handwriting. Sarah had never seen a man she knew personally with handwriting so neat.

Then again, he was unlike any man she had ever known in nearly every way possible.

Jareth checked out The Secret Garden, a favorite of Sarah's.

"My mom used to read that to me when I was young." Sarah said wistfully. "It's a good story."

"Then I look forward to reading something that means so much to you." He smiled. "I find that reading books or listening to music that means a lot to a person can get you to understand them more."

Sarah never thought of it that way before but he was right. It was a way to really talk about feelings and thoughts that shaped someone to be who they were.

"Even now I wonder why." Sarah said quietly, but Jareth heard her.

"Why what?" He tilted his head quizzically.

"Why you want to know more about me." She shrugged. "I'm just some 21 year old college kid and you're some fairy tale king. But I guess we're friends now so that's why." She said the last sentence playfully so he wouldn't question her or talk about the nature of their relationship too much.

Jareth was about to speak but he didn't know what he would've said for Sarah hushed him with something she dug in her purse.

"I do have a real Christmas present for you, but this would be kind of a lame thing to get after Christmas." She put it in his hand.

Jareth looked at the little gift. It was a crocheted owl. A barn owl, to be precise. On top of its head was a silver ribbon to hang it somewhere and he saw that on its chest had the same pendant that he wore.

"It's you, if you can't tell." Sarah wrung her hands nervously. "Is it okay? I thought it would be a good Christmas ornament."

Jareth traced the outline of the owl. There's no way she made this overnight for it would've taken her some effort even if she was a talented artist. "Sarah, this is beautiful. I adore it. Thank you."

He put the little owl in his breast pocket and gave it a pat to show her that he would keep him safe.

Sarah felt so proud. "You'll have to put it in your tree!"

"I don't have a Christmas tree." He told her. "But I will make sure to hang it up."

Sarah stared at him. "You don't have a Christmas tree?" All over the world, even in tropical countries, there were Christmas trees there as well to symbolize Christmas. She wasn't sure how she never noticed his lack of Christmas trees throughout the years of knowing him.

"We don't have that tradition in the Underground. Although it is very charming." Jareth said fondly. "I love your stories of decorating a tree for the holidays."

"Well you should have one." Sarah grinned. "We can go Christmas tree shopping together! Or buy a fake one which will be easier but looking for trees is always really fun."

Jareth chuckled then thought about his living room. It was rather bare and not so decorative. And spending time with Sarah always seemed so nice.

"Only if you come with me and help decorate the tree." He told her.

"Great!" Sarah beamed. Seeing the time, she put away her book and got up. "I have to pick Toby up from school. See you tonight at his concert?"

"Of course." He promised her. "I'll read a bit and let you know how I find the story."

Jareth strolled into the crowded gym full of family members to watch their elementary school-aged children perform their winter concert. He wore a nice burgundy sweater in top of a simple, button down collared shirt tucked neatly into blue jeans and comfortable boots.

The king looked around and finally saw the Williams family. He had a small smile at Sarah laughing with a few cousins and other extended family members. When she wasn't being distracted by them, her eyes were looking around distractedly. With a jolt, he realized that she was looking for him and he felt his heart swell in his ribcage.

Walking towards them, he made sure to sneak up on Sarah. "Boo!"

"GAH!" Sarah fell off her chair rather ungracefully. She turned around to see Jareth laughing his head off.

"Haha, very funny." Sarah glared at him. She reached behind her and massaged her now very sore backside. "Ow."

Jareth had the decency to look contrite. "Did I hurt you? I'm so sorry."

He held his hand out to her and Sarah grumbled all while taking his hand.

"And who is this dashing young man?" Sarah's Aunt Lauren nudged her.

"I'm quite flattered." Jareth gave a very sweet smile back and mischief dancing in his eyes.

"Don't inflate his ego." Sarah said playfully. "This is my friend, Jareth."

And Jareth got to meet Sarah's grandparents on her father's side, Aunt Lauren's two children and husband, and another uncle who was single.

"It's so nice to see such support for Toby." Jareth remarked.

"My youngest sister is ten and is going to perform too." Sarah's younger cousin, Rebecca said. "But yeah we'd be there for Toby too."

"We're going to go out for some pie when we're done. Do you want to come?" Karen invited Jareth.

As much as Jareth would love to see Sarah's family and get to know the people in her life, he didn't really feel right being there unless he was her significant other. "I can't impose..."

"You can come you know." Sarah gave him a smile. She saw her family react well with him and she wanted to show him off in a way even if she wasn't dating him. He meant so much to her.

Jareth almost said yes at Sarah's big green eyes. But he knew he would be spending time with her tomorrow. "Maybe some other time, I still have to get presents for my family."

Which was true.

"Oh, okay." Sarah sat back into the uncomfortable metal chair, looking more disappointed than how much she really wanted to let on.

Her family went back to talking and Jareth leaned into her ear. "You get me all day tomorrow you know."

Sarah tried to look disinterested but she couldn't help her smile. "I know. It'll be great!"

Toby's concert went wonderfully, all the children singing off key but singing as proudly as they could. Jareth found it adorable how Sarah tried to record him with her camcorder. He loved to observe her like this as he didn't usually have the freedom to do so as she would notice his stare.

Unknown to him or Sarah, her family all noticed the way he watched her fondly when she wasn't paying attention. It was a look not of lust or of wanting to possess as was common in many couples and crushes. It was a look of pure affection, of care and sweetness.

The last song finished and everyone clapped enthusiastically. Toby came to hug his family along with a cousin of theirs who was in it.

"Sarah! Sarah! Did you like my first concert?" He hugged her legs and grinned.

"It was awesome!" Sarah kissed his cheek. "I could hear you sing!"

"You did wonderfully." Jareth stood a little behind Sarah.

Toby waved at Jareth. "Hi Jareth! You came!"

"I did make a promise." He crouched to his height. "Thank you for extending the invitation to me." He ruffled Toby's hair affectionately.

To their surprise, Toby grabbed Jareth's hand and dragged him to the rest of the family. "Hey guys! Did you meet Sarah's boyfriend yet?"

At this, Sarah sputtered and turned bright red. "Toby!"

"Boyfriend?" Uncle Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong?" Toby looked confused. "He is your boyfriend!"

Jareth was torn between laughing at Sarah's bright red face and feeling hurt that she would look so mortified at a thought.

"You act as if him being your boyfriend is a bad thing." Sarah's cousin Ruby teased her.

"I didn't say that." Sarah sighed. "He's just a friend." She was still refusing to look at him.

"Yeah." Toby looked even more confused. "He's a boy and he's a friend. So he's her boyfriend. Isn't he my boyfriend too since he's my friend?"

At this everyone laughed and relaxed. "Oh Toby, that's not what a boyfriend or girlfriend means." Robert told him.

"Then what?" Toby looked confused.

Jareth tried to get Sarah's attention but she still wasn't looking his way. He wondered if she was flustered for the same reason he was or if she really didn't want to ever consider the possibility of both of them. He sighed and tapped on her shoulder.

"I'll be going now." He gave her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow if you still want to, Precious."

He turned around and walked out before he could see her reaction, not wanting to feel hurt if she didn't want to see him.

Sarah was still stunned but luckily got her wits about her to run after him.

She ran outside, following the blonde man in the burgundy sweater. "Jareth, wait!"

She couldn't believe that Toby had even said that. She didn't want Jareth to go away but she was too embarrassed and wanted to preserve herself around him. She was afraid that Toby would push him away and it seemed that her actions in ignoring him were the things to push him away, not Toby. Oh why did this have to be so complicated? She caught up to him and grabbed his hand.

Jareth was surprised at this bold move but the metaphorical mask on his face betrayed nothing.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anything. I just can't believe Toby got the definition mixed up and-"

"It's okay, no need to explain anything." He said a little more dismissively than he had meant to and inwardly cringed. He just didn't want to hear her say that she felt nothing.

"I'm sorry." She said again, not really knowing what she was apologizing for and still holding onto his hand. She looked down for a moment and took a deep breath.

Just when the family started to honk their cars at her to hurry up.

"It's alright." He said to her.

"I have to go." She said quietly. She looked up at his face again and still saw his hard mask. But this time, she saw his eyes soften at her apology.

She wasn't quite sure why she felt the need to do this. Maybe she just missed him. Maybe she wished that things were different between them. Maybe it was the look in his eyes that showed that maybe, he felt the same way for her as she felt for him.

She reached up and kissed his cheek, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

Jareth was surprised and let down his hard mask. He touched his cheek with his free hand and looked at his boots shyly. He wasn't sure what about Sarah made him act so nervous but he found that he didn't mind since it was her.

"I'll see you tomorrow at the Christmas tree farm." She let go of his hand and looked away.

"I look forward to seeing you there, Precious." He looked at her again.

Sarah blushed as she always did when he used her nickname so sweetly.

The cars honked at her again.

"COMING!" She yelled at them. She waved at Jareth. "Bye Jareth."

"See you." He watched her job away from him, blowing her a kiss even though she couldn't see.

It may be fluffy but I do have to add a bit of conflict in here. It makes it all the sweeter, and come on we can't have Jareth and Sarah being perfect all the time either! Thanks for the read and please leave a review!