Chapter 2.

Sarah stared at the intruder who was now looking at her with something she never recognized before, raw unbridled lust. "You don't belong here," she gasped putting herself between the man and the crib.

"I only offered to be of help," he said leaning on the door jamb watching her with amusement as she believed to be barring his path.

"What did you do with the real Robin Zaker?" she demanded coldly.

Amused and not seeing any reason to offer explanations he turned and moved back down stairs. Sarah glanced about to find everything had returned to normal. Toby was fast asleep and the window was closed, and she was very confused. She tucked the baby in once more, and moved to the hall. It was empty, but she could hear the stereo still playing in the parlor. Sarah cursed herself for opening the door to him.

She found him seated once more on the sofa and sipping his drink, "What do you want Goblin King?" She asked harshly taking a seat in an armchair across from him.

"Same thing I've always wanted," he boasted.

On her feet in a second she wagged a finger in his face, "You can't have Toby! I won him back."

Jareth looked at her for a moment before he laughed rather cruelly, "Silly girl, if I had wanted that baby I could have taken him and there's nothing you could do to stop me…"

"That's not fair," she barked, "I won."

His face flushed with anger, his hand shot out capturing her wrist and yanking her to him; "Oh, did you now?"

Sarah stared into the stormy eyes of her capture, "Let me go or I'll scream," she threatened.

"Go head," his voice dropped, "Scream your fool head off for all the good it'll do you. I've frozen time," he pointed to the antique little clock, it had stopped ticking. "I prefer not to be hampered by time restraints, as this discussion will take a good deal of that commodity."

Staring at the clock she asked, "How did you do that, we're not in the goblin kingdom." Turning her face towards him she found he was studying her with more intent than she found comfortable.

"Oh come now Sarah, surely you understand how this works," he twisted her arm until she took a seat beside him. "As you insist I shall refresh your memory," his eyes danced with depraved delight, "I am not bound by your mundane laws; I am only bound by the laws that govern the Underground."

"What do you want," she repeated.

"You know what I want," he reiterated, the leer coming back to his eyes as he looked at her closely, "You've grown," he mused; "Delightfully." Sarah's lips parted, his hand moved to her chin, "Still no kiss hello?"

Sarah pulled back, "Kiss you?" her voice more shrill than she'd wished; "I'd rather kiss a snake."

His face came closer, "I can arrange that," he threatened, "And I'll guarantee I'm much more proficient than any serpent." Jareth still in the guise of Robin Zaker smelled of the liquor he'd sipped, "Be a good little girl and give us a kiss…" he intoned wickedly.

Her heart raced as the liquor on his breath slightly intoxicated her, "I'm not a little girl," she whispered tightly.

"Even better," he glowered as his eyes raked over her, "But you're still good," he assessed, "Good or bad, matters not, now let's have that kiss."

Before she could resist, not even sure she really wanted to resist, Sarah found the lips of her foe on hers. She had expected to be revolted, but found instead that his kiss gave her tingles. His tongue tasted of liquor as it passed between her lips and into the depths of her mouth. It was tangy and shocking, she moaned slightly as his mouth took possession of hers with ease. She looked at him in utter shock when he pulled back, "You shouldn't be here," she objected weakly. "I'm not supposed to have visitors…"

His hand moved down her throat, "I'm a bit more than just a visitor now am I not?" She shivered and he chuckled, "And we've all the time in the world…"

Sarah stared at his mouth, her mind racing with thoughts she'd never known. Thoughts she'd refused to give light of day to. "All the time in the world for …"

Jareth picked up his drink took a sip and gave her sinful grin, "For our visit," he sipped again before he leaned toward her to kiss her again. This time there was a bit of liquor left in his mouth, smoothly he passed it to her and she had swallowed before she was aware. "That's my girl," he crooned as he pulled back.

Sarah placed a hand to her lips, swollen from his kisses, "I'm not supposed to drink," she protested feeling the liquor burn as it went down her throat. "I'm only sixteen."

"But you like it, don't you," he asked as he placed his lips to her ear, "Don't you precious?"

"Yes," she answered without being able to stop the words.

Jareth purred into her ear then moved back and reached for the glass, this time placing it to her lips, "Drink Sarah," he commanded. Her lips accepted the glass as he tipped it up for her to sip. The Goblin King gave her a long moment to allow the liquid to be swallowed, "That's my girl," he praised her as he lowered the glass to the coaster. His hand moved back to her throat, "Feeling warm and fuzzy inside?" she nodded. His lips moved to hers, this time hers parted anticipating his desire.

Sarah had a vague idea of where this was going. The Goblin King was getting her inebriated in order to carry on some very heavy petting. Her pulse sped up and her body tingled at the thought. For a moment she wasn't sure if it was the liquor or her own pent up hormones that were making her behave so brazenly. She didn't stop him when his hand moved from her throat into the neck of her blouse, but Jareth stopped. He looked into her eyes as he pulled back; she experienced a feeling of loss and whimpered slightly.

"Not to fret, pet," he crooned gently. "I'm not done kissing you senseless… nevertheless we've a few things to get out of our way."

"Such as," she asked looking at him with a pout.

"A matter of two hours," he answered with a grin.

"Two hours?"

"Yes," he nodded looking sheepish. "The two hours I ~ took~ from you."

The liquor he'd enticed her drink was hitting her, and Sarah couldn't think quite straight. Why she wondered was he talking about two hours taken from her a year ago when they could be kissing? "I don't understand," she murmured.

"I'm afraid I have to return said hours," his eyes sparkled with mischief.

"But I… won," she argued softly as the Scotch began to fog her thought processes.

Jareth traced the line of her mouth with a long finger. "That does not matter, the hours must be returned and so must you."

Catching his wrist with her hand, Sarah tried to clear her mind, "Wait a minute," her tone darkened and her eyes flashed with fire. "Is this some kind of joke? I'm not giving Toby back to you and I'm not going back anywhere… I won!"

"Rules are rules pet," he teased.

"Fuck your rules and fuck you," she growled.

"If you insist," he purred, wicked delight at the suggestion filled his stormy eyes.

Sarah pushed his hand away, "Toby and I are staying right here." She maintained.

Jareth, still in the glamour of the handsome and exciting Robin Zaker chuckled, "Toby is staying here," he allowed, "You on the other hand don't have that option." He tapped her nose with his index finger.

"Stop that," she snarled. "What do you mean I don't have that option?"

"Rules darling, you were the runner, you have to finish your hours." He sighed peacefully and leaned toward her intending to kiss her.

Sarah avoided his lips, "Are you out of your mind? How the hell do you or they or whatever… expect me to run the Labyrinth in two hours? That's insane."

"I'm aware," Jareth's eyes sparked with fiendish delight.

"It's not fair! I won!"

Heaving a frustrated sigh Jareth reached for the Scotch, "You don't have to rub it in." He grumbled took a sip and then offered the glass to her, "Care for a snort before we go?"

"I'm not going, I refuse."

The grin that filled his face crinkled up his eyes, "You don't get to refuse precious…"

"Says who?"

He reached out and tapped the book in her pocket, "Says the book." Leaning back the Goblin King in Robin Zaker face looked young and appealing.

Sarah stared at him, "You wrote the book," she accused.

"Yes and no," he teased.

"Yes and no?"

"More no," he admitted.

"Well who did," she demanded hotly trying to clear the fog the Scotch had provided.

"Robin Zaker did," he mused.

"Are you trying to confuse me," she demanded.

"Not really, no." His answer surprised even him. "You see Sarah, Robin Zaker does exist, he allows me to use that personality and identity when I need to do business in the mortal realm that has little or nothing to do with my duties as Goblin King." He smiled slyly over at her, "Such as this little visit."

"This is not a visit," she argued, "You've come here on a mission to force me back into your lair. Well forget it Goblin King, I'm not going."

"You don't really have a choice," Jareth said frostily.

Shoving him back away from her Sarah stood on shaky limbs, the Scotch hitting her as she stood. "Oh yeah," she slurred her words slightly, "Watch this," she looked at him with blurry eyes, "You have no power over me…" she expected him to vanish, to disappear in a puff of smoke or a glittery haze.

"Would you care to take a wager on that," he asked coyly.

The room began to swim, and things about her were fading; only Jareth seemed to remain constant. "Why didn't that work," she asked weaving forward, "You're supposed to disappear when I say those words." Sarah put her hand to her head, "I feel so strange…"

Seeing her intoxicated state, Jareth stood and slid a hand to her waist to give her support. "That phrase only works during a run precious, and we are not in the Labyrinth." His voice was gentle, and soothing, his hand was supportive and possessive. "It's time to go, precious." He advised her gently.

"But Toby, I can't leave him here alone," she tried to pull free but found standing without aid impossible and grabbed onto him for support. "I can't just leave Toby."

"Toby will be fine," Jareth assured her, "Time is frozen here and the boy has goblins watching over him."

"Goblin babysitters," Sarah snorted before dissolving into a fit of liquor induced laughter, "OH that's richhh…" Sarah's hands slid up to his shoulders, "Sorry handsome, but I'm not going anywhere with you."

Jareth peered down into the face of the slightly tipsy girl, "Sarah this isn't open to discussion or refusal." His arms enfolded her, a wicked grin still played on his inviting mouth.

"Last time you held me we were dancing," she said as she began to sway, "Remember?"

"I will never forget it," he assured her; he too began to sway to the music playing on the stereo. "Is that how you'd like to spend your time? Dancing?"

Sarah had not truly heard him, she was lost in her own thoughts, "You were so different in that ballroom, you were… nice to me."

"I was always nice to you," he argued defensively narrowing his gaze.

She shook her head accusing him, "No you weren't… you were downright mean." Her eyes softened as she looked at the Robin face, "But in that room," her voice dropped to a whisper and her denied desires and longing came rushing forward, "It was like you liked me."

"I do like you," he confessed. "I always did."

"Then why are you being so mean to me? I can't leave Toby with Goblins, and I can't go with you," her eyes filled with unshed tears. "No matter how much I'd want to… I can't."

"Trust to me," he urged, "Toby will be fine; he'll sleep undisturbed."

"No," she shook her head, causing the room to being spinning. "OH that was not a good idea." She clutched his shoulders. "Remind me not to do that again." The room continued to spin and she felt a bit ill.

"Sarah," Jareth's tone became urgent, "Listen to me, and try to understand. It's out of my hands; you have to finish your two hours. It does not affect the outcome, Toby will stay here but you have to return to the Labyrinth." She began to sag as the whiskey's effects hit her full force. Jareth scooped her up into his arms, "I am sorry precious, but rules are rules."

Her eyes refused to focus, "You can't just take me away from home," she argued. "That's kidnapping."

"Not technically," he argued softly, "It's not like I'm taking you out of the house." He moved to the staircase and began to carry her upward.

"I'm not stepping one foot out that window," she slurred.Sarah hoped she sounded convincing. "Thank you for calling on me, and good bye." Her head rolled back and her arm fell away rather dramticlly.

Jareth smiled at her mischievously, "We don't have to." His steps took them to the landing of the hall but he turned to head to the staircase up to the attic room. "We'll never step foot outside this house." He promised.

"But you said…"

"If Sarah Williams can't come to the Labyrinth," he chanted, "The Labyrinth will come to her…." The door of the attic room swung open just before they arrived at the upper landing and Jareth entered carrying the girl. The arched doorway filled with light and color and mysts, a magical portal had opened between the worlds. Outside the attic room was the Williams house, inside was a glittering shining room made of crystal.

Sarah's seemingly drunken daze vanished and she was all too sober, "NO!" she cried out.

Jareth placed her feet on what was now Labyrinth ground, her garments changed and she was once more in the spun sugar confection of a gown, with dancing slippers replacing her loafers. Jareth's appearance had shifted again as well and he was once more the Goblin King in his midnight blue jewel encrusted frock coat. "Oh yes," he said pulling the door shut behind them. "Now as I said, we've two hours, and since you seem to like this part of my kingdom best…"

Sarah turned to scowl at him, "I said I couldn't come."

"I told you you've no choice." He scowled back.

Music began to play, Sarah turned at the sound expecting to find the room filled with the rather intimidating array of guests. The room was empty; she turned to look at Jareth. "What was in that Scotch," she demanded.

"A little Labyrinth enticement," he answered with a coy smile.

"The last enticement you used on me involved a poisoned peach," she accused.

"Tainted, not poisoned," he corrected elegantly.

"Where is everyone?"

"I didn't invite them," he said soothingly. "This time it is just you, just I." Stepping back he extended a hand to her, "Come, let me show you the enchantment of this chamber."

"Do I have a choice?"

"No," he chuckled with merriment, "But it sounds so much more polite if I'm asking and not demanding. We've two hours, let us not waste them."

Sarah placed her hand on his, "Two hours, to accomplish what?"

"What indeed," he said leading her now down a spiral stair into the Crystal Ballroom. He paused and released her hand before he said, "Welcome back to the Labyrinth Sarah Williams."