With Jareth awkwardly trailing behind Sarah and copying her actions, they settled down in a large booth. Toby was tired out from his party at the park and was leaning against his father's arm with heavy eyes. Sarah's family was seated directly across from them and were busy catching up with Sarah about her life.
Jareth was not sure what to say.
The 'Other Jareth' as he had decided to call him, had managed to impress Sarah's family, but he wasn't the 'Other Jareth' and he unfortunately did not have the 'Other Jareth's' memories. He had no idea how to go about making small talk, and was sure that saying anything would result in attention being directed towards him, which would be a bad idea since he didn't even know her parent's names.
"So," began the blonde petite woman. She leaned forward in the booth to better engage them. "What are you two doing for Christmas this year?" As she waited for a response, her perfectly manicured hand made it's way to the bread rolls on the table.
"Oh, I don't celebrate the Christmas holiday." Jareth said, relieved he could finally answer something.
Toby's mother frowned. "You what?" She asked with a tinge of confusion.
Sarah let out a forced laugh. "He's just joking around, Karen." She gave him a look that said he would definitely hear more about this later. After an entire day of Jareth 'screwing up' Sarah was sure to be on a short fuse.
Karen's lips formed an 'o'. "Ah, must be more of that charming British humor," she laughed.
Jareth cocked his head at Sarah. "But I-" he tried.
Sarah, quickly interrupted, "-Yup." She pursed her lips, staring at Jareth, "Sure is…"
The Goblin King - or Jareth, formerly known as the Goblin King - frowned, unaccustomed to having people tell him what he did and did not celebrate. He did not appreciate Sarah speaking over him, either. Never had a subject so much as dared to be as outspoken to him as Sarah was. He generally knew what was best. After years of being King, when another interrupted him they'd end up either in the Bog or an oubliette.
Jareth's fists clenched.
This was an alternate life, Jareth reminded himself. It wouldn't do to go getting in trouble here, as he didn't know how long the blasted Labyrinth would keep him away from his Kingdom, and it wasn't as if he had his magic to fix all of the problems like usual. Like Sarah, he was on a short fuse, too.
Always the mediator, Sarah's father decided he'd change the subject. "So, Sarah," He said and ignored Toby drooling on his arm, "Are you coming over for Christmas dinner or are you two doing it with friends this year?"
"I think we were discussing going over to your house. It's much better when Karen cooks than when I do," she teased.
"Good. We missed you guys last year," Karen smiled.
"Yeah, dad says the house feels empty when you're not there and Uncle Jareth always brings the best presents," Toby came awake just in time to chime in.
Jareth, feeling like Toby was much safer to talk to, asked, "Do I?" He felt his slight confusion and irritation melt in light of the boy that had almost became his heir.
"Mhm." Toby rubbed his eyes. "Like when you used to get me those cool crystals and show me how to juggle them. You don't get me those anymore, though…"
Jareth felt a warm hand come up from behind him and comfortingly rub his back. "Well," he said to Toby, "I'll be sure to remember that for this year."
He turned and made eye contact with Sarah, whose face was a bit grim, and he frowned at the look of pity she gave him. She stopped rubbing his back and returned to her menu. Jareth shook his head and paused when he saw the questioning looks Sarah's parents gave them. He internally sighed, looks like Sarah and him had to do a bit more damage control.
Later that night, Jareth and Sarah returned home and made themselves comfortable in their living room. Jareth found himself compelled to sit in a masculine chair in the corner of the room. Sarah simply shook her head and made a remark about 'him and his chair'. He ignored it and studied the bookshelf next to him for something to read as Sarah busied herself with the fireplace in the front of the room.
Jareth still felt irritation at the situation he was in. Confusion was constantly clouding his mind, not to mention that Sarah always managed to throw him off consistently. She kept giving him odd looks throughout the day whenever he'd say something wrong, which had increased his frustration because he'd been trying his best to fit in. By the end of the day, his nerves were fried and the last thing he wanted to do was converse with a nagging wife.
"One thing I've always loved about Winter is that I can fully appreciate this expensive fireplace that we put in." Sarah smiled, satisfied with the fire that had lit, and sat on the plush gray couch near Jareth's chair.
"Mhm," Jareth said, and picked a random book of the shelf to read. It didn't matter if the 'Other Jareth' had read it hundreds of times because he couldn't remember it. Jareth opened the book and began reading. He pretended not to notice Sarah's scrutinizing stare that he felt boring into him.
After a few minutes of silence, Sarah finally spoke up. Her voice was soft and hesitant, sounding more like the young teenager that he remembered than the confident adult. "Are you having doubts?" She asked, but it sounded as if she didn't want to know the answer.
"Doubts?" He said after a few quiet seconds.
She sighed and he closed his book, knowing that this was not going to be a short or easy conversation.
"Well, this morning you kept talking about going back to your kingdom," she shook her head, "And then the Christmas thing? What was that about?"
Jareth knew she couldn't understand the situation he was in, but that didn't stop him from growling, "Because I don't celebrate Christmas."
Sarah frowned, "Yes, you do. You've always celebrated Christmas. Why have you been acting like this? What are you really mad about, Jareth?"
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all." He said, "I'm just wondering why I would give up my kingdom, my lifestyle, and I'm supposing -from my conversation with Toby and the pitying look you gave me earlier - my magic, too…" Jareth snapped, "For you?"
"Wow, Jareth." Sarah said angrily, but her voice was shaking, "Wow. 'For you'? I'm sorry, but I was under the impression that when we married it was for both of us."
Jareth's nerves diminished at her last statement, remembering that this realm wasn't real and was simply a place of 'What if?'. Sarah couldn't understand why all of this was too much for him to handle in one day because the man that she had married was simply a possibility of what he could be. He felt bad that his words seemed harsh, but none of what he had given up appeared worth it. Why would he give up being a king for such a dull life?
"It just doesn't make sense, Sarah." He said after a minute.
Sarah stood, face significantly more red than it had been before, and said calmly, "I think you need to think about what it is you prioritize more in life and come back to me later so we can have a calm discussion about it." She said and promptly walked out of the room. He could hear the bedroom door shut behind her.
He felt irritation spark at her comment. She was still just as stubborn and inconsiderate as she had been in labyrinth, he thought to himself.
"Always have to have the last word, don't you, Sarah?" Jareth said, scoffing, before turning back to his book.
Jareth woke early in the morning to the sound of a low growl. He frowned and heavily lifted himself off of the couch. Straining his neck, he looked towards the kitchen where the ominous sound was coming from.
"Sarah?" He called hesitantly.
"Yes, I'm up," she said from the kitchen.
"What's that noise," Jareth asked.
"... I'm making coffee." She said and appeared in the doorway with a mug in her hand. Jareth watched the steam rise from it and adjusted the blanket that he had around him.
Sarah watched him in pity and went to hand him the mug.
"You know you didn't have to sleep on the couch last night," she said as he took the coffee.
"Yes, I know." He said, remembering that Sarah had unlocked and opened the bedroom door not long after their argument. Feeling guilty, and still finding the idea of sleeping in the same room with a stranger odd, Jareth had opted to sleep on the couch to let Sarah cool off. She'd looked at him with the usual distance someone carried after a disagreement, but disappointment that he hadn't come into their bedroom. "Regrettably, I said some things last night that were uncalled for." Jareth took a sip from the mug.
"That doesn't mean that you haven't thought it," Sarah said, and it was obvious to Jareth that she bore some insecurities about his words the night.
Jareth, not feeling like sparking up another argument, said nothing.
She shook her head and walked back into the kitchen. "Are you going to get ready for work?" Sarah called and he could hear her pour coffee into another mug.
Jareth frowned and paused in drinking. Cocking his head, he asked, "... Work?"
"Yeah, you're going to be late." Sarah said, "Bathroom is all yours - better hurry."
He scratched his head, noting the un-Kingly state his hair was in. "And just what is it that I do…?"
Thank you guys so much for the reviews! 3
As always, I don't own the labyrinth and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
I'm not feeling very well at the moment so I have to decided to leave you on a suspenseful cliffhanger, lol. I'll reply to reviews next chapter, I promise. Thank you all for following/fav'ing/reviewing. I appreciate it greatly.