A/N: sorry for the delay. Way too much on my plate at the moment. Rest assured, if you care, I am not discontinuing the story. Love love!

"On every aspect the scene was the same

All ruined, desolate, and savage

Neither hand, nor foot within the precinct came

To rectify or ravage" (The Haunted House)

It was darker and colder somehow as they appeared inside the Labyrinth. A chill Climbed up Sara's spine causing her to unconsciously cling to Jareth. In the distance they could still hear her stepmother shouting for them. Sara let out a sigh.

'Dodged that awkward moment' she thought letting go of Jareth's arm.

"It seems this place has been abandoned" Jareth commented looking around at the overgrown ivy that adorned the walls and the once perfect stone tiles that now were cracked and home to weeds.

"I guess you're right" Sara remarked taking in the scene as well. Suddenly Jareth turned serious as he knelt to the ground feeling the stone slabs.

"Do you feel it Sara?" he said in a tone all too serious.

"Feel what?" she replied suddenly turning anxious.

"There is something evil here." Jareth stared hard into Sara's eyes. Sara gasped and stared frightfully around her.

"Evil?" she laughed nervously. Suddenly Jareth broke out into a wild smirk and Sara had the deepest wish to hit him somewhere very uncomfortable.

"Jareth! You Jerk!" she screamed as she stormed past him. Jareth chuckled a bit before following after her causally.

"Now now Sara, don't you think I can sense danger?" he teased smirking at her back.

At this comment Sara whirled around to face the arrogant Goblin King, intent on berating him, but before she could act out her desire he pulled her into his chest, whispering softly into her ear

"Don't be cross love it was just a bit of fun."

Had his chest always been this hard? She felt completely engulfed within his embrace and was almost content to stay locked in his arms forever. However, embarrassment would win this battle. Sara pushed herself from his chest with little ease as he did not relent in his hold.

"Please control yourself" she sighed, her face red with embarrassment, her eyes downcast, her small hands still lightly placed on his chest. He smiled at her, knowing that he had already won the war and that she would be his as he was so completely hers.

So with a roguish smirk in place he offered her his arm.

"Do forgive me my dear." The triumph evident in his voice.

Hesitating she took his outstretched hand and began sauntering through the labyrinth, through its twists, turns, fumbling slightly at the dead ends. Jareth could take her to the middle easily but she had wanted to beat her labyrinth just as she had beaten his so many months ago. It seemed longer to him, almost unbearable, and just as surely as his triumph had ensnared him, his insecurities began to rear their mangled heads.

If he were to be rejected again, his grip tightened on her arm unconsciously causing Sara to look at him in confusion. Jareth gave his best smile to reassure her but inside he felt a pang, she has yet to smile at him. He really did ask for so little. If only Sara would smile at him and let the warmth reach her eyes. If she would initiate affection, all he needed was one moment, yet this was also false, he would never be satisfied with one moment. Unfortunately for the great Goblin King it could be nothing less than all encompassing love, which at this moment he feared was one sided.

'And why should it not be? I am but a disgusting evil creature, unfit for even my own kind." He scoffed.

"Jareth"

he heard her voice, and realized that he had completely spaced out, and apparently with a rather serious look on his face, for his darling Sara was now regarding him with a worried expression that brushed against his last thread of sanity.

"Are you alright? You look so serious all of a sudden" she eyed him intently, but he would not show his surprise, he couldn't be that venerable, not yet.

So with a masking smirk he chided "You wound me darling how could I be anything but merry?" he prayed that his acting would tarry her from discovering his plight, but had he ever won with Sara?

"Jareth, I-I wanted to apologize for running away from you before, I" she turned to face him her unsteady eyes finding his unreadable ones. "Well I your just too much for me."

'There I said it' she thought hoping that he would understand her.

But the flash of hurt in his eyes followed by the emotionless void she was used to showed her he could not understand.

"I see. I apologize for causing you pain" he stepped back from her and bowed slightly she could see him tremble slightly. "I will take my leave of you then"

"NO!" Sara's outburst startled both of them, silence paraded between them as the wind blew colder through the ivy, rustling the leaves, the moon lighting the path between their locked eyes, the air desperately wishing for speech, but none came.

Sara merely closed the distance between them gaining courage with each uncertain step, eyes almost filling with salty tears. Unsteadily she lifted her hand to gently touch his breast, he could not hide his surprise his body becoming rigid as she gently laid her head on his hard wide chest and whispered so softly that the wind did not carry it,

"Please don't leave me."

But he heard, and felt his chest tighten. Unsure of reality he slowly raised his arms to embrace her and at the first contact with her trembling form his control failed and he gathered her into his arms as tightly as he could without causing her harm. Pulling away from him slightly she allowed herself to look up at him his eyes that were tightly closed slowly opened revealing an ardent bitter longing mirroring her own and she remembered the words he'd sung to her in the dream.

[There's such a sad love deep in your eyes

A kind of pale jewel opened and closed

Within your eyes

I'll place my love within your eyes]

Sara lifted her head slightly moving her hand to caress his cheek, gently she led his head down until his breath hovered above her lips, her eyes slipping closed she softly pressed her lips to his.

At this Jareth lost all control succumbing to his passion begging for entrance through her bruised lips and she too wrapped up in the moment to refuse returned with fervor; Allowing his firm tongue to massage every little crevice within her wanton mouth. Unable to control herself she let out a deep moan. Jareth pulled her in closer, immersing himself in her essence, begging to be closer. His mind reeled with the scent of her; the passion she could inspire both terrified and excited him, yet he could not get close enough, he tightened his hold but knew it could not be enough.

Slowly they broke apart for air, Sara stared up at him her face flushed and breathing unsteady. She searched his eyes a moment then gave him the most pure smile he had ever seen , breathless he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

"So I guess this changes things" she remarked warmly.

"Are you disappointed?" he answered returning her smile with the warmest one he could muster.

"Are you?" she playfully chided entwining his hand in hers. He starred at their joined hands his chest clenched tightly with uncertainty, but her eyes had mirrored his own. And her lips had been so gentle. He smiled softly.

"Sara may I come again tomorrow?" his plan already formed all depended on her answer.

"Yes" she replied with ease, she almost laughed at the obviousness of it.

"We should return it's getting late." he held out his arm for her and without hesitating she gently grasped it pulling herself closer. At once they were transported into her room glitter falling between them.

"Do you have to go?" she somberly inquired.

He felt his heartbeat quicken again with joy at her displeasure.

"I am afraid I must" he said with no little amount of regret. In truth he mourned leaving her but knew what would happen if he stayed. He had never been one for self control and he didn't want to lose her.

"Don't be gone long" her voice was harsh but he knew she was just as morose as he. Jareth placed a soft kiss on her lips and then one on her forehead, whispered a loving goodnight and disappeared into a new cloud of glitter. Flushed Sara turned toward the window. She would have no sleep tonight.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed yourself. Sorry no preview. I don't have a poem yet to use.