Down in the dining room, Jareth sat tapping his fingers at the end of the long, very intricately carved, dining table as he looked down in deep thought. His patience was wearing thin and his nerves were shot to hell. He couldn't remember the last time a woman made him so anxious. Especially this mortal woman from the Aboveground. Why was he so caught up in her? He could have any Underground Fae woman he wanted, and he chose to pursue this human girl who he was unsure if she wanted anything to do with him. Sarah was the most aggravating woman he has ever met, but he wanted her more than life itself. She hadn't made her intentions clear on why she had returned, which made Jareth more curious and anxious. How he wanted her to be there solely to be in his company, to be in his arms. However, the likelihood of that being accurate was very slim. She wanted nothing to do with him in that regard, and Jareth had to accept that. But he couldn't.

"Hello," a delicate voice sounded, and Jareth jerked his head up to find a tall, slender Sarah standing in the archway of the dining hall. Her dress hugged every curve perfectly. Her hair fell down past her shoulders in long, chocolate brown curls. Her hands sat delicately clasped together in front of her torso, and a slight smile escaped her cherry lips as she looked over to the Goblin King.

Jareth sat straight up at the sight of Sarah and smiled. He had never seen a more beautiful woman in all of his natural life, even in the Fae woman population. As he began to walk over to her, his heart felt as if it would beat out of his chest as if it was trying to get to Sarah before he could. When he met Sarah face to face, he grabbed her hand and brought it up to his lips, gently planting a kiss, his eyes never escaping hers for a second.

"Hello, Sarah," Jareth finally responded. "You look absolutely ravishing this evening." Ravishing was more of an understatement, because there was no word to describe this woman standing in front of him. This wasn't the same girl who had bested him at his own game. No, this was a grown woman standing in front of him, and she was more beautiful than he could have ever imagined.

She let a giggle escape her lips at his compliment. "Thank you, Jareth. You also look very nice yourself." He was wearing a billowy white poet's shirt with a black leather jacket on top. His pants were a tight black leather which hugged his figure, and high black boots. His hands, for once, were not gloved but were very bare. He held his arm out, offering to escort her to her chair. She wrapped her arm around his with no hesitation. As they walked over to the dining table, Jareth stopped.

"Oh, I had almost forgotten the most important part of tonight's dinner," he began. Sarah looked at him with a confused stare. Jareth smiled and looked toward the archway where they had just been.

"That's right yew forgot somethin'!" exclaimed one familiar voice. Sarah turned on her heal and saw Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus standing where she had just stood. A smile spread from ear to ear and she ran over to her three friends.

"Hoggle! Ludo! Sir Didymus!" Sarah was elated, and in disbelief that her friends stood right in front of her. One by one, she grasped onto them tightly as if she had not seen them in a very long time which was truly the case.

"Ludo miss Sawah," the gentle beast said as she wrapped her arms around his large neck.

"Yes, fair maiden. We are gracious to see you have returned to us once more," said Sir Didymus.

"I have missed you all very much!" The joy in Sarah's heart was pouring out, and tears began to escape her eyes. Jareth saw this and watched as her friends comforted her through the long overdue hugs and laughter. "I'm sorry I haven't called. I really have had the intentions to, but I have been so caught up in everything Aboveground."

"It is quite alright, my lady," Sir Didymus began. Hoggle interjected with "We knew yews was of doin' what yews needed to do. We forgive yew." Ludo finished with "We love Sawah."

"Awe, I love you all too," she answered, tears filling her eyes once more. Throughout the evening, they dined on the fine food of the Goblin King's chef. Conversations of Sarah's doings the past few years and of the Underground's transformation consumed the dinner conversation.

Hours later, after the food had been eaten and the laughter had faded, Jareth escorted Sarah to her guest room for the evening. As they slowly walked down the long corridor, they stayed very silent.

"Thank you, Jareth," Sarah began, breaking the silence that fell between the two. "Having my friends here tonight has meant the world to me." She tightened her grip on his forearm and slightly smiled. "I cannot tell you the joy I felt when I saw them today."

"There is no need to thank me. I had arranged them to come to dinner tonight just so you can visit, because I know how much you had wished to see them. That is, after all, one of the main reasons you came back to the Underground in the first place." Jareth's face fell as he finished his statement, and kept looking straight as they kept walking. Sarah wanted so much to tell him the real reason she returned. Because she couldn't live her life any longer without him by her side. She loved him more than she could ever imagine, and being away from him was hurting her more and more everyday. But no, she stayed silent on her confession.

As they reached the double doors of her guest room, Sarah was reluctant to let go of the Goblin King's arm. She finally did and clasped her hands together in front of her torso as it had been that evening when she walked into the dining hall. It was a nervous habit she had created, and she was unaware she had done it.

"I hope you enjoyed your time tonight, Sarah," Jareth said softly, almost purring. "It was a pleasure spending the evening with you and your companions. Quite an evening I will not forget any time soon."

She looked into his mismatched eyes and smiled. "It was everything I could possibly ask for." Almost everything, Sarah thought. How she wanted for him to wrap his arms around her waist and press his lips against hers. Her imagination ran wild with thoughts of him pressing against her fragile body as his lips invade hers. This, however, was not inevitable. She knew he was not interested in any relations with her. "Well, I better retire to my room. I'm very tired."

"As you wish," Jareth replied. "I hope you sleep soundly tonight, and if you should need anything at all…"

"I'll let you know."

Jareth smiled and bowed to Sarah. "Goodnight, dear Sarah." He began his trek down the long corridor to his room. Sarah turned to her door and walked into her room. In her mind, she was scolding herself for not inviting him in for the night. Maybe she felt that it would come off as being too forward, and she typically didn't like to seem that way. As her mind circled around her imagination once more, she rummaged through the dresser full of clothing that had been provided for her and found a light pink silk chemise. The thought of Jareth picking out these clothes for her not only aroused her, but embarrassed her all at the same time. She slipped out of the gown and into the chemise she pulled out from the dresser. Her mind continued to wander as she walked over to the bed and pulled the sheets and comforter back for her to climb in. Her head hit the pillow, and not long after, she was sound asleep.

Jareth lay in bed, tossing and turning. His thoughts stayed on the woman asleep in the other room. How easily it would be for him to simply appear next to her and watch her sleep, her chest raising and falling with every breath she took. He would be able to fall asleep easily with her curled up against his chest, but he stayed in his own room just imagining what could be.

"I can't just keep this in for much longer," he said to himself. "I must tell her, and soon. But how can I tell her?" He pondered at the many ways he can express his inner emotions to Sarah. Idea after idea crossed his mind, and each was dismissed faster than they appeared.

Then, one idea stuck to his mind. One that Jareth believed was a fool-proof way for him to express his feelings toward the human girl. A smile escaped his lips at the very thought of his newly created plan.

"Tomorrow," he said aloud. "It will be done." And with that thought, his eyes fell shut and the Goblin King quickly fell asleep.