So sorry that I haven't updated for a while, I hope you all will forgive me. I've been kinda busy with Christmas and a little out of it. Oh and I got new books for Christmas so I've been reading them lol I won't have time when I go back to uni. Anyway thank you for sticking with me so far!
inugirl504: Thank you so much and you are seriously my #1 because you have been there since my very first fic! It means so much to me!
Tyraleane: Yes they melt me too! I figure that we need some fluffiness this time of year. And for anyone who needs to come back and read something cute. Thanks again for reading!
Friditas: Where do I begin? Like Margot, you have to go through the effort to read my story by translating and it means to much to me! Writing a natural and mature relationship means so much to me because we hardly get that in this fandom. It makes sense, we want some grand adventure like the movie but hey sometimes it's nice to have something sweet. If you like this story for the building of friendship and relationship, you should read my other story Strangers Till Now which deals with this but over years and it's one of the best I've ever written honestly! My other story Dreams of Destiny also starts off with a slow love story just like this one but there is some crazy stuff happening in there like Jareth's crazy parents but check it out! I also enjoyed writing Jareth's family as pretty normal and chill with the Underground as accepting of Sarah. I also enjoyed writing Sarah's parents as being good and kind to each other, we will see more of that next chapter! I'm so glad you enjoyed their first date and that it made you feel happy. It is my joy and pleasure to write so to have people enjoy my stories means a lot! Enjoy this chapter!
River9Noble: Wow wow yes! I do write typical fantasy stories for them and actually have so many in my drafts folder lol but yes I crave for some simple love stories, one where they gradually build and are there for each other. This story is supposed to be light and chill, they had one fight but they resolved it and it's supposed to be a feel good yet realistic so I'm glad you're loving it! please keep reviewing!
Honoria Granger: You are so sweet, thank you so much! Now that I've had good food and great books to read, it's been a lot better! I hope you will enjoy this next chapter!
Margot: Wow thank you again for reviewing! I absolutely use fanfiction as almost a journal, for I write thoughts or scenarios that are real or at least based on something. The way they think and whatnot. It means so much to me that you keep on reading. Please continue to review and if you haven't read my other stories like Dreams of Destiny then you should! Thanks again!
December 27th
Sarah met Jareth just around the corner from her house. He looked so, so good. The way he trotted to her with his hands in his pockets and his smile as bright as the sun made her heart skip a beat. Before she could even react, he pulled her in and gave her a peck on the lips.
"I think that'll be my new way of greeting you, Precious." He purred.
"Hopeless flirt." Sarah smiled and grabbed his hand and intertwined their fingers.
"What are your plans for our lovely date?" He said excitedly. His eyes glowed and his cheeks were flushed.
"Well, here's the thing. I don't have horses or a nice sleigh." She laughed. "Just a college student so all I have is cheap date ideas."
"Cheap dates are some of the best." He grinned. "And besides, I borrowed those horses and just took you to a few places in my kingdom, not really spending that much either really. It is the time we spend and the sentimentality that counts."
And he meant it. Any time that meant spending time with Sarah was perfect for him.
"I'm glad you agree, goblin king." She beamed, trotting excitedly. "Because I have a challenge for you."
Jareth perked at that. "And what might that be, champion of mine?"
"Snow sculptures!" She dragged him along with her to the park where she had recited the lines from the little labyrinth book. The snow was setting down like a blanket over the usual green grass, more than enough to make any sculpture. It looked quite enchanting in the winter time and Jareth could see why Sarah loved this area. The trees, while the deciduous ones were dead, had some lovely pine trees speckled with snow and the bridge over the small river looked romantic as they crossed over it. "We have random people pass by and then they can judge who has the best one. Winner owes the other person an ice cream date at a later time!"
"You sure you want to bet on that, Precious?" Jareth put his hands on his hips with a predatory smirk. "I will win."
"Try me."
Sarah made a castle while Jareth made an owl as tall as he. At one point Sarah yelled at him.
"Hey! You're using magic!" She accused him.
"You never said I couldn't!" He taunted her. "You need to be more clear on the rules, Precious."
Sarah threw a snowball at him. "Well I can't use magic."
"If you came to the Underground more often, I could teach you, you know." He gave her a knowing look.
"Deal." Sarah said, a smile curving on her lips. She did love to learn and to spend it with Jareth? Oh how marvelous!
When they were done, Jareth and Sarah asked passerbys to judge. All of them laughed at the couple playfully goading each other. The adults tended to like the owl for that was different but the children loved the castle.
"Are you going to live in a castle with your prince?" A small boy asked Sarah.
"I don't know about living in a castle, but if I had to, then I would do it with a king." She winked at Jareth.
Jareth preened from his ego being stroked. "My, you aim high don't you?"
"I had a king offer me my dreams. I don't settle for less anymore." Sarah said half seriously and half jokingly, making Jareth surprised but also quite pleased.
Sarah absolutely loved seeing this side of him, the side where he was playful and silly. He could be a sore loser but he learned how to take criticism and the fact that you lose well after a while. He had a sweet smile and even his hair seemed to be more wild on their date.
After a few people gave their opinions on their snow sculptures (Jareth ended up winning), Sarah took his hand again and walked them over to a gathering of people.
"Ice skating!" She said gleefully.
Jareth felt a huge pride in his chest when she looked at him with those eyes. It was like nothing existed in the world to her but him. The way she grabbed his hand and trotted over to the small, frozen pond made his heart just ache for her. He had admitted to himself that he finally loved her and the way she was responding to his affections made him more than happy. It was a feeling he could not describe, a feeling he had seen between his parents and had not expected it to overcome him so fully.
At first they were tripping and falling all the time. Sarah laughed and Jareth frowned at his hair getting less and less fluffy from it getting ruined. At one point, Sarah fell and he grabbed her, pulling her to his chest and he fell on his back with her on top.
"Oops." She tried to get up but Jareth held her there on top.
"Oh Precious, the things I do to keep you safe and unharmed." He teased, getting up to kiss her.
Sarah got up, and took his hands and he used a bit of magic to make sure that they didn't trip all the time.
"Jareth?" Sarah looked confused when he put a hand around her hip.
"Just trust me, Sarah." He said to her.
He spun her around and they glided through the ice so gracefully. They didn't just skate but danced their way through. Jareth grabbed her by the waist and held her above him, the human girl squealing and he spun them as he brought her down, the people around them clapping their hands.
"Well, that was quite fun." He put his arm around her.
"You used magic again." She turned around and hugged him. "Thanks for keeping me safe."
Her chin rested on his chest as her face jutted out to look at him in the hug. Jareth felt that spark of masculinity again, the splash of pride he felt when she thought of how she loved being protected by him.
"Even when you annoyed me, Precious, I always wanted to keep you safe and sound." He hugged her back.
She took him to a nearby cafe for some hot cocoa and paid for it, much to Jareth's protests. She told him that since she asked him out, she would pay and that he had paid for her all yesterday. He reluctantly agreed. Reaching into her bag, she got out some yarn. They sat on a small loveseat next to each other by the fireplace, snuggling up next to each other.
"You asked me to teach you how to knit." She beamed and handed him a glittery silver yarn.
Jareth was a good student, she learned. When he wanted to be. At first he was distracting and kept giving her random kisses here and there until she put a hand on his chest and said "Nuh uh Your Majesty. You asked me to teach you and teach you I will. We can kiss any other old time."
"Shall we make an appointment for a time to just make out?" He grinned at her, a very naughty smirk filling his face.
"You're annoying." She folded her arms.
"And you're adorable when you blush." He couldn't help but give her another kiss on the cheek.
In the end, they spent a couple of hours there and Jareth actually started a small part of a scarf while Sarah worked on a hat for Toby.
"You're doing a good job." She tried to comfort him when he made a knot by accident and she fixed it. "I think this is a good color for you."
"Why thank you, Precious." He puffed his chest out in pride. "I was thinking of making this for my sister actually."
"Ah, Jasmine right?" Sarah remembered him saying that she was about 16 years old now give or take. "That's very sweet of you."
"She will tell you otherwise." Jareth laughed. "I have many stories of her, you know."
"Oh? I bet she has some of you too." She laughed. "The age difference between Toby and I means that I have stories of him but he doesn't have as many of me."
"Trust me, if you came to dinner with my family, you'd hear all about it." He promised her. Then, he had and idea. "Speaking of my family, I was wondering if you'd like to come over for dinner the day after tomorrow. Just for something casual but it would mean a lot to me. You don't have to if you don't want to." He rubbed the back of his neck, a little shy at the thought. It didn't help that he was so close to her either. Her scent was sweet and incredible from the new perfume that she was wearing.
Sarah blushed. She knew now that fae moved pretty fast in terms of relationships and while she knew that she loved him, she still wanted to take her time here Above if it got to the point of marriage. Then again, what was the harm of going to have dinner? At least then she could see his family whether they were nice or not. "Yeah, that sounds good. Do I have to do anything for that?"
"Oh no, just dress up nicely as yourself." He said to her with a big smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pressure you to-"
Sarah put a finger on his lips to hush him. "You didn't, it's okay. Your family sounds pretty cool."
Never missing an opportunity, he kissed her gloved finger and snatched her hand in his, placing another kiss on the inside of her exposed wrist. "Yes, they are." He smiled. "Thank you, Precious."
They left the cafe for one more part of their date. Sarah took Jareth to the zoo where they had what was called Zoo Lights. Beautiful animal sculptures made of wires had lights on them and jazz bands from different high schools and middle schools came to play.
"That's my old school." Sarah pointed at a group of students. "Look at how small they are! Incredible to think that we were once that tiny."
"It is quite humbling." Jareth agreed. "It's just, it's been so long for me."
His eyes got a bit wistful at this.
Sarah turned to him and rubbed his back a little. "Nostalgic?"
He nodded. "I guess I didn't quite stop to think about it. I mean I think about memories but it is true, we were all once small and innocent. A clean slate."
Sarah pressed her side to his. Not really for comfort, but to show that she shared the same sentiment. And besides, she wanted to be close to him. "You know what I miss about being a child?"
"Tell me." He put his hand behind her and on her hip. He loved hearing her thoughts. She was always so insightful.
"Those days of being a kid were so nice because adults would tell you that they believed in you. That you can do anything or go anywhere. That you were bright and could change the world." She felt emotions welling up in you. "Now, if you have a setback or something, you just don't feel that same encouragement as you do when you're a kid. Even if people are just as comforting and believed in you just as much, it doesn't really seem like it."
Jareth mulled those words over. This was all so true and probably something every adult thought of. The problem was, no one really put that into words. He gathered Sarah into his arms as the jazz band played "On the Sunny Side of the Street."
"Sarah." He whispered in her hair. "That is what drew me to you. You have faith in absolutely everyone just as much as you did when you were a child. You saw everyone's ability to learn and grow just as they did when they were children. It's so sweet, but also something that we overlook. Often we treat adults as if they were just stagnant and while it is harder to change as an adult or to grow it isn't always true. If we had a little faith in each other, maybe there would be more that would be accomplished. It was why you won Toby back, because you tried and you had faith in Hoghead-"
"Hoggle." She corrected him and tilted her chin up sweetly.
"Yes, him." Jareth chuckled. "Humans learn and grow easier than us immortals, but at the same time, we are able to retain that kind of childlike belief in others."
"Different pros and cons of everything." Sarah said. "That's true. Maybe that'll be something I can think of and do, to have more faith in others."
"And I want you to know that I have every bit of faith in you." He touched her cheek. "Though I do believe in you…" He sang to her.
They shared another kiss. Sarah holding onto him as if he was the air itself that she needed to breathe. Jareth felt that she was his sunlight, his everything. He wanted to say the words, to tell her that he loved her but he was adamant about moving slow still. He didn't want to scare her.
When they pulled apart, Sarah rested her head on his chest again. "Jareth, thank you. I needed to hear that."
"And I will tell you as many times as you need." He reassured her. He took her hands and slipped off the gloves to warm them up. He blew his warm breath on them, kissing each finger with gentle reverence as he rubbed them to get the blood back in it.
Sarah normally would have felt faint at him touching her like this, to have his lips on her fingers. But she felt calm. She felt not the butterflies but the calm after a storm. Like a piece in her heart that slid into place. "Thank you." She said to him when he slipped her gloves back on.
"Of course, dear Sarah." He combed his fingers through her hair.
They enjoyed a few more songs and lights before walking back to Sarah's home.
"I should drop you off at home since I asked you out." She said.
"You are welcome to come over if you'd like, for a little bit." He said to her. "I realized that I hadn't shown you where I put your painting."
"We could do that." She said to him, smiling brightly. Any time to spend with him was good.
He transported them back to the castle and inside the living room. Sarah beamed at the lovely painting of him that she had made, sitting right on top of the fireplace for all to see. On top of the fireplace was also the preserved rose that she had given him.
"Such a special gift deserves a place of honor." He said with adoration.
"I'm glad you liked it. It was made from the heart." She held his hand. The Christmas tree was still there and so was the little owl ornament that she made for him. "Now you'll have to use that ornament every year." She winked at him.
"Ah, I plan on having it visible and hanging somewhere permanently." He informed her. "It's too special to be put in a box for months."
He felt that this was a good time and place for some dancing. The soft lights, the fire place roaring, and she just looked so beautiful.
"Dance with me, Sarah." He placed a hand of hers on his shoulder.
"Quite presumptuous of you." She teased him. "You didn't ask me in the labyrinth either."
"Then I shall rectify that." He kissed her hand. "Dance with me, Sarah. Please?"
She indulged of him of course. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she shared yet another dance with him, laughing and twirling in the living room. This was not them dressed in some fancy clothing, but being as they are in a normal setting. And she loved it.
"I love dancing with you." He said sincerely.
"You are so full of compliments today." She teased. "And I love dancing with you too."
Jareth felt a lump in his throat. "I guess I just, wanted to say how I really feel." He said quietly.
Sarah pulled herself close and kissed the exposed skin on his chest. "I'm glad, Jareth. You can always say how you feel around me."
She felt his chest rumble in a quiet kind of purr.
After they were done dancing, she spotted something on the small table, the Secret Garden book he had checked out from the library.
"Ah, I had finished reading it." He told her. "I quite enjoyed it."
They sat down together and discussed the book. A few goblins came to sit by their feet as Sarah decided to tell the story to them, much to Jareth's annoyance (as he wanted her to himself) but he found that he quite enjoyed holding her by the waist and listening to her tell the story with an animated voice. He pictured them having little children, some with dark hair and some with light hair listening to her intently as she told the story with such excitement.
"Jareth?"
The king shook his head, realizing that he was spacing out. "Yes?"
"I do have to go home now." She said with almost a pout.
Jareth nodded and waved his hands at the goblins, telling them to go away.
When the last ones left, he was about to kiss her but Sarah beat him to it. She leaned forward and captured his lips with hers, her hands in his soft hair. Jareth made a sound of satisfaction and leaned down so she was on her back on the couch. He moved his hand to squeeze her hip and then wrapped his arms around her. As with every kiss they had shared, it was full of longing and expressed their pent up frustrations over each other from the years in finally being able to show exactly how they felt towards one another.
He broke the kiss and sighed sadly. He had never spent so much time with her in such a small amount of time but he loved it and didn't want to let her go. He felt an ache in his heart at this.
"Go home safely, alright?" He asked her, though his voice was pleading. She was a strong and independent woman but he still had his instincts that told him to keep her protected, that he trusted no one above himself to keep her safe. He had to fight these instincts because he respected her.
"I will." She kissed his cheek and rubbed noses with such affection. "I was wondering about something."
"Hmm?" He kept his arm around her.
"My family, they said that they would love to have you over for dinner if you want." She wrung her hands shyly. "Since you've invited me to your parent's place, how about you come over tomorrow to mine? My mom is here tomorrow as well."
Jareth smiled and gave her a peck on the lips. "I would love to, Precious."
"Good." She ruffled his hair. "Be there at six."
Jareth sent her to a portal and she was right outside her house. She knew that Jareth liked to see her home safe (as everyone should when a friend or a date is being dropped off). She looked behind her and blew a kiss into the night sky.
Jareth, in his chambers, saw her blow said kiss and pretended to catch it and hold it to his heart even though she couldn't see it. He waved the crystal away and put his head on his pillow, dreaming of kisses and dances around the Christmas tree.
