A/N: Thank you to LunarMidnight and auliyasevgisi for your reviews for chapter 8. Since you were the only two who reviewed, this chapter is dedicated to you two.

A/N #2: Things start to get steamy in this chapter (not full on heat, but we're getting there). Also, a new runner (an OC) is introduced and makes things complicated for Jareth.

Disclaimer: If I owned Labyrinth, I wouldn't have the student loan debts I have. (Read: I don't own Labyrinth; I don't make money from this. I am merely a fan)

J/S…J/S…J/S… J/S…J/S…J/S… J/S…J/S…J/S…

Sarah wandered around her apartment in a half-daze. She was thinking about the wish that Jareth had to respond to. She was also thinking about her portfolio, which would be her ticket to the end of the semester as well as her eventual graduation. She longed to be with Jareth, but she knew she would miss her life here Aboveground. How could she and Jareth have a life together? Would he want that? Could he have a relationship with a human? Do they observe the same convention Underground?

"Just focus on something else, Sarah." She told herself.

With a sigh, Sarah sat down on her couch and opened her notes and books. She glanced over her syllabus for her Fantasy for Youth class. As she compared the syllabus to her calendar, then she realized she was going to be late for work, which she had to be at in 45 minutes.

Sarah ran up the stairs to shower and prepare for work. She hummed through the shower and could not stop smiling. Her soapy hands roamed over her body as she imagined Jareth in his king's regalia…the unbuttoned shirt and, oh God, those pants. Sarah's right hand wandered to her neck as her left hand slid to her thigh. Just as the left hand was travelling north, the shower water turned ice cold causing Sarah to snap out of her daydream. She quickly rinsed off and then wrapped herself in a warm towel.

{Underground}

Jareth watched as his latest victim ran the Labyrinth.

"Victoria is doing almost as well as Sarah, your highness." Hoggle informed the king who was holding the baby, Howie.

"I see that, Hoggle." Jareth had a weird feeling about the latest runner.

"What shall we do?" Hoggle sounded worried and twiddled his thumbs as he took a seat on the floor.

"Send her in the direction of the Fireys." Jareth commanded. "Hopefully they annoy her out of here."

"Yes, sir." And at that, Hoggle was off to lead Victoria.

Jareth pulled out a crystal to watch Hoggle complete his task. Victoria talked with Hoggle along the way, and it was all about Jareth.

"So, is Jareth really the king? Is there a queen?" Victoria questioned.

"Yes, Jareth is really king. There is no queen…yet." Hoggle replied grumpily.

"What do you mean 'yet'?"

"The queen is a Labyrinth champion who…"

"Really? So there's never been a champion?" Victoria cut off Hoggle before he could finish his explanation.

"No, let Hoggle…"

"So there's no queen for the king…he needs a champion. Someone smart enough to figure her way through this Labrinth." Victoria continued absentmindedly.

Hoggle could practically hear Jareth groan. Victoria was thinking she could be queen and yet could not pronounce Labyrinth correctly.

{Aboveground}

"Cuttin' it close, girl." Andy greeted Sarah as she came sprinting into the library.

Sarah logged on to her computer to punch in. "I know. I got caught up in…things." Sarah put her book bag down next to her chair. As she sat down, she twisted her still-damp hair up into a clip.

"Is that code for 'I spent all night with Prince Charming'?"

Sarah blushed. "Actually, yes."

"So…how is he?" Andy rested his chin on his hand.

"Just because we spent all night together doesn't mean we had sex, Andy. C'mon. I hadn't seen him since I was 15. We were simply catching up and making up for lost time." Sarah walked to the book return slot and grabbed some books to put away. "Besides, I don't kiss and tell." She winked at Andy then headed to the psychology section to reshelf books.

"A-ha!" Andy called at after her. Sarah let loose a little giggle on her way.

'And oh what kisses they were.' Sarah sighed. Remembering the heat from his breath, she placed her free hand to the spot on her shoulder he had kissed. Then her neck, which suddenly felt warm. As she traced her lips, they began to tingle at the memory.

Laughter from the next row caused Sarah to trip over her own feet but she quickly regained her balance. She needed to stop daydreaming. However, she had never really had daydreams like these and she was unsure of how to control them. Furthermore, did she even want to?

Once Sarah completed her task, she returned to the circulation desk.

"So, tell me all about Mr. Good-looking-in-tight-jeans." Andy insisted as he checked books back into the system.

"Like what?" Sarah stacked the books he had just scanned. She sorted them by their sections and call numbers.

"Where's he from? How old is he? And you never did tell me if he's got a brother."

Sarah sighed. How was she going to answer questions she could not possibly answer and still sound sane?

"Um, it's complicated." Sarah sighed. She knew this would not do for an answer this time. She and Andy were at work for the next four hours. There was plenty of time to tell a story and work out the complications.

"Try me." Andy urged.

{Underground}

Jareth watched as Victoria escaped the Firey goblins. He kicked a goblin clear across the throne room in frustration.

"Oh dear, so sorry Trixie." Jareth apologized to the little teal goblin. He had cut back on kicking around the goblins since Sarah defeated the Labyrinth and felt bad whenever he reverted back to the mean king.

"It's ok majesty sir. I knows you misses yer champion." Trixie stood up and shook off some dirt and joined the other goblins and Howie in the corner where they napped.

'My champion.' Jareth smiled thinking of Sarah.

"No, not unless the king comes down here and makes me do so himself!" A female shouted.

Jareth groaned. Normally the Labyrinth runners had given up by now—except Sarah…and now Victoria. Jareth wanted to just banish this new runner away, but that would be against the rules. However, a glamour could work…it almost worked on Sarah, and this Victoria did not seem cunning enough to figure that out.

{Aboveground}

"So, your Jareth is the Goblin King?" Andy was trying to wrap his brain around everything Sarah had just told him; and she told him everything. "And he takes babies and runs the Goblin City and controls the Labrinth."

"Labyrinth, yes." Sarah watched as Andy sorted through the information. "You think I'm nuts." Sarah concluded for both of them.

"Actually…it explains a lot about you." Andy admitted. "Your relationship with Toby, how no man is ever good enough, your writing. I don't want to say Jareth himself defines you, but certainly the experience you had shaped you into who you are today." Andy paused a moment then continued. "You always seemed a little distant, off in another world. And you were, in a sense, because you don't belong to the mortal world anymore." Andy could hardly believe what he was saying. Was he really discussing fairies and goblins and kings?

"Of course I do. I am human. It's there I don't belong…Underground." Sarah reminded him and, more importantly, herself.

{Underground}

Jareth had whisked Victoria into an illusion that she was back home with no memory of the Labyrinth, him, or her brother. She walked through her room and flopped on her bed.

"It's so quiet." She thought aloud. "Too quiet. Something is missing here."

'Damn.' Jareth huffed.

"Jerry…Jared…Jareth. King Jareth." Victoria called out. "Jareth, come here. I wish it!"

Jareth appeared before Victoria just as she wished.

"Well, Victoria, how are you enjoying yourself?" Jareth crossed his arms. He wished she would hurry so he could return to Sarah.

"Having a grand ol' time." Victoria smiled and she noticeably looked him up and down.

"You're aware you have only three hours left in which to solve the Labyrinth. You do want baby Howie back don't you? Or are you reconsidering my offer." A crystal appeared in his waiting fingers. He began to twirl it here and there. "Do you want to even peek at your deepest dreams, Victoria?"

"I love how you say my name…Jareth." Victoria smiled what she thought was a flirtatious smile but came across ugly to Jareth. "I'll peek because I know what it'll show me."

Victoria walked over and took the crystal. Without hesitation, she looked in and got lost in what she saw.

J/S…J/S…J/S… J/S…J/S…J/S… J/S…J/S…J/S…

A/N #1: Begging for reviews because they are my inspiration...they fuel my urge to write...and they make me smile :)

A/N #2: I try to post the chapters as soon as they are done. I do my best to proof them; however, if you notice errors, do not hesitate to inform me (but in a constructive way). I am only human.

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