Author's Note: JS, JS, JS! Come on, you know you want it.

And another thing, I was going to put in Hoggle, Sir Didymus and Ludo, but I've decided that I really can't write them into the story all that well. Sorry guys! In exchange, I've made Mercutio and Lavinia more amusing to take their place as comic relief.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Labyrinth or the BeDazzler.

Chapter 9

"If you could have anything you want, what would it be?" Mercutio sniffed the flower in his hand. He was laying on the base of a statue, staring up at the stone face of a rider charging to an unseen enemy.

"I would have you leave so I could be alone," Lavinia replied, pouting. She had been looking for Sarah but was waylaid by Mercutio. He sighed and stood up, walking towards her.

"There was a time that I was the one you wanted, my dear." He held out his hand, offering her the fragrant blossom. "I was hoping that we could put aside our differences and - "

"It's too late." Lavinia turned away, trying to keep her tears in check. "It's been too late for years…"

He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face him. "How can it be too late? I know you still love me."

"Let me go! You're drunk Mercutio, you shouldn't be outside." She covered her face with her hands, tears running through her fingers and muffling her weary tone.

Mercutio sighed, resting his forehead on hers, "Darling… I need to talk to you, see me tonight? I heard Lady Volare is having a dinner, maybe you and I could go…?"

She shook her head, her voice hoarse. "I can't do this Mercutio, I can't be with you. It's too hard, we fight too much nowadays. You're hurting me."

"But I lo-…" his fevered whisper was cut off as Lavinia pushed him off of her, running away from him.

Again.

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"Are you sure you're all right?" Sarah handed Lavinia cold lemonade. "You seem a bit flustered."

"I am fine. The weather is getting warmer, and I did not choose a light dress today." Lavinia shivered despite her claim. She could not visit Sarah at the castle's inner buildings anymore. The thought of seeing Mercutio again was too frightening. She could barely keep her emotions about her when he spoke to her, let alone when he pleaded with her with those damned eyes.

Sarah nodded, knowing that she was being lied to somehow, but there were other things on hand.

"Where is Frieda?"

Sarah shrugged, "She told me she was going to the market today. By the way, Jareth invited me for dinner tonight. What should I wear? What are you going to wear?"

Lavinia straightened and gave the mortal a sly smile. "Why Sarah! I was not invited to dinner tonight. And to think of it, neither was Mercutio." She winked.

Sarah's brow furrowed, "And that means…?"

"It is easy to see that Mercutio is the king's best friend. If he was not invited, maybe it is a private dinner. Between two people." Understanding dawned upon Sarah's face.

"Seriously?'

"You work very fast," Lavinia commended. "I'll make sure Frieda does not go with you."

"No!" Sarah shouted, horrified. This was going too fast, way way too fast. The thought of being left alone with Jareth with no one around was like being thrown to the wolves. "I mean, don't you think that's obvious? He might catch on that were onto something."

Lavinia nodded, "That's true, I wasn't thinking." Seeing the relief on Sarah's face, she reached over and patted her hand. "Don't worry, Sarah. I have complete confidence in you."

They were silent for a bit. Sarah rubbing her arm, wondering what would happen tonight. It wasn't like she was scared or anything, it's just that Jareth was so unpredictable. She almost wished that she stayed in the institution. "Well," Lavinia said after a while, trying to make her voice cheerful, noticing the young girl's apprehension. "Let's find you a dress, hmm? I'm thinking that we should go to Froma tomorrow."

"No," Sarah said, an idea coming to her. "Let's go next week or so," She clarified when she saw Lavinia's puzzled expression. "I need time to spend with Jareth, endear myself to him. That way, when I leave, he'll miss me." I hope.

"'Absence makes the heart grow fonder,' well done. But let's get you a new dress for tonight at least."

"How old are you again?" Lavinia asked as she, once again, rummaged through Sarah's closet. But it was a much bigger closet now, now that she was stationed in the castle.

"18, I'll be nineteen in…" Sarah trailed off, what day was it? And speaking of that, what month? How sad is this? she thought.

"18?" Lavinia stuck her head out of the doorway to stare at Sarah, "Are you sure? I thought you were younger than that… Wow, well in that case maybe we could give you a more womanly wardrobe."

"Maybe," Sarah said, staring at the other woman's ample chest. "Not too womanly, I mean, it's not like I have anything to show right?"

"Not much to show, but we need all the help we could get."

Was that an insult? Sarah didn't know if she should feel offended or amused.

"This one is good," Lavinia held it up. It was a deep purple gown, with a lower neckline than the ones she had been recently wearing Sarah noted. Made of stiff fabric for the bodice and flowing silk for the skirt and short off-the-shoulder sleeves. The skirt had a small, graceful train and it puffed a bit, held up by the dyed tulle underneath. Black thread embroidered the bodice and the hem of the skirt in curling vines and leaves. "It brings out your skin and eyes. We'll have to find shoes to match it though." she dropped the dress onto Sarah's outstretched hands and dove back into the closet.

"These would look nice," Lavinia handed her a pair of black high heels, with thin straps to anchor the delicate shoes to her feet. "Now," she continued, leading Sarah to the vanity that had been provided for her and making her sit on the small chair. "What to do with this hair?"

Sarah glanced at the clock. Four o'clock. "Isn't it a bit early to be getting ready for dinner?"

Lavinia laughed, "Oh Sarah, we're not getting ready yet. This is planning, how you will speak to the king, teaching you about the courses in a meal and so on. I think we should curl your hair," she muttered absently, playing with the silky strands. "I'll be back, I need heating tongs." She left.

Sarah held the dress up to herself, looking in the mirror, stroking the shimmering fabric of the skirt. It was like an over-expensive prom dress. Maybe tonight could be her prom. Maybe she could dance with the Goblin King? She thought of the last dance they had and felt a bit deflated. Maybe not. And no drinking of unusual drinks.

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By the time Sarah was bathing and being yelled at by both Lavinia and Frieda to hurry up (she pointedly ignored this and enjoyed soaking away her nervousness), Jareth was also preparing for the evening.

DAMN! This is just dinner, he reminded himself as his frustration urged him to break something. "Why is this so hard?" he asked aloud.

Jareth was standing in front of his wardrobe, wondering what to wear.

"Hmmm," he held the two outfits he had selected out in front of himself. One of the two were plain gray breeches, white poet's shirt, knee-high boots without the heel. The other one was made up of black breeches, a crisp, fitted white shirt, a black vest, a black jacket and knee-high boots with the heels. Formal or casual?

Formal? He looked at the black clothes, it would be appropriate for dinner after all.

Or casual? He glanced at the everyday clothing, rubbing his chin. Well, he didn't want to intimidate Sarah…

Formal? He looked at the outfit again, and back at the other clothes. Or casual?

"The question of the century," he murmured to himself, all seriousness.

What was she going to wear? Well, if it was evening attire, he should then wear the formal clothing.

But if she was going to wear a regular dress, he would be overdone and it might make things difficult.

But then again, if he wore the formal clothes and she was dressed down, he could always take off the vest and jacket. Besides, it was better to be overdressed than to look like a pauper among princes

"Formal," he decided before going into his bathroom.

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"I don't want my hair to be put up," Sarah sulked. "It looks nice just by itself." She touched the luxurious curls, enjoying the texture.

"But it's such a nice way to showcase these combs," Lavinia held the accessories out to Sarah.

Sarah looked at the combs. "Oh. My. God." The combs were completely covered with what seemed like sparkly pink and white rhinestones. "Those are ugly," She began to laugh. "No, those are horrible. I am not wearing something that looks as if someone went a bit too happy with the BeDazzler."

"Sarah!" Lavinia threw the combs down in frustration. "Just wear it!"

"Sarah, please," Frieda pleaded, "we only have an hour left until you have to leave."

"No, eww!"

"Sarah…" they both whined.

"If you keep doing this, I just might get lost on the way there and never make it to the dinner."

The older women sighed and relented. It seems as if her hair would be styled down.

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Jareth looked in the mirror He turned his head left and right, examining his hair critically. "Should I tie my hair back?" he mused out loud. "What do you think?" he looked at Mercutio, who was lounging on the couch, reading. "Mercutio?"

"Hmm? Oh," the other man stood and stared in the mirror also. "Maybe not. Actually, I'm not sure. My hair is always tied, that way I never have to worry about these things."

Jareth fingered his wild hair. "If I tie it down, will it make me unattractive?"

Mercutio thought for a moment, then said in a wondering voice, "I don't know. I think you're ugly, if my opinion means something."

"Thank the gods that you're not the one I'm trying to court. Should I leave it?"

"Well, if you tie your hair, it might make things too prim and proper, you know?"

Jareth nodded. "I shall leave it the way it is," he declared as if it were a momentous decision - which it was.

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Sarah carefully applied makeup. Obviously everyone had perfect skin and there was no need for foundation. Luckily Oriel had noticed her spots and had sent over a bottle of green, gooky mud to help her.

"Eyeliner?" she asked Lavinia. Frieda had left, not being able to stand the two girls' bickering anymore.

"I don't know," the fae held Sarah's chin and eyed her face. "Maybe a light gold color, we don't want to hide your features tonight." She took the pencil and lightly traced the gold around the eyes, making the green in her irises seem brighter.

Then came the blush and lip gloss (Sarah refused to use lipstick.) "You look very nice," Lavinia said approvingly.

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Jareth eyed the sticks of eye makeup that was laying on his dresser. He looked away as he straightened his shirt, then looked at the makeup again.

"Go for it," Mercutio encouraged.

"I don't think that mortal men normally wear these," he picked up a stick, remembering that he had worn this before he sent the crystals to Sarah three years ago. The ones that transported her to the ball.

"So? Who cares? You want to look your best. It's all about the first impression," Mercutio nodded to himself, looking supremely self-important.

Jareth put the sticks down, "I don't want to be too alien to her, I want her to see me as I am." Then - "Maybe just a little bit."

"There you go!" Mercutio slapped him on the back.

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"Perfume?" Sarah sniffed the bottle Lavinia handed over.

"Just a bit." she answered, holding out her wrists and dabbing it on her neck.

"You should put it on your chest," Lavinia recommended. "It's very enticing."

"I don't know…I really don't think that Jareth would be in the position to be that close to me."

The other woman shrugged, "I suppose you're right, it is just the first meeting after all."

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"Flowers?" Mercutio offered Jareth a bouquet of Underground roses.

Jareth took it and sniffed the blooms. "Doesn't that seem too obvious?"

"You're not going all out? No romantic boat ride? Or a dance near the fountain?" Jareth shook his head.

"Seeing that she barely feels comfortable with me, I see it best to not overwhelm her. Just a small dinner, and perhaps a walk in the gardens."

"Gardens in the nighttime? Nice." Mercutio gave a roguish wink.

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"All right," Lavinia said, staring Sarah up and down to make sure everything was in place. "You're ready."

"Is Frieda walking me to the dining room?"

"No, I will. She's busy, I'll be the chaperone tonight."

"Oh," Sarah felt slightly nervous, Lavinia had a small habit of leaving suddenly and she did not want to be alone tonight. She turned to leave, when Lavinia stopped her.

"Don't you want to look in the mirror?"

Sarah stared at herself in the full length mirror mounted on the closet door. Wow, she thought. She looked even better than she did at the ball. Her skin was dewy and her cheeks were flushed just right. Her hair was curled and framed her face beautifully. The color of the dress did bring out her eyes and skin. The tone emphasized the pink glow she had and the color contrast made her eyes seem brighter, more excited. Seem excited? Damn, for some reason she was excited. The bodice hugged what little curves she had and the embroidery was strategically placed in such a way as to make her waist seem smaller and brought attention to the low neckline.

Watch out Goblin King.

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"I'm ready, I can do this." Jareth smiled into the mirror, knowing that he looked good. I'm ready.

"Good luck," Mercutio shook his hand and opened the door for him.

Watch out Sarah.

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As Sarah and Lavinia walked through the hallways, she read the invitation she received this morning.

His Royal Highness King Jareth requests the presence of the Lady Sarah Williams for dinner tonight at 8 o'clock.

"Nervous?" Lavinia's voice shook Sarah out of her thoughts.

"Me? No," she lied. "I can do this."

Soon, too soon, they faced the imposing doors of the dining room. Sarah stepped forward and stopped when Lavinia stayed back.

"Aren't you going in?"

"What?" Lavinia shook her head, "oh no, no. We chaperone here in the Underground, but we also respect the privacy of the two people meeting. I will be stationed outside should you need me."

"I'm going alone!" Sarah whispered frantically.

"Have fun!" Lavinia pushed Sarah into the doors, which swung open to admit her entrance.

Sarah tumbled into the dining room, catching her balance before she fell. She stood straight and stared as the yawning doors closed. Sarah sighed in disgust as she smoothed her skirt, stupid Lavinia.

"Good evening," Sarah's skin immediately broke out into goose bumps at the sound of the king's deep, velvet-smooth voice.

"Oh, hello. Good evening. To you. Too." Sarah fought the rising blush that threatened to overtake her, but failed.

Jareth smirked, noticing her reaction to him as he set down the champagne bottle that he had been holding as he looked her over. Beautiful. He walked over to Sarah and kissed her hand while he bowed. "Shall we?" he indicated to the small table that had been set up.

Sarah noticed that he was still holding her hand, and let her fingers drop their hold. She was utterly relieved that it was no candlelit dinner. She silently thanked the millions of candles, the chandelier and the roaring fire. "Yes, I'm hungry."

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Lavinia desperately tried not to make a sound as she peeked into the keyhole. "What are they saying?" she muttered to herself?

"Why are you so nosy?" She straightened up and faced Mercutio.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, hands on her hips.

The man smiled. "Why, making sure the dinner goes well," he replied. "And yourself?"

"The same." They both looked at each other before nodding, making a silent truce. This morning's scene will never be spoke of again.

"Do you think they'll make it?" Mercutio wondered, kneeling so he too could spy through the keyhole.

"I don't know," Lavinia admitted before doing the same, "she's a bit skittish when he's around."

"That's true," he agreed. "Lavinia," the redhead turned to look at him wonderingly, "why are you doing this? Everyone knows how much you hate he king after the affair."

Lavinia looked back into the keyhole. Sarah and Jareth were eating now, not speaking to each other. "None of your business Mercutio. Besides, I thought you hated Sarah after she broke your dear friend's heart."

"Well, I've decided that she is a very nice girl, and she will make him happy."

Not for long, Lavinia thought. "They're not talking to each other, this is going too slow."

Mercutio agreed. "I have a proposal for you," he said suddenly. "No, it's not a repetition of this morning, fear not my love. But," he lowered his voice, making Lavinia lean in to hear him, "what if we somehow set them up? Encourage them."

"I've already been encouraging her," Lavinia said, "it's not working very well."

"I know Jareth's schedule. If I give you a copy, will you make sure Sarah is free on those days?"

Lavinia considered the proposal. It would make things easier, and go along faster. "All right." She held her hand out, after a bit, Mercutio took and despite what he wanted to do - to kiss her hand - he refrained and shook it instead.

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Sarah tapped her fork on the plate edge. "This is very awkward between us, you know," she said conversationally.

"It is," he agreed, his tone as pleasant as hers. "I wonder if you have something against me that keeps you from trusting me."

"Do you trust me?"

He thought for a moment, then answered honestly: "Not entirely."

"Well, same here." Damnit! Sarah thought, now she had to gain his trust in order to get what she wanted.

"Maybe we should clear the air then," he rested his chin on the back of his interlaced fingers, his elbows on the table.

He was baiting her, she knew it. "If you insist," she dropped the fork on her plate, the silver utensil making a jarring noise the echoed off the marble walls. "Let's start at the beginning, why did you take Toby?"

He seemed surprised. "You asked me to."

"But I didn't mean it!"

"Oh, you didn't? I'm sorry little girl, but if you truly hadn't meant it, then I would never have heard those words."

Sarah reigned in her temper, "I mean, I didn't think it would come true."

Jareth shrugged, disliking that he was being made to explain his actions. "That doesn't change the fact that you wanted me to take the boy away. You meant it."

"I also meant it when I asked for him back, but you didn't let him go now did you?!" She was shouting now, all her past anger coming out.

"It was too late to ask for him back, Sarah. Although I do remember giving you a chance to win him back."

"Ah yes," she sneered. "The Labyrinth."

Jareth shrugged, "I played according to the rules. The goblins wanted entertainment, I gave it."

"Entertainment!" Sarah stood up and slammed her palms on the table. "Playing with other people's lives is not 'entertainment.'"

Jareth stood also, "No, Sarah. It is not entertainment, it is called playing by the rules that were given to you."

"Playing by the rules?! Playing by the rules!? Taking away hours are playing by the rules? Sending killing machines are playing by the rules? You don't know what it's like, fighting for someone's life while trying to save your own." God, she was screaming now. Wanting to make him angry so she wouldn't be the only one who felt bad.

Jareth's mouth thinned and his hands turned into fists, banging them onto the table, making the plates, forks, knives and spoons jump. Didn't know what it was like to save someone's life while trying to save your own? Gods, he fought in wars and even killed! What was she to judge him? "Was there any possibility that you would get hurt?" he roared, " Because I made sure that there wasn't!"

"What are you talking about?" Was he crazy? There were a hundred times where she could have been injured!

"I loosened the wall did I? I sent you that monster to help keep you company didn't I? And didn't he save you from the bog? And if I didn't take away your time, you wouldn't have been motivated to finish," he was counting all the times he assisted her now, wanting to defend himself from her cruel words. "I sent you the dwarf when the fireys were about to pull you apart, correct?"

"Stop this, you're twisting everything apart!"

"Oh? How so?"

"If you didn't send the cleaners after us, you wouldn't have to have loosened the wall, I met Ludo when your goblins were torturing him," but that was all she had to say to defend herself. "It wasn't fair!"

Suddenly ashamed and knowing he was mostly right, Sarah sat down, turning her face away from him, trying with all her might not to cry.

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"No!" Lavinia stifled her scream of frustration, "don't fight!"

"Control yourself man," Mercutio mentally tried to make Jareth hear him. "Maybe they would stop if they were distracted."

Lavinia snapped her fingers. "I've got it! They didn't have dessert, and I doubt they would fight in front of others."

Mercutio nodded, "Let's go." They both picked themselves up and scramble to the kitchens, looking for the serving girl.

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"You have no idea what it's like to be forced to make people run through the labyrinth," Jareth continued, dripping venom. "It's not something I enjoy Sarah."

Sarah rested her hand on her forehead, finding relief at how cold it was. Julian's past words came flooding back to her: Oh, the running of the maze? Yes, well the goblins were very angry at the humans for their act of genocide, so they decided to punish them. The Seelie Court - a sort of high court for you mortals, I suppose - gave them the power to bring humans into their realm and turn them into goblins as retribution. A sort of entertainment. Entertainment for the goblins, not Jareth…

"I didn't know that you were forced do to that," she said dully, missing the note of surprise that showed on Jareth's face. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that you were trying to help me either. Thank you. I guess."

Jareth sat down, covering his face with his hands, exhaling wearily. "You're welcome."

They were quiet after a bit, then Sarah turned and looked up at him, "If it means anything to you, I'm glad we got that out of the way."

Jareth waved his hand, "I had no idea what it was like for you, and you didn't know what it was like for me. It's over, let us forget about it." After a bit he smiled lopsidedly at her, resting his tilted head on an upturned hand. "You know," he chuckled, "tonight wasn't supposed to turn out like this." He indicated to the fallen cutlery and the champagne glasses that were tipped over.

Sarah sighed, tension gone. "No," she agreed, "I didn't think so. What was it supposed to be like?"

"Pleasant, slightly romantic," he smiled wistfully, then crooked a finger at her, " And I even planned to take us out to the gardens after dessert." But I doubt you want to do that now, after all of this.

"Really? I'm impressed," she really was impressed, "I didn't think romance existed anymore."

"No one romanced you?" Jareth asked, stunned. "No suitor? No stolen kisses behind the trees?"

Sarah laughed, "No, no stealing of the kisses. Well, actually there was," Pat, remember him? her mind asked. "but there was generally no time to be romanced where I was." She suddenly felt regretful, missing out on all the things teenage girls experienced.

"I knew there was at least one suitor," Jareth said keeping his tone light to mask his jealousy of the unknown man.

"That's over now," Sarah said softly. "It's been over for a while."

Jareth let out a silent breath of relief and thanks. They both jumped when the serving girl came in with dessert. They had almost forgotten that they were having dinner, their emotions were so overwhelming.

Sarah looked down at her plate. Some sort of pie and ice cream. Cherry pie, she realized. Her favorite. Did he know? She looked at him but Jareth was busy eating.

Jareth pulled the fork through his lips, tasting the sweet fruit, wondering if the evening could still be salvaged.

She spoke first, "I was thinking.."

"Yes?"

"Maybe I'd still like to see your gardens."

Jareth smiled at her and after a bit, Sarah's serious expression melted into a smile also.

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They were now watching from the door the servers used.

"Did you hear that?" Lavinia squealed, hugging Mercutio impulsively. "They're going to see the gardens!" She disentangled herself, and prepared to go out the door after Jareth and Sarah left.

"Wait," Mercutio caught her elbow before she could follow through the glass doors that led outside, "what are you doing?"

"Following them." Mercutio rolled his eyes, she spoke as if there was nothing wrong in that.

"Don't you think they should be left alone?"

"I'm her chaperone, Mercutio," Lavinia said, matter of fact, "besides, don't you want to see what happens?"

"Well yeah, I just wanted to seem as if I was honorable and all that. Let's go." And with that the followed silently, making sure to follow far enough to keep them from Jareth and Sarah's hearing.

But not so far as that they couldn't see everything.

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"I've never seen silver trees before." Sarah commented, touching the rough, cold bark. "Do they grow? Or do they stay like this?"

Jareth was so busy admiring her that he almost didn't answer. "The leaves will turn into pink flowers during the summer, but other than that they don't really change."

Sarah dropped their hand and they resumed their walk. The angry hostility between them had somehow dissipated. But that didn't mean as if that wasn't something there. Instead the air felt heavy, full of another kind of anxiety. Sarah felt his longing for her and that frightened her enough to keep at least two feet between them, afraid that he might pounce.

She nervously tucked a stray curl behind her ear, suddenly sensing him behind her. "What are you afraid of?" Jareth asked, his warm breath cascading over the back of her neck, her chest, her shoulders, making Sarah shudder as goose bumps rose all over her.

"I don't know," she whispered, looking up at the moon. She felt him turn her, lift her chin up to look into her eyes. He was so tall he had to bend slightly. Her blood quickened as he leaned towards her.

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"Kiss her!" Mercutio hissed, watching their profiles.

"What are they doing?" Lavinia whispered as loudly as she could without being heard. Jareth and Sarah had wandered into the orchard, effectively keeping them out of sight in the thick trees. That being said, Mercutio had climbed a tree. All the better to spy with.

"I think he's going to kiss her," he whispered back.

"Really!? Let me see!" Lavinia then began to climb up, fighting Mercutio for room.

"Stop it, they'll hear us!"

"Then stop struggling!"

They situated themselves comfortably and watched the two. Jareth had an arm around Sarah and had threaded his free hand in her hair, making her look up at him. He was bent towards her. Sarah was clutching his upper arms.

They were so close…

"Do it, do it," Lavinia chanted. Their lips came closer…

"Yes!" Mercutio cheered silently for his friend, wondering when he had become a Peeping Tom..

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Sarah moaned into his mouth, the kiss making her stomach tighten. He was so gentle, so patient. She had barely known what had happened after he had made her look at him, only that he was dragging her to his chest and that his lips were warm and soft.

At her moan, Jareth pulled her tighter against him, clenching his fist around her silky hair. His head was about to explode he knew it, no one can stand such a kiss and still live to tell the tale. He knew he should have taken it slower, maybe even given her a peck on the cheek instead of her lips, but he knew he wouldn't be satisfied with a chaste kiss. Their sudden truce had given fuel to his hope and he wanted to take every opportunity to convince Sarah of the sincerity of his feelings for her.

Sarah's knees buckled and she wrapped her arms around his neck in alarm. But Jareth didn't stop the kiss, didn't let her go and for that she was grateful. He only held her closer and continued the gentle assault on her lips.

They part at last, but only for a little while, both of them addicted to each other. They shared more soft, gentle kisses. Jareth held back, only offering Sarah all the sweetness and tenderness he had to give. He rubbed his mouth against her sensitive lips, smiling when she shivered before taking her mouth fully.

Sarah actually whimpered, this had never happened in all her other kisses before. Sweet chills ran down her spine, radiated from her lips through her face, speeding her heartbeat. Finally, finally he let go, and Sarah was panting by that time.

Jareth lovingly smooth his thumb over her lower lip, taking in her flushed and disheveled appearance. "Was that what you were afraid of?" he asked teasingly.

Sarah blushed deeper. "I doubt it," she smiled.

"I should take you back," he said regretfully, running his fingers over her lips again. "it's getting late."

"All right," she said, her voice thick with longing. Jareth smiled, and led them back to the castle.

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Lavinia sighed, smiling as she laid her head on her folded arms. "We did it. How romantic."

"I know," Mercutio said smiling smugly. "He's learned from the best."

"Oh you," she smacked his arm playfully. "Let's get back."

Mercutio began to climb down and held his hand up to help Lavinia. But the branches that had so faithfully supported them while they were watching suddenly decided to give out. Right in front of Jareth and Sarah.

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"What are you doing here?" The king's voice was impassive, but Lavinia and Mercutio knew him well enough that they could hear the furious undercurrents in his question.

"Well…," Lavinia looked at Mercutio and then at Jareth. "Well… I'm Sarah's…chaperone and…I was bound by duty to follow. To make sure you don't do anything questionable to my charge." She raised her chin, daring the Goblin King to punish her for doing her job.

"You saw us?!" Sarah shrieked, covering her mouth in shock and blushing, horribly embarrassed.

"Oh, we saw everything - " Mercutio was cut off by Lavinia's elbow.

"And what are you doing here?" Jareth could barely keep his anger in control, humiliated that such an intimate moment had been witnessed.

"Well, ahem. Obviously… I am Jareth's chaperone…" Mercutio had nothing and everyone knew it. "Goodbye!" He promptly disappeared and laid a spell that blocked all attempts to find him.

"I'll walk Sarah back," Lavinia said, taking Sarah's hand. "Maybe you should have put the scent on your chest after all," she whispered teasingly.

Sarah looked back at Jareth, mouthing "Goodnight." She smiled.

Jareth grinned and watched her until he could see her outline no more. Not the night he had imagined, but it was a promising start.