In all honesty, this was not the way Sarah pictured spending her Valentine's Day. This wasn't even close. Her idea had involved chocolate, roses, and at least one naked man. A family lunch was far far from what she'd wanted.

But she smiled politely and followed the four rules of proper family conduct. One, smile. Two, ignore everything anybody says comparing her to her mother. Three, talk as little as possible. Four, dress as casually as possible. Thankfully, her acting (lying, bullshitting ability, whatever you wanted to call it) had improved a lot since her first attempt at the art in high school, to the point where they were enough to full mostly anyone. Except Toby. But that's because her brother was a suspicious, though lovable, little shit. Even at ten, which wasn't old enough to be world weary by anybody's standards, especially when you're living in the suburbs of Fuckall, America where nothing happens until you drive about twenty minutes towards the city. But Toby pulled it off and Sarah didn't question it. Theirs was an awkward, though long lasting, truce.

Sarah glanced at her phone, situated strategically at such an angle that no one would be able to see it. A short time after the initial coffee incident (around when Jareth showed up at her door, yelling the lyrics of the Bohemian Rhapsody to the tune of YMCA), the two had exchanged numbers and had been exchanging short texts ever since. Unfortunately for Sarah, it was apparently unprofessionalfor a teacher to text while watching over a gaggle of kindergarteners, so she was left to cast the occasional glare at her phone and nothing to do.

"So," said Karen, spooning some more mashed potatoes onto Toby's plate, who eyed them with a vague disgust, "Sarah. Do you have a boyfriend, yet? I'm delighted that you're spending some time with the family, but shouldn't you be doing other things?"

Sarah paused. Thought over it. And her smile grew more genuine than polite. Some things could go both ways.

"I do, actually," she said sweetly.

"No, you don't," said Toby.

Her father and Karen just looked concerned.

"You don't have to lie to us, sweetie, we're not going to judge you if you don't."

Oh, yes you are, thought Sarah.

Aloud, she said, "I'm not joking, I really do. His name is Jareth. He's nice."

"Then why aren't you with him?" asked Karen, looking rather concerned.

"He's a teacher," said Sarah, "He's working. But he might call any minute."

There. Not entirely a lie. Not entirely the truth. Her speciality.

"Well, we look forward to meeting him," said her father, looking vaguely delighted.

Shit.

"Maybe another time. We have plans for tonight."

"Well, the moment he calls, you can go," said Karen, probably still trying to call her out on her bullshit. Or not. The two weren't entirely on bad terms, but not exactly shooting on the battlefield. A cold war. A crude, though apt comparison.

But that didn't matter because, fuck, now Sarah would be stuck here all night.

Then, Smooth Criminal started loudly playing in the background.

Gods of cliches and coincidences be thanked.

"And that's him right there," Sarah smirked at Karen. Gotta love small victories.

"Then you should get it."

Sarah did.

"Darling!" she crooned into the device, getting up from the table and quickly escaping from the dining room.

"Moon of my life! To what do I owe this affection?"

"Oh, thank god, Jareth, it's actually you," Sarah whispered.

"I'm confused yet delighted. Listen, I have a favor to ask. I'll shower you in coffee beans for this-"

"I'll do this for free," Sarah hissed, "Family gathering."

"...And there I have the reasons for your sudden affection."

"You know I love you."

"That's what this plan rests on. I'm going to text to the address of the school I work that-"

"And to what do I owe this affection?"

"This is serious! Be there in an hour and look... girlfriendy! I'm getting mobbed here!"

"Teachers or mothers?"

"Both! Everybody! Children! This is insane!"

"Poor Jareth! How did you ever survive?"

"Luck. Pure luck. And this is my first year actually teaching."

"No shit?"

"No shit. I'll tell you all your heart desires and more if you get over here in at least an hour!"

"Ok. Bye, honey!"

"My sun and stars-"

"Do me a favor at least use only one half of the reference."

"My colleague's really into Game of Thrones and I'm raising my voice whenever she strategically walks past."

"Bye, Jareth."

"I'll be at the reception desk at 2pm sharp!"

"BYE, Jareth."

And Sarah hung up. Stopping by the dining room to get her coat, she practically bounded out the door, yelling, "Gotta go, I've got a date!"

Sarah had the perfect plan that was probably dramatic enough to be absurd. It involved low slung jeans, a shirt more appropriate for a night club than a school, six inch heels, sunglasses, Jareth's jacket, and a hat. Oh, and a heart shaped box of chocolates. And a bouquet of roses. Rising starlet visiting a kindergarten.

Click clacking up to the receptionist, she smiled her most winning smile and said, "Hi, I'm here to see Jareth?"

The receptionist simply looked bored, glaring up from under perfectly plucked black brows.

"Uhuh. Last name?"

Shit. Stab in the dark? Stab in the dark.

"K-" she started.

"King," said a familiar voice from behind her.

"Honey!" grinned Sarah, turning around and throwing her arms around Jareth's neck (magically keeping ahold of the roses and chocolate). The man clutched at her like it was Black Friday and she was the last TV on sale, which is to say passionately, and with an insane gleam in his eye.

"No PDA!" quacked the receptionist, scribbling something on a sticker and throwing it at Sarah.

Jareth grabbed the sticker and frantically pasted it on the lapel of Sarah's jacket. After which he gave it a close look, grabbed Sarah's hand, and tugged her after him.

"What does that say?" she asked, glancing down at the name tag.

"Girlfriend," said Jareth shortly.

"Seriously?"

"Janet's hate for PDA can only be rivaled by her intense dislike for Rocky Horror Picture Show, and she didn't have a chance to get your name."

"Alright. You want the flowers now or later?"

"Later. Now, when I count to three, I'm going to need you to kiss me. Full out."

"What?! Why?!"

"Because she bet me thirty bucks that I don't have a girlfriend and that you're my sister. If you kiss me, you can have fifteen."

By this point, the two were out of the main office and almost across the courtyard, on the other side of which sat a lovely set of portable buildings. Which were decorated with an array of colorful hearts and swarming with children. The children were accompanied by their parents, most of them female. A certain portion of the mothers present looked absolutely terrifying, with immeasurable amounts of Botox and designer track suits. Sarah belatedly realized that they were probably the much feared Pack. Jareth slowed down to a walk, making it look like a leisurely, stroll.

"One..."

The Botox gaggle broke off from the main group, tailed by a lovely redhead.

"Two..."

Oh, what the hell. Sarah leaned in and placed her mouth on Jareth's. Really. There isn't a non-awkward way to describe the beginning of their kiss. It was done with surgical precision. Lips to lips. Mouth slightly open. Very by the book. Until Jareth opened his mouth further, and that... That Sarah would have probably done for free.

"Ew! Gross! Some lady's eating Mr. King's face off!"

Gotta love children. Always ruining the nicest moments.

"Which one's Morgan?" asked Sarah, breaking the kiss, cupping Jareth's face, roses and chocolate thoroughly crumpled between them.

"What?" asked the man, carding his fingers through Sarah's hair, looking thoroughly dazed.

"Which one's Morgan?" repeated Sarah, quite pleased with herself.

"Oh. The younger redhead."

"Turn a little. Make it look natural. And don't move away from me or this shit will fall."

She angled them around a bit so that Morgan had a good view of their profile. Reaching down, Sarah grabbed the squished heart shaped box and the rumpled roses and shoved them at Jareth's chest.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Goblin King."

"And the same to you."

"You owe me fifteen bucks. And a coffee."

"Oh?"

"That was quite the public display of affection."

"Damn. Is money all that motivates you?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah noticed Morgan reaching for her wallet. The actress smiled, and gave Jareth another kiss, short and sweet.

Sarah's idea of Valentine's Day had involved chocolate, roses, and at least one naked man.

Chocolate? Check.

Roses? Check?

Naked man? Well, half check.

"What are you talking about? I'd take a bullet for you, valentine."

Author's Note:

Ok, so I wanted to write a dumb, kind of sweet, Valentine's Day chapter. Never mind that that's past. Win some, lose some. That's life. At least I'm being creative, right?