At around six o'clock that evening, Sarah, Toby and Karen arrived home, fatigued and disorientated. The two adults dawdled tiresomely into the house, seemingly looking forward to a long and peaceful slumber, while the little boy jumped up and down with his ever-persistant excitment. For even with his bruised cranium, Toby still wanted to return to playing Superman.

"Calm down, Dear!" insisted Karen, as she tried to control her son from running into a pile of bookshelves that stood in the corner of the drawing room. She heaved a sigh, then looked at Sarah. "I'm going to have to keep my eye on him. He's become such a active little boy. You know I don't blame you, don't you?" she asked, slumping herself in the armchair.

"I know." Sarah smiled, feebly, for she knew that she really was to blame, for everything. But she was determined not to break down again. This time she had to be strong. "Have you phoned dad yet?" she questioned, as she began to put away Toby's toys in an attempt to deem herself helpful.

"No." Karen sighed. "It will only worry him. I think it's best if we explain it to him when he gets home."

Sarah felt a little worried. What if her father asked more questions and decided to blame it on her? She would hate if he became mad at her. He was the man she needed more than anyone at this moment. All the same, she knew it was for the best that he was away. She couldn't bear to think of what the threats would do to him.

Two hours later, Sarah lay on her bed, frozen. Her eyes were fixated on the wall, as if they were trying to see past the wallpaper and bricks, searching for a whole other world to come to her and give her the answers to her all of her troubles. Confusion devoured her senses. Her mother had died and all she got for sympathy was an entire heap of new problems, not to mention a curse that brought misfortune to everyone she cared about. She slowly closed her eyes; not to sleep, but to block away all of the wickedness that she had been affected by. A gentle draught of wind gusted across her face. 'Strange', she thought. She didn't realise she had left her window open, but she was too relaxed to go and close it. All she wanted to do was shut her eyes and erase the world from her mind. As she did this, she couldn't help but feel rather beautiful, and if her spirit was to leave her body and rise up to look down on herself, she would have been able to confirm this fact. Her lissome frame and feminine features excelled with innocence and grace. Even in the night sky, her rosy lips and lavish eyelashes were prominent and noticeable.

While her eyes were closed, she could have sworn she felt the presence of someone looming over her bedstead; someone who simply hovered discreetly, watching her sleep, or at least watching her pretend to sleep. Maybe it was just her imagination, but the manifestation comforted her, and for once she didn't feel threatened. She sighed, happily, as if to invite the figure to lean in closer, surprised that her invitation was met. The figure moved closer, and she could feel the heavy breathing on her face. She smiled slightly as the cool breath cleansed her complexion, and an exhilarating chill fluttered down her spine. She knew exactly who it was.

"Sarah…" he whispered gently, causing her to smile. She didn't know why she was so glad he was here. Wasn't he the reason for all the mess she was in? Wasn't he the one who had failed to tell her that Lysander, her best friend of five years, was actually his infiltrator? All of this seemed to float from her mind, as she welcomed his company. He brushed his soft naked hand from her waist to her neck, causing her entire body to tingle with lust. She was sure that he was going to kiss her, as he stroked her cheek and brought himself close to her. But instead, his lips gently brushed passed hers and proceeded to the side of her face, where he whispered softly into her ear. "You left without saying goodbye." he said. Teasingly, she did not answer, nor did she open her eyes. "Oh I see, playing that game, are you?…Well, I guess I'll just be leaving."

Sarah felt his cool breath and warm body disappear from her senses. The room felt much emptier than it did a few seconds ago. The smile on her face disappeared, as she gradually opened her eyes. He wasn't there. She was about to frown until she heard a manly chuckle. Quickly, her eyes darted to the very corner of the room, where she saw a shadowy figure standing casually, with his arms crossed and his leg slightly slanted up against the wall. He slowly walked forward until she could clearly see his charismatic face glowing in the light of the moon that shone through her window. He wore a black ruffled tightly-fitted regency shirt which bared a glimpse of his smooth firm chest. His lips shaped into a mischievous smirk as he laughed at her wide-eyed expression.

"Why so concerned, Sarah? Did you think I left?" he scoffed. She didn't reply, just frowned as he continued to speak. "Well, I thought you deserved some sort of retaliation, seeing as you played a disappearing act on me the other night."

She had forgotten how much his taunts aggravated her. How could he be so indifferent when so much had happened?

"In my defence, I didn't realise that I was going to wake up in my own bed that night! You should have reminded me that I had to use up my last wish before the morning!" she shouted, as he continued to chortle. "It's okay laughing, but I didn't get to make my final wish!"

"I never realised you were so ravenous Sarah. You should be grateful you had three wishes, never mind a fourth one. Besides, you can't really get any better than that third wish you made. Well…maybe a little better!" he teased, flashing her a wide smirk.

"Pfft! I don't know how you dare stand there, and say that I should be grateful when I have all of these Threats trying to destroy me and the people I care about!" she yelled, ignoring his attempts to be charming.

"Ahh, yes. That is what I came to talk to you about. Sarah, I don't think it is safe for you to be here anymore. From what Lysander has told me, the Threats have become a great deal more vicious than I anticipated." Jareth's temperament still remained nonchalant, much to her irritation.

"Oh, and that's another thing! What the hell did you think you were doing, sending someone to pretend to be my friend, but really they were lying to me and secretly killing teachers behind my back, hmm? Were you ever going to tell me Lysander was your employee?"

"Employee? Oh, Sarah don't belittle me with your human terms. He was my prisoner, and is now my most trusted servant. I sent him to protect you, and up until now he has done a damn good job!"

"I never asked you to send protection!"

"If I had not sent him you would be dead by now!" he shouted, losing his cool at long last.

"And whose fault is that?" she retorted.

"Yours!"

"Why? Just because I rescued my brother!"

"No, because you chose to return to your humdrum existence, instead of remaining in the Labyrinth with me, that's why! What kind of silly little girl chooses to give up her dreams for this?" he sneered, gazing around at her commonplace bedroom. "Now, because of your decision, the immortals are after you. They are not most pleased with a girl living in the mortal world with our kind of powers! And frankly, I don't blame them!"

"Then why don't you just leave them to come and get me?" she cried, half testing him to see if he would actually be so cruel.

Jareth sighed heavily, and paced up and down for a few seconds before perching on the end of her bed. He looked deep into her eyes with heartfelt emotion, and Sarah had her answer.

"I would rather die myself, then let them take your life."

His words sent rousing shivers down her spine. She never would have believed he cared so much about her if he didn't say what he had just said. "I knew you would never have chosen me over your family, Sarah. And you know why? Because of this."

He swooped closer to her and placed his hand on her heart.

"Your heart possesses so much love, and I never entirely understood how, or why… until you wished yourself back into the Labyrinth just a few days ago. I felt what it was like to care for someone so deeply, that I would risk leaving my Labyrinth just to be close to her for another night."

"Jareth I…" she began to whisper, until the light from the landing switched on.

"Sarah? Who are you talking to? Is everything alright?" It was Karen, who yelled from outside the door. Sarah jumped at the sound of her voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I…I was just reading!" she replied, feeling red and disorientated.

"You're sounding a little hoarse, Dear. Maybe you should get some sleep?"

"I will!"

Karen wished her a goodnight, before retreating downstairs. Sarah's eyes wandered from the door back to Jareth. Imagine if she had walked in and saw a strange glitter-obsessed Goblin King in her stepdaughters room.

"Great. Now she thinks that I talk to myself." Sarah knew she might as well have wrapped herself in a straight-jacket and presented herself to her family screaming the words 'Tickle me! I'm Elmo!' in their faces. Jareth chuckled to himself, as if he could hear her thoughts. Sarah shot him a narked expression, which told him to take the situation more seriously.

"Look, I promise you I will not let anything happen to you. The dangers will be taken care of. Me and Lysander are meeting tonight. We are going to search high and low for every immortal who poses a threat to you and your family. But for now, you should take your stepmother's advice. You should sleep."

He arose from the bed and turned his back, walking towards the window.

"Wait…" she beseeched. "Don't, don't go."

Jareth rotated his head back round to her, and presented a devilish, yet charming, smirk on his lips as Sarah coyly sat up on her bed.

"Is it really wise for me to stay? Aren't you afraid that I'll…seduce you" he taunted.

"I'm not afraid!" she said boldly.

Intrigued, he strutted up to her bed and placed himself back on the foot of it. Staring nervously at each other, they both became unsure of what they wanted out of this. For a while they simply rested in silence, until Sarah decided to speak again.

"I know I chose to return to this world all that time ago, but it doesn't mean that I wasn't tempted to stay." she admitted, uncertain of where she was going with this.

"Oh, really?" he enquired, raising his left brow.

"Why else would I have made that last wish?…I mean, it was a good wish. I liked it. There's no harm in it is there? If it feels…you know…, then why can't a grown woman wish for a simple…kiss." Jareth smirked. He could see what she wanted though her uncomfortable hints. "Anyway, we need to deal with this curse I'm under, and get rid of the Threats now, don't we?" she necessitated, trying to change the subject. "Does this curse have a time-limit or something? Or do I have to take some kind of antidote? I don't know. I've only ever seen these things in movies…"

Jareth found her nervousness amusing, and let her jibber on for a while. Then, he stood back onto his feet and walked around to the head of her bed, where he knelt down before her face, causing her to gulp.

"You know, if you want to repeat that third wish, all you have to do is say. After all, even though I cannot grant you anymore wishes, it does not mean that I am disinclined to grant your requests" he told, arrogantly, in hope that she would ask him the question they both wanted to hear. Sarah was uncomfortable, but eager. She wanted more than anything for him to kiss her, but she didn't want to have to ask him every sensed this. "Very well. The other night you wished that I would kiss you. This time, I wish that you would kiss me." He looked into her eyes with a charming gaze. Sarah usually found his forwardness annoying, but tonight her hunger for his touch overpowered her morals. How could she refuse him now? "Will you grant my wish?" he questioned.

She looked at him with curiosity, and in the haze of his vibrant glare, her decision was made. Gradually, she crept her hand towards his silky face and caressed it lightly. Her other hand took his slender fingers and placed them around her waist, inviting him to join her on the bed. She moved in closer until her body was in touch with his. The warmth of his chest traversed thorough her lace nightgown and into her skin. Although he had only requested for a kiss, their hearts pulsated as if they thought something more was bound to happen. She moved her lips towards his and teased them just as he had done to her. They lingered over his mouth until little by little, she moved in, and began to devour his quintessence once again. All the nerves she felt before had vanished, and were replaced with the feelings of confidence, freedom and maturity. Blissfully, she sighed as Jareth trailed his hands across her body and embraced her with his lips, caressing her mouth and neck. The excitement grew so fast, she could hardly contain herself. She lay her back down on the bed and pulled him down with her. Her hands pressed against his chest as she tried to find a way to pull of his shirt, whilst still trying to feel the passion of his enchanting kisses. For a second Jareth hesitated. She began to feel embarrassed and wondered why he had paused. That was when she detected that they were not alone.

Sarah turned her head to the right where Jareth already looked. She gasped in horror when she saw a shadowy figure lurking by the window.