Thanksgiving behind them, Sarah and Jareth looked forward to spending some time together near Christmas, but life was busy for both of them. Jareth had more runners in December, more greedy children wishing away siblings in order to get more presents from Santa. They did not see each other as much as they would have wished, but each had their own tasks to tend to, both knowing that it was for the good of the kingdom they would one day rule together.

Sarah kept studying her book, and practicing fencing with Ariana. Jareth had taught her some of the secret ways to move around the Labyrinth quickly as if by magic, and she raced Hoggle to the center at least once a week for practice. Valeria had sensed that Sarah had magic coursing through her veins now that she'd been accepted by the Labyrinth and sought to train her in defensive arts.

"Levitation is mind over matter," Valeria was saying. "When you wish to stun your enemy, you move your hand thusly," she pinched the nerve of a nearby goblin, immobilizing him. "Then you chant your spell as such," she did so, causing the goblin to float above them. Scrimp loved helping the ladies practice. Afterwards, they always let him practice fencing against the effigy that looked like the Goblin King. And there was cake. Scrimp loved cake.

Scrimp floated peacefuly above them for a few minutes. Valeria turned to Sarah midair and grinned.

"All right, sister mine - lower the goblin gently to the ground."

"By myself?" Sarah asked, flustered. Valeria laughed and levitated herself gently to Sarah's amusement. Sarah stared at her from the ground, hands on hips and waited.

"I did the hard part, I got him up there - you should be able to bring him back down."

"Scrimp wants down, lady - want cake!" The little goblin's eyes were happily devouring the large cake sitting on a nearby table. Sarah nodded and concentrated, speaking the words just as Valeria had taught her.

"No, not velium, it's verium," Valeria said and Sarah shrugged.

"Is it that big of a difference?"

Somewhere in the Goblin King's castle a loud shout was heard when a little goblin materialized in said Goblin King's tub, splashing his king gleefully and almost pulling Jareth under the water.

"Sarah!"

"Um, yeah, a bit of a difference," Valeria giggled as Sarah suddenly was thankful she now knew how to hide within the Labyrinths walls.

JSJSJS

"So you and William seemed to like each other at Thanksgiving," Sarah told Lydia as they wandered the mall. Looking for Christmas gifts together was fun, especially since Karen had given them each twenty dollars and told them to go find something fun for themselves while she and Toby waited at the food court.

"Once he stopped drooling over you, he seemed to think I was all right," Lydia teased. "I got another letter from him yesterday. He's really wanting us to go to Paris next year."

"Both of us?" Sarah teased back and Lydia blushed. The blonde girl made a show of going through the nail polish display they were near.

"I think pink is overdone this year, don't you?" Lydia asked and Sarah picked up a stuffed animal from a nearby shelf and threw it at her friend.

"You really like him," Sarah laughed. Lydia pouted.

"Yes, I really do. Is that ok?" Sarah looked at her, puzzled.

"Of course it is - why would I mind?"

"Well I know he liked you first and I know you have Jareth, but," she faltered and Sarah hugged her.

"I do have Jareth, and now you have William and we're all happier that way."

I know I am - it may have been considered rude to bog the boy on our first meeting.

Sarah rolled her eyes.

You know I love you.

Because of my devilish good looks or because of the way your toes curl when I let my hands wander?

Sarah coughed to get the images out of her head and decided to bring up her news now.

"Actually,your dad was talking with my dad last night and I sort of overheard something," Sarah said. "They're thinking of taking us all to Paris for Christmas as a surprise."

"Really? Oh my gosh, when are they gonna tell us?"

"Tell you what?" Karen asked, smiling as she and Toby came up behind them. Sarah looked at her step mother with a guilty smile.

"Um, well," Sarah said and Karen laughed.

"We know you know about Paris, and yes - we leave in two days. And yes," she turned to Lydia, "you and your father are coming along too. We were going to tell you officially tonight, but there's no hiding things from the two of you."

I look forward to showing you the catacombs...such...privacy for late night kisses. And I have so much I want to talk with you about, my little queen. Five more months until you turn sixteen and I have such plans for you then. Ah, Sarah, how I've missed you. Have you a little time for your love sick king?

Sarah did laugh then and she shrugged at Karen and Lydia.

"I get to see Jareth sooner than I thought I would," she explained and they laughed with her.

Later that night, Sarah and Lydia were in Sarah's room packing. School had let out that day so they were excited to be focusing on their trip.

"I can't believe that in a couple of days, we'll be in Paris," Lydia squealed.

"I know, it's so exciting," Sarah agreed. A flash of movement caught her eye and she frowned. Probably nothing.

"Do you think we'll have fun at William's house?" Lydia asked. "I mean, it's a pretty big estate. We might not even see him a lot. What are we going to do?"

"Oh I'm sure he'll find time to see you," Sarah said, noticing another flash of something just out of range of vision. Suddenly, a small bundle of energy landed in Sarah's suitcase and Lydia screamed.

"Scrimp, what are you doing here?"

"King said Lady was leaving, I don't want you to leave!"

"Sarah - what is that?" Lydia said, never taking her eyes off Scrimp. Sarah held the bridge of her nose tightly just like Jareth did when the goblins frustrated him.

"This is Scrimp, he's a goblin."

"A - goblin. Like a real, real goblin?"

"Yep."

"And their king?" Lydia asked, slowly.

"Jareth."

"Oh, I see." Lydia may have wanted to say more but she was soon passed out on Sarah's floor.

"Lovely," Sarah said.