DISCLAIMER: I don't own Labyrinth or any of the characters associated with the film. They are the property of the Jim Henson Company. I do own all other characters in the story.

The air was crisp and cold, and it was so very late at night, but Sarah knew that if she didn't do this now, she may never have another chance. She glanced over at Jareth, walking beside her. It wasn't fair to either of them for her to be upset over Cory anymore. After all, she was as much at fault for the inevitable self-destruction of their relationship as he was. She had wronged Cory; she had made him love her; and although his actions had hurt her, she knew that his doing them had hurt him even more. They arrived at Cory's apartment building. Sarah clutched the box fiercely. She was afraid, but it had to be done. She turned to Jareth.

"Would you mind just waiting for me here?" she asked.

Jareth raised his eyebrows and shrugged in the affirmative.

"I have to do this alone."

"If that is the way it must be done," Jareth said, leaning against the wall, pulling the collar of his coat up so that it was standing, in an attempt to keep his neck warm.

Sarah nodded, and started to turn to go inside.

"Sarah."

She looked up to him.

"Should you need me…"

Sarah smiled at the line. The last time she'd heard it was when she had been going to face Jareth in the castle. Jareth smirked at her slightly.

"I'll call."

Sarah pushed the buzzer button and looked at her watch. It was two in the morning, and Cory had been drunk. He might be in bed, or he might be otherwise engaged. Sarah jutted out her chin in determination. It didn't matter anymore what he was doing, or with whom. She just needed to give him the box, make peace, and go home with Jareth. She was about to push the button again when Cory's groggy voice came through the intercom.

"Hello?"

"Cory, it's Sarah."

"Oh."

There was silence on the line, and then Sarah heard the click of the lock opening. She went through the door, and trudged down the hallway. With the dim lighting and dreary colours, Sarah felt as though she were heading for a prison cell. The thought made panic rush through her. It had been over a year since she had been alone with Cory. She paused in front of his door, raising her hand to knock. The door swung open before she had a chance.

"Sarah," Cory said sleepily. "What do you want?"

Sarah stared at him. He looked awful: tired and bedraggled. She started to realize that maybe she should have waited until the morning, but she had feared that she would lack the resolve then. No matter, she was here now.

"Can I come in?"

Cory looked at her suspiciously, but opened the door and walked away from her. She found him in the kitchen rummaging through his fridge. He had certainly adapted to a bachelor's lifestyle; his apartment was messy and distinctly male.

"I'm sorry to wake you," she said quietly.

Cory just looked at her and shrugged.

"It's not as though I was getting any sleep anyway," he mumbled, pushing past her and sitting on his couch.

Sarah closed her eyes. This was quite hard, harder than she expected – but, not for her. Cory was having a hard time with her being in his apartment in the middle of the night. She could tell that he didn't know what to make of it. She turned to face him.

"I just wanted to return these things to you," she said, proffering the box.

Cory just stared at her and smirked.

"I thought you were going to give it to Jareth to bring to me."

Sarah nodded. "I was. But, then I realized some things."

Cory looked interested but sceptical.

"Oh?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

Sarah frowned miserably, and moved to sit next to him on the couch, carefully keeping her distance from him. She set the box down on his cluttered coffee table and turned to him.

"We hurt each other Cory, a lot. And, well, I've played the victim a little too long," Sarah started, her voice steady.

Cory was surprised. Whatever it was that he had been expecting it hadn't been this.

"I can't forgive you for how you chose to end our relationship, I hope you understand that," she continued. "But, I also realize that you may not want to forgive me for how I treated you either."

Cory was still silent. He couldn't believe his ears. Jareth had to have put her up to it.

"Where is he?" Cory asked as Sarah opened her mouth to continue the heart-to-heart.

Sarah was about to ask to whom Cory was referring when realization clicked in.

"Outside," she said quietly.

Cory snorted. "So he put you up to this?"

Sarah stared at him.

"Yes and no." She sighed.

"I think he just nudged me in the right direction," she concluded.

Cory nodded, and smiled bitterly.

"He was the one, right? The one you always wanted," he asked.

Sarah swallowed. She really hadn't wanted to hurt Cory. Raising her eyes to his, she nodded silently.

"Right," he replied. "Well, that's that."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"Can I hug you?" Cory asked.

Sarah was taken aback, and started to appear uncomfortable with the notion. Cory rolled his eyes.

"I'm not going to try anything, Sarah. I get it, you know, the whole you and Jareth thing. I get it. But, we never said goodbye," he said, looking sad. "I hurt you, and I never told you how sorry I was."

Sarah nodded, and allowed Cory to wrap his arms around her. He held her tightly, but she couldn't return the embrace. He buried his head in her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Sarah. I'm sorry."

Sarah could tell from his harsh whisper that tears had sprung. She leaned her head on his.

"I'm sorry, too."

She didn't know how long they stayed like that, but it was long enough to make peace. It was long enough to say goodbye.

Sarah stood in the hallway outside of Cory's apartment, as he stood in the door.

"Can we…?" Cory started.

Sarah stopped him by shaking her head.

"No."

Cory nodded, and smiled sadly.

"I guess you're right. We were never friends to begin with."

He stuck his hand out to shake hers. She smiled and gripped his hand.

"It's been a pleasure, Miss Williams," he said, jokingly.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, a pleasure."

"Good night, Sarah," Cory said, the smile gone from his face. "And, goodbye."

Sarah looked at her watch.

"You mean good morning, and I'll see you around," she said smirking.

Cory smiled.

"Yeah, that's what I meant."

Sarah left the building feeling slightly better about the Cory situation, but still emotionally wrecked. She turned to find Jareth still leaning against the wall, his head turned slightly towards the door. He raised his eyebrows expectantly. Sarah walked to him and held out her hand.

"Let's go home."

When Sarah and Jareth arrived back at her apartment, they were both exhausted. As soon as they were in the door, Sarah turned to Jareth and hugged him. Jareth wrapped his arms around her easily.

"That was hard," she mumbled into his shoulder.

Jareth said nothing, he just stood rocking her gently.

"Let's get some sleep," he suggested.

Sarah nodded.

"Okay."

AN: Ah, poor Cory. Still hate him? Sorry this chapter is so short, but it ends where it ends and I can't force it on any longer than it needs to be. Til next chapter, darlings. ;)