*Waves* Oh hai! I am still here, I promise! Enjoy this chapter which is chock-full of mushiness and good food.

The food was absolutely delicious. Sarah ate as though she had not eaten for months, aware that it was probably not the lady-like thing to do but unable to stop. Jareth showed her how to toast the bread lightly on the fire with long metal forks; he spread it with pâté and sweetened onions for her and told her to taste. She thought she'd never get tired of the savoury, tangy flavour, but then she tried the cheese biscuits and changed her mind – and as for the raspberries, drenched with thick double cream and with a sprinkling of sugar, they were heavenly. Even the tea was perfect – she had her doubts as to whether it was a beverage Jareth actually enjoyed or whether he was just humouring her tastes, but either way it was just right.

She told Jareth about her day and he sympathised, and then told her about his, which had been much worse. The fireys had lodged a complaint about the goblins, who had taken to hiding various bodyparts of theirs around the Labyrinth (Sarah had a sneaking sympathy with the goblins – thinking of the fireys still gave her unpleasant shivers), and Jareth had had to be very diplomatic to avoid a riot. Then there was the small matter of the Castle developing an entire new wing where the dungeons used to be – which was all well and good but what was Jareth to do with his prisoners now? Not that there were any at the moment, he added hastily, but this kind of thing got around. No one respected a king with no dungeons. But the Castle had been unaccountably stubborn and refused to change back.

Sarah was charmed by the idea of the Castle having such a defined character. "What was the wing for?" she asked curiously. To her surprise, Jareth looked shifty and his pale cheeks flushed just a tiny bit.

"Oh, you know, just some rooms and so on," he said hastily, and then swiftly changed the subject. "Lord Leythar wrote to ask me to host this year's Midsummer Ball – did you ever hear such preposterous nonsense? As if I had the time or inclination to have a ball here… Goodness knows why he entertains such a ridiculous notion. My reputation is obviously suffering. I shall have to write a reply first thing tomorrow and politely decline."

He looked over at Sarah and raised an eyebrow at her shining eyes and open mouth. "Oh, please host a ball!" she breathed.

Jareth was taken aback. It was an expression she didn't see often on his face and she enjoyed it to the full. "Really? You… you would enjoy such a thing?"

"Enjoy? Jareth, it's only the dream of every fifteen year old girl – !" She stuttered to a halt, suddenly remembering all too vividly the peach dream and how it had felt to dance with Jareth. He obviously knew – knew perfectly well – how teenage girls dream of dance and song and romance. "I mean… I'd really love to meet some more of the Fae, Jareth. And it would just be… oh, so exciting."

"Well." Jareth looked an odd mixture of thoughtful and reluctant. "I suppose I have been a little… reclusive for the past few centuries. Perhaps to host the ball wouldn't be the worst idea."

"You could leave the planning to your staff," wheedled Sarah. "I'm sure they would be very adept at handling it all. And just think how romantic it would be…" She stopped short. "You would invite me, wouldn't you? Or would it be a Fae-only event? I would understand if you're ashamed of me… I am only a mortal after all." She tried to speak calmly and quell the rising panic inside her. Of course Jareth wasn't ashamed of her. …Right?

"Oh, precious. You are utterly ridiculous." Jareth reached over the table to take her hand. "You would be the guest of honour. The Fae have been gossiping wildly about the mysterious girl who's bewitched the Goblin King… They would be fascinated by you."

"They have?" Sarah wasn't exactly sure how to feel about this. On the one hand, she had the pleasing knowledge that she was the centre of attention of a very large circle of people. On the other… who knew what they were saying about her?

"They have. They want to know who could have possibly stolen my heart, when I had locked it up for so long." He picked up her hand and kissed it, and she smiled and blushed in spite of herself. "Very well, my princess. Your wish is my command. I shall announce a royal midsummer ball in honour of my beautiful Qu… girlfriend. And invite everybody!"

Sarah pretended not to notice his 'slip'. "Thank you," she said coyly.

"You're very welcome." Jareth let go of her hand and picked up the plate of brownies. "Would you, er… care for a brownie?"

He looked sort of… shy?

"Yes, please," she said eagerly, wondering internally whether the brownies were as sloppy as they looked. A little gingerly, she picked one up – trying not to let it ooze down her fingers – and took a bite…

And looked up in astonishment.

"Jareth, these are amazing! You didn't… did you make these?"

Now he was looking proud: there was the Jareth she knew! "And what if I did?" he said haughtily. "I wanted to do something for you in return for all the times you've given me such nice food."

Sarah stared at him. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined Jareth making brownies. Had he really weighed out the flour and beaten the eggs? Impossible. And yet… she had never known him to lie.

I guess he must really like me, she concluded with a secretly satisfied smile.

When tea was over – and a most genteel meal it had been too – Marta and a shy little maidservant who introduced herself as "Annie", with a nervous bob, came to clear up the table. When they were gone Sarah asked after them, and discovered that they were indeed dwarves, as was the majority of the castle staff. Hoggle was in charge of the gardens outside the Labyrinth walls. Sarah hadn't known that dwarves could be pretty, like the shy little Annie who looked to be about fourteen years old, but kept quiet about this.

Jareth conjured a cosy, comfy sofa with a wave of his hand and they snuggled up close to the fire, whilst outside it began to grow dark. They talked for quite some time – of 'shoes and ships and sealing-wax, of cabbages and kings', and sometimes they didn't talk at all but sat in a comfortable silence.

Then Jareth sat up, with an excited wriggle that was decidedly un-king-like. "Time for gifts?" he said.

"Gifts?" faltered Sarah, suddenly remembering the little pile in the corner of her room. "Oh, I… I suppose…"

"Oh, come on, Sarah, I've been waiting all day to give mine to you!" he pleaded, sounding unexpectedly like Toby.

"Okay then," she said, with a bemused laugh. Jareth got up with a bound and left the room; she sat up, straightened her skirts, adjusted her bodice, and tucked her hair behind her ears so that she would hopefully look perfect when she was receiving whatever it was that Jareth had decided to bestow upon her… Oh lord what if it's an engagement ring. Trying to ignore that little voice, she snapped her fingers. "Sprog?"

Sprog materialised in the middle of the room with a quiet 'pop' and a not unpleasant smell of lemons. "Lady Sarah?"

"Can you go and get the pile of presents I left on my desk, please, Sprog?"

"Yis, my Lady." He bowed with exaggerated servility, evidently hugely pleased at being chosen for such an important task, and disappeared. A few moments later he was back with the card, box of chocolates, and little bag. The goblin vanished again just as the door opened and Jareth returned. He was clutching a tiny packet wrapped in a silky material and tied with golden string; he dropped it in her lap and retreated swiftly, in the same way that a cat might drop a mouse in front of its owner and wait for a reaction.

"Open mine first?" Sarah implored. Her presents would most certainly be less exciting than his, and she wanted to get the worst over and done with.

Jareth needed no second bidding. He began with the box of chocolates, and his eyes widened in anticipation. "Royal selection," he murmured with awe.

"It's not that special…" Sarah cringed as the self-deprecating phrase came out of her mouth. Jareth looked cross.

"Not special? You know I love chocolate. It's the only thing you mortals can claim is truly better than the food of the Fae. …What's in here?" He pulled the tiny toy owl out of the gift bag and looked at it uncertainly.

"Um…" Sarah tried not to laugh. He looked exactly like a cat again, presented with something it's never seen before. "I don't know why I bought it. It just reminded me of your owl form."

Jareth reverently set the little toy on the table, on top of the box of chocolate. It sat there smugly in the glow of the firelight.

"Just the card now," murmured Sarah. It seemed a pitiful offering overall. She fidgeted as he carefully opened the envelope – conjuring a letter-opener solely for the purpose – and slowly read the card, several times judging by the intent look on his face. She held her breath.

"Dearest heart," he murmured finally, and she was abruptly enveloped in a tight embrace that smelled of magic and Jareth and woodsmoke. "Thank you," he said thickly into her hair. "Thank you so much."

Sarah nuzzled into his chest, not wanting to let him see the tears starting in her eyes. She had never felt this loved.

He let go of her after a moment, and tipped her chin up so that she had to look at him. "Open mine now!" he said excitedly. She'd forgotten all about the mysterious packet. It had gone missing during Jareth's tempestuous hug. Eventually she located it on the floor, and she fumbled with the string, feeling the pressure of Jareth's eyes on her. The silky stuff fell open in her hands, and something that glittered dropped into her lap. She picked it up and stared, lost for words.

It was a necklace – a silver chain so fine that it was like a slender dew-covered cobweb as it dripped gracefully from her fingers. On it hung a heart-shaped emerald set into an intricate silver pattern that seemed oddly familiar, though Sarah couldn't place it at that moment in time – almost Celtic-looking with knots and spirals. The jewel was a dark forest-green, a colour so deep you could lose yourself in it, and the delicate silverwork framed it perfectly. Green fire flashed hypnotically in the heart of the emerald as it spun in mid-air.

"Oh," Sarah gasped. She had never seen anything so beautiful – except maybe Jareth himself. "Oh, it's so pretty."

"Do you like it?" A smile was tugging on the corner of Jareth's lips, though he tried to restrain it. "Really?"

"Like it?" she breathed. "I… It's beautiful." She tried to find the clasp with fingers that suddenly seemed too large and clumsy; she didn't want to break the chain.

"Allow me." Jareth took the necklace from her and stood up, gesturing for her to do the same. Turning round, she gathered up the heavy mass of her hair and held it out of the way for him while he fastened the pendant round her neck. It settled onto her chest, coolly reassuring. She could feel the pulse beating in Jareth's warm, slender fingers. He caressed her skin lightly and then as if he couldn't help himself, he leaned forward and kissed her neck – it felt so good she leaned back against him, melting into his arms. "Your skin is so white and smooth," he whispered. Gently, he pushed her away from him and spun her round so that he could appreciate the full effect of the necklace. "It matches your dress," he said smugly. "The silver looks gorgeous against your skin, and the green brings out your beautiful eyes." Sarah's 'white skin' was blushing furiously.

"Th-thank you," she stuttered. "Jareth, I – "

"I love you."

He blurted out the words as though he couldn't stop himself, and his perfect features became a mask of shock. He held himself very still, clearly expecting a severe backlash from Sarah. But she stood frozen, eyes wide, unable to say a word.

"I can't help it, Sarah. I do love you. I've loved you for years – centuries. And I know I should be patient with you and I am trying but all I want to do, every second of the day, is tell you how much you are loved. Your green eyes and the way they challenge me and mock me – your laugh, your smile – the way you look after the goblins – the way you carry your head high like a born queen – your warmth and your generousness and your charming stubbornness – I love you, Sarah Williams, and I always will."

Sarah could barely breathe. Emotions rushed over her in a flood, drowning her in sensations she'd never felt in her entire life. She felt as though she was about to step off the edge of a cliff. There is no going back from here. The King of the Goblins was looking at her with love and fear warring in his eyes, and she had to give him a response.

"I love you too!" she exclaimed breathlessly – and then she was in his arms, and everything in the world was how it should be.

*Cringes* Wow, those two... they're super gooey. Even more than the brownies.

Thank you thank you for all your lovely reviews! Every single one of them makes me grin like a mad grinning thing. And thanks for all your congrats on being in love xD I'm very happy at the moment even though not all my friends have been supportive, and it's so nice to hear all you guys being happy for me too! :D

So this latest development. Did you expect it? How long have you been waiting for it? DID YOU LIKE THE PRESENT?

Speaking of which - I'll put a few links in my profile to explain my concept of what the necklace looks like. Cliche' one million in this story, I know, but what's a good love story without a healthy dose of cliche'?

Love and glitter, my goblins!

P.S. PM ME FOR CHEESE BISCUIT RECIPE