AN: Thank you to all who read and reviewed the last chapter! I really appreciate it! I hope to have this story finished very soon, so stay tuned! Happy holidays! xoxo

Jareth and Sarah reached the lines of dancers just before they began. Sarah hardly had time to think before the entire ballroom seemed to be spinning and stomping in time to the lively music, changing partners and trading places in line. "Two-three, then four!" everyone yelled as they jumped quickly in place, and then spun down the lines.

Compared to the elegant waltz they had shared earlier in the night, this experience couldn't have been more different. Sarah's head was whirling as fast as the dancers as they twirled and jumped in time to the music. Jareth was smiling, laughing even, and he was true to his word that if she just followed his lead he wouldn't let her fall too out of line. Even as she struggled to keep up with the steps, Sarah found herself charmed by this grinning Goblin King.

As they traded partners and then came back together, Jareth and Sarah traveled the length of the ballroom, the melody seeming to go ever faster. The song ended just as the two of them reached the clock, leaving the dancers breathless and laughing. As the dancers left the floor, many seeking refreshment for dry throats, Sarah and Jareth watched in surprise as a panel in the marble floor right in front of them slowly opened. The two exchanged glances and then stepped closer to peer inside. A staircase led down into a dark passageway. Sarah and Jareth looked around the ballroom to see if anyone else had noticed this strange occurrence, but no one else was paying any attention to them at all.

"The answer lies behind the clock," Sarah recited. "Do we go down, hoping that eventually it goes up?"

"It seems so," Jareth answered. He gingerly tested the first step, then satisfied with its sturdiness, offered Sarah a hand down. "The way forward is sometimes the way back."

Sarah stifled a giggle as she followed him into the dark passageway. "Is that a popular phrase in the Underground?"

"Why? Where else did you hear it?" Jareth asked suspiciously.

"It was something the Wiseman said to me. In the Labyrinth," Sarah answered. Jareth raised his eyebrows but remained silent.

They continued down the passageway, which turned abruptly to the left, then to the right. However, both were relieved to note that the path was lined with golden candelabras glowing softly with the light from long white taper candles.

"It's even decorated here," Sarah noted admiringly. Sure enough, there were crystal snowflakes, glittery gold stars, and green ornaments hanging from the ceiling. They sparkled in the candlelight, giving the passageway a certain magic.

"This must be the correct way then," Jareth said with satisfaction. "I told you that dance was necessary. And, I dare say," he added with a grin, "that you rather enjoyed it."

Sarah scrunched up her nose at him. "So what if I did?" she responded playfully. "I had just never done any kind of dancing like that before."

"It's an old tradition here," Jareth answered. "But before tonight it had been a long time since I had gotten to enjoy it." His eyes looked dreamy, nostalgic. "Luca made an offhand comment about the old days. I suppose he misses them too."

"Why did it change?" Sarah asked.

"Everything does, eventually," Jareth answered. "Time goes on. Magic fades." His voice was sad.

"I don't know. There seems to be quite a bit of magic here tonight," Sarah said gently.

Jareth stopped. "Indeed," he replied, gazing into her eyes. The candlelight danced in the reflection, giving everything a gauzy glow. Sarah held her breath, meeting his gaze.

Abruptly Jareth started moving forward down the passageway again. "This, however, is not reality. Reality is that most of my kind have moved on from the Underground, from this world, but some of us remain behind because there is still work to do."

"Like being king of the goblins?" Sarah asked.

"It's my duty," Jareth answered. He suddenly snorted. "Can you imagine how much havoc they would wreak without someone to watch over them? They wouldn't even mean to. But they would."

Sarah laughed. "I never really thought of it like that," she said.

"They're the only creatures in the Underground that actually asked for a ruler," Jareth said. "That's one thing about them, they know their limits. So, the job eventually fell to me."

"Surely you enjoy a bit of havoc now and then though?" Sarah teased.

"Why do you think I was chosen for the job?" Jareth replied, with a devilish grin.

The pair had come to the end of the passageway. A spiral staircase beckoned them upward.

"I guess we did go down just to go back up," Sarah sighed. She bent down and unbuckled her green velvet shoes. "A staircase like that is no place for heels."

"A wise precaution," Jareth said. "But surely you don't think I'd let you fall?" He offered her his hand again as they began the ascent.

"I guess you wouldn't," Sarah said. "Before tonight, I couldn't have been sure."

Jareth turned to her in mock horror. "I'm glad you've revised your opinion of me then," he said drolly.

"I sort of had already," Sarah admitted. "I mean, before tonight." She looked a little guilty. "I wondered how to tell you this. I sometimes visit the Underground, but just in dreams."

"I suspected so," Jareth said. "Champions who form a strong bond with the Labyrinth sometimes do."

"Oh," Sarah said, surprised. "Wow. Well, every once in a while I see my friends. And I knew you didn't punish them for helping me. They weren't afraid of you. Well, except maybe Hoggle."

"Of course I wouldn't punish them for helping a Champion who had won them to her cause," Jareth said, rolling his eyes. "And Hoggle is afraid of nearly everything. Not a bad gardener though."

"Aha!" Sarah cried. "I knew you knew his name!"

"Don't tell him," Jareth warned. He gave her a threatening glower, but then they both laughed.

"Anyway, once I realized that you were pretty much just doing your job, weird as it seemed, I thought maybe you weren't the villain I imagined," Sarah said tentatively. It was easier to bring it up now, walking behind him, where he couldn't see her face. "I'm sorry I misjudged you."

They continued up the stairs in silence for a moment. Jareth's face softened, but Sarah couldn't see him.

"You didn't have to give him the ring, you know," Jareth said finally.

"What?" Sarah asked, confused.

"The Wiseman. You didn't have to give him the ring. The garnet. But it was a clever move."

"How so?"

"It was important to you, once. Giving it to the Labyrinth made your tie stronger."

"It was my mother's," Sarah said. "She left us when I was just a kid. I always wore it." Her voice was wistful. "But I think once I was in the Labyrinth I was ready to let her go." Sarah shook her head. "I don't know why I'm telling you this."

They reached the top of the staircase. Jareth turned to her. "And I don't know why I told you the things I did." He smiled at her, the gentlest smile Sarah had seen him wear yet. "Perhaps we're just getting to know one another."

A loud chime suddenly interrupted them. Sarah looked up in wonder and realized that they were inside the huge clock, the gears spinning and around them.

"Oh wow," she breathed.

The clock was chiming the hour. They stood side by side and listened as it chimed eleven times.

"Eleven o'clock," Jareth said. "On Christmas Eve."

"We'd better get a move on," Sarah said. She drew the key out of her dress pocket, looking around.

They saw only one door. It was a big heavy door of intricately carved wood set into a stone archway across from the face of the clock.

"That must be it," Sarah said. She hurried over to it and slipped the key into the large brass keyhole. "A perfect fit!" she exclaimed. However, when she tried to turn the key, it wouldn't budge.

"What's wrong?" Jareth asked. He was eager to see where the door led.

"I don't get it. The key fits, but it's stuck. It won't turn," Sarah said, frustrated. "Here, you try."

Jareth gave it his best, but he also was unable to turn the key. "I don't want to break it," he worried. "There's no other door. This must be it."

"Wait, what is it that the rhyme says?" Sarah asked, suddenly remembering. She flipped over the parchment.

To solve your Christmas mystery
This key of gold is first of three.
Which hidden door does it unlock?
The answer lies behind the clock.
You have to count two three then four
To find the one you're looking for.
But remember when you do,
I only work when turned by two.

"Turned by two," she repeated. She placed her right hand on the key. "Jareth, give me your hand," she said. She suddenly felt a bit shy.

Jareth extended his hand slowly. She grabbed it with her left hand and then pulled him closer, covering her right hand with his. To get the angle right, he was basically holding her from behind. Jareth was very still. She could feel the soft velvet of his jacket and the warmth of his breath on the back of her neck.

Sarah felt a little breathless at their proximity, but she forced her voice to stay steady. "One, two, three," she said. On three they turned together, and the key gave way. Sarah opened the door.

Behind the door was a snow-covered forest. Moonlight sparkled on the soft white drifts.

"This is impossible," Sarah said, stepping through the doorway in delight.

"This is a dream," Jareth reminded her. "Nothing is impossible."

They both walked out into the landscape. Tiny snowflakes kissed the noses, but Sarah's bare feet stung in the cold.

"Looks like I'm not exactly dressed for the occasion," she said, rubbing her bare arms.

Just then, the jingling of bells caught their ears. Both looked up in surprise as a silver cutter sleigh pulled by two beautiful white horses appeared in the distance. The horses trotted smoothly over the snow before coming to a stop right in front of them.

"Well, hello there," Jareth said, speaking softly to the horses. He approached them carefully. They snorted and shook their proud heads but let him gently stroke their noses.

"They're beautiful," Sarah breathed, totally enchanted. Still, she shivered as she walked closer to the sleigh.

Jareth noticed a bundle on the seat and leaned over to grab it. "What's this?" He reached inside and pulled out a thick wool coat of fine white wool. A matching scarf, beret, and socks followed, along with tall white boots. He handed them grinning to Sarah, who wasted no time in putting them on. For himself, Jareth removed a long white cloak of feathers, downy and shining in the starlight. He fastened it around his neck, overcome yet again with nostalgia.

"Luca thought of everything," he said, turning to Sarah. He smiled in delight to see her dressed so warmly and beautifully.

She beamed back at him. "Shall we go for a ride?"