AN: Merry Christmas to all my readers! This final chapter is my little gift to you. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! If you enjoyed the story, please let me know. If enough people are interested, I may write a little epilogue. xoxo

The little sleigh flew along the snowy countryside. A bright full moon provided plenty of light to drive by, though the sky was still dark enough for Sarah and Jareth to admire the stars. The moonlight shone on the snow and the silver sleigh, making everything sparkle. All the world seemed to be quiet, white, and full of the solemn kind of joy that only seems to appear at Christmastime.

For a while Sarah and Jareth were silent, simply enjoying each other's company. The evening was cold, but with their warm clothes and the sleigh's white robes neither of the minded. They traded the reins back and forth for fun, but the horses seemed to know where they were going.

"Any idea where we're headed?" Sarah eventually asked.

"Not a clue," Jareth answered. "But it appears we've been on the right track so far. If the key was the first clue and the door the second, it seems we just need to find one more."

"So it seems," Sarah answered.

Jareth cleared his throat. "I'm sure you are anxious to return home to spend Christmas with your family."

"And you probably can't wait to get back to see how much chaos the goblins wrought after you loaded them up with sugary Christmas treats," Sarah teased in return.

"Don't remind me," Jareth groaned. "Not when it's so peaceful here."

Sarah smiled. "You know, it seems like your friend really did know just what you needed for Christmas after all."

"An elegant evening? A charming companion? Adult conversation?" Jareth guessed, leaning back in the sleigh with his eyes half closed.

"Maybe all of the above," Sarah answered. She bit her lower lip, then decided to go ahead and say what was really on her mind. "What I still don't understand is how he knew I needed this too."

Jareth sat up and looked at Sarah, wondering what exactly she meant. Did she mean she needed an adventure? A puzzle? Or could she mean she needed...time with him?

"I suppose it's only fair for you to wonder." He sighed. "Luca was aware that you and I had…unfinished business."

"What you do mean?" Sarah asked, confused.

"After you left the Labyrinth, there were things I wanted to say. To try to make things right between us," Jareth answered tentatively. "But I couldn't."

"Oh," Sarah answered, not really understanding. "I wondered why, if I kept coming back to the Labyrinth in my dreams…why I never talked to you." She hesitated for just a moment. "When I first got to the ballroom tonight, I thought it was one of my dreams. I see you in them, sometimes. We dance, but we never speak. I didn't understand why."

Jareth was silent. He also remembered fragments of these dreams, but he hadn't realized their special nature, that Sarah had really been there with him. How could she have been, when he was barred from her presence?

Sarah decided to power through. "I thought since you never spoke that maybe they weren't real, or maybe that you didn't want to talk to me. That maybe you were angry with me."

"That couldn't be further from the truth," Jareth said, frustrated. "I couldn't talk to you. It was not that I didn't want to. I couldn't. You said the words."

Sarah was shocked. "You mean…the words I had to say to save Toby?"

Now it was Jareth's turn to be confused. "Toby? You saved Toby when you made your leap of faith in the Escher Room. You put his well-being ahead of your own. That is what it means to love a child. Toby was instantly returned to his room at that moment."

"But everything you said after that," Sarah protested, "that was all part of it! That was a trick to try to distract me, to make me run out of time."

Jareth stared at her for a moment. "No, Sarah," he finally said, in a low voice. "What I said then, those things were true. It was my only chance to explain. To try to, anyway."

Sarah's mind was racing. "But when I said the words…"

"I had no power over you any longer," Jareth finished. "You were returned to your home, and I could no longer appear before you or bring you anywhere. I couldn't even get close enough to speak to you."

"Like some sort of magical restraining order?" Sarah asked, flummoxed.

Jareth gave a wry smile. "I suppose it's appropriate for you to see it that way given your legal career." He thought for a moment. "Luca discovered that he could get around it by bringing us both here without my knowledge. I didn't use my power to bring you here or even know it would happen, and you were the one who spoke to me first, enabling me to reply."

"I had no idea," Sarah said softly. "What about the dreams, then?"

"I told you before that Champions who forge strong bonds with the Labyrinth do sometimes return in dreams," Jareth answered. "My best guess is that your bond to my kingdom is so strong that it even pulled me into your dreams."

Sarah hardly had any time to take in that new idea before the horses suddenly slowed their pace. Jareth and Sarah both looked up to see why they were stopping.

Ahead was a little clearing in the snowy woods. The trees around it were hung top to bottom with white fairy lights. The horses pulled up to the clearing and stopped, then looked expectantly back at their passengers.

"I guess this is where we get out," Sarah said, amused.

"Agreed," Jareth said. He stepped out first and offered Sarah a hand down. As soon as her feet touched the ground, the horses took off again. The bells seemed to jingle a farewell as they watched the little sleigh disappear into the distance.

"Well, that's a pretty clear message," Jareth observed. "We must be close to the third clue. Either that or Luca has just decided it would be amusing to leave us stranded in a snowy wood."

"Let's go check it out," Sarah said. She tentatively held out her hand. Jareth gave her an inquiring look but stretched out his own to hold it.

The pair walked hand-in-hand into the clearing. Somehow, the ground here was free of snow. Tall tree branches stretched high above them, covered all over with the tiny white lights. The lights shone on the snow all around the clearing, creating a magical glow that brought out auburn highlights in Sarah's hair and silvery ones in Jareth's.

There was a table set for two with a white tablecloth and a large silver covered platter in the center of the clearing. Jareth lifted the cover to reveal two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, a tray of assorted Christmas cookies, and a white envelope tied shut with a red velvet ribbon.

Jareth laughed out loud. "Of course, we missed dessert back at the ballroom."

"I couldn't have eaten another bite then anyway," Sarah said. "That dinner was amazing."

"But now?" Jareth asked, temptingly holding out a cookie.

"Why not?" Sarah answered, smiling. She took the cookie with a playful curtsey. "Mmm. Gingerbread. It might even be better than Karen's. But don't tell her I said that."

"Of course not," Jareth agreed. They both sat down and shared the cookies. Jareth raised his mug of hot chocolate, and Sarah did the same.

"To Christmas," he said.

"To Christmas," she replied. "And to Luca."

Jareth mock scowled, but he toasted anyway. "And to Luca."

"I mean it," Sarah said. "I may not know him, but without him this wouldn't have happened. I might never have talked to you again."

Jareth reached across the table and took Sarah's hand again. "I have wondered if I would get to talk to you again nearly every day for thirteen years. This wasn't exactly how I imagined it might happen, but I do understand now that Luca's gift is one of the best I've ever received."

Despite the cold, Sarah felt a warm flush rush over her body. Her heart suddenly felt too big for her chest and her throat was tight.

"You'll have to thank him for me too," she whispered. She gave Jareth's hand a gentle squeeze. He couldn't take his eyes off her.

"It must be nearly midnight," he said.

"Yes," Sarah answered. She bit her lower lip. "We're ignoring the envelope."

"Yes," Jareth said. He didn't move.

"I'm pretty sure he put the bright red bow on it to make sure we didn't ignore the envelope," Sarah said pointedly.

"But when we open it, this will be over," Jareth replied.

"Maybe the dream will be, but maybe this doesn't have to be," Sarah said excitedly. "Now that I know why we couldn't see each other before, can't I just change it?"

"Is that what you want?" Jareth said, rising to his feet. The whisper of hope in his heart suddenly burst into flame.

"Yes," Sarah answered, standing with him. "But how do I do it? How will I know this wasn't just a dream?"

Jareth reached underneath his cloak and pulled the diamond pin out of his cravat. He closed his fingers around it, then opened his hand again. A swirl of glitter blew away to reveal the diamond now set in a silver necklace.

"I have transformed this with my own magic," Jareth said. "It should remain even after you awake." He removed his gloves and carefully fastened the necklace around Sarah's neck. His warm fingers gently traced the nape of her neck for the slightest of moments. Sarah felt weak in the knees.

"Thank you," she whispered. "It's beautiful."

"A beautiful gift for a beautiful woman," Jareth replied. "If you really want to see me again after you awake, touch the diamond and wish for it."

He stepped reluctantly away from Sarah. "I think it's time now," Jareth said.

Sarah nodded. Jareth untied the bow and opened the envelope. He read the words on the white card inside aloud:

Please forgive a meddling elf

Since each of you did find yourself

Alone upon this holiday

It seemed a dream was just the thing

To heal old hurts and perhaps bring

Something new on Christmas Day.

Before you leave now, please remember

An old tradition of December

Raise your eyes above the glow

And say "Noel" under mistletoe.

Sarah and Jareth both looked up. One of the light-covered tree branches stretched directly above them. Hanging from it was a huge bunch of soft green mistletoe covered in pearly white berries and tied with an extravagant red velvet bow.

"Looks like he caught us," Jareth said with a little grin.

"That definitely wasn't there before," Sarah said, but she was smiling.

Jareth took a step towards Sarah. "Shall we humor him?"

"Who am I to argue with tradition?" Sarah replied. She leaned a little closer.

Jareth caught her waist and pulled her to him. Gently he tilted her face upward and kissed her. He only meant to kiss her softly, but Sarah surprised him by wrapping her arms around him and kissing him back.

When they finally pulled away they were both breathless. Jareth's face was shining with joy.

Sarah laughed in wonder and delight. "Merry Christmas, Jareth."

"Merry Christmas indeed," Jareth said, caressing her cheek affectionately.

She placed her hand over his and held it. "My family will probably be home any minute."

"I know," he answered. "Don't forget about the diamond."

"Of course not," Sarah answered.

"One, two, three," Jareth counted.

On the count of three, both of them said "Noel" together.

As the dream dissolved around her, Sarah could still feel the warmth of a caress on her face. She smiled and stirred, stretching as she opened her eyes. She glanced around, suddenly realizing that she was in the big armchair by the fireplace in her Christmas pajamas and fuzzy slippers. Her hand went to her cheek - it was warm from the firelight. The blue spruce tree was there in the corner, covered with all her family's favorite ornaments.

"I must have fallen asleep out here," Sarah thought. She felt confused. There had been a dream, such a lovely, wonderful dream…

"Sis?" called a voice, followed by another voice calling "Sarah?"

"Yes?" Sarah answered. "Yes, I'm here."

"Hey Sis!" Toby exclaimed, running into the room from the kitchen door. "Merry Christmas! The clock just struck midnight!"

"Merry Christmas," Sarah said, standing up to hug her brother. "How was the ballet?"

"It was actually really cool," Toby said. "There were all these fairies and magical things…it reminded me of the stories you used to tell me when I was a kid. And Rachel did a great job."

"I bet she did," Sarah said, smiling. "Where are Mom and Dad?"

"Here we are," Karen answered, sailing into the living room. "Merry Christmas, Sarah!" Sarah hugged her. Her perfume was comforting and familiar.

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart," Robert chimed in, coming over to join the hug. "Sorry again that we left you all alone. Was everything okay here?"

"It was just fine," Sarah said. "Apparently I fell asleep by the fire, so the quiet evening was probably just what I needed."

Just what I needed…that sounded so familiar. "What am I forgetting?" Sarah thought to herself.

"I'm so glad you're here, Sarah," Karen was saying. "It will be so nice to have you here for breakfast in the morning. And then the aunts and uncles and cousins will be here for a late lunch. It's one of my favorite things about Christmas, everyone all here to celebrate together." As Karen beamed, her diamond earrings sparkled in the firelight.

Sarah's eyes suddenly opened wide. Her hand flew to her neck. At first she didn't feel the chain but then…

Yes. It was there. As soon as she touched it the whole wonderful dream came rushing back to her. Her smile grew wide as her fingers gently pulled the diamond necklace out from under her hair.

"Sarah!" Karen exclaimed. "What a beautiful necklace! When did you get that?"

"Well, just recently actually. It was a Christmas present," Sarah answered.

"Wow," Toby said. "From who?"

"Yes, from who?" Robert repeated. "That's some Christmas present."

"I've actually been meaning to tell you all about him for a while," Sarah tried to say casually. "Karen, do you think we might be able to make room for one more at the Christmas lunch tomorrow?"

Karen, Robert, and Toby all exchanged surprised looks. "Well, of course!" Karen exclaimed.

"Okay, great," Sarah said, beaming. "Then you can meet him then." She hugged them all closer.

"Merry Christmas, everyone!"