Chapter 9

Let me get to know you

Sarah was staring at a map, trying to figure out the easiest way to get to an apartment she had found in the morning paper, which was for rent. The ad appeared promising, and when she had called to inquire, she was told it was still available.

"Ok, where is it? 101...102...103...ah, here it is. 104 Brixton Boulevard." Sarah parked the car in front of the building and looked at it through the windshield.

"Seems nice enough", she quietly told herself. Excited she walked into the leasing office, and when she walked out, she had the keys in her hand.

The leasing agent showed Sarah the apartment, which was a one bedroom, one bath studio on the top floor. It was perfect. Sarah loved it. It had large windows in the living room and an open floorplan into the kitchen. The bedroom surprisingly was a good size with large windows and a master bath attached to it with a small closet.

The entire place was well lit and bright. Instead of carpet it had hardwood flooring all throughout, and the kitchen did come with a refrigerator freezer combo and a gas stove.

"How much did you say it was?" Sarah looked through her papers.

"$350 a month including water and gas, but not electricity since it has electric heating and air conditioning", the leasing agent replied.

Sarah took her time walking around and checking it out carefully. $350 was a lot of money for her, but she also knew it was a steal for the area. It was so close to the city library where she worked, she could walk there in ten minutes, which would save a lot of money on gas for the car. She glanced the place over one more time before she said: "It's a deal. I take it."

Jareth had been stuck in the Labyrinth with duties for over two weeks now, and he was getting extremely impatient and annoyed. The High Goblin Council and he were supposed to come to an agreement over fair wages for all goblin employees in the Labyrinth Kingdom over five months ago, and they still had not accomplished anything.

To Jareth it was another headache he did not need at this time. He hadn't seen Sarah in over two weeks and could only send short messages via crystal balls to let her know what was happening.

She would send them back on a regular basis with updates of her own. She had gotten a place of her own now and had sent him the new address. Jareth smiled.

"Perfect", he whispered.

He missed her tremendously and had trouble concentrating on anything, much less some goblin gibberish about fair wages.

"Where do they come up with this?" he grumbled to himself. "That's what you get when you're trying to be nice instead of cruel and threatening. They take advantage of you. I should re-install some torture."

He sat steaming in his office chair trying to read all of the demands they had brought him on a long list. "The Goblin Fairness Protection Act" it read at the top, and below it were a slew of demands listed starting with: "fair wages for all goblin employees in the kingdom."

"What the hell is equal protection and antidiscrimination against goblin ears and noses?" Jareth put down the list and put his hand over his face as he tapped his goblin stick against the side of his chair.

"They all have lost their minds. I got to get this under control again. This is going too far".

He heaved a huge sigh and looked over at Sarah's portrait that was hanging above his study. Jareth remembered when he painted it almost three years ago. He had come back from visiting Sarah's house the night of her 18th birthday.

Jareth smiled dreamingly at the portrait.

"I love you my precious, and I can't wait for us to be together, forever, for all times, down here in the Labyrinth Kingdom."

With that, he went back to his desk to attempt reading the demand list all over again, and go through it point by point.

Hoggle walked in to bring Jareth his lunch.

"Thank you, Hoggle," Jareth said absently. "Stay", he demanded when Hoggle turned to leave.

"Yes master?" Hoggle turned and faced Jareth, "is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Hoggle", Jareth got up from behind his desk and walked over to where Hoggle stood. He crouched down to his eyelevel and pierced into his eyes.

"I know you are in good standing with the members of the High Goblin Council. I want you to take over the proceedings for demands and come to an agreement. When you have one let me know. I need a break from all this. I haven't seen Sarah in two weeks and I hope she still remembers me."

He heaved another sigh.

"You can handle business for a while can't you Hoggle? You've always been my right hand, and you have never let me down."

Jareth tried to sound persuasive and looked expectantly at Hoggle.

"I won't let you down this time either" Hoggle promised, but his voice was a bit shaky as he knew this was going to be tough. "I shall do my best master", he added.

"Perfect!" Jareth jumped up. "Keep me informed about any developments", he said in a now cheerful voice.

"What about your lunch?" Hoggle asked.

"You eat it." Jareth waved him off as he turned into an owl and flew out the window. Hoggle shrugged his shoulders, walked over to the desk, and sat down to read the demands list.

Sarah had moved into her new studio and invited Marjorie over for some drinks to celebrate her newfound independence. She was so glad to be out of that house and away from Elizabeth.

The two had been butting heads more and more as of late and an explosive confrontation was bound to happen any day. So, Sarah decided to move out as quickly as possible to avoid punching Elizabeth in the face and creating a big stink.

"Nice crib, girlfriend", Marjorie declared looking around the studio.

"I'm happy for you. It's about time you're out of the house with that bitch. Personally, I would have tossed her ass out on the street months ago and stayed myself." Marjorie plopped herself down on the sofa after refilling her glass of wine.

"You know I can't do that", Sarah replied. "She has the right to live there until Toby turns eighteen according to my dad's will."

Sarah rolled her eyes in disgust. "Then we can toss her ass out on the street and the house will be mine and Toby's."

"Hear, hear, I drink to that!" Marjorie proclaimed and raised her glass. Sarah laughed raising her glass as well.

"What happened to Jareth?" Marjorie inquired inquisitively.

"I haven't seen him since the night we all went to have dinner at Suave two weeks ago. You didn't have a fight did you? You guys have been dating heavy for the past five month. I wouldn't want you two to break up or something. He's too perfect for you. After all, he's your 'Dreamy Eyes Guy' you've been searching for, for over five years".

Marjorie started to show a concerned look on her face.

"Oh, no, no." Sarah laughed. "We're good. He's just...out of town on a business trip. It's been taking a bit longer than expected, but no, we are definitely good."

Sarah started to reminisce about the past five month. She and Jareth had spent nearly every day together. Sometimes for just a few hours, and other times for all day and half the night. They had taken their dating seriously and were not rushing anything.

During the hot summer month, Jareth had taken Sarah for picnics at the lakeshore several times, and she loved it. He had brought her some delicatessen from the Underground World, as he called his realm.

"No try it, it's actually pretty good if you don't look at it", Jareth had promised her that time he had brought a bowl of goblin fried sausage stew. Sarah had graciously declined with a horrified face much to his entertainment. On the other hand, Hoggle's homemade breakfast rolls and cinnamon cakes were delicious.

They had so much fun on that day. Jareth liked to laugh and had a great sense of humor. Sarah had shown Jareth a little secluded swimming hole she had found years ago on her own.

"I've been swimming here for years. It's my little secret swimming hole. Not even Marjorie knows about it. I thought I would save it for that special someone I might meet down the road someday." She had said it with a seductive smile and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"I'm glad I'm that someone special", Jareth had whispered, embracing her and kissing her neck, while his hands where exploring her body pressing his against hers.

"Oh you're special alright", she had laughed and pushed him into the pool. "You need to cool off".

Things could have gotten out of hand that day for sure. Jareth looked slightly frustrated, but he was a good sport; and she did make up for it later with some passionate kisses of her own.

"Hey, where are you?" Marjorie waved her hand across Sarah's face and jolted her back to reality. She blushed and fumbled around with her wine glass.

"Oh, just thinking about Jareth. How are things with you and Mark?" she added quickly to change the subject.

"Perrrrrrfect! Marjorie exclaimed. "We're moving in together. He asked me to yesterday. I'll be moving in with him next Saturday."

"Ah, that is so great", Sarah squealed. "I didn't know it was getting that serious."

"Well, you know, I'm not getting any younger, but he'll probably get a lot richer, so I need to make my move." Marjorie replied in a jokingly manner with a smirk.

Sarah pushed her on the shoulder and laughed.

"Liar, I know you love him. I'm really happy for you guys. Can I be your maid of honor, please, please, please?" Sarah looked like a little girl waiting on Santa Claus with her hands clasped as if she was praying. Marjorie busted out laughing.

"Let me see if I can fit you into the schedule." She laughed so hard she almost choked on her wine. Sarah threw a cracker at her head. "Doofus" she giggled.

Marjorie excused herself to use the restroom to clean herself up, as she had dribbled some wine on her shirt from all the laughing.

"I'm such a mess" she mumbled as she wiped the wine off her blouse and rushed into the bathroom.

"Yes you are." Sarah yelled after her.

Sarah started to reminisce again while Marjorie was in the bathroom. Jareth had planned to take Sarah to a movie and dinner on a beautiful August evening.

"What movie are you planning to take me to?"

"Absolute Beginners", he smiled as he waved the tickets in his hand.

"Oh my god. Seriously? I have been wanting to watch this movie since it came out five years ago. It has David Bowie in it and I have not been able to find a tape for it. You're so sweet", Sarah had jumped with excitement.

"What will it cost me?" she had asked him.

"Oh I'm sure we can come to an agreement on the payment", he had replied with his famous smirk.

"How about a down payment?" she had replied as she had put her arms around his neck and kissed him. Jareth accepted the payment.

The movie was great, but Sarah had missed almost half of it since Jareth had a few other things on his mind.

"What about the movie?" Sarah complained when Jareth kept distracting her with his kissing.

"I'll find you a tape", he replied never stopping his advances. Sarah giggled. It was not like she had put up much of a fight.

"So this is what the back row is all about", she had thought to herself, "Marjorie was right."

Afterwards, Jareth had taken her to a fancy steakhouse downtown on the main strip. Where he had gotten the money from for all this, she never asked. Maybe he owned a goblin bank too.

"I guess if you're a magical goblin king, money is a minor problem", she had come to the conclusion.

Once again, he had been a total gentleman. On the way home they had stopped at her favorite spot in the park and sat down on the little stone wall.

"I have been watching you from here for years", he had said with a smile.

"I know" Sarah had replied with a whisper and a kiss.

Every time they went out on a date in public, Jareth would assume his human form. He would be himself only if they were alone in her room. Over the past few months she had gotten more used to it, but it still threw her for a loop, and left her with a slight guilty feeling as if she had done something wrong.

Sarah once again was jolted out of her reminiscing when Marjorie returned from the bathroom.

"Did you get it out?" Sarah asked as she opened another bottle of wine in the kitchen.

"Pretty much", Marjorie replied holding out her glass waiting on that refill. Sarah really was glad and thankful she had Marjorie as her soul sister. She didn't know what she would have done without her over the past five years.

"You're birthday is coming up in less than a month. It's a big one. We need to make plans girlie. Twenty one calls for a huge party." Marjorie rummaged around the fridge for some cheese to go with her wine.

"Bottom shelf, left side", Sarah pointed towards the fridge. She hadn't even given it much thought. Of course Marjorie was on top of it, she always was. "Surprise me", Sarah finally managed to open the bottle.

"I always do", Marjorie laughed refilling her glass.

At least this year there was not going to be a blind date hook up. Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. And then, out of the blue, Marjorie dropped the bomb.

"So, you slept with him yet?" Sarah spilled some wine from the bottle and nearly knocked her glass off the counter.

"What hell kind of question is that to ask? A bit personal isn't it?" Sarah wiped the wine off the counter with some paper towels.

"Well, have you?" Marjorie asked again completely unfazed. Sarah avoided eye contact and kept wiping the already clean counter.

"Careful, or you'll wipe all the veneer off", Marjorie said dryly.

"What are you waiting on, hun?" Marjorie sounded genuinely concerned now.

"We're just taking it easy, don't want to rush it, you know." Sarah replied quietly. Marjorie picked up a piece of cheese from the plate and stared at it intensively.

"Want my advice? Give the boy what he wants. He loves you that is so obvious. And you love him. That's even more obvious. He's not going to do a slam bam thank you ma'am on you. Jareth' is not that kind of guy, I can tell." Marjorie decided the piece of cheese was suitable to eat and popped it in her mouth.

"I know he's not", Sarah said as if her mind was far away. "But how do I know when the time is right?" Sarah looked lost.

"There is no golden rule", Marjorie replied, "You just know."

"How long did you and Mark wait?" Sarah asked, looking frustrated.

"About two hours", Marjorie said popping another piece of cheese in her mouth.

Marjorie had stayed the night and crashed on the couch. She was in no shape to drive home that night. After breakfast and curing her hangover with several cups of black coffee, Marjorie left to do inventory at the boutique she was now the manager of.

Sarah began to clean up her apartment. As she was wiping her coffee table she began to mindlessly play with her locket Jareth had given her a few months ago. She put down her rag, sat on the couch, and pulled the locket out from under her shirt.

She had worn it religiously every day since he had left it on her desk, as a present, to always remember him while he was gone. Sarah opened it up and looked at his pictures and the engraving. "I am yours forever ". She looked at it for a long time, deep in thoughts, before she closed it up, tucked it back under her shirt, and went into the kitchen to wash last night's dishes.

The morning had gone by pretty quick, and before she knew it, the clock had struck three in the afternoon. She had gotten so involved in cleaning her studio, she forgot to eat lunch.

"I guess I'll run over to the little Italian place and get some lasagna for takeout", she decided when the doorbell rang. She wiped her hands on her jeans and opened the door.

Jareth stood there in his human form wearing a pair of tight jeans, a short sleeved dress shirt, and a pair of Converse sneakers.

"Hello Sarah, did you miss me?" he asked in his usual charming way and held out a beautiful bouquet of roses. Sarah's mouth fell open as she stood there stunned for a few moments.

"Jareth", she exclaimed and threw her arms around him.

"Yes I did", she said, right before she kissed him passionately. Jareth had just enough time to move the flowers off to the side or they would have been crushed. Not letting go of him she somehow managed to pull him inside and close the door with her foot.

"Well, it's great to know I've been missed. I missed you too precious", Jareth replied after she finally let go of him.

"Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers", Sarah took the bouquet he was holding in front of her face.

"Let me find a vase for them." Sarah found a vase and put them in.

Jareth walked up behind her, putting his arms around her waist, as she filled it with water from the sink.

"You have no idea how much I missed you, babe", he whispered softly. Sarah put the vase down and turned around.

"I am so glad you're back. I was miserable without you. How long can you stay this time? Please stay with me." She looked at him with anxious eyes.

"I arranged it to where I have several days. I'm not going anywhere any time soon", he softly whispered.

Jareth had offered to go get the Italian takeout food and bring it back to the apartment for a nice intimate little lunch, or almost dinner, as it was closing in on four o'clock. Sarah used that time to get cleaned up and change her clothes. She had just stepped out of the shower when Jareth returned. She quickly put on her robe when she heard the door.

"Just put it in the kitchen I'll be right out", she called.

"Ok", Jareth replied.

Several minutes had gone by without Sarah coming out of the bedroom. Finally after about ten minutes Jareth went in to check. She sat in front of her little make-up desk staring into empty space. When she saw Jareth in the mirror she looked up and turned around.

"Are you ok, babe?" Jareth asked concerned. She got up and walked over to him. As she stood in front of him she looked silently into his eyes.

"Yes, I am", she finally said and gently kissed him while her hands held his face. Jareth reciprocated and held her tight. The front of her robe opened up and Jareth moved his arms and hands underneath to feel her soft skin and warm body.

"Sarah", he said and then got lost in her kisses again. While she was kissing him, Sarah slowly started to open his shirt until his bare chest was exposed. Jareth hands moved to her shoulder and her robe slipped off.

Jareth stopped and looked at her naked body, so close in front of him.

"You are stunning, absolutely beautiful. I don't think I can remain a gentleman tonight", he said quietly.

Sarah continued to kiss him on his chest and removed his shirt gently down his back. Jareth let it fall to the ground.

"That's fine. I don't want you to be", she whispered back, looking into his piercing eyes. Once again they mesmerized her.

Jareth's hands caressed her body as Sarah put her arms around his neck and pressed her body tightly against his.

"Make love to me Jareth", she demanded softly. "I'm ready". Jareth looked at her face and gently stroked her hair.

"I love you Sarah", he breathed as he picked her up and carried her to the bed.

"Great, now the food is cold", Sarah walked into the kitchen, closing the belt on her robe.

"I guess we can heat it up in the microwave", she called out. Jareth walked out the bedroom in his underwear and stood in the doorway leaning against the door frame. He looked quietly at Sarah with soft eyes and a faint smile on his lips. It had started to get dark outside.

"What time is it?" Sarah wondered and looked at the clock on the microwave. "Oh gosh, it's after seven o'clock". She blushed.

They had laid in bed for over two hours, but what wonderful two hours it had been. Jareth had been such a gentle sweet lover, and he hadn't rushed anything, knowing it was her very first time.

The microwave beeped and Sarah removed the food and put it on plates.

"I guess let's eat", she said holding the plates up. Jareth walked over to the table and sat down with a smirk never taking his eyes off her.

"Let's go to the Blue Rock Café after dinner", he suggested. "I'm sure our friends will be there." Sarah put her head in her hand and sighed.

"Ok, sounds good to me, but it's all backwards now you know".

"What do you mean?" Jareth looked puzzled.

"Well, we made love first, then had dinner, and now we're going dancing. Love supposed to come at the end of the date."

Jareth laughed. "Ok, we'll just make more love tonight after we get home. There, problem solved."

Sarah blushed and bit her lips, but her eyes and smile betrayed her.

The light tapping of a windblown tree branch against the window woke Jareth up earlier than anticipated. He rolled onto his back and looked over at Sarah who was rolled up into a motionless ball.

He thought about last night and a smile covered his face. What a great night it had been, especially the lovemaking after they had come home from the Blue Rock Cafe. He sighed happily before he got out of bed and went to get some coffee. Sarah was still sleeping when he returned, so he walked over to the window to enjoy the view.

The sun started to rise through the trees and the birds were chirping joyfully. Jareth took a sip of his coffee. "Something I definitely could get used to", he thought to himself. "I need to bring some down to the Underground".

He glanced over at Sarah. She was laying on her back now with her eyes closed. Her body was only barely covered with the sheets and her slightly tanned skin glowed softly under the illumination of a morning sunbeam. He felt happy. His heart was so full of joy and love for Sarah, it was about to burst.

"Gosh, I'm a lucky man", he thought as he took another sip of coffee.

Sarah started to stir and wake up.

"I got you some coffee, babe", Jareth said softly.

Sarah threw him a glance, smiled, and grabbed the cup on the nightstand next to her bed, and took a sip. "Hm", she moaned and closed her eyes while lifting up her head.

Jareth lips curled into a smirk. "She even looks sexy while drinking her morning coffee."

Sarah looked over at Jareth and rested her eyes on him. She was still a bit thrown off by his human form. Jareth had laughed when she had told him her reservations. She was sure she would get used to it in time, having him shift back and forth between his fae and human forms.

She still felt like she was dating two different men, who were actually the same man, at the same time, but during different times. What a mindboggling concept.

His uncovered body was perfectly silhouetted against the window and left just enough for some imagination. Sarah set down her coffee cup and stepped out of bed.

She walked over to Jareth under his intense gaze and stopped right in front of him, her breasts just barely touching his chest. Jareth put his arm around her waist and drew her even closer. He was still holding his coffee cup.

"Now what are you up to?" Jareth asked in a quiet soft voice.

"Oh, you'll see", Sarah whispered as she kissed him. Jareth decided this was a good time to put down his coffee cup.

He passionately retuned her kiss as her arms wrapped around his back. "Damn I'm a lucky guy" Jareth sighed under his breath kissing her shoulder.

"Oh you've seen nothing yet", she whispered seductively into his ear.

"I can't wait to make love to that other guy, the goblin king in the Labyrinth." She gently pulled away from his embrace.

"I'm going to take a shower now", she declared with a sultry voice.

While giving him a mischievous smile, she walked into the bathroom. Jareth watched her silently and motionless as she slowly walked off to take her shower.

"Well, I guess that's that", he said to himself, took one more sip of his coffee, and followed Sarah into the bathroom.