Disclaimer: I own nothing. Jareth, Sarah, Toby, the goblins and anyone that I forgot belong to Jim Henson, David Bowie, and everyone else that worked to make the movie magical. Not that I would say no to owning Jareth if someone wanted to give him to me. I've got ideas…
A/N: Thank you….Thank you…Thank you to everyone who took the time to review. I really appreciate it and it helps keep me writing. For those that favorited and follow this story I am humbled an amazed honestly that someone would like it that much. And thank you for everyone who has read and continues to read this idea of mine that wouldn't let me alone until I got it on paper, or hard drive. Finally thank you to Jetredgirl without her fics Seven years and Of Love, Valentines, and 13 Crystal Roses those were the inspiration for this story. If you haven't read them, or any of her work please do she was amazing. I am on track still trying to get the ending down but almost done with chapter 11 so I will be able to keep up with the weekly updates. Thank you again for coming on this journey with me.
PB
With the knowledge that Jareth couldn't just pop into her place made Sarah feel secure. It led to another problem, she had to find a place that was private enough for him to poof into. Walking up to the building, she walked around looking for some place suitable. The back of the building faced another brick one across the street. The alley was empty and there were no windows on this side of the building. Well looks as good a place as any I guess.
"Alright Jareth, Can you come here please?" She called, feeling slightly foolish.
A few minutes later she felt a change in the air that always signaled his arrival. She was relieved that there was an unexpected lack of glitter when he appeared.
"Hello Precious. What a delightful surprise." Jareth bowed over her hand, picked it up and ghosted a kiss on the back of it.
"Hi, Jareth. This still seems too bizarre." Sarah shook her head.
"I agree. I would much rather be able to appear to you in your dwelling. It would be much more convenient…and private." He voice deepened on the last two words.
"No, Actually I am glad that you can't just poof into my loft whenever you feel like it." Sarah stepped back. "Dealing with the whole boyfriend from another world that can poof in and out is what is bizarre. She countered.
Jareth chuckled. "So I am now considered your boyfriend. Not that it is a term I would choose or will use. But at this point I will as they say take what I can get. "He smiled down at her. "So why have you summoned me, not that I am complaining."
"Well there are a few things we need to talk about. I'm not quite as distracted now, and I want to make sure we are in agreement. And well we did agree to try dating again to see if we can make it as a couple. So in this world boyfriend would be the appropriate term." She was careful to only look at his face, but those piercing blue eyes were making it harder for her brain to stay on track.
"I have nothing pressing right now. I assume that since you called me this would be an appropriate time for you? Shall we go up to your flat?" He looked down at her with a raised eyebrow.
"No. I don't think talking in my loft is the best idea. I need to be able to think, and meeting in a public place will be a help. Not that your ego needs any stroking, but I find it hard to concentrate when I'm alone with you." Sarah retorted.
"Alright Precious, what public place would you suggest we have this private discussion at?" Another chuckle at this, he had been grinning since she admitted that he wrecked her concentration.
"We can talk inside. The bar just opened so it is pretty slow, but there are enough witnesses, ones that I care about my reputation with, to keep things from getting too friendly." She smiled back.
"Whatever you want Sarah." He offered his arm to her and she took it and walked her around to the front of the building.
They entered the bar area and she led him to a quiet corner table. One of her servers came over and she ordered an iced tea and Jareth asked for a pint. He raised an eyebrow at her order.
"No wine?" he asked.
"Nope. I want a clear head when dealing with you." Sarah gave an unapologetic glare. "Something I forgot last night."
Their drinks arrived and they sipped in companionable silence for a few minutes. After gathering her thoughts she decided to plunge right in.
"Ok so I did what you wanted and rescinded my earlier you-know-what." Sarah started.
"It's acceptable to say the word wish Sarah. The word itself won't cause anything to happen." He chuckled. "But yes I know that you have released me from your wish induced obstruction."
"I'm not going to ask how you know, because the answer will probably start and argument, and I don't feel like yelling at you right now." Sarah took another sip of her iced tea. "Anyway, as I was saying I held up my end of the deal, but I wanted to have some clarification on the rest of it."
"I was wondering when this would come up. I take it you will want to put some limitations on me? We will discuss it, but if I am making concessions, I will expect some from you as well." He smiled widely showing his teeth.
"Oh now hold on a minute what kind of concessions." Sarah was immediately on guard. But she should have expected this. She almost forgot with whom she was speaking.
"Oh nothing much, honestly you probably won't even consider then concessions." He said airily. Sarah didn't buy it for a minute. She continued to watch him with raised eyebrows. "Let's start with what you would like to modify with our original agreement. You do recall our original agreement correct?" He could not stop the dig from the night before. It was out before he had realized his mistake.
"What do you mean if I remember? Listen Goblin King…" Her voice started to rise. She wasn't sure what was going on, but he had done something.
"Keep your voice down Precious. You were the one who wanted to keep these negotiations private were you not?" He shushed her. "I only was referring to the fact that you seemed distracted when I left last night. I only wondered if your mind was on our talk, or on other things." He left this with a smile. Sure that he had covered his mistake well.
"Oh no, You know very well why I was distracted last night, and no I am not going to go into why I was distracted last night here." She hissed. "And that's not it. It's been a while, but I know your looks Jareth. You did something. My guess is you were spying on me last night and know I got smashed here at the bar. And that is exactly the "modifications" I need to make. How did you spy on me here anyway? I thought there was a magic block." She gave him a hard stare.
Jareth sighed. He would have to be more careful, but it had been so long since he was able to interact with her. He forgot how quick her mind worked. He would have to be more careful.
"Yes Sarah. I just wanted to see if you had rescinded the wish as we agreed. The easiest way to do that would be to see if I could see you in a crystal, since I have not been able to before now. I saw you looking delightfully disheveled drinking here at the bar. I was concerned about you, and wanted to make sure that you would be safe. When it was obvious that you would be safe drinking downstairs from your own domicile, among your friends and employees I stopped, and have not looked on you since. That cannot be seen as spying can it?" He hoped to placate her, but it was Sarah so he had doubts.
"Maybe, but Jareth this is still not going to work if you can just look in whenever you feel like it. That is an invasion of privacy. I am not your subject so you have no right to know my every move." She was still upset and was not about to be calmed with a pat on the head like a dog.
"Sarah it is only out of concern that I look for you in my crystals. After not being able to see you for so long, it makes me so happy to be able to look in and see your beautiful face." He was practically purring.
"That is beside the point. And we will get back to this, but you did not answer my question. How can you see me here?" She gave him her don't mess with me look.
"Yes, Sarah it is true that magic is not effective here at Sanctuary, however, I was not using magic here I was using magic in my throne room. So where I cannot "poof" in here, and I still dislike that term, I can see you when you are here if I am somewhere else. I would not be able to use my crystals while I am in here." He smiled at the explanation.
"You fae and your damn loopholes." Sarah growled. "Ok well that just means that these medications are more than needed. I don't want you "looking in on me" without permission, unless there is a reason to suspect I am in some kind of distress. Missing a meeting, or if someone tells you I'm hurt or missing, not because you want to see what I am doing. I want to be able to relax at home and work and not worry about your eyes on me all the time."
Jareth gave her a hard stare, weighing his options. He could refuse, but that would just anger her. So if he had to give up the ability to look in on her at will he would need something significant in exchange. After a moments consideration he smiled showing his teeth.
"I can understand your concern Precious, and far be it from me to make you feel uncomfortable. I would agree to that if you agree to something for me. If we are going to be courting, we need time set aside to be together. We need that time to get to know each other again. That is what the agreement was yes?" He smirked at this.
"Wait just a minute. How much time? How often? I want specifics." Sarah congratulated herself on not falling into another negotiations trap with him again.
"Not more than any other courting couple would." Jareth countered.
"Jareth I know dating, I know seeing someone, but I don't know what you have in mind as courting. Again I want it to be specific, not misunderstandings." She continued to stare at him.
Jareth wanted to cheer. This was making things more difficult for him, but his Sarah was learning quickly about dealing with his kind. Her mind always was fae-like and here it was coming though and quickly.
"I want time with you at least once a week. I believe when most humans begin a relationship a once a week date is deemed appropriate. I only want the same consideration for our relationship. And before you say anything, yes I said at least. I will not set a definite number as things come up there may be functions that may require meeting more than once a week. Also Precious if you would like to see me more often I would no like to limit your access to me." He grinned.
"Ok" Sarah agreed. I can live with that. So once a week we will have date night I guess." Sarah felt that she was still agreeing to quickly. She could not see what she was missing.
"The only other problem with our arrangement is not being able to have magic in your domicile. You would not be able to call me there, or send messages to me from there. And while my crystals may work to see you there, I would not be able to use them for communication. I have been thinking about it and I have come up with a solution." He slid a business card over to her.
"What's this?" Sarah asked suspiciously, not touching the card.
"It's a business card. It is my aboveground business card to be specific." Jareth said dryly and slowly as if talking to a child.
"I get that Jareth how does it help us?" She still did not pick up the card.
"Well Sarah dear. Even though I am not a fan of the mobile phone in this case it will be most helpful. I have a phone that I have imbued with enough magic to receive and make calls across the veil. Don't ask me how it was not easy. As long as I am not using it here it will work even if your call originates from here or I am make a call to you while you are here. Since the only magic is attached to this phone it should work similarly to my crystal." He looked rather pleased with himself. "I would of course expect you to reciprocate and give me your telephone number.
Damn Sarah thought I was hoping he would forget that part. But then she caught herself. I told him I would give this a chance. If I was going to date a guy we would exchange digits so this is only fair and expected. And it does make it seem more like a normal relationship. She took a napkin from the bar and wrote her cell number on it and passed it to him.
"Now the only order of business left as I see it is to set up our first real date." He smile but it seemed more genuine. "Now I understand that you like to be here on busy nights, which will include the weekend. So what evening will suit you for our date night."
She felt good that he was being considerate of her business and feelings. But she knew that his responsibilities both above and below blew hers out of the water. She needed to be accommodating too. If she really wanted to give this whatever this was a chance.
"Thursday, Friday and Saturday I try to be available, but it is not necessary. I've got good people working here, and they know what they are doing. I know you are kept busy here and there, I do remember all the obligations you have from when we were together." She tried not to sound snide.
"Yes, well I have been taking a step back here in the above. It has been difficult spending time here, and not being with you." He answered honestly. "And while it is true I have some obligations in both realms that demand my presence it is not as taxing on my time as one might expect. I intend to make you and our renewed courting a priority. So, saying that is there an evening that is better for you to spend with me?" He smiled across the table at her.
"Not really how about we go out for dinner on Wednesday? Pick me up about seven and we will see where things go after that?" Sarah felt a little better about things now.
"Sounds perfect Sarah dear," Jareth purred. "Now if you will excuse me I do have to run. There are some things that I need to do." She stood as did he. Jareth walked around the table, and held her hand. "Until Wednesday night Precious." He said and bent down to give her a chaste kiss.
"Bye Jareth." Sarah said as he turned and left the bar.