Disclaimer: I own nothing I tell you, nothing!!
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews so far - keep it coming!
The two wandered arm in arm until Sarah thought her legs would fall off. Fortunately, this new Labyrinth was better equipped for the weary traveler. There were benches placed sporadically throughout, along with water fountains (more tactfully designed than the ones she remembered from high school).
"You know, I don't remember being this tired the first time around" she told him as they sat down.
"You weren't wearing heels the first time either" he pointed out.
"Stupid shoes. They're supposed to be sophisticated, but why anyone with that kind of money would purposely wear uncomfortable shoes is beyond me." She paused for a minute before continuing, "We're getting along much better this time too."
He stayed silent, as if waiting for her to say more.
"Why Jareth? Why all this?"
"Why indeed," he sighed, "I suppose I wanted to get your attention. I only assumed you hated me after our last encounter and I wanted a chance to redeem myself."
"But you waited seven years!"
"You needed time to grow up" he told her. They sat in silence for awhile, each lost in their own thoughts. Sarah considered her words carefully before looking Jareth in the eye and saying, "I didn't hate you, you know. I never did. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to smack you a few times, but hate never crossed my mind. " she smiled at him before adding, "I've really enjoyed being with you today."
Such a simple statement, but that small admission took them light-years beyond the roles of heroine and villain. 'Maybe' he thought 'we can start over'. But just as this flicker of hope lit up he heard footsteps coming around the corner, footsteps belonging to none other than Matt.
"Sarah! I've been looking all over for you! I've been lost for God-knows how long, so I figured if I could find you I might get out of here in time for dinner." he grinned sheepishly.
She shot a worried glance at Jareth, but saw that he had returned to the clothing he was wearing at the opening ceremony.
"Well, tell it to the man responsible. Matt, this is Mr. King, the creator. Jared, this is Matt" Sarah said, wishing he would just go away.
"Nice to meet you Mr. King. If I'm not mistaken, Sarah has an interview with you right about now."
"Oh, I completely forgot!" she yelled, checking her watch. They had been walking for over three hours. 'Why is it time flies when I'm with Jareth and lately when I'm with Matt I want to drive rusty nails in my eyes?' she wondered.
"Well, if you want, I'll take you two to lunch, you can talk there" Matt suggested.
Jareth was about to decline when Sarah jumped in. "Actually, Jared already made reservations for the two of us." When Matt looked a little crestfallen she quickly added, "It'll be easier with just the two of us, no distractions. We need the privacy and I wouldn't want you to sit there being ignored."
Jareth was once again surprised by her actions, but since they worked in his favor he said nothing. Matt, on the other hand, pulled Sarah aside and whispered, "Look, what's going on?"
"Nothing" she told him, pulling her arm out of his grasp.
"Don't give me that crap. You're already on a first name basis and he's taking you to a private lunch?"
"Stop with the jealous act already, you're behaving like a child. This is business. You knew my plans before we came out here."
"Yeah, but I didn't expect you two to become so cozy all of a sudden."
"Just drop it, already. I'm not going to argue over this."
"Fine. Just remember that I'm you're boyfriend. It's not fair to treat me like this."
She cocked her eyebrow at him before asking, "Oh really? And just what is your basis for comparison?" before turning her back to him and leaving with Jareth.
"So we have lunch reservations, hmm?" he asked once Matt was out of earshot. That know-it-all grin he was wearing was absolutely infuriating, but Sarah decided she might as well be honest.
"He's been annoying the hell out of me all day" she admitted.
Jareth merely smiled and, with a flick of the wrist, created a doorway to the outside. Sarah seemed relieved that Matt would finally be able to get out, since after all the exit was only a corner away from where she left him. Jareth didn't mention that the doorway disappeared right after they used it, or that he planned to keep Matt lost for the rest of the evening.
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews so far - keep it coming!
The two wandered arm in arm until Sarah thought her legs would fall off. Fortunately, this new Labyrinth was better equipped for the weary traveler. There were benches placed sporadically throughout, along with water fountains (more tactfully designed than the ones she remembered from high school).
"You know, I don't remember being this tired the first time around" she told him as they sat down.
"You weren't wearing heels the first time either" he pointed out.
"Stupid shoes. They're supposed to be sophisticated, but why anyone with that kind of money would purposely wear uncomfortable shoes is beyond me." She paused for a minute before continuing, "We're getting along much better this time too."
He stayed silent, as if waiting for her to say more.
"Why Jareth? Why all this?"
"Why indeed," he sighed, "I suppose I wanted to get your attention. I only assumed you hated me after our last encounter and I wanted a chance to redeem myself."
"But you waited seven years!"
"You needed time to grow up" he told her. They sat in silence for awhile, each lost in their own thoughts. Sarah considered her words carefully before looking Jareth in the eye and saying, "I didn't hate you, you know. I never did. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to smack you a few times, but hate never crossed my mind. " she smiled at him before adding, "I've really enjoyed being with you today."
Such a simple statement, but that small admission took them light-years beyond the roles of heroine and villain. 'Maybe' he thought 'we can start over'. But just as this flicker of hope lit up he heard footsteps coming around the corner, footsteps belonging to none other than Matt.
"Sarah! I've been looking all over for you! I've been lost for God-knows how long, so I figured if I could find you I might get out of here in time for dinner." he grinned sheepishly.
She shot a worried glance at Jareth, but saw that he had returned to the clothing he was wearing at the opening ceremony.
"Well, tell it to the man responsible. Matt, this is Mr. King, the creator. Jared, this is Matt" Sarah said, wishing he would just go away.
"Nice to meet you Mr. King. If I'm not mistaken, Sarah has an interview with you right about now."
"Oh, I completely forgot!" she yelled, checking her watch. They had been walking for over three hours. 'Why is it time flies when I'm with Jareth and lately when I'm with Matt I want to drive rusty nails in my eyes?' she wondered.
"Well, if you want, I'll take you two to lunch, you can talk there" Matt suggested.
Jareth was about to decline when Sarah jumped in. "Actually, Jared already made reservations for the two of us." When Matt looked a little crestfallen she quickly added, "It'll be easier with just the two of us, no distractions. We need the privacy and I wouldn't want you to sit there being ignored."
Jareth was once again surprised by her actions, but since they worked in his favor he said nothing. Matt, on the other hand, pulled Sarah aside and whispered, "Look, what's going on?"
"Nothing" she told him, pulling her arm out of his grasp.
"Don't give me that crap. You're already on a first name basis and he's taking you to a private lunch?"
"Stop with the jealous act already, you're behaving like a child. This is business. You knew my plans before we came out here."
"Yeah, but I didn't expect you two to become so cozy all of a sudden."
"Just drop it, already. I'm not going to argue over this."
"Fine. Just remember that I'm you're boyfriend. It's not fair to treat me like this."
She cocked her eyebrow at him before asking, "Oh really? And just what is your basis for comparison?" before turning her back to him and leaving with Jareth.
"So we have lunch reservations, hmm?" he asked once Matt was out of earshot. That know-it-all grin he was wearing was absolutely infuriating, but Sarah decided she might as well be honest.
"He's been annoying the hell out of me all day" she admitted.
Jareth merely smiled and, with a flick of the wrist, created a doorway to the outside. Sarah seemed relieved that Matt would finally be able to get out, since after all the exit was only a corner away from where she left him. Jareth didn't mention that the doorway disappeared right after they used it, or that he planned to keep Matt lost for the rest of the evening.