Boromir stood there, shifting nervously from foot to foot, his hand behind his back guiltily, bits of candy coated shell were stuck in his beard and he had a chocolate smudge streaked across his cheek.

"Icouldn't help myself," he tried to explain himself. Norma and Puck were leaning on each other, in an effort to keep from falling to the ground in laughter. Tears were flowing freely down their faces as the chorused laughter at the situation.

A-M still couldn't say anything, she was in utter shock, a man who had willingly fought orcs in a battle to, what would have been the death, who had extreme self discipline as a warrior and a leader, was unable to control himself around chocolate? She just put her hand out and took his arm.

"Puck is there a restroom somewhere? This shouldn't take too long.

"Sure," he gasped out, "just behind that shelf over there."

"Thanks," A-M led Boromir back into the bathroom, it was well lit with a mirrored wall and a sink, she took the hand towel and ran it under the tap.

"Here, sit down." She gestured to a stool nearby. He obeyed silently, as a chastised child. A-M smiled.

"I'm sorry." He lowered his head, his hair obscuring his face again.

"What for?" She lifted his chin and dabbed the cloth on his cheek, removing the chocolate stain.

"I lost control."

"So? It wasn't such a bad thing," she looked at her watch quickly, "We only lost twenty minutes," she picked out the shell bits from his beard and finger combed his hair. "There, much better, just wash your hands we are set to go." She smiled broadly at him.

Boromir stood up, brushed the creases out of his tunic and walked over to the basin, he put his hands under the running water, amazed at the technology, but not really dwelling on it. He was scrutinizing his image in the mirror. A tightly drawn mouth nestled in his tawny bear and dark blue eyes in a rugged face, he wondered what was in his visage that had so repulsed his father and why this girl was able to ignore it and treat him kindly, perhaps he would ask her. He looked at her in the mirror, she was running her hands through her hair, getting her fingers tangled in the wild curls, giving up, she just tucked it behind her ears, giving her an impish youthful look. Her large eyes were clear and directed at his back, but unaware of his gaze, her mind was elsewhere. Something that wasn't unusual for her, he had learned.

"Ready to go big guy?" She snapped out of her reverie and breaking his. He nodded his head and gave a small smile, gesturing for her to lead the way. They joined up with Puck and Norma who had been conspiring in hushed tones over the whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Norma turned beat read when Boromir tapped her on the shoulder.

They left the shoppe with Puck waving at Sweetie, "I will be back later, on sexond orI mean, second thoughts there are a few things that I do need."

A-M burst out laughing; she leaned on Boromir as she gasped for air.

"Sexond? Freudian slip much?" She finally managed to quip at the couple ahead of her, she was pretty sure that Norma was red as a Santa suit. Boromir just shook his head. Finally, the group was at the base of the Castle at the center of the Labyrinth. Puck waved his hand and the door opened, climbing the narrow stairs A-M was huffing as they reached the top.

"I think I used up my exercise quota for the next week," A-M looked around the throne room. A stray chicken strutted around the pit.

"Ya' know, it might have been interesting to see J try to pull of his usual dance number with the big fellow here," Puck mused.

"Always making jokes at my expense, I see." Jareth walked in slowly behind the group, making A-M jump ten feet in the air. He spared a laugh for having tormented her further.

"Of course, its how I show I care, dear Goblin King." Puck bowed dramatically with a flourish of his hand, Norma curtsied in kind, making hers so deep that she nearly tipped over.

"Well, I am done right?" A-M asked.

"Indeed," Jareth eyed his wall clock, "and not a minute to spare," he picked a popcorn crumb from his vest, "now what to do with our dear Man of Gondor?"

"Errmm."

"Don't trouble that brain of yours dear muse. I have already figured this out, there is a reason, after all, why I am king."

"Because they saved money on the crown with your three-tiered hair." Puck snorted.

Jareth glared at the trickster, choosing to ignore the remark he continued.

"Man of Gondor, with her wish, Anne-Marie forfeited your life in the realm of Middle Earth, however, you still have a role to play there, and you must finish it."