Well, at least Jareth was right on one account. The exercise was needed after all. After several gracious moments of walking, already she could feel her composure return. As promised, Jareth led Sarah into a high walled garden. The garden itself was ingeniously designed. Walls consisting of evergreen shrubbery were cut so as to allow maximum privacy while still letting in the cool ocean breeze. Everywhere she looked were exotic tropical flowers who's fragrance mingled with the saltiness from the sea air. Here and there were marble statuary set in alcoves cut into the living wall. The effect was quite overwhelming, actually. Unfortunately for Jareth, the effect only served to remind Sarah even more of the Labyrinth. Then again, perhaps that was his intent all along.

Further on down the path, there was a wooden bridge that spanned a small pond filled with bright orange koi fish. Jareth lagged behind , while Sarah walked to the edge of the water to get a closer look. After admiring the view for a few moments, Sarah decided to break the almost companionable silence that had grown between them during their walk. She turned to find Jareth leaning against the bridge railing, watching her with his cool, calculating eyes.

"I believe you were going to make a deal," she prompted.

"I believe you're right. I am going to offer you a deal, but first, however, there is something else I wish to talk to you about."

Sarah started to protest, but her silenced her with a gesture from his long fingered hand.

"For once in your life, Sarah, listen to me for a moment before you start telling me no. It's rather annoying to try and talk to someone when they've already got it in their head that they're not going to believe a word you say. Now, if you're ready to hear me out, I have an offer to make before you hear the deal. It's similar to an offer I made to you once, long ago. An offer, you promptly denied. But you're older now. Wiser. Baptized by fire to the harsh realities of life."

He straightened up and took a few steps towards her. There was a lithe grace to his movements that bespoke of a man in tuned with the strength of his body. In all her experiences, there was no other man she had ever known that held himself like Jareth. That cocky, arrogant refinement that must come with nobility.

"Okay, I'm listening," she shrugged. "You want to make an offer, make an offer."

Jareth had moved close enough now that he stood only a few feet away. He lowered his voice to it was barely above a whisper, yet Sarah had no trouble hearing. The timbre of his voice held the same mesmerizing power that had almost seduced her so many years ago.

"Sarah, there's something you must understand." He paused, considering his words carefully. "I cannot guarantee that I will be able to completely restore the Labyrinth. Even if I ciphered all of my strength and power into it, I have no way of knowing whether or not the effort would even be worthwhile."

Again, Sarah started to speak, but her silenced her. "I don't want to deceive you about this either, my dear. I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of devoting my entire wealth of effort into this...Restoration. So, even if you are able to satisfy my demands enough to strike a bargain, you will only be able to bargain for as much power as I can spare. Do I make myself clear on this?"

She couldn't keep her hands from flying to her hips. Her voice began to rise with her temper. "Then why the hell did you bring me out here in the first place?"

Jareth's voice did not rise like Sarah's. If anything, it became more icy - more faint. "Forget the Labyrinth, Sarah." He made an awkward movement with his nimble fingers, pulling a crystal from thin air. He twirled it now, making it dance in his hands. Despite her anger, she couldn't keep her eyes away. His voice was low and seductive, compelling her to listen.

"You can't do it on your own, my dear. Trust me, I know. You made yourself forget once, but that was only temporary. If you let me, I can make this whole travesty nothing but another forgotten dream. One that will never, ever return to haunt you."

"What will happen to my..."

"Don't worry about them, Sarah. Your friends are already gone. If you let me, all you'll ever remember is a pleasant, relaxing vacation. Go back to your work. Go back to your life. It's not your fault that any of this happened. Why should you have to live with the guilt for something you can't control. You're so very far away from home, my dear. Let me help you."

Sarah tried to turn away, but couldn't. Instead, she closed her eyes, trying to drown out the sound of her voice. Jareth was right. It was all so simple. What the heck was she doing here, anyway? No matter what Silas promised, there was still no guarantee she even had a job to return to. Why should she care what happened to anyone but herself? Wasn't that the way the world really worked?

Sarah opened her mouth to speak. To agree to his offer. To take her chances, cut her losses, and high tail it out of Dodge.

...an offer I once made you long ago... an offer you promptly denied...

The echo of Jareth's words resounded in her mind. Suddenly, a memory surfaced in her mind. Jareth was right - he had offered her something like this once before when he kidnapped Toby. He had promised her that if she would forget about Toby, he would give her her dreams. That he would make her forget all about Toby. Back then, it was never even a consideration. She could never turn her back on her brother.

Sarah swallowed. Just like she couldn't turn her back on her friends.

"Life's never easy, Jareth. Why don't you help me by taking your little offer and just shoving it where the sun don't shine."

Jareth's lips twitched. Fighting valiantly to keep from smiling, he gave her a scowl instead. He shrugged. "So you don't like the idea, I take it. Good enough, I suppose, although I do think you're making a mistake."

Sarah scowled back, saying nothing.

"The deal it is then," he murmured. "And here it is. I have a little favor to ask of you. If you are able to successfully complete it, I will do everything I can to restore the Underground from destruction. I will even go so far as to check into the fate of your beloved Hoggle and company. If I am able, I will return them to a more... non-destroyed state of being. Are we clear?"

She sighed. "Clear as mud. So if I do this little... favor of yours, you're going to fix the Labyrinth, right?"

He nodded solemnly. "Pretty much so, yes."

Whether Jareth realized it or not, a slow, sly grin was spreading across his lips. His eyes were taking on a wickedly mirthful appearance. Suddenly, she didn't want to know w hat this "favor" entailed.

Sarah groaned inwardly. "Okay, so far it would seem. You mind telling me what it is you want me to do."

"I intend marriage," Jareth said plainly.

When Sarah began to choke spasmodically, he walloped her on the back a few times for good measure. "Not with you, you silly twit. Quite sputtering like that."

Sarah straightened up, eyeing him suspiciously.

Jareth continued, but his voice had grown several degrees colder. "I plan to marry the Princess Angelique."

It shouldn't have been any big surprise. Sarah should have guessed the situation the moment the big M word was out of his mouth. At any rate, hearing Jareth say that was like getting hit in the belly with a baseball bat. It wasn't jealousy. It couldn't be jealousy. And yet, she hated it nonetheless.

When Sarah spoke, it was through numb lips. "I fail to see where I come to play in this. What, were you that hard up for a maid of honor?"

He smirked. "You're no more a maid than I am a vicar. If you'll cease your sarcasm for one moment, I can let you know what this is all about."

Sarah's face was flushed, despite her effort to control her raging emotions. She wanted to hit him, to scream at him, but all of that was pointless. It took every scrap of control she held to hold herself together. How ridiculous, she wondered, the utter folly of allowing myself to feel so much unwanted emotional energy on someone that I hate to much. Yet no matter how hard she tried to reason her anger away, it was only growing stronger by the moment. She forced herself to listen.

"I have need of you in Rome. Last night, as I'm sure you're well aware, I received a visit from His Serene Highness. This was for the express purpose of asking for the hand of his daughter. While the chit herself is quite agreeable to the situation , naturally of course, her father is not."

"I'm sure that's something you can handle," she said in a normal, if a little strained, voice. "Just magic her father and all should be well, right?"

Jareth frowned. "Unfortunately, your world isn't quiet like mine. While I can rule with pretty well free reign here, there are some rules I must abide by. Not magicking His Serene Highness is apparently one of them."

"Well sorry Jareth, I left all my magic dust at home. Doesn't look like I can help you much there."

He chose to overlook her sarcasm for the moment. "Ah, but that's what you don't understand, my dear. You can help me immensely. Do you still speak Italian?"

"How did you know I...?"

"The same way I knew everything else about your life, silly twit. Now answer the question."

Sarah opened her mouth to speak, then stopped. Her shock at hearing of his impending nuptials was already wearing off. Now she just felt angry and more than slightly paranoid. Now that you mention it, Jareth did seem to know a lot about her life. He knew she was a professor, that she adored her research. My god, he even knew what languages she spoke. What else did that mean her knew?

"I'm a little rusty in it, but..."

"Good. I need you to travel to Rome for a few weeks."

Sarah's mouth opened then closed. She swallowed, trying to digest this last statement. "Wait a minute. First of all, I want to know how it is you seem to know everything about my life. Then, I want to know why on earth you need me to go to Rome of all places."

Jareth sighed. Speaking patiently as if to a child, he made his explanation. "His Serene Highness rejected my request for marriage on the basis that I did not have anyone to vouch for my good name. While the rule of gold his held in the highest regard, HSH won't let just any eccentric billionaire marry his daughter."

"Imagine that - a daddy who cares. I still don't see where I can do anything."

"If you will keep quiet, I'll tell you. HSH has a younger brother - one he holds in the highest regard. Because there is little to no chance that this brother will inherit the throne, he had taken up residence in Rome. While I can not win her hand under my own power, a favorable word from the brother might be enough influence to press my suit. I need you to go with me to Rome, posing as my business associate. You need not worry entering Roman society - I will take care of everything. Once you've made his acquaintance, you will seduce the man and convince him to speak in my favor."

Sarah's jaw flopped open, making her look oddly like one of the pond fish. She clamped her mouth shut too fast, biting her tongue in the process.

"Well, Jareth," she said slowly, shaking her head. "This little plan of yours is so disturbing, I can't even think of where to start complaining. Oh yes. I remember. How about, this - What the hell are you thinking?? I can't seduce anybody. I can't even remember the last time I went out to dinner with someone. And here you are, suggesting that I not only seduce a member of the Grimaldi family, but I convince him to speak to the King of Monaco for you? All so you can marry some girl? Have you lost your damn mind? No wait. It's not you that's gone crazy, it's me. I know I'm just not hearing your right. Surely I must have misunderstood. Surely you're not telling me that in order to save the Labyrinth, I have to see you happily hitched to some blonde bimbo."

Jareth was upon her so fast, she never even saw him move. He grabbed her by the wrist, wrenching her painfully against him. They stood so close together, she could feel the heat of his body against hers. She could smell his scent mingle with her own. She registered this fact mechanically. This wasn't about seduction. There was only anger in his dark eyes.

"I don't give a damn about the Labyrinth, you silly girl. Damn you Sarah, are you still nothing more than a child?" He shook her hard enough that her head snapped back. "I care nothing for your guilt. Nothing for your misguided sense of responsibility. You've rejected my benevolence already. If you want me to restore the Labyrinth, you will do what I ask."

He held her by one arm, leaving the other free. Sarah reached back and slapped Jareth as hard as she could. When he released her, she backed away. They glared at each other, both out of breath. Sarah cradled her arm, Jareth his sore cheek.

Finally, Sarah spoke. "What makes you think I can even do what you want, anyway? I'm not the kind of woman for this sort of thing - you should know that." You seem to know everything else there is to know about me... she wanted to say it, but held back.

"Because you're perfect for it, Sarah." His voice was low, but no longer cool. "Francoise Grimaldi is a historian, like yourself. Because he has no obligation to marry and produce an heir, he has always been extremely selective with his women. He favors intelligent, cultured, brunettes. So far, you fit all categories. It will be easy enough for you to gain his rapport. All I need you to do, Sarah, is to win his rapport for me."

Sarah looked away, staring into the murky depths of the pool. She heard his slow, cautious approach. "Once upon a time, Sarah, you could be quite persuasive. I'm not asking for miracles, my dear. Only that you use the charm that comes naturally to you whether you realize you posses it or not."

She inhaled deeply, releasing her breath in a shaky sigh. "How can I believe that you'll keep up your end of the bargain? How can I trust you?"

With unexpected gentleness, Jareth laid a hand on her shoulder. He turned her around to face him so that he could look squarely into her eyes. Sarah's skin burned where his fingers touched her, spreading a strange warmth through her arms and into her body.

"I promise you, Sarah. I give you my word of honor. Help me in this matter, and I shall do everything in my power to restore your precious Labyrinth. Now do we have a deal?"

And that is how Sarah Williams came to help the Goblin King find a wife....

A/N:

Don't worry, it's not over. Hopefully, it's just starting to get really good....

...Please let me know what you guys think. I've got most of this worked out in my mind, so I want to know what you guys are thinking of it so far...