Arnica gasped, as in being caught in a scandal. Jareth looked at her, and Sarah could tell he was annoyed.

"Arnica was just leaving"

Sarah stepped away from the door and Arnica fled.

Once she had gone Jareth sat on his couch. Sarah lingered near the door, unsure whether to leave him or to stay. She knew he had known she was on the other side of the door. After a long silence, Sarah turned to leave. Instantly Jareth was beside her, his hand on her shoulder.

"Sarah, please stay"

She turned back to him. His hand moved to her face and he stroked it gently before moving his head to hers and kissing her, so sweetly and gently.

"I love you Sarah, I don't want you to leave"

Sarah kissed him back, her emotions poured into it. Jareth felt all the doubt and insecurity drain away and he himself began to feel more comfortable.

The following morning Jareth assured her that he would be staying at the Palace for the winter. The threat of the ogres had abated for the moment and the city was safe, so Jareth could take the time to spend with Sarah, and deal with threats like Arnica without Sarah having to come into contact with them. Several of Jareth's former lovers had expressed similar jealousy over his future bride and he had dealt with them in much the same way. Sarah had never been happier. She and Jareth had their own little world within the castle, and for a while it was all she needed. But she was starting to feel isolated. She missed having a small circle of friends to talk to you, just to get away for a while. She knew that having Jareth with her all the time was only going to lead to an argument from being so close for so long.

A couple of nights later Jareth caught up with her as she wandered around the lake and with him he brought news of their upcoming wedding. The dress that had been in his family for centuries would be ready for her to try on the following day, and any alterations done within the week. She was confused as to the swiftness of the arrangements until he revealed that the wedding would be in a fortnight's time, with every dignitary from all the Hidden Realms attending, as well as her friends from the Goblin City. Sarah's head whirled from the information bombarding her…it wasn't how she pictured to be planning her wedding day, she had always thought it would take months and months of planning, caterers to be called and organised, bands to be booked and bridesmaid to be fitted.

"You can still have a bridesmaid if that's what you're thinking about"

Sarah smiled, it was amazing how tuned in to each other they actually were. They walked side by side up to the palace steps.

"I was thinking after the wedding we could re-visit real life Sarah"

Her breath caught in her throat and she reached out to steady herself on the stone balustrades.

"What?"

"You need to close a chapter of your life Sarah, as a new one begins. You need to tidy up loose ends"

"I can't go back, not to there"

"Sarah, you need to talk to your parents…"

She looked up at him, alarmed at his suggestion

"No Sarah, not tell them everything, just that you need to leave them for a while, that you're happy now…they just think you've disappeared, they think you've been murdered and thrown away, do you want them to think that, instead of knowing that you are happy?"

Sarah looked away, realizing for the first time exactly what would be going through her parents mind. And Harry, what would Harry think? She had left that awful, awful night and not told him where she was going, he was left thinking that something dreadful had happened.

"Will I cope being back there?"

"Of course…you're a different person now, happier, healthier, wiser, stronger"

Her breathing was returning to normal, yes, with Jareth with her she knew she would be able to deal with anything, even the ghosts of her past.