Jareth woke around three thirty in the afternoon and lay awake for a few minutes, waiting for the dream to fade from his mind. He knew that the dream was his answer, but he still felt conflicted.

Pulling up a crystal, he checked on the Labyrinth, which had not, in reality, turned into a crater. Silver lining #1.

He'd been trying very hard not to use too much magic in his human form because it used up so much energy, both physical and magical. It was the difference between driving 20 miles in a hybrid and driving 500 miles in a hummer—the same amount of fuel just doesn't cut it.

Nevertheless, he summoned up a simple spell for dreamless sleep that would end at six thirty. A few hours of sleep would do him good and would also give him the energy to get dressed magically instead of manually.

Sarah's heart jumped as she heard the doorbell. She bolted off the sofa and went for the door, but Jeanie stopped her. "Let me get the door. I'll show him to the living room and make him comfortable. After a minute, come into the room like you were finishing getting ready. It adds effect." Jeanie winked at her and went to greet Luke as Sarah went into Jeanie's room and closed the door.

Jeanie pulled open the front door to welcome the young man. As she looked at him standing on the porch, and as he looked up to greet her, an instantaneous recognition flashed between the two of them, and suddenly Jareth knew he had an ally.

"Jeanille," Jareth said with a smile.

"Jareth?" Jeanie narrowed her eyes.

"I thought you were dead." Jareth looked over her shoulder and didn't see Sarah. He risked a quick embrace with his old friend.

"Exiled," Jeanie opened the door to let him in, lowering her voice as she did so. "You know how it is, these barbarians with their armies come in, want your kingdom and when you refuse—well, it didn't turn out well. My kingdom now consists of a pile of rubble and I'm stuck on this mortal plane for eternity."

Her words struck him slightly, bringing back the images from his dream. He shook it off. "We simply must have a conversation soon. We have quite a bit of catching up to do." The two unlikely friends moved into the house and stood together, their voices now even lower.

"I agree. Like what business you have with an eighteen-year-old mortal girl." She looked sideways at him.

"It's not what you think. She defeated me."

"And you love her."

"Strangely enough."

The two of them became silent as the door to the bedroom opened and Jareth felt himself being sucked into a redundant scene from almost every movie he'd seen since being in the human world. But he couldn't help himself.

Sarah emerged from the bedroom, wearing a simple black dress and matching pumps. Her long dark hair was swept over one shoulder and had a white rose pinned in it. She was breathtaking.

Jareth went to her, bent down and kissed her hand. "You look lovely."

Sarah felt herself blush despite her obstinate efforts not to. She thanked him and flashed her brilliant smile.

"Shall we?" Jareth offered her his arm.

"Sarah, dear, shouldn't you get a coat?" Jeanie suggested before Sarah could answer.

"That's a good idea," Jareth agreed. "It's a bit chilly."

Sarah looked at Jeanie—she hadn't brought a coat. Hers were all up in the attic in her stepmother's house. Jeanie's expression clearly said, Use whatever you need. Sarah disappeared into Jeanie's room again.

As soon as she was out of sight, Jareth turned back to Jeanie. "I still don't understand why Sarah is here, with you."

"She and I work together—" Jareth raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I have a job, I run a bookstore. Don't look so surprised; what do you expect me to do for money in the mortal realm? When a barbarian Lord sends you packing out of your own kingdom, he doesn't exactly allow you to take the family fortune with you, does he? Anyway, as I was saying, Sarah works at the store and she and I have become quite close. When she ran into some complications at home, she came to me and has been staying here."

"Complications. What complications?" Jareth, always the strategist, decided to play dumb.

"Not my place to say."

Jareth rolled his eyes. Sarah emerged from the bedroom with a cream-colored coat that appeared to be made of crushed velvet draped over her arm. Another image from his dream struck Jareth—the image of Sarah dressed in black in white.

But when she came forward to take his arm, his anxiety melted away and he felt like nothing more than an eighteen-year-old boy taking a beautiful girl out on a beautiful spring evening. He realized in that moment just how much he worried. Between ruling the Labyrinth, obsessing over his defeat, this new form, his plan to win Sarah's heart…he really hadn't relaxed for two years.

Jareth opened the passenger door and guided Sarah inside. The silver convertible had its cloth top up this evening and when Sarah was safely inside, he climbed into the driver's seat.