I do not own The Labyrinth or its characters. I am not gaining any financial perks. Ludo should have had more speaking lines, and Hoggle is the true un-sung hero.

Five thirty finally rolled around when Sarah heard someone knocking on her door. She peeked out of her living room curtain, and saw her baby parked in the front. Sarah yanked the front door open and looked at Toby with a shocked expression. "You're early." She said. "Hello to you too. And mom made me. She said to be sure you were dressed decent. From your Bowie t-shirt and yoga pants, I am going to call that a no." Sarah gave Toby the stink eye. "What gives?" She asked "I told you this morning she was up to something." He put his hands up in mock surrender. "Spill!" She threatens with one word. "Look. All I know is mom wanted you to drive me to house. Something about feeling bad about last night leaving early for the gala." Sarah looked at him, suspiciously. " I'm not buying." She said. Her brother sighed. "Neither am I. But it would be nice to have you over for dinner. Also. Mom said, and I quote, "Tell Sarah to dress for dinner. While yoga pants are the latest rave, they are not dinner appropriate." End quote."

Sarah's one eyebrow popped up. "Fine." She said. "I am warning you Tobias. If you are lying to me..." She began pointing her finger. "You know I can't lie to you." Sarah turned around and entered her room to change."Omit maybe, circle the question, definitely, but not out right lie. "He reached in his pocket, and began counting the money he recently acquired.

Fifteen minutes later, Sarah finally emererged. " This should make your mother happy." The first five minutes into the drive were quiet. Finally her brother broke the silence. "I heard you have a hot date tonight." Sarah scoffed. "Jasmine has a big mouth. I don't know why everyone thinks it is their life's duty to set me up on dates. Not even good dates. Remember when Karen set me up with that librarian with the googly eye." Toby began to laugh as Sarah drove remembering the horrible date. "It was wild. I didn't know which eye to look at. It was like he was either trying to see the future or put a spell on me." Sarah began to relax, laughing a bit herself.

"So. Where's Carla?" She asked. "Oh. Her family is going to see her grandmother. Something about a dinner." Sarah just nodded. She noticed Toby began to rub the back of his neck, nervously as they turned on the street where he lived on. "What is wrong with you? Are you upset Carla didn't invite you?" Toby said nothing, as they pulled up in the driveway. Sarah saw a car she was very unfamiliar with. She parked right next to it, giving Toby a confused look.

Toby for once looked ashamed. "Now. Sarah. I didn't lie to you. Mom didn't tell me anything, but I did notice she had been very busy. Technically I didn't lie. Plus she used Carla against me. "Fine." Sarah said after breathing in and out slowly. " What has she done now." Toby took a deep breathe when the front door opened. "One of dad's colleagues from work came over. He has been invited to dinner on several occasions, but rarely shows up. Even dad is involved, and he is in on mom's scheme." That caught Sarah off guard. "All of dad's colleagues are over 45, have children, and at least two ex-wives. No thanks." She said with a look of disgust.

"I agree. You don't seem the type to have daddy issues. But this guy is different." Sarah laughed. "So what. The guy can't find someone his own age?" With that Toby laughed. " Carla has seen him, you know how her dad works with dad sometimes, especially when it comes to pro Bono cases. This guy is supposedly really big on helping others. Give back to the community and all that. Sarah nodded. "Good for him." Sarah said, never taking her eyes off of Karen as she waved at them to go inside. " So how much did she pay you for that endorsement?"

She felt her brother stiffen besides her. "Tickets to my favorite concert. Dibs on the car. Late curfew." Sarah just smiled. Classic, she thought. "Sell-out." He scoffed. "VIP?! With backstage pass. Better believe it." He replied

Before they reached the door, Sarah felt her brother stopping her with a hand on her shoulder. " Give the guy a chance, Sare. I am sure he is being set up too. I doubt he knows what they are up too." With that he smiled, and ran in ahead of her. She froze on the spot, turning to look at her car. Maybe she could make a run for it. While lost in thought she felt someone grab her by the shoulders, and guide her inside. That someone was Karen. Damn her and her Spidey senses, Sarah thought. He would have made a fine goblin.

"My Sarah, you look...nice." Karen began. "I wasn't given a heads up until we got here. It was suppose to be a drop off." Karen's smile never faltered. " Well. It will have to do. At least you showered." Ok. So once! Just once when she was younger her and Toby made a bet who could go without showering the longest. Not her proudest moment.

She saw her father in the parlor, wearing a suit and tie. She also saw the back of a man, dressed in the same fashion. He had sandy brown hair, trim built, around 6'3, and not a grey hair from this angle. The man had a drink in his hand, scotch if it were her guess, laughing at a joke her father must have told. "Look who walked in! Sarah!" Her father said excitedly. The man turned around, one eye brow popped up. He appeared to be older, like she suspected, but not very. He was also very handsome, maybe early to mid 40s.

"Hello." He said walking up to her. He extend his hand. Sarah just stared with her mouth open, trying to compose herself. "Hello. I'm Sarah." He smiled his beautiful smile at her. "Stephen. Stephen Anderson." They stared at each other, seemingly forgetting everyone in the room.

Boy, if Hugh Jackman was looking for a stunt double, she thought. Sara heard her dad cough, almost uncomfortable like. "He might be, but I enjoy my work too much. But thanks for the compliment." Sarah gave him a confused look. Toby walked up, and patted her on the back. "Sare, filter yourself. You sound like Aunt Agnes."

Sarah out a hand to her mouth, knowing exactly what he was referring too. Dear old Aunt Agnes had a bad habbit of talking to herself at very loud volume. She thought no one had heard her, or she no longer cared. "Mm said the food is ready, let's eat. Unless that foot of yours tastes good." Sarah felt her face heat up. "No worries."

Stephen said offering her his arm. " I find it rather endearing. Shall we." Sarah took his arm. Karen walked up to her husband and smirked. " Wow." Her dad said. " I know. So, are you going to pay me the 50.00 now or after their first date." Karen smiled and patted her husband on the arm.

Karen has been very naughty lately. And Toby! How could he. Oh well, all is fair in love and war. I hope you like. I have the next part to this fiasco of a night. If it feels to long, also let me know. It's trial and error. I understand. I have read some stories that I wished had more and other stories just dragged on. Let me know. Thank you for reading.