Ah, hello my loyal reviewers. I want greatly to finish Second Time Around but inspiration is not with me. Pity, for only one last chapter to go. But, I was able to scrape something for this story together, so be grateful for that. It is short, and rushed, but it is better than nothing.

Disclaimer: Woe is me, for I own not.

Sarah sat in the large library staring down at the open book in her hands but not reading it. Her eyes were on the pages of the book but her mind was not reading it, she was currently elsewhere in thought thinking about how in a few short hours she would need to get ready for the ball at Jareth's parents' castle.

High King and Queen! Sarah couldn't believe. She vaguely remembered that the most powerful, well liked, and prominent rulers of other lands were chosen to become High King and Queen, never just a King or Queen by themselves, and that new ones were chosen about every century or so…unless of course someone died, then of course they had to do it sooner. She was glad that Jareth's parents were chosen, because she remembered how kind they were, when you didn't cause them to be otherwise that is. They were indeed quite powerful, and, although they dealt with the affairs of the mortals, they were well known and liked. It was because of her connections to them that…something.

Growling in frustration Sarah slammed the book closed.

"Trouble my pet?" a voice cooed startling Sarah.

"Jareth, you little pest," she groaned.

"What is wrong my dear? Books not up to code?" he taunted stepping out of the shadows and standing a few feet in front of Sarah as she stood up from her large chair.

"Well, while I am amazed that you actually have mortal books from the Aboveground here they are almost all ones I have read before. Even the Underground ones seem familiar, and I'm sure I've read this one about a dozen times," the young half-Fae growled tossing the book of Underground Lore and Fairy Tales on a table nearby.

"Yes, if I recall correctly you always were one with your head in the clouds. Apparently being part of a race of magickal beings wasn't enough of a fantasy for you," Jareth spoke mockingly. "But if it is books of interest you need…follow me to my own private library."

Sarah's eyes widened. "You have a private library? And you're just telling me now?" A few seconds of silence filled the air. "I thought we were friends!" she cried in mock horror.

"Well," Jareth began leading the way, "there are a few rooms that the last people to visit them, besides myself that is, were my father and mother…while they were reigning King and Queen of the Goblins. The three that are specifically off-limits are my study, my library, and my bedroom."

Sarah's steps faltered a little but she quickly caught up to the striding Goblin King. "If no one's allowed in your bedroom, how do you…you know?"

Jareth's movements stopped suddenly causing Sarah to walk right into his back. She let out an 'Oof!' bracing her hands against his back for support. Jareth turned around to stare at Sarah a look of bewilderment, shock, and amusement on his face. "We are in a castle my dear. There are many rooms here besides my own…like yours for instance," he remarked a small smirk appearing on his face. He turned around promptly as a look of disgust appeared on Sarah's face as she thought about what that last statement could exactly mean. But as he did so, turning around that is, and started walking he spoke again. "Besides, I haven't needed to…entertain women for a long time."

Sarah quirked her brow before running to catch up wondering if maybe Jareth had…manly troubles. "Are you…"

Jareth turned around his face turning slightly red as he knew what her question would be. "Miss Sarah, I have no problems concerning that matter, I simply have not felt the need of a woman's presence for some time. I am quite content to stay by myself."

"I've noticed," Sarah muttered glancing around as they began walking again. "I haven't seen hide nor hair of anyone besides me, Gavy, you, and the goblins. I remember the halls blooming with activity and the city outside being much more sophisticated. There were all kinds of people living there, my family included. Now there's no one…why?"

"Well, after my forgotten childhood I felt like everyone was hiding something…that everyone was a mockery of me. They did something…awful. So the moment I became King I, what is the word you mortals use, 'evicted' them? I expelled them from my Kingdom. I wouldn't have anything to do with those people. I loathed them. This ball is in fact the first one I've been to in over eight hundred years…give or take a couple hundred. I stopped going when I became King…when you weren't there," he added softly.

They walked in silence for a few moments with Sarah gently resting a hand on Jareth's forearm. Finally Sarah spoke again. "So…exactly how long as it been since you've…'entertained' a woman?" she smirked.

"Seven years," he answered before he could stop himself. He realized his mistake as soon as the words left his mouth. He saw Sarah's calculating gaze in his peripheral vision and mentally cursed himself. He also saw Sarah's eye light up with realization after she had finish doing the math.

"Hey, that was the year I beat the Labyrinth!" she exclaimed. "Man, you need to get laid dude."

Jareth looked over at her quirking an eyebrow suggestively. "Know anyone who might be able to help?"

Sarah, without further ado, slugged him in the arm roughly.

"Ow! What was that for?" he groaned massaging his injured arm.

"You know bloody well what it was for Goblin King. You keep your mind out the gutters!" she warned waggling a finger in front of him while her other hand made a fist on her waist. "Speaking to your best friends like that! Disgraceful!" she muttered stalking off, but they both saw the smirk that graced her lips as she did so.

After a few more minutes, during which the two troublemakers started walking side-by-side again, Jareth and Sarah stopped in front of a dark wooden door with the insignia of the Goblin Royalty carved into the door. She took a deep breath. And Jareth opened the door.

The moment Sarah walked in she felt a strong presence of magick, and the Labyrinth. The room was spacious with ceilings higher than she thought possible with the walls lined with wooden bookshelves reaching towards the ceiling, to the heavens. Other bookshelves stood away from the walls a little bit creating their own little 'mini maze'. Sarah smirked as she realized that that was the Labyrinth's touch. She went over to the nearest bookshelf and read a title stamped in gold on a black leather bound book, larger than an encyclopedia.

"'The Complete Works of Sir Hafedd the Golden-hoofed'? This does not seem at all familiar," she mused pulling it from its place and flipping through the pages.

Jareth smirked. "That's because it hasn't been written yet."

"What?" Sarah asked slamming the cover closed and replacing it. "What do you mean 'it hasn't been written yet'? It's sitting right there!" she pointed to the accused book.

"My library is the only known library in existence whose contents are books which have not yet been written. When I first received the throne the library was much larger, but many books have been written since then and my collection is dwindling. Some of them have reappeared in the main library, but that is only because I thought it fit to have them bought and placed there. The responsibility of such a privilege is great, but I trust you. Feel free to enter whenever you wish. Also, if you need me and I am in my private study, it is the next door down the hall and to the left, feel free to enter and join me."

Sarah nodded face reflecting the shock she felt. Two out of three places no one was allowed to go…and she was permitted? An evil grin lit her face. "And what if I need you and you are still sleeping or something? How am I supposed to reach you if no one is allowed in your room?" she asked sweetly and innocently.

Jareth smirked back. "Well, you're not a 'no one' are you? You're always welcome in my room Sarah," he whispered his voice full of unspoken promise before he disappeared in a puff of glitter.

Sarah blushed looked down at her feet, slightly glaring as Jareth's laugh echoed throughout the room on his disappearance. "Spoiled brat," she mumbled trying to get the smile of her lips. Sighing contentedly she pulled a random book out and plopped down in a chair beginning to read. Only problem was…now she was distracted by Jareth's last words to her before he disappeared.

"No."

"Sarah," Jareth warned.

"No!"

"Sarah Williams, you will do as you are told, and that is an order!" an exasperated Goblin King bit out.

"You can't make me," Sarah replied crossing her arms, turning away, and sticking out her tongue.

"You will wear this dress!"

"I won't wear yellow!"

"You will!"

"No, I won't!"

"Sarah!"

"Jareth!"

Both growled.

"You will wear it, and that's that. I may be your best friend, although why I'm still trying to figure out, but I have always been your liege. Whether it has been as Prince or King I have been your ruler and as a Sidh under my rule I won't take no for an answer. Now put it on!" he ordered nearly roaring. He then quickly strode out of the room.

Growling Sarah tossed a brush at the closed door. "Unbearable ass," she muttered. She then grinned jumping on her bed and screaming into her pillow. Flipping over she stared up at her canopy. "God, what is wrong with me? Wait…don't answer that." Sighing she sat up crossing her legs and tapping her knee nervously on the bed as she bit her bottom lip a small smile on her face.

So many thoughts zoomed through her mind. Her father! She was going to go see her father! The ball! She was going to a ball, and soon the whole Underground (Okay, she reasoned, only those that knew her or of her before) would know she was back! Yellow! Urch, she had to wear yellow! AAARRRGGGHHH!

And that pretty much consisted of her thought pattern. She quickly showered, applied the Underground version of makeup (she never realized how much she missed that stuff), threw on her dress, and fixed her hair. Slipping on her shoes she stared at her reflection with horror and amazement. She looked almost exactly like she did when she and Jareth snuck in Essence of Bog into the punchbowl. She suddenly realized how right Jareth was in making her wear this (horrible) dress. She shivered at the thought that it looked almost identical to the dress she wear when hallucinating during her excursion through the Labyrinth, save the color change. Her hair was piled in the same nest as well and her make up matched her dress. She would definitely kill Jareth later tonight.

Finally ready she leaves her room to go to the waiting room she was designated to go to wait for the approaching Goblin King. She vaguely remembered (with a flash of pain) that this was where she met Jareth last time when they went to a ball wearing these clothes. The room, slightly octagonal in design, spanned about thirteen feet in diameter with different pictures on the wall varying from type and size. Most were scenery poses, though, and all of them moved as if alive. Sarah was glancing at a picture of the beginning of the Labyrinth when one of the multiple doors opened. And out stepped Jareth.

Jareth was wearing his 'wannabe peach ballroom outfit' as well; as Sarah had realized that his outfit seven years ago (and whose replica he was wearing) was based upon that one, much like hers as. Instead of blue, though, his color was yellow matching Sarah's. His shimmering waistcoat with tails was nearly the same shade as Sarah's dress with a darker color, almost mustard, shirt underneath which shimmered black in certain light. His cummerbund was entirely black, as were his pants (coughtightscough). His gloves and boots were slightly varied in color from his shirt. All in all…he looked like a giant bee. The coloring above his eyes and in his hair wasn't helping matters any either.

Sarah, besides from wanting to laugh, wanted to rush over and hug him when she remembered and realized that he made himself look just as, shall we say…yellow as her. So…she hugged him.

"Oh Jareth," she sighed wrapping her arms around his neck. "Are you sure I can do this?" she moaned closing her eyes.

"You can face my, the Labyrinth," he corrected himself, "an oubliette, the Cleaners, gibberish from that old coot of a man and that bird of a hat, the Bog of Eternal Stench, my goblin army, and myself (and remember this is all only in this lifetime my dear), but you can't stand up to a roomful of old beings of fantasy? Honestly Sarah, and you call yourself Fae."

"Don't forget, I'm also human. Even if I'm becoming Sidh once more, I'm still half human."

"Exactly. I thought humans could deal with this kind of pressure."

Sarah pulled away furrowing her brow. "How many humans have you known who could?"

"Uh, well, uh…you?" he offered weakly. Sarah let out a 'humph' before lying her head back down on the king's shoulder. Jareth discreetly breathed in her scent. "Come Milady, my parent's await. Gavrillian has already left to the party."

"Got any Essence of Bog?" Sarah quipped as they walked to the entrance of the castle.

"Drat, I knew I forgot something!" Sarah wasn't entirely sure if he was joking.

Waiting for them outside was a horseless and driverless carriage made of deep ebony wood. Chiseled on the wood was a design of a, or the, Labyrinth with goblins prancing around as well. A black wisp of vapor seemed to come from underneath the coach and twisted around the wheels giving it the appearance of floating. Or rather, Sarah thought, it was just an appearance. Jareth opened the carriage door for Sarah, who promptly got in twisting her hands in her lap. Jareth smirked as he closed the door behind it. Then the stagecoach lurched forward smoothly, if such a thing were possible. Before Sarah knew it the stage stopped and Jareth was opening the door.

"But, it feels like it's only been five minutes," she protested climbing out after him.

"Correction, it's been four minutes and fifty-three seconds. Now, come, let's go make our grand entrance." Sarah couldn't help but smirk right along with him.

Ooooh, cliffy. Please be merciful and leave my dejected form a kind review.