Sarah reclined in a chaise on one of the larger castle balconies. Sir Didymus perched behind her, braiding her hair into a circlet atop her head. Ludo sat on the ground to her left and Hoggle leaned up against the foot of the chaise, cutting an apple with his pocket knife.

"Did he tell you where he went?" asked Hoggle begrudgingly.

"Not exactly," replied Sarah.

Hoggle grunted. He hadn't looked at Sarah since she has told him that her and Jareth had come to some sort of middle ground; Hoggle only saw it as her giving up and taking the king's side.

"I don't mind though. I have you guys," she said, trying to soften Hoggle.

He just grunted again.

Sarah closed her eyes for a moment, reveling in the feeling of Didymus' gentle paws running through her hair.

"I'll always have you guys. I mean that."

Hoggle spun around.

"But you're giving up!" he sputtered. "You're submitting. You're giving him what he wants. Don't you remember: he's the bad guy!"

"I am not giving up. I never agreed to marry him. I never even agreed to be his girlfriend." Hoggle muttered, "Or concubine," but Sarah pretended she didn't hear it and continued. "I am here and there is nothing I can do to go back. The rules are the rules. This is magic we're talking about—didn't you say the same thing, Hoggle? I am here. And I am here to stay. The least Jareth can do for me is let me get to know him and make my life a little more bearable. The gentry think we're courting, so it softens the blow if we don't work out."

Hoggle let out a loooong groan and buried his face in the soft, magenta upholstery.

"That right there is the problem: 'if.' You said 'if,' when you should say, 'softens the blow when we don't work out because he's the Goblin King who steals babies and terrorizes his subjects.'"

"I…" Sarah didn't know what to say. "I think I'm old enough to date, and I can date whoever I like. Maybe he's changed. Or maybe he can change."

"He is quite a bit older than you, my lady," said Didymus delicately.

"He's basically immortal, I think that disqualifies him from any rules around being too old or too young for someone. And if he's still a dirty rotten scoundrel, I won't be with him. Or maybe we'll find out we have nothing in common, like two normal people. Or maybe we'll never get over the fact that he can turn into an owl and leaves feathers everywhere. Who knows."

It was silent for a moment. Sarah could see Hoggle thinking it over; she seemed to assuage his assumptions that she was falling willingly into Jareth's arms.

"I still don't like it," muttered Hoggle.

"I promise, you guys, that I'm going to be careful. I haven't made any decisions yet. And I'm basically free, I can go anywhere into the castle and Goblin city, I can ride my peryton, I can land in the Labyrinth. I just can't go wandering around, and I'm ok with that."

"Goblin City. We go? Can show you. No war," said Ludo.

"I'd love that, Ludo. It'd be nice to see it under calmer circumstances. In a day or two, does that sound ok?"

"Mm. Ya." said Ludo with a toothy grin.

"Ta da!" cried Didymus, throwing his hands in the air.

Sarah reached up and felt the tightly knit crown Didymus had created.

"Thank you, Sir Didymus! I love it." She reached up and hugged him warmly to her chest.

"I love you guys."

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

Sarah woke to Berta drawing back the balcony curtains.

"Good morning, miss."

Sarah shielded her eyes. "G'morn,' Berta," said Sarah, not quite awake yet.

"His majesty is back. Meals together in the dining hall will resume, as before."

"Thank you, Berta," said Sarah, rolling over and trying to claim a few more moments of rest.

But, Berta would not have it.

"Up and at 'em, m'lady," said Berta, gently giving a tug at the covers. Sarah sighed and rolled out of bed. She still felt tired after a bath and slipped on the softest thing she could find. Purple had never been her favorite color, but the soft, velvety material of the simply, sleeveless dress was too enticing not to wear.

"Like a daytime nightgown," Sarah thought to herself.

When she entered the dining hall, Jareth stood.

"I hope you didn't dress up for me," he said with a smirk. Sarah just sighed. It was too early for his antics.

Jareth took notice and cleared his throat awkwardly. "You look well. It's nice to see you again."

Sarah gave a small smile and nodded before taking her seat.

"Where were you this week?" she asked, setting fruits and berries onto her plate. The already-set table was a rainbow of decadence from which to choose. The tea-cakes in the center of the table were tempting, but Sarah tried to stick to the healthier options. She noticed her muscles from dancing were already disappearing; she'd have to be more diligent about working out on her own.

"The Crystal City", he replied, helping himself to the ignored cakes.

"Why?"

"Political business."

"Yes, but why?" queried Sarah again. Getting to know him was off to a great start…

"I believe political information should remain with the politicians," he said cheekily.

Sarah gave a disgruntled sigh. "I'm pretty sure you weren't on a secret mission. And if you were, you could say it nicely." Now where was the coffee…?

"It wasn't a secret mission. But it's not really of any importance. I like to meet with some if not all of the other monarchs after the ten-year council meetings. Get the summary and all that." He munched on some toast.

Sarah located a silver carafe with steam rising from it. The dark liquid was the color of coffee and its deep, earthy taste was at least similar to it as well; Sarah just hoped it had caffeine.

"Did it…go well?" asked Sarah, wanting to stay involved.

"It did."

They sat in silence for a moment and became painfully aware how awkward this was. They weren't fighting. This wasn't romance, or seduction, or cat-n-mouse, this just…was. So now what?

"I was wondering if there were dance classes here?" ventured Sarah.

"There are tutors. Would you like one?"

"Oh yes!" she cried, her face lighting up. "But I'd really like to be in a group as well," she added.

"I'm not sure that's appropriate…" Jareth started. Sarah's face fell. "But I'll see what I can do," he quickly added.

Sarah thanked him and smiled.

Sarah was hoping he'd continue the conversation. Maybe now would be a good time to ask about the theater?

Thankfully, Jareth broke the silence.

He cleared his throat. "I was wondering if you liked to swim."

Sarah tried not to think about the pool incident. "I do."

Jareth cleared his throat again. Was he nervous?

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go swimming. With me. I know a beautiful lake within the Labyrinth. If you'd care to join."

Uncharacteristically clipped sentences made Sarah think the Goblin King was nervous. Was he? Sarah tried not to giggle. His usual cool pallor remained unchanged, but somehow it seemed…forced this morning.

Sarah grinned. "I'd love to. I'm always down to explore more of the Labyrinth." She almost missed it, but the right corner of his right eye twitched. She quickly added, "And I think it sounds like a lovely time." She hoped she hadn't offended him…

The king did not sigh, but he kept her gaze long enough to make Sarah clear her own throat and take a sip of the probably-coffee. Was it just her or did she feel caffeine kicking in?

"Good," Jareth finally said, returning to his biscuits and jam.

~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~ ~.*.~

Jareth shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Well this is going swimmingly," he thought to himself. "Now what do we talk about? It's not like my trip was a story for the history books. What do I say?" The Goblin King was the epitome of suave and sarcasm when he had something to work with, but conversation had never been his strong suit. Especially when he was trying to ask his beloved on a…what did she call them? Ah yes, a date.

"I was wondering if there were dance classes here?"

"Oh thank God, a question," he thought to himself in relief. "There are tutors. Would you like one?"

"Oh yes!" Sarah cried.

"She looks so beautiful when she's happy. Finally, something I can give her that she wants."

"But I'd really like to be in a group as well."

Jareth tried to keep a straight face. He knew that there were groups within the gentry. He didn't know specifics, but should she really be mixing with the others and their gossip? He didn't want them to influence her. And once she became Queen, would she really stay mingling with them all? He supposed, as long as the gentry ranked high enough. She could certainly handle herself, but they would do their best to eat her alive. Better not…

"I'm not sure that's appropriate…" Jareth stated.

Sarah's face fell.

"Oh shoot, I'm losing her again." He sighed inwardly. "Okay, pet..."

He added, out loud, "But I'll see what I can do."

Jareth shifted in his chair again. "Now would be the perfect time to ask her. Just go for it." He still couldn't make himself. "C'mon, you old oaf, what's wrong with you? Abducting is easy but simply asking is too scary?" he mocked himself, cursing the fact that rejection was more frightening than any battle he might fight. Not that he'd admit that to anyone, or even to himself.

"I was wondering if you liked to swim," he nearly blurted. "You know she likes to swim."

"I do."

"Well you don't look it," he thought to himself snidely. "Maybe this is a bad date idea…"

""Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go swimming. With me. I know a beautiful lake within the Labyrinth. If you'd care to join." he asked. "So well spoken, your majesty," he ridiculed himself once more.

"I'd love to. I'm always down to explore more of the Labyrinth," she said.

Jareth felt a bit offended. So, she didn't want to spend time with him, only with her blessed Labyrinth? Hmm.

"And I think it sounds like a lovely time," Sarah added.

"Aha. Good. Phew. A lovely time indeed," he thought in relief. He was careful not to physically sigh or betray any sign that he was relieved.

"Good," he said with finality. But, he allowed himself a little smile, which Sarah saw and returned.