4f #5 Jareth and Sarah's Reunion by Sierryberry shows Jareth arriving to see Sarah and catching her just out of the shower, but I took a slightly different twist
It was a quiet night in the neighborhood and Sarah was happily curled up on her couch with a good book. She was completely unaware that she was being watched by a barn owl sitting in the tree outside. He had been there for the last hour just watching and waiting.
Just as it got dark, Sarah turned on the light and closed the curtains, much to a certain King's annoyance. He flew to a tree on the other side of the house, the one right outside her bedroom window.
Looking through her fridge, Sarah debated cooking or ordering Chinese. Before she had a chance to decide, there was a frantic knock at her front door. Hurrying to answer it, Sarah found her friend, Katie standing there with tears streaming down her face.
"Sarah!" Katie cried as she threw her arms around her.
"Easy there. What's wrong?" Sarah asked as she rubbed comforting circles on her back.
Katie cried on her friend's shoulder and explained how she was being stalked and didn't feel safe anywhere. Sarah closed the door and led Katie to the couch.
They two sat and talked until Katie calmed down. Sarah insisted she stay with her for the night and ordered Chinese for both of them.
"Come on, let's head upstairs and get you cleaned up," Sarah said softly as she took Katie's hand and led her upstairs. "Go take a shower and relax. You're safe here."
"But I don't have a change of clothes or a toothbrush or anything," Katie argued.
"I have clothes and I have a couple of toothbrushes still in the packages in the medicine cabinet. You go get in the shower and I'll get you something to wear. Nodding, Katie went into the bathroom and Sarah hurried to her room.
As Sarah entered her bedroom, the bowl owl outside hopped closer to the window to get a better view. He watched her gather clothes and a hairbrush before leaving the room. He flapped his wings and hopped to the window sill. If he timed this right he'd see more of her than he had before.
Knocking on the door first, Sarah slowly opened the bathroom door and walked into a room of steam. "It's just me, Katie," Sarah said calmly. "I got you some clothes, towels, and a hairbrush." She went through the medicine cabinet and pulled out a new toothbrush. "Toothbrush on the sink is for you too."
"Thanks, Sarah!" Katie called from the shower as she washed her hair. "You're my guardian angel."
"Don't mention it, Katie. I'll be downstairs if you need me. Food should be here soon." Sarah said as she started to leave.
As Sarah went downstairs, her bedroom window opened and a tall figured slipped into the dark room before silently closing the window. He made his way down the hall to the closed bathroom door.
"Sarah," he called.
Inside the bathroom, Katie had just turned off the water and was drying off when she head a voice outside. "Hello?" She called. Hearing no reply, she shrugged. 'It must have been Sarah I heard.' She thought.
As she wrapped her hair and body in towels, she opened the toothbrush and put a little toothpaste on it. She was bent over the sink, brushing her teeth when she heard it again "Sarah." It was definitely a male voice.
Grabbing the large hairbrush, Katie opened the door and peered out with toothbrush still in her mouth. She saw no one and turned to go back in the bathroom.
She froze when she heard the voice again, "I Jareth, the Goblin King, have returned after years of waiting for the opportune moment... to take my..."
Katie turned to see a tall man in a black cloak with wild blonde hair and unearthly eyes standing before her. Jareth stopped his speech when he saw her. They stared in silence at one another for several awkward moments. "Oops. Well then, I'll just come back later, shall I?"
Katie screamed, the toothbrush falling to the floor, and threw the hairbrush at him.
Jareth ducked the flying projectile and tried to get her to calm down. "Shhh, shhh. I'm an old friend of Sarah's. I was just trying to surprise her."
Hearing Katie scream, Sarah came running up the stairs to see her friend cowering at the bathroom door with the Goblin King in front of her. "Leave her alone!" Sarah shouted as she pushed him out of the way and rushed to her friend.
"Sarah, Precious, this isn't what it looks like." Jareth tried to assure her.
Sarah glared at him. "Katie, is this the man stalking you?"
"Stalking?" Jareth's eyes grew wide. "I don't even know who she is. I thought it was you, Precious."
Looking at Katie, Sarah grabbed her robe from the back of the bathroom door and wrapped it around her. "Is that true?"
After putting the blue fluffy robe on, Katie nodded. "He called me Sarah. He was as shocked as I was when I turned around."
"That still doesn't explain why you're in my house, Goblin King." Sarah put her hands on her hips. "So spill it and you better be honest because there's an iron skillet downstairs with your name on it."
Jareth flinched at the word 'iron'. "I see you've done your research, Sarah. The skillet, iron or not, won't be necessary. I would never lie to you."
"No, you just kidnap baby brothers." She spat, her voice filled with venom.
"Sarah, who is he?"
Before Sarah could answer, Jareth stepped forward and bowed. "I am Jareth, King of Dreams, Protector of the wished away, Guardian of the Labyrinth, and Ruler of the Goblin Kingdom. I apologize for startling you, my dear. As I told you before Sarah rushed to your aid, I'm an old friend..."
"Nemesis is more accurate," Sarah interrupted.
Jareth shot her a look and then continued, "an old acquaintance of Sarah's. I was merely hoping to surprise her and reconnect with her."
"By sneaking into my home?" Sarah demanded. "Were you hoping to catch me in the shower, King Pervert?"
"King Perv..." Jareth surely looked as insulted as he felt.
"Don't act all innocent. I've seen you sneaking around here watching me. And don't even try to tell me the barn owls I've seen everywhere lately aren't you." Sarah stepped towards him, jabbing her finger into his chest. " Didn't I go through enough in your Labyrinth? Are you looking to get revenge because I beat you? Or are you just a pervert that has to spy on girls? Why are even here?"
Jareth grabbed her hand to stop the incessant jabbing. "Yes, I've been following you. You are correct. The owl was me. And yes you faced dangers untold and hardships unnumbered to beat my Labyrinth." He took a step forward with each sentence, making her step back. "No, I don't want revenge. I'm not that petty. You beat me fair and square. I am not a pervert and the only girl I've ever spied on was you and I did so because I was looking for the right moment to approach you. As for why I'm here," he paused as he backed her against the wall. "I'm here because I've missed you. Believe it or not, goblins aren't the best conversationalists." He put his hands on the wall on each side of her head. "I came here, you infuriating woman, hoping to befriend and eventually court you, precious thing."
Katie stared at the two and slowly made her way down the hall. "I'll wait for you downstairs."
Sarah watched her friend dash down the stairs then looked back to the Goblin King. "Jareth..."
Backing away, Jareth turned away from her. "My apologies, Sarah. I was unaware that you had a friend over. A friend who seems to have serious troubles. I believe you said something about a stalker?"
Sarah nodded and rubbed her neck. "Yea, some guy is following her around. I know how she feels but unlike me, she doesn't know her stalker or why he may be following her."
"You have a stalker?" Jareth's fists clenched at his sides.
"Yes, oh feathery King. Your behavior classifies you as a stalker."
"Touche, Sarah." With a sigh, he turned to face her. "I shall leave you to care for your friend. Tell her the stalker won't be an issue any longer. I shall find and deal with him personally. I'll come back to see you at a more convenient time." He turned and started to walk away.
"Hey, Jareth!" When he turned back, Sarah smiled sweetly at him. "Next time, just knock. I'll let you in."
Smiling, Jareth nodded and bowed his head. "Very well, Sarah. I shall see you soon." He changed into an owl and flew out of her bedroom window.
Sarah sighed and shook her head. "And the night started so peacefully." Grabbing the clothes from the bathroom she headed down to check on Katie and explain everything to her.