"When life hands you lemons, make a gin and tonic."

Anonymous

Sarah looked at him dubiously. "You can't imagine I would be foolish enough to enter into a bet with you. You. Of all people."

"No," the Goblin King replied dryly, "how could I possibly presume that a supposedly intelligent woman who wished her baby brother away on a whim because she couldn't be bothered to stuff a soother in his mouth, who then grew up to post a very public ad for a boyfriend, because she couldn't handle a little ribbing from her family would ever be 'foolish' enough to make a friendly bet in a board game… called Risk of all things."

Sarah blinked and then snorted. "Touché."

She wanted to be annoyed with his less than favourable character study but she found she couldn't. Nor could she quite silence the voice that suggested she indeed the take the risk and up the stakes. Be bad, Sarah.

"What exactly did you have in mind?" She jabbed a finger in his direction. "Nothing permanent, let's make that clear. Everyone remains here. No whisking anyone away to an oubliette or anything." Though if Sarah were honest she had a short list of candidates if he were amenable.

"I'm appalled at your lack of faith in my creativity. And fine, nothing permanent." He smiled in a way that was not at all reassuring. "I would like to be unfettered again." When she looked confused, he added. "I'd like to use my magic again… judiciously and not in any way against your family."

Sarah chewed her lip doubtfully. Part of her was loathe to admit she was a little disappointed he hadn't asked for something more riské. "And if I win?"

He leaned towards her, a touch too closely so that his breath fanned her face and she could feel the cadence of his voice as well as hear it. "What do you want, Sarah?"

A loaded question from a being quite capable of delivering almost anything. So much temptation. The way his eyes gleamed suggested he knew the type of carrot he dangled.

"You tell me why you're really here. Honestly."

"Clever girl." He sat back considering. "That is perhaps more than I am willing to risk, in fact."

Sarah perked up. "I knew there was something more to this. What's wrong, Jareth, chicken?"

"Not at all. I think I'd like to up my request, however. I want my magic and I want," his lids lowered. "A kiss."

Sarah stilled. There it was. Her heart had the audacity to flip just a little too. "Then I want to add to mine as well. I want the right to ask you to leave if I decide to. And you will."

"You wound, precious."

"You're the one with all the secrets. All the power. I'm just watching out for those I love."

"How loyal." There was mockery in his tone, but also a trace of longing. As though that kind of bond was something to be envied. He held out a hand.

Sarah looked at it. "I need a drink." She disappeared into the dining room and returned with two stiff gin and tonics. She held one out to Jareth.

"Trying to get me drunk, Sarah? How underhanded."

She clinked his glass. "Anything to win. Don't you approve?"

"Absolutely."

She set the glass down, took a breath and then shook his hand, holding it for a second. "No cheating or you forfeit. Promise."

His fingers curled warmly around her. She still wasn't used to touching him skin to skin. Nothing between them. She blamed the small spark on walking across the carpet in socks.

The game quietly took on an even more competitive edge. The sound of the dice hitting the cardboard lid was a steady staccato of attacks and parries. Jareth lost Europe rather readily, but he began making progress in Sarah's stronghold in South America. The board was a mosaic of red and black, shifting almost every turn like a physical manifestation of wills. At some point Sarah refilled their drinks.

It looked for a while like Sarah had claimed the advantage, but Russia was proving to be a problem.

"Never get involved in a land war in Asia," Sarah muttered, but Toby wasn't there to appreciate her reference. She had carefully turned the board twice to examine her options. She'd finally moved her armies to the Ukraine and was hoping to decimate him in Ural. She rolled a three and swore, scowling down at the three ones.

"Language, Precious," he t'sked. He picked up the dice. A mere five but enough to kill off a large portion of her men. Two more similar rolls and her entry into Asia was all but foiled. When it was Jareth's turn to attack, Europe fell faster than WWII.

"Do you concede?" he asked with a gleam, gesturing to the sea of black on the board.

Sarah looked up, her green eyes narrowing in determination. "Never."

She made an admirable attempt to reclaim ground but the odds were against her and her last army was plucked from the board not long after by a smirking Goblin King.

Sarah drained her drink, clinking the glass down hard. "Damn. Don't forget you promised not to do anything bad with your magic."

"You managed not to throw any chairs. Be proud of that at least. Magic's not all I won, if I recall."

Sarah inclined her head, her eyes flickering down, and waited. Her heart was fluttering quite a lot for a woman who had been kissed more than once. When he made no move to do anything, Sarah looked back at up him expectantly. "Well?"

"So eager?" he mused with relish. "I never specified who was to kiss whom. It's only polite to return the favour."

Sarah pulled a face at him.

"To the victor go the spoils, Sarah."

She folded her arms. "You never specified when either if we are going to argue semantics. How about in twenty years?"

"And you accuse me of cheating? Who's the coward now?" he taunted.

Sarah was. Without a doubt. Not of a simple thing like kissing. But of kissing him, yes. Entirely.

"Fine." It wasn't. Not in the least. Nothing was ever simple when it came to him.

She leaned across the board, bracing one hand on the carpet by his knee. He did nothing to make it easier on her and she had to crane her neck to reach him. He felt her shaky exhalation just before her lips pressed to his.

She'd meant to make it a quick peck. One he would no doubt complain about but which she could argue satisfied the terms of the bet. But his lips were so firm and soft and the gin was now warm in her stomach and fuzzy in her head. When they didn't move, save for bowing just a little, she found she rather wanted to make him do something. Anything. She licked along the seam until his parted. Her tongue darted in just enough to taste the juniper on his breath. And then his tongue swept along hers and suddenly the kiss was deepened and he was doing something.

His hands closed around her upper arms and tugged her closer. The game board was scattered beneath them, the red and black mixing together. Later she'd consider that the family record of that particular game board always getting flipped remained unbroken.

In the moment all she could think about was the feel of his mouth on hers though. His uneven teeth nipped at her jawline and his fingers skimmed along her lower back, in the bare expanse between her low slung jeans and the sweater that had crept up. Her hands threaded through his cropped hair. It rolled like silk. She was no longer supporting herself but entirely reliant on him to remain upright.

And then he made that noise again.

The one he'd made under the mistletoe. The entirely visceral one that suggested kissing her was the best thing ever. It made her stomach flutter and she pressed closer like a moth to a flame.

The room was dim and they were bathed only in the glow of the coloured lights on the tree. Christmas was always a time of magic and possibility. When everything and anything was possible. When time had no meaning. When kissing the Goblin King made entirely too much sense. Like she should have done it ages ago. Her fingers pressed against the gentle tick of his pulse in his neck. She wasn't entirely sure they were even vertical anymore. She found she didn't care. His angles fit to her curves like a puzzle.

The collar of his shirt was open a few inches and she had the mad desire to start unwrapping him like a present. He was under the tree after all. It was only fitting. And gin was ever the abetter of mad schemes.

"Sarah Jennifer Moira Williams!"

The thick Irish brogue cut through the silence of the room.

Sarah looked up guiltily. Her great aunt filled the open French doors like a virago. Hands were firmly planted on her hips. Her stance would have made many an altar boy quake.

Her aunt's disapproving blue eyes were trained, however, on the male figure beneath her. If Sarah hadn't been quite so mortified, she might have noticed that they narrowed in a way that suggested she was more than just disappointed in her niece's pre-marital fumbling. There was something more. Something deeper.

"And right before the baby Jaysus' birth day. Have you no shame?"

Sarah scrambled away from the not-king. "We were playing Risk."

"I'll say as such. Saw many a girl who ended up with a certain kind of present 9 months later after playing those kind of risks."

Sarah took a measuring breath. "Aunt Lizzie-"

"GREAAAAT Aunt Lizzie, my girl. And what do you have to say fer yerself, young man?"

His brow arched. "Perhaps knock first next time?"

Lizzie looked like she might murder him, but two things happened at once. Karen, hearing the commotion, came down the hall, and Jareth flicked his wrist.

"What's going in here?" Karen asked pleasantly.

Lizzie turned, her face briefly angry, then blank, and then she laughed. "Oh nothing, dearest. These two were playing a game it seems."

Karen glanced at the overturned board. "Oh, not again, Sarah!"

Jareth draped an arm around Sarah's shoulders. "She gets quite… aggressive when she loses."

"Oh, don't fuss them, Karen. I don't smell anything from the kitchen yet. No doubt you need me help with the supper else we all starve." Karen smiled weakly and allowed herself to be led back out of the room.

Sarah turned. "Did you just magic my aunt?"

"Great aunt," Jareth corrected amiably. "And technically it didn't hurt her so it's perfectly within the rules. Just removed the embarrassment. Consider it a gift." He brushed her cheek. "Though I can't say that I mind seeing you blush so thoroughly."

She swatted his hand away. "No need to rub it in. You won."

"Not yet. But it's a start."

Her father arrived home not long after. After hearing a few pots bang ominously, Sarah decided to intervene between Lizzie and her step mother in the kitchen. She told herself that she wasn't in fact running away but rather keeping the peace. Despite Lizzie's barb, Karen had indeed started a sumptuous meal and had even managed some baking during their game. Only finishing touches were really needed. Sarah distracted her aunt by keeping Lizzie's glass filled with sherry.

"Just a touch, dear." Of course Lizzie didn't say 'when' until the glass was in danger of overflowing.

When they sat down to a late dinner, a tenuous peace had settled in the house. Karen's roast beef met with glowing approval… or silence which from Lizzie was glowing indeed.

"So do tell us more on how you met. Sarah mentioned it was a Hallowe'en party?"

Sarah's eyes darted between her step mother and the Goblin King, who seemed entirely in his element.

"Did she? Yes, it was a costume party if I recall. Sarah was dressed in a white frothy number, rather ridiculous confection. Though I will say it was quite impossible to miss her."

"But he did," Sarah added tartly. "If I recall his attention was entirely focussed on a rather," she glanced at Toby, "voluptuous redhead. Amongst others in fact."

Jareth waved a hand. "Old friends merely. Though I must say it's fascinating to know that you recall that bit so vividly."

"And what were you dressed as?"

Sarah and Jareth both turned to Toby and then glanced at one another.

"A Goblin King," Jareth remarked smoothly.

Sarah choked on her wine.

Toby's face creased into a confused frown and then cleared again. "Oh cool, I guess."

Sarah exhaled in relief and took another sip.

"She was totally obsessed with some Goblin King character when she was younger," Toby added helpfully. "It was all she wrote about in her diary."

The wine ended up sprayed onto her plate and Sarah broke into a choking fit. She did her best to convey how much her brother was definitely going to die through watery eyes.

A hand rubbed her back as she struggled to breathe again. "Did she now?" There was a rumble of pleased humour in his voice.

"Oh yah! And there were sketches too. Though she's a terrible drawer." He winked at his sister. "And her anatomical proportions are waaaay off."

Sarah aimed a kick at her brother under the table.

"Jaysus, Mary and Joseph!" her aunt exclaimed with a yowl. "Something just attacked me! And here I thought t'woud just be the rocks pretending to me Yorkshires breaking me teeth."

Sarah winced. Karen took a large gulp of her own wine.

"And then you met and the rest was history?" her father asked, pretending his wife wasn't white knuckling a table knife with murderous restraint.

"Oh once he saw me yes. In fact, if anything, he came on a little strong really. Pouring his heart out to me. Begging really. Promising to be my slave," Sarah wrinkled her nose. "All just a little too much really."

Robert's brows rose. Karen still looked charmed. Toby looked disgusted.

She felt Jareth stiffen beside her before he recovered. "Indeed. But I was merely quoting from her favourite book. Sarah, deny it if she likes, was quite smitten. Completely entranced one might say. After all, she'd fought so hard to find me."

"Actually I was looking for," she couldn't help but glance at her brother, "the… ah, restroom. He was standing between me and it."

Toby rolled his eyes. "How romantic."

"It was once we started dancing. I was more than a little… entranced myself. I'd not intended to be. It was nothing more than," his lids flickered, "a little distraction. But looking into those wide green eyes it became something else altogether." His eyes met hers, his expression serious and almost vulnerable. "She looked like she wanted nothing more than for me to kiss her in that moment."

Sarah swallowed thickly. "I did. In that moment."

"Magical," Karen breathed.

Sarah looked up startled. "What?"

"Magical. And then you both were inseparable after."

"No. In fact, Sarah turned and ran away."

"Ran away?" Robert asked with a frown.

Sarah froze.

"Because she still had to use the loo of course!" her aunt finished in exasperation. "Haven't you lot been listening?"

"And then..." Karen asked, eagerly nodding at them to continue.

"And then… shall we just say that I found her again and I knew I couldn't let her go again." His tone was light but there was a weight to his words that made Sarah look up, her own face a mix of conflicting emotions.

Karen pressed a hand to her chest. "Magical," she repeated. Sarah thought she might actually cry.

Lizzie polished her spectacles on her napkin and then considered the pair. "Aye, I think yer right for once, Karen. Magical." There was something in her tone that made Jareth's eyes narrow slightly, his lips curling into something that resembled a smile but was anything but.

Her aunt narrowed her own eyes and then made the sign of the cross like she was warding off evil.

Jareth lips twitched and he toasted her with his glass of red.

"Well then," Sarah exclaimed far too loudly. "Dishes? Jareth and I will do them." She didn't wait for his acquiesce before hauling him up. She ignored Karen's protests and shoved a tray of cookies into her arms so she could dole them out.

Once inside the kitchen, Sarah rounded on the not-king. "What was that all about?"

"Your aunt is more than she what she seems, I think."

Sarah blanched, her lips parting in surprise.

"No, not like that," he chuckled at her expression. "She's not like me. But I'd say she's had a run in with something or someone like me. Judging by her reactions, I'd say someone. Someone male. She seems rather keen to see what most ignore. And my little trick should have left her blissfully unaware for much longer."

Sarah folded her arms. "There were no men. She was a nun for years."

Jareth laughed. "My dear little innocent, I've known my fair share of nuns." He held his hands up defensively. "No, I have not rolled about with your aunt. She's from Ireland, no? That is an old place. Many wander off and get lost, shall we say."

Sarah pressed hands to her brows. "What should we do?"

"The dishes I should think. Unless you want to add more lies to your growing list."

Sarah swatted at him. "Be serious. What if she says something?"

Jareth eyed her blandly. "Yes, whatever shall we do if your very aged aunt, who is more than a touch eccentric, who gets under Karen's skin quicker than Hoggle does mine, and loves," Jareth held his hands wide, "a touch of sherry, 'says something'."

Sarah tried very hard to stare at him disapprovingly, but found she could not and instead burst into laughter. It was the cathartic kind that releases all the tension in the body like floodgates being opened. She filled the dishwasher quickly with Jareth's help, marvelling again at finding him so willing to do something so mundane. So domestic. She brewed some coffee and they both returned to the dining room with cups and some Irish Cream. Which, no doubt, Lizzie would find was not up to par with the same bottle bought directly in Ireland.

Lizzie was in fact advising Karen that shortbread made with American butter was naturally inferior to Irish butter because Irish cows made richer milk than colonial cows. It was in their blood. American cows were weak and lazy. Karen had merely nodded and opened another bottle of wine, not commenting that Lizzie had nonetheless almost cleared a plate.

The after dinner conversation was otherwise mostly easy and uneventful. It was hard not to feel the Christmas cheer. Like it had arrived with the holly Karen had festively hung from every corner, and had since leeched into everyone. Jareth seemed to be enjoying himself in a totally disarming and charming way. Even Lizzie relaxed and found it in her heart to thank Karen for the meal. She regaled them with funny, and mostly off colour borderline inappropriate anecdotes about her church – always rife with the most salacious drama – until the jet lag fully caught her again and she bowed out for bed. She offered another slightly suspicious look at Jareth, who wished her sweet dreams in a tone that made Sarah frown. Toby disappeared not long after to practice again before the concert the next evening.

Karen muttered something about needing a Valium to deal with Lizzie again tomorrow, and her father, whether by actual preference or wifely design, withdrew to his study. That left Sarah and Jareth alone at the table. Similar to the game earlier, they were lit only by the candles and the dimmed sconces. Somehow the room seemed to immediately close around them. The family dinner becoming altogether more intimate.

Jareth rolled a truffle across his knuckles. "A rematch?"

Sarah shook her head. "Not a chance."

"Bed then?" His tone was belyingly innocent. Her mind was not.

"How about a movie?" She hoped the panicked desperation only sounded in her head.

AN: I'm sorry for the huge delay! I'd hoped to have this wrapped up BEFORE Christmas but executing the perfect Christmas for three beasties took up all my time. I hope you are all still in the spirit. It's quieted down so I can focus again. With that said, Merry Christmas, lovelies. I hope it was fabulous for all who celebrated. My kiddos got a real life kitten, amongst other spoils. My son, conceived AND born during Goblin Market is turning 8 tomorrow. I don't know where the time went.

True Story: My great grandmother was a bit of a harpy to my grandmother. My grandfather told the story of how in their first year of marriage he had to take a cast iron frying pan out of her hand before she brained his mother. His mother lived with them for their entire marriage. I love my Nanny but my gram was a saint to put up with her MIL. I imagine Aunt Lizzie a little like my Nanny was.

Hope you recognized Princess Bride in there And I did lie again. Next chapter is the Christmas concert. More shenanigans ahead.

What's that – a cockblocking trope? Would be a shame if that were to happen again...