Disclaimer: I do not own anything dealing with Labyrinth or anything else that deals with Jim Henson's marvelous creation!
A/N: Okay, since we live in a Democratic Republic, at least those of us who live in the USA, I shall go with majority rules. I will make Bryan a complete jerk, thus making it much easier for Sarah to leave him in the end and go with Jareth! Savvy? And thank you ever so much to those of you who have indeed reviewed. That means a lot to me.
Sarah came back to her office, smiling. She was really happy that she had given Jareth the time to get to know him, and said as much to him.
"I'm very glad that you enjoyed yourself, Sarah," Jareth replied, standing in the doorway of her business. "Alas, I must return to the Underground. Who knows what kind of mischief Hoghead could be getting into? Sometimes, I worry about leaving him in charge of my kingdom while I'm away." He said this with a smile.
"First of all, Jareth, his name is Hoggle," Sarah corrected.
"Yes, my mistake," replied Jareth with a snicker. Sarah smiled.
"And second of all, I'm sure that he is fine. Of all the friends I made in the Labyrinth, I think I would trust him most with the duty of taking your place. Ludo is too nice and would literally let the others walk all over him and Sir Didymus, well…"
"Enough said," Jareth finished. They both laughed.
"Well, I really need to get back to work. Thank you for lunch, Jareth. I hope to see you again soon." Sarah extended her hand to him.
"It was my pleasure," replied Jareth, accepting her hand and shaking it slowly. He wished he could pull her into his arms and give her a passionate kiss rather than simply shake her hand. But, he contained himself, which was a great surprise in his eyes. He didn't know he had this much self control.
"I'll see you later," said Sarah, and with that, Jareth left, leaving Sarah both amazed and pleased at what a change there had been in this Goblin King.
"You are doing just fine, Your Majesty," said Hoggle as he followed Jareth into the thrown room.
"Then why do I feel as if this isn't going to work?" asked Jareth, throwing off his cape. Hoggle caught it in mid-air, as he was used to Jareth doing such things.
"It is working already, Jareth," he said, switching from be formal to being not so formal. He saw no point of being formal when in private, but kept to being respectful in public. "As you can see, she is warming up to you." He caught a glove that belonged on Jareth's left hand. "That was a lot more than when she was in the Labyrinth." Off came the left glove, which Hoggle immediately caught.
"Yes, but I don't think I'll make enough headway to swoon her in the allotted time that is necessary to save our world." In one suave move, he was on his throne; his left leg draped over one arm, his right on the floor, and his back leaning on the other arm. "After all, it's already been four days since she accepted his proposal, and I am not going fast enough."
"Then perhaps it is time that you pick up the speed," said Hoggle, standing by his left leg so that he was facing him.
"But how?" asked Jareth.
"Well, you can start by not being so negative and self-pitying," said Hoggle impatiently, rolling his eyes. "That will get us nowhere. Second of all, it doesn't take much intelligence to figure out reasons to be with Sarah. I happen to know that her birthday is coming up next week. Why don't you get to know her a little bit more, take her to lunch, talk with her and her fiancée, since you don't want to get Bryan suspicious. The last thing you want is him on our tails. We don't want him to know what hit him." Jareth nodded. "And, by the end of this week, you'll have her gift, and she'll be very touched that you have been able to hone in on her interests." Jareth smiled, jumped up, and hugged Hoggle, but only briefly.
"Hoggle, you are a genius!" He then proceeded to give him three new jewels for his collection.
"I know," smiled Hoggle. "And thank you, sir." Without another word, Jareth left for his room, already planning how to get Sarah to meet him again.
When Sarah got home, she set her keys down on the table, along with her purse, and then proceeded to her bedroom. As she made her way up the stairs, unbuttoning her white silk shirt, she immediately heard her bedroom door open and Bryan rush down the remaining stairs and stop her. He seemed red in the face.
"Sarah," he breathed. "Um, you can't go in there right now," he said with a smile. Sarah eyed him suspiciously.
"Why?" she asked. Bryan sighed.
"Oh, alright," he said. "You caught me." He smiled wearily. "Close your eyes." Sarah smiled and did as she was told. Bryan took her by the hand and led her into the bedroom, where he stopped her after four or five steps. He turned her so that she was looking to her left.
"Ready?" asked Bryan.
"I suppose so," replied Sarah.
"Okay. One… two… and open." Sarah opened her eyes and gasped. Right there, in front of her, was a big screen television set. It was absolutely beautiful.
"Oh, Bryan," she breathed.
"Happy early birthday, Sarah," Bryan smiled. Sarah threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him on his cheek.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh," she said. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome," chuckled Bryan. "Go ahead, try it." He handed her a remote. Pointing it to the television set, she pressed the 'on' button. Within two seconds, she was watching the evening news. She let out a squeal.
"Oh, Bryan, I absolutely love it," she said.
"I'm glad that you enjoy it," smiled Bryan. He looked down at his watch. "Well, I really hate to do this, but I need to get back home. If we're going to be married within the next five weeks, I need to complete the paperwork on my house. That is, unless you would consent to move into my house?" He smiled playfully at her, pulling her in for a hug. Sarah swat him playfully.
"Now, Bryan, you know how much I care about this house," she said. "I grew up here, this is my home. And you know I would never move, not in a million years." He sighed and then nodded.
"Okay then, darling," he smiled. "Well, I must bid you adieu, then." He bent down and kissed her passionately on the lips. "Until we meet again, then." With that, he left.
Sarah yawned, stretched, and, after changing, crawled into bed, where she had a perfect view of the television. After watching some television for a while, she drifted into a deep, deep sleep.
A/N2: There is the next chapter. I hope you guys liked it as much as I did. Until next chapter, I must say adieu, just like Bryan… except I'm a girl! Hehehe. And I'm seventeen instead of in my twenties. LOL. I'm such a dork! Always Hopeful