Sarah's POV

Sarah sighed. Jareth was good at this. He dodged the uncomfortable questions her father and Karen were throwing at him with ease. Karen turned on her.

"So, dear, how has work been?"

"It's been fine. Going really well. Everyone has memorized their lines." She glanced at Jareth and couldn't resist the gibe. "It's a good thing Jareth's friend didn't get in or I wouldn't be able to say that."

Jareth smiled, "It's true. Nat thinks he can act, but really, he can't remember his own name half the time."

Karen cast a conspiratorial to her father who totally missed it. She instead tackled Sarah, "How long have you known each other?"

Sarah glanced at Jareth, "Well, we've been friends of a friend for a while, but we've just really started hanging out these past weeks…"

Karen nodded. "Well, that's nice."

Sarah smiled. "Happy Anniversary, by the way you two!"

Karen grinned. "A very happy one!"

Sarah liked Karen. She really did. But Karen was a little simple. And easily distracted. She was smart, but take her attention away from one thing and she was off. "What makes you say that?"

Karen held out her hand. "He got me a dozen roses and this bracelet! It's real sapphire and ruby and gold. Aren't the little hearts sweet?"

"It's very well made." Jareth said. Sarah heard the challenge in his voice. But mine is better…

Karen was looking at her wrist. "Well, that's new. What is it?"

Sarah pulled her arm back. "Oh, it's this watch…"

Karen grabbed her wrist and looked at it. "Well, it's certainly different. One to thirteen? I'd never be able to keep track of the time. Frank look at this."

Her father leaned forward. "it's nice."

"Where ever did you get it?"

Sarah blushed. "Oh, well, umm,"

"I found it for her. Looked like something she'd like, unique, you know?" Jareth said.

Karen raised her eyebrows. "How nice. That's a new necklace too, if I'm not mistaken."

Sarah bit her lip. "Jareth found that for me too."

"Well it's lovely." Karen said. "Is that an Owl?"

"Yes." Jareth said. "I found it is a store in New York."

"Why were you there?"

"Oh, it was a small vacation. Weekend, you know?"

Karen frowned. "How long ago?"

"Oh, it was the weekend after I met Sarah."

Karen grinned triumphantly. "That was very nice of you."

Sarah rolled her eyes, caught only by Jareth, who grinned. "Yes it was. Jareth, did you see anything on the menu you liked?"

"Yes. I've should like to try their mutton stew." he replied with a grin.

Sarah wrinkled her nose. "You know what mutton is right?"

"Full grown sheep meat." he answered smartly, "Why? What were you thinking of having?"

Jareth's POV

*She had grinned sheepishly as he teased her. Karen, her stepmother looked between the two of them, gauging every move they made, every word they said, every look they exchanged.

"Well? Were you going to go with the great American pastime and get Italian food at an Irish restaurant?" he taunted her.

"No!" She replied. "I'm going to get a caser salad, for your information."

"Ah, going roman on us, are we?"

Karen was positively glowing when the waiter came. "I apologize sirs and ladies, but you have gotten a call from a young girl, a Miss Lilly?"

Karen stood up quickly, "Oh, that's Lilly! Why would she be calling?"

"Go get it honey." Frank said. "If we're needed at home, I'm sure we can reschedule."

Karen glanced at Sarah who nodded at her. She didn't even glance at him. After she had left he turned to her. "Who's Lilly?"

"Did I not tell you? I have a younger brother, Toby. Lilly's the only babysitter they use now that I'm out of the house."

"Oh." He replied simply. He looked around for a moment. "Do you come here often?"

"Every anniversary. It's a tradition." Frank replied. "Sarah, how do you like your new apartment? Settling in fine?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm totally unpacked." Sarah assured him. "I have the furniture in it's perfect places. Right where I want them to be."

"That's good." Frank said. Jareth caught the underlying meaning, shot at him. Don't redecorate. Ever.

Jareth nodded to the back, where Karen walked out. "Here she comes."

They waited in silence as Karen approached. She shook her head sadly. "We have to go. Toby has a low grade fever, so maybe some other time?"

"Oh, of course. Give me a call if you need me, okay?" Sarah said. "We'll tip if you pay."

Frank nodded. "Okay. You leave the money here, we'll pay up front. We had what? Twelve dollars? You can do the math."

Sarah grinned and kissed Frank and Karen goodbye. After they left, she turned to him. "Jareth, let's go somewhere…interesting."

He dropped at twenty on the table. "Yeah. Let's go. Where?"

She lead him outside. "We are going to a bar popular with my fellow actors. We are going to drink. Toby will be fine-he always is. He's just smart. He stuck the thermometer under the sheets with him. It'll be dinner at their house next time."

He blinked. "What?"

"I am very tired. I don't want to waste Saturday night. And I'm twenty-one. I want to have fun."

"A bit of a one-eighty, you must admit." He replied, still trying to process this. "You drink?"

"Not much-but I'm an actress. I can pretend that I drank a lot." She smiled at him. "Come on Jareth." Nothing was adding up. A complete one-eighty. This was not Sarah…

"No. I don't think so." He said. Was she pulling something on him?

She rolled her eyes. "Jareth, you're no fun."

This was not the Sarah he knew. There was something going on… "What are you trying to do?" Was she trying to disgust him? He had drunk Goblin beer. Have a drink? No way.

Again I want to extend my thanks to the faithful reviewers, who's kind reviews brighten my day! (hint hint!)