The next morning, Sarah woke up with a very distinct pain in her back that she recognized immediately. She had fallen asleep at her drawing table again. This was not a new thing but she hated waking up and immediately having to crack her spine. Groaning, the brunette begrudgingly sat up on her stool, and glanced at her clock.

8:30

Wasn't there something important going on at 9:15 today? Suddenly, her memory cam back, and she recalled why she had fallen asleep at her table.

"Shit! My meeting!" Jolting up from her seated position, Sarah darted to her closet; where she had multitudes of nice clothing, but she decided to wear a nice t-shirt the color of night and a pair of old faded blue jeans. Tossing her hair into a messy bun and throwing on some makeup, Sarah gathered all of her sketches into her beach bag, grabbed her keys, and bolted out of her apartment like a cheetah on steroids.

Five city blocks and a half eaten hot dog later, Sarah arrived at her meeting just in time to catch her breath and set up her sketches for her boss and the editor of the magazine she worked for. Wiping the droplets of sweat from her brow, Sarah took a big breath and let it out just as her colleagues walked into the meeting room.

"Good morning! I hope you all had a good night's rest, and are ready for my presentation of this week's spread."

Meanwhile…

Jareth awoke in his bedchamber surrounded by his multitudes of pillows and feather blankets. After ringing a bell on his bedside table, a goblin servant came rushing in holding a tray that was covered in all sorts of sweet breakfast items. After dismissing her, Jareth ate a few pieces of toast and pushed the rest of the food away. He wanted to save some room for his date with Sarah later, and he wasn't about to fill up on chocolate chip pancakes and sugared grapefruit.

Going through his wardrobe, Jareth looked at several Aboveground fashions, but decided upon a plain white t-shirt with dark jeans that fitted loosely and were a welcomed change from the tights that he so frequently wore. His normally poufy hair, shorter now than it was ten years prior, was tamed with a bit of magic, and left loose to be brushed behind his ears. Lacing up a pair of Converse, and grabbing his favorite leather jacket, he strolled out of his room, and entered his study, where he quickly completed some paperwork.

When his kingly duties were finished for the day, Jareth appeared Aboveground a little ways away from the café that he and Sarah were to meet at. Spotting a florist shop, Jareth waltzed in and bought a single red rose that he quickly dusted with a pinch of glitter. Rose in hand, Jareth made his way over to the café, and waited outside for Sarah.

Not five minutes later, Sarah came running down the street, portfolio in hand.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you wait. The meeting took longer than I predicted."

"Not a problem. Please, come and sit. Lets have some coffee and breakfast. You look famished."

"You're right on that one. All I've had to eat today is half a hot dog and a glass of water. Coffee sounds perfect right about now." Just then, Sarah noticed the rose in Jareth's hand.

"Is that for me?"

Jareth turned to the brunette and smiled. "Why yes it is. Please, accept this rose as a token of my admiration of you. I believe it to be long overdue." Taking a knee, Jareth extended the rose to Sarah, who happily took it, a blush dusting her cheeks and a smile on her face. Her acting suddenly came back in full swing.

"Why I thank thee good sir. Tis a fair token indeed, and is most eagerly received." Then throwing the figurative cherry on top, Sarah curtsied, gripping a seam from her shirt and pulling it out like a skirt. Chuckling, Jareth stood from his kneeling position, and extended his hand.

"Shall we go in, Miss Shakespeare? I believe there are some coffee mugs with our names on them." Holding the door open, Jareth bowed in a gesture of invitation, Sarah giggling as she entered the Café. Ten minutes later, Sarah and Jareth were talking over coffee.

"So, how do you know me? When we first met you said you've been looking for me, so how did you know to look?"

Uh oh. What do I do! Didn't her mother work in theatre? Go with it! "Well, I worked with your mother about ten years ago. We were in a few shows together. I've been looking for her, and I figured the best place to start was with you. So, I looked around town and when I saw you outside the coffee shop yesterday, I… I'm sorry if I startled you, I was just so excited. That's why I didn't expect you to remember me, you were a teenager when we met."

"You do look familiar, and you're name rang a bell yesterday. But didn't you use to go by Jeremy? I had a clipping of my mother with a man who looked like you."

"Yeah, I er, I went by Jeremy back then because I thought Jareth was a little strange."

"So, now what do you do? Do you still act or…what?"

"No, I work in politics now. Mostly legal matters; it's a business, and its succeeding. What about you? Your mother told me that you were really interested in the theatre. Are there any shows you're in?"

Sarah shifted uncomfortably in her seat, messing with her coffee cup before she spoke. "Well, I gave that up about ten years ago. One day I was determined to be an actress, and the next, it no longer interested me. I put away my scripts and my journals, and moved on to fashion. Now I work for a magazine doing weekly spreads. I do sketches on the side too."

"Yes, I didn't want to say anything, but, uh, you have some paint on your cheek under your left eye."

"Oh damn, really?! That's what I get for sleeping at my drawing table!" Giggling, Sarah took out her mirror and attempted to wipe the paint away. "Man, it won't come off!"

"Here," said Jareth, "let me help you." Talking a napkin, and a pinch of magic, Jareth removed the paint from Sarah's cheek with ease.

"Thanks. Oh gosh, I must look like at total spaz to you."

"Not at all. You just seem a bit overworked and under indulged. So, how about something sweet? This place is famous for their peach cobbler."

"Oh no, anything but peach. I hate peaches."

"Really? Why?

"I…" Sarah paused for a moment, and thought for a second. "I actually don't know! Same thing with the acting, I guess. I used to love peaches when I was a kid, but one day I just stopped liking them. Maybe my taste buds changed."

I guess that peach did more of a number on you than I thought, precious. "I do apologize, I did not mean to insult your taste buds. Perhaps I can make it up to you? What's your favorite food? What's your favorite thing to do in New York? And how-"

"Woah, woah, woah! Slow down there slugger, you're hitting me with questions faster than Babe Ruth hits a fastball. Why the third degree? Why the sudden interest in my…interests?"

Jareth shrugged. "I just want to get to know you better. You're a wonderful conversational companion.

"You can talk, all you do is moan!"

Sarah jolted. 'Where did that come from?' "Well, as much as I appreciate that, I'd tone it down a little. Wanting to know everything right of the bat is a little creepy, if not sweet. If you want to know me, ease into it. Woo me with charm, not obsession, okay?"

Jareth nodded. "Alright, I will do my best. How does dinner and a carriage ride through Central Park sound? This evening around…seven?"

Sarah smiled brightly. "That sounds heavenly. Why don't we meet here at six, and then we can be at a restaurant at seven? It's a Wednesday night, so no one will be anywhere. And for the record, I like Chinese, but I'm a sucker for chocolate chip pancakes at 2am."

"Sounds perfect. I'll make reservations when I get home, and I'll pick you up in the café at six."

"See you then, Jareth! I can't wait for dinner!"

"Until tonight, dear Sarah." Jareth decided to show off his inner gentleman, and held Sarah's hand, placing a tender kiss on her knuckles. A blush dusted itself across Sarah's face, and a flutter decided to flit into her heart.

Why does this feel so familiar?