"Damn," Jareth said, looking at the dark sky above. He hadn't meant to take so long. Stuffing the small package in his jacket pocket, he turned into his barn owl form and flew off toward his home castle. He landed silently on the balcony, quickly changing back to his human form. The lights were out. "Damn," he said again, this time coming out more like a hiss than a soft curse. 'Maybe she's in the library or the study,' he thought hopefully.

Parting the curtains, he stepped through to their bedchamber, casting pale moonlight into the room. There, curled onto her side with the fuzz ball kitten sleeping atop her head, was Sarah. She looked so peaceful and enchantingly beautiful lying there, the moonlight making her hair shimmer faintly and basting her pale skin with its color, that he almost didn't wake her, but he had to.

"Sarah," he called out gently, perching on the edge of her side of their bed. "Sarah," he said again. He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her temple. "Wake up, my love."

"Mmm?" She rolled over onto her back and eyed him sleepily. "You're home."

"Yes." He caressed her cheek. "Have you eaten?"

Sarah sat up. She was still fully clothed in one of her day dresses. "No, I had a migraine and decided to sleep it off. What time is it?"

He looked over at the clock floating in the corner. "Half past eight. Are you hungry?"

"Yes," she said, getting out of bed and stretching.

He looked at their window, seeing the moon through the part in the curtains. "It's a beautiful night. Join me?" He gestured towards the window.

She nodded.

A few minutes later they were supping on soup and crusted bread. Wine flowed freely into Jareth's goblet while Sarah's held water.

"Did you get everything done before you leave tomorrow?" She asked, dipping a piece of bread into her soup.

"No. Before I leave, I'll set up the portal for you to go to the Above." He took a sip from his goblet. "Are you getting ready for your trip?"

"I sent Nobbs to see if Wizarding fashion has changed much. Then, I'll have a wardrobe made accordingly."

Jareth smirked and chuckled a little. "I'm sure the garments you have now will suffice if you go by what Severus was wearing."

It was true, Severus's clothing fit into the time range Sarah dressed in, but that didn't mean witches dressed in that manner.

"I like to do my homework, Jareth. You know that. I like to know what I'm getting into."

"Do you?" He challenged lightly. "Do you know with Severus?"

Sarah squared her jaw, looked him in the eye and faltered slightly. She didn't know, but she had an idea, a very good idea, what might happen while she was away. Would she be able to resist? Would she want to?

"I… have some idea, yes," she said a bit haltingly. He thankfully let the matter drop after that.

"Sarah,"," he said, standing up to move behind her. "There's something I want to give you before I go." He withdrew the package from his coat pocket and, with a wave of his hand, only a small pendant on a chain remained. Leaning forward, he settled it around her neck and clasped it in the back.

Sarah's hand went to her throat to feel what he had put on her. She tried looking down to see what it was, but the chain was too short. "What-?"

He came around front again, conjuring a crystal which turned into a small mirror. "Look."

She did. He had affixed a tiny silver barn owl around her throat. In its claws sat a minuscule crystal orb which glowed slightly.

"Until you come fully into your powers, you're under my protection within these realms. But with you going to his world, you'll be on your own."

"Oh," she breathed, fingering the pendant. "It's beautiful." Placing the mirror on the table, she kissed him in gratitude.

He could have taken it further then but didn't. Pulling away, he caressed her cheek. "One last dance?" he asked. "Before we part in the morning?"

Sarah smiled brightly at this. She loved dancing with him, especially if it was in private. He moved to vanish their supper and the seating area to give them more room. "Wait." She grabbed his arm. "Watch." She had been practicing. Focusing all of her energy on what was before them, she conjured her own crystal and tossed it at the seating area. It disappeared in a burst of glitter. "Only thing is, I don't know where they go- the things I vanish."

Jareth smiled proudly. "They'll show up eventually. That was amazing. You have been practicing." He swooped her into a fast waltz, both of their steps true and sure. After a few paces, the mood changed and they slowed into a more intimate dance, with Sarah lying her head on his chest and listening to his heartbeat. He rested his cheek on top of her head and eventually, all movement ceased and they stood still, holding each other.

Sarah lifted her head up and looked at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head down towards hers. "I'm really going to miss you." She closed the distance between their lips and kissed him. She pressed herself closer and ran her tongue along his bottom lip, causing him to open his mouth in invitation. Sarah delved her tongue in, dueling with his, fighting for dominance.

Jareth groaned and pulled her closer, feeling his budding erection press against the front of her dress. After a few more minutes, Sarah broke the kiss and, giggling, grabbed his hand and pulled him towards their room.

Pushing him playfully on the bed, Sarah lifted her skirts and straddled his lap. "We only have tonight and should make the most of it," she said, making quick work unfastening the buttons on his shirt, removing it and tossing it to the side. Inching her way down his throat and chest, she nipped and licked at his sensitive spots, making Jareth groan.

He toed off his boots while she laved and suckled his flat nipples, rising the buds into tiny peaks. He laid down, pulling her up to lie with him. Jareth loosened the ties on the front of her dress as he kissed her. Soon, her breasts spilled out into his waiting hands and he ran his silk-gloved hands over them, relishing in their warmth and weight. She cupped the bulge that was his contained erection through his breeches, feeling it twitch and pulse in her palm.

Sliding her hand up to his waistband, she delved inside, searching for the warm flesh while Jareth buried his face in her breasts, kissing the valley between them. Finding what she was looking for, Sarah squeezed the shaft and ran her fist along it. He shuddered and the bite he administered to her right breast was sure to leave a mark.

Sarah released his erection and started to slide his breeches down just as Jareth moved to push her sleeves from her shoulders, when a deep gong rang throughout their chamber. They ceased their movements and groaned in frustration.

Jareth growled, "I don't care what it is- it's going straight to the Bog." He rested his forehead on her bare shoulder and refused to budge.

Sarah gave his fading erection one last squeeze, and fished her hand free. Wiping it on the sheets, she summoned a crystal and peered into it. "It's a Wished Away." She moved it down so he could see. Turning his head, he saw a dank apartment with bare walls and a single exposed light bulb hanging from the ceiling. The place looked like a mess: clothes and old food containers were strewn everywhere. A bedraggled mother was bent over a dirty blanket that was jerking and moving frantically. No noise emitted from the bauble, but they could imagine a cacophony of sound: cries of the mother mingling with that of her unhappy baby.

"Looks like this might be an intentional one," Sarah said softly while trying to tie the front of her dress shut with one hand, and balance the crystal with the other. "Do we have any families in need?"

Contrary to what the stories and legends said, The Goblin King didn't turn unwanted children into goblins. Instead, he took the ones that were in true harm either from extreme poverty, abuse, and neglect, and arranged for childless Fae couples from around his Realm and neighboring ones to adopt them.

"We do. Remember the Cormacks? They have been hand-fasted for sixteen centuries, but have yet to bear any offspring. This will be a true blessing to them."

Sarah vanished the crystal and crawled off her husband's lap. Handing his shirt to him, she said, "Then you must do your duty, Goblin King."

Jareth accepted the shirt and started pulling it on. He really, really didn't want to answer this Call. Even though Sarah had done her best to right her clothes, she still looked pleasantly flushed and disheveled. He wanted nothing more than to stay where he was and continue what they were doing. But duty did call, and who was he to deny it? He stood up and with a snap of his fingers, he was decked out in his full Goblin King regalia, complete with chest plate and swirling cape.

"Sarah," he said, holding his hands out to help her stand from the bed. She took them and rose gracefully. "I doubt this will be dealt with quickly. And I am certain I will not see you again until you return after your visit to the Wizarding World." He pulled her into a warm embrace. "I'm going to miss you, my Queen."

Sarah pulled back and looked into his eyes; his one pupil was slowly returning to its normal size after dilating with desire. "Don't worry about a thing here. Everything will be fine." She stood on her tiptoes and pulled his head down for a simple kiss goodbye.

It was bittersweet, filled with longing and sadness. He broke it, not being able to bear the feelings it inspired anymore. Jareth cupped her cheek in his hand and smiled sadly. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She kissed his palm.

He released her and was about to shift his form to fly to the Above when he stopped. "Don't…" He started to say, then paused. He was about to say, "lose yourself," but changed his mind. Instead he said, "forget about me." Turning, he shifted into his owl form and, giving a soft hoot, flew off into the darkness.

AN: I do not own any of these characters- they are the property of their respective owners.

Betaed by AnonyMissJ. I wouldn't be able to do this without you.