Disclaimer: I do own Jareth's Labyrinth nor any of his little minions. I just write for fun.

A/N: I. Am. A. Horrible. Person. I'm so sorry for the unintentional hiatus, and I promise I will be finishing this. I've already written two more chapters (after this one), plus the ending worked out (in my head) so I should be able to make at least weekly updates. Thank you so much for your patience and your wonderful reviews!

Sarah squealed before grasping her neck and wheeling away from Jareth. "Don't you ever do that again!"

Jareth smirked as he leaned casually against the now-shiny counter, his arms crossed. "And I see you've been quite busy as well."

Sarah bit her lip as he surveyed her work. Gone were the goblins, the endless mountains of dirty dishes, and the voluminous scum that had collected on every possible surface.

"So where are my goblins?"

She bit her lip harder. "I let them go."

"You did what?" His voice sounded too calm. Never a good sign. Sarah vaguely wondered if the bog had changed much.

"I let them go." Oh, good, she sounded calm too.

"Yes, I heard you the first time," Jareth tapped a black boot on the tile floor. "You let the majority of my poor, helpless goblins outside my castle. "That means they're probably wandering about in my labyrinth." He unfolded himself from his careless position against the kitchen counter as he continued, "I suppose I should have asked why. So. Why did you commit this completely idiotic act, you incompetent little wench?"

"They needed a break."

"They needed a what?!" Yup, he seemed much more upset now. She'd discover any changes in the bog soon enough.

"A break," She confirmed, her lips curving into a small smile. It was just a swamp. A really, really smelly swamp. "You know, a rest. Vacation." She smiled hugely now, mimicking his accent. "A holiday. That sort of thing."

"I know," Jareth bit out tersely as his eyes—one frigid blue, the other a slightly bemused brown—clashed in anger and amusement, "what the word means. I'm merely expressing my shock that you, a seemingly bright girl, would intentionally wreak such havoc on my undeserving kingdom."

But then again, she couldn't be bogged now. This was a matter of principle. "You exaggerate. Besides, they're not so chaotic when they're given a certain task to perform."

"And just what purpose did you give them?" His tone conveyed thinly disguised horror.

"I told them to have fun."

"Fun?" Jareth sounded absolutely terrified, his voice quivering less with anger and more with utter shock.

His reaction frightened her. What could he possibly know that she didn't? Not the English language, for starters. "Fun, Jareth, as in 'not working' or 'acting like a kid.' Huh, that's ironic, isn't it?"

Jareth's eyes narrowed dangerously as he neared her, "And just what does that mean, slave?"

"What do you think." It wasn't a question.

Jareth's body stiffened in rage as he clenched his pointed teeth. Ah, but she still had nary a clue as to what she was getting into. Not that she should. "Squeaker informed me that dinner awaits me in the dining room. From now on, I should be served in my throne room."

"His name's Squeakstut. You don't even know his name!"

Her outburst reverberated strongly in the bare kitchen. Sarah clenched her own jaw but continued to hold his gaze. Jareth simply waited for the echoes to fade. Then, oh so calmly, he asked, "So, dear thing, you've heard complaints?"

Sarcasm dripped from his tone, and Sarah's gaze finally faltered. "No."

Jareth smirked, stepping closer to lift her chin. Sarah's intelligent jade gaze eventually met his.

She lifted her chin from his grip. "But I know how you and your crystals work," The firmness of her voice galled him. "They don't know they should complain. They're lost in the dreams you gave them."

"You know nothing, you pathetic little brat. I only have the power to grant people's wishes or offer them their own desires. I can't even twist their wants around, nor do I want to. I can only give them—give you—what they truly want."

"I did not want you to take Toby." Thinly veiled rage seeped through her tone.

"Clearly, you did."

Sarah's teeth clamped involuntarily. Feeling suddenly trapped, she nimbly stepped around the Fae to pick up a tray before attempting to flee the kitchen. "Your food's in the dining room. Don't let it get cold."

Jareth blocked her, his gloved hands comfortably fisted on his waist. He'd let the Toby business go but not her plan to destroy his kingdom by releasing his dumb creatures outside his castle. "First, we should see just what those nonsensical goblins are up to, hmm?" He swiftly formed a crystal globe dancing 'round and 'round his fingers.

Sarah startled, her eyes widening, before quickly glaring at the floor. A smirk settled on the king's features. "Worried, Sarah? And about your own dreams too. Tch."