Disclaimer: I don't own Jareth's Labyrinth nor any of his little minions. I just write for fun.

Maybe she was focusing on the wrong thing? What did that even mean? What was she focusing on? More importantly, what should she be focusing on?

Sarah stewed on these thoughts as she hauled a huge pot from the stove to the sink. Squeakstut, the goblin who had been oh so helpful until now, still hadn't returned. So here she was.

Cleaning pots.

And mulling over Jareth's thoughtlessly tossed words. She hadn't felt sick this last time traveling so had she then been properly focused?

She picked up a scrub brush and began scraping furiously against the residue already crusting on the metal monster. She'd been focusing on Jareth. Which was ridiculous. If that were the case, then did that mean Jareth wanted her to focus on him?

The crusted glob of gravy finally surrendered and slid down the pot to the bottom. Most importantly, Sarah wondered as she threw the brush into the pot, why in the world did his words bother her so much?

She stared at the pot. It stared back. Boldly. In all its massive, filthy glory. She clenched her teeth. "I wish I had a pan scraper!"

Clouds of glitter suddenly covered the room, and in the center of it all stood a rather confused King, a brown pan scraper dangling betwixt two fingers.

"I am not cleaning magic glitter up."

Jareth's eyes narrowed as he handed Sarah the piece of plastic. "Should I assume this is your doing?"

"Probably," She turned her back to him and resumed her chore, the cleaning much easier with her new tool. Jareth moved closer to watch her work.

"Wait. You've been doing all the cleaning...manually?"

Sarah snorted. "I'm not known for my magical prowess. That's your shtick."

The Goblin King opened his mouth and held his breath for a beat before releasing it in what Sarah had to describe as a sigh. She waited for him to say something, anything, but instead he stood almost awkwardly behind her. Watching her wash dishes.

She handed him her scrub brush. "I'll scrape the gunk out, and you wash it with soap. When you're done rinsing the dish off, just set it there on the towel that's on the counter."

He blinked, narrowed his eyes at her, but did as she requested. At first, they kept bumping into each other, trying to get to the water first, but soon they settled into a rhythm. And Sarah stopped glancing repeatedly over at him once she realized that Jareth did, in fact, know how to wash dishes. Said man still hadn't spoken so she finally asked, "How'd the kitchen get to be such a mess anyway?"

"We used it once and didn't see the need to clean it up. Nobody needs to eat like you humans do. Not even the goblins."

"So I didn't have to cook this huge meal is what you're saying?"

Jareth decided to tread carefully. Well, for him anyway. "Of course you did, slave. Just because we don't technically need it doesn't mean that we don't enjoy it."

That made her happy for some reason. Another thing to add to the ever-growing list of Things She Didn't Want to Think About.

"I think I liked your incessant rambling and impertinent questions better."

Sarah rolled her lips together before turning to face Jareth, dishes and distractions and idiotic games forgotten. "I am confused, and I am not ready to talk about it yet."

Jareth smirked. "My, my, don't you sound grown up."

"I'm serious. Because of you, I'm stuck here forever. I've got to figure out a way to be happy with that. So I need time. Away from you."

The Goblin King's eyes narrowed as he stepped back, the smirk vanishing. His voice hissed, "And why should I acquiesce to your request?"

"Because you love me, and I'm your Queen. Right?"