A/N: Here's an extra long chapter today, hope you all enjoy. Please leave review and let me know your thoughts!

Today would be a good day.

That was the first thought that filtered through Jareth's mind when he woke.

It was just after the haze of sleep lifted from him that he found himself wondering just what Sarah Williams was doing at that very moment. He wondered if she could smell the Spring in the air and feel the heat of the sun on her skin. He hoped that it gave her the same small happiness it gifted him.

It was strange.

Never in his life had he truly valued another's well-being. He cared, on some level he supposed, but in the same way that everyone had empathy for his or her fellow man. He never wanted the people he knew to suffer, but upon thinking about it he realised that he had never truly cared if they were happy or not either. What a strange thing it was now, to have to watch what he said or think about how his actions would affect her. It came with a strange responsibility that was almost worse than knowing he was the cause of her pain. The weight of it was stifling.

What ever happened to the victory he so desperately sought?

He tried to remember what it was like to be driven by the blind anger and the fire of his fury towards her, to be spurred on by the almost venomous poison she had left under his skin.

Just when had that stopped? When did he actually begin to care more for her feelings than the victory that he had once been denied?

He searched himself for a moment, pressing a gloved hand against his eyes and taking a shuddering breath. He still felt anger. Whether that comforted him or not he had no idea. He still felt the rejection and the suffering she had caused him, it was bubbling away underneath, a constant reminder of their past. But there was something new. Something that worried him.

He'd always known that he cared on some level; he'd always known that he wanted her. But this whole thing, this whole reckless plan was supposed to be his victory and his triumph…he would save his world and in doing so gain Sarah Williams.

But as the time passed…well, it was beginning to feel less and less like a victory.

He needed a drink.

Upon approaching the throne room he spied a group of goblins huddled outside the door, whispering excitedly to each other. As they saw him they broke apart, grinning in a way that was almost surprisingly cheerful and suspiciously well behaved. He glanced down as he was greeted by one holding out his riding crop to him with a toothy smile.

"And what on earth has made this day so glorious for you?" He asked as he grabbed the crop warily, twirling it in his hands.

The goblin shrugged and scurried off to its brothers in the corner, continuing on with their infuriating whispers.

"The heavens will open and fire shall fall the day I understand you creatures." He muttered as he swung the heavy doors open.

He spared the room a quick glance as he began to make his way to the throne, stopping when he was taken with an unfamiliar sight.

Sarah.

She stood, facing a gaggle of his goblins with a paintbrush in her hand and a smile on her face. Jareth could not help but soften as he caught a glimpse of gold paint against her cheek, smeared and shimmering in the light.

He cocked his head as he watched the goblins pushing and shoving, demanding her attention. It was then clear what she was doing.

She was painting them.

The easel stood in the centre of the room, a vague outline of the creatures already smudged across the white surface.

"Your Majesty!"

"The Lady is painting us!"

"She was painting me first."

"She wants to paint all of us!"

The goblins cried out as they saw him, shrieking and screaming for his attention. Sarah turned, biting her lips as she held back a laugh.

"Sorry. I thought we'd have a quiet session while I painted. They had other ideas." She motioned to what was once a blindingly white dress that was now splattered in a vast array of colours. Jareth walked to her, plucking at her sleeve.

"I must admit it seems like an improvement to the garment."

She smirked, looking to her new friends.

"They didn't quite understand what I meant when I said they should have a go at painting me."

Jareth let out a full bodied laugh and gave a shake of his head.

"You must learn not to be quite so literal with them." He whispered. To his delight Sarah gave him an exaggerated grimace.

"It's a learning curve, I'll admit."

"Well, carry on." He nodded to the goblins who had returned to their outlandish poses. Gods they were an ugly bunch.

He took a seat on his throne, surveying the mess before him. Usually it irked him to see the throne room in such a state. But he supposed the difference today was that it was full of smiling faces. His subjects were happy and there was laughter. She was happy…He didn't think he had ever heard her truly laugh before…

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sarah pause for a moment, worrying her bottom lip as she thought.

"Jareth…I wanted to say thank you. This was…more than I could have asked for." She kept herself turned away from him, out of embarrassment or shyness he was unsure.

"It wasn't a problem."

"But you didn't have to. And you did. And…that's…Just thank you. For trying, I mean. I really appreciate it."

"You are enjoying my gift then?" He asked, pleased when she sent him a beaming smile.

"Very much so. I'm just sorry I don't have anything to give to you."

"Not at all." He said softly. She hesitated a moment before setting the brushes down in the ledge of the easel. With a nervous smile she walked towards him and took a hesitant seat on the arm of the throne.

Jareth shifted, suddenly aware of how close she was. He didn't think that she had ever been this close to him willingly. She certainly had never initiated the action.
If she noticed how stiff his limbs had become and how straight his back was, she didn't mention it.

"They are sweet things really aren't they?" She asked, brushing the length of her hair from her face. He could see a stark blotch of white paint that had become entrenched in the strands and resisted the urge to reach out and untangle it. Instead he turned his attention to the scene before him and spied a goblin trying to touch his nose with his tongue.

"They are idiots." He scolded.

"You're trying to be cold hearted but I know you don't mean that. I know you love them really."

He cursed how easily she saw through him.

He was ready to retort until he spotted a canvas leaning against the wall before the window, obviously drying in the sun. Without a word he stood, feeling Sarah's eyes on him as made his way to it.

"That's not finished..." She protested as he delicately turned it over, taking in the sight before him.

It was his Labyrinth. In fact, if he thought about it, it must have been the view from her bedroom window. But this painting looked different somehow. It was beautiful. The bricks of the walls sparkled in the lazy glow of the sun; he could almost see the leaves of the trees swaying in the wind. He couldn't help but wonder for a moment if this was how she saw the world. Full of life and love and shining golden beneath the sun. He longed to see it that way too.

Glancing over his shoulder he was startled to see that she had silently moved to stand beside him.

"Well...what do you think?" She laughed nervously and it shocked him for a moment to see that she was genuinely anxious awaiting his opinion. Her lips were pursed and she had her eyes firmly set on the canvas, so much so that he could tell she wasn't really seeing it at all.

"You are quite the artist." He smiled softly, admiring the delicate curves of the brush strokes. Sarah tapped her finger against her lips, regarding the painting with a critical eye.

"Something's missing. I'm not quite sure yet though."

"No. I think it's quite perfect as it is." Jareth insisted. She ran a hand through her hair and tried her best to give a noncommittal shrug.

"I don't know..."

"I knew you were a writer, a talented if ill fated one...yet I never imagined you could paint. Or even draw for that matter." His words were not unkind, more ponderous in their nature. Yet Sarah arched her brow.

"Is it so hard to believe I have talents?"

He glanced at her, taking note of her defensive stance.

"Hard to believe? No. It is just rather strange to look at you sometimes. You are a woman, a beautiful one at that. And yet I catch myself looking at you sometimes, and I remember that you were once the child who ran my Labyrinth. To see you so accomplished...I think it makes me rather proud. Is that terribly strange?"

The way a blush stained her cheeks, ever so slowly, was enough of a reward for him. She cleared her throat softly, walking away from him as she turned to gaze out of the window.

"What about you? Where are your talents?"

She diverted the question. It seemed that every time he tried to broach the subject of a deeper meaning she felt it best to distract him. It was no true worry to him. They could both play at that game.

A small smirk crossed his face as he raised his brow lasciviously.

"Wouldn't you like to know."

Sarah scoffed however, thoroughly unimpressed.

"You know, you're lucky you're handsome or you could never get away with saying things that."

"You believe I'm handsome?" He was almost genuinely surprised. She kept her eyes trained firmly on the horizon as she shook her head.

"Learn to take a compliment and move on."

"Well, I'd like to savour the moment that Sarah Williams decided to compliment me if you don't mind. Especially the day that she told me I'm handsome."

"If it's going to be this hard to be your friend then I might have to rethink this situation." The small laugh that filtered through her words eased him. He placed the canvas carefully back in its spot, moving to join her at the window.

"I'm sure you wouldn't have it any other way." He whispered, following her gaze to the city before them. He felt his chest tighten as he saw the wistful look on her face and the way she leaned slightly out into the wind. It was then he realised that she had not left the castle since she had arrived. The girl must be going mad. A small voice in his head asked him why he cared, but he silenced it with a scowl.

"Sarah, I've been thinking…since you will be spending more time in this world...it is only right that you should see more of this world."

She turned her gaze to him, brushing away the strands of hair that the wind brushed against her face.

"You mean...go outside? I thought you said it was dangerous?" Her voice betrayed the hope she was so desperately trying not to show.

"Well, we won't go far." Jareth murmured as his eyes swept the landscape, trying to decide just where he should take her. As he settled on a spot he allowed a grin to take his features.

"But it could be rather tricky. That's why we shall be going...incognito so to speak."

"You mean, in disguise?" Sarah said dramatically, smiling as she took in his mischievous glance.

"Absolutely. I haven't done it in years but I do recall it being the most fun."

"It does sound fun." He saw her eyes come alive and the flush in her cheeks. She was excited. She was happy.

And why do you care?

Shaking his head to clear his mind he offered her the crook of his elbow, satisfied when it only took her a moment to hesitate.

"We're not going to the city...just a little market North of the castle. You can see the people, see how they live. I think you'll like it."

"Just tell me my disguise and we'll get going."

She took note of the way he raked his eyes over her body, a grin spreading across his face.

"I have the perfect idea."

"A milk maid? Seriously?" Sarah scowled at her lord and master as she tried to shift the tight corset against her body. She felt as if she couldn't breathe and her chest was about to spill forth from her dress.

Jareth looked up from his seat on her bed, yet he did not seem to mind.

"A perfectly common sight in the market. I think it suits you." He protested, eyes wide and almost too innocent. If the truth were told he was desperately trying to avoid staring at the sight the low neckline offered him. He knew she was a woman, he just hadn't ever seen the evidence displayed so brazenly before. It almost scared him how much he desired her sometimes.

Clearing his throat he stood, motioning to his own attire.

"Besides, look at me. I am a King dressed as nothing more than a commoner. I'm afraid I'm the most uncomfortable one here."

Sarah took in the sight of him in nothing but a loose white shirt with dark brown trousers and boots. She wondered who he thought he was kidding. He still looked as regal and powerful as he always did, the packaging was just a little understated. And as she looked closer she noticed that the markings on his eyes were toned down too, they were neutral in tone, only slightly darker than the paleness of his skin. It was strange to see the absence of the splashes of colour she was used to.

"What happened to your eyes?" She asked curiously, stepping closer to examine him. He shied away, eyeing her warily.

"What do you mean?"

"Those...markings...they're not as..." She struggled to find the words, almost entranced by how bare he looked.

"Ah. I simply removed the colour." He turned away from her, pulling a cloak from the chest by her bed.

"How?"

He sighed as if her questions were an inconvenience and proceeded to fasten the cloak around her neck.

"Hang on...do you use make up on them?" Sarah cocked her head, her brow furrowed at him. Jareth stepped back, hands on his hips as he did his best to stare her down.

"Is that a problem?"

"No. I just thought it was...natural." She shrugged, startled by how defensive he had become.

"Come now Sarah. As wonderful as my features are even I need a little enhancement sometimes. Now if we are done examining me then may we go?"

"Don't be like that. I like it." She scolded him as he removed the large pendant that usually adorned his chest. She saw him still for a moment, still avoiding her eye.

"Truly?"

"Yeah. You look...normal. Not that you don't, usually, I mean."

With a small smile he tossed the pendant into the air, taking no notice of it as it disappeared.

"As hard as that compliment is to find I take it and thank you."

For a moment she was lost. It was almost too easy to forget who they were and why they were there as they stood before the market. Jareth had simply commanded her to close her eyes and after a rush of wind, she found herself standing on the outskirts of their destination. It was only a small place with different stands covered in cloths of muted purples and reds. And if she wasn't mistaken, she could smell the faint aroma of cooked meat and spices on the breeze.

Yet her eye was taken by the people that were bustling through the square, rolling carts along and herding animals. It was strange to watch the people go about their day-to-day business for Sarah. Because they looked just like that, just like regular people.

"What do you think?" Jareth looked down at her, smiling softly at her wide eyed wonderment.

"I don't know what I was expecting." She whispered back, watching a couple laughing together as they sifted through jewels on a stand.

"They're just people, same as you and I." He said, nodding to a man that bid them hello as they passed. Sarah's gaze followed him.

"Do they not recognise you?" Jareth shrugged and began walking; making sure Sarah was behind him before he spoke.

"We don't have cameras or television here. It's a simpler life. Yet I do pity that they do not know the beauty of their King."

"Oh yes, what a pity." Sarah muttered in good humour, smiling as he gave her a look of mock anger. She sobered as a passing dog sniffed her.

"What about me? Can they tell I'm human?" She skirted around the animal, taking Jareth's arm as she felt a tremor of fear through her. She wasn't sure if it was paranoia or a genuine threat, but it was almost as if she could feel people's eyes on her. Jareth covered the hand gripping his arm with his own, and for a moment Sarah wondered why he never took his gloves off.

"I've put a glamour around you…you're just another milk maid today, Sarah Williams."

"Then I'm afraid you're just another farmer, Your Majesty."

After a moment Jareth laughed, shaking his head in bemusement as he led her to a stall selling what looked like rather questionable meat.

It was only when the sun began to set that Sarah realised she had been there for hours. She had made Jareth stop at every stall, going through every strange metal and stone and asking what it did or what it was called. She appreciated that he humoured her curiosity; it made the world around her seem less strange as she grew to learn more about the culture. And the people were charming, each as friendlier as the last. Although Jareth insisted it was because they were trying to get her to buy their wares, Sarah enjoyed talking. It was only on her last conversation with a man selling different silks that she noticed Jareth lurking in the background, trying as hard as he could not to be sociable.

"So, you don't go outside often I gather?" She asked as she waved the man goodbye. Jareth glanced around, stepping aside as a man with a wheelbarrow came hurtling around the corner.

"There are rather a lot of people around." He scowled as he watched the man go. Sarah laughed, a soft noise amidst the bustle of shops closing around them.

"You're such a hermit." She said, almost scandalised by his desire to be alone.

"I'm selective in my company." He protested. Yet she would not give up, nudging him with her shoulder.

"Oh really, should I feel honoured?" She said dramatically. Jareth glanced down at her, admiring the wind-chafed cheeks and realised that she was actually comfortable in his presence. They were being friendly, they were laughing together, and what's more it seemed that she was genuinely enjoying his company. Just how had that happened?

"Absolutely." He murmured, still stunned by his realisation.

As they came to the end of the market, Sarah sat down on a small wooden bench with a sigh. She ran her fingers through her hair, untangling the knots as Jareth took a seat beside her.

"I'm exhausted." She said through a yawn, almost shocked at how her limbs ached.

"Well, we have been here for a good number of hours. It seems that your curiosity was insatiable." Jareth scolded her, but the light in his eyes betrayed his mirth. Sarah hummed her agreement, gazing out into the thinning crowds.

It had been a good day. Really and truly. It was something that she could never have imagined happening a few days ago. The day before had been awkward, with each of them not knowing quite how to proceed. But now…now it seemed like they were settling into some kind of routine. Sarah glanced over at the King, smiling a little at the way he seemed to lounge on the bench as if it were his throne. The smile faltered however, as she realised how trying the day must have been for him. He didn't like to be around vast groups of people, that had always been clear, and yet he had done it for her. He'd given her the paints and the brushes…he'd been kinder to her than she had been to him. God, she hated that.

"Jareth…I'm sorry." She whispered quietly, not looking at him as he glanced over in surprise.

"Whatever for?"

"Everything. I've been awful-"

"Come now, Sarah. You've been no more awful than I have. And I have been...particularly dreadful." He interrupted her with a shake of his head, his brow furrowing as he tried to ease the turmoil he could see written across her face.

"It's like we said. We're both as bad as each other." She said through a sigh, placing her thumb against her lips, biting gently on the nail.

"If I had a drink in my hand I would most certainly toast to that."

She looked at him, an eyebrow raised and a look of mock outrage on her face.

"You seem to have a drink in your hand quite often...do you have a drinking problem Jareth?"

"Absolutely. Do you have a problem with basic politeness?" He retorted, satisfied when she gave a contemplative nod.

Silence took them as they sat side by side, each seemingly breathing a little easier now that the apologies were out of the way and the air was clear.

"Why do you hate people so much?" Sarah asked quietly, inspecting the frills on her cuffs in an effort to remain nonchalant. She felt him shift uncomfortably beside her.

"I don't hate people…It just became tedious I suppose. I did the same thing every night. Drink, dance and be merry. Romance a woman, humiliate someone who displeased me..." His voice trailed away as he found words failing him, losing himself in the memories that seemed to belong to another man in another life.

"When did that stop?"

For a few moments Sarah was unsure if he had even heard her, and then the words came so quietly they were almost lost on the breeze.

"After you left my Labyrinth."

"Why?" The word tumbled from her mouth before she could stop it.

"I did not see the point in it anymore. I tried. It just seemed hollow."

Without you were the words he did not speak yet both heard clear as day. Sarah bit her lip, the teeth almost breaking the skin. The conversation was uncomfortable, yet somehow it felt necessary to keep going.

"My life seemed pretty hollow too." She offered gently, a humourless smile twitching about her mouth.

"You were a successful writer. Surely that is something to be proud of?"

"I know it...it just felt like something was..."

"Missing?" Jareth supplied, still seemingly unable to look at her.

"Yeah."

The sun was beginning to set, Sarah could see the beginnings of it, the way the sun seemed to be clinging to the day for as long as it possibly could before the night took it. With a deep breath she tried to salvage the strange dregs of their conversation.

"So…Your Majesty…how long have you been King?"

Jareth made a face, a small laugh erupting from him.

"Too long. Longer than I would care to admit to you." He could feel her sitting expectantly, waiting for an answer however.

"I've been King since I was 8….maybe 9? That is in human years so to speak."

Sarah almost did a double take, trying to gather how old he was now. He didn't look any more than mid thirties, but she supposed he was older than she could ever imagine.

"Why so young?"

"My parents died in the war and I was their only son. There was no choice. Lukin was Regent until I came of age." The way he recited the words, so mechanical and almost devoid of emotion made her wince. She shook her head, berating herself for even asking.

"That must have been hard." Sarah hoped that the words didn't sound as inadequate as they felt. Yet Jareth shrugged.

"I had everything I wanted when I wanted it. To a child that is all they could hope for."

"What about friends? Did you have any?" She wanted to stop saying the words that were seemingly coming without her consent, but it was almost impossible. Never before had he spoken so willingly and openly about his life to her, and she found herself wanting to know as much as she could. She thought for a moment if that was rather selfish, but before she could think more on it he answered.

"They didn't let me outside much. How could they? If something happened to me there would be no monarch and the world would plunge into civil war."

"Jesus." She whispered. The thought of Jareth as a boy locked in his room playing with whatever toys he had saddened her.

"Weren't you lonely?"

He scoffed, yet didn't answer the question. Sarah let out a shaky breath. She had never thought much on his past or his childhood. She had never thought much about how the war would have affected him either. And once more she berated herself for such shallow thinking. Looking at him, she could tell by the way his back was a little too straight and his gaze was a little too focused on the horizon that he felt uncomfortable. It was only fair for her to share too.

"I didn't have any friends either." she whispered. He didn't look at her, but she felt his attention shift back to the conversation.

"Why not?"

"I was weird. All I did was read and act out fairytales. Everyone else wanted to play with a ball or their dolls and all I wanted was a book or a story to make believe in."

"Were you lonely?" Jareth asked, that same strange voice that was clipped and emotionless. Sarah bowed her head, furrowing her brow.

"Yes." She whispered finally. From the corner of her eye she saw him deflate, releasing a breath that he had obviously been holding for some time.

"Well...I suppose that's something we share in common then."

Sarah felt her eyes sting with tears that she refused to let fall. She wasn't even quite sure what saddened her so. Whether it was the memory of her own lonely childhood or the thought of Jareth's… She shook her head, clearing it.

"The people seem nice though. Really nice." Sarah said, watching the people pack away their stocks, tidying up at the end of another day.

"They lead simple lives. They farm, they cook, they live."

Sarah glanced up at him as he surveyed the crowd, a strange expression on his face.

"Would you like to live like that?"

"Like a peasant?"

"No. Like a normal life." She watched the expression on his face shift from gentle confusion to something altogether more wistful. He cleared his throat nervously.

"Well, I'm sure everyone wishes for less responsibility now and again."

Sarah nodded, digesting the answer and deciding that that wasn't good enough.

"And what do you wish for?"

"Sarah..." Jareth turned his head away from her and the relentless questioning. But there was a truth lurking behind his scowl and she was desperate to know what it was. With each passing moment and each answer he gave he began to feel more and more like a person to her. Just another man. The memory of him she had pieced together from her stories and nightmares was fading fast, and she wanted to replace it with the truth.

"I'm your friend now. Tell me. If you could choose any life...which one would you choose?" She said gently.

"Well, he looks like he's having a splendid time." He nodded to a young boy sitting with a girl in a simple pink dress. They were flitting pebbles across a fountain.

"I'm being serious, Jareth."

She watched him squirm for a moment and marvelled at how difficult it was for him to be provoked. Sure, she had seen him open up and express his thoughts and feelings when it suited him. But she supposed he had never had to do it to suit someone else.

"Sometimes...I wish..." He shook his head, sighing deeply. With a sniff he sat up, regaining his posture and trying to maintain some semblance of control over the situation.

"I always used to imagine...what it would be like to be like that lad over there. Probably live in a small cottage somewhere, living off my land, a few animals. And one day...you'd meet a pretty girl. You would court her, she would blush, and one day if the heavens deemed you lucky enough then you would wed. And maybe the Gods would grant you a child. Maybe two, if you were unspeakably lucky. And you would raise them and the circle of life would go on."

Sarah's brow was furrowed as she watched him, his gaze fixed on the young couple by the fountain. She supposed before that moment she had never realised that he didn't ask for this life. He never asked to be the King. It was beyond her comprehension that this life wasn't everything he had ever wanted. She felt her heart ache at her blindness. She felt her heart ache for him.

"It would give me a good nights sleep I must admit. No more court, no more politics, no more...everything." He pulled her from her thoughts, the quiet tone of his voice gone and replaced with a nonchalant air.

"I didn't think how hard it must be." She whispered, her voice suddenly the only sound in the rapidly emptying market. Jareth pulled a face.

"No one does. Yet it is no ones fault. We are all born into a life that we must lead and make the best of it."

Silence took them as they watched the sun set, the crimson bleeding into the horizon. Sarah swallowed, wanting to take his hand, trying to say something but failing spectacularly. Looking at his stoic face she found it difficult to deduce what he was thinking. It was strange. Under the light of the descending sun he didn't seem so powerful now.

"I think you make a good job of it." She said finally, wincing at how pitiful the words seemed in the harsh quiet.

"How do you deduct that?" He murmured curiously, still not looking at her.

"You care. You care about your people, about saving them. And the goblins, you love them really."

Jareth scoffed, almost laughing at the memory of the strange creatures that roamed his halls.

"I used to play with them as a child. My father hated it."

Sarah's eyes widened.

"You used to play with them? How old are they?"

"A goblin has an extraordinarily long life. Some of them have been around since I was born."

She nodded thoughtfully, watching the last tendrils of scarlet disappear from the sky.

"They'll outlive us all." She said.

"The irony of it." Jareth agreed.

The more they spoke the quieter it seemed to get, only the trickle of the fountain and the scrape of dry leaves across the ground surrounded them now.

"What about Sarah Williams? What life does she wish for?"

The question caught her off guard, and for a moment she was stunned into silence. She thought about not answering, but the weight Jareth's words still lay heavy on her heart. He was trusting her with his secret fears, his desires.

Maybe it was time for her to trust him too. So with a deep breath, she spoke.

"I used to think...I just...I don't know. You obviously know I used to love the fairytales."

"I do. It was rather sweet." A small laugh escaped the King and Sarah pursed her lips.

"It was naive. I didn't want to be the princess. I wanted to be the hero." From the corner of her eye she saw him give a contemplative nod, mulling over the words.

"How are you finding it?" She met his gaze as he finally looked at her, she almost flinched at the vulnerability in his eyes and wasn't sure whether it was real or she was imagining it.

"Harder than I thought. But now...now that little life you spoke about? It sounds really good right now."

"We could do it you know. We could run away." He whispered conspiratorially, looking for any prying eyes. She waved him away with a reluctant smile.

"That's not funny."

"You and me, Sarah…we are not quite friends yet. I dare to hope that one day soon, we will be. And sometimes I think, if I wasn't who I am and you weren't who you are...I don't know. I think we should run away and find a cottage, somewhere to call our own. We could live our lives as the farmer and the milk maid." He finished his speech weakly with a humourless laugh, unsure what he was saying or what even he was trying to say.

But it left a question in Sarah's mind. What if they were other people? Would she befriend this man? Would she have ever felt such a strong hatred for him? And looking at Jareth, clad in his simple clothing, a wistful look on his face as he gazed out into the sunlight…she thought they would have been alright.

"We should probably go back. The market is closing." His voice tore Sarah from her reverie, and as he made to leave she gripped his arm.

"Let's stay a little while longer. There's no rush." She whispered, imploring him. He stared at her for a moment with a strange look before settling back in the bench.

"Then we shall stay."

And to everyone else, the vendors and the animals, they were just a farmer and a milkmaid, enjoying the sunset over the Goblin city.