Short chapter. I've been a bit busy, but I will work on something longer for next time. As always, thank you for reading.

A confident knock resounded through the William's residence on Christmas Day at 6 o'clock sharp. Sarah felt a small wave of panic wash over her as she approached the door. Her family remained in the sitting room beyond the foyer, but they were conspicuously quiet. She had never brought a man home before. They had probably never even heard her speak about a man in more than a casual offhanded way. When Sarah mentioned that she had invited one to dinner, they all exhibited looks of confusion that were nearly insulting.

Inhaling deeply, she opened the door.

"Happy Christmas, Sarah," grinned Jareth winningly. " He looked oddly mundane clad in jeans and a green flannel shirt.

"Merry Christmas," she couldn't help but smile as he held out his arms to show that no presents were hidden upon his person.

"Would you like to search me," he asked in a very quiet, serious voice that contradicted the mischievous look in his eyes.

"That will not be necessary."

Sarah led the fae man into the sitting room where her family sat with uncomfortably pleasant expressions glued to their faces. "Everyone, this is Jareth. Jareth this my father, Robert, my step-mom, Irene, and my brother...Toby." She had not realized how hard it would be to introduce Jareth to Toby, it felt wrong, but she shoved that emotion aside, focusing on the task at hand, passing off a fae-King as a normal boyfriend-type person from Soho.

"Hello everyone," Jareth slide an arm around Sarah's waist and appeared perfectly at ease. Robert jumped up to shake Jareth's hand and Irene ran to the kitchen to check on the food. Toby played a new video game until Irene returned to usher them all into the dinning room.

Dishes were passed in conventional conversation and compliments. Sarah was visibly relieved that things were going so well. She relaxed and concentrated on enjoying herself and the food.

"So Jareth, Sarah tells us that you are a musician," remarked Robert.

Without hesitation Jareth replied, "Yes, on occasion that is the case."

"That seems like a precarious way to make a living. How do you like it," Robert fixed his attention on the man his daughter had brought home.

"Well, for most it probably is. I, however, do not rely solely upon music for survival. As you've probably noticed, I am not a native of New York, at home I manage a labyrinthine organization that focuses on re-homing unwanted children," he cut a potato.

Sarah nearly choked to death on a forkful of dressing. Jareth patted her on the back while Irene passed her a glass of water.

"So, you work in the non-profit sector? That is admirable," Robert smiled seemingly satisfied.

"Ah yes, I am quite the humanitarian," Jareth nodded solemnly. "Music is a hobby I indulge in when the opportunity arises."

"Who wants pie?" Irene interrupted jovially.

After dessert the group moved back to the sitting room to drink more hot chocolate and complain about having eaten far too much. Toby explained the video game that he was playing to Jareth, who seemed oddly entertained by the device, and Sarah watched in peace from the corner of the sofa closest to the fireplace. Her father eventually passed the battered family copy of A Christmas Carol to Jareth and entreated him to honor the family with a reading, it was a Christmas tradition. The Goblin King accepted the task gracefully and read with spectacular vigor, giving each character a different voice and mannerisms.

Once the performance was finished and Irene and Robert began to clear away the mugs and other clutter, Jareth stood to excuse him. "I should be going, it was really very kind of you all to have me," he inclined his head in the family's general direction.

"Oh, it was our pleasure," replied Irene.

"Yes, any time, and you are very welcome. It was wonderful to meet you," Robert extended his hand in a farewell shake.

"See ya," called Toby as he vanished upstairs to further examine his gifts from the morning.

"I'll walk you to the door," Sarah said while taking his hand. Once they were out of earshot and eye-range she warped her arms about his neck. "You did well tonight."

"Your approval is greatly appreciated."

"I think you took some creative license, but I suppose that's for the best," she cocked an eyebrow at him.

"It was more true than false, one day I'll show you," he kissed her lightly, removing her arms from about him. "I should go."

"You should, " she opened the door.

"Until next time," he bowed to her and was gone.