DISCLAIMER: I solemnly swear that I do not own the labyrinth...unfortunately.

WARNINGS: language, duh.

A/N: Out of my two stories I never thought in a million years that this would be the most popular one...I would like to give a shout out to PhysicNightmare who is reviewing all of my chapters and I greatly appreciate it. Thank you to all and anyone who are reading my story, I think that you will be happy to know that we'll be seeing Jareth this chapter :) Cookies to all who review! By the way, I have decided that I am updating as often as I can until I am about halfway done then I am going to update only once every week because the beginning is SUPER slow.

It's been a week since the Christmas party but today is Christmas Eve, thankfully I only have to a dinner with my family tonight. It only included my aunt, two uncles, three cousins, Karen, dad, Toby, and I. That was a lot easier than dealing with a houseful of people at a party.

I used to love the week of Christmas when I was a kid but now, I kind of loathed it. I only sat around all day and watched Toby. I had already gotten my homework done, thanks to Jareth, so all I had to do around the house was watch TV. Occasionally, I would take Toby to the park and go sledding or walk him around the mall. I wish I had more friends, everyone was on vacation. My best friend Marcie went to Hawaii well I was stuck in boring old Minnesota.

I can't tell you how much I wished that Jareth would come back. I missed having someone to talk to. The more and more I thought about it, the more depressed I got because who knows if he would ever show up again? I know I'm not that interesting, and I don't pretend to be. I'm just the average teenager and the only difference between me and everyone else is that I got to run through a labyrinth for my little brother and meet a Goblin King...although when you phrase it like that, it almost makes it seem like I've done something with my life.

I had been pacing back and forth for most of the day, thinking while Toby looked at me like I was totally off my rocker. So what? Maybe I am, but at least I'm doing SOMETHING. Ugh, I really need to find more friends.

I started to color with Toby when the phone rang in that ungodly way that made my ears bleed.

"Hold on, Toby. I'll be right back." I walked over to the kitchen and picked up the phone line. "Hello?"

"Sarah? This is Emmett, I lost your cell phone number otherwise I would've called you earlier. Are you busy?"

"Well, I'm kind of watching my baby brother at the moment..."

"Well, would you be able to come to the park for a little bit then? Toby could play on the playground."

Hell, I had nothing better to do. "Okay, which park?"

"How about Teddy Bear Park?"

"Okay, that sounds good. I'll be there in a few, it's gonna take me a bit to get Toby in to all his snow stuff, though."

"That's fine, see in little bit, bye!"

I hung up the phone and went to get Toby. I just hope that he's going to be warm enough. Maybe this will be a good thing. I can finally reconnect with Emmett and have something to do over the long week. I just can't believe that he's available on Christmas Eve! I know that my dad works all the time, and Karen is always doing something else so I'm lucky if I get to see them on Christmas, but Emmett actually has an almost normal family. Oh well, it's better for me I guess.

I buckled Toby tight into the car (which was miraculous because of how large his snow pants and boots were) and we headed off towards Teddy Park.

I hope Toby doesn't get a cold out here. That's just another thing that Karen and dad can blame me for. Everything that happens to Toby while he's under my care, is always my own fault. If they would actually take the time to know they're own kid, they would realize that Toby is just a very masculine and tough little boy who likes to do things without thinking the second I turn around, and then injures himself.

I pulled up to the curb across the street and unpacked Toby out of my car. He was asleep. Great. I'm sure the cold will wake him up but now I have to carry him.

I walked towards the park and saw where Emmett was sitting. It looked like he was talking to himself...well this is what happens when you are desperate for friends.

"Hey there!"

He turned around. "Oh, hey! I wasn't expecting you to get here so fast! I see that Toby has pretty much lost interest in the park."

"Yeah, well, count your blessings. I don't think we would get to catch up for very long before he became bored. So what's up?"

"I don't know. I had to leave my house. My parents are driving me nuts. They keep talking about all these money problems then they laugh it off like it's not a big deal when they're in front of company. Later, in the kitchen, they started to argue and I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to leave."

I frowned. "Well, at least you're doing something for Christmas Eve.I got stuck babysitting, as usual."

"Yeah, that seems like a very pressing job." He said sarcastically, staring pointedly at the sleeping child.

"Hey! I would rather be arguing with adults than with a 4 year old who doesn't want to take a nap. At least arguing with old people makes sense most of the time."

He laughed, "I think we each just have very different demons, Sarah."

"Yeah, I think you're right." I shook my head. "I just can't believe how much you have grown up since I last saw you."

He really was very handsome, if I was being honest with myself. I wouldn't mind being near him so much in the future, if that's what it meant to get more friends.

"Well you don't look so young yourself! You know we're both the same age, right? So when you say things like that, you make it seem like you're my grandmother."

"HA! You wish. At least then maybe you would have less of an attitude with me."

"I don't think that will ever change between us, Sar. And for what it's worth, I missed you alot. When my family moved, you were probably the only thing that I missed about the place."

I couldn't help being touched by his words. I know I usually don't get sappy about stuff like that, but hell, I wasn't heartless for crying out loud.

"Well thanks, but honestly, I think your time was better spent away from me, I'm a mess. I really am."

He shook his head purposely. "And I'm not?"

"I think we both are. But being together right now has been the happiest thing that has happened to me all week. I was just thinking about how I needed some new friends in my life. All of them have abandoned me for their own greater adventures."

"Greater adventures?"

"They're all on vacation," I explained.

"Oh. That's hardly an adventure, trust me. Until you go without your parents, vacation is hardly an adventure."

We watched Toby sleep in my arms. His breath rose up and down, mesmerizing Emmett and I into a peaceful silence. I wanted nothing more than to sit next to Emmett and holdToby forever. I was so relaxed and had forgotten most of my troubles in just the few minutes I had spent at the park. It wasn't just us, it was also the atmosphere. The snow came down harder and harder covering trees and blanketing the ground in it's cotton appearance. It swirled and howled while the neighbors echoed their shovels across the sky. It was so beautiful. I could fall asleep by Toby's warm baby smelling head.

I looked up at Emmett to find him gazing at me.

"What?" I said.

"It's just-you look so mellow and composed. I don't think I've ever seen you like that. Even when we were kids, you were always running around and telling stories. Calmness suits you."

I blushed and I heard a faint whimper escape Toby's lips.

"I told you it wouldn't be long." I smiled as we started to get up and head for my car.

Emmett helped me buckle Toby into the car.

"I know it wasn't a very long time, but I had a lot of fun talking with you again. I really needed to get away from everyone...so I appreciate it."

"No problem. I think I needed that too. It's been a stressful week. Besides, Toby actually fell asleep so I owe you one."

I beamed as I pulled him into a hug, taking him by surprise. As he pulled away he said, "Well, see ya later." And he waved as we slowly backed out into the street and drove away.

I could smell his cologne on my jacket. I was kind of cautious before when I decided to meet him, he sometimes seems like a lunatic, but now I think we could have a really good friendship starting.

As I walked in the door, I could hear Karen chopping something in the kitchen. No doubt making our Christmas Eve dinner.

"Sarah! There you are! Where on earth did you go? I must have called your cellphone at least a dozen times."

"Shh...you'll wake up Toby. I just went to the park to catch up a little more with Emmett and my phone was dead. I was probably gone forty-five minutes, tops."

"Well, just make sure you charge your phone next time. So, Emmett, huh? Are you a guys a thing?"

I rolled my eyes. I hate when she tried to act like my friend instead of her prisoner.

"Not every guy that I talk to has to be my new boyfriend. It is possible to make friends with people that are not the same gender as you."

"But, Sarah, you haven't had a boyfriend in so long! I enjoy seeing you happy with someone else is all. I especially love cooking for your friends and boyfriends." She winked at me.

"Well, when I get married I'll make it up to you and bring my husband by as often as I can so you can make dinner for him. Then we'll be even."

She huffed. "You're such a pretty girl and wasting it." She shook her head and I laughed.

"Okay, Karen. Tell everyone else that."

I walked to Toby's room and set him down in his crib. He's definitely going to need a new bed soon. He's getting way too big for a crib.

I looked at my watch. Jeez, I guess it's time for a Christmas Eve meal with all of the family...awesome...I'm going to need to change.

I ran downstairs and picked out the first Christmas like dress I could find and some black heels. I looked so grown up since the dress was red and decided to put a very grown up side bun with curled bangs surrounding my face. I only had ten more minutes to get ready so I dabbed some mascara and eyeliner on face before rushing right back up the stairs.

"Well, my oh my, Miss Sarah. You look more and more like your mother everyday."

I smiled as best I could at the comment. I didn't like when people told me things like that because even though I knew I would never do half of the things that my mother did, I still didn't want to look like her.

"Thanks, you're not looking' so bad yourself, Uncle Max."

"Psssh! You are such a liar, the kids make me grow ten times older everyday."

I laughed. "Well, they are a handful."

"A handful? Shit! They're 3 baskets and a bag full!"

He always knew how to make me smile even when I was down.

The rest of the night pretty much went the same. I was catching up with everybody in the family. My aunt was a nurse and my uncles worked for this business that they owned together so naturally, I didn't get to see them as often as I liked. All my cousins were really small still. The oldest was only 8. They definitely had a mind of their own. When they wanted something they usually got it. I wish that were the same with me.

Finally, after all the things that I happened today I could finally go to bed. It was already midnight and I had gotten my fair share of family for this week.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and shut the door expecting to unwind when, who do I see?

Oh yes, that would be the royal majesty himself carelessly flipping through a magazine, sitting on the counter.

"Well, don't you look dashing?" he said.

And I thought I was going to bed...

A/N: I tricked you, tee hee! Stay tuned!