DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Labyrinth

A/U: I like this chapter...but I'm a little biased so here ya go.

Wow. I had actually had a good time with him. We ate. We talked about similar interests. He even told me about some of his stories growing up and ruling the kingdom. I never fully comprehended just how long he has lived until I heard what he had to say.

It's not a secret that I like him...in that way...unfortunately for myself. I just don't know how this is going to work. I have my family back home to think about. I have my brother, my dad, Karen...but that's really all that I have. That's the thing. There was everything and nothing to go back to. The more I stayed, the more I realized I might actually be happy here. Every time I go home- every time I cross the front door- it goes to hell. It feels that some doom is waiting for me in the normal world. The more I stay here- well- then I'm in danger of loving someone else when the Emmett situation was bad enough. What if it goes bad with Jareth? What will I have then?

I was pacing at this point. I'm scared about what will happen with my life after I make my final decision. But, my decision couldn't be more clear at this point...

I yawned as I shut off my alarm on my phone. Crap. So many phone calls. I can guess who they're from. I'm sure Emmett would like to explain himself but I'm not interested. Not anymore.

I walked to my vanity and on the stand there were emerald earrings to match the dress that hung on the chair. Huh.

I picked up the note that went with the earrings:

Sara,

I would love to spend all afternoon with you. However, that is something that a King does not have the pleasure of doing on a whim. You are invited to a social gathering tonight with some fellow kings and queens from other realms. However, I am claiming your first dance. You have no say in that. You also must wear that dress because I will take a wicked pleasure in being the only one dancing with you in it (earrings too).

Jareth

A part of me thought that the earrings were a little much but I was still going to wear them. He talks a big talk but if I didn't wear them his feelings would be a little hurt. He would never show it but today I didn't feel like hurting him. I actually wanted to make him happy. How strange. I laughed to myself. What have I become?

I felt so odd wearing this dress. I know that this is a normal thing in the Underground but, being from the Above, I felt a little uncomfortable. I felt...Disney. Yes, that's what it was. I couldn't take myself seriously but I had to admit that I looked good if nothing else.

Poof. Jared appeared behind me in the mirror.

"Hey! I could have been changing!"

He laughed. "That would have been even better."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, well, I think you should be a little appreciative that I'm wearing your dress and in that appreciation, you could knock on my bedroom door next time."

"I'll think about it. I make no promises. I think it's fun to have a little element of surprise. Now, do you have everything you're going to want in the next few hours? Your lip colors and face paint and all that?"

I smiled. "Yeah, something like that. Let's do this."

"Excellent."

This was worse than I thought. I don't know any of these people. Jareth sensed my hesitation and promised that he would stick with me the whole night. I was relieved to hear this. I think I draw the wrong sort of attention anyway. I think they know that I have no powers.

A woman approached, wearing a tight fitted scarlet dress. She looked infinitely more beautiful than anything that I had seen in a magazine. I suddenly felt even more insecure- a feat that seemed damn near impossible at this point.

"Oh, Darling Jareth! It has been soooo long. I can't believe that you're leading this event- of all people! You hate these things!"

"Yes, Christine. It seems that way but actually I thought Sara would like it and it seems she's starting to wrap me around her devil-like pinky so I agreed to host this time."

She looked me up and down clearly confused why I would interest someone like Jareth but seemed to shrug it off.

"Umm...how sweet. I think I'll go catch up with Claire now. I can't wait to talk to you at the next Council meeting."

I turned to him, whispering, "I don't feel welcome here."

He eyed me and started to walk up to a couple clearly entertaining a whole crowd of people who were laughing, making jokes. As soon as we approached, all eyes were on us. They seem puzzled.

"Seth and Ruby, this is my mate Sara."

The couple looked very serious at the remark that Jareth had just made until the woman smiled and shook my hand.

"Very pleasant to meet you. That dress is very tasteful. I like that it draws attention without showing so many things that don't need to be shown at an event such as this."

She pointedly eyed Christine.

"Thank you. Although, I can't take credit for this piece. Jareth picked it out. He seems to have an eye for this kind of thing."

She gave me a kind look. " Sweetheart, I think he has an eye for you. Now, Jareth, I understand that you ran into your brother the other day. How is he? I haven't seen him in a while."

He grimaced. "He's more than fine...unfortunately."

She gave him a disapproving look.

"You two are brothers! I wish you would remember that more often."

"Oh, trust me, I have not forgotten."

"Well," She said. "I hope to see him soon and I wish you two well in your endeavours. It was very nice to meet you, Sara."

And they walked off to go find their party again.

"Wow, that woman is so nice. How do you know the couple?" I asked.

He raised his eyebrows. "I thought that was quite obvious. Those were my parents."

"Your parents?! They seemed a little...cold to be your parents. Your dad didn't talk at all!"

"He's not so happy with me to begin with but when I end up bringing a human to this gathering his distaste for me deepens."

I frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"I just think that's sad. That's all."

He downed a glass of champagne at the nearest table.

"Sara, down here things are different. Some things are just the way they are."

After a couple encounters which all ended up with people looking at me like I was from the circus, we decided to just dance. It was nice to be close to him for a while without talking to anyone. I just needed some peace.

It was one thing to hear that someone disliked you but it was another to talk to someone who didn't even know how to function around you. They couldn't relate to how...human...I was. It was sad. I was really trying to put out an effort to make Jareth happy that I was connecting in his world. I was making an effort for the first time since I got here. I was actually trying. If I don't fit in Above and I don't fit in Below, where does that leave me?

Jareth stopped dancing. He looked at me.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I'm having a fabulous time."

"Sara. I know you're lying."

"I'm just a little tired. That's all. You know, all these people really take it out of me."

He knew I was lying but decided to let it go for now.

We got back to the dining room upstairs after we said goodbye to everyone. They took off almost as soon as they had come. Sparkling trails of poofs and glitter everywhere. The night was long so everyone must have been more than ready to go home. It didn't turn out badly. I had a lot of fun dancing. I finally met someone decent to talk to- Samantha. She was so nice and treated me like an actual human being. I think she works for Jareth's parents though which is a tad inconvenient but I'm hoping she won't have to mention me while around them.

Jareth approached me half dressed. He had been anxious to get out of his shirt. I could tell that the high neck was bothering him. But now, I was ogling him.

"Sara, we are now alone so you can tell me what had you so upset earlier."

"How do you know that I was 'upset'?"

"I can sense emotions. Yours, unfortunately, seem to dominate the strength of the ones I normally feel. I have some suspicions as to why that is but we can talk about that later. I want to know what has upset you. Is it my parents? My friends? Who? What?"

"Okay, okay. I was just really 'upset' - as you call it- because I feel like I disappointed you tonight. I didn't mesh with the majority of the people at that party. They just stared at me or made obvious jokes about my human-like qualities. It doesn't bother me but you live here. These are people you interact with all the time. This is your life and I don't mesh well with it. How would I stay knowing that I don't fit in like you need me to? I know I let you down. I'm sorry."

He looked...astonished. That was something new.

"Sara Riley Williams. You want to stay here? There's a chance you want to live here?"

"Well..." Crap. I let that one loose. "I was thinking about it."

"What changed your mind?"

"That's not the point. The point is that I don't belong here...or...anywhere really."

"No, Sara. You did not disappoint me tonight. Those people downstairs were mostly...coworkers...I guess that's the equivalent in your world. I want you to stay here more than I want any of those people back in my house again."

"Oh."

"Yes. Oh, indeed. I think I've learned a lot about you tonight, Sara."

He left me standing in the middle of the dining room not knowing what to do with myself after what I just confessed.