Author's Note: Enjoy!

At the time, she had thought inviting Mr. Kingston to Christmas dinner had been a great idea. It was the season for sharing and or something like that. It wasn't at all so that Sarah wouldn't have to stop talking to the man. But now, she was wondering if she ended up torturing him instead.

Karen had almost fainted at the sight of the lanky man on the doorstep, only to be won over with a beautiful orchids that Jareth held in front of him. Hers was a beautiful pink orchid, whilst Linda's flower was purple. They would've broken into a fight about whose was more beautiful if Sarah hadn't loudly suggested they let them in so the front door could be shut.

She handed her father the hastily wrapped present they had managed to find.

Mr. Kingston had insisted they stop at a toy store not far from his own shop. Sarah didn't think any toy shop in their right mind would be open on Christmas day, but here they were. The haggard looking owner of Hogsworth Toys had sworn revenge on the flower shop owner, but Jareth wouldn't budge. A favor is a favor and you owe me for Easter, the florist had drawled. Sarah would never admit that it was incredibly attractive how confident Jareth had been. And because of him, Toby would get to play with the cutest wooden train set she had ever see.

"Thank you for the present, Sarah. Toby's asleep, but he'll have a blast in the morning."

"Sarah, you should put that coat up. It's going to get warm in here with everyone," Karen said. "Why don't you take a seat in the living room, Mr. Kingston?"

"Just Jareth will do, Mrs. Williams."

"Oh my, what a gentleman," Karen giggled.

"Where is the coat I gave you?" Linda asked, curling her lips at Sarah's stepmother. Her ever present wine glass tipped dangerously to the side as she eyed Sarah.

Her cheeks turned bright red and she saw Mr. Kingston smiling softly to himself. The wind had picked up when they had left the shop, so he had insisted she borrow one of his coats. Now a warm woodsy scent clung to her skin, and she wanted nothing more than to keep on said coat. "Mom, you gave me that coat in fifth grade."

"Oh, have you outgrown it already?" Linda asked absentmindedly, sipping her glass.

"Maybe if you paid attention to your daughter, you'd know that," Paul, Sarah's father, answered back. Her mother said nothing, too busy on her phone.

Sarah said nothing, only rolling her eyes at her mother's trademark inattentiveness. She finished hanging up the coat and joined the others in the living room. She sat down on the loveseat next to their guest.

Mr. Kingston glanced at her but did not pull away from his conversation with Karen about holiday rushes and such. Karen, being a caterer, understood the hassles of running a small business during a busy holiday season. They were given glasses of red wine while they all waited for the timer to go off.

"So, Mr. Kingston, why did Sar-bear bring you?" Linda asked interrupting Karen while eyeing the man up and down. "I don't think she's ever brought such a handsome man over in well, ever."

"We were having a pleasant conversation at my shop and she invited me over when I told her that I would not be able to see my family this Christmas. I am eternally grateful to her for that," he said honestly. He returned the bright smile that Sarah gave him.

"Hm, and this is the first time you two have met?" Paul asked.

"Yes, I only recently moved here myself. My father's retired now, and as such someone needed to take over Labyrinth," Jareth answered. "I used to be in London."

"Oh, what a shame. Did Sarah tell you she's living in London now? If only you two had crossed paths before you had to come to the middle of nowhere," Linda said. "She's been there, what two years now? She's still got her head in the clouds about this acting thing, so she's out there. I bet she'll come back 'across the pond' soon."

"Linda," Paul chastised.

"What? It's not like the girl is going to actually make something of herself."

Tears burned in Sarah's eyes at the way her mother nonchalantly humiliated her. She shifted herself away from Mr. Kingston, hoping her mother's rudeness wouldn't be directed at him due to her proximity.

A gloved hand reached over and grabbed hers. It was a warmth that she hadn't expected, but much appreciated.

Luckily for all of them, the timer went off and Karen swept up Paul and Linda to the kitchen, adamant that they help her get the table set and dinner served.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry you had to hear that. I promise she's not usually that blunt, but I think the cabernet's gone to her head," Sarah joked lamely, giving him a tight smile.

Those gorgeous eyes stared at her with such concern and for a second, Sarah wondered how he'd react if she launched herself into his arms. Probably sputter and pass out, she thought.

"I don't agree."

"What's that?"

"I don't agree that the wine has gone to her head. I think she's quite jealous of you. Successful actress or not, you're the one living your dreams," Mr. Kingstone explained. He reached out and pushed back a strand of her dark hair.

"I-I'm not an actress. I'm a stage manager, but I understudy a lot. I'm hoping to be a teacher one day, but how can I teach something I haven't done?"

"You don't ever have to explain yourself to me," Jareth assured. "Come, we should join them."

He rose and held out his hand, helping her to her feet.

"The turkey was absolutely delicious, Mrs. Williams," Jareth praised, passing over the honeyed rolls to Sarah, who saw next to him.

"Oh, please call me Karen. I insist," she giggled, her cheeks a bright pink.

"They're fine," Linda commented, pushing the roll to the side of her plate. She had insisted to everyone that she was watching her figure, and Karen had acquiesced to her diet by serving her plain chicken and rice. Even Sarah, seated as far from her mother as possible, could see that there wasn't a lick of seasoning anywhere on that plate. Point one to Karen.

Her mother's eyes shifted down the table to her. "Sarah, don't eat another of those rolls, it'll go straight to your hips."

"You must give me the recipe for these rolls, Karen," Sarah said, ignoring her mother as she sunk her teeth into the roll.

"Would you like a slice of cake, Jareth?"

"I'd love one, but I must be going soon."

"Oh, so soon?" Karen asked.

"Yes, ma'am. My vehicle is still at the shop and I do live out of town."

"Sarah you should have been more considerate," Linda complained.

"Mom, I-"

Paul cleared his throat. "That's enough, Linda. Can't you see you're embarrassing the girl?"

"I'm not a girl, Dad."

"That's so like you, Paul! You always side with her. She's the one who inconvenienced us all by bringing a stranger over. Any normal girl would bring her boyfriend, but our daughter is too busy with her head in the clouds. She gets that from your side of the family."

"Why do you have to be so rude? Can't you go one holiday without being so disrespectful to anyone?"

"Oh, I'm the disrespectful one?"

"You two should leave now," Karen sighed.

Sarah didn't say anything, intent on making a quick exit. When those two started, it would be hours before they stopped. "Come on," she whispered next to her.

Jareth followed along, watching with amusement as the her parents began hurling insults at each other. Their coats were hastily put on and soon they were in Sarah's car, teeth chattering as the vents blasted hot air at them. Once the car had sufficiently warmed up, Sarah drove them out of the Williams' driveway and back towards Labyrinth flower shop.

"Well, that was certainly exciting."

Sarah groaned, thumping her head on the steering wheel. "Please, kill me."

"Why would I do such a thing?"

"Did you miss every cringe worthy thing my mother did and said?"

"For your sake, I was pretending she didn't do any of it," Jareth answered honestly.

"See, that's what makes you such a wonderful person. And the perfect gentleman."

"I wouldn't have missed this dinner for anything, Sarah." He glanced outside to the snow covered parking lot where his 1969 Dodge Charger R/T was parked. Sarah had helpfully pulled in next to it, but he still didn't fancy the idea of driving it in the snow. He trusted himself to drive the beauty, but trusting other drivers was not easy to do.

He also didn't fancy the idea of leaving Sarah's presence. She was a joy in his now dull life. One could only sell so many petunias before they pulled out their hair. She was refreshingly blunt, sweet, charming, stubborn to an extent, and more attractive than he cared to admit. Yes, he liked Sarah Williams very much.

He reached over and cupped her chin, turning her face away from where it rested against the steering wheel.

Sarah's green eyes widened and she swallowed nervously. Jareth's eyes traced the movement down her throat to the sweetheart neckline of her dress. His eyes flicked back up to hers and he leaned in until they were breathing the same air. He whispered, "Forgive my impertinence, but may I kiss you?"

"I'd be furious if you didn't," she said back.

Their lips came together slowly, as if neither could believe it wasn't a dream. His hand curled around her neck, pulling her in as she gripped his shoulder and pulled him down to her. Jareth moaned as she whimpered, entwining her fingers in his smooth hair.

They yanked apart when Jareth's elbow hit the steering wheel and the horn went off. Sarah quickly adjusted her dress back into place as it had rode up her legs and Jareth straightened himself up as well. He cleared his throat as he attempted to smooth down his hair.

"That was..." He started but trailed off. How did he put everything he felt into words?

"Yeah, yeah I agree."

"Forgive me if I overstepped-"

"Don't you dare apologize for that! That's the best kiss I've ever had," Sarah interrupted, covering his mouth with her hand. He stared at her, too stunned to try to pry her hand off of him in order to speak. Her eyes widened and she pulled back in horror. "Oh my gods, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be so rude. And-and I didn't mean for that to come that way! I just meant that your kiss far exceeds anyone I've kissed. Not that I've kissed a lot of people! I've only ever kissed a few. But not because I'm a prude or anything! It's just, I-I...oh dang it."

Jareth laughed. A full belly laugh that had him tearing up and gasping for air. Sarah buried her head in her hands. He's never going to want to see me again.

"I don't know why I keep messing up when I'm around you. I've never been so nervous," she tearfully said.

"My dear, don't hide from me. Come now, show me your face."

"Please, Mr. Kingston, just forget everything I did. I don't think I could bear to embarrass myself in front of you anymore," she mumbled. He didn't like that. Not one bit.

"Jareth."

"I really don't- ow! Did-did you just pinch me?" Sarah asked incredulously. She looked at the red mark on the back of her arm to confirm that he had indeed pinched her.

"Jareth. Say it."

His voice was low, and it had come out...powerful? She didn't know how to put it into words, but even in her embarrassment she could tell he was not asking. "Jareth..."

"Good, now about that kiss."

"Oh, gods!"

"May I have another?"

"...What? You want another one? You actually meant it?"

The florist blinked at her, cocking his head to the side. She had to admit that it was rather bird like, especially with his ruffled hair. "My dear, what sort of scoundrels have you seen that would kiss a beautiful woman like you and not mean it?"

"Well, I-"

"Sarah." She shut her mouth. "I know you have not known me very long, but I am not the kind of man who will play with a lady's affections. I like you. Quite a bit in fact. I want to get to know you, spend time with you. You're younger than me and I want to take it slow."

"Wait, how old are you?"

"37," he said slowly. "I understand if that puts you off."

Sarah smiled. "That's it? I can live with a 13 year age difference. It feels right."

"Then can I get to know you, Miss Williams?"

"I'd be furious if you didn't," she replied with a grin. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Kingston."

"Merry Christmas, Sarah."

Author's Note: I know I originally said this was going to possibly be a two shot, but surprise surprise, I changed my mind. I'll be posting the next chapter on October 13th. Keep an eye out!