My sincerest apologies this took so long. Hopefully from here on out I'll be back in the swing of things and shoot for a chapter every month. Hope you're all well! Enjoy, and comment if you'd like!

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The Castle at the Center of the Labyrinth buzzed with activity. Goblins dashed from corridor to corridor and scurried around like bees. The skitter of little feet and claws echoed louder than usual; the castle was aflurry with a commotion that made the average day in the Labyrinth look peaceful. Goblins were gossiping, and their king was too happy to even notice.

While the goblins skittered, a singular, grumpy dwarf stomped.

"This. Is. Ridiculous!" Hoggle cried.

"It's not a big deal, it doesn't change anything!" Sarah blushed. It'd been only two days since she and Jareth had kissed, but Hoggle still managed to find out from goblin gossip rather than from her—it wasn't going over well.

"You should've told me!"

"I meant to, it's been literally only two days!"

"Three."

"It happened at night. That day doesn't count."

"Sarah…" Hoggle massaged his brow with his fingers as if he had a headache. His eyes squinted shut. "I don't think you get how serious this is. How long have you been here?"

"Not that long," Sarah pouted back.

"How long, Sarah?"

Sarah's answer caught in her throat. How long had she been here? She remembered her first night as if it were yesterday, but…it also felt so long ago, so far away. Sarah stuttered. "Well…um…there was the first night, and…a-a-and when I found out the Wiseman passed…ya, only a few days…right?" Hoggle's big blue eyes stared up at her.

"You're starting to forget."

All the sounds of the castle were swallowed up in a vacuum; Sarah could only hear blood rushing in her ears. Time stood still. What did her father look like? Her step-mother? Her brother, whose name was…whose name was…

"Toby," Sarah said out loud.

"Sarah," Hoggle said. "Time works differently here." He spoke every word slowly with emphasis. Sarah still reeled from shock. How could she forget her own parents? Hoggle continued. "Humans have come to our world without wishing someone away since ages. They always forget. Their short lifespans burn out quickly, and they always forget their lives in the Aboveground. I don't want you to return home ten years older to find only a fortnight has passed."

For a moment, Sarah was too stunned to speak.

"I…I didn't realize." A beat of silence passed. "I'm sorry, Hoggle. I should've listened to you. I promise, no more messing around. I'll put my mind only to returning home. I'll sleep in the library if I have to." Hoggle came to her and gave her hands a squeeze.

"I care about you, Sarah. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I know, Hoggle." Sarah smiled sadly and gave him a tight hug.

Hoggle had pulled her aside from a game of marbles she'd been playing with a few goblins. Sarah apologized and excused herself quickly before wide, pleading eyes and pouting lips could convince her to stay. The castle halls seemed to darken as thick clouds moved across the amber sky above, casting an autumnal light through the many castle windows. Sarah made her way to the library, where she was determined to stay until bedtime, dinner be damned.

Truthfully, the girl had already made up her mind; she'd make a trade. She didn't know what, but surely there was something that could take her place and appease the wish-magic. It was doubtful she'd come across new information, but she had to try.

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Jareth found Sarah sitting in the library. The enormous tome chronicling the runners of the Labyrinth sat before her. He couldn't believe she'd lugged the heavy thing all the way down from her room. Scattered around the chronicle were four more hefty books, each of them cracked open.

"Sarah?" Sarah looked up and straightened her slumped shoulders with a tired smile. "I was worried when you didn't come to lunch, or dinner." Behind the tone of concern, Sarah would've swore there was a twinge of hurt.

"Sorry about that," she said, standing. She approached him and took his hand, and he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Since their kiss after the ball, they'd greeted each other with a kiss at each meal, and they'd parted the same way. After breakfast this morning, Jareth could keep his hands from her no longer; he had wound his fingers into her raven hair. He'd deepened the kiss, and she had leaned up to him, pressed her body into him. Her hands had found their way to his hips, and he had snaked his free arm around her to set his hand on the small of her back. He'd moved his lips to her neck, drawing the tiniest of moans from her mouth. He'd stopped, not wanting to overstep. He had rested his forehead on hers, and they'd closed their eyes, drinking in the moment, letting the diminishing pulses of passion course through their bodies. He hadn't wanted to overstep…but had he? Was she avoiding him?

He was too afraid to ask.

"I just really, really need to get on top of my escape plan."

She sounded honest enough. Jareth tried to gulp inconspicuously. "Yes, of course," he said, clearing his throat. "Well, perhaps tomorrow after you're done researching, we can walk the perimeter of the castle via the castle gardens? If you wish it."

"Jareth…" Sarah took his other hand in hers. "I think we need to spend less time together, and more time figuring out a way for me to get out."

"To return home, you mean," Jareth said, trying to keep his voice level. She might be stuck here, but this was no prison or place of evil. It began to wear on him when she spoke of the Underground like a wretched place to escape.

"Yes, of course," said Sarah, awkwardly releasing the king's hands. Silence passed between them.

Jareth cleared his throat. "No, you're completely right. We shouldn't be spending our time idly. I'll try to help however I can, and give you the space and time you need."

Sarah smiled up at him. "Thank you, Jareth." She leaned up to kiss him on the tried to lean in, but Sarah broke away. "What time is it anyway?"

"Time for me to take to the nocturnal sky, but I suppose it's time for you to start getting to bed." Jareth felt more annoyed than he would've liked to admit, but he did his best to wear a brave face. In response, Sarah stretched and yawned.

"Ya, I guess you're right. I'll see you at breakfast, okay?" She gave him a peck on the cheek.

"See you then," he said quietly. He went up in a flash of white and tan feathers, causing Sarah to give a little gasp and step back. A barn owl flew towards the ceiling and somehow disappeared. Sarah reached a hand behind her head and rubbed the back of her neck. Did she just make things awkward between them?

Above the Labyrinth, moonlight reflected in flashes off an owl's creamy coat.

"Great, now I've gone and messed things up. Too fast. I went too fast," Jareth thought as he soared over the ancient maze. "No, that cannot be true. I've hardly done anything to warrant her taking a step back. She simply wishes to return Aboveground. That is all." The barn owl dove for the maze, thrusting its wings wide to break its plunge at the last second. It alighted in a bushy tree covered in lichen that shone pale in the moonlight. "How can I possibly court her if she's so preoccupied with her egress? And should she return, how can I possibly carry out a courtship when she is Above and I am Under? Surely it wouldn't be too hard. I wouldn't forsake my duties here, I could manage both worlds." The king hopped out of the tree. When he landed, humanoid feet in leather boots hit the ground. "Surely I've shown restraint these past three days," he said, holding out a hand. He made a fist and extended a finger; flapping suddenly filled the air as a colony of bats darkened the sky overhead. One little bat flapped down and grasped his gloved finger with his little feet. The bat looked normal, with its upturned, pig-like snout and fuzzy brown fur. However, two little horns protruded out from its forehead. Jareth extended the little thing's wings and examined them closely; his owl sight made seeing in easy dark easy. "You're good to go," he said out loud. It flew off and another horned bat took its place, and so went the next hours. Whenever Jareth found a tear or puncture, he waved his hand over it to heal the injury. "Really," he said as the bats came and went, "I don't think I'm asking for too much, I'm not asking for anything. I'm certainly not pushy. Surely she can make some time for me. A relationship should progress. Perhaps her priorities are different than mine…" He stayed silent as he examined three more bats. "I'll just have to keep trying. Eventually, I'm sure she'll come to the same conclusion I have; there's only one solution to this situation. Therefore, she should not hinder our progress."

The little bat on his finger looked up at him with wide eyes, as if to say, "Patience, master." But, it flew off and another took its place. Jareth sighed.

"I must not be hasty. She isn't going anywhere. I'm sure she'll come around. Things are going so well already. Soon, she shall have it all. Soon," he said, hoisting up the bat on his finger until it was directly before his face, "she shall have her dreams."