Morning broke over the Labyrinth, bringing unwanted light through the castle bedchamber window as Sarah groaned and pulled the covers up and over her head…

She didn't want to get up; didn't want to face what had to come.

For now, she was comfy and warm; snuggled next to Jareth as he slept.

There was a peacefulness about him as he lay beside her. An other-worldly calm that made him all the more beautiful, like a statue carved of pure marble; still and serene.

She didn't know if she was in love with him, or if it was just a lustful infatuation. But then, she thought, he certainly wasn't certain of his feelings for her either.

Had they always been headed here?

From the first moment they met, right from his spectacular entrance into her life, they had had an attraction she couldn't explain. A connection that neither of them seemed willing to sever.

It was there in each shared look or touch; almost tangible, as if they knew each other without ever having met before. A sizzle and enticement… a thread that tantalised and needed to be drawn closer.

On-and-off, she supposed, she had known him for years. But when she recalled their conversations she realized that the small amount of time she had had with him didn't amount to very long at all.

So why did she feel like they were connected? Why did every other relationship seem lukewarm in comparison to theirs?

Were they two souls who had known each other before?

She had been religious in her youth but that had fallen away with age and the needs of modern life… even through experience. And, she supposed, there was little she now believed in.

Except Jareth and how he made her feel.

He made her happy… even when she was angry as hell with him.

She knew he couldn't hurt her… even when he threw her in an oubliette or plunged her into the bog of eternal stench.

None of that mattered - Did that make sense?

"You know, it's very rude to stare," Jareth said, eyes still closed.

Startled, she laughed, "I was thinking."

"I'm disappointed you have the energy to," he moved to prop himself up on an elbow and smile at her, "I thought I had done a good job of wearing you out."

Sarah smiled again, letting the blush pink her skin and reaching out to trace her hand down his chest, "You did an excellent job."

Her hand was suddenly in his as he pulled her close and kissed the pulse point of her wrist, "Thank you. But I shall endeavour to try harder next time."

Flushing wildly, Sarah asked, "There will be a next time?"

Jareth frowned a moment, "Only as you wish."

Oh… she wished. So she wriggled closer, "Why don't you come back with me?"

"Back," he asked, blinking in confusion.

"Home," she continued in a rush, "We can get a flat while I finish my studies and you can…"

"You mean to your world?" He questioned, slowly, seeming bemused.

"Yes," wasn't that obvious?

There was a moment while he breathed and blinked at her.

"And do what?"

…

Well… she hadn't really thought the proposition through… so shrugged.

"I see," he sighed, beginning to look a little sad as he pulled her closer and stroked his fingers gently up her arm as she lay on his chest... "I shouldn't suppose your world has much call for an ousted Goblin King… "

Sarah knew it was a long-shot… but she had had to ask the question… "Does that matter?"

"It does."

…

Knowing it wasn't the answer she wanted, Jareth snuggled down the bed so his eyes were level with hers, "I'm not from your world Sarah… it's so alien to me. I wouldn't know where to even begin to build a life…"

"But what do you have here?" She asked, "You aren't the King anymore… Hoggle told me you don't even live in the castle…"

Jareth looked at her, slightly irritated, "Did he now?"

His pride was hurt, she could see that, but there was no point in denying the truth. "You have to begin again anyway," she admitted, giving an awkward shrug, "So why not with me?"

Almost squirming with discomfort, Jareth replied, "It's complicated."

"What's complicated," she asked… it seemed pretty simple from where she was sitting…

"I am older than you, Sarah," he said, as though he were explaining to a child.

But she knew that – she had always known… and she didn't care.

All Sarah could do was shrug in response…

Jareth shook his head and shifted to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear… "You deserve so much, Sarah… a real relationship with a young man who can give you everything… that's emotional commitment too…"

She felt her head shaking, "What are you talking about?"

And there was a moment where he sighed and simply looked at her, seeming saddened beyond words. "Sarah…" he sighed…

She was suddenly hopeless and wondered… What was the point?

What had she been thinking?

Honestly?

Did she expect him to give up his life for her?

She supposed she would not give up her life for him… so why should she expect anything different?

This was no good.

It would come to no good.

Regardless of how he made her feel.

No – this was enough.

Sarah sat up, the sheets of the bed pooling at her lap as she announced, "I had better get dressed."

"Now?"

She shrugged, "Morning is here and I will have to leave sooner or later…"

"You sound disappointed," he smiled, stroking her arm fondly as his eyes misted with desire.

"I am," she admitted, "the past few hours have gone too quickly."

Jareth was suddenly sat upright, his body pressed to her side as he fixed his eyes on hers, "Do you wish we had them back again?"

Mesmerized, Sarah asked, "What?"

"Those hours…" he replied, "Would you like them back?"

She supposed she shouldn't, but "Yes."

Jareth grinned and leaned back, reaching out a hand toward the clock on the wall.

The seconds halted as the minutes reversed and became hours, almost rushing back to the time they had come back to the Labyrinth…

When he turned to her again, she laughed, "I forgot you could do that."

"I'm a man of many talents," he admitted, rising to his knees and manoeuvring around the bed to place himself before her.

Jareth took her face in his hands, gently rubbing a thumb over the softness of her cheek, before leaning forward to kiss her.

It was a slow, languid kiss; one that knew it was a foreshadowing of what was to come.

And she shouldn't…

But her body reacted to his touch and the thought of all those hours to live over again… and her heart thudded heavily as she pulled back…

Was this how it felt when you suddenly break?

She was so defenseless… so much of her already pulsing in want of him as he looked on her so adoringly.

And if there were decisions to be made then they could wait until the morning… whenever that may be… time after time after time…

It meant little as his lips found hers; Sarah pressed up into his embrace to kiss him over and over again; just like the first time and just like the last time.

Jareth moved his hands over her skin with ease, halting at her hip, fingertips so close and hesitant as if waiting for her permission; just like the first time and just like the last time.

"Please," he would mutter against her lips. And Sarah, desperate for his touch, would agree.

This had to end eventually… she knew.

But she wanted him so badly.

She couldn't let it go.

And so the hours melted.

And she let them.