Labyrinth belongs to the small gods Henson and Bowie. The plot bunnies have gone into hiding, possibly in my garden. Barn owls. *sigh*

She turns my world and leaves me breathless. Why does nothing go to plan with her? Jareth sat in the Escher room, on a 90 degree staircase, puzzling over his mate-to-be. I t had been three days since the walking tour, which had NOT ended with him ravishing her senseless in his bed. She had refused the castle tour entirely! Instead he had shown her the farmlands, the Adult Mortal Way (only from the air), and the main jewel cavern before taking her back to her flat. Sarah was a true Queen, she greeted his subjects politely, thanked everyone for their hard work and made no promises. Her kisses at the end scorched him, his lips still tingled! He sighed and tossed a crystal onto a nearby staircase. It bounced and rolled, defying gravity as easily as he did. Why didn't Sarah love him? What was holding her back? How was he going to make her fall in love with him so he could take her to bed? He flung another crystal in a different direction. She was so frustrating! Only in her dreams could he kiss and touch her as he wanted. The dreams were amazing, but he knew the reality would be so much better. There was a more than zero chance their first mating would kill him, but oh, it would be so worth it! Unless his desire killed him first. No, he would not let that happen! He would have Sarah in his bed, or her bed, or the cushion pit, or her couch, or her floor, or his throne or in here. He looked around thoughtfully. Yes, that could work. He rubbed his hands together gleefully.

I know how you want this to end and I'm not there yet.

The remembered words landed hard on his shoulders and he slumped back down on the steps. What more did she want from him!?

Sarah requires delicate handling. She has scars you can't see. Chara's comment brought him back to his feet. Of course! Chara knew everything! He summoned a crystal and checked on the Crossroads. It was squashed into a row of dinky shops and food stalls in a half-forgotten alley in Kyoto. Jareth grinned, changed into more appropriate clothes and poofed to the alley. It was early evening and only the food stalls were open. Jareth flashed his teeth at a gaping middle aged woman tending a yakitori stall. She flinched away muttering "Oni!" He laughed and strutted inside. Two men of indeterminate age wearing expensive suits stared at him coldly.

"Mama-san! Dono yo ni kono ba ni sabisu o teikyo aete?" (How dare you serve a foreigner in your bar?) One asked, sneering. Chara slapped the insolent man with a large paper fan.

"Dono yō ni anata ga goburin no ō ni totemo burei ni hanasu aete! Kare wa itsumo watashi no bā de kangei sa rete imasu!" (How dare you insult the King of the Goblins! He is always welcome in my bar!). She waved the fan at the astonished mortal. "Ima shazai, anaya no tsuma ni ienikaeru to watashiwa anata no kachinonai hi hyoji o hozonshita ka kanoju ni iimasu!" (Now apologize, go home to your wife and tell her how I saved your worthless hide!)

"Gomen nasai gozaimasu, goburin no ō!" (I am very sorry, King of the Goblins!) The man stammered, bowing very low. The silent one shook his head, bowed politely and helped his friend out of the bar. Jareth pouted.

"Chara! You spoiled my fun!" She put her fan away and glared at him.

"You just cost me at least five customers, Snow Cock, you'd better have a Very Good Reason to be here!" Jareth blinked, waved his hand dismissively and settled in the chair across from her.

"How do I make Sarah fall in love with me?" Chara blinked once, twice, before bursting into merry laughter. He scowled. This was not a funny situation! Chara forced herself to calm down and cleared her throat.

"What, may I ask, brought this out?" She asked, grinning madly. Jareth propped his forearms on the bar and sulked.

"She won't have sex with me until she loves me!"

"Wh...what?" Chara asked, eyes wide and glowing. Jareth dropped his chin onto his wrists.

"She said she's not afraid of kissing me, but anything beyond that won't happen until her feelings match mine. I had plans! Beautiful, delicious plans," His voice trailed off.

"She won't have sex with you until she knows she loves you and you're sulking because your plans are ruined?" Chara asked in a tight, squeaky voice. He looked up and nodded sharply. Chara collapsed against the liquor shelves behind her, laughing uproariously. He sulked, he glowered, he threatened her with the Bog and she continued to laugh.

"Chara! If this obscene display at my expense does not stop immediately, I will be forced to report you to your Lady!" He shouted. Chara waved one hand, choking back giggles. It still took her five minutes to calm down. When she did, she filled a flask with a top shelf sake and got it warming in a pot of steaming water. Jareth waited, arms folded and using his regal "I Am Not Amused" face as she prepared skewers of raw shrimp. She arranged the skewers on a plate and poured him a shot of sake.

"Gods above and below, you two. Am I going to have to mediaite every major decision in your relationship?" She pushed the plate and cup to him. He tossed back the sake and thumped the ceramic cup on the counter. She poured him three more before he deigned to eat a skewer. As always, her food and alcohol was sublime, but he would not be saying so until she apologized.

"What exactly do you mean, Chara?" He asked softly, glaring. She shrugged and refilled the warm flask.

"Only that neither one of you seems to know how to talk to the other."

"Has Sarah talked to you?" Jareth asked eagerly. "Did she tell you what she wants?" Chara gave him a Look.

"Have you asked her what she wants?"

"I asked her why." Chars groaned.

"Snow Cock, you idiot! What did I say about Sarah?"

"She has hidden scars and I have to be clever. I was clever! I made her a picnic lunch and I showed her the Mother Tree and she said my conjured food fizzed."

"Fizzed?" Chara looked confused. Jareth devoured a skewer before preening.

"My Sarah can taste magic!"

"Gods above and below, do NOT tell me you asked her to lick one of your crystals."

"She didn't want to taste the Fertility Wellspring!" Chara thumped him soundly on his head. "CHARA!"

"King of the Goblins, your stupidity is on par with your subjects!" She shouted back.

"What?" He growled, a crystal forming in one hand. No one, not even Chara, could get away with such an insult. She folded her arms and took a full step back, returning his glare with interest.

"You are obviously thinking with the wrong brain! Stop trying to get into her pants and give her what she needs!"

"Do you know what she needs?" He sneered. Chara rolled her eyes.

"What does any good Queen candidate need?"

"Uh," Jareth dismissed the crystal and picked up a skewer of shrimp. He held the crustaceans up to the light. "She needs a strong will, a compassionate heart and find me irresistibly sexy and my subjects cute." Chara thumped her head against a shelf. Jareth pulled a shrimp off by the tips of his pointed teeth.

"Hopeless. Jareth." His ears pricked. Chara's voice had changed, becoming soft and serious. He knew the signs of Very Important News Coming. Dropping the skewer, he faced her with all senses open. "Go back."

"Go back?"

"To the beginning." She nodded and laid one warm hand on his. "You're not in your labyrinth, my friend." Jareth blinked a few times, sucked in a noisy breath.

"I'm in hers." Chara nodded and patted his hands.

"You won't get anywhere trying to storm her castle. You have to solve the labyrinth first."

"But, mortal hearts are so confusing!" Chara gave him a withering look and held her palm out.

"Turn over that medallion! Any were owl who whines about mortal hearts is not fit to rule goblins or care for the Labyrinth!" Jareth puffed up and screeched, one hand pressing his symbol of office against his chest. "Hand it over or I'll take it from you!"

"Never!" Jareth launched himself back, twisting in mid flight to land near the door. "I am the King of the Goblins!"

"Prove it!" She shouted, vaulting over the bar

"I will!" Jareth transformed and flew home. Landing in the throne room, he kicked the goblin snoozing in front of the throne away. It didn't wake up, even when it hit the wall and slid down. Jareth summoned a crystal to begin studying Sarah's past. Several time twisted hours later, he popped the crystal and sighed heavily. His mate to be was so...so sensible! He couldn't remember the last time he had been so inclined. He owed her an apology and a change in focus.

"I'll run your Labyrinth, Precious, and I will win."

Sarah swirled the crystal in her palm, enjoying the sensation. After sleep, playing with Jareth's gift was her favorite recovery from a long, hard or creepy day. She had reported the penguin keeper for skulking around the women's toilet in the staff building, but her gut was telling her drastic measures would be needed soon.

I'm not going to lick your crystal ball. She blushed at the memory. The date had ended well last week and she had what she hoped was fun plans for this weekend. Perversely, the urge to lick the crystal in her hand seized her every time she saw it. Fear of Jareth catching her and making all the lewd comments held her back, but now… She held it up and peered closely. No images developed, nor did she get the "being watched" feeling. She looked around her room, checked her closet and under the bed. Nothing around. She threw a blanket over her dressing table mirror, closed the curtains and did one final check of nooks, crannies and shadows before sitting on her bed. Taking a deep breath, she ran her tongue up the side of the crystal.

It was a very good thing Sarah was sitting on her bed.

When the explosions of pop rocks and hormones subsided, she blinked her eyes open. Mismatched orbs were inches away and she could feel Jareth. All of him and it was quite obvious the pop rocks and hormones had been mutual. Sarah closed her eyes.

"Bloody Hell!"

"Sarah," Jareth moaned and seized her lips with his. Sarah responded in spades, wrapping arms and legs around him. He growled into her mouth and thrust once. The crystal rolled out of her hand and dropped on her right shoulder.

"Mmmph!" Sarah let go of Jareth and grabbed her shoulder. That hurt! Jareth pulled back, sensing her pain.

"Precious?"

"Damnit Jareth! Your balls are bloody hard." She snapped. Jareth stared at her, then ground his hips firmly into hers.

"Really," He purred. Sarah rubbed her shoulder and glared.

"That one, you oversexed Snow Cock," She said, jerking her head towards the crystal. "Ow!" The crystal was closer than she thought. Jareth frowned at his creation.

"Well. That simply won't do." He flicked the orb with a finger and it popped. Sarah blinked in bemusement when he lifted a silver bracelet off her coverlet. He slid down to the floor, dragging against her and sending her hormones into overdrive. She stared at the ceiling, trying to suppress the urge to shuck off her clothes and yell "Take me!" It took a while. Jareth, surprisingly, waited patiently until she sat up on her own. He was sitting in the doorway, back to her.

"Jareth?" She asked. His shoulders heaved with his sigh.

"My lady." He rose and turned to her. Her eyes widened. He was wearing the tunnel outfit, looking serious, and she swallowed hard. He knelt at her feet.

"Sarah Williams, I apologize for my earlier behaviors. You were correct regarding the nature of our relationship. Please forgive an overeager owl," He said, taking her right hand. His eyes said even more. She smiled.

"You are forgiven, Jareth, King of the Goblins and Curator of the Labyrinth. I too must apologize. I am...not used to being the sole focus of a wereowl's attention. Please forgive an overwhelmed mortal." Jareth smiled and nibbled her knuckles.

"You are forgiven, Lady Sarah, Champion of my Labyrinth. Would you do me the honor of wearing my token of affection and intent to win your Labyrinth?" He held up the bracelet. Up close, she could see it was made of several thin bands of silver, twisted and twined together into an exciting pattern, with a small crystal caught in the middle.

"Does this token have any other properties?" She asked, feeling remarkably clear headed. Jareth's smile turned into a pleased grin.

"Clever lady. Yes, it does. By accepting this, you are granting me the power to know if any potential harm is near you so I may respond appropriately. It also grants you the power to call me to you at any time, for any reason."

"What about in dreams?"

"Ah, Precious. I have been guarding your dreams for ten years. That will never stop."

"What happens if I'm dreaming of you and touch the bracelet?"

"You will have a very happy wereowl in your bed."

"No popping Underground!" She said firmly. Jareth nodded.

"No popping Underground without your conscious consent."

"Then yes, Goblin King, I accept your token of affection and intent." Jareth trilled happily and fastened the bracelet around her wrist. She expected it to dangle, having somewhat small wrists, but it twined itself against her skin. She touched it, not entirely surprised that it was warm, and discovered she could move it and play with it, but once she stopped it went back to imitating a cuff. Sarah looked at Jareth, brought the bracelet to her mouth.

"Um, Precious," He said right before she licked it. She fell back on her bed, groaning at the second wave of pop rock explosions against her tongue and swamping desire. She reached out and encountered feathers. Feathers? Opening her eyes, she found a very fluffed barn owl sitting on her stomach and giving her a smoking hot look. The owl leaned down and deliberately nibbled on her left nipple. She yelped. He did the same thing to the right one and she moaned. Jareth-owl shrieked, spread his wings and flew away. Sarah stayed where she was, wondering if she could summon the strength to get up and take a cold shower. Her bracelet made a soft chime and she lifted her arm to look at it.

"Precious," Jareth's voice purred from the crystal. "Please do not lick anything else I give you unless you are ready and willing to be ravished for two days and nights, straight."

"Is that a promise?" She asked huskily. She gasped when the bracelet shivered.

"In your dreams." Sarah waited several more minutes before dragging herself into the bathroom for that cold shower. She left the bracelet on and grinned at the faint yelp when she held it under the spray. Given the circumstances, she went to bed early.