*POOF!*

Of all the creatures in all the realms, no one had a commute quite like Sarah Williams.

"Oh…" she groaned, rubbing at the soreness in her neck. "What a day…"

With a sigh, Sarah moved from the balcony to her room, the small flecks of shimmering dust that clung to her clothes making her smile despite a lengthy mental to-do list and physical exhaustion. She had found a way to minimize the expulsion of glitter in transit, to Jareth's obvious dismay, but would never teleport directly into her own room. She had forbidden it of him also, imposing the strict need for "entering a room like a normal person."

He had laughed at her then, slender hands on hips.

"You can hardly be considered normal, my dear."

And it was true. Now a mixture of human and fey she was unique, like an exotic flower; beautiful and deadly.

Of all the creatures in all the realms, no one had a commute quite like the Queen of the Goblins.

After the events of her childhood, and what had seemed like a twisted dream in the Goblin King's labyrinth, Sarah had grown up. Not immediately, of course, but as children do, pushing through the awkward years of adolescence and the uncertainty of young adulthood. By the age of twenty-seven, Ms. Williams had made quite a name for herself Aboveground and now worked as casting director for a large theatre company. She had long ago lost her need to be an actress, to play the part of another to remove herself from the reality of the world. But she never lost her love of the stories themselves and it had turned into a passion.

Still, it could be said that her time as an actor had never really ended, for she led a sort of double life. She had her work Aboveground, of course, a two-bedroom flat, friends, and family; but it wasn't quite home anymore and she would return to the Underground as often as her life and her work allowed. Magic had come naturally to her, though different in temperament from Jareth's, and she was able to come and go as she pleased. And although she often returned drained, Sarah found some way to keep up both her responsibilities to the theatre and to her kingdom.

That evening was no different and affairs of state required her attention before she could relax. Moving toward her wardrobe, Sarah picked through the silks and satins of countless gowns, finally deciding on a lovely velvet number in midnight blue, trimmed with silver. As she was setting out the silk shift and suede slippers that helped complete her ensemble, there was a light knock at her door.

"Come in," she called out, unable to hide the weariness in her voice. None other than Jareth himself stepped into the room a moment later, a playful grin teasing the edges of his lips. He'd waited for her impatiently, as always, and had almost bogged that disrespectful little dwarf, Hogbrain, for mentioning that his majesty seemed preoccupied during a council meeting earlier in the afternoon. Sarah, for her part, ignored him completely, laying her suit jacket on the back of a chair and stepping out of her heals.

"Trying day, precious?" he asked, walking toward her.

"Considerably… the studio director keeps changing his damn opinion. If I have to go through another casting session I'm going to sic the more malicious goblins on him."

"Such hostility," he said in that smooth sing-song voice that made her shiver, clicking his tongue disapprovingly. She refused to dignify him with a glance.

"Careful, Goblin King, or I might just turn it on you," she replied icily, grinding her teeth at the mixture of frustration and creeping yearning that he could turn on in her so easily. Turning away, she continued to undress, struggling with the zipper of her dress until a hand engulfed hers.

"Allow me."

The whisper brushed against her ear, every hair standing on end in response. And with two words the fae had succeeded in taking Sarah's attention off her work and focused it on himself instead. He was gloveless; it was something special between them, that she was often the only skin contact he had with the world, and it was divine. His hands were warm on her spine, easing the tension, and his lips were hot on her neck as the fabric fell away. She sighed at the feeling and allowed him to play lady's maid as he laced her up in a dress befitting his Queen.

"May I escort you to your throne, my dear?" He asked with a small bow, offering his arm. She smiled at his attentions, how could she not? Being with Jareth was like living in a dream, a story straight out of a fairytale. Sarah made a mental note to buy tickets to a renaissance fair for them both that spring; he'd fit right in. With a light laugh, she took his arm, thanking whatever benevolent star had brought them together.

"You may."

xxx

It was late when the King and his Lady finally retired. Sarah held herself tall and erect, as her station demanded, but Jareth knew that underneath she was exhausted. When they passed into their shared rooms she sighed and leaned heavily against him, breaking the queenly façade that she wore for the benefit of their subjects.

"Thank goodness it's the weekend…" she muttered, resting her cheek against his chest. Thoughts of a lazy morning drifted to her mind, and a sensual smile spread her lips as she imagined exactly how they would spend it. Jareth glanced down on her with a mixture of amusement and growing desire; this woman could entice him, nay drive him mad, with little more than a look.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, precious," he replied, clearing his through briefly lest she hear the huskiness she had stirred. "But do remember that the solstice festival is within a fortnight. And as much as I would love to have you waste away the next fifty-two hours in my bed, I doubt that would be the most efficient use of our time." Sarah blushed to her eartips, inwardly cursing the way he could still turn her into a complete mess with that silver tongue of his.

"I'd totally forgotten," she said with a groan, the memory of her responsibilities cooling the growing passion like a bucket of cold water. "And John said he needed me on overtime this week…" She massaged her temples, breaking away from Jareth to collapse in a chair. "Thank you for handling so much of the planning up till now. I'm sorry for not being more of a help. I know it's not fair to you." Jareth smiled wistfully, stepping up behind her to gently rub her shoulders.

"'Tis not the first time I've had to bear the responsibility alone," he replied quietly. The sound of wry resignation made Sarah turn to look up at him, fearing she had struck a chord. There was still much about his life that he had yet to share with her, but the deep loneliness he had endured prior to their meeting had a way of slipping out now and again.

"Jareth, I didn't mean…" She began, trying to apologize, to comfort, to do anything to put a puckish smile back on his face. But his kiss cut her off completely, smoothing over all doubt and pain, and she melted into it.

"We all have our own burdens," he said at last when they parted. "I would not subject you to a life utterly severed from the realm you love. You belong both here and Aboveground. After all, your kingdom is as great as mine." He smiled, chucking her playfully under the chin. "But the goblins would be distraught without their Queen's input on the upcoming festival." Sarah smiled despite the tears of that welled in her eyes.

"Thank you, Jareth." She laughed a little, wiping at her cheeks and trying to lighten the mood. "At least the Labyrinth runs on a twenty-six hour day! What I wouldn't give for some extra time like that with work."

"No," came his voice close to her ear, dark and promising things that made her heart skip a beat. "That time is for me."

xxx

Sarah woke the next morning well rested and happy in the arms of her husband, lover, and quite literally the man of her dreams. Teenage induced glitter dreams, she thought with a smile. She ran a hand through his white-blond hair, soft and strangely fluffy. It tickled her fingers and she buried her face in its waves.

"I still can't believe you don't use any product…" she muttered between hair and sheets.

"A powerful magical being, such as myself, does not need the assistance of something as appalling as what humans call product," he said haughtily. Sarah started to find him awake but found herself laughing at the comment.

"Only you, Goblin King," she said playfully, "would get your knickers in a twist over something like that."

"My undergarments are perfectly fine, thank you very much, my dear," he shot back with a positively galled expression, the idiom flying right over his head. "And I will have you know…!"

"That fashion is not something to be sneered at," she finished for him, imitating his voice. She smirked as the blood rose to his pale cheeks and had just enough time to enjoy his adorable embarrassment before he was on her. Sarah squealed as he pinned her to the bed, the weight of his body trapping her in the most delicious of ways while his lips captured hers in a possessive and crushing kiss. She loved to tease him and loved his reactions all the more for their intensity. Melting into the kiss, she played with the lean muscles of his back, gently running her nails over his skin until he broke away, eyeing her hungrily through the fringe of his platinum hair.

"You gonna prove that Mr. Powerful Magical Being?" She goaded, a little breathless, her leg moving up along his in an unspoken taunt.

"Sarah Williams, I will make sure you never forget it. Festival planning be damned."