Sarah arrived home for the Christmas holiday, pulling into her parents' driveway at dusk on Christmas Eve.

She stared at the house, dreading going inside. The questions would start. When was she going to settle down, have kids, get a life?

At least she would see Toby. He would be his usual happy go lucky self.

She sighed and undid her seat belt and opened the door, sliding out and standing slowly, stiff from the 4 hour drive in holiday traffic and light rain.

"Sarah!" Came a happy voice from behind, she turned to be hugged tightly around the waist by her sandy blonde 12 year old brother.

"Aww hey Toby. Merry Christmas!" She hugged him back happily. He pulled back so she could get a good look at him. "You are almost as tall as me now."

"That because you are short." He teased.

She gave him a gentle shove. "Goofball. I'll be in in a minute I need to grab the presents."

His smile widened. "I'll help."

"I already wrapped them. I know better now." She handed him the big bag that held the packages. 1 each for her parents and several for Toby, because she loved to spoil him.

He hefted the bags over his shoulder, and started to sing Jingle Bells loudly and very out of tune. Sarah laughed and shook her head. She reached back in and grabbed her backpack and overnight bag out of the rental. After hit the button to lock the doors she closed the back door and trudged inside.

"Sarah don't forget to wipe off your boots!" Her stepmother said as she entered the house. She rolled her eyes inwardly as she followed Karen's instructions.

The woman was a neat freak.

As Sarah walked further in, she saw the house was decorated in it's usual holiday splendor. A huge tree, trimmed with careful placement of it's ornaments, a pine bough across the fireplace, designer stockings hung up, 2 on each side, exactly one foot apart. Various holiday figures and poinsettias in vases set carefully on tables, Christmas themed throws over the furniture. Holly and berry laden streamers graced the banisters to large staircase that led to the second floor. There was a huge wreath on the door she had seen coming in.

Everything in its proper place, as Karen wanted it.

Sarah breathed in an enjoyed the scent of pine, mixed with cinnamon and all the spicy scents that announced the was a house that went all out for the holiday.

"The house is beautiful Karen." She told the older blonde woman who came into the living room from the kitchen,

Her stepmother smiled warmly. "Thank you dear." Noticing Toby shoving presents under the tree, shaking each one, she paused in her greeting of her stepdaughter. "Toby, don't just stick them anywhere. Large boxes on the bottom, smaller on the top. And quit shaking them so much. What if there are breakables?"

"But Mom..." Toby began.

"Don't argue young man or you won't get to open one present tonight." Karen waggled her finger at him.

He mumbled something about how mean his mother was, but he did as he was told.

She moved her attention back to Sarah. "How are you? You look gorgeous as always. Why you are still single I'll never understand." She hugged Sarah and kissed her on the cheek, which Sarah returned.

Karen drove her crazy at times, but once she got over her teenage melodramatic "wicked stepmother" thing, The had actually grown close.

"Did you see your mother before you left?" Karen asked casually as they walked into the kitchen, trying not to sound concerned. She knew Sarah and Linda's relationship was strained, but always tried to make sure they stayed in touch with each other.

"No. She went to Europe. Skiing in the Alps or something like that. " Sarah answered.

"Oh. I'm sorry Sarah." Karen answered.

Sarah shrugged trying not to should her disappointment at Linda's continued rejection. "Not like I expected anything. She sent me an a brooch and a fancy bath set, so she at least didn't forget me completely."

Karen had never seen her stepdaughter wear a brooch in her life. In fact, Sarah was not one for fancy jewelry at all. She would bet Linda's assistant was the one who picked out the gifts. She handed Sarah a cup of tea with a cinnamon stick and smiled. "Oh I'm sure she didn't. She is always so busy with her career. I know she loves you and thinks of you all the time."

Sarah took the tea and sat. "Thanks Karen. Don't worry, I am well aware how much I mean to her. appreciate you trying to make her better than she is, but we all know she is pretty awful as a mom."

Karen cleared her throat, letting the subject drop. "So, have you been seeing anyone?"

Sarah smiled. "Actually, I have been."

"Really? Oh you must tell me about him!" Karen exclaimed.

"He is...nice. Different. Smart, funny, handsome."

"Why didn't you invite him? Where is he from? What's his name?" Karen started firing off questions. It was the first man Sarah had mentioned since college.

Trying not to laugh at Karen's overenthusiastic questioning, Sarah sat down her cup. "I did invite him. He is...busy. He said he may drop in if he gets a chance. He is from the UK, and his name is Jareth."

"Ohh. A British accent. Sexy. What does he do? Is it serious?" Karen asked as she got up and refilled Sarah's cup.

"Import export. He runs a large company. Kingston Enterprises." Sarah and Jareth had sat up for hours a few nights before coming up with a backstory. Sarah couldn't very well say he was an immortal king from another world. "I'm not sure if it's serious. We met a long time ago, and recently reconnected. We are definitely fond of each other, but he hasn't mentioned marriage or anything."

Now that was the truth. A few years earlier, Hoggle had contacted her to tell her The Goblin King would like to speak with her. Over time, they had become friends, and the past year, they began to date, or "court" as Jareth had put it.

Truthfully she was head over heels in love with the big glittery jerk. Jareth being Jareth, he showered her with affection, but had been somewhat evasive on real commitment. She had spent many a night ensconced in the royal chambers of The Goblin Castle, and knew he seeing only her, but somehow he seemed hesitant to *say* the words. "Words are powerful in my world Sarah." He told her. "We must be certain we say what we mean, and only that. You know how important you are to me."

So she waited.

The awkward moment was broken by the front door opening. "Here I am!" Sarah's father's voice echoed through the house. She jumped up and ran into the living room. Her father had his hands full of grocery bags, but it didn't stop him from opening his arms for his daughter. "There's my girl!"

Sarah hugged Robert tightly, the familiar smell of his aftershave instantly making her feel like the daddy's girl she always was.

"Let's me take those. Did you get the celery? Karen asked as she removed the bags from his hands so he could hug his daughter.

He gave Sarah a tight hug before answering. "Yes, though it's not the best of the bunch. Pickings were a bit thin the day before Christmas."

He wrapped an arm around each woman as they walked back to the kitchen. "So tell me, what have you been up to?" He addressed this question to Sarah.

"Same as always, Daddy." She said.

"Sarah met a man." Karen blurted out. "She's been dating."

Robert keep down the laugh that tried to bubble to the surface. His wife was always so worried about Sarah being alone, and Sarah fought her all the way.

"Well. That's good to hear. He treats you well? " He gave Sarah a sympathetic look, he suspected Karen had already been drilling her for information.

"Yes Daddy. He is very good to me. Karen is making it out to be more than it is, at least right now." She caught his look. Her father had always tried to stay out of her adult dating life, he knew it bugged her.

They all chatted as they put things away, Toby coming from his bedroom to join them. There would be family coming the next day, but Christmas Eve was just for them. They would order pizza and watch holiday movies, each opening one present, as Karen shooed them out of the kitchen so she could start cooking. They go to bed early to be rested for the hectic Christmas day.

After everything was in it's place, Sarah took her bags up to her room. It was different now, all the toys and games gone. The childish canopy bed replaced with a large full size bed, her vanity mirror was in her apartment in the city, so a plain wooden desk and chest of drawers rounded out the furniture. She dug around and found her flannel pajamas she kept there and retrieved her robe and slippers from he bag. Her parents didn't expect to wear her pj's Christmas Eve, but she still did it for Toby.

She went downstairs to find the hot pizza was already there, and her dad was ready with the first movie cued up. She curled up on the big sofa with her brother, grabbed some pizza and the traditional Christmas Eve commenced.

Less than 2 hours later everyone was full of pizza and sniffling as George Bailey run across the bridge of Bedford Falls, begging for his life back. Just as he was entering the door to his home and family, Sarah was startled by the doorbell of the Williams home.

She reluctantly removed herself from the blanket she was sharing with her brother. She paused as she thought she heard the sound of retreating sleigh bells in the distance.

"I wonder who that could be?" Said Karen as she came into the room from the kitchen, dusting flour from her hands.

"I'm getting it." Sarah told her, curious at the noise she had heard.

She flipped on the porch light and looked through the peephole, gasping at who stood there.

She rushed to unlock the door, flinging it open.

"Hello precious, am I too late to join the party?" Jareth stood grinning at her, an out of place Santa hat placed upon his shorter than usual but still unruly hair.

"Of course not! I'm just surprised. I thought you had things to do. Nice hat." She ushered him in as he removed his coat and wiped his feet, Sarah taking the garment and hanging it up.

"I did, had to visit my uncle and help him with some last minute preparations." He turned to her. "Also, I missed you." He went hug her but was interrupted by a noise to the side.

"Ahem." Sarah's father said making them both jump and Sarah blush. Robert, Karen and Toby were all standing a few feet away, observing with interest.

Sarah guided Jareth forward. "Oh yes. Jareth, these are my parents, Robert and Karen Williams, and my brother Toby."

Jareth warmly greeted Robert with a handshake and took Karen's hand, kissing her knuckles. "So grand to finally meet you both. I've been wanting to."

"I know you, don't I?" Toby asked squinting at him.

Jareth took Toby's hand in his to shake it like he did Robert's. "I don't know. Do you? I know I've seen you. You've grown into a handsome lad."

Sarah bumped him with her elbow. "You've seen him in pictures, right?" Giving him a pointed look.

"Yes yes, of course. Your sister has several pictures of you about." He answered smoothly, catching her signal.

"Well come in, sit down." Robert swept his hand to the side. "There is still a few slices of pizza left. We can warm it up."

"Thank you, Mr. Williams, I'm afraid I've eaten." He followed the family inside.

"Tea then, or coffee?" Karen offered. She was ever the hostess.

Jareth took a seat next to Sarah. "Tea would be lovely. It is rather cold outside."

"I didn't hear a car." Toby pointed out suspiciously. "How did you get here?"

"Ah. A friend dropped me off on his way through town. His conveyance makes little noise."

Toby looked unconvinced, but let it slide.

Robert peppered questions in between casual conversation, curious about the man Sarah had invited home. He thought she must have cared for him a great deal more than she let on if she had wanted him to join her family. He also saw how they looked at each other. He tried not to let on he could see the warm loving looks each would give the other as they all chatted.

Ir made him happy, and sad too. He and his only daughter had had some rough years. After Sarah's mother left, it was just the two of them for several years until he met Karen, after they married when Sarah was nearly 12, the girl had resented her stepmothers presence terribly and Toby being born had made it worse. Then at one point in her 15th year it had all changed seemingly overnight. and Sarah and his wife grew close, by the time Sarah left for college Karen and Sarah were practically mother and daughter in every sense.

Karen had always been the one to encourage her stepdaughter to also have a close relationship with her real mother, but Linda was just not all that interested. She had told Robert by phone, it wasn't that she didn't care for her only child, but she wished she hadn't had a child at all because she just wasn't meant for motherhood, and that Karen would be a better mother than she ever could.

He never repeated that to either wife or daughter, as Sarah was insecure as it was, and Karen, who on the surface always smiled and welcomed Linda into their lives, would have been incensed and told his ex wife off in no uncertain terms. As kind as Karen was, she was a mama bear when it came to Toby and Sarah.

As Robert watched, and conversed with Jareth, other thoughts crept in.

This man that his daughter had brought home, there was certainly something odd about his mannerisms and accent, It sounded British, but not quite, with it's almost sing song element, like halfway between talking and singing. He could clearly see, if Sarah could not, the way he gazed at Sarah at all times, like she was the jewel at the center of his universe. More like a creature who had imprinted on a mate than a typical "I love you" look. It was a bit disconcerting. He also noted the pointed ears and feral grin. However she did return his affection, with the way she would touch him, and blush under his attention, so he could not say it wasn't mutual.

Still, his mother's side, that of Celtic roots deeply connected to their ancient lands, tingled in silent warning that this man was much more than he was pretending to be. Even Toby kept watching him carefully. Only Karen hadn't noticed anything amiss and was just thrilled Sarah had a boyfriend.

"So..." Robert interrupted the conversation. "Jareth is it?" What exactly do you do again?' He asked nonchalantly.

Jareth unusual blue eyes met his, and Robert swore they glowed slightly for a second. He grinned his unsettling grin. "I own a small, yet highly profitable import export company, based in the UK. Kingston Enterprises. As we specialize in distribution, there is little overhead."

"I've never heard of it." Robert answered. He said it in such a way that Jareth's eyes narrowed back at him, as if instantly aware of Robert's private thoughts.

Jareth reached into his pocket a removed a card, and held it out to Sarah's father, who practically snatched it out of his gloved hand. It looked legitimate, but it didn't change the man's mind. "What exactly to import, and export?"

Jareth chuckled. "Why, goblins of course."

Sarah jabbed him in the side and he stopped laughing but his eyes still danced with mirth. She spoke up quickly to explain. "He is being silly. Goblin figures and collectibles are just just one of the things they distribute to sell, he meant. It's a niche market, but he makes a lot of money around holidays like Halloween and the like." She gave Jareth a warning look.

Toby piped in. "I used to dream about them."

All eyes turned his way, and he continued. "Goblins I mean. When I was little I would dream about being a room filled with goblins."

Sarah's eyes got wide. "Oh Tobes. You know I used to read you all sort of fairy tales. It was probably just that."

The blonde boy stared at Jareth. "Probably. Maybe."

Karen sensed a weird tension in the air so decided to break it herself. "Well, it is getting late. Mr. Kingston, will you be staying the night?"

"Jareth, please. I wouldn't want to impose, Mrs. Williams." He replied graciously.

"It's no imposition at all Jareth." She answered.

Sarah stood up. "Karen can we speak in the kitchen please?"

Karen nodded and they walked into the other room.

"Karen, if he stays here, I mean, is it okay if we...?" She whispered. She had a hard time talking about certain things with her parents still.

Karen smiled. "Stay in the same room? Sarah you're 27 years old. I know in this day and age that is far beyond the age of innocence. Remember I didn't marry your father until I was a year older than you. It's fine. All I ask is, well since Toby is right next door, if you could keep your activities discreet, and save certain things for when you aren't staying in the same house with your father and brother?" Karen answered with a knowing smile. "He is very handsome, Sarah, and kind. You are a lucky woman. Then again, he is even luckier."

The two women laughed and hugged as they went back into the living room. The men stood as Sarah and Karen approached. "It is getting late. We should all get some rest." Karen announced. She turned to Toby. "Especially you young man. Go change brush your teeth. I'll be up in a moment to get you settled."

Toby rolled his eyes and got a stern look. He shuffled up the stairs to do as his mother told him.

Addressing Jareth she said "Do you have a bag?"

"Ah yes. It's on the front step. I forgot it." He replied.

"I'll get it." Sarah said. She made a dash for the front door and opened it. Cold air made her shiver as she picked up the leather bag, and an odd red satchel next to it. She closed the door, locking it securely before she returned to Jareth's side, handing him his luggage. "What's in the red bag?" She asked him.

He took the bags in one hand, and wrapped the other arm around her. "Never you mind that, darling. It's a surprise." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Shall we then?' Robert urged. The two couples went up the stairs, separating at the landing. Sarah's room was at the opposite end from her parents'.

"Good night you too, see you in the morning. Jareth, the bathroom is across from Sarah's room. Her and Toby share so you'll have to put up with him. She can get you fresh towels in the morning out of the closet right there."

"Toby is a fine lad. Not a bother at all. I am grateful for your hospitality." He bowed. Sarah grabbed his hand and pulled him along as she called out "Night Dad, Night Karen."

Robert and Karen watched as Sarah and her boyfriend disappeared into Sarah's bedroom. After the door was closed Karen pushed Robert towards theirs. When they got into their room Robert spoke low. "Did you tell her it was okay he slept in her bed with her? Karen she's just a young girl. That isn't right."

"Robert Williams, your daughter is a full grown woman. She will be 30 in a couple of years. Trust me, them sharing a bed is not an issue. It's already a done deal. Besides I thought you didn't concern yourself with her love life." She teased.

"Hmph. Well...there is something about him that just bugs me. He isn't normal Karen." He said, crossing his arms.

Karen smiled up at her husband, then pushed up on to her toes and kissed him. "What bugs you is that he is handsome man who loves your daughter and she obviously is crazy about him. Get used to him being around, my love. I have a feeling this may be the one. As long as he is good to her and isn't a criminal, what does it matter if he is a little strange. Sarah promised me they will be discreet and refrain from amorous activity tonight. I'll go check on Toby, and then we'll go to bed."

Down the hall, Sarah crawled into her bed as Jareth changed into his normal sleeping attire, a pair of loose silky black pants. He had dropped his glamour and pulled his wild hair back into a ponytail to keep it from getting knotted. Without underground magic surrounding him even as he slept, his fine hair would tangle easily. Underground the magic kept little things like that from happening even when he wasn't purposely keeping it all place. Hair didn't tangle, makeup didn't run, clothes didn't tear. Sarah was constantly in wonder of all the little things that she expected to go wrong in her day to day life, that just never happened when she was in Jareth's castle.

When he was ready, Jareth crawled into bed beside her. He pulled her close and kissed her, laying her down next to him, enjoying her familiar presence next to his.

After they had been making out for a while, things started to get heated, so Sarah pulled back, panting slightly from the kissing. "Jareth...we can't. Not here. I promised Karen we would be quiet."

"Mmmm..I can put a sound muting bubble around us." Jareth replied as he went to pull her back in.

Sarah laid a hand on his chest. "I really did promise. It wouldn't be right. We can just cuddle and sleep. In a couple of days I'll be home and we can make up for it then." She answered. "I promise." She gave him the smile that was exclusively for him. The secret smile she saved for their private moments.

He sighed and rolled onto his back. "Fine."

Sarah turned her back to him. "Come on, be my big spoon." She pleaded. "I'm cold."

He gave in and molded his body to hers. "I'd rather us be forking." He joked, pressing his face against hers. *

Sarah giggled and snuggled into his warm body. "Yeah I know. Remember, it's me."

"If you keep wiggling against me. .." He growled into her ear.

She gave him another wiggle and he groaned. "Wench. You'll pay for that later."

"I know that too. I can hardly wait." She turned her head and kissed his cheek. "Now go to sleep Your Majesty. And thank you for deciding to pop in."

He kissed her cheek in return. "As you wish, precious."

Soon their breathing deepened and they were fast asleep. each dreaming of the other.

A little holiday present for you all. It's just a two shot, plus possibly a short epilogue if it needs one. Might be a few bits I need to fix but I wanted to at least get the first part out on Christmas haha. Yeah it's just T rated, but has implied citrusness ;) Tons of fluff and hopefully some of it will be amusing!

Hmm...I wonder who Jareth's uncle is, and what is he hiding in that red bag?

Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin'...

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Yule, Happy New Year, Happy Hanukkah, Season's Greetings and all that jazz!

Jareth Baby, put a crystal under the tree, for me...been an awful good girl this year... wink wink..

*The exchange between S&J here, the "spooning, forking" bit, was an unintentional lift of a scene from Ellen Weaver's Kingdom Come. Typically I try to be vigilant about not using others' work and properly acknowledging if I do. So anyone who reads this should know where I got the idea, albeit not meaning to. Also, my apologies to Ellen for not even noticing in the first place. BTW if you haven't read that story, what are you waiting for?