The rudely interruption was a knock on the front door.

Jareth and Sarah looked at each other. Sarah sighed, "I'll be back."

Whoever was at the door was quite impatient for they were ringing the door bell and then hammering on the door.

Sarah opened the door. It was Thomas.

"What do you want?" Her voice was cold and her features were hard.

"Can't we talk?" He was pleading with her with sad puppy dog eyes.

"I'm busy right now." Sarah started to close the door but Thomas pushed it opened. She then caught the smell of his breath. It was rank. "I don't think now is a good time."

"Sarah! I miss you. I need you. I'm sorry what I said about the stupid owl."

"Thomas just leave!" Sarah was trying to push him out of the door frame.

"No I don't want to. Not until you talk to me."

"I think she doesn't want to talk to you. Now if you would care to leave, Sarah and I were in the middle of something." Sarah turned around and saw Jareth standing a few feet behind her. Relief swept over her.

"You're dating HIM now?" Thomas said pointing a finger at Jareth.

"I want you to leave now. Sarah and I are longtime friends." There was a flash of light in his eyes. Sarah swore she almost saw the old Jareth from long ago.

"Friends? Yeah right. I never saw you before."

"Thomas, Jareth and I are friends. Now just leave."

Thomas turned his attention to Sarah. He seemed to have forgotten about her, "He's too old looking for you and too weird looking."

Jareth was about to make a grab for him but Sarah got to him first. She punched Thomas in the nose. "I'm done with you!"

She turned around and went upstairs to her room.

"She broke my nose! That bitch!"

This time Jareth had Thomas by the throat with mischievous look in his eyes, "It's better than what I am going to do to you."

xxxxx

Sarah was upstairs crying on her bed with her head buried in the pillows. Why did all of her ex-boyfriends become such psychos! How many times did they stalk her or beg for her back? She hated it.

Something soft brushed her face hair away from her face. She looked up expecting to see Jareth but saw him in owl form. His eyes were sad but had a slight spark in them.

Sarah brushed her face and looked up at him. "What did you do!"

The owl hooted at her happily. Sarah smiled, "I don't want to know do I?"

The owl hooted once. Sarah nodded, that was a no. She couldn't help but smile even though she was sad about him being back to an owl.

She turned slight over and extended an arm out to him. "Come here you!"

The owl slid down right next to her. She cuddled with him. Sarah fell asleep.

Jareth watched her sleeping. She is so beautiful and peaceful. Why did you date a guy like that? Jareth closed his eyes and concentrated. He turned back into himself. He wrapped his arms around the sleeping Sarah and lightly kissed her on the forehead. "Your mine now Sarah."

xxxxxx

Sarah woke up with Jareth holding her. She looked up at him. His eyes were sparkling happily at her.

"Did you sleep well, my precious thing?"

"Yes I did, since you were here." Sarah was flirting with him and she didn't care.

Jareth smiled at her. "I'm always with you."

"Are you really?"

"Yes. I never left you even though you left me. I have watched you grow into the woman you have become. I am quite proud of you."

Sarah blushed. She never expected such an answer.

"Sarah, remember that night when you were in college and went out partying with your friends?"

"Not really. I got drunk."

"You don't remember the guy who took you back?"

Sarah looked up at him. She thought back and tried to picture the strange boy with nice eyes.

"The only thing I remember was he had really nice eyes and I really liked them."

Jareth laughed and kissed her forehead. Butterflies came all over in Sarah's stomach.

"I see."

"Why are you asking?"

"That was me, dearest. I told you I was always with you. I love you. I always have. You refused my offer of marriage once. You have only to say the words again and I will forever be out of your life and never bother you again," He kissed her forehead, "However, if your feelings have change my attentions and wishes have remained the same."

Sarah pushed him away. Looking up at him, his eyes were the eyes that had haunted her in her dreams for all of those years. They looked hopeful but had a slight sadness in them.

Sarah got up from the bed. Jareth had closed his eyes. It was wrong to hope.

He went over to her, "I understand. I will not trespass on your hospitality again. Thank you for taking care of me." He turned to leave.

"Jareth!" He turned around. There was the slight hope still lingering in his eyes. "I do…I do love you. You mistook my silence as a refusal but I was in shock. Never did I dream that I would receive another chance."

He rushed up to her and kissed her. "You've made me the happiest man in the world."

The kiss was intense. Sarah had never been kissed that way by anyone. She looked up at him smiling.

"Let's return to my kingdom."

xxxxx

As in many fairy tales that start with those magic words of "Once upon a time" they all end the same. This one just took a while to get to it. But eventually Jareth and Sarah did get the happily ever after they both wished for.

And so we must depart for now and dream of happily ever afters to come for us for that is what they did.