Five years after defeating the Labyrinth, Sarah is pulled in again by a mysterious gift. Things have changed for the worse in Sarah's absence, and Jareth's new mistress seems to be at the heart of it. To save herself, Sarah must save the Labyrinth and its King before time runs out. JxS.

Rating may go up in future chapters.

Disclaimer: I neither own nor profit from this - characters and Labyrinth story are copyright Henson, Lucas, & Froud.

He'd changed in the years since she'd left the Labyrinth. His expression, once alight with delightful wickedness, had hardened into a cruel mask. And when he saw her, his eyes did not soften as they once did, but instead narrowed suspiciously.

"Goblin King," she greeted him, breathless from running.

She'd changed as well. A beautiful teenager had become a stunning twenty year old. Shining raven hair fell down her back, a tousled mane after her race to the castle. Cat-like green eyes surveyed him desperately, full lips parted as she gasped for breath.

As much as he wanted to be unaffected, he could not be.

"Sarah." Her name was a caress on his tongue, his voice a dark promise.

She stepped up to where he stood, half hidden in the dark of the alcove.

"Jareth. Please –"

His gloved knuckles brushed her cheek, tracing a slow line along her jaw. The urge to snap her beautiful, slender neck warred with the need to press his lips to the pulse fluttering there. His fingers curled into his palm until he could almost feel the bite of his nails through the leather.

Sarah caught his hand in hers, uncurling his fingers to press his palm against her cheek. She pressed her other hand to his chest, closing her eyes against the sudden frenzy of her pulse. The beat of his heart was a drum beneath her palm, inviting her deeper into the dark.

He didn't resist when she pushed him against the wall, falling into the darkness, falling into him…

With a gasp, Sarah woke. Bright sunlight spilled through her bedroom window while the sound of traffic reminded her that she was far, far away from the Goblin King and that mindfuck he called a labyrinth.

Breath shallow, she pressed her fingers against her closed eyes, torn between recalling the dream and forcing it away. It was the same one she'd been having for six months now.

"Sarah?"

Her roommate, petite, redheaded Jess, knocked on the door.

"Yeah, I'm up." Sarah slid out of bed and pulled open the door.

Jess stood in the doorway, a half-eaten banana in one hand and a small, white gift box in the other. Her pixie-style, fox red hair stood up in a haphazard arrangement that was clearly the work of her pillow.

"This is for you," she said, thrusting the box at Sarah. "It was sitting outside the door."

Sarah examined the box. Her name was written on the top in neat, precise ink with nothing else to indicate the sender or the occasion.

"That's weird." She gave the box a little shake. Whatever was inside was certainly heavy for its size.

"I hope it's not, like, anthrax. Or a bomb, you know?" Jess suggested, giving Sarah a baleful stare. "I mean, who leaves a box outside your door with just your name on it? It's not even wrapped."

"Yeah." Sarah shook the box again. Whatever was inside clunked dully. "It's not anthrax. It's too heavy and solid," she humored Jess by dispelling her fears. "And a bomb would probably be fixed to the bottom, so it wouldn't go off as soon as it shifted. This is moving around too much."

Jess nodded, relieved by Sarah's smooth dismissal. "Yeah. I think I saw that in a movie once."

She had seen it in a movie – Sarah had seen the movie with Jess and Jess's boyfriend, Kyle. It was understandable that Jess wasn't too clear on the details of the movie – she'd spent most of it practically having sex with Kyle right in the theater.

"Well." Jess took another bite of her banana, eyeing the box speculatively. "Are you going to open it, or what?"

A flash of dream recurred to her – leather gloved fingers sliding down her back…

"No." She set it on her dresser. "Not yet."

Jess eyed the box as if resisting the urge to rip it open herself.

"Suit yourself. I have psych in an hour." She shoved the rest of her banana in her mouth as she drifted towards the bathroom.

Sarah closed the door behind her, eyeing the small box. It was nothing, she assured herself. Probably something from Robbie, down the hall. She'd had dinner with him last weekend. It would be nice of him to give her a little gift. Maybe he even left a note inside, inviting her out for a second date. That's how normal relationships worked – people were affectionate and honest and tried to make each other happy.

Sarah snorted. "God, it'd be nice to have a normal relationship," she said to nobody.

On her way out the door to class, Sarah nearly crashed into Robbie in the hall.

"Hey Sarah," he greeted her with a lazy, crooked smile that made her stomach flip. His dark hair and soft brown bedroom eyes had a way of always making her act daft and girlish. She suppressed a giggle as he reached around her to untuck a strand of her hair from the strap of her backpack.

"Thanks."

"No problem. On your way to class?" Robbie walked with her down the hall, keys jingling in his hand.

"Yeah. English lit. You?"

Robbie nodded. "Microbiology."

Sarah thought of the little white box suddenly. "Hey, did you –" she cut herself off. He would've brought it up if he'd given her the box. Unbidden, a pair of narrow, mismatched eyes entered her thoughts, amused, but cruel. Get out of my head!

"What?" Robbie nudged her with an elbow when she didn't finish her sentence.

"Um… did you have any plans this Friday?" She could still feel those eyes in her mind, the way they would narrow in disapproval. Take that.

Robbie shrugged. "Not so far. What did you have in mind?"

"A movie? We can see what's playing at the Union."

"Yeah. Sounds good."

They parted ways at the sidewalk, Robbie headed for the Health Sciences building, while Sarah made her way to Fine Arts building. She waited until she rounded the first corner to do a little dance of glee.

I've got another date! A real, normal date!

--

Jess watched from the couch as Sarah floated around the apartment, half dressed, preparing to go out.

"I think he'll really like the top you chose," Jess said dryly. "It leaves a lot to the imagination."

Sarah looked down at her blue and white polka-dot bra.

"He's not going to see that much, yet," Sarah said with a wicked grin. A flash of panic wiped the smile from her face. "Or is he? I don't know – what's protocol for the second date?"

Jess rolled her eyes. "Protocol is: do whatever the hell you want. Didn't anyone tell you, Sarah?"

"Tell me what?" Sarah knitted her fingers together, desperate for any help.

"They stopped making chastity belts years ago."

Sarah made a noise halfway between a snarl and grunt. "You're really helpful," she snapped.

"Sarah, I was just kidding!" Jess followed her into the bathroom as Sarah tugged on an emerald green tunic style tank. The deep neck showed off a subtle peek of cleavage, and the empire waist nipped her in flatteringly.

"Niiiiiice." Jess patted her chest like she was having palpitations and fanned herself. "Whoa Nelly!"

"Shut up." Embarrassed, Sarah grabbed a short sleeved button up, and threw it over her shoulders. She tried a smile in the mirror, but couldn't manage it. With a sigh, she sat on the edge of the tub. "Jess – I've never had a real boyfriend. I mean, I've had boyfriends, but only for a few weeks at a time, and I never went on dates or did serious relationship-type-stuff, you know?"

Chastened, Jess gave Sarah a soft smile. "You look gorgeous, Sarah. Rob's not going to know what hit him. And if he doesn't want you for a girlfriend, then he's a fucking idiot. You're smart and gorgeous – and the two don't generally hang out together. So stop freaking out, okay?"

There was a knock at the door. Sarah jumped to her feet.

"That's him!"

"Relax. Answer the door."

She nodded, taking a deep breath, and did as she was told.

Robbie stood in the hall, looking as freakishly beautiful as always.

"Ready to go?" he asked casually, completely unfazed. Sarah hoped her nerves didn't show in her expression. Her smile felt wooden.

Jess pushed her out the door. "Now you kids don't stay out too late," she said in a mumsy voice.

"I'll have her back in time for bed, ma'am," Rob played along.

Jess grinned wickedly. "I bet you will," she purred.

"Jess!" Sarah gasped, trying not to blush as she hustled Robbie down the hall.

"Hands where I can see them Robert!" Jess shouted after them.

Sarah sighed when she heard their apartment door finally shut. Robbie laughed at her murderous expression.

"She's a trouble-maker," he noted with a smile.

"She has some coming back at her," Sarah promised darkly.

"Are you nervous?" Robbie asked, taking Sarah's hand in his. The heat of his palm made her feel too warm. She hoped desperately that her palm wouldn't start sweating against his.

"No," she lied.

"I think you –"

Robbie and Sarah stopped abruptly as the lights in the hall flickered off.

"Power outage," Sarah said quietly.

A mischievous sniggering sounded behind them. Robbie and Sarah both whirled around.

"Did you hear that?" Robbie asked.

"Yeah."

Their hands met in the darkness. The sound of tiny feet skittered down the other end of the hall. Sarah and Robbie spun around again, holding tight to each other. In the darkness, a larger shape was starting to take on distinction.

"Is there someone there?" Robbie called.

The dark silhouette approached them, features indistinguishable. But there was something about his height, his arrogant posture that seemed familiar. But it was the voice that was unmistakable.

"Hello Sarah."

--

EEEEEEEEE!