Sarah stared out the window of the sleepy old Victorian and sighed. Her breath fogged up the view, dismal as it was—snow covered cars and slush. Half the Christmas lights had gone out on the Nolan's house across the street. December had come and with it bitter disappoint. She'd returned home to an empty house and a mind that just kept skipping tracks. A tear slipped down her cheek as she leaned her forehead against the cold windowpane. Truly, she should stop feeling sorry for herself. But she was so tired.

Exhaling shakily, Sarah opened her eyes and moved away from the window. There was no fire in the hearth, no cookies in the oven, no tree glimmering in the bay window. She had time to do those things, Christmas was still a day away. But why bother?

They were supposed to be home, not at Karen's parents cabin in Maine. Sarah snatched a pillow up from the sofa and hugged it tight as she sank into the cushions, dropped her face into the paisley fabric and wept. These were serious tears, body shaking, makeup wrecking sobs. It was just everything all at once. The novel she couldn't seem to finish, the lost job, and now she was all alone. Forgotten. She hadn't felt this miserable in years.

It just wasn't fair.

Someone sat down on the couch beside her. Sarah stopped crying, but she kept her face concealed—out of fear or hope, she wasn't sure.

"Come now, that's enough of that."

Sarah kept her face in the pillow. Her face would be puffy, her mascara smeared. She was not letting her childhood nemesis see her looking like that. If she was fast, she could jump up and run. That wouldn't rob her of every last ounce of dignity she possessed now would it?

She couldn't do that.

Sarah sat up and locked eyes with the Goblin King—who looked pristine, of course. He wore a red leather jacket and shiny black boots—a rebel Santa Claus. The idea made her smile, she couldn't help it. The last time she saw him, he'd offered her a gift even.

"That's better," he said, pulling a wreath of holly, seemingly from out of the air, and placing it atop her messy head. "Are you ready to go?"

"Go?" Her voice was hoarse, but her heart quickened.

He stood and offered her his gloved hand.

Sarah stared at it for a long moment. She thought of the empty house, the treeless window. She could give him her hand. There was nothing to fear from the Goblin King, she'd bested him before. What did she have to lose?

Her hand reached out for his and he pulled her to her feet.

The world shifted around them, it was immediate and unsettling, but between one blink and the next they were standing in a snow covered courtyard. The sound of caroling goblins filled the air. She was glad she'd kept her boots on as snow fell in drifts that burned red and gold in the dusky light of the Labyrinth.

Everywhere goblins congregated in doorways, candles burning in their windows, evergreens hung upon their little rounded doors. Bonfires were roaring everywhere as cauldrons scented the air with cloves and cinnamon, apples and spice.

Something heavy fell across her shoulders, and Sarah shoved her arms in the red velvet coat without taking her eyes off the goblin city. "This is amazing," she said, swiping at her eyes, just in case any mascara lingered.

He didn't reply but he took her hand and lead her down to the nearest street. They stopped at all the houses and joined in the caroling. They left gifts of caraway cakes and holly crowns. If the goblins were surprised to see her, they didn't show it.

Finally, Jareth tugged her up the steps to the castle at the center of the Labyrinth. Every window was aglow with candlelight and framed in evergreens, the very air smelt of pine and juniper.

They passed a trio of drunk goblins at the door and stepped into the throne room. There were no less that five fir trees standing naked and waiting for decorations. And there moving among them were Sir Didymus, Ludo, and Hoggle.

Sarah turned to Jareth, utterly bewildered. Why had he done it? This didn't make any sense at all.

"Well, go on," he said, releasing her hand and pushing her into the room.

Goblin carols could still be heard as she hugged her old friends and they gathered dried orange slices and flowers to decorate the trees.

"Here, Sarah," Hoggle said, pressing a goblet of wassail into her hand. Sarah side-eyed the little dwarf.

"It's fine," he grunted, as Didymus leapt upon his shoulders to place a wooden star on a high branch. Ludo was placing stars on the tops of the all the trees. Sarah shrugged and sipped her drink—it tasted perfectly normal, although the ginger was a bit strong.

When they finished decorating the trees they sat about the pit in the center of the floor, legs dangling, and sang their own carols. Didymus drank a bit too much and fell asleep in Ludo's lap, as Hoggle passed her shortbread cookies.

It was all so wonderful and perfect. She'd been so alone and in the dark. Now here she was surrounded by friends and trees, lights and warmth, despite the snow coming down outside.

But where was Jareth?

Hoggle's head was dipping down to his chest, his buggy eyes falling closed, so Sarah climbed to her feet, refilled her mug and another, and headed for the spiraling stone steps that lead from the throne room.

Fairies were fighting in the garland that decorated the railing as she made her way through the twilight-tinted walkways, the windows letting her see out into the sleepy, snow-filled streets below. Smoke puffed from the tiny chimneys, shadows danced in the windows still, and for a moment she wondered if somewhere below a Christmas Carol was playing out. Could Goblin's be visited by ghosts of Christmas past, future, or present?

Finally, she came to a room at the end of the hall, the door slightly ajar. She pushed her way through and walked into a receiving room with a fireplace merrily burning, and a Goblin King perched on a window sill, his gaze out over the labyrinth.

Sarah sat down in the window and handed him the extra goblet. "A gift," she said, a smile in her voice.

The Goblin King's dark brow arched sharply, but his mouth quirked as he look the offering. Together they sipped the spicy wassail in silence, watching the snow fall.

Sarah adjusted her crown of holly and looked at him. "Why did you do this?"

"Do I need a reason?" He asked archly, his voice taking on a haughty tone she remembered all too well.

Sarah shrugged. "It was nice. I don't usually think of you as nice."

"So you think of me?" He grinned.

Sarah blushed. "Not often, and mostly the thoughts are unkind," she said with a grin and a shake of her head. They also tended to be impure, but he didn't need to know that. "You have to admit this isn't very villainous behavior. Decking the halls, singing carols, and well, there's been a remarkable lack of snark. "

"Do you want a villain?" He grinned leaning in close, the firelight glinting in the blown out pupil of his left eye.

Maybe it was the wassail, the snow, the candlelight, or the carols, but Sarah was suddenly very sure of what she wanted. She'd glimpsed her dreams in a crystal orb years ago. She thought she'd lost them.

"Not tonight," Sarah whispered, leaning in toward him. She reach out to brush back a stray lock of pale hair from his cheek. "A little goodwill should do."

"I'd turn the world upside down for you," he said, his own gloved hand curling around the curve of her jaw.

"But not move the stars," she said teasingly, eyes settling on his cruel mouth.

He leaned in closer, his lips near her ear. "Would you like to see the stars?" His voice was a purr, a threat of silk and starlight.

Her stomach flipped upside down as her heartbeat sped up.

His kiss, when it came, tasted of cinnamon and brandy. It turned her blood to fire and made her nerves sing. In short, it was delicious. They didn't let go of one another, his hands in her hair, her fingers creeping beneath his jacket as they stumbled out of the room and into his. The door shut behind them, mistletoe blooming above the arched frame while images of sugar plums danced in the dreams of the goblins below.


Merry Christmas All! I hope it's full of cheer. I know it's a weird world we are living in, but we are always here if you need us.