Disclaimer: I do not own Aida. It belongs to Elton John and Tim Rice.

Title: With or Without You

Summary: AU Aida fic- Radames helps Aida escape and then goes after her. Will they finally be together in peace or will there be more obstacles?

Genre: Drama/Romance

Chapter 1: When All is Said and Done

Aida, Amonasro, and Mereb ran quickly down to the docks where a small boat and Diallo, one of the Nubian slaves, was waiting for them. In the distance, a loud noise sounded.

"Princess, we must hurry," Mereb urged. "They've sounded the alarm."

You try running in a dress, Aida thought, bitterly. But, she wouldn't say it aloud. Her father would scold her. Also, Mereb wasn't trying to pester her. He was merely frightened of being caught. She waited patiently as Diallo helped Amonasro. Then, she and Mereb went into the boat. Suddenly, Radames ran on to the dock.

"Radames!" Aida exclaimed.

"Aida, undo the rope!" Amonasro was clearlypanicking.

"Forgive me, father," Aida said. "I need one last minute with him.

"Daughter!" Amonasro shouted, pleadingly.

But, Aida ignored him as she leapt out of the boat and ran to Radames. She knew he had come down to either warn her or say good-bye. In a way, she was glad he was there. She wanted to see him one last time. But, when she approached him, he looked angry and hurt.

"Of course," Radames said, bitterly. "You're the Nubian Princess and you had me marry Amneris just so your king could escape. What a fool I am. It was all a lie. An act. Every word………every kiss…………"

"No!" Aida interrupted him. "But, I have made too many mistakes and too many people suffered. I could not act selfishly now."

"So, you lied to me?" Radames's voice was full of anger, but it was also breaking as if he was going to cry.

"Not when I said I love you," Aida said, grabbing his hands. "Say you believe me."

Radames looked like he was struggling to answer. Aida knew she should've left then and there, but she couldn't leave without an answer from him. Suddenly, an old man and a guard appeared. Aida remembered the man to be Radames's father. He looked shocked to see her.

"She's alive?" Radames's father asked one of the guards.

Mereb rose from the boat as if to get out.

"Mereb, stay!" Radames commanded.

Mereb slowly sat down in the boat. Radames looked back at Aida.

"Get in the boat," he commanded her.

"Not until you answer me," Aida said.

"There'll be more soldiers coming," Radames said, obviously panicking. "Get in the boat."

"No."

Radames turned her around and pushed her towards the boat.

"Radames, please tell me you believe me," Aida begged.

"I don't want you to die," Radames said, sounding just as desperate as she was. "Please, get in the boat."

Mereb held out a hand as Radames helped Aida into the boat. Aida didn't want to leave things between them like this. She wanted to say something, anything, just to set things right.

"Mereb, do you have a sword?" Radames asked.

Mereb brandished his weapon and handed it to Radames. He held it high over the boat. Aida at first thought he was going to slaughter her, but then she realized that it was too far away from her. It was over the rope.

"Radames, for the love of Egypt, stop them!" Radames's father yelled.

But, Radames brought the sword down, severing the rope, ignoring his father's demands.

"No!" his father yelled.

The soldier that had stood by his father ran away. Aida grabbed on to Radames's hand, preventing the boat from moving. She just had to get an answer from him.

"Let go," Radames said.

"Please, just tell me that you believe me," Aida begged.

"Aida, there will be more soldiers coming," Radames's expression was a mixture of sadness and panic. "If they find you, they will bury us alive. I don't care about being buried right now, but I don't want you to die."

"Radames," Aida said, desperately.

"LET GO OF MY DAMN ARM, WOMAN!" Radames yelled.

Aida let her hand fall from his wrist out of shock. She just stared at him with her jaw dropped. The boat moved a few feet away from Radames and she was out of reach. Aida climbed to the bow of the boat

Radames had never spoken to her like that before. He doesn't believe me, Aida thought. He must really hate me if he yelled at me like that. Aida felt tears springing to her eyes. She wanted to curl up in a ball at the bow of the boat and cry, but when she turned around, she was staring into the cold, unforgiving eyes of her father.

Amonasro looked angry and humiliated. Aida suddenly saw her behavior to her father's eyes. It was out of character for a woman with a strong exterior like hers. Not only did she act like a depressed, lovesick woman, she'd publicly expressed her love for the enemy. I'm in trouble now, Aida thought.

But, Amonasro turned away from her.

"Diallo, keep rowing until we're out of sight," he said. "And then I'll take the oars at nightfall."

"Yes, sire," Diallo replied.

"I'll take oars," Mereb said. "You don't have to do it tonight."

"No," Amonasro replied. "I need to be alone with my thoughts."

Aida buried her face in her hands. She thought that when she left Egypt, her troubles would be over. But, I was wrong, she thought. My troubles are just beginning.

Radames watched as the boat disappeared down the Nile and breathed a sigh of relief. Aida was safe and nothing could harm her now.

"Radames, what have you done?" Zoser was the one who was panicking now.

"It's all over, father," Radames said, calmly, not bothering to turn around just yet. "When they come for me, they'll take you away, too."

Radames turned around to see his father's eyes widened in horror.

"No, that can't happen!" Zoser exclaimed. "Egypt needs me!"

"You're the one who tied our fates together," Radames said, turning back to face the Nile. "Like father, like son."

Radames turned back around. He wanted to be looking at his father when he said this.

"I think you should run," he said.

Zoser stared at Radames first angrily, then frightened. Then he jumped off the dock and ran north. As soon as he was out of sight, Radames heard voices. Out of panic, he jumped off the dock and ran under it and made sure he couldn't be seen. A few minutes later, he heard footsteps on the dock.

"He's gone," a voice said. "He and Zoser must've ran."

"I have men combing the city for them," a second voice said. "But, I don't believe we'll find them."

"Well, we have to keep trying," the first voice said. "Pharaoh wants them both alive."

"I don't believe the captain would to this," the second voice said. "Rafaat is always making up stories like this."

"I agree," the first voice said. "But, the Pharaoh believes him and that's all that matters now."

The footsteps faded away leaving Radames alone under the docks. They were goingto bury him alive. They should, Radames thought. I helped the Nubian king escape and I fell in love with his daughter and then hurt Amneris.

Radames knew he'd hurt Aida as wellwhen he didn't answer her. All she wanted to hear was that he believed her. But, he didn't know. She looked so sincere. He wanted so badly to believe her. He did believe her. So, why didn't he say it? Because I was afraid of her hurting me, Radames thought. He didn't know what to do now. He had only two options: sit and rot under the dock or return to Egypt and be buried alive.

"How will this be

When all is said and done?

Will I know where I'm from?

Remember me

Where will I be?

I guess I'm on the run

And time is catching up

Behind me" –Trapt

To Be Continued...

A/N: Yeah, I'm basing these chapters on my favorite songs. Chapter 2 is coming soon.