What in the hell did I just do?

But, not to take away from what the trilogy was about, but I'm think I'm getting a little too realistic. Because, there's attraction at first sight, strong, sensual attraction, but love at first sight? I may lose readers for this, but this fic is not over just yet. And Aladdin and Cassim? What would you do after seeing the father that left you for a world tour of a golden hand?

Warning, we get a little PG-13 here, folks.

Chapter Ten- Decisions, Decisions

Back at the palace, Jasmine paced back and forth as her father watched, his eyes unable to keep up as his only daughter quickened her pace.

"Dearest, why do you pace like that?" Sultan asked.

It was then Jasmine caught herself in her actions and blinked gently. "Oh, father, I'm just so…" She trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

"You're concerned about the boy, I can understand. You know, just before our wedding, I had to leave to tend to matters in Persia. Your mother was in a tizzy! She broke down crying when I returned." He then chuckled.

Jasmine had only been half listening. Not to be rude to her father, of course, but her mind was elsewhere. Yes, she was thinking of Aladdin, but found less of 'happy bride' motif and more of being on her own. She never wanted this forced marriage, if she ever did marry; she wanted it for love and nothing less. She was grateful for Aladdin, and knew that man had a heart unlike any other. Men like him came out of fairytales, and Jasmine was uncertain if she so desired that in her future mate.

She bit her thumbnail, wondering just what Aladdin was up to. Was he safe? Would he return? Of course he would. She battled this in her mind and walked to the balcony; she felt her father's eyes on her and heard him slide off the duvet where he had been sitting. She leaned against the railing and looked off into the stars, where Aladdin had taken her literally around the world where he had swept her off when she needed it the most.

Jasmine gave thought into this being a present from her mother, the answer to her prayers to solve her worries. But, she realized, in this lifetime, there was no stopping the worries. She was born into worry, and she was to be a natural problem solver. Regardless of her being a teenager, this was her birthright.

"Father, I don't think I can do this." Confessions were never easy, as a daughter, she didn't want to let her father down. After watching him her entire life of what she was expected to do.

"Of course you can," Sultan tapped her on the small of her back. "You are a natural leader, whether you realize it or not. You just need to see it in yourself, Jasmine. You have the makings of greatness, I should know. Your mother would be so proud of you today; I can't say it to you enough. You resemble so much of her.

A leader is never an easy position. The people down there think we have it made because we have nice things. But, no one understands the hard work that goes into making decisions to better Agrabah. Sometimes we make tough decisions we don't want to make. If we make the wrong one, Agrabah falls, and no one realizes the pressure that is placed on us."

Jasmine felt the roughness of the balcony between her fingers and glanced over to her father, taking in his lesson and nodding in response.

"I know you think I'm being unfair in making you choose a partner. That's the way it's been for decades. Normally, you need a prince to keep the pure bloodlines flowing of royalty, but you are making a change and, whether you realize it or not, a statement. My dear, you are telling these people that anything is possible, you are creating hope.

As a leader of Agrabah, you have the power to create. You have the capability to make great things happen. My dear, you're going to do wonderful things for Agrabah."

Jasmine picked her head up and leaned it against her father's for comfort. "Thank you, father."

Meanwhile, Aladdin stood over the cliff, panting, sword in hand, arms lacerated and clothes tattered. By a stroke of dumb luck, Sa'luk had fallen over the edge of the cliff. Aladdin tossed the sword away and turned to face the other members of the Forty Thieves. His intention was never to kill anyone, but, the man had fallen and possibly, they all assumed, to his death.

Cassim approached Aladdin, clutching his boy to him. Relief and pride swept over him as he was grateful, having a conversing prayer to Allah to keep his boy safe. Savannah's hands were cupped over her mouth, her form trembling. Omar and Babkak rushed over to him and hollered their cheers.

"That was amazing!" Omar practically squealed, which created looks from the other three men. "What?" Omar piped. "It was!"

"Sa'luk was such an asshole," Babkak chimed. "Glad he got what was coming."

"Now, now, Sa'luk was a brother, like all of us," Cassim glanced at his cronies. "But, let us celebrate Aladdin's success and initiation!"

The other men roused their cheers and piled back into the den. Savannah watched Babkak and Omar grin to her before joining their brethren, practically carrying Aladdin with them. Aladdin separated from them to grin boyishly at Savannah, who looped her arms around him and said nothing. It brought her back to the old days of ducking guards and chasing for food. But never were either one of them at risk for death.

"You are such an idiot," Savannah admonished, leaning back enough to lightly knead her fists into any territory that didn't possess a bruise. Aladdin chuckled and looked down at her.

"I always bounce back."

Savannah felt her cheeks redden, recalling herself saying such words only months prior. She smiled and nodded. "I know."

The two walked back into the den, where the men cheered and raised their glasses to support and celebrate Aladdin's victory; half for his success and half for the riddance of Sa'luk. Cassim offered his son a glass, as others tended to his wounds, as they did for every initiated member. They all congratulated him, welcomed him into their brotherhood. Aladdin's smile faltered and shook his head gently, pushing his drink away from him on the table.

"Thank you, really, but I didn't come here to join you."

"Al, c'mon, don't screw with us," Babkak chuckled and took a swig of his drink. "I mean, I know we're hot an all. You just couldn't resist us."

The chorus of men chuckled. "It's good to see you again, Al," Omar added.

"I never thought I'd see you guys again. This is what you left Agrabah to do?" Now the interrogation would commence, Omar and Babkak knew it was coming. Aladdin leaned against the table.

"Look, Al, we didn't want to leave you and Agrabah-"

"We really didn't!" Omar added. Babkak shot him a look.

"But we had to. The Sultan was after my head. Now you know the truth."

Aladdin looked at his father, who suddenly wouldn't make eye contact. He didn't know where to begin, or how to begin. He just knew he wanted to know why. But here in front of the other men was not the place to do it. Instead, he picked his eyes up from his father and looked over at Savannah.

"I searched high and low for you," Aladdin said in her direction. "I didn't know where Jafar had taken you to. I thought you were-" Aladdin stopped himself, unable to bring himself to say that dreaded word.

"Dead," she finished in a whisper. "And if it wasn't for Babkak, Omar, and your father, I would have been. I owe my life to these guys."

Aladdin nodded slowly. "I want to talk to you, after I talk to my father."

Cassim rose from the table, allowing his son to take the reins of where he wanted to talk. Aladdin wandered into an empty corridor, turning his back to his father, who crossed his arms over his chest. He saw his son struggling with this. How many young men had to go out and find their father? Aladdin sought him out purposely. It was a miracle, but was it really?

"Aladdin, I'm not proud of leaving you and your mother."

"Then why did you do it?"

"For the same reason why you're marrying that princess. You want better in this world, and when you have a family, you'll understand even more. I couldn't bear to allow your mother and you to starve. I left you with all I had."

"All your leaving did such good," Aladdin was seething. "Mom died. She died without her husband by her side because he was off screwing around!"

Cassim froze and stared at his son, shaking his head as he looked down. "Your mother was the only woman I've ever loved. I want you to know that." Cassim would mourn his wife's loss, it would hit him more when least suspected.

"I know, dad, I believe that." Aladdin licked his bottom lip. "I'm marrying Jasmine because I love her. You barged in on my wedding."

"You also love Savannah. And Allah knows that girl never stopped loving you." Aladdin's silence confirmed Cassim's suspicions. "You can love for security. This world is full of marriages of beneficial properties. We want love, and maybe it comes to us in time, but-"

"I don't want your fatherly wisdom."

"But, you're getting it. I'm ashamed of what I did. I gave up one of my greatest treasures for one I'll probably never have. I was a naïve fool who believed that anything was possible. The Hand of Midas was to bring our family to a better life. You would have had the life you deserved. I wanted everything for you."

Everything sounded plausible. Anything was possible. Aladdin picked his head up to look at his father.

"You're my father. You don't belong in a den of thieves. Come back to Agrabah with me, make a fresh start." It was a plea. Cassim had formed a new life here that he couldn't just give up. But, this was his son. He missed out on more than he thought and Aladdin was forcing him to see the light. His partner had died because of his foolishness. The woman probably died of a broken heart because of his stupidity. He would have to think about it, he couldn't just jump in and accept.

"Think about it." Aladdin concluded the conversation. As much as Cassim wanted to admonish his son for his disrespect, he couldn't fault him. The boy had every right to be angry with him, and Cassim had to remember that as he watched his son walk away.

Aladdin kept in mind what his father had said. Not that it planted the seed of doubt, Aladdin had thought about his true position. This entire journey from beginning to end, the challenges, the mistakes, and the ride he had taken with Savannah to get to this point. It was time to set things right.

Savannah followed Aladdin down the corridor next as Cassim resumed his position at the head of the table, kicking Babkak out, who chuckled lightheartedly. Wrapping her arms around herself, Savannah wandered into the dimly lit corridor with Aladdin and leaned against the wall.

Today was too much for the former street rat to process, needing a strong shot of something before bed. First confronting his father for years of abandonment and neglect and then to speak to the woman who had given everything and suffered for him, sometimes some days were just too much.

"Aladdin, what is this about? How did it go with your father?"

"As well as it could go. He did it with good intentions."

"No matter what, that is your father. He's ashamed of what he's done."

Aladdin acknowledged her, nodding, before turning his head to her. She stood there, eyes lingering, waiting for him to start whatever it was he was going to start.

"I scoped all of Agrabah looking for you. I-I had no idea where Jafar had sent you. I thought he killed you. There were nights I would lay in bed and think to myself of the hell I put you through, and really, for what?"

"It's not like you did it without reason," Savannah attempted to assure. "There was something about Jasmine that just drew you in." She shrugged her shoulders up, slowly dropping them.

"I searched endlessly for a happiness I had all along, with you. I questioned myself time and time again-"

"Obviously a question I wasn't the answer to. It's okay. I love you, I do, but your heart is beating for Jasmine. Not every fairytale ends with a happy ending. Mine is out there, somewhere. Your story is just beginning. Aladdin, you fought for Jasmine harder than I've seen any man fight for a woman."

"No, Savannah, don't you understand that I love you? I realize it, I was selfish." He grasped her then by her shoulders, motioning her towards him. "This entire time was you. You were all I could think about. That day in the marketplace was no accident. All of this was no accident."

Savannah's lips curled into a smile and pressed her forehead to his. Perhaps she was torturing herself. Whether to believe Aladdin or not, she was finally hearing the words that she ached to hear. The woman in her soaked these words up and her heart swelled. She felt his nose against hers, brushing tenderly before the feather dusting of lips upon lips that were consumed hungrily, heatedly. Like that dusk in his hovel, she tasted that familiar wanton venom that she was drawn to all over again. His hands moved from her shoulders to her hips and gravitated her against him.

Pressing her to the wall, leaving no gap between their bodies, her leg drew up to his hip as theirs meshed together. If Savannah could compare this to anything, it was similar to a sandstorm, there was no stopping. Well, she could, but at the moment, she was choosing not to.

"You're right," Savannah whispered against his lips. "None of this was an accident."