"Aladdin!"

Aladdin was barely inside the hideout when Esmeralda rushed over to him and gave him a hug. Aladdin hugged her back and then they moved out of the way so Phoebus could come in as well.

"Oh, Phoebus, thank you so much!" Esmeralda flung her arms around Phoebus' neck and kissed him.

Aladdin frowned at them and walked away from them. Jim glanced anxiously behind Aladdin and Phoebus for Meg, but she wasn't there.

"Where's Meg?" Jim asked.

Esmeralda and Flynn looked at Phoebus.

"You didn't get her out?" Flynn asked.

"She wasn't there," Phoebus replied.

Now everyone looked at Aladdin. Esmeralda and Flynn looked concerned but Jim's expression was mixed with anger, panic and fear.

"What happened to Meg?" Jim asked.

Aladdin looked back and forth at each of his friends. He knew it wasn't his place to tell them about Meg and Hercules, but he thought they had a right to know. He took a deep breath and finally answered Jim's question.

"I don't know for sure; she was just gone this morning. However..." Aladdin paused and ran his hand through his hair.

"However, what?" Jim demanded.

Aladdin gave Jim a sympathetic look. "I think she's with Hercules."

"Why would she be with Hercules?" Esmeralda asked.

Aladdin didn't take his eyes off Jim. "Hercules has taken Meg as his mistress."

Jim narrowed his eyes at Aladdin. "You're lying!"

Aladdin put his hand on Jim's shoulder. "I'm not. She told me herself."

Jim shoved Aladdin away from him. "No. Meg hates him, she would never sleep with him."

Aladdin thought about telling him that Meg thinks she loves Hercules, but he decided it would be better not to.

Esmeralda's face went pale. "Is he taking her against her will?"

"No."

Now Jim was close to tears. He shook his head and ran out of the hideout.

"Jim!" Esmeralda called after him.

"He'll be fine," Flynn said.

Aladdin looked around the hideout, grateful to be back. It was then that he noticed Sadira wasn't there.

"Where's Sadira?" Aladdin asked.

Esmeralda shrugged. "She left right after she told us you were arrested and we haven't seen her since."

"She just left?"

"Yeah. I think she was only here because of you," Esmeralda said.

"Right." Aladdin didn't believe that. He knew Sadira didn't have anywhere else to go and she wouldn't just leave here... unless she felt like she couldn't return here. "I'm gonna go for a walk."

"Are you crazy?" Flynn demanded. "You just escaped from the dungeon and you're just gonna go wander around?"

"I agree, Aladdin; that's not a good idea," Esmeralda said.

"I'm going."

Aladdin pushed past his friends and made his way out of the hideout. He didn't know for sure where Sadira would be, but he guessed she would be somewhere near her parents' house. She often went to the alley behind their house when things were hard for her and she was feeling homesick.

Aladdin found Sadira hidden in the shadows directly behind their house. She was curled up in a tight ball with her arms wrapped around her. It was obvious she was freezing and Aladdin almost felt bad for her. Almost.

"Sadira?"

Sadira opened her eyes and quickly stood up when she saw Aladdin. "Aladdin, is that really you?"

"Yes."

"How did you get out?"

"I had to escape since the real thief never came forward." Aladdin studied Sadira carefully as he said this. A look of guilt flashed across Sadira's face. She quickly lowered her head so Aladdin didn't see it, but it was too late. "It was you, wasn't it?"

"What? No!"

"Sadira..." Aladdin's voice was more stern now. "Tell the truth."

"I didn't do it."

"Sadira!" Aladdin was practically shouting now. "I know you better than anyone else; you can't lie to me. Why did you do it?"

"Aladdin, I'm sorry." Sadira's tone was quiet, but defensive. "I wasn't thinking clearly."

"Why, Sadira?" Aladdin repeated.

"It's just that..." Sadira bit her lip. "I saw you kissing the princess and it felt like you were betraying me. I wanted to make you pay."

"Were you ever going to come forward?"

"I- I don't know."

"You were just going to let me rot in there for your crime?"

Sadira rolled her eyes. "Don't be so dramatic. You're banging the princess; she would never let anything happen to you. But if it was me, she'd have my hand cut off- or worse."

Aladdin took a step closer to Sadira and glared at her. "I never want to see you again."

:::::::::::::::::::::

Jim had managed to climb over the wall around the castle and was now standing right outside it. He looked up at it looming in front of him. Somewhere behind those dark windows was Meg. He could just picture lying on a bed with silk sheets, her brown hair fanned out over the fancy pillow. Of course, she was sleeping alone since Hercules was no doubt still sleeping with his wife.

Jim tore his eyes away from the castle. The whole situation made him feel sick. Why would Meg willingly agree to this? It was a common known fact that princes only take mistresses to bear children; they never actually care about the other woman.

Another thought crept into Jim's head: did Meg love Hercules?

A light came on in a nearby window, casting a dim glow over Jim. He quickly ducked into the shadows to keep from being spotted. The window slowly opened and to Jim's surprise Meg stuck her head out. She was wearing a pink satin nightgown and her long brown hair hung loosely down over shoulders and chest. She glanced behind her, then looked up at the sky like she had done every night at the hideout.

If Jim took just two steps towards the window, he'd be close enough to touch Meg. He debated whether or not he should let her know he was there. Without thinking, he moved closer. He reached out and touched her hand. Meg gasped and quickly pulled her hand away.

Jim stepped out of the shadows. "It's just me."

"Jim, what the hell! You scared you me! What are you doing out there?" Meg demanded.

"I was worried about you. Aladdin told us about you and Hercules."

Meg's eyes lit up a little bit. "Aladdin's out?"

Jim nodded. He didn't want to talk about Aladdin, though. "Is it true; has Hercules taken you as his mistress?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you leave? Why stay here and let him treat you like crap?"

"He's very kind to me, Jim. We were all wrong about him."

"Do you love him?"

Meg smiled to herself. "I think I do."

Jim felt as if her words had slapped him. "He doesn't love you. He's just using you."

Meg leaned against the window frame. "I know."

"Leave with me, Meg."

Meg slowly shook her head. "And go back to that rundown apartment? Go back to struggling to survive? I don't think so, Jim. Hercules may not love me, but he takes care of me. I have a bed here and hot meals."

"For now. What's going to happen when he no longer has any use for you?"

"I'll worry about that when the time comes."

"You shouldn't have to worry about that," Jim told her. "I make enough money at the tavern that I could take care of you."

Meg gave him a small smile, then leaned out the window so her face was only a few inches above Jim's. "Jim listen to me, you're only eighteen; you should only have to worry about taking care of yourself. I'm capable of taking care of myself; I'll be just fine."

"But you don't have to take care of yourself. You're not alone anymore, Meg. I'm here for you."

Meg slowly straightened up and her face became serious. "You're just a kid."