Disclaimer: Refer to chapter 1

Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed! It's all truly appreciated!

I know it's not exactly conventional, but I am doing HALF this chapter in 1st person, Tali's POV, to convey her feelings better. I originally was going to do it as one whole chapter, but that would throw everyone else' storylines off balance, since there are a lot of characters. So I am doing, the second HALF, of this chapter from her POV, I hope you like it! Mind you, it's very informal, like her.

Recap:

"Whatever you're going to say, I don't care," Nadira said bluntly. Najila remained silent, her expression not faltering. It was then, Nadira noticed someone standing beside her. The woman stood in a poised manner, long amber tresses flowing similarly down her back and shock in her eyes. Her bronze complexion was marred only by her horrified expression.

Nadira gaped at the woman, who seemed to share equal discomfort and astonishment. "Nadira," spoke up Najila's husky voice "Meet Mirza,"

Chapter 21:

Nadira stared. That's not Mirza…that's my mother! She thought. "Najila, what are you saying? That's my mother, oh my God, that's my mother!" gasped Nadira.

Mirza flinched uncomfortably. "Stop it! Both of you, I don't know who either of you are! I am not your daughter," she screeched, turning to Najila "And I am not your mother!" she said to Nadira.

"My name is Mirza, not Nasheeta, Why have you brought me here!" she cried.

Nadira glanced at Najila, whose unusually calm expression remained unchanged, despite Mirza's cries. "Why doesn't she recognise us?" asked Nadira, feeling slightly odd talking about Mirza in her presence.

"You will see," answered Najila, pulling a small vial out of her abaya sleeve. A trace of a smile formed on her lips, as she turned to Mirza, whose doe eyes were lit in fright. Swiftly, and without warning, Najila pierced the underside of Mirza's wrist and poured several drops of the liquid in the vial, on it.

Mirza moaned in pain. For a moment, she looked as thought she'd seen a ghost, her pupils dilating and her face losing colour. Nadira watched in shock. "What have you done!" she shrieked. Najila rolled her eyes nonchalantly "She will be fine, just give her a minute,"

Indeed, a moment later, Mirza returned to her normal state, only her eyes seemed restored with an air of truth, as though everything that had been missing suddenly came back to her. She gasped, as though she had just noticed Nadira and Najila.

"N-Nadira?" she stuttered. For the first time, in what had felt like forever, a genuine smile came to Nadira's face.

"Mother!" she squeaked, as she embraced Mirza. They hugged tightly, as though to make up for the years they'd lost. Nadira felt as though she were dissolving, back into a lost little girl.

They pulled apart, tears in their eyes. "I can't believe it, you're so grown up!" said Mirza.

Nadira giggled in the midst of her crying "Where did you go! I have missed you for so long!"

"She has been in Agrabah the whole time!" answered Najila, her husky voice piercing the air like a knife. Nadira and Mirza spun around to face Najila.

"Nasheeta dear, how nice to finally have you with me again!" chirped Najila "I do believe it's been what? Four years?" Nadira swallowed nervously, sensing Najila's false kindness as a veiled hostility.

"I want to know some things first," Nadira cut in sharply "Why did you call mother, Mirza, and what exactly is it that you haven't told either of us all this time!" Her mother nodded in approval. Nadira examined Najila's face critically, for any signs; unfortunately, the woman was far too good at concealing her motives.

Najila let out a mock sigh. "I see, you want a full explanation, let's see what I can do…" she began, as she paced around Nadira "Well, this was after I discovered Nasheeta had another child, I made a promise to someone, for something that would help all of us to stop living the way we do," she said dramatically.

"Oh mother, don't even pretend, we know you didn't care!" Nasheeta burst out. Najila's face looked as though it were set in stone, so cold and unemotional yet so real and taunting.

"As I was saying," Najila continued wryly "I had made a promise, naturally after Naheera was no more, I decided that this was the last straw, I had to protect the both of you, so for reasons I cannot disclose yet, I sent Nasheeta to Agrabah and put her under a memory spell, so that she would wake up with a new identity and no recollection of her old life,"

Nadira listened intently, her mind racing. Nasheeta spoke up, as though she had read Nadira's mind. "Why? And what about my diary entries? And, what did you do to Nadira afterwards?" she asked.

Najila continued pacing "Well, I didn't want you to remember anything of your old life until it was time, believe me, it would have been better for you that way. As for the diary entries," she heaved a heavy sigh and sat down "I wrote the last one, after I discovered Nasheeta was about to run away, my purpose, being that, Nadira would find it, and her search for her half brother, and believe me I knew you would want to find him, would somehow take her to Agrabah, so that I could have both of you in the one place,"

Nadira found it a terribly complicated method of getting them to be in one place, of course, she her grandmother was the type to complicate even issues which needed no care at all.

"What abut you? Disappearing off to some bar, how did you know I would even find you?" Nadira questioned, her anger taking her over. Najila let out a bitter laugh "I have the power of prophecy, Nadira, I knew how all of this was going to play out, so I merely changed things to suit my purpose,"

Fury appeared on Nasheeta's features, as she strode next to Nadira "Naturally, you would do whatever it took, for your own reasons! Well, mother, your plan still doesn't make sense, to us anyway!"

Najila smiled unnervingly. "My dears, again, I must inform you, I have promised something to someone, and for this, I need both of you, I need to unite, the Three Desert Winds,"

With that, she laughed menacingly, almost insanely.

Jasmine and Aladdin exited the library, the same thoughts on both their minds. Suddenly the sound of footsteps could be heard behind them. Turning simultaneously, they saw Ishaq running towards them. "Orders carried out," he announced straightforwardly. "Good," answered Aladdin "You can go,"

Ishaq nodded and turned to leave "Oh wait," said Aladdin.

"Yeah?" asked Ishaq. "Have you seen Sharif? I was looking for him earlier but I haven't seen him," said Aladdin.

Ishaq shook his head slowly "I dunno maybe try one of the pergolas? I think he went out to one of them earlier,"

Ishaq left, leaving Jasmine and Aladdin alone torch lit corridor. "Well, I am going to sleep," Jasmine said softly, lowering her eyes. Aladdin tilted her chin and kissed her tenderly.

"I'll see you in a little while, just gotta clear some stuff with Sharif," he said.

Jasmine turned with a smile, and headed back towards the bedroom. Aladdin left the palace and headed out towards the gardens, hoping to find Sharif.

He is assistant vizier and he hasn't exactly asked for any help with his work, normally that would be good, someone who can actually do their work, but there is just something weird about him…he knows his job, almost, too well….thought Aladdin, as he made his way towards the pergolas.

Tali's POV

Having exited the pergola in a huff, I realised I must have lost an earring in the pergola, seeing as it was no longer on my ear! Great, I managed to exit there somewhat expertly, and now I have to go back in. And face him. My shoulders slumped as I faced the prospect of going back inside, and facing Sharif.

In fact, I shuddered at the thought. Sharif is just one of those guys, whose bad boy looks I suppose some girls find appealing, but have such an arrogant attitude that you can't stand being around them for too long.

I clenched my fist, praying silently I wouldn't say anything stupid when I entered. Having mustered the courage for something so miniscule, would ordinarily make me laugh, if it wasn't me doing it!

I walked in; knowing on the outside I looked fine, but on the inside was struggling to maintain my cool. This only irritated me more, I mean, I don't like him, so why should I care? Either way, I refuse to get psychological about it, in front of him.

He looked up, his dark coffee eyes meeting mine. I can honestly say that despite all of his no good, arrogant and infuriating traits, he has very nice eyes! Of course, the less he knows of my thoughts, the better.

"Yeah?" he said, thankfully interrupting my thoughts, which may or may not have had me looking like the biggest idiot.

"My earring, I know it's in here, I've just gotta find it," I said coolly.

He gave me a blank look and replied "Ok, knock yourself out"

I swear I must have gaping, which has been happening unusually often. Ignoring his last comment (except for the obvious gaping) I bent down and searched the floor.

Slightly hard, I'll admit, since there wasn't much light, except for the moon, peeping through the lattice screens. "Well, you're kind, offering a girl help when she needs it!" I couldn't help but comment sarcastically.

Sharif looked up "You need my help? I didn't think I'd hear that! Although, you're very independent, I am sure you can find your earring without me," he replied just as sarcastically.

See what I mean? With the arrogance and what not! Forget about the earring, this guy needs a wake up call.

"Just because a girl is independent, doesn't give any man the excuse not to be chivalrous!" I retorted.

He stood up and walked over "So now you're asking me to be chivalrous, tell me, Tali, what is it with girls? You can't expect chivalry from someone you think is so arrogant!" he said mockingly. Immediately, I clenched my fists, to stop myself from attacking him, as he so bluntly mentioned earlier.

"You are impossible! You know that?" I said, with my hands on my hips. He laughed, which he kinda sounds nice doing, but totally unsettled anything I had to say. I leant against the wall, arms crossed defensively.

"So I've been told, by someone equally impossible," He answered, pinioning me against the wall, his hands on either side of me. For a split second, I can't tell if he's flirting or not!

I felt my arms slide down from my chest to my sides. Leaving me feeling exposed, to him, who was towering over me, his musuclar arms the only things holding him of off me.

Then, for a moment, he looked really different. The smirk disappeared from his face, and was replaced with a smile, which I swear made my knees shake, and his hair looked messy in that sexy kind of way. I must be going crazy.

The next thing you know, his face was so close to mine I could feel his breath on my neck, it felt warm, on what was a strangely cooler night. Then after that, and I have no idea how this happened, we found ourselves frantically kissing, in that very position. Our tongues entwined, the worst thing on two legs that could have walked in there, did.

My brother.

Please tell me you guys liked the first person! It was my first go, and I know it was kinda strange since I have been writing in all 3rd person. Please be constructive about it, along with all your other usual comments. Also tell me if you think it was worth doing again, later, for Nadira.

Now review (and please :) be kind!)