Judal left a little later that evening, starting the car and heading out as soon as Kougyoku had wandered off to bed.

Aladdin sat in the living room with Alibaba until the headlights were gone. His hands immediately went to the phone on the hook nearby, pulling it into his hands and dialing the number.

"Aladdin?"

"Yeah, it's me." Aladdin smiled a little. "He just left."

"I'm parked right down the street. I'm going to walk up to the door alright?"

Aladdin nodded, waiting until he saw the other at the door before he hung up and opened it. Sinbad was wearing a nice leather jacket and grinning.

"Hey kiddo."

"Hi there. Can we go?"

"Yep." Sinbad turned. "Here. Hop on, I'll walk us to the car."

Aladdin was on his back faster than the man could finish his sentence, wrapping his arms around the other's shoulders. "Let's go."

And off they headed, moving towards Sinbad's bright red car. The inside was still warm, a cup of French fries were in the coaster.

"I was hungry, but I didn't want to arrive that late for you." Sinbad smiled. "I figured I would just relax outside and wait for you to call. If you didn't, then I wouldn't worry about it. If you did, I didn't want to take as long as it would take Judal to go to work and back."

"I appreciate that." Aladdin told him.

"That's what friends are for, Aladdin." Sinbad ruffled the boy's hair before pulling the car into motion. "So we're going to the main Kou Corp building, right?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

Sinbad's car was fast, zipping along the dark streets much faster than Judal drove. As they went under each lamplight, Aladdin could remember the first time he had been able to sit in a car's passenger seat. He hadn't been dressed that time though.

And he had been with Judal.

He smiled a little, feeling good about this decision. He would just going to make sure that Judal left the building alright. He didn't want the other go get hurt. If it meant that Judal would be a bit upset at him for calling Sinbad, then that was alright.

It wasn't like he really needed sex.

The smile on his face grew at that thought. Their relationship was about much more than just the fun bed times. It was about more than the simple kisses. As badly as Judal annoyed him, as much as he got on the other's nerves; they were together because they cared about one another. There was nothing that they wouldn't do for one another.

"Hey, you want to listen to something," Sinbad asked, turning on the radio. Aladdin was happy to hear one of the songs he had listened to before with Judal. It looked like Sinbad liked it too. "Oh man," the man told him, "this guy's a genius, Aladdin."

"I like this singer."

"Yeah?" Sinbad glanced over at him. "You've got good taste, Aladdin."

They approached the building only for Sinbad to parallel park near the parking garage's exit.

"Alright." Sinbad smiled. "We've got a first hand spot to see Judal exiting the building through the garage or front doors."

"Yep."

"And now we wait."

"And now we wait," Aladdin mimicked, crossing his arms on the dashboard and watching the entrances. It was kind of dark, but to ask Sinbad to turn on the headlights again would be a little ridiculous. He didn't want to be a bother about something silly like that.

The man himself leaned back, shutting his eyes and pulling a book from the console between them. Flipping it open, he began to read once more.

"A Dummie's Guide to being a Parent?"

"Hmm?"

Aladdin motioned at his book, "what's that?"

"This?" Sinbad pointed at his book. "You remember Ja'far? He's planning on adopting a kid. I really like him so I figure I should get familiar with being around kids and what to expect. I've been reading every scrap of material that I can find on the subject."

"I could tell you about that," Aladdin told him, returning his gaze back to the doors again.

"That's true," Sinbad leaned back up. "So tell me, Aladdin, how does one take care of a kid?"

"You just have to pay attention to them and be yourself. If you are really honest and sometimes do really nice things for them, then you will both be happy."

"Sounds like any relationship really."

"It's as easy as that," Aladdin told him. "It's kind of annoying when people try to always baby you."

"I see." Sinbad nodded before leaning on the steering wheel. "I think that you make an excellent point, Aladdin."

Aladdin and Sinbad resumed the quiet, listening to the radio more as they waited outside the building. The night around them continued to pass in silence as they sat together. Sometimes they would see a few people walking by. Cars passed as a steady rate.

Sinbad would check the clock from time to time. Occasionally he would shift in his seat. His fries were being munched by both of them as they waited. It was taking a lot longer than Judal had said.

What was he doing, Aladdin wondered.

Aladdin froze as he saw the lip stick man move to the doors, The white mane of hair and the face was unmistakable.

"Oh no…"

"Aladdin?"

"Sinbad… We need to go inside." Aladdin looked over at him, pale as a sheet. "I think we need to get up to Judal."

"Aladdin, I don't get it." Sinbad looked ahead of them. "Do you know him?"

"Yeah."

"He's probably just grabbing paperwork. It'll be fine, Aladdin."

"We need to get Judal." Aladdin pushed at him a bit before he reached for the door handle.

"Whoa! Aladdin!" Sinbad pulled him over, making sure he didn't open the door. "Relax a little, alright? It's just a girl. I'll call Judal right now."

"What if he doesn't answer?"

Sinbad winked. "I'm his boss, remember? He's got to answer to me."

They both waited as Sinbad dialed on his phone. The car rang quietly as they waited for Judal to pick up on the other end.

It was like a frost was taking over his body. Aladdin felt so worried. He looked ahead of them as he saw the other waiting by the door. He tried to make out what the other was doing and grew more worried by the way he was standing. He looked like he was waiting for someone.

Why would he be waiting for someone? Who was in the building with Judal?

The more time that this took, the more worried that Aladdin became. He could feel his insides twisting uncomfortably.

Judal…

Judal, please…

Aladdin prayed to the heavens above as he sat in that seat.

Answer the phone…

Pick up the phone for me…

Pick up the phone for Sinbad…

The ringing was like a mocking song, teasing him with another second of silence. He wanted to run. He needed to run to Judal.

"That's strange for him to be this silent." Sinbad looked over at Aladdin. "You're not going yet though, alright? I brought you out of the safety of your home and I'm responsible for you. We're going to try again and if he doesn't answer, I will personally walk you to his office."

"You will?"

"Aladdin, I will do whatever it takes to ensure that you and Judal are both safe." Sinbad was adamant on that.

They were family.

Aladdin nodded, watching Sinbad dial again.

They were all a family. Him and Judal, Kougyoku, Anise, Ugo, Ja'far and Sinbad too; they were all a big family. They took care of one another during the tough times and laughed together during the good times. They were going to get through this.

The lipstick man was talking on the phone now. Aladdin could see the smile and bounced in his seat.

"We need to go now," Aladdin told Sinbad.

"Aladdin." Sinbad shook his head. "One more- ALADDIN NO!"

Aladdin couldn't wait. He was rushing out the door before Sinbad could say another word. He sprinted towards the doors, seeing the lipstick man turn and smile brighter. A cloth was almost instantly in his hand, a vial being poured onto it.

"There you are!"

The man tried to grab for him, making Aladdin scream as he ducked. Just as the man's hands went to grab for him, Aladdin felt Sinbad move in. Sinbad had the other pulled away so fast that Aladdin barely saw it. The lipstick man went flying into the glass doors of the Kou Corp building's front doors.

"DO NOT TOUCH HIM!" Sinbad roared.

Aladdin leaped over the man and ran into the building, ignoring the fighting behind him as he rushed towards the stairs.

Judal's office was on the third floor.

Please, Aladdin thought as he ran. Please be safe, Judal.

His heart pounded against his ribs as he ran, his feet taking the stairs two at a time. He could feel the shadows pressing in on him as he ran. It felt like the whole building was full of more people like the lipstick man, just waiting to come and take him away.

He had to save Judal. He had to get to Judal.

He was never going to let him go once they were together.

Please be safe, Judal.