It wasn't often Aladdin got to spend alone time with Jasmine. But he got to this time, as he cuddled up to her in the bed they shared. He didn't like taking days off, but there were times where he just wanted to relax. So Jasmine suggested that they snuggle up together in bed while she either read aloud to him, or read to herself. And this night seemed like it was going to be uneventful, as opposed to the night before. Aladdin had his arms wrapped around Jasmine's waist, and his chin resting comfortably on her shoulder as they lied down together with the blankets draping over their lower halves. The windows were also open, though the light breeze wasn't able to move the deep, heavy velvet curtains.

She always felt so safe in his strong arms, but this time she felt uneasy. Aladdin didn't say anything, and he didn't have to. The uncomfortable silence was enough. She tried ignoring it, but the sense of wrongness gnawed at her. After uncomfortably shifting a few times within the span of 30 seconds, Jasmine decided enough was enough. She put a bookmark in the spine, and closed the worn leather-bound book she was reading. She turned around in Aladdin's arms. "Aladdin, what is it?" She asked softly, and looked up at him. She wasn't used to him being silent. It felt wrong somehow. "Is something wrong, darling?"

"Jaz…" He supposed he would have to tell her eventually. He at least wanted to relax first, but he hadn't been able to relax since he's gotten back. Aladdin looked into her warm chocolate eyes that begged him to talk to her. He sighed. "Me, and Genie found black sand last night, so I confronted Mozenrath about it today."

Jasmine shifted again. She sat up. She was worried he went alone. Though she knew if anything did happen, she'd be one of the first people to hear it. "Nothing happened?" She asked for reassurance. She just couldn't shake the feeling that something did happen, or will happen. That she could've lost Aladdin without even knowing. A chill went down her spine. She shivered at the thought.

"Hey…" He pulled her down with him, and drew the blankets more over their bodies. He wanted to her feel warm, and protected. "Nothing happened, and nothing's gonna happen to me," he assured. He softly kissed up her neck to her jawline, "promise."

She smiled a little at the kisses, and his promise. She buried her head into the nook of his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body, the warmth the blankets generated, and the warmth of her own breath. "Then what did he say?" She asked, her voice slightly muffled.

Aladdin rolled his eyes at the memory, while his calloused fingers softly swept stray hair behind her ear. "That he doesn't know how or why it's in the marketplace. I think that's a cop out, but he did say he's willing to give us information. I just dunno how much he's willing to give." He explained. Dealing with Mozenrath was like pulling teeth.

Jasmine looked up at him, her own delicate fingers lightly tracing the crevices between his muscles in his arm. "So he hasn't given any indication that he's behind it?"

"No. I mean I know he's up to something else, he's basically even admitted to hatching another scheme. I think he even showed me some of it…" Aladdin shook his head slightly. "I dunno. But he's not behind the black sand being in Agrabah. I just think he knows more than what he's letting on. Which means someone or something else is controlling it, if not him." Aladdin sighed. He loved making new friends, but the increasing amount of enemies he's getting is just ridiculous. And if Mozenrath feared whoever it was, then Aladdin definitely did not want to meet them. Either that, or Mozenrath was just a good actor.

Aladdin wouldn't be surprised if it were a combination of both.

Jasmine spoke up, which drew his attention back to her. "You said it was in the marketplace? Is it still there?" She wondered if they could get a sample of it, and have Genie magic it so it could be used against him whenever he'd decide to either take over Agrabah, or destroy it.

"It was before I left to confront him, but when I came back it was gone."

Well… there goes that idea. "I see." Oh, well… She wasn't going to dwell on the fact that he could've sampled it, and brought it to Genie before he left. They'll just need to find another way to defeat him when the time comes. They always did. "Well, do you feel like the information he told you was helpful?"

Aladdin didn't know. "I dunno… maybe? I mean, it seemed like it was important. But I'm getting the feeling that he's trying to play me. Like he's testing the waters to see how much he can keep from me, so it'll benefit him in the long run."

Jasmine knew the kind. Even long before ever meeting Mozenrath, or Aladdin. Every move they make, every word they say. It was so methodical. So… calculated. She had expected Jafar to maybe be manipulating her father when he lived at the palace as the royal vizier, but not to the point of brainwashing.

"He either knows, and isn't telling me. Or he doesn't know, and doesn't want to tell me if or when he does find out."

"I really think you should convince him to tell you. That telling you will benefit him more than it would to keep information from you."

"Yeah, I pretty much said that. I'm trying. He's just either not convinced, or doesn't want to be convinced."

"Well, anyway… enough about that," Jasmine climbed over and on Aladdin's lap, while he gave her a knowing smile that asked 'already?' Jasmine chuckled, but shook her head. "I'm not in the mood for that right now, darling. But… What do you think will help you take your mind off of today?"

Aladdin smiled up at her, and shrugged. "Do you have any suggestions?"

"How about we go out, and do something special. Just you and me," she smiled down at him.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Well… we could cook together, and enjoy each other's company under the stars."

Aladdin looked at her funny. He didn't know how to cook, and he wasn't sure if Jasmine knew either. "I didn't know you could cook."

"I can't."

"Then how…?"

"We'll see, won't we? Come on Aladdin, we'll have fun and learn something new." Jasmine got off the bed carefully as to not disturb the book next to her, and pulled at Aladdin's arm to get him to follow her.

Aladdin chuckled, and decided to follow where he was being led to. "Alright, alright… hopefully we don't burn down the kitchen, or something."

She laughed as she guided Aladdin along, "I'm sure we won't."

Author's note:
This chapter isn't finished, I'm just posting it now to continue on with the story. I've been stewing on this chapter for months, as well as life getting in the way. So it'll get finished. Eventually…