Aladdin watched as Raven deftly snatched a handful of dates and even a fish before sliding back to the corner of the building where he had been keeping watch.

            "See?  Not so hard.  Maybe you'd like to try next time?" Raven said with a wink as she handed Aladdin half the dates.

"Sure, tomorrow I'll give it a shot."  Aladdin grinned at the girl sitting next to him.  He and Raven had been friends for about three years; they had met when they were both only 13.  Up until then, Aladdin had been barely getting by:  digging out of the garbage, begging for leftover scraps, and nearly getting caught every time he tried to snitch something a little more nutritious than old fish bones.  When he met Raven everything had changed.  She lived on the street like him, but she was so skilled, almost like a pro at such a tender age.  She taught Aladdin how to steal and smooth-talk the guards and shopkeepers, she even introduced him to Abu.  Abu was only a cute little monkey when they kidnapped him from the vendor, but he would become the best accomplice and friend Aladdin had ever had.

Abu chattered and grabbed for a date, which Aladdin gladly handed over.  They followed Raven back to their lair.  She was quite beautiful, with green eyes that seemed to glow from under her long black wispy hair, and skin darkly tanned from the desert sun.  She wore men's pants and a loose blouse under a vest.

The two of them had grown virtually inseparable and Aladdin couldn't think of living without her.  After a quick meal, Raven stood and grabbed Aladdin's hand, dragging him and Abu out of the hole that they had been calling home for three years.  "Where are you taking me?" Aladdin asked with a huge grin on his face.  Raven grinned back, but Aladdin didn't notice the sadness in her eyes.

"You'll see; it's a surprise."  He followed her in and out of familiar alleyways and streets; they traversed half the inner city before she stopped in front of a half-torn down building.  Aladdin furrowed his brows in confusion.  He had passed this building so many times.  What was so special about it this time?  He didn't say anything, though, as Raven led him up stairs and through broken rifts in the walls until they were almost to the top.  "Here we are…"  She pulled back a sheet to reveal a comfortable living area, with a few pillows and even a lantern.  It had the most amazing view of the palace Aladdin had ever seen.

"Wow…" Aladdin gaped as he stepped inside.  "What...how...Raven, what is all this?"

"It's for you, Aladdin," she said as she squeezed his shoulder.  Aladdin looked back at her with a confused look on his face.

"Me?  But, what about you?  Wouldn't it be for 'us?'"  Abu jumped up on her shoulder and chattered sadly, begging her to stay as well, but she shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Aladdin.  I would stay, but I've stayed here too long already.  I get restless, ya know?  I need to go somewhere…see the world.  I hope you understand."  Aladdin nodded sadly as he pulled Raven into a loving embrace, looking into her eyes.

"Raven…will you ever come back?"

"Someday I will.  And if I don't, you'll hear from me…I'll get word to you somehow.  But I do have to go."  Suddenly, they moved closer to each other and their lips met, neither one surprised.  It lasted for only a moment, Abu covering his eyes, but it said infinitely more than any words could ever say.  They drew apart, their eyes locked.

"I'll wait for you.  I promise," Aladdin said simply before Raven turned and dashed out of the building, not looking back…

* * * *

            Aladdin sighed and rolled over to look at Jasmine sleeping restlessly next to him.  Four years after Raven had left, Aladdin had begun to give up hope that he would ever hear from her again.  With a heavy, broken heart, he had done his best to bury the memories and emotions and for the next year he had built a new life sans Raven.  Then he had met Jasmine and the rest is history.  Four more years, a marriage, promotion to Sultan, and the birth of a son later, comes a mysterious letter from the very same woman he had managed to forget.

            A few hours of sleep was all Aladdin could manage before he slipped out of bed, brushing Jasmine's hair from her face in farewell. He donned his old pants and vest, and left the room as silently as he could.  The sun was just rising and the whole palace was still asleep.  He quietly made his way to his son's room and kissed Jebu's forehead before he turned and dashed out of the palace, not looking back.