Nail couldn't believe there could be such a place, when he first walked into Agrabah. All he could think of saying was Wow. Uncle Zia said that since he had always had a gift for working with people, he would be working as his clerk. He said he was sure Nail could get people to buy his merchandise.

"Oh, okay, you read it to me."Francisco was telling Aurelio.

"I can't read, Mister Francisco."

"I know, I know. God, at least the Bible was in Spanish, or Latin, or something like that. This is a little difficult to read. I've never, ever read something so long, or complicated in Arabic. Just maybe a few novels, and such. But I'll read it. Let's see."

"I still don't think Miss Esther will be pleased with this marriage, Mister Francisco."

"Yeah, well, she'll just have to live with it. You know how much I love my mother, but I also want to live my own life, you know."

"And what of the Sultan's father's past?"

"Oh, that. Don't you worry about that. I had though about giving it up as soon as Aida accepted me, but now I think I want to know more. You know, what the lady told us really surprised me. I want to know what kept him from finding his family. It just doesn't make too much sense."

"I can keep if you wish."

"No, right now you're main duty is to go back to Dzonot, and tell my parents the good new."

"I don't know whether your mother will want to be present at your wedding, if it isn't to a Catholic, and it isn't a Catholic ceremony."

"I hope she will, but if she doesn't want to, that's her problem. It's her loss. You will leave tomorrow first thing in the morning."

Jasmine, Aladdin, and Jasmine's father were all delighted that Aida was going to marry Francisco.

"The only bad thing about it all is that we won't get to see each other every day,"Jasmine said. "And I'd gotten used to it already."

"Such a wonderful young man. Very wonderful indeed, yes."said their father.

"Well, I guess your sister must be bursting with joy. Francisco seems like a very good match. Imagine, that he would even give up the religion he grew up with, to marry Aida."said Aladdin to Jasmine.

"I would have done the same."Jasmine told him.

"I would have, too."Aladdin told her.

Perhaps the only person in the Palace who was not happy with the marriage was Cassim.

"Now why would the Princess's marriage bother you so much?"Iago asked him.

"Oh, the Princess can do whatever she pleases, I assure you, it doesn't bother me in any way."

"You're doing a pretty good job of hiding it. If everyone weren't looking forward to it, I'd say they'd have noticed by now."

"They wouldn't have anything to notice. I'm just as happy and looking forward to it as they are."

"Of course, why not? I believe you."

"You've got a lot of imagination."

"Now there's something I've always lacked. Now, if you talked to the Genie, now he would know something about imagination. He's got plenty of it. You saw how he made us leave the nursery. And I hope you appreciate it. It was no day at the beach, I assure you."

"Well, there is something missing. Besides, I don't think you worked hard enough."

"NO! Now, just don't mention it, please. He'll make us go back and make it perfect. Besides, I assure you it is perfect. The Genie inspected every last inch under a magnifying glass. There isn't even a single germ in there. I promise."

"I believe in you, then."

"Thank you."

Iago turned around and flew out of the room, leaving Cassim alone. He chuckled to himself.

"Will you miss the Palace, Aida? Agrabah?"he asked her later.

"Yes, but who knows, I might end up liking Dzonot more. I always did enjoy traveling. It was a pity we never stayed in one place too long. My aunt never liked it. She tired of places and people too easily. The longest stay was about three months. I suppose you must know something of that. If you had to live on the run."

"Well, I never stayed in one place too long, that's true. Except the hideout."

"By the way, what do you suppose did happen to that place. You don't think someone else would probably be using it by now, do you?"

"I don't think so. Unless the seven that were left went back there."

"You never wander what happened to them?"

"No. That's all behind me."

"That's good. I guess you don't like to remember all that."

"No, like I said, that's all behind me now."

"If that's behind you, what's ahead of you?"

Cassim looked at her. I wish you were ahead of me, he thought to himself grimly. In many ways, she was so like Aaliyah, Aladdin's mother. They both saw the world the same way, they used almost the same gestures. Sometimes he thought that perhaps Aida was a reincarnation of Aaliyah, it seemed to him. However, she was now engaged to Francisco. He hoped Francisco would appreciate her. He knew that Aida probably wouldn't face the same outcome as Aaliyah, she wouldn't die of starvation, and her husband wouldn't leave her. Francisco wouldn't kill her, the way he had killed Aaliyah. Francisco had been right about that. It had been his fault Aaliyah died.

"What are you thinking about?"Aida asked him.

He looked up suddenly, and before she knew what was happening, he kissed her. Haifa emerged from the hall.

"Mister Francisco is here to see you, Princess."she said.

"Wha…Oh, right, Francisco. I'll be right there."she said, pushing Cassim away, and getting to her feet.

"Princess! You are engaged to another man!"Haifa said scandalized, when they were in the hall.

"You think I don't know that! It wasn't me. He kissed me, not the other way around! You can't tell anyone, though. I'm serious. You didn't see anything. Nothing! Or, I'll…I'll say you are lying. It'll be my word against yours!"

"I won't say anything, Princess, but…it could have been someone else who walked in."

"Don't worry. It won't happen again. I'll make sure of that. You just worry about keeping your mouth shut."

"Very well. He's waiting for you, in the throne room. He's speaking to the Sultan."

"Right."

She went to the throne room, where Francisco was talking to Aladdin.

"Well, Francisco was just telling me that he wants Jasmine and me to go to Dzonot after the wedding. He says everyone else is most welcome to come, too."

"Why not? I think it would be fun. That way, the next time you visit, you'll know you're way around."

"Doesn't sound like a bad idea. If Genie approves of it."

"Just convince him. I'm sure he will. After all, the hacienda isn't too different from the Palace. Whatever you have here, I'm sure we will have there."

"Yeah, but you know how fussy he's been lately."

"By the way, when is the due date?"

"Pretty soon."

"And are you hoping for a boy or girl?"

"Either one."

"Hmm. Most would hope for a boy. If you come across someone who wouldn't care, that's very, very rare. I know both of my parents cared. A lot."

"Well, everyone is different. I'll leave you guys alone. I've got some stuff to take care of, anyway."

"Pleasure talking to you, Sultan."

"Pleasure."

"Aurelio just left this morning. He's going to tell my parents, bring them over here, and give the orders for the changes. I want some things changed before we go."

"Oh, what things? What for?"

"I want Dzonot to be worthy of receiving its new mistress. I've noticed you love fountains over here. Especially, the peacock one, right. I've ordered them to go the Capital, to find the best ones. And have them all set before we get there."

"Oh, that's nice."

"Fountains with a lot of different themes."

"Themes?"

"Well, you know, different figures."

"Oh, that sounds very nice."

"I hope you'll like it."

"I'm sure I will. You know, a fountain I fell in love with, it was in St.Petersburg, Russia. It was made of gold, at least that's what it seemed. Right in front of the Winter Palace."

"I've seen it, too! You like it?"

"I loved it!"

"Well, I guess now I know what one of the fountains to set up. We can have a replica…where would you like it? In front of the house?"

"I'm not sure."

"Well, when you choose the best place, just tell me, and I shall see to it at once. I promise I shall do everything possible to make you happy, Aida, just like I promised your father. With me, you shall have everything. And don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who beats their wife. I've always respected women. I guess it's because I have an aunt, who has such an attitude, that, oh, well."

"Well, I hope she's nothing like my aunt."

"I don't know your aunt, but I assure she probably isn't. She's very nice. Just very stubborn."

"I see."

I'm not very good at describing the kissing scenes. I know it's kind of lame, him just kissing her, just like that, but, hey, I've never been kissed, so I can't describe the emotions, or anything.