"Anya, these clothes look amazing on you," Angelica said, as Anya posed at Princess Pier just before sunset two days later.

They had been shooting for about two hours and Anya had modeled at least half a dozen outfits for Jasmine's boutique opening in a week.

"Thanks. It must be the lighting," she joked.

"I can't wait to see these up in the shop. You are such a saint for doing this for me. Thanks, again," Jasmine interjected, giddily as she watched Anya.

Was this really happening, she thought. A world famous model wearing my clothes.

It was truly a dream come true for her.

"I'm sure Will Turner will like these photos too, right, Ang?" Jasmine commented, feeling very free and open to ask.

"Jas! Come on. That's none of our business," Angelica added, admonishing her friend for being so bold.

Jasmine shrugged.

"Sorry if I overstepped," Jasmine said. "Flynn just said you two went missing the other night is all. So I just assumed you two were a thing now."

Anya blushed, hoping that the make up job Angelica had done earlier covered her flushed cheeks. She didn't know what to say. She liked Flynn's and Aladdin's friends. And Jasmine was a great designer. One that Anya was happy to partner with. But deep down, Anya didn't know what she and Will were.

Will broke the kiss and opened his eyes searching for answers in Anya's. He was pinned up against the wall in the dark corner of a hallway. Loud club music played in the background. Loud voices echoed in the distance. They were in their own bubble, staring at each other with unsaid words lingering in the air.

He touched her face gently with his finger tips. She closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation of his touch on her skin. Without realizing it, her body was moving closer to his. Looking from her mouth to her eyes and back again, Will touched his lips to hers once more. A sweet and tender moment morphed into something else entirely.

His hands fell from her face to her waist, pulling her against his body. She wrapped her arms around his neck and continued exploring his lips with hers. She could hear him lightly moan as she fingered the little hairs at the nape of his neck. Their kiss intensified.

Will put his forehead to hers and she thought she would die if she didn't feel his lips again.

"Anya," he softly whispered.

She looked up into his brown eyes.

They were burning. He was yearning to tell her something

"Anya, I - "

Before he could finish, a very loud bumbling drunk Gaston and one of the Triton sisters were awkwardly stumbling to the back hallway searching for privacy of their own. Out of instinct, Anya pulled away, but instantly regretting it after seeing the look on Will's face. Not knowing what to do, Anya excused herself and left the club.

And she hadn't talked to Will since. And she wasn't exactly ready to tell girls that she barely knew about her unresolved feelings for her childhood friend and what led to a steamy kiss in the back room of a club. So she decided to divert attention off the subject.

"You and Flynn are spending a lot of time together, aren't you?"

Jasmine was taken aback.

Angelica burst out in laughter.

"Anya, I like your style," she said as she took a few more pictures.

"Gee, thanks, Ang."

"Oh come on, Jasmine. You and Flynn have been inseparable for weeks. It's only natural everyone is a bit...curious," Angelica said, snapping a few more shots.

Jasmine sighed and thought about the time she was spending with Flynn.

Flynn was a few blocks away with Aladdin. The two of them had been assigned to Esmeralda all day and they were reporting to Rolfe and Derek Royal to switch with Cassim's men Omid and Yazan at Royal Hall.

"I always knew Es had a temper, but sweet lord, I've never seen that," Flynn said to Aladdin as they were escorted down the hall toward Derek's study by his right hand man, Rogers.

"I know! I've never seen her eyes turn that color green before!" Aladdin commented as they reached the study.

"Ah, Mr. Rider and Mr. Abu. How are you this evening?" John Rolfe greeted them as they entered the rather large study.

Derek Royal was at this desk. Rolfe was on the other side of the desk mulling over a ledger. Omid and Yazan stood at attention near the windows looking outside.

"We're here to switch with Omid and Yazan. Their turn to tangle with Esmeralda," Flynn said, snickering.

Omid and Yazan looked at each other confused.

"Just beware her temper, boys." Flynn added as the two left the study and were escorted out.

"I assume there was no trouble with Miss Teach today?" Rolfe inquired, curious about Flynn's comment.

Flynn shook his head. Aladdin laughed.

"Esmeralda Teach is not the easiest person to guard, shall we say," Aladdin answered.

Rolfe furrowed his brow.

"Es's temper is legendary. She's used to handling herself so having two guards following her all the time, is getting pretty old," Flynn added, in a more serious tone.

Rolfe nodded understanding.

"Hopefully, it won't be much longer with the election coming up in a few weeks. And with Sparrow set to sail in a day or two," Derek added, getting up from behind his desk.

"I'm going to ask cook to start dinner. Can I get you boys anything?" Derek asked, making his way to the door.

Flynn and Aladdin shook their heads as Derek made his way to the kitchen while they took their stations at the study's windows to keep watch.

"I'm sorry this isn't a more exciting position," Rolfe said taking a sip of the drink he'd had on hand.

Flynn laughed.

"Ah. It comes with the territory."

Rolfe nodded.

"How many jobs have you two done for your father, Aladdin?"

Aladdin shrugged.

"Only a few. We were just recruited not too long ago. To guard the animals at the zoo."

Rolfe nodded, understandingly.

"Ah. So that's how your father met Miss Powhatan. I was wondering how they came to be an item," Rolfe commented.

Aladdin raised an eye brow.

"I guess. My dad and I don't really discuss his romantic life."

"So you don't know how serious they are?" Rolfe asked just as Derek reentered the study.

Aladdin shook his head, beginning to feel slightly uncomfortable with Rolfe's line of questioning.

"How serious who is?" Derek asked, wondering if they were discussing the level of seriousness of Frollo and Norrington's plan.

"I was just curious about Cassim's relationship with Pocahontas Powhatan, is all," Rolfe answered, honestly.

Derek gave him an admonishing look, knowing full well the reasoning behind his curiosity. He rolled his eyes.

"Oh. I thought you were asking about Frollo and Norrington and whether or no their intentions are serious."

"From what I've been told about Frollo's past, he is a very serious character, indeed," Rolfe responded.

"Gives me the creeps," Flynn added. "But then again so does Adam Beastman. No wonder they're in cahoots."

"It's a wonder someone as gregarious as Charles Charming, with the family he comes from, has these dark ties, indeed," Rolfe said, giving Derek an idea.

He looked to Aladdin and Flynn.

"Speaking of, I'm curious if the two of you have ever asked Sparrow or Turner what Charming's secret is."

Aladdin and Flynn looked to each other both knowing the answer.

"We don't. And we probably won't until it's revealed."

"Perhaps the good captain and his right hand man don't trust their friends," Derek joked.

Aladdin shook his head.

"There's an understanding in our circle. We have a deep trust and we don't break it. And so far, it's worked out."

"Whatever it is, I trust Jack and Will and their reasons for sitting on it," Flynn added to Aladdin's comment.

Derek nodded and looked to Rolfe.

Both dying to know what the secret was and why they're hanging onto it.

Across town, the evening crowd was flooding in to Pridelands.

Norrington stopped in to have a quick drink with Phoebus and John Smith before he had dinner at his mother's estate. He would need the liquid courage if he was going to spend an evening surrounded by cats.

He found Phoebus and Smith sitting at a high top near the bar.

"James! Join us," Smith greeted. "Thomas, a scotch neat for James, here," Smith directed Thomas behind the bar.

"Thank you, Smith. How's the evening, men?" James asked, taking a seat.

"Going pretty well. I think, I'm about ready for another," Phoebus said, laughingly.

Thomas brought James' scotch.

James took a sip.

"And where are we on the Sparrow situation?" he asked.

Both Smith and Phoebus looked at each other.

"Alright. Out with it. What have you got?"

Smith shook his head.

"Nothing, James. There's absolutely nothing in Esmeralda's past that could possibly be used against her. And I for one am not going to manufacture evidence just to put Sparrow behind bars. I won't do it."

"That goes for me, too, James," Phoebus added. "I want Sparrow caught as much as you do, but I want to follow the law. And I won't jeopardize an innocent woman to make that happen."

James rolled his eyes.

"Innocent? She's consorting with Sparrow. As far as I'm concerned that makes her as guilty as he is."

"We have no proof other than Frollo's word. And even if we did, who Sparrow sleeps with is hardly our concern," Smith retorted.

James sighed in frustration and took a rather large sip of his drink.

"So what are you two telling me?"

"We're telling you if you decide to move forward with Frollo's suggestion, you're going to have to do it alone," Smith responded.

"I see."

"I must tell you, James, your reaction to Frollo's suggestion, has me puzzled. You've always been a lawman. Why let Frollo get in the way of that?" Phoebus asked.

James took another sip of his drink.

"Because Sparrow is a criminal! And he wants to take down Sparrow just as much as we do."

Smith shrugged, unsure of James' assessment.

"What?" James inquired.

"From the looks of it, he was more concerned about Esmeralda than he was about Sparrow, which is even more troubling," Smith replied.

Phoebus nodded.

"You know, I did catch that vibe from him as well. I'm glad I'm not the only one. It would make sense, considering he was hell bent on finding evidence against her."

James rolled his eyes again and took another sip from his drink.

"So we are back to square one it seems?" James asked, knowing the answer already.

"Am I to take that as you will not go forward with creating evidence where there is none?" Smith clarified.

James nodded, sulkily, finishing off his drink.

"Now, if you'd both excuse me. I have a dinner with my mother to attend to."

"Wait, what are you going to tell Frollo?" Phoebus asked.

James tossed a few bills on the table for Thomas.

"I'll make an appointment with him in the morning. You two are right. If we want to get Sparrow, we have to follow the law."

And James left his two relieved colleagues, knowing it was the right decision, but hating that he was no closer to nailing Sparrow.

A/N: I consulted the Wiki again. Omid and Yazan are names of two of the 40 Thieves in the third Aladdin installment. I know I borrow characters from a lot of the Aladdin universe but I watched that universe A LOT. :) xoxo JTD