Ring. Ring. Ring.

'Come on, pick up,' she thought to herself as the rings continued.

"Hi, you've reached Aladdin Abu. Please leave a message at the - "

Angelica pressed the 'end' button on her phone and slammed it face down on the table where she sat at Pridelands.

It had been weeks and Aladdin still was not taking her calls or even responding to her texts. When she'd ask Flynn about it he would ignore her as well. She took a giant sip from her tequila and soda and stared off into the distance. In her effort to get back at Jack and Esmeralda, she had alienated not only her boyfriend but her friends, too. And it was all for nothing.

"Well, here we are, Ms. Teach. Tell me what you have on Jack."

She sat across the table from James Norrington in a corner booth in the back of Pridelands. At the mere mention of his name all she could picture was Jack with her sister. Her blood boiled.

But then she remembered Aladdin's words and she thought about her response.

"Don't you realize that turning Jack in puts me, and Flynn and a whole lot of other people in jeopardy?"

"Ms. Teach?"

She blinked back to reality. She took a deep breath and prepared to respond.

"I bet if I looked at your logs, it would say that the Black Pearl sailed at midnight tide."

Norrington nodded.

She smiled.

"The Pearl actually set sail at the afternoon tide, just as my loathsome sister and I were performing."

Norrington's eyebrows raised.

"And you know this how?"

"I am willing to give you Jack but I will not betray anyone else."

"How is that helping me at all, Ms. Teach?"

"You're a smart man. I've given you a piece of the puzzle. It's your job to solve it."

"You call this turning Sparrow in? There's hardly any information to go on."

"This is how Jack stays steps ahead of you time and time again, James."

She slid out from her side of the booth to stand up. She leaned toward Norrington.

"Don't underestimate Captain Jack Sparrow. Where he's concerned, the answer you seek is not always crystal clear."

And with that she sauntered off, feeling less than satisfied. She hadn't accomplished her goal of seeking revenge on her ex lover. She did, however, protect Aladdin and Flynn for that matter.

But for what?

That was weeks ago. She betrayed herself on determining to seek vengeance because she didn't want to see Aladdin in jail. And it was all for naught. He wouldn't even return her phone calls. She was about to call him again when Jasmine walked in and made a bee line for her table. They had agreed earlier in the week to meet for drinks after the work day was over. Although she was still a wreck, she was grateful to Jasmine to have this momentary distraction from her issues.

"Okay, something is seriously up with Aurora. I swear," Jasmine stated throwing her bag in an empty chair as she joined Angelica.

"Well, good evening to you, too."

"Hey! Thomas! Give me a G and T!," she shouted her order to the bartender and returned her attention back to her friend.

"Hey girl! Sorry about that but, I just don't understand."

"What's happening with Aurora? You guys are cool aren't you?"

"I mean, yeah, we were but ever since Charming's launch party thing, she has been really sneaky about something and it's almost like Cruella is in on it."

"What do you mean?"

"Here you are, one G and T!"

Thomas placed a fresh cocktail in front of Jasmine and she took a refreshing sip as he walked back to the bar.

"Thanks, Thomas! Anyway, for the party, Aurora and I were paired up to collaborate on the designs you and Esmeralda wore to dance. And we've been paired up since because Cruella really loved those designs but Aurora's always MIA for every session we have. And when it's time to present, she's getting all the brownie points with Cruella when I'm the one doing all the work."

"Seriously? And Cruella doesn't notice?"

"Apparently not! But then today I caught them in her office having some sort of secret meeting and I couldn't make out most of it but what I did hear was 'I'll never have my perfect spots'."

"'I'll never have my perfect spots' What would they be talking about?"

"Got me. I mean, Cruella has been on this animal kick lately but I try to steer clear of that, I mean I have a pet tiger!"

Angelica nodded understandingly.

"So she's not showing up to collab sessions, sucking up to Cruella and having secret meetings with her about spots? It's like she already knows that she's beating you at this whole internship thing and she's not putting in any effort. Do you think Cruella has already made her decision?"

Jasmine shrugged her shoulders.

"I have no idea but I will not stand by idly, that's for sure. Our work she be judged on talent and merit and Aurora is doing diddly. It's not fair! I wish I could find out more."

Angelica had a light bulb moment but wasn't sure how to suggest it to Jasmine.

"I mean, I know who could help you out. But it might take some convincing."

Jasmine looked her dead in the eye, already knowing what she was planning.

"Forget it, Ang. Not gonna happen. He's too obsessed with me."

"Come on, Jasmine! He's the sneakiest guy we know next to Aladdin and he has already had an encounter with her."

"He has? Flynn sure gets around more than I thought he did."

Angelica laughed.

"Yes he does and you know he'd do anything for you."
"That's what I'm worried about. There's too much history there. It could get too messy."

"Well, it's just a suggestion."

"Thanks, but I think we need to do more brainstorming on this one," Jasmine replied rolling her eyes.

Then her vision focused in on the front door.

"Uh. Ya know what. We always come to Pridelands. Why don't we try out O'Malley's tonight?"

Angelica raised a brow in confusion.

"You just got your drink? What's the rush?"

Then she took a look for herself what Jasmine had seen walk through the door and rage engulfed her body. Esmeralda walked in with Meg and took a seat at the bar. Neither seemed to notice the two of them.

"Are you gonna be okay?"

Angelica nodded.

"As long as she stays over there. I'm fine."

Jasmine was glad that she could finish her drink, but the anguish of having two of her friends who just happened to be sisters on the outs was difficult. In the old days, Jasmine and Angelica would be meeting up with Meg and Esmeralda after work but for weeks it had been like this. Meg and Angelica avoided the topic when working together and Jasmine and Meg both tried to remain neutral to sustain friendships with both sisters but it was getting pretty draining. She and Meg were usually really good at coordinating separate meet ups so the two sisters would avoid running into each other but apparently with all the Aurora madness, it had slipped Jasmine's mind to check with Meg.

Meg had also forgotten to check in with Jasmine, given that it was a pretty busy day for her.

"So tell me. How were things with Dr. Thatch?" Esmeralda asked Meg after they had ordered their drinks.

Meg sighed.

"Well, for our first session I think it went well. Of course I have no frame of reference on a therapist session, so I'm not sure."

"Do you think it will help?"

"I think it's too soon to tell. But I know that I feel better after voicing a few of my triggers. He did agree that we wouldn't delve too deep into those daddy issues quite yet but work our way backwards."

"That's good! So you feel good about where it's going?"

Meg nodded.

"Ya know. I think I do. For the first time in my life, I'm actually working on these issues instead of working around them."

"I'll drink to that!" Esmeralda responded picking up her glass that Thomas had just put down in front of her.

The two toasted and Meg thought about the roller coaster her life had been since the week of Charming's campaign launch. She had gone from hating life and love to blissfully enjoying a new stable relationship to fighting back feelings of a new stable relationship to a romantic tryst with her ex to having an emotional trigger set her off. After the launch party, Hercules invited Meg over for dinner so they could be rekindle their romantic relationship and discuss how to start over and move forward.

Meg was seated across from Hercules at his dining room table after they'd shared a delicious dinner. He reached across the table to put her hand in his.

"All during the ceremony, I was thinking about you and about us and about how amazing it was to be with you again," Hercules began.

"Me too."

She smiled as his hand gently squeezed hers a little tighter.

He smiled.

"I'm so glad to hear you say that, Meg. Really, I am."

"Why do I feel like there's a 'but' coming?"

"Do you always have to be so intuitive?"

She pulled her hand away and leaned back in her chair, ready for him to lay her a new one.

"Alright, hit me with it. I can take it."

"That's just it, Meg. I'm not hitting you with anything."
"What do you mean?"

"Look, Meg, I love you. I love you a lot and I meant it when I said that I will never ever hurt you or leave you. But I do have some concerns with us moving forward."

"Like?"

"Why did you get so bothered by Sinbad talking to Aurora today that you wouldn't even let him explain? Even if you were going to end things with him?"

Meg shrugged.

"I don't know. It just did. It brought me to a bad place."

"In all honesty, though, it didn't sound like he did anything wrong at all. Having been on the receiving end of Aurora, looks aren't always what they seem."

Meg folded her arms and slumped deep in the chair.

"So what are you saying? You want me to be more like Aurora?"

Hercules got up from his chair and made his way over to Meg. He knelt down and put his hand on her chin so she'd be forced to look at him.

"No. Far from it. I want you to be Meg. Because I love Meg."

She smiled shyly.

"I'm just worried about you and why you get so triggered by girls like Aurora or why you shut things out about your mom or - "

"Hercules, you don't know half of the things with my mom."

"I know, I know. And I'm not pressing you. I just think that if we want to really and truly move forward in our relationship that things need to change. I will work on being more empathetic and considerate but I think you need to work on things, too."

She took a moment to take in all the things he said. All of his points were valid. If he was willing to put in the work, she had to be too. She didn't want to lose him again.

"I love you and I want this to work. I don't want this to get messed up again," he said.

"Me either."

Two days later she was researching therapists.

"Seriously, Meg. I'm so glad that you are doing this and working on things. And it's so great that Hercules is being so supportive."

"I know. I mean I probably should've been to therapy years ago but sometimes things just happen when they need to happen. And I don't want to push him away again."

Esmeralda nodded.

"And I mean I did tell Hercules that I needed to work on why that whole scene with Aurora and Sinbad was so triggering. I mean I was a total bitch and that wasn't right. And I've never been one to go back on my word."

"No you haven't. So do you think that you'll apologize to Sinbad?"

"I don't know, will you apologize to Angelica?"

Esmeralda rolled her eyes.

"I've apologized and apologized and she still won't speak to me."

"Well maybe you should try saying it a different way?"

"Why?"

"Because she and Jasmine are walking toward us right now."

Esmeralda's blood ran cold. She hadn't seen or spoken to her sister since the day of the launch party. She'd made numerous efforts to contact her and work things out but it was all ignored. And as she turned her head, her guilt came flooding in ten fold as she saw the anger in her sister's eyes as she approached.

"Hey, ladies!" Jasmine greeted, "How's it going?"
"Good! Just had my first therapy sesh. Things are looking up," Meg responded.

"That's awesome! I'm glad to hear it. How about you, Es? Everything good?"

Esmeralda smiled and nodded, unsure of what to say.

"Yep. Just booked a performance for the celebration for the arrival of the new lion in a couple of days. Really looking forward to that."

"Good! Good." Jasmine responded unsure of where to go from there, awkward tension was beginning to bubble up.

"And how are things with my mother?" Meg sarcastically asked Jasmine.

Jasmine laughed, thankful that she and Meg at least were able to carry on a conversation in the same way.

"Oh as exciting as ever. Although, I'm not sure I'm her star student anymore."

"Why do you say that? You're the most talented one in the program," Meg responded.

"Well Aurora seems to be teacher's pet now."

Meg rolled her eyes.

"Okay, raise your hand if you've been personally victimized by Aurora Rose," Meg said as she and Jasmine both raised their hands. "What did she do now?"

"I'm not totally sure but something fishy is going on. I can smell it."

"Well you know who's the best person for that job."

"Who?"

"Flynn." Meg said, echoing Angelica's earlier point.

Jasmine frowned.

"I know he's not your most favorite person but I mean he is a genius at finding out dirt."

"Ugh. So you and Angelica both tell me."

"See! You should listen to us. We're your friends! We know things. Right, Es?"

Meg was inwardly growing sick of the tiresome awkward conversation between four people that was only taking place between her and Jasmine. She found a window and opened it, hoping that Esmeralda would join in and first steps toward reconciliation between two sisters would initiate. But she'd been wrong.

Before Esmeralda could utter her agreement, Angelica spoke up.

"Well, it's been nice. But I have to get going now."

And before anyone could say goodbye, she walked off and out the door.

"Angelica, wait!" Jasmine shouted. "See you guys later! Congrats on the gig, Es! Good luck in therapy, Meg!"

Meg and Esmeralda sat on their bar stools and watched Jasmine chase after Angelica.

"Well, I'm glad you two have gotten over that whole awkward phase," Meg said, breaking the silence.

"Ha ha. Very funny. Finish your drink!"

Outside, Jasmine was able to catch up with Angelica.

"Wait up!"

"What? Do you have an even more agonizingly awkward situation you want me to join?"

Jasmine frowned.

"No. I just want to see if you're okay. But now that you mention it, when are you going to sit down with your sister and hash this Jack situation out?"

"When hell freezes over."

"Look, I get it that she majorly crossed a line that should have never been crossed. She is totally in the wrong there. But she's apologized and from what I've been hearing, she hasn't been seen with anyone even remotely associated with Jack – not even Dimitri. She spends all her time in the studio and crashing at Meg's place because you won't talk to her."

"It's not easily that forgivable, Jasmine. I loved Jack. And she betrayed me."

"I know. I know. And she was wrong. Dead wrong. I'm not saying forgive her and forget it right now. But can't you learn to be civil? At least so the four of us can hang out again? And Meg and I don't have to constantly coordinate meet up places so the two of you don't run into each other? Think of your friends please!"

With that Jasmine stomped off toward her home.

Angelica stood on the sidewalk outside of Pridelands, thinking about Jasmine's words. She had no idea that Jasmine and Meg were making it so she and Esmeralda didn't have to bump into each other. She was so blinded by betrayal that she had given little thought to how this fight with her sister was affecting her friends. It had already cost her a relationship with Aladdin. And even though she hated her sister for what she had done, she wanted to make it so the four of them could be in the same room together like back in the day. She made a mental note to work on a solution that could benefit all when two male figures bumped into her rounding the corner.