"So who's all gonna be at this shindig tonight?" Meg asked Angelica as they wrapped up their photo editing for the day.

They were both invited by their respective boyfriends to attend a dinner party at the Jungles'.

Angelica shut off her laptop screen and began packing her work bag.

"For sure Adelaide Norrington and the Swanns given that they adore animals as much as the Jungles do. I know Derek Royal and John Rolfe are attending. Maybe the Triton family."

Meg nodded taking a swig of her water.

"So does that mean Pocahontas will be there as well?"

"I'm assuming since she works at the zoo as a vet."

"And how is Aladdin feeling about it?"

Angelica sighed and sunk back into her chair.

"I mean. He and his dad don't really talk about that kind of thing. But Cassim seems happy with whatever relationship they have."

Meg got up and walked over to Angelica's desk, leaning up against it.

"I mean it's just so weird to me. Pocahontas is so quiet. I just never would have pictured her with a man old enough to be her father."

"She wasn't quiet the other night, let me tell you."

Meg's eyes went wide.

"Oh, so Aladdin's dad has a wild side does he?" Meg asked, raising an eye brow.

Angelica rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"No, silly. She was fostering a wolf puppy who was abandoned by its mother the other night and he was finally getting some sleep until my sister came home and woke up the entire building. Little Miss Quiet was not so happy about that."

"Oh. Oh! I get it now, sorry to put that image in your head."

"Even when Al and I told Esmeralda that it was just a part of Jack's plan, she didn't believe us."

"Yikes. The only thing she said to me was that men are pond scum."

Angelica laughed.

"That is pretty PG compared to what she was screaming at us. Then she started throwing dishes. It was a nightmare."

"So how are you feeling with this whole Jack-Esmeralda thing? I mean about them being together."

Angelica sighed and bit her lip.

"Honestly. I'm okay with it. Jack and I were a disaster. And I've found something real with Aladdin. He's her problem if she wants him."

Meg laughed.

"Have you ever known Es to throw dishes over a dude?"

Angelica shook her head.

"Lord, no! I was in such a state of shock that I just kind of stood there watching her have her little moment."

Meg slapped her hand on her knee and laughed.

"No way! What did Aladdin do?"

Angelica jumped as if she had just remembered something she'd left out.

"Oh, well then Clopin walked in and we kind of had to tag team their dueling tempers."

"Oh no way! What was his problem?"

Angelica rolled her eyes.

"From what he said, Jasmine for once didn't give in to his demands."

Meg's jaw dropped.

"What? You're kidding? Flynn told me she had a date with Dimitri the other night that didn't go well at all."

Angelica nodded understanding that part of the story.

"Yes. And apparently my brother tried to intervene on their romantic evening and Dimitri shooed him away."

"Flynn mentioned something like that."

"So Flynn and Jasmine 2.0 is going pretty well I take it?"

Meg laughed.

"Looks like it. She called him after her date with Dimitri ended when Dimitri expected to be physically rewarded for getting rid of your brother."

Angelica opened her mouth, stunned.

"Well, then I agree with my sister. Men are indeed pond scum."

Meg laughed.

"Except for our men that is."

"You're right about that. Hopefully they get here soon. I'm starving."

"Did Aladdin tell you that Will is going with Jane Porter?"

"Uh. No. But that's an interesting pair. Aladdin did tell me that Will was extra salty the other day about the whole Frollo/Jack thing."

Meg shrugged.

"Who knows. When I first met her she seemed super interested in Will. And from what Flynn told me, he has always had a crush on her."

And even getting ready for the dinner at the Jungles' with another woman, Will was still interested in Anya. He had tried to get a hold of her the other day after the group meeting but she didn't answer. And she was barely responding to his texts. He felt horrible guilt for being with Jane yesterday when she needed him. He had promised her he'd always be there.

'Oh well,' he thought as he fastened the last button on his white shirt.

He would find some way to enjoy the evening with Jane at the Jungles and not think about betraying Anya.

"I'm off to pick up, Jane," Will said to Jack as he left his room and headed for the door.

Jack sat on the couch with a paused video game, holding his phone in his hand, staring at it longingly.

"I'm assuming you haven't heard from Esmeralda, then?"

Jack didn't say anything in response but glared at Will with an annoyed look in his eye.

Will nervously smiled.

"Well, enjoy your evening then, Captain," Will said, heading toward Jane's town home, leaving Jack to mope and putting all thoughts of Anya out of his mind.

Will was the furthest thing from Anya's mind as she sat once again in Adelaide Norrington's library getting a briefing from Derek about the dinner at Charles Charming's she would attend with Adam, Marie and Sophie. All of this covertness and secrecy was starting to give her headache as Derek reminded her to pay close attention to Frollo.

"It's important that we know what exactly his plans are if any should come up in conversation this evening," Derek stated, tying his tie for his own dinner party at the Jungle's

"Derek, leave your poor sister alone. She's smart enough and sly enough to pick up on anything that slime ball Frollo may say or do," John Rolfe interjected, putting his hand on Anya's shoulder.

Anya smiled. She was glad that at least someone in this situation could defend her even just a little bit.

Derek sighed.

"You're right of course. I just worry for you, Anya. Adam's temper and all..." Derek trailed off.

"I know you do. I'll be careful. Although, I wish I was going to your dinner tonight. It sounds much more fun!"

"Well, hopefully I can take you to one of these parties one day after this is all over," Rolfe said winking at Anya.

Anya blushed. Derek didn't seem to notice that his friend was hitting on his sister. She was flattered of course. He had been very kind to her since she'd become a part of Derek's plans. And to have the attention of such a powerful man was something she was not used to, even as an international model. And it suddenly occurred to her that he was very handsome.

"I hope so," she responded, smiling.

For the first time since she met him, she was looking forward to the next time she would see John Rolfe again.

"Well, you better get back home before Adam wonders where you've been," Derek said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Oh right. And you guys better go or you're going to be late!"

At the Waterhole shops, Hercules and Aladdin arrived at the Photo Studio to pick up their dates for dinner at the Jungle's that they were in danger of being late for as well. Hercules brought a bouquet of lilies from his mother's garden.

"Wonderboy, you are perfect," Meg said as she greeted him with a grateful kiss.

Angelica watched their embrace with envy and looked at Aladdin skeptically.

"And where are my flowers, huh?" she asked, teasingly.

Aladdin blushed, unsure of how to respond.

She swatted his arm and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm only kidding, babe," she said placing a kiss on his lips.

"What took you so long? I missed you," she asked.

"Sorry. I ran late at my dad's. He is taking this dinner way more seriously than I thought."

Meg nodded and put her hands on her hips in front of Hercules.

"Okay, and what's your excuse? Why are you late?" Meg asked sarcastically.

"I brought flowers," Hercules said matter of factly as if that excused his tardiness.

The group laughed.

"We should get going now that we're all here," Angelica said, grabbing her purse.

Hercules extended an arm to Meg. Her heart fluttered thinking how lucky she was that he had returned to her life just as quickly as he'd left it. With her delicate hands she grabbed onto his arm as he escorted her to the car. Aladdin and Angelica followed.

"So, Ang. How's Esmeralda holding up since her blow up the other night?" Aladdin asked.

Angelica rolled her eyes.

As a matter of fact, Esmeralda was doing just fine. She decided to distract herself as much as possible from the situation or lack there of with Jack by being more social with her friends. While Meg and Angelica doubled with Hercules and Aladdin at the Jungle's dinner party, Esmeralda, Flynn and Jasmine had drinks at Pridelands. And Jasmine was catching her friend up on her recent but failed first date with Dimitri.

"And then he said, 'But don't I even get a kiss?' and I said 'No! I am not a prize to be won!'"

"Wow, Jas. Good for you! And Dimitri is hard to resist. Believe me, I know," Esmeralda said, taking a sip of her vodka-soda.

"Eh. I've seen better," Jasmine responded, drinking her margarita and innocently winking at Flynn.

Esmeralda hadn't seen the two of them like this in quite a long time.

"Thanks for saving me that night, by the way, Flynn," Jasmine said, putting her hand on his on the table.

Flynn smiled remembering when she'd texted him asking if he'd come over for a night cap.

He confidently strolled from his apartment to her town home, proud of himself that he'd gotten this far with Jasmine. That she trusted him enough to call him and not revert back to calling Clopin after bad dates. He got there just as she was arriving home.

He'd walked her in and she poured them some wine and they sat on her couch and just talked.

"I'm really sorry, Jas. I knew he was interested in you. I should've said something."

Jasmine reached out and put her hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Flynn."

"Are you sure? I feel like I failed as a friend I that regard. I should've given you a little warning."

Jasmine laughed.

"Well, it's not like I wasn't interested. I just didn't know he was expecting so much from me. It reminded me a lot of..." she stopped herself before she continued.

"Reminded you a lot of what?"

She swallowed a big sip of wine before she answered.

"Well. It reminded me a lot of how you used to be with me. Right after we broke up and I started seeing Clopin again. You just wouldn't respect my space. You thought you had more to prove to me when that wasn't it at all."

Flynn frowned.

"I see. I'm sorry about that. I just wanted your attention back and I acted like a jerk."

Jasmine smiled.

"I appreciate that. But now I don't see you like a big jerk anymore."

Now it was Flynn's turn to take a big sip of his wine to prepare himself to respond.

"How do you see me, Jasmine?"

Flynn watched as her beautiful big brown eyes looked deep into his. For a what seemed like hours, neither of them said anything. Flynn didn't care that she was taking so long to answer him. He was content admiring the view and being near her.

"You're important to me, Flynn Rider. That's how I see you."

Flynn smiled and raised his glass to hers.

"Cheers to that!"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Esmeralda's curious question brought him out of his memories.

"What?" Jasmine asked. "I'm just teasing. I'm so annoyed with men thinking they deserve something from us, ya know?"

Esmeralda couldn't disagree with her friend but she didn't believe for a moment that she was teasing at all. As she looked at her two friends who were once lovers, she was beginning to feel like a tag along on a date. And given that she was trying so hard as of late to not think romantically, her friends were making it really hard for her not to go there.

"Something wrong, Es?" Flynn asked.

Esmeralda shook her head.

"Oh. No. But I think I'm going to call it a night. I'm kinda tired."

Jasmine frowned.

"Oh no, really? Okay."

"Let me walk you home," Flynn said, thinking about the Frollo situation in the back of his mind.

Esmeralda rolled her eyes.

"I'll be fine, Flynn. I have a knife in my purse or did you forget?" Esmeralda responded, standing firm in her belief.

"Alright. Alright. I give. Be safe, okay?" Flynn responded.

Esmeralda nodded her head.

"Of course. I'll see you guys later. Have a good night!" she said as she walked away from the table.

Jasmine and Flynn watched her go.

"Flynn I have an idea," Jasmine said with a mischievous look in her eye.

Flynn raised his eyebrows, curiously.

"Hit me."

"We should follow her home and make sure she at least gets in her building, okay. I know you said that Frollo guy is a creep beyond belief."

"Jasmine, I like where your mind is. Look at me, rubbing off on you."

They laughed and left some cash on the table for Thomas and Nikoma and sneaked out to make sure their friend got home safe. They were quiet all the way down Walt Street until they saw Esmeralda cross Notre Dame Terrace to her building.

"Well, looks like she's in safe. No harm. No fowl. No what?" Jasmine asked, oddly eager to see what Flynn had in mind.

Flynn smiled. Not wanting this night to end and knowing Meg would most certainly be spending the night at Hercules' after her dinner party, Flynn thought he'd invite Jasmine over for a night cap.

"Well, I have recently discovered that Meg and I own a wine fridge filled with a few good bottles. Care to have our own little wine tasting?"

Jasmine's eyes lit up.

"That sounds like an amazing idea."

"Then let's go," Flynn said, holding out his arm, leading Jasmine toward his building further down the street, thoroughly looking forward to spending more alone time with her.

Esmeralda did not enter her apartment with the same enthusiasm as Flynn to his. She had thought a night out with friends would help her mood, but it didn't. She was still angry at Jack for humiliating her with his public display with Aurora. And even more so, she was mad at herself for letting her heart be so trusting to a no good pirate.

She sighed as she wandered down the hall to her bedroom, thinking about what show she wanted to binge all night. When she opened her room and turned on the light. She was stunned when she realized she was not alone. Instinctively she pulled the knife out of her purse and pointed it at the figure in her bed. She couldn't tell who it was. Their head was hiding behind a giant throw pillow. When she removed it with a flash, her fears subsided.

Grumbling awake now that the pillow had been removed from over his head, Jack blinked to get his bearings, only to see a knife-wielding Esmeralda.

"I'm innocent, I swear," he said, sitting up, putting his hands up over his head. "I come with no weapons or sharp objects. Well, actually..."

"Jack! What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in my apartment?" she said putting her knife down on her desk.

Jack shrugged.

"Your landlord really should do something about the vines growing up the side of the building. Oh and that broken lock on your window. It makes it very easy for someone with ill intentions to enter your lodgings."

"Someone like you?"

"I have no ill intentions, my dear Esme."

She wanted to believe him. But she couldn't get the image of Aurora Rose fawning all over him out of her head. Now she knew how her sister felt all those weeks ago.

"No sharp objects?"

Jack smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"Well, that depends entirely on you, luv."

Esmeralda folded her arms across her chest.

"Oh does it? What'd you do, get bored with Aurora. I heard she wasn't that entertaining."

"Must you be so crass, luv? I was never with Aurora in the first place. It was only a ruse. Didn't you read my messages?"

"I read them. And Aladdin filled me in on the rest."

"So then don't you believe, 'ole Jack?"

Esmeralda looked at him. His dark brown eyes seemed sincere. But he was after all, Captain Jack Sparrow. A notorious rakehell who had a long list of sexual conquests. And he still hadn't admitted to her what she knew deep down he truly felt. And she wasn't going to let him get away with it. And then she remembered what her sister had said last week.

"... I saw the way that Jack looked at you,Esmeralda."

"So what? Jack looks at tons of women on the daily."

"Not like this."

Esmeralda rolled her eyes.

"What are you saying? That I have the magic touch?"

Angelica laughed.

"Yes. I think you do. I used to pray he'd look at me like that one day."

She threw her purse on the floor and uncrossed her arms. She put her knees on the bed and her hands to his face. She pulled him in for a deep, intense, kiss. She pressed her body to his. Just as he was settling into the kiss, she pulled back.

"It's not nice to tease," Jack said frowning.

Esmeralda smiled, seductively.

"If you're supposed to be avoiding me, Jack, then why are you here?"

"I waited for the opportune moment, Esme. I was informed that the pious Judge Frollo is attendinga dinner party tonight at the Charming Palace."

She nodded, understanding.

"Ah. So we can be together tonight."

"Not all night, luv. I can't be seen leaving your place at daybreak."

Esmeralda pouted but nodded her head.

"Well, then we better make tonight count," she said smiling against his lips as she continued kissing him.

And for the next few hours they didn't worry about Frollo or Charming or even Norrington. They just enjoyed each other.