A/N: Here's the fourth chapter and this project has excited me the way no other project has. I've already come up with two AU ideas for Jafar and Amana, one that's a crossover with the movie Passengers where Jafar and Amana take the place of Jim and Aurora on a space cruise ship that they both woke up too early on. The other is a modern AU fanfic where Amana's a reporter and Jafar is a prisoner on death row she interviews and falls in love with. That was inspired by a song I found in a Joker/Harley playlist on Spotify called A Journalist Falls in Love with a Death Row Inmate. Anyway, I'd like to thank onlyindreams145 for beta reading.

If you recognize it from Aladdin or Disney in general, I don't own it with the exception of Abbas who belongs to hello-mintblooms and who I'd like to thank for letting me use her character.

* * *

"Satine: Christian, I'm a courtesan. I'm paid to make men believe what they want to believe.

Christian: Silly me... Just think that you could fall in love with someone like me.

Satine: Ah... I can't fall in love with anyone.

Christian: Can't fall in love? But..the life without love, that's terrible!

Satine: No! Being on the streets, that's terrible."

-Moulin Rouge

Amana looked through her armoire, thinking about the request she recently received from Jafar, which was rather vague about what exactly he wanted from her. She wasn't aware of any events happening recently, so maybe she could get away with dressing a bit more scandalous. Amana grabbed the blue outfit consisting of a small top and a matching pair of hakim pants. A good outfit for a private meeting, but Jafar might have something public planned and Amana knew that most men, particularly men of status, preferred to have women of modest dress accompany them. She grabbed a silk cloth to cover herself with thinking that, if Jafar did want her for a more private engagement, her outfit underneath would be a nice surprise. Amana grabbed her knife and equipped it, just in case Jafar tried to force a private meeting. She looked at herself in the mirror, seeing a perfect combination of casual and elegant. However, there was one more thing missing. Amana grabbed the blue rose in the vase and put it in her hair.

"Perfect," she said to her reflection.

Then she left to see Heydar in the corner as Jamila giggled with a group of girls.

"He said that I was a rare jewel buried under tons of sand," she bragged and then saw Amana out of the corner of her eye. "Of course, I told him that, in Agrabah, he is the true jewel." Jamila went into a dreamlike trance. "And such an exotic one."

"Really?" One of Jamila's friends asked excitedly. "What did he look like?"

"You should have seen him, he had skin the color of a freshly plucked peach, hair as gold as the sun and eyes as green as leaves," Jamila turned to Amana. "In fact, it was the same color as your eyes, Amana." Jamila gazed into Amana's eyes. "Could he be a relative of yours?"

"I highly doubt that such a thing is possible," Amana told her. "My mother is from Arendelle."

"So you claim," Jamila said nonchalantly, earning a silent glare from Heydar.

Amana imagined disfiguring Jamila's pretty face but turned around with an innocent smile. "So my father claims," she corrected. "And I highly doubt that he would have any reason to lie."

Jamila only laughed. "Forgive me, Amana, I never meant to imply that your father deceived you," she told Amana. "I was only speculating if your mother might have been a disgraced exile rather than a commoner."

"You speculate much from one small detail," Amana responded politely. "I imagine green eyes are as common in those lands as brown eyes are common here."

Jamila's smile slowly became a grimace. "Which is why you are so desired by our patrons," she commented. "At least by some of our young and naive ones."

A smile tugged at Amana's lips. "I happen to be waiting for a patron at this very moment," she told Jamila as she pointed to the blue rose in her hair. "One who was kind enough to send me this lovely token of his affection."

"Another young and naive Amir who has lost his heart to you," Jamila responded.

It was at that moment Jafar walked into the brothel. Jamila's jaw dropped at the sight of the Grand Vizier, but she quickly regained her composure. "Welcome, Grand Vizier," she managed to say with a forced smile as she curtseyed to him. "May I ask why you have graced us with your presence?"

"I am here for Lady Amana," Jafar told her dismissively.

"Really?" Jamila said, her smile turning deadlier.

"This is the patron I was waiting for," Amana told Jamila, letting a tiny bit of glee seep into her voice. "I understand that your night with the Coronian duke excited you but, in the future, try not to let your excitement cloud your perception."

Amana glanced at Heydar who returned her smile and then followed Jafar and Amana out of the building. As soon as they left, Jafar took note of the blue rose in Amana's hair. "I see that you have received my gift," he acknowledged.

"Then you must be the mysterious J," Amana said with a mischievous smile.

"I suppose sending Iago wasn't very discreet," Jafar admitted as Iago squawked "discreet."

"Why did you feel the need to send your parrot in the first place?" Heydar asked him suspiciously. "You could have easily sent the flower through our mail system."

"Sounds a little impersonal," Jafar responded harshly.

Amana laughed as she reached up her hand to stroke the bird's feathers. "Iago does have a habit of visiting my residence," she said understandingly. "It's only natural that Jafar take advantage."

"Your parrot's been visiting Amana?" Heydar asked.

"This is actually news to me as well," Jafar admitted, not even bothering to face Heydar.

"Then you haven't sent your feathered friend to keep watch on me," Amana said humorously

"Why would I attempt such a thing when I can simply request your company?" Jafar asked her with a charming smile.

"And tell me, Grand Vizier," Amana asked challengingly. "Where exactly do you require my company?"

* * *

"The Bazaar?" Amana said, looking around at the crowds of people shopping from the stalls as the merchants advertised their wares.

"Is this an issue?" Jafar asked her.

"No, just surprising," Amana admitted as she found her senses assaulted by the smell of cardamom. "Usually, my patrons wish for me to accompany them to a party or take a tour of their private garden. Not ask me to go shopping with them at the Bazaar."

"I hope I haven't disappointed you," Jafar said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Actually, I have been meaning to buy a bird perch for Iago," Amana told him, looking around for a pet stall. "And it would be much easier for us to finish our game."

A smile tugged at Jafar's lips. "Ladies first."

Amana laughed. "Either you're being a gentleman or you're scared to go first," she teased, noticing the annoyed look on Jafar's face. "All right, I suppose I will go first."

Amana walked with Jafar, noticing some of the onlookers trying to get a glimpse of the handsome Grand Vizier with the beautiful lady of the court as she looked for the bird stall while Heydar watched them from a distance. "You were right; I am the bastard daughter of an Agraban noble and an Arendelle commoner. However, I am not the product of a secret tryst." Amana heard squawking from nearby and turned around to find the bird stall she was looking for. "My father loved my mother and he would have married her had he been allowed."

"A forbidden romance between a noble and a commoner," Jafar remarked as Amana went to the bird stall. "I always believed that those were found more often in storybooks than they are in real life."

"Occasionally, such things do happen," Amana said, looking at the squawking birds trapped in cages with pity as her eyes wondered over to the bird perches. "Where do you think story tellers receive their inspiration from?"

"Fantasies, dreams?" Jafar answered sarcastically as Amana saw a bird perch. "A yearning for what they can never have?"

"Do you wish to hear my story, or stand there making pessimistic remarks?" Amana asked him a bit more defensively than she intended to.

Jafar stayed silent for a while until he finally managed to force through his teeth. "Forgive me, my lady."

"My mother died giving birth to me and my father brought me back to Agrabah to raise as his own," Amana told Jafar, noticing a bird perch that looked too weak to support Iago. "My father made sure that I was well-provided for, but my step-mother made it clear that I was not of the same status as her children. Yet my status was far too high for me to be considered another common servant."

"Did they consider making you a handmaiden?"

"Actually, I was a handmaiden to my sister for awhile," Amana admitted as she came across a golden bird perch with a red ruby. "My father felt that no man would wish to marry a mixed-raced bastard, at least not any man he considered worthy of me." The merchant smiled at Amana, noticing her looking at the golden bird perch. "Then I met Ishtar at the Harvest Festival and, when she saw me, she offered to make me a lady of the court."

"I thought you looked far too lovely to be a simple handmaiden," the merchant said to Amana. "And you have quite a good eye, if I might say so myself."

The merchant indicated to the golden perch Amana glanced at briefly. "Forgive me, sir, but I am only looking for a simple bird perch for Iago," she explained politely and then jokingly added. "I have no wish to crown him the Sultan of the parrots."

"Want that one!" Iago squawked behind her.

"No, he does not," Jafar said warningly.

The merchant laughed and then turned his attention to Jafar. "Grand Vizier, I'm sure you can talk some sense into your lady friend," he told him with a grimace. "Perhaps a man such as yourself can see that bird of the second most powerful man in Agrabah—" Jafar clenched his staff tightly. "—deserves only the finest life has to offer."

"I do hope you're not trying to take advantage of my lady friend," Jafar said in a threatening tone. "Because, if you were, things could become very... difficult for you."

The merchant gulped in fear and then turned back to Amana. "But, if that perch is not to your liking, feel free to select something else."

"Anyway, you can imagine that my options were to stay in my sister's shadow, cleaning her bed pans and chamber pots, or accept Ishtar's offer and receive all of the luxuries of a lady with none of the constraints," Amana explained, finding a nice and sturdy wooden bird perch. "I would like to purchase that one."

"An excellent purchase, m'lady," the merchant told her as he quickly took the money and gave her a pack of birdseeds. "And here's some free bird seeds... for your trouble."

Then the merchant gave her the perch, but Amana shook her head. "Actually, I was wondering if you could hold on to that for me for now," she asked him.

"Of course, m'lady!" the merchant said as if he were in fear for his life. "It'll be ready for you when you come back."

Amana thanked the merchant and left with Jafar to explore the rest of the Bazaar. "I suppose I should thank you as well," she said to him. "If you hadn't frightened the merchant, he wouldn't have changed his mind about the golden perch so quickly."

"Wanted that," Iago squawked.

"The man tried to take advantage of you," Jafar explained as several of the passersby took notice of him and avoided him as if he were the plague, something Heydar took notice of as he gave Amana a warning glance. "I wasn't about to allow that."

"Which I do appreciate," Amana responded as she gave Heydar a reassuring glance. "However, perhaps you should not use that strategy on every citizen of Agrabah."

Jafar noticed the people backing away from him. "It is better to be feared than loved," he explained.

"If you cannot do both," Amana finished. "However, people are more likely to support you if they love you rather than follow you for fear that they'll suffer death by beheading if they don't."

"That may be suiting for your line of work," Jafar told her sharply. "But not in mine."

"I suppose it is unbecoming of me to discuss a topic that I know so little about," Amana responded and then added. "Though I do wonder who schooled you in such a manner," Amana speculated, causing Jafar to stop in his tracks. "I do hope you haven't forgotten your end of the bargain, Grand Vizier."

Jafar stood silent for a while. "No, I haven't," he admitted. "But it's best that we wait."

"For how long?"

"There is a reason I called you to the Bazaar," Jafar admitted.

"And why is that?"

"The princess's birthday is approaching and I was hoping that you would help me select a gift," Jafar said, leading Amana to the jewelry stalls.

"Everything I know about the princess is in rumors," Amana explained, looking at the jewelry. "And I am sure that you have plenty of experience selecting gifts for her yourself."

"A task such as this requires a woman's touch."

"Well, all I know about the princess is that she has a pet tiger—"

"Cat," Jafar interrupted and, after seeing the confused look on Amana's face, explained. "We prefer to think of him as a cat."

"I also know that her mother was the princess of Shirabad and that, ever since her mother's death, she's been kept under lock and key," Amana speculated, remembering every rumor she heard about Princess Jasmine. "Perhaps a memento from Shirabad?"

"Shirabad?" Jafar said, gripping his snake staff with concealed rage.

"If it were me, I know I would love a gift from my mother's homeland," Amana explained and then, noticing the angry look on Jafar's face, added. "Did you have a dreadful experience in Shiribad once?"

"My time in Shirabad is not important," Jafar said hesitantly.

"I hope you haven't forgotten about our game, Grand Vizier," Amana reminded him.

"Believe me, Lady Amana, I have not forgotten our game," Jafar told her. "You were right; I am from a noble family."

"Your every need taken care of and your every want provided for," Amana remarked, looking through the jewelry.

"Why Lady Amana," Jafar asked her. "Was that a pessimistic remark?"

Amana laughed. "I suppose I deserved that," she admitted.

"Like your mother, my mother died giving birth," Jafar explained as he watched Amana browse through the jewelry. "Unlike you, I wasn't blessed with a caring father."

"What do you mean?" Amana asked, turning away from the jewelry.

"My father blamed me for my mother's death and left me to be raised by the help," Jafar said bitterly. "Whenever he did see me, it was only to criticize me about how worthless I was and how my mother died to give birth to such a disgrace."

"Is that why you're so ambitious?"

"All I wanted was to prove him wrong," Jafar told her with a hint of melancholy. "So I spent my childhood studying everything I could learn about politics. I signed up for the military during wartime and focused on making the right connections until I sat on the council of viziers. The Sultan himself actually took me under his wing and made me his Grand Vizier."

"Your father must be proud of you now," Amana said with a smile. "I'm sure he brags to everyone about how his son is the Grand Vizier of Agrabah."

"Even that wouldn't be enough for him," Jafar said with a scoff. "In his eyes, you're either the most powerful man in the room or you're nothing."

"You advise the Sultan in all matters of Agrabah," Amana pointed out. "So, in a way, you are already the most powerful man in the room."

"My father wouldn't see it that way," Jafar told her as they went to another jewelry stall.

A somber silence fell as Amana gazed into the eyes of a man who had so much power, yet his own father wouldn't be pleased with him if he were Allah.

"Is there anything in particular you're looking for, M'Lady?" the merchant asked.

"Yes," Amana said, grateful for the interruption. "Do you have anything from Shirabad?"

"I'm afraid that I've sold out of Shirabad merchandise, but I do have this lovely jewelry set from Arendelle," the merchant told her and then showed her an emerald necklace with two matching emerald earrings. "I believe they match the color of your eyes."

"You've been to Arendelle?" Amana asked, forgetting her sorrow from earlier.

"So, she claims," Jafar said accusingly.

"I'll admit, Grand Vizier, the metal was forged in Agrabah but the jewels themselves are from Arendelle," the merchant assured them.

Amana looked up from the jewelry as she met the merchant's eyes. At least, she would have if the merchant hadn't kept her head down. "What is Arendelle like?" Amana asked.

"Very different from Agrabah," the merchant told her. "The place is mostly mountains, it's rather cold over there, even in the summer and the castle's locked up tighter than Agrabah's palace." The merchant laughed. "The King and Queen won't even receive suitors for the princesses."

"Then how will the King find an heir?" Jafar asked curiously.

"The King has already selected his eldest daughter to inherit his throne," the merchant answered.

"Really?" Jafar said, sounding almost stunned.

"They must be more lenient about gender roles in Arendelle than they are in Agrabah," Amana commented and, before she could stop herself, asked. "Have you seen any trolls?"

The merchant gave a nervous laugh. "I am afraid not, M'Lady," she told her.

"Thank you," Amana said, feeling a little disappointed. "Since you don't have anything from Shirabad, I'm afraid that—"

"Actually," Jafar said, approaching the table and retrieving some coins. "I would like to purchase that jewelry."

Jafar dropped a few gold coins on the stall and took it from the merchant, who thanked him for his purchase as they left. "I'm sure the merchant appreciates your purchase, but I am not quite sure if it's right for the princess," Amana told him.

"I know that it's right for you," Jafar told Amana, handing her the earrings. "A gift from the land of your mother."

Amana put the earrings on. "Believe me; I do appreciate this Grand Vizier, however—"

"Jafar," he told her as he indicated to her to turn around. "Hardly seems fitting for you to call me by my title, Lady Amana."

"Then I suppose there's no need for you to call me by my title either," Amana said as she turned around so that her back was to him and put her hood down.

"Very well," Jafar said as he put the necklace on Amana who felt his hot breath on her ear. "Amana."

Amana flipped her hair and put her hood back up, trying not to think about Jafar's intoxicating smell as she turned to face him. "Is my appearance pleasing?"

Jafar put his warm hand on Amana's right cheek, inching closer to her. "Very pleasing," he told her with his beckoning lips.

"Very pleasing!" Iago squawked, causing both of them to draw back.

"Iago!" Jafar scolded.

"Don't be angry with him," Amana told him. "He doesn't know any better."

Jafar didn't respond, as if he were distracted by something in the distance. "You continue searching," he told her and then handed her some coins from his pouch. "Use as much as you see fit."

"And where will you be off to?" Amana asked.

"There is some urgent business I need to take care of," Jafar told her as he was leaving. "Iago will keep you company."

"Keep you company," Iago squawked.

"Very well," Amana said with an innocent smile. "Hurry back."

She left to go to another jewelry stall, searching for a gift for the young princess while keeping watch on Jafar in the corner of her eye.

"Book of fairy tales from Shirabad on sale!" a nearby vendor shouted, making Amana lose sight of Jafar.

Amana went to the vendor, holding the coins from Jafar in her hand. "May I see the book?"

"Of course, M'Lady," the vendor told her, handing her the book as she pocketed the coins from Jafar. "A collection of the rarest fairy tales from one of Agrabah's oldest allies." Amana took the book from the vendor and flipped through the pages. "A must have for any book collector."

Amana skimmed the book to find a story about a lazy man who stole a horse in order to become favored by a wealthy merchant accompanied by drawings of the beautiful horse. She found another story about a poor mother and daughter who worshipped the sun and shared one cake together every day until a beggar priest asked the daughter for food, causing her mother to throw her out of the house and marry a handsome prince. She pretended to be a princess and denied her own mother's existence, praying to the sun to keep up this facade until he discovered her lie, bringing a tear to Amana's eye. It was accompanied by pictures of a beautiful young woman praying to the sun. Then she saw pictures of a giant cat transform into a handsome prince and standing beside a beautiful princess accompanied by a story of how a tiger transformed into a handsome prince in order to marry her and abduct her. This made Amana chuckle as she recalled stories she'd heard of handsome noble men who had charmed women into falling in love with them and, once they married or, in the case of her fellow ladies, became their paramour, revealed their true horrible selves or, as the tiger in the story put it, "showed them their true form." She turned to where Jafar was, hoping she could show him the book before he left, but saw him enter a building in the corner. Amana thanked the vendor and paid for the book, leaving the stall.

"I'm sure the princess will love it," Amana said to Iago. "And, if she doesn't like to read, she can always gaze at the beautiful pictures."

"Princess will love it," Iago squawked as Amana put her hood up.

"I hope Jafar agrees with you," Amana told him, about to make her way to the building.

"Jafar agrees! Jafar agrees!" Iago squawked a little too loudly, drawing the attention of everyone in the Bazaar.

"Iago, quiet down!" Amana told him, but it was to no avail as the parrot continued to squawk loudly enough to wake the dead.

"Forgive me," she told the crowd, trying to maintain her composure despite her sheer embarrassment. "Iago can be a little... restless without his master."

It's not that Amana wasn't used to attention. Whenever she walked through the Bazaar undisguised, many people tried to catch a glimpse of the famous green eyed lady of the court, but having people stare at you because of a crazy parrot was another thing all together. Thankfully, people recognized the parrot and accepted Amana's explanation, returning to their business. Amana continued walking to the building with the book in hand as soon as she was sure everyone's eyes were off her, seeing a young starving girl stare at the fruit a nearby vendor was selling as if they were gold and then remembered the coins Jafar lent her. She still had some leftover, and it would be the perfect time to prove her point. Amana carried the book under her left arm and paid for an apple. She took the apple to the girl, who beamed with gratitude. "A gift from the Grand Vizier," she told the little girl with a humble smile.

"Wow, that's so wonderful!" the little girl exclaimed as Amana stood up and then shouted at her retreated back. "Could you thank the Grand Vizier for me?"

"Gladly," Amana said, seeing the crowd whisper among themselves.

Once the crowd was distracted in a way that kept their eyes off her, Amana went near the small building hearing voices inside.

"Here!" she heard Jafar say, with a clanking that sounded like dropping coins on a table. "This should be more than enough for you to give me the book!"

"As I've told you, Grand Vizier, money is not the issue," another male voice said calmly. "The knowledge this book contains can be dangerous in the wrong hands."

"You seem very certain that I am 'the wrong hands,'" Jafar responded menacingly.

Yes, Jafar, frighten the man, Amana thought while rolling her eyes. That will certainly make him see you deserve that book.

"I meant no offense, Grand Vizier," the man responded a bit shakily.

Amana entered the building, leaving the door open slightly. "Jafar, I wished to inform you—"

Jafar closed the door before Amana could finish her sentence. "No, don't!" Amana said, forgetting her composure as she tried to stop him. Amana felt her heart beat faster as her breathing got louder, feeling trapped in this small, dark cage with only a few candles for light. She dropped the book on the floor and banged her fists on the door screaming, "LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT!" She felt Jafar's strong hand on her arm, pulling her to face him.

"Amana, calm down!" he told her, his grip tightening.

"Let go of me!" Amana shrieked, trying to pull out of his grasp.

Jafar positioned his cobra staff so that its bright red eyes looked into Amana's, Jafar's own eyes turning golden. "Calm down," he told her, his voice echoing in the building.

Amana felt her heart slow down as her breathing returned to normal. She finally got a good look around the building, seeing books on magic and magical artifacts and jewelry with a man behind the counter. Jafar stood there, holding the staff as if he were contemplating something.

"You're one of Ishtar's girls," the clerk said, looking into Amana's eyes.

"I am Amana," Amana said, shortly breaking herself from Jafar's hypnosis and then added. "One of Ishtar's ladies."

The man only smiled. "Ishtar's mentioned you quite often," he explained. "May I see the bracelet?" Amana showed the man the snake bracelet on her arm. "That's definitely one of mine."

Jafar removed the snake staff from Amana's eyes, ending the hypnosis.

"Is this where Ishtar purchases her bracelets?" Amana asked, gazing around in awe as she picked up the book.

"Yes, she's actually one of my most valued customers," the man said with a smile. "She speaks very highly of you."

"Thank you," Amana said, returning his smile. "Then perhaps my presence will convince you that Jafar is worthy of this book he desires."

"I'm afraid your presence isn't enough," the shopkeeper said sadly. "The book the Grand Vizier desires is one that must be handed to a man with a kind heart."

"It was the Grand Vizier who asked me to buy an apple for a poor starving girl," Amana informed him

"What?" Jafar asked, a little confused.

"When you left me with gold to select a gift for the princess, you saw that poor starving little girl and asked me to spend some of it on an apple for her," Amana told Jafar. "However, I am afraid that I might have gone against your wishes."

"How so?" Jafar asked, playing along.

"I informed the little girl that it was you who asked me to buy it for her," Amana responded, doing her best to sound regretful. "However, I suspect that nearby citizens might have heard me."

"That's..." Jafar said, sounding almost angry. "Quite all right, Amana."

"Why would you want to keep something like that a secret?" the shopkeeper asked.

"The Grand Vizier has a reputation for being a hard man," Amana explained. "He does not wish for Agrabah to know that, inside that rough exterior, is a hidden heart of gold."

The shopkeeper regarded Jafar in a new light and then carried a book to the counter. "Very well," he told Jafar. "You may purchase this book." The man took the coins on the counter as payment as Jafar picked up the book.

"Thank you," Amana said, opening the door to be greeted by the light.

"Give Ishtar my best," the shopkeeper told Amana as she and Jafar left.

Amana studied every inch of the book and was happy that her little outburst left it undamaged. "Forgive me for my behavior in there," she said, almost embarrassed. "As you can see, I am not fond of small, dark places."

Jafar paid Amana no heed and gazed at the book in her arms. "I take it this is the gift you selected for the princess," he said.

Amana showed Jafar the book. "Collected fairy tales from Shirabad with incredibly beautiful artwork," she said proudly. "I'll admit that I was rather tempted to keep this book for myself."

"You bought the princess a book?" Jafar asked skeptically.

"Everyone there will be lavishing the princess with expensive jewelry," Amana explained. "If you wish to separate yourself from the masses you must present her with something unique." Then, remembering the time inside the magic shop. "Though I highly doubt that you'll have any trouble being unique."

"Unfortunately, not everyone in Agrabah is as open-minded about the arcane arts as you are," Jafar told her quietly.

"It's a rather shame that the environment kept me from fully appreciating it," Amana responded just as quietly. "That was the first time I've encountered true magic."

"Didn't the shopkeeper say that your bracelet is magic?"

"Oh, this?" Amana asked, showing Jafar the snake bracelet. "A simple charm to keep me from having children and required for all of the ladies of the court." She put the sleeve down. "Nowhere near as impressive as your staff."

Jafar contemplated what Amana said and then whispered to her. "Perhaps you'd like to see true magic."

Before Amana could answer, Iago came back to his master and perched himself on his shoulder with Heydar right behind him.

"Amana, what happened?" Heydar asked, his face flushed with worry. "You look a little pale."

"I had to inform Jafar that I did as he asked," Amana said with a sweet smile as the people around her gossip about the kindness of the Grand Vizier, which earned a knowing glance from Heydar. "Unfortunately, the shop he was in was rather... small for my liking, but he helped me calm down."

"You would think a bodyguard would do better at keeping Amana out of harm's way," Jafar said with a calm accusation. "But, fortunately, I managed to be there when you could not."

"Believe me, I would've been here much earlier, but I lost Amana in the commotion," Heydar explained defensively. "Didn't help that your parrot kept attacking me."

"Perhaps you did something to frighten Iago," Jafar suggested.

Amana waved her hand to dissuade any future argument. "No matter," she said and then turned to Heydar. "Heydar, if it's of no concern to you, I wish to speak to Jafar privately."

"Whatever the Grand Vizier has to say can be said here," Heydar told Amana.

"This particular matter doesn't concern you," Jafar told Heydar.

"When Lady Amana's involved, it concerns me a great deal," Heydar responded.

"Heydar," Amana said, gesturing to him that she wished to speak to him privately and then turned to Jafar. "Forgive me; it will be just a moment."

Amana went to talk to Heydar near a different stall. "Ready?" she asked him.

"No, not this time," Heydar said firmly.

"Come on, we've done this before," Amana reminded him. "You act like the overzealous bodyguard, get distracted by something and I run off with my patron."

"I don't trust this patron," Heydar told her.

"Why? Because he's a little confrontational?" Amana asked him. "This isn't the first time one of my patrons has been jealous of you."

"No, but it's the first time they've sent their bird to attack me," Heydar pointed out.

"I'm sure Iago was just playing and he got a little rough," Amana rationalized. "I mean, the damage doesn't look permanent."

"Lucky for me," Heydar said bitterly.

"Look, if Jafar tries anything, I'll have my knife," Amana reminded him. "And you'll still be in screaming distance."

Heydar gave a reluctant sigh.

"All right," he agreed. "But, if I think you've been gone a little too long, I'm coming to get you."

Amana went back to Jafar with a sorrowful expression. "I am afraid that my bodyguard is rather stubborn," she told him, looking at Iago perched on his shoulder and then lowered her voice. "Whatever amazing secrets you have to share with me will need to wait until another time."

Jafar made a motion to Iago who started flying in the center of the Bazaar and shrieking "rat!" causing the citizens and merchants to panic. He held his hand out to Amana. "Come with me," he said as Amana grabbed his hand, taking her to a secluded place near the Bazaar. "Your bodyguard seems rather overzealous in his duties," he pointed out as they were far enough away from the crowd.

"He's very devoted to his work."

"One could say he's a little too devoted," Jafar said, a bit of anger entering his voice.

"Heydar is a close friend," Amana reassured Jafar. "He's like a brother to me, nothing more, nothing less."

"Perhaps he wishes for something more," Jafar suggested.

"You misled me, Jafar," Amana accused humorously. "I believe the intention of this outing was for you to demonstrate real magic, not to question my relationship with my bodyguard."

"Of course," Jafar said, leading Amana to a closed barrel of water for her to take a seat on and took his own seat on the closed barrel next to her. "Any requests?"

"Perhaps you could glamour my hair pink?" Amana suggested playfully.

"That would look ridiculous," Jafar said a little too seriously for Amana's liking. "And you wouldn't be able to see it."

"All right," Amana conceded as Jafar's eyes fell to the blue rose in her hair.

Jafar clutched his staff and muttered a few words, causing the blue rose to teleport right in Jafar's hand.

"Wow!" Amana said, losing her composure as she took the blue rose and held it in her hand. "You certainly are full of surprises."

"That rose itself is magical," Jafar told her. "It's said that one who holds it will have their deepest desires granted."

"Then no wonder the princess wanted one so desperately," Amana said as she placed the rose back in her hair.

"Princess Jasmine has expressed no desire for a blue rose," Jafar told her, sounding a little confused.

"Not our princess, a princess from a faraway land," Amana explained, remembering a story she heard from a wealthy merchant. "She set a condition that, if a suitor wanted her hand in marriage, they had to bring her a blue rose." Amana scooted closer to Jafar. "Several suitors tried to win her hand with a blue rose of gemstone, a colored rose and a painted rose. Each time, she rejected them saying that they haven't found a blue rose."

Jafar put his finger under Amana's chin, tilting her head up. "Did any of her suitors manage to find this rose?" he asked.

"No, but one came close," Amana said as Jafar's face drew closer to hers. "A traveling singer the young princess fell in love with presented her with a white rose. She insisted that it was blue and they married."

Jafar's lips brushed Amana's in a light kiss that she returned, deepening it as she wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling his beard lightly brush her skin. He wrapped his arms around Amana's waist, responding hungrily to her affection. Then he pulled away from her, ending the kiss. Amana struggled to catch her breath, staring into Jafar's onyx eyes as she heard Heydar's voice nearby.

"Amana!" he yelled.

"I suppose our time must come to an end," Amana told him, getting up from the barrel. "Thank you for showing me your magic."

"I'll accompany you," Jafar said, getting up from his own barrel and leading Amana back to the Bazaar.

Iago flew back to his master as Heydar returned to Amana. "Where were you?" he asked Amana, doing his best to pretend to be shocked.

"Jafar wished to discuss a private matter with me," Amana explained, pushing back her hair.

"What 'private matter' was this?" Heydar asked suspiciously.

Iago pecked Heydar, making him yelp. "Okay, that bird definitely hates me," he remarked.

"I wonder why," Jafar said dryly.

"Speaking of the bird," Amana said, looking towards the pet stand. "I need to pick up that perch before I leave."

* * *

Jafar watched Amana go talk to the pet stand owner while he was left with Amana's annoying bodyguard.

"You seem very protective of Amana," Jafar pointed out.

"I care for her a great deal," Heydar explained. "And I wouldn't want anything to happen to her."

"How does it feel to care for a woman you can never touch?" Jafar asked. "Makes you wish you hadn't been so foolish, doesn't it?"

Heydar turned to him with a glare. "What do you know about it?" he shot back.

"I know that you were once the heir to a powerful estate, wanting for nothing," Jafar told him and then added bitterly. "Until your dear uncle stole what was rightfully yours."

"I've managed to be content," Heydar responded disdainfully.

"How content can you be, loving a woman who only sees you as a brother?" Jafar asked him. "At least, if you still had your money and power, she could pretend to love you."

Jafar expected Heydar to punch him and shout "she thinks of me as more than just a brother!" or sorrowfully say "so, that's all she sees me as." Instead, Heydar only smiled as if Jafar just told him that he got his estate back.

"She really sees me that way?"

* * *

Amana returned to Jafar and Heydar with the bird perch in one hand and the book in the other. "Forgive my delay," she told them. "The merchant attempted to push all sorts of exotic bird feed on me, but I informed him that regular will do just fine."

"Exotic bird feed," Iago squawked.

Amana handed the book to Jafar. "Give my regards to the princess."

"Actually, I rather hoped that you would do that yourself," Jafar responded, taking the book of fairy tales with the one he purchased from the magic shop. "I plan to request you as my guest for the princess's birthday."

"Then I plan to accept," Amana told him and then added, just to toy with him. "Assuming I don't have any other obligations on that day."

* * *

"Heard you in the shop," Iago taunted as Jafar placed the books in his lair. "Had your chance."

"It wasn't the right time," Jafar defended as he left his lair.

He thought about how, for a minute, he had Amana under his complete control, considering hypnotizing her into coming with him. No, it was best to use that as a last resort and it wouldn't do to take such an action in front of a witness. Even if she had manipulated him. He lent her his gold to buy the princess a gift, not to curry favor with the Agrabah populace. When she was his, she would never act so freely. At least, not without consequence. Judging by how fascinated Amana was with his magic, that day would be drawing nearer. As much as Jafar hated to admit it, Amana was right about separating yourself from the masses and he'd certainly done just that. Now there was only the matter of her bodyguard, who seemed a little too happy to hear that Amana's affection for him was brotherly. Perhaps he had no hidden feelings for Amana or, more likely, he was mocking Jafar for being foolish enough to believe that. If something was going on between those two, then it was a higher up woman misleading a commoner for her own amusement. Jafar had little time to dwell on that, due to spotting the very uncle he mentioned earlier harassing a serving girl in the dining area.

"Come on, celebrate with me," he said as the girl backed against the wall, shaking in fear while Abbas brushed her hair back, leaning in to kiss her.

"Celebrate what?" Jafar asked, distracting Abbas from his pathetic attempt at seduction.

The girl ran out of the room, burying her face in her hands and crying.

"You couldn't have worse timing," Abbas said bitterly.

"I beg to differ," Jafar remarked snidely. "Had I arrived any later, I would have lost my lunch."

"Lucky for you, I'm in a good mood," Abbas said, taking a seat near the table with a wine bottle. "I just received word from my estate that my wife is pregnant." Abbas drank from the half-empty wine glass. "I wanted to have a real celebration with that serving girl, but it looks like I'll be having a good old-fashioned toast." Abbas took a drink and held the other glass out to Jafar who turned it down. "I forgot, you don't drink."

"I tend to avoid anything that lowers my intelligence," Jafar explained. "You, on the other hand, have no intelligence to lower."

"You're trying my patience, Jafar," Abbas warned.

"How are you so sure that child your wife carries is yours?" Jafar asked suspiciously.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Abbas demanded to know.

"As I recall, your wife cried at the wedding," Jafar said sardonically. "And they were not tears of joy."

Abbas's gripped on his glass tightened. "She still does her wifely duty," he said as he chugged his wine down. "And rather well."

Now Jafar felt that he actually would lose his lunch. "You spend most of your time here than you do at your own estate," he pointed out. "And I imagine that she has plenty of guards to keep her 'company.'"

Abbas drank from the other glass. "Just like that exotic fruit of yours has plenty of patrons to keep her 'company.'"

"Yes, the one that refuses to be in the same room as you," Jafar said, his grasp on his staff tightening.

"Yet she's willing to waste her time on a street rat the Sultan took pity on," Abbas said, taking another drink and then smiling as if he just had a moment of clarity. "Wait a minute; does that girl know you're a street rat?" Abbas laughed as Jafar's eyes narrowed. "She doesn't! You've been misleading that poor girl!" Abbas leaned back in his chair, glass of wine in hand. "I suppose it will be up to me to tell her the truth. 'Oh, Amana! That vizier you've been on the arms of is a former street rat!" The snake continued laughing as if he told the most amusing joke in Agrabah. "The poor girl will be so devastated! She'll be crying about how sorry she is that she let you touch her!" Jafar set his staff to the side, inching towards Abbas. "Don't worry; I'll be there to comfort that exotic fruit."

Jafar grabbed Abbas by the collar, making him drop his wine glass in shock. "IF YOU EVER GO NEAR AMANA, I WILL CHOP YOU INTO PIECES AND FEED YOUR REMAINS TO THE PRINCESS'S CAT!"

"What's going on?" a voice asked that Jafar recognized as Hakim's.

He turned his head to see the very guard standing in the doorway.

"We were just having a conversation and Jafar lashed out," Abbas said as Jafar let the Minister go.

"What was this 'conversation' about?" Hakim asked as Jafar took his staff.

"I was giving Jafar instructions on how to improve Agrabah," Abbas lied through his teeth. "Unfortunately, the 'Royal Vizier' believes that he and he alone knows what's best for our fair city."

"I'm sure," Hakim said, not even giving Abbas a second glance. "Jafar, may I talk to you privately?"

"Of course," Jafar said. "I was about to retire to my bedchamber."

As soon as they were out of earshot of the Minister, Hakim spoke. "What did you and Abbas actually talk about?" Jafar only gave Hakim a look that clearly said, "What do you think?" that earned a knowing glance. "You need to learn not to let Abbas anger you so easily."

"I doubt anyone would be remorseful if anything happened to that man," Jafar remarked dryly.

"I'm sure the citizens of Agrabah would throw you a parade," Hakim said sarcastically. "But we'd still have to put you on trial for the public's benefit."

Jafar reluctantly nodded. "Then I give you my word that I will do my best to control myself around Abbas," he told him. "No matter how much it pains me."

Jafar retreated to his bedchamber and shut the door. "Insolent old fool!" He shouted, all of his rage pouring out of him. "Threatening to take what's mine!"

"Comfort that exotic fruit!" Iago squawked.

"Shut up!" Jafar shouted. "Amana would never let that disgusting old man touch her!"

Nevertheless, she will leave you once she finds out what you are, the woman's voice returned. Why would a woman like her waste her time on a former street rat like you?

"Kill him," Iago suggested.

"If I kill him, I'll be the first suspect!" Jafar responded, but then remembered the serving maid Abbas harassed. "But maybe he won't have to die by my hands." Jafar turned to Iago. "Go check on Amana, see what difference today's outing made."

* * *

Amana put the blue rose back in her vase and took her jewelry off, hearing a knock on the door and quickly opening it. "Good evening, Farah," she said, seeing a pile of letters and a jar of jam in her hands.

"One of the servants was going to bring this to you," Farah explained. "But it was on my way, so I thought that I would do it."

"Thank you, Farah," Amana said, taking the letters and staring at the jam as if it were a jar of poison. "You can keep the jam."

Farah beamed at this. "Thank you so much!" Then added, a little confused. "Which one of your patrons sent you the jam?"

Amana looked at the first letter with a frustrated sigh. "Apparently, Sanjay," she said dryly. "He claims that he's fallen in love with me and this is one of the many luxuries he will send me until he wins my heart."

Amana rolled her eyes.

"Another patron has fallen in love with you?" Farah asked admirably.

"Another patron claims to have fallen in love with me," Amana corrected. "If Sanjay were actually in love with me, he would have remembered that I despise jams."

"Perhaps it slipped his mind," Farah suggested.

"Just as it 'slipped his mind' that my mother is from Arendelle," Amana said, seeing Iago near the balcony doors and letting him into her room. "Hi, little boy," she greeted, watching Iago sit on the bird perch. "How do you like your new bird perch?"

"Like," Iago said as Amana put the letters down and gave Iago some birdseeds, who quickly gobbled them up.

Then Amana returned to her letters, bursting into uncontrollable laughter. "By Allah, this just gets worse," she said, picking up the letter. "'My dear sweet Amana, you are my water in the desert, my rare exotic flower. Every moment I spend away from you feels like a thorn digging in my heart. Please say you will be mine and mine alone, my sweet desert rose.'"

"I think it's romantic," Farah said in a dreamlike state.

"Iago, I believe your master misses you," Amana told the parrot, who squawked, "Master!" and flew out the balcony. When Amana was sure Iago was out of earshot, she turned back to Farah. "Sanjay has had everything handed to him since birth, just like every single one of our clients. To people like them, we are just possessions to acquire."

"What happens when they acquire us?" Farah asked.

"We become something they decorate their estate with and ignore as if we're little more than a used painting," Amana said bitterly.

"It can't happen all the time," Farah said hopefully. "Some ladies of the court do fall in love with their patrons."

"Those women are weak-minded fools who become the mask they wear," Amana told Farah. "Do you want to know what separates a lady of the court from a lady of the streets?"

"A lady of the court lives like a princess while a lady of the streets lives on the... streets?" Farah guessed.

"Well.. that," Amana admitted. "But, more particularly, a lady of the court sells fantasies while a lady of the street sells fornication." Amana walked near the balcony. "We become everything the man wants in body and mind. In other words, we put on a mask and men fall in love with the mask."

"Do you put on a mask with the Grand Vizier?" Farah asked, catching Amana off guard.

"Jafar is one of my patrons."

"So, now he's Jafar, not the Grand Vizier?" Farah teased.

"I'll admit, I have come to enjoy his company and he did earn his position," Amana said, gazing at the blue rose. "But he is still a spoiled noble who has had everything handed to him since birth." Amana turned to look at Farah. "I could never love a man like that." Then added in a practical tone. "Which will work in my favor."

"Why?"

"Never forget the golden rule," Amana advised Farah.

"A lady of the court never falls in love with her clients," Farah said bitterly. "I know, Aunt Ishtar told me." Then added with melancholy. "But it's so sad that we have to live our lives without love."

Amana turned to the balcony doors.

"There are worse things."

* * *

Well, what do you know? Iago mocked. The one thing you don't want Amana to find out is the one thing that could make her fall in love with you.

Jafar couldn't even respond, feeling dumbstruck by what he just heard. This exotic beauty, desired by not only the wealthy men of Agrabah, but visitors from faraway lands absolutely despised her patrons.

What could she possibly know about suffering? Jafar thought snidely. She grew up raised in the exact same luxury as the nobles she despises.

Still, it was an advantage, and there was something about the way Amana said, "There are worse things," that made Jafar wonder if she herself wasn't hiding a secret.

Perhaps Abbas can stay alive for a bit longer.

* * *

A/N: The fairy tales I mentioned in the Shirabad book are actual Indian fairy tales. I was surprised how much two of them have in common with my fanfic and one of them even shares similarities with the movie. Guess which one. Also, the part about Amana asking to have her hair glamoured pink is a reference to the animated version of Amana who's romantically involved with Mozenrath from the animated Aladdin series, raised as Jafar's ward and actually does have pink hair. I liked it so much I decided to give Amana pink hair in my planned Aladdin/Passengers crossover fanfic. Anyway, what do you think Amana meant when she said that there are worse things and why is Jafar going to let Abbas live? Feel free to make your predictions!