Family Together Again

Return of the Bride

Agrabah had always been used to hectic adventures, those times often were, but it welcomed moments of peace such as the one that befell the kingdom after the recently married princess Lamia and her genie groom had flown off into the night six months ago. The only people that really missed the craziness were the people everyone expected to miss it; Aladdin Jasmine and their other friends in the palace.

"I wish she'd come back already, it's killing me that I don't know if she remembers the bet or not." Jasmine, who had been sitting with her beloved Aladdin out in the garden, raised her head. "What bet?" He finally stopped pacing and faced her.

"The marriage one, Lamia and I created it back when she reached of age. I bet I'd marry first since I was the oldest and she bet she'd marry first because Allah always seemed to favor her. Whoever loses owes the winner fifteen gold coins." She arched a skeptical brow. "Fifteen gold coins? That's not exactly a lot of cash is it?" "Might I remind you of when we made it?" "Point taken. But she's the married one, doesn't that mean you owe her the money?" He winced. "Yeah, but I've been hoping all this time that she'd forget or that I'd get married so that I could get away scot free." Jasmine rolled her eyes, even if he was a prince he was still an arrogant boy.

Just then Genie exploded out into the balcony, scaring the both of them as the palace pets followed from behind. "You guys ain't gonna believe who's here!" Squawked Iago, Jasmine smiled. "Oh, I think we all know." "No fair, you were supposed to be surprised!" Everyone looked up, smiling slightly at who they saw.

Perched high above on her magic carpet Dark was Lamia, wearing the same street mouse dress everyone was so used to seeing her wear, especially her brother. But she looked different somehow, more mature and elegant, like all that sadness from before her marriage had mixed with the joy to create an easy smooth result.

She floated down into the grass and hopped off, greeted first by Aladdin who squeezed her in a sibling hug and playfully ruffled up her hair. "Gosh darn it Lamia it's about time you got back, we were beginning to think you were dead." "Come on Al, you're acting like I'm five all over again." "Hey, you made some pretty stupid mistakes when you were five." "Not the point!" Jasmine laughed, diverting Lamia's attention to her sister-in-law.

"Jasmine! How've you been?" "Oh you know; keeping track or your pesky brother." "Hey!" "Kidding!" The girls laughed before happily embracing. Something accrued to Aladdin and he glanced around.

"Say sis, where's your-" "Yeow!" He whirled around to see Genie and all the animals companions hopping up and down with crabs pinching all over them, a booming laugh echoed overhead, everyone jumped except Lamia who gave off an annoyed groan. "Oh darling, what did we discuss about being a villain among family?" The masculine voice sighed. "You know me too well beloved." In multiple poofs of red smoke the crabs were gone and in a swirl of it, Jafar stood several feet away leaning up against a tree, smiling sweetly with his arms crossed. She rolled her eyes before walking up and gently pecking him on the cheek.

"Gee Jafar, been here less than a minute already and you're already causing trouble." The older man glanced at Aladdin with an arched brow. "As I recall trouble was your middle name back in the day." "Boys, let's not start this again please?" Asked Lamia, which such tenderness both men admitted quiet, but not complete defeat.

~

Soon everyone was walking back into the palace as they talked about this and that, Jasmine and Aladdin holding hands while Lamia and Jafar had their hands on each other's backs, causing Al to glance every now and then at the ruby wedding ring on his sister's hand.

"Why did you keep the lamp Lamia?" Indeed the black ornament hung at her side, gleaming in the sunlight. "It's a lovely thing," she said, glancing at her husband, "just like the man I'm married to." His cheeks went red. "What a nice thing to say my darling." "Of course, it is the truth after all." He chuckled before kissing her cheek.

"So Jafar, does anyone else know you're here?" Before he could answer Jasmine's question, there came a scream from somewhere off in the palace, his jaw clamped shut as Lamia looked at him with an arched brow.

"You did get rid of all the crabs, right?" He gulped with a nervous smile. "Maybe." Before jetting off down the hall as a strip of black smoke. "You better make sure to get rid of it properly!" She shouted after him, shaking her head with a playful smile. Aladdin watched his sister cautiously until Jasmine lay a hand on his with a gentle smile.

"She's fine, they both are." He hesitated before slowly smiling back.