The Genie disapeared in the sky.... he looked happy, more than
happy... he was free at last, after all those years...
thousands of years of servitude. And it took only a few words to give
him what he had wished for an eternity: his freedom. Aladdin had this
sense of happiness inside his heart as well. He kept his promise. He
felt well. He was feeling a whole new man growing inside him, a worthy
man. He was so happy watching the Genie going into his new life that
for a moment he totally forgot about his own whole new life.

He looked at the woman who was standing there, by his side, holding
his hand and still looking at the sky. Aladdin smiled and held her
hand tighter. Jasmine looked at him and smiled radiantly. He leaned
and placed a kiss on her hand. They both were completely overwhealmed
with the feeling of joy and bliss inside their hearts.

The Sultan smiled and nodded. He knew that his daughter and Aladdin
needed some private time so he motioned the rest of the group inside
the palace. Abu and Rajah didn't look happy to leave but Carpet took
Abu and the Sultan did the same with Rajah. They left the
lovebirds alone. Aladdin and Jasmine were so lost in each other's eyes
that they didn't even notice that they were all alone in the balcony.

Aladdin was dying to kiss her again, but before he could do that he
needed to talk to her, to explain to her, to let her know who he
really was, for real. This time he had no fear, this time he wouldn't lie to
her... he wouldn't lie to her ever again. He was lost in his
thoughts when Jasmine caressed his face with her soft hand. He looked at her
once again and she spoke sweetly:

"What's wrong Aladdin? Are you alright?" she looked worried. "You
aren't hurt, are you? I mean, after that fight and all..."

"No," he interrupted her gently. "I'm fine, really.... well, just a
few bruises here and there but nothing to worry about, I assure
you.... I'm fine...." he managed to smile but he lowered his eyes.

"Aladdin...." Jasmine put her hand on his chin to lift his face so she
could look into his eyes. "Are those... tears?  Aladdin... are you
crying? Are you hurt?" she said softly but with a note of fear in her
voice.

Aladdin shook his head and with his hand brushed away the tear that
was running down his face. Then he smiled lovingly at her and
spoke with a low voice:

"It's alright Jasmine.... I'm fine. It's just.... well....
this is the first time in my life that someone has asked me if I'm fine...
this is the first time in my life that someone cares for me.... this is the first
time someone.... " He lowered his eyes once again and couldn't end the
sentence.

"Oh Aladdin...." Jasmine hugged him with love, "From now on, my love,
I am going to take care of you.... forever.... you will never be alone
again Aladdin.... now you have me and everything will be fine... now
we have each other.... Aladdin I love you...."

"My princess," he whispered almost for himself holding her
close to him. "I love you too Jasmine.... and know this, I will be here
for you forever.... I won't let you down.... ever...."

Jasmine broke the embrace, smiling and trying to hold her own tears of
happiness. She looked deep into his eyes: "I know.... and I trust you
Aladdin.... with all my heart and soul...."

By saying this she leaned closer to kiss him but he steped back.
Jasmine looked concerned about it. Aladdin sighed and spoke:

"Not yet Jasmine.... I need to explain to you..."

"You don't have to explain anything to me, Aladdin... I understand....
I know why you did..." she half smiled. "Even if I have to admit that
you really know how to impress a girl... I mean, with the Genie and
everything.... who knew?"

"Yeah." He smiled running his hand through his hair. "It was a little
too much, wasn't it?  The Genie was very excited about the whole
thing... when I told him that I was going to free him he tried to do
his best for me... that entrance through the streets of Agrabah was
something.... fabulous...."

"It was, it really was.... I was impresed but I couldn't admit
it....for me Prince Ali was nothing but another annoying and self-absorbed
prince.... and then Prince Ali turned to be so charming and so
lovely.....but I think you are more wonderful just being yourself than
acting like Prince Ali... "

Aladdin looked at her, shame in his eyes. He started to talk, he
wanted to explain things to her. He was talking so fast:

"That's what I want to talk about Jasmine.... since the first time I
saw you I did fall in love with you... but when I realized that you
were the Princess I... I just... well.... Jafar tricked me but the
only thing I could think about was you and the only way I had to get
close to you was if I-- Oh Jasmine... I know I did everything wrong...
but I had no other way.... I am a fool. I made a mess of everything.
And then the Prince Ali and the way I was acting... he was not me...
but I was so scared... I didn't want to lose you, and I was so afraid
and then all things went wrong and...."

"I know...." she told him placing her finger on his lips gently. "No
need for explanations. Aladdin I love you... that's all that
counts....I understand your behavior.... I can't blame you. I think I
should be proud to know that you took so much trouble for me... but
that doesn't matter anymore... the only thing that matters to me is
that I loved you from the first moment I saw you...."

"You did?" asked Aladdin doubtfully.

"Yes I did... you are so real... you are so nice, so sweet...." she
smiling flirting. "Not to mention handsome...."

Aladdin blushed and he almost smiled, but instead he said:
"But Jasmine, how could you see through me? I am just a streetrat."

"You are NOT a streetrat..." She said holding his hands and looking
deep into his eyes and with a low voice she finished. "You are the man
I love."

"Oh Jasmine....  How can you love me?"

"You saved my life... you gave me your friendship, your support, your
help... your unconditional love. How couldn't I love you? You were the
first man who looked at me for who I was.... not a princess but  a
woman... you weren't thinking about thrones or titles.... you
were concerned about me and about my life... and when Jafar told me
that you were dead.... " Her voice cracked. "No... I coulnd't resist it...I
was so sad.... in that moment I understood what you meant to me,
Aladdin.... it's strange because we had only been with each other for a
little time but.... this was meant to be somehow.... and now here we
are... that's all that matters now.... "

Aladdin looked into her eyes. He could see the love shinning there.
And he was sure that he had the same look in his own eyes. He sighed
and holding her hands to his chest he asked looking into her
eyes:

"Can you forgive me, Jasmine, for all my lies?"

"I have nothing to forgive you about."  She said sincerely getting
closer to him.

They embraced each other again. He held her close to him. It was a
wonderful feeling. They understood that they were forever safe in that
embrace. Aladdin never knew what love was like until he met her. And
she never knew what happiness was like until she met him. Now they
both knew without questions that life would be wonderful from now on
just because they had each other. They embraced for a long time. They
didn't say anything. In moments like that, when the hearts are
speaking, no words are needed. Finally she whispered into his
ear:

"Promise me, Aladdin... promise me that we'll be together forever...."
"Forever my Princess.... forever.... it's a promise...." He whispered.

"Do you have any idea of what you have done for me, Aladdin?  You
didn't only free the Genie... you just freed me too...."

"And you just caught me, my love.... you conquered me.  I'm yours
forever..."

They broke the embrace. The sunset was painting them with the colors
of the dying sun. They stared at the colorful spectacle for a long
moment, Jasmine resting her head on Aladdin's shoulders. They could
see the beautiful city below them and the golden desert in the
horizon. It was a beautiful view. After a moment Aladdin looked at
his Princess and smiled.

"Thank you Jasmine..."

"For what?"

"For being here for me... for your unconditional love.... for your
understanding..... I know I'm not alone anymore.... thank you for this
chance you are giving to me..."

"Oh Aladdin--"

They both embraced again. Aladdin pulled her close to him, he wanted
to feel her real, there, with him... that was a totally unknown sense
of safety, of belonging.... something Aladdin had never felt before.
Jasmine was feeling so warm and so loved. They didn't want to let go
of each other... they wanted to stay like that forever, in
each other's arms, their hearts beating together.

"I love you Jasmine... I'm yours forever..." He whispered in her ear
desperately, he wanted to let her know how much he loved her but he
didn't find another way to express his love to her, the word "love"
was so little for all he was feeling inside his heart at that moment.
How could he express in words what he was feeling at the moment?

After a moment Aladdin let her go. They looked into each other's eyes
and smiled. Aladdin bowed before her and held out his hand:
"My lovely Princess, would you honor me with your company tonight?  I
would like to take you to see the world... I'd like to show you the
wonders of the Earth."

Jasmine put her hand in Aladdin's.
"The only thing I need to see is you, my handsome prince.... but I
accept... I'd love to go with you on a magic carpet ride tonight....
we still have a lot of things to talk about.... and I want to hear
your tale about how did you got the magic lamp and
everything...."

"Of course."  He smiled. "We can talk the whole night if you wish."
"Not the whole night." She said smiling mysteriously. "We have other
important things to do, my Prince." She said playfully.

"Like what?" Aladdin asked naively.

"Like this...."

By saying that Jasmine took Aladdin's face in her hands and slowly
kissed his lips. That kiss took him by surprise, but he was very happy
about it. He had been dreaming for that kiss since the night before,
after they kissed in the balcony. Aladdin closed his arms around her
waist and her back and got lost in that kiss. She put her arms around
Aladdin's neck and for a long moment they shared a long and
passionate kiss. When they separated they both
sighed contently and smiled.

Their faces were glowing even if it was almost dark. They wanted to go
out on that carpet ride as soon as possible. They were staring at each
other's eyes when a palace servant entered the balcony to inform them
that the Sultan was preparing a colorful spectacle of fireworks to
honor the royal engagement. They both smiled and Jasmine suggested to
go to get ready for the celebration and for the carpet ride. But
Aladdin had other plans, for he wouldn't leave the balcony without
another kiss. Not that Jasmine was going to complain about it. They
kissed once again. They knew that was the beginning, the first day of
the rest of their lifes. When they broke the kiss, they smiled warmly
at each other. Jasmine held out her hand for his and smiling she lead
him into the palace. But before they entered, Jasmine turned to
Aladdin and looking him directly in the eyes, she said caressing
Aladdin's face:

"Aladdin, know this, from now on you are my fiance and they must
respect you for who you are. You are not a street rat anymore. You
never were one. You are the man I love, the man who will share my life
from now on. To the world, you were just a poor boy. But to me, you
are the whole world."

"I love you, Princess Jasmine." Was all that Aladdin was able to say.
"I love the Princess as much as I love the woman. And I'll do my best
to be the man you deserve."

"You already are the man of my dreams."

They smiled. The love, the happiness and the excitement they both were
feeling were too big to put them into words. But the look in their
eyes spoke for them. They were still lost in each other's eyes when the
first firework exploded, illuminating the desert night with a colorful
gleam of color. Aladdin and Jasmine looked at the sky and then at each
other. They smiled, knowing that they were feeling in their hearts the
same joy and happiness that the fireworks were reflecting in the sky.

Jasmine leaded Aladdin inside the palace. It was time to get ready for
their ride. Not only the magic carpet ride they had planned for that
night, but for the ride they would share forever. The excitement to
know they had a new world to discover and a new life to share. The
adventure of living their lives together.

"A Whole New World, a Whole New Life, for You and Me."

Eva Luz Villalon Turrubiates
March 17, 1999.