A/N This is a brand new story, a Tiana fanfic that will feature Naveen (who will show up on chapter 3 and beyond) The first two chapters are basically introductions of the characters in this story so let me know in the reviews of what you think of the story.

I do not own 'The Princess And The Frog' or it's character; Just the characters I made up are mine. Enjoy and review!

The Thrill Of It All

It All Started When…

April, 1922...

"School ended two hours ago," Eudora told her fifteen year old daughter as she made her way into the kitchen. "I started dinner without you."

"I'm sorry mama," Tiana began washing her hands at the kitchen sink. "I had to make a quick stop at Lottie's for a job offer I couldn't refuse."

"Jacques Montreuil came by earlier...," Eudora sang.

Tiana rolled her eyes. "He's been coming here a lot lately. I wonder why?" She said in sarcasm.

"I don't know." Her mother smirked. "He's very grounded and-

"So while visiting Lottie, we came up on an agreement that was fair for us both." She smiled, changing the subject. "If I get you and daddy's permission, that is." She pressed on to her mother. "Please mama, if I get this job then I can began saving for my restaurant-

"You have to admit that Jacques is a nice looking boy, hm?" Eudora asked.

Tiana sighed at her mother's way of changing their subject from her own dreams of owning her own restaurant to that boy again.

"His granddaddy left him everything. Including his restaurant."

"Good for him?" Tiana could careless about the boy's hand given accomplishments.

Eudora smiled. "Ya daddy and I have been thinking that you are old enough to settle down and—

"The gumbo smells like its ready." She cut off her mother as she checked on the soup.

Eudora sighed. "Tiana you know that ya daddy and myself can't take care of your forever."

"Mama I'm not ready to marry. I'm still going to school." Tiana taste-tested the gumbo and wrinkled her nose. "A couple of shots of tabasco will make it the bee's knees!"

"But for how long again?" Eudora asked with concern. "You'll be done by mid-May and an important young man like Jacques won't always wait for you."

Tiana remained silent; she understood why her parents were so concerned for her well-being but didn't think that they would push her off so soon. She's only fifteen and already had a job line up as her friend Charlotte's personal maid/assistant. The money she'll pay her will help her become closer to getting her own restaurant and marriage wasn't even on her 'priority' list.

"How are my two favorite women doing?" asked James, walking into the kitchen. He inhaled the delicious aroma of his daughter's gumbo and his stomach growled in response.

He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "It smells good in here, babycakes."

"Thank you, daddy." Tiana loved it when her father, who's an amazing cook would compliment her. There were days when she wouldn't hear his phrase due to him having three and sometimes four shifts to support the family.

"Jacques would come to appreciate you that's for sure." James washed his hands in the sink.

She sighed. 'Him too?' Her father was pretty much against marrying her off to the boy until now. "I'm sure everyone will come to appreciate it once I open up my restaurant."

James' face fell slightly flat at the statement. "Babycakes as much as I would love to have you stay my little girl you are coming of age. I spoke with Jacques this evening and the boy is definitely accomplished. He's got his very own restaurant, an already successful corn business, a five bedroom home with a huge yard and did you see all his nice cars?" James smiled. "He would be good provider for you and—

"He's got money." Eudora finished, setting three plates and bowls on the table. "His granddaddy left him with everything!"

Tiana felt disgusted. She thought that with her father on her side she would be safe to live the life she have planned since she was a little girl. Get a job or two and work her way with enough money before making a down payment on the sugar mill in downtown and prepare to build her dream, but now with her father and mother teaming up she had no say.

"And he's only eighteen, babycakes," James smiled. "If he were as old as I am then I wouldn't have given him my blessings."

"Blessing?" Tiana turned to look at her father.

"Yes, to call on you." James patted his daughter on the shoulder. "I invited him to have dinner with us."

"What?" She exclaimed, putting her hand on her tummy. "Why would you do that? I don't even like him—why would-how could you do this?" her eyes watered.

"Its for the best and he isn't a bad fella." James sat at his usual spot at the table as Eudora placed one more set beside Tiana's, her lips had a huge grin across them.

"Babycakes why don't you put on that blue sundress I just made for you last week?" Eudora suggested to her daughter.

Tiana wanted to leave the house this very moment and to never return but knew that would only hurt her parents. If only they felt the same way for her.

Like the obedient daughter that she was, she went to wash up and change into the dress her mother made for her. She wondered if this was all planned. If her mother knew all long about this dinner and was the real reason she made the dress for her.

With her mother being a seamstress she didn't have much time to make Tiana much of anything. What was so special about this boy?

She examined her reflection in the mirror and loved how she looked in the dress, but the last thing she wanted was to impress her dinner guest so pulling out her ponytail she let her curls fall pass her shoulders. Her curls were always wild and she knew that her mother hated it when she wore it this way.

"Tiana, our guest is here!" Eudora rapped on the door.

"I'm coming!" Tiana opened the door, leaving the room.

When she walked into the kitchen she saw the boy her parents were praising for so long looking right into her eyes with a weak smile. He really is a handsome man. His eyes were hazel with a hint of blue in them, his lips were nice, narrow nose, his skin several shades lighter than hers and his physic was strong. Very muscular and lean with not too much of a bulk in his tall frame though it was there. He dressed nice. An off black business suit and his overall stance was stuffed with confidence and arrogance...that's where the attraction stopped.

"You look absolutely beautiful with your hair like thise!" Eudora beamed.

That wasn't exactly what Tiana wanted to hear from her mother.

James went over to give his daughter a kiss on the cheek. "You really do look all grown up, babycakes."

"Tiana you've met Jacques," said Eudora, gesturing her daughter to the young man who nodded his head.

Tiana gave him a weak smile and politely nodded in return.

()()()()

After dinner Tiana and Jacques walked around the small back yard after James and Eudora left them alone to get acquainted. Tiana remained silent while Jacques was doing most of the talking.

"My restaurant is pretty much the most popular and successful in New Orleans," he bragged. "I even got white folks coming in to try my grandmother's famous creole split pea soup."

That caught Tiana's attention, "Your grandmother's creole split pea soup?"

He nodded his head. "She was the best cook I ever known until she passed away three years ago. I was thankful that she agreed to leave all her secret recipes for me to carry on to the woman I marry."

Tiana caught his gaze and felt her cheeks grow warm.

Jacques laughed. "You don't say much do you?"

"What do you want me to say?" She wasn't really asking him the question. But wasn't surprised when he answered.

"I don't know? What's your favorite colour? What are your goals? How could you make men fall in love with you so easily?"

She almost gasped at his last statement. Was he already in love with her? She wouldn't look up at him to find out the answer.

Jacques put both hands in the pockets of his trousers. "You know that you're the prettiest girl in town, right?"

She didn't say anything as he continued.

"And it's very easy to fall inlove with someone like you."

Tiana looked up at him this time. "Someone like me?" That statement didn't sit well with her.

"Yes. You're beautiful and young. Come from a decent family." He answered with confident. "Your father is a hard worker and highly respected for that reason. Your mother is very sweet and then there's you." His eyes never leaving hers. "Every man in this town would be a fool to not notice a beauty such as yourself."

Tiana saw right through him. "So you're telling me that you're inlove with me based on my so-called 'beauty'?"

Jacques smirked, stepping over to her. "That gumbo and hush puppies you made were also convincing…," He lightly brushed the curl that was over her forehead with his finger. "…though I always found you attractive. Good cook or not."

Tiana shivered at his closeness despite it being almost mid-spring in the Crescent City. She knew where his intentions stood with her and as much as she was charmed, a little part of her didn't trust him. He was a young man with a lot of money and has heard of his wild and philandering history.

He seemed to have read her mind and says, "I will never hurt you, Tiana. If you would have me you'll know that you will be the only girl who holds me heart."

Tiana shook her head. "I'm sorry Jacques but I can't—

"Ya'll should be getting inside!" Eudora interrupted, giving her daughter a look of a warning before smiling at the young man with her. "Jacques, my husband would like to speak with you before you leave."

()()()()

Tiana went straight to her room as soon as they all got inside. She was tired and couldn't wait for this day to end. She knew that her mother was going to give her a mouthful for her almost rejecting Jacques's proposal but she wasn't interested. He seemed genuine with in feelings, on a superficial level. Why would her parents want that for a son-in-law?

"Thank goodness for ya daddy!" Eudora stormed into her daughter's room, holding a white dress.

Tiana sat up on her bed preparing herself for the lecture.

"You won't have to worry about money anymore." Eudora smiled at her, laying the dress on her daughter's bed.

Tiana raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, mama?"

"You're getting married next month!"

"What?" She said outloud.

"Jacques came by a month ago to call for you. I was for it while ya daddy was unconvinced. After learning more about him and seeing how much he cares for you we couldn't have chosen a better husband for you."

Tiana covered her mouth with her hands. "No, mama…," Tears formed in her eyes.

"Oh babycakes…," Eudora sat on the bed to give her daughter a warm motherly hug. "We want you to have a much better life than what we had growing up. You know much we struggled to feed you—

"I already have a job lined up with Charlotte LaBouff, mama. Please don't make me marry Jacques." Tiana begged.

"Ya sayin' that now, but once you'll see how blessed you've become to marrying such a man you'll quickly change ya mind," Eudora tried to reassure her daughter.

"But I don't ever want to marry anyone! I want to have my own restaurant. Be the best chef in the world, not just New Orleans." The young girl tried to convince her mother.

"You'll partly have that with being Jacques's wife, but I'm pretty sure he won't have you cooking in a restaurant. You'll be too busy taking care of the house and him." Eudora explained with a smile. "And speaking of takin' care...You know that as a wife you must always do everything you can to make ya husband happy. Especially such a highly successful man like Jacques."

"Then why don't you marry him!" Tiana snapped, wiping away the tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry mama." She quickly apologized before lowering her gaze to her lap. She knew her mother meant well by marrying her off and she could be right, about the restaurant part. He seemed proud of the fact that people are loving his grandmother's Creole split pear soup. And with marrying him it would also be her restaurant. She imagined herself in the restaurant, witnessing all the hungry customers eating her special dishes. A small smile then formed on her lips at the thought.

"I guess I can be happy," She said at last.

"That's my babycakes!" Eudora rose up from the bed. "You get plenty of sleep tonight. Tomorrow we have to be at the church to speak with the pastor. Jacques will give us the money to pay for the wedding so we have to go and get the best at everything! It's for the best!" Eudora gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight!" She said before leaving the room.

"Goodnight," Tiana said softly before falling back onto the pillows. By next month she will be someone's wife and part owner of a restaurant. "It will work out," She tried convincing herself. "It has to."

()()()()