The next morning, Tianna made breakfast for the threesome and packed a little something extra for Mama Odi before the threesome rode down to the bayou. Their boat was attached to the back of the truck with Luis lounging in it basking in the New Orleans Summer sun.

"Naveen!" Tianna snapped, "I'm not even showing yet I think I'll be fine."

Ever since Tianna had broken the news to her husband that she was pregnant he wouldn't even simply let her brush her hair in peace. When she made lemonade for herself, him, and Luis he wouldn't allow her to carry the tray she was holding them on. On the one hand it was sweet but on the other it was getting pretty annoying.

"I'm sorry my Princess, but in your condition-"

"I know I know, I have to be careful so you've told me a hundred billion times since I said I was pregnant yesterday."

The couple sat in the back seat as Luis expertly guided the boat through the bayou.

"Luis?" Tianna spoke up.

"Yes Ms. Tianna?"

"Where'd you learn to navigate a boat?" She giggled.

"Oh it's not that hard! You just watch what a captain does and copy." Luis replied.

Naveen wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders. "The bayou is much more serene during the day, yes."

Tianna leaned her head on her husband's shoulder. They had visited the bayou many times since they got married. It held so many happy memories. Their union was not normal by any means, but it as certainly memorable.

When Naveen, Tianna, and Luis climbed up to Mama Odi's tree house and let themselves in, the wizened old woman was standing right there waiting for them. She startled them so bad they almost fell back in shock.

"I've been expecting you children." Mama Odi said.

Naveen stood behind Tianna and helped her into the tree house before entering and pulling Luis' fat frame through the door last.

Tianna kissed the old Voudon priestess and gave her the plate of food she'd made for her much to Mama Odi's delight.

The woman's lips parted in a toothless grin. She called her pet snake over and plopped the plate on his small head. The snake struggled under the weight of Tianna's generous dinner.

"Go put that away for us for later will you baby?" Mama Odi instructed the snake. It hobbled away.

"Mama Odi," Naveen spoke up while habitually placing an arm around Tianna's waist, "we need to talk to you. We wanted to tell you-"

"You're pregnant." Mama Odi stated matter of factly.

Surprised Luis, Naveen, and Tianna asked; "How did you know?"

"I can see Tianna's skin glowing."

The threesome exchanged confused looks.

Mama Odi burst out laughing. "I'm kidding." She said, swatting at the air, "I know everything. Now young lady you lie down on the couch there." She instructed Tianna.

Tianna gingerly lie down on the old, faded green couch. She immediately calmed down as she got comfy on the overstuffed furniture.

"You want to know about your baby right?" Mama Odi asked as she went in her various nooks and corners to look for something, "Luis and Naveen will you two be dears and go get a dragons breath weed? They grow down the river further down in the swamp. I need them for a potion for Tianna."

She didn't need to tell Naveen twice. In no time he was pulling Luis' ample frame out the door.

From her spot on the couch Tianna mumbled; "Dragons breath weed? I've never heard of it."

"That's because it doesn't exist," Mama Odi replied, "but by the time they figure that out you'll have told me what it is that's bothering you."

Tianna wanted to be shocked, but mostly she was impressed. Mama Odi was amazing.

"Now my dear," Mama Odi sat on a stool across from Tianna. She petted the girls hand, "Why don't you want to have a good man's child?"

"It's not that I don't wanna have his child. It's just that I don't know if we're ready to bring children into this marriage yet."

For the next twenty minutes Tianna explained how happy she and Naveen were as they were right now and her hesitation.

When she was done Mama Odi pulled out a crystal clear pendulum that hung from a thick chain.

"Look into it dear. See what you can see."

Tianna did as she was told. Her dark brown eyes gazed into the almost translucent crystal. She saw images of herself and Naveen and two babies…two?

One was dressed in a pink, silk night gown the other in blue footie pajamas. Tianna and Naveen held them both and smiled for a camera. Tianna saw them clearly the boy may have been a little bit bigger but other than that they looked exactly the same. Twins! They had complexions that Tianna could only describe as caramel and brown sugar mixed together. They had bright light brown eyes, Naveen's color and Tianna's size and clarity. Brown hair the most unique and beautiful texture. They made everyone laugh they always smiled and giggled rarely ever crying. They loved to eat like Tianna, they knew how to have fun and loved music and dancing like their father. They were healthy, beautiful, and the sweetest things Tianna had ever laid eyes on.

"We couldn't find dragons breath." Naveen panted as he and Luis climbed into the tree house. Their appearances were disheveled.

"We hope," Luis wheezed, "Babies breath from the flower shop is OK." He held up a fist full of wilting, white flowers.

"That's alright," Mama Odi winked at Tianna, "Isn't it Tianna?"

Tianna sprang up from the couch. How could she be so stupid? Everything she and Naveen did they did as a team and it always made them stronger, better, and happier. How could she think that their own babies would drive a wedge between them?

"It's better than 'alright' or 'okay,'" Tianna threw her arms around Naveen, "It's perfect."


On April twenty first 1924, Prince Naveen and Princess Tianna had twins; A boy and a girl

Prince Naveen James the third was named after his father and grandfathers on both sides. Their daughter was named Princess Princess Alexandria. Her aunt Charlotte helped Tianna choose her name…if you hadn't already guessed.

The End