Author's Note: Your reviews continue to be so sweet and kind that this story is all the more a joy to work on. That's why I hope to keep updating nightly, as I have been since this story began. I'm so glad no one objected to my making Evangeline and Ray humans! I have to admit, I was strangely concerned about that.

Dr. Facilier had refused to elaborate on his plans to Lawrence, only telling the poor man to keep a careful watch over Naveen, and report every minute of his day-to-day activities. Lawrence was all the more frustrated because this meant waiting on Naveen every minute of the day (he'd been taking advantage of the La Bouff servants and letting them handle the spoiled prince), and still spying from bushes and underneath the porch when the prince dismissed him. He was sore and bruised from trying to avoid being caught, and the other servants had grown wary of him, suspecting that he was up to something. Luckily for him, none ever reported it to Big Daddy.

Lawrence didn't see how it would make a difference, but today was when he was destined to notice something out of the ordinary. It would be this moment that would help inspire Dr. Facilier's horrible scheme.


Charlotte and Naveen were dancing through the gardens, as Tiana and some of the other servants set up tables, the food Tiana had prepared laid out in anticipation of a special day. It was thought that today would be when Naveen would propose. At least, Charlotte was convinced it would be.

Her reasoning was non-existant, but her world was law around these parts, so the servants had just gone along with it. Though there certainly had been a lot of eye-rolling.

At Naveen's insistence, Louis had been allowed on stage to play his trumpet. His presence had made the band out of tune at first, as they warily eyed the gator rather than their sheet music, but they'd relaxed when it became obvious the reptile was interested in nothing more than blowing on his horn. They were even beginning to appreciate his talent, though they had all refused to sit on the same side of the stage as him.

"I must take a break, all this dancin's got me all tuckered out," Charlotte said, plopping into a chair that Naveen pulled out for her. "Is there anything you wanted to talk to me 'bout, honey?"

Naveen considered. "Well, I am most curious as to why there are so many people here today. You have even invited the …uh…most interesting people I met yesterday," his eyes drifted towards Ray and Evangeline, who were so close together they might as well have shared one seat.

"Oh, just in case somethin'…anythin'…special happened."

He coughed into his hand. "I …uh…" He sighed. It was clear that were he to propose right now, Charlotte would be nothing but agreeable, but he still couldn't bring himself to do it. "I am requiring a drink…If you will excuse me," Naveen gave a short bow before retreating to the refreshment table. He set his hands on the table and stretched himself out, trying to unnerve himself.

"Are you all right?" Tiana asked, tapping him on the shoulder. He jumped.

"Oh! Tiana….my apologies, I thought you were…" he glanced at Charlotte, "Someone else."

"Here," she handed him a glass of water. "It'll calm your nerves."

He said his thanks in Maldonian and gulped it down. He set the glass down and watched the band, wondering how they were managing the faint hum to go along with the music. He figured out a moment later that it was Tiana humming along.

"You are a music lover?"

"I listen to it," Tiana said with a shrug. "I don't play or anythin'. Just…listen."

"And how about dancing?"

Tiana bit her lip. "I don't dance. It's…I just don't do it."

"Nonsense. Today you are."

"And if I say I don't know how?"

"Then I, Prince Naveen, will teach you," Naveen insisted, grabbing her hand. "Come now, think of it as a fair exchange for you teaching me that mincing. Dancing is nice, yes?"

Sensing she was fighting a losing battle, Tiana acquiesced to his request, following him to were the other dancers were. She looked to Charlotte, hoping her friend would disapprove of them dancing together, but instead she smiled and waved. Tiana sighed.

"Hey, there, ya'll gonn' play a love song an'time soon?" Ray asked the band. "Louis, you must know one, an' I wanna dance with ma chère!"

"Did he just call the gator 'Louis'?" Tiana asked incredulously.

"Now you are just trying to distract me. Come, you agreed you would dance with me," Naveen grabbed her hand again, and gently put her other hand on his shoulder before resting that hand on her waist. "You only must follow my lead. This is easy, no?"

The music started and at first, Tiana kept trying to take every opportunity she could to get away. When Naveen twirled her out, she tried to make an excuse about needing to go cook more red beans; he grabbed her and twirled her back in. She tried two more times to escape, but the third time he'd looked so sad about her not wanting to dance with him that she'd finally given in.

He smiled as the song reached its end, pulling her in closer. Before either knew what was happening, he instinctively dipped her and their faces started to come close to touching, lips puckering in anticipation.

Tiana came to her senses and pushed him away, muttering another poor excuse about food. Naveen watched her sadly as she ran away from him.

"Po' boy, don't even realize what he feelin," Ray commented to Evangeline, who nodded her agreement. "You think he come around soon?" Again, she nodded.

"Oh...my….what was all that about?" Charlotte asked, lightly touching Naveen's shoulder. He didn't answer her. She knew, of course. She wasn't stupid, and she wasn't blind.

Charlotte figured that if Naveen cared about her, he would propose, like she still believed he would. All it would take was one word from Tiana, though, and she would back off, but her friend had ran away like she wasn't interested, so she continued in her endeavor.

"I….I need to go and…"

"You need some alone time, darlin'?" Charlotte anticipated. He nodded. "All right. Jus' you remember, though, I'll be right here. Even if things….if things don't work out the way you want."


"Have you noticed anything?" Dr. Facilier asked, coming out of his hiding spot from up a nearby tree. He'd been too far away to see what had just happened with Tiana and Naveen.

"Nothing too strange, really….except," Lawrence said, pondering, "It seems the prince has been spending a lot of time with one of the maids."

"A maid?" Facilier raised an eyebrow.

"Well, she's only here for a few days, if I'm understanding correctly. She's actually Miss La Bouff's best friend. I was quite surprised, really. She talks to him like he's a commoner, and at first I thought they hated one another, but now they seem to be...friendly."

"Go on," Facilier encouraged.

Lawrence described the meetings between Naveen and Tiana he'd witnessed, Dr. Facilier's mind racing with each new detail, the plan practically creating itself. "Lawrence, it seems our little prince is in love."

"Love? Him? With himself, maybe," Lawrence grunted.

"Love comes in many kinds," Facilier said, rubbing his chin as he thought everything over. "And this is something we can use. Do you think the girl has feelings for him?"

"I can't imagine that she would. She seems to be a very hard worker…the exact opposite of his majesty."

"Opposites do attract," Facilier chuckled. "I won't need your help until later, Lawrence. And then it's just as we agreed…"

"Even split?"

"Even split, right down the middle…sixty-forty," he mumbled the last part, knowing the butler wouldn't comment on it. "We are about to be very rich men."


"He right this way, Mama Odie, jus' like I told you!" Ray was leading a small, blind woman clothed all in white down the path towards Naveen. He was waiting at the pond-side. Louis had joined him, cuddled up at his side as though he were a dog.

"Oh, there is something wrong with me! I knew coming here meant getting married to a rich young maiden, and I can not seem to bring myself to do it!"

He flinched as something that felt like a stick hit him upside the head. He turned to see the old woman, who'd hit him on top of the head with a snake. He sighed. "I wish I could say this were the strangest thing to have happened to me since I got here."

"Hush up, child. I'm Mama Odie."

"A pleasure to meet you. And I am Prince Nav---"

"I know who you are," she snapped. "Jus' cause I can't see don't mean I don't see. That's the problem with you folks that still have your sight, you think you don't miss nothin'! Ray here tells me you been ignorin' my advice. And don't you try to deny it, I just overheard you sayin' you're still plannin' on marryin' that La Bouff girl."

"It will be quite difficult to marry her when I can not bring myself to propose," He let out a half-hearted laugh, "I suppose if I wait too long, she will propose herself."

"You can't be thinkin' 'bout sayin' yes if she do!" Ray cried, obviously bothered. Louis sat up as well, looking alarmed. "What about --" Mama Odie tapped him on the shoulder, shaking her head. Ray didn't finish his sentence.

"This is a problem?"

"Do you love her?" Mama Odie demanded.

"I…No," Naveen admitted.

"Maybe you should start there. Marriage is supposed to be built on love," she pet her snake as it coiled around her neck. "Whatchoo need is to dig a little deeper. Figure out what you need, not whatchoo want. Cause if you don't, you're not the only one gonna be hurt by it."

"I am not sure I understand…"

"Yes you do, princey," again, he was smacked by the snake. "Don't play no fool with me, I've been around one hundred and ninety-seven years. I know when someone's lyin to me…and to themselves. Oh, and watch out for one that means to do you harm. That's it. I can't do no more for you right now."

"I am not certain you have done anything for me yet," Naveen muttered. But Mama Odie was already on her way.

Naveen was left near the pond as Ray ran to catch up with Mama Odie, and Louis followed suit (unknown to Naveen, it was to again plead his case to have her turn him human).

He let out a soft sigh, already knowing what the voodoo woman had been carrying on about. Marrying Charlotte would be a mistake, and not only because it would be for money. But because somehow he'd fallen in love with Tiana.

Author's note: I'm sorry this is shorter than usual. I had to start writing at a later time, and we have family over that are terribly distracting. I will try to make it up to everyone, I promise!