Louis found us a boat going to New Orleans. By some strange twist of luck, a group of human musicians in animal suites confused Louis for a faux alligator. He didn't talk, just played his trumpet, which won over the troupe smooth and fast. Tiana and Ray went to cheer him on, but I stayed back.

Tiana was reluctant to show me any affection on the way back. She seemed shy to get near me; why? In my conceit, I figured she was nervous about admitting her feelings for me thinking I'd rejection them. Or she noticed mine, didn't feel the same, and was trying to let me down gently.

Thinking me unappealing to a woman- to Tiana- was sickening. This wasn't my ego talking; it was the need in my heart to have Tiana. I needed to be with her- needed to have her all to myself- to be the person she was crazy about. I could accept being second to her dream; it was a perfect place for her talent to shine. The world needed her gift- but no one would have Tiana herself but me.

With that fact notified, I knew she had to know about her future- soon. The future of she and I forever; even though telling the woman who was softly brushing me off made me uneasy. I was thinking this while I made a ring (using a necklace's bead). Tiana was honestly humble and would appreciate my crafting. I knew this, but still didn't feel as relaxed as I usually was. I was always so confident with women, usually because it was easy to fib to a girl for just a day or hour. But, while I wanted Tiana for the next eighty years and longer, actually saying it was extremely difficult.

It was about twiligh when Evangline came out. The others were enjoying Louis' performance; I was proud of my friend but too nervous to see Tiana yet.

I sighed; thinking of her was getting intimidating. "Oh Evangline (I said wistfully to the star) why can't I just look Tiana in the eye and say (what should be on one knee) I will do whatever it takes to make all your dreams come true because….(open walnut with ring in it) Because I love you."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Cap, you making goo-goo eyes at my girl?!" A red little Ray came at me. Ahh, that was embarrassing. I tried to explain the misinterpretation while he bit my finger.

"No, no Ray I am not in love with Evangline. I am in love with Tiana!" I was nice to finally say it out loud.

Ray stopped a millisecond, turned his normal color and smiled. "I knew it, I knew, I knew it. Come here"

Ray kissed my cheek while I told him everything I'd been thinking since the wise, playful Mama Odie's boat "I can no longer marry Miss Charlotte La Bouff (Ya'll gonna have the cutest little tadpoles!) I'll have to get Tiana her restaurant some other way. I'll get a job or two or three!"

My past self was groaning with disgust, but I really only cared about making my beloved happy. Ray shared my excitement, making a heart with an arrow through it with his light. "I'm gonna to tell Cher!"

Not yet, little fellow. I grabbed him quickly by the wings, and looked him very seriously in the face.

"No, I must tell her. Alone". Ray could celebrate with us during our human wedding. His family circling Tiana and I at the alter would be very nice, but I didn't need an audience during my confession. Ray agreed, ecstatic for my romance.

He'd be happier, as would everyone when Tiana and came together. Not just Ray, Louis would cry his alligator-tears of joy, Mother & Father would adore Tiana –and appreciate my more serious attitude. Old friends would laugh then be happy –deep down; Tiana's family would be charmed easily by my good-looks and class, I probably should ask her father for her hand but Tiana was a modern woman who'd like me asking 'her' for her hand.

And Tiana would be the happiest of all. I'd make sure of that. Even if I took years, we'd get her restaurant. She'd get everything she dreamed of, and I'd be all she wanted.

I'd been with every sort of woman in history- I knew what I wasn't losing. I was in love with a strong, talented, clever woman- I would be Tiana's husband. I'd be her everything- like she was mine. Tiana was my reverence, my humility, my marvel; the center of my universe; my Evangeline.

..............

"Where are you taking me?" Tiana asked apprehensively, but her tone was patient.

Climbing the side of the lit-up boat wasn't the right moment. Everything had to be flawlessly perfect, and the ideal place was on top.

"Oh, I just want to show you something to celebrate our last night together as frogs." And the start of a long life of a blissfully happy couple.

I pulled Tiana to the spot and she gasped. The perfect scene was a dinner for two; table and chairs were cups, a large champagne bottle with a rose on the side. It was a candle on the side. And the gulf in the background twinkled against the night.

Tiana was very impressed- perfect. The night looked better than nice, as did the lovely frog-girl. But her soon-to-be fiancé looked as he did the last three days; unspectacular.

It turned my rock-solid Tiana vulnerable; "All my years, no one's ever done anything like this for me..." she looked at me and laughed; amused by my supposed classy look. Well, Boe was a bit too big for me.

"It's too much, huh? (Whispers) thank you, Boe" I said excusing the butterfly. He wasn't amused but Tiana was. This was going pretty perfect still, not stiffly perfect thanks to humor.

"Just pretend you did not see that." She was smiling; I led her to her seat, pulled out her chair of course, and showed her dinner.

"Ta-da!"I said, pulling the little top away.

"You minced!" There was a teeny edge of surprise but she was honestly proud.

"I did!" she laughed again; everything was going smooth and fine; time now for my pure, heartfelt honesty.

"You've had quite the influence on me (Tiana looked delighted, I went on suavely) which is amazing because I've dated thousands of women and.... (Too honest!!!!!)"

Tiana's unimpressed expression affirmed I what I knew was really, really stupid to have said- but my mind wasn't getting a good enough cover-up.

"No no, maybe two or three maybe four (I was lying and doing so badly so moving on) anyway, other women "Who meant absolutely nothing to me! Best thing was to speed to the good part, but I couldn't grab the walnut.

" You could not be more different (she barely fit my past analysts of women) you are, heh, practically one of the guys". Tiana was more shocked than insulted at that comment- AAAH! My dream-weaving mouth was ruining me!

"No no no! You are not a guy (sigh, walnut behind me, insert smile, hand on shaky table) let me begin again-" Crash and burn...

Off centering the weak table, I dropped, with the minced food on top of me. The most romantic night I'd ever planned was a nightmare. Tiana was probably scared silly but I couldn't stop yet- even if the consequences were leading to hell.

Smiling to cover humiliation, "Ha, I am not myself tonight" my fabulously charming self was dead; whatever was left wasn't pulling on too well. And the reason I didn't stop then to gather my dignity was..."TIANA!" grabbing her little hand, then realizing this went on too far. "Sorry, that was loud."

She had her hand over her mouth; this was futile. "This is a disaster." I said out loud- being honest to everyone in the area (and others I can imagine laughing).

But Tiana laughed "No," she took the little parsley off my head. "It's cute."

I chuckled; I could work with being cute. So I hadn't been my fabulous self, I made her smile. Whether with grace or foolishness...heh, laughter made a happy marriage.

Tiana looked happy and lovely so I got on one and knee. "Tiana, I..."

But she got distracted by something on shore. She ran to the edge to see it, forgetting about me. This was wounding my fragile ego; Tiana more interested in a run-down old building more than me.

She looked so interested I had to guess this was about her restaurant. I went down to sit next to her. We started talking about her dream place. She wanted it to resemble her; elegant. That I agreed with but my input was something with fun. It needed class, jazz, a ukulele player; it was fun planning this with her. Tiana glowed when she talked about her dream- I loved her so happy.

She leaned against me and said, "Folks will come from all walks of life to try our food."

Amphibians were cold-blooded naturally- maybe because we were both frogs she felt so warm. But it was more practical to believe Tiana was just hottest women living on earth.

"Our food?" I picked out the best part of the conversation. Looked at the ring; she wanted me in her life; I wanted her more than anything else.

"Oh no, I mean my Daddy (Ouch!) He always wanted to open this restaurant (she looked sadly away) he died before he could see it happen. (She looked back at me and held my arm. I smiled encouragingly) tomorrow –with your help- our dream is finally coming true. "

Ahh, this restaurant was her connection to her deceased father. Touching and I liked the idea of being a part of her family but the word tomorrow through me off.

"Tomorrow?"

She looked concerned when explaining her due date for the building's payment was tomorrow; with no other chances. Seeing Tiana lose her most precious wish was heartbreaking. She didn't deserve that.

Sacrifice was the greatest expression of love. Sacrificing my heart for my love....I meant it when I said 'whatever it takes'. I sighed.

Should she at least know..."Tiana, I love...."

Looking at her patient face...a formless frog face with the most beautiful amber eyes I realized they shouldn't be trouble with trivial truths. I closed the walnut.

"...the way you light up when you talk about your dream. (She smiled appreciatively) a dream- it is so beautiful (I grabbed her little hands, looked into her beautiful eyes) I promise to do whatever it takes to make it come true." I smiled at her.

Putting the ring on her finger would've been my next step. That was impossible. Marrying was my first and now only option- but something didn't change. That was how sick having to marry a woman I cared nothing about.

We refused to look at each other for a second. This was good bye... not really if Tiana was a bridesmaid while Ms. Labouff was the bride. Maybe the dresses would be so hideous they cover her perfect, curved figure. Maybe make her look like a bloated cow. Sigh, nothing could make Tiana ugly.

The boat made a steamy honk, and a man said we were in New Orleans. Tiana and I were done here. The future I wanted died a miserable, fast death.

"I'll, uh, I'll go round up the boys." I smiled slightly at her then walked away. Tiana hadn't seen my silly walnut and never will. She'll have her dream and I'll be the one to make her happy...while holding another woman's arm.

Breaking my left arm when I was twelve wasn't so bad because it got me lots of attention from other teenage girls. Losing my inheritance and parents' respect- sad but could have hurt deeper. Never kissing, dancing or touching the woman I'd gladly and literally rip out my heart for was painful. That was the very meaning of pain. It was like my chest was being put through a grader and then burned.

I imagine this night ending with heart-burn in passion (maybe a little sinning), not like this. What would be worst? Never seeing her again or seeing her with my wife. And if she did someday get married to another- completely undeserving- man.....my lungs were being squeezed in....

Literally- by the same invisible strength of yesterday night! The shadow demons caught me and were crushing me. It was a slight relief from my heartbreak but not all that soothing.

They dragged me through the busy, flashy New Orleans city. They were fast so it was all blurry. They stayed close to the darkness. Whatever Facilier wanted me for was lost in my head. Maybe my entrails would be used in some malicious jumbo/ potion. I personally wanted to be minced and have my head smashed to jelly but had more important things do!

They pulled me through a dirty chimney into a cabin-like home, then through me into a hat. It was the top hat of the enigmatic, dastardly Dr. Facilier. He smiled his gaped tooth grin at me, grasped me whole in his bone hands.

He waved me to his shadows; in light they looked more ravaged than the ugliest things; almost as repulsive as their master.

I tried to squirm out- even though I knew my frog arms couldn't hope to pinch a grown man's. He pulled out my arm- like he did when his serpents twisted around me. "Get your filthy hands off me!"

Facilier faced me to a very round man. That shiny head and monkey face looked too much like..."Lawrence!? Why are you here?"

He smiled wickedly "Hold still, Your Eminence..."

He held up an evil looking pendant that opened its sharp little mouth to eat me.