Because He Loves Me

Baby Talk Part Three

A week later…

Naveen and Tiana have been visiting an ailing Anita for the past week. The woman was awake, but very weak and could get out words from time to time. She didn't want Marcel to remember her in the hospital bed, so respecting her wishes they left the toddler with Eudora.

Anita took a hold of Tiana's hand and looked up at her. "I know the good lord will soon take my soul and when he does my Marcel will have you and Naveen to love and raise him."

Tiana looked over at Naveen and knew he didn't agree with the arrangement. The two still haven't discussed the arrangement since the toddler moved in and she realized that this could put a possible strain to their marriage. And that was the last thing she wanted.

"Tiana, baby." Called out Anita.

"Yes?" She answered.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me. Covering my medical expenses, cleaning my home." Said the woman with a small smile. "Please tell me that you will take care of Marcel when I'm dead."

"You will be fine, Anita." Tiana told the woman.

"Oh no, I know it's almost my time and I'm ready. You are an angel sent from the lord." She smiled. "He told me that you will be coming toward the end of my life."

Tiana returned the smile and thought the woman was brave during this time in her life. "Take it as one friend helping another."

"You and Naveen have been very good to me these past several days. And I greatly appreciate everything." Anita explained. "But I don't want you two at this hospital with me all day."

"We don't mind, right Naveen?" She asked her husband.

He didn't respond.

"A man's silence is his most honest answer." Anita said, understanding him. "Please go back home. I insist."

"Yes." Agreed Naveen, helping his wife up. "We really do need to leave."

Anita smiled at Naveen. "God bless you, child. You have a good woman. Don't screw it up with distractions."

"We'll be back in the morning, Anita." Said Tiana.

The elderly woman simply closed her eyes, falling asleep.

Naveen took his wife's hand as they left the room and building. "Glad to be out of there."

"I hope Marcel wasn't too much for mama. He loves to play with her plants." Tiana thought about the toddler.

"Eudora should be fine. What I think we should be doing is spending some time together before picking him up." Suggested the prince.

"Marcel is our responsibility, Naveen. Not my mothers." Tiana told her husband.

"No, he's your responsibility, Tiana. You agreed on this without speaking with me about-

"We'll talk about it later." She cut him off.

"We always talk about it later." He mumbled to himself.

"What did you say?" She asked.

"Nothing mi benita." He quickly answered.

()()()()

Later that day, Naveen watched as Tiana and Marcel stood by the tree in their backyard. Since staying with them, Marcel has been very clingy to his wife and he didn't like it one bit. Yes he knew it was foolish to be jealous of a baby, but he didn't even know the child existed until last week. He figured that Tiana was using Marcel just to get over her not being able to conceive. Today was definitely the day he was going to confront her on this situation. No more waiting until later.

Tiana looked over at her husband every now and then, noticing his lack of support when it came to Marcel. She was aware of him being against adoption because of his royal beliefs but she really had her heart set on it after holding the boy in her arms. Marcel bonded with her right away as she did with him. What prevented her from feeling whole with it was Naveen. 'If only he could understand.' She thought as she felt the toddler hugging her legs. She was definitely ready to discuss this and let her husband know that they will be keeping Marcel if something were to happen to Anita.

"I love you, mama." Said the toddler.

Tiana smiled; It was her first time hearing the boy call her his 'mother' and telling her that he loved her. Now she was more than convinced that this was meant to be. "I love you too, baby." She bend over to hug him back.

"Stay?" He asked.

She nodded her head 'yes'.

"Daddy?" Asked the young boy as he pointed toward Naveen.

Naveen heard what the boy said and walked back in the house.

Tiana sighed before answering. "Yes, that's daddy." She then took his hand. "Let's take you in for your nap."

()()()()

Once she closed the door to the toddler's room she made her way back down the stairs where it led to the livingroom. Naveen was sitting on the couch listening to some music from the phonograph as she made her way over and stood right in front of him with her hands on her hips.

"Do you want to talk?" She asked him.

"Oh, so you have time for your husband now?" He asked with sarcasm.

She rolled her eyes. "You are being ridiculous."

"No, you're being ridiculous, Tiana." Naveen stood up. "It's been a week and not once have you even asked if I were okay with having this child stay with us."

"I figured that you wouldn't mind since we have four extra bedrooms here." She pointed out.

"For visitors, not to move in to." He said.

"Look, Marcel is living with us until everything with Anita is fine. And if for some tragic reason she does pass, we will be adopting him." She said.

"Over my dead body." Said Naveen.

Tiana couldn't believe her husband. "Are you serious right now? He is a baby. Possibly an orphan. He needs us, Naveen Anita has took the time to care for him since he was born and I truly believe that she deserves to rest peacefully knowing that Marcel is alright with us."

"And how would you know? Anita could be lying to us." Naveen stated, getting frustrated.

"There's proof that he has no kin to care for him if something were to happen to her, Naveen!" Tiana explained, getting worked up herself.

"You know how I feel about adoption." He pointed at her.

"Or how your father feels about it?" Tiana asked instead. "It's time for us to realize that we cannot have any children. This was a bittersweet blessing and I have grown attached to this little boy. I love him. He's very sweet, charming and so wise for his age." She explained while taking his hand. "If you would just give him a chance-

"I don't think I want to." Naveen said, letting go of her hand. "I'm the man of the house."

"What?" She raised an eyebrow.

Naveen gave his wife a stern gaze as he said, "It's about time I take my role and step my foot down on this."

"What is wrong with you?" Tiana frowned.

"It's that boy or me." He warned.

She was stunned at how he was behaving over this situation. "You're not serious are you?"

Naveen sighed, falling onto the couch. "No…" His face fell into his hands. "I...I didn't mean any of it."

"Then why would you saying what you said then?" Tiana asking as she sat beside him.

His hazel eyes looked into her brown ones. "Because I care about him, too."

Tiana was surprised to hear her husband's confession.

"When he asked you if I was his father I don't know but that alone did it for me." He said. "Yes he's very smart, adorable and kind of on the disobedient side but he is two so it's expected."

"But you've been ignoring him for the past week. Like you never cared.

"I was an idiot and you know how stubborn I can be and..." He smiled at her. "...you always find ways of changing my views for the better."

Tiana smiled back as they both embraced one another.

He squeezed her enough to not make her feel uncomfortable. "It's hard to accept the reality, you know? Of not having our own children."

"I know and I still have my moments." Tiana said. "But this little boy is probably going to be our child and we will love him as if he came from my body. A product of us."

"You were right about it being my father who doesn't believe in adoption. If he doesn't accept our son then to hell with him." Said Naveen. "We will adopt Marcel..." He caressed her face. "Can you forgive me?"

Tiana's eyes watered up as she nodded her head. "I forgive you."

They kissed once more before embracing in another loving hug.

()()()()