A/N: So much is happening in this chapter and there are many important reasons for that! Thank you for reading and reviewing. Enjoy!

A Lost Star

New Friends From The Other Side Pt. 1

Keeping the engagement a secret was very easy for Naveen and Tiana. But their obvious relationship wasn't so easy to hide. Everyone was surprised by the new courtship mainly because Tiana always seemed so focus on reaching her dream. She never had time for going out dancing with her friends due to work. She never had time to go out for a walk due to her working and even have a short conversation. Now that 'Antonio' was in town she had time to do all of this and then some.

It also helped that Naveen would give Tiana most of his pay as part of the down payment for the sugar mill.

"Now you know that I hate it when you give me your entire paycheck Antonio," Tiana said.

"I'm expecting a bonus from my other job!" Naveen said.

Eudora listened on from her room as the two continued.

"Really Antonio I don't feel comfortable just taking your hard earn money," she pushed away the dollar bills.

"When we're married you will have no choice but to accept my money since you will be my wife." He pointed out.

"Antonio...," she frowned at him. "You can't be talkin' that marriage talk in my mama's house."

"She didn't hear me," he then handed her the money. "Here."

"Antonio..." Tiana took the money. "I still don't feel right about this."

"Will you change your mind after this?" He leaned forward to capture her lips with his.

Tiana wrapped her arms over his shoulders letting a light moan escape her mouth.

Eudora was shocked to hear that the two were engaged. She was pleased but not fully satisfied. For one, 'Antonio' wasn't rich, and two, she felt that her daughter deserved to be pampered everyday by a husband like Douglas. 'Calm down ole girl. Tiana isn't married to him yet' she peeped over to see the young couple in a kissing fest before leaving her room for the living room. "Gettin' comfortable in here?"

The two quickly pulled from the kiss with Tiana blushing in embarrassment and Naveen with a humoured grin.

"Mama...I thought that you were sleeping," Tiana said, slightly out of breath.

"I couldn't sleep," she eyed Naveen. "Looks like y'all are serious."

The couple looked at one other, smiling.

"Mm hm." she put her hands on her hips "Y'all not making whoopee are ya?"

"Mama!" Tiana exclaimed. "That's personal!"

"Well are y'all?" she asked.

"No," Naveen answered.

"You didn't answer Tiana."

"Mama no...," Tiana didn't think that she could be as embarrassed as she was now.

This was the time for Naveen to leave so he stood up. "I should be getting to work."

"Right." Tiana stood up and walked out the door with him.

Naveen pulled her in for a kiss. "I'll see you later, mi benita,"

Tiana caressed his chiseled jaw. "I'm sorry about my mother interupting."

He shook his head before giving her another kiss. "She's fine. Better than what my mother use to be."

"You'll have to tell me about it later."

He nodded. "I will...I love you."

"I love you, too."

She gave him one more kiss before he hopped into his old truck and drove off to work. It was like this for about a couple of weeks now. They both work the over night shift. He have breakfast with her and he was off to work for a few hours before resting and meeting her later for work again. She took two shifts, the afternoon and night shifts. It was tiring but they made up for it by taking off on the same days.

Eudora watched as her daughter longed for 'Antonio' and as disappointed she was in her not feeling this way for Douglas, she was still pleased that Tiana found a man who loved her and was just as hard working.

In many ways 'Antonio' reminded her of James, another hardworking and loving man. Eudora sighed at the thought of her daughter settling with a man like 'Antonio'. And knowing that when that time comes for her Tiana will be alright.

Tiana walked back into the house seeing tears well up in her mother's eyes. Concerned, she asked,

"What is it mama? Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, wiping away her tears. "No baby. I'm not hurt."

"Then why were you crying?" she asked.

"Thinking about your father," Eudora smiled at her daughter. "And how much Antonio reminds me of him."

Tiana heart tightened at the comparison. She also noticed.

"Don't you agree? Antonio was a lot like James when we were younger. He was also a hard worker who couldn't get enough of me," she laughed. "I'm sure he's got dreams?"

Tiana nodded.

"And I know that when you two are married with your own family that his heart will only grow bigger."

Tiana gasped and saw the smirk on her mother's lips. "You know?"

Eudora gave her daughter a hug "Of course Ms. ' You can't be talkin that marriage talk in my mama's house'. She did her best impress of her daughter. "I heard y'all."

Tiana laughed herself. "I can't keep anything from you."

"I am a mother," Eudora bragged. "We always find out."

Tiana pulled from the hug and had to be certain "You aren't disappointed are you?"

"Oh yeah," Eudora answered. "But when I think about it more. I realize that I would've done the same thing. Douglas may have tons of money, but Antonio seems more valuable. I can't put my finger on it yet but I'll figure it out. And besides...," She raised an eyebrow. "We've got to get started on the wedding dress and six sets of baby clothes!"

"Mama..." Tiana blushed and noticed her mother holding her head. "Mama? Are you alright"

"I'm fine babycakes"

"No you're not." Tiana said. "What is really wrong with you?"

She waved her hand. "Tiana not now!"

But Tiana wasn't gong to give up that easy. "No mama I'm not going to stop until-

"I have a tumor!"

Tiana's heart stopped at her mother's confession. "A tumor?"

"In my brain," Eudora looked at her daughter. "Dr. Facilier told me a couple of months ago. I have less than six months to live."

Tiana moved her hands over her mouth. "No."

Eudora took her daughter's hands to her. "Now babycakes you stay strong alright? Whenever the Lord is ready for me I will have to go. We all do someday...now stop that cryin'."

"I-I can't help it mama," Tiana sniffled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Are you really dyin'?"

"I am." Eudora said, already accepting her fate.

"No, I need you here for my wedding. To help me with my first born and many more babies that may come along" Tiana said

"So you do want to have Antonio's children?" Eudora smiled.

"Is there anyway to help get rid of it? The tumor?"

"Dr. Facilier said surgery but it could be the death of me on the table. I have 35% chance of survival without goin' under the knife and a 40% chance if it's successful. I could still die even after its removed because of the size."

"I don't want to lose you."

"I'll always be in your heart baby, and all the great memories we shared together. And besides...," she said with a weak smile. "...I'm sure ya daddy is lookin' forward to seein' me."

Tiana's lips trembled at the thought, suppressing her tears as hard as she could. "Oh mama..."

Eudora embraced her daughter. "It'll be alright baby. You'll be alright too."

()()()()

Jean-Vincent and Evangeline Facilier was having an afternoon brunch at one of the out door restaurants enjoying the unseasonably cooler air that came across the city. Evangeline sipped on her iced tea while Jean-Vincent was eying another woman who strutted pass them seconds ago.

"Enjoying the view?" she asked, hearing her husband laugh.

"She looks real good in that dress," he answered honestly. "It's too bad that you never inherit an hourglass figure."

"I thought you loved my slender petite figure. You couldn't keep your hands off of me this morning," she sipped on her drink.

Dr. Facilier grinned. "You have your qualities, darlin, but you know that I am an hour glass man."

'More like an any woman man to me' she thought annoyingly.

"Don't be jealous baby. I'll never tire of you." he took her hand with his. "You were good looking enough to marry a successful doctor. And speakin' of which I've decided to do something that would make ya proud of me."

"Such as?" she asked, wondering what he was up to.

"I have a child who needs a mother to take care of him," he confessed.

"What?" she exclaimed.

"The little bundle is from one of my many women. She got knocked up and once the little bastard was born I knew he was mine." he took out a contract and handed it to her from across the table. "I already signed the papers to have full custody."

Evangeline couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You-you..."

"Since you can't seem to carry any kids of your own and I don't have the heart to divorce you I've decided to enjoy the best of both worlds," he smiled darkly.

"Best of both worlds?" Evangeline inquired.

"You know that we've been gettin' the house done for some reconstruction"," he explained. They were adding in more rooms to their already large estate. "Well now that little Jean-Vincent Jr is born his birth mother will need that area."

She gasped. "But I thought that..."

"You thought the other end of that house was for your precious flowers? You're wrong darlin'. They're for my son's mother." He held her hand.

Evangeline's heartbeat increased in a fury. "Over my dead body!"

"Let's not get too haste my dear." He squeezed her hand tighter. "You will still be my number one diamond. It'll be how it's always been. But this time I'll be having one of my whores living with us to complete our dysfunctional family."

She pulled her hand away. "I-I'm gonna be sick."

"Don't cause a scene baby." He warned.

She rose from her seat. "I won't accept this! I don't deserve this treatment, Jean-Vincent."

"Well if you did your job in the first place then perhaps I wouldn't need a whore to birth my children."

"Please...for the love of God just please divorce me." she begged. "I don't want any of your money. I will leave-

"Sit down," he ordered sharply in a smooth tone.

Evangeline sat back in her chair now feeling dizzy.

"You know that I will never give you the benefit of another man touching you...I worked too hard to make a proper wife out of you."

"A whore more like it!" she whispered. "I thought you loved me when we married but I should've known that all I was to you was a rump with a marriage license."

"I do in fact love you. If I didn't then I wouldn't have married you now would I?" He pulled out some money and snapped his fingers at a waitress to collect the amount. "You're very special to me my little lost star. Just when you were about to fizz away I came along and saved you from a life of hardship." He gave the waitress the money and a tip before standing and taking his wife's hand. "Let's walk the rest of the way. You need the fresh air more than I do."

Evangeline linked her arm with her husband and began walking with him as he continued talking.

"Now before you think about leaving me know this...I will find you and kill you with my own bare hands," he threatened with a smile.

Evangeline shuddered at the thought of his large hands and bony fingers tightly around her neck. That was until she saw Ray and Naveen carrying out a large pile of wood from the now closed lumber shop across the street. Her heart ached to have Ray hold her the way he did those weeks ago. She wondered if Tiana even remembered to give Ray the note she left for him. Perhaps he wanted nothing to do with her. 'He deserves better,' she thought as they continued walking.

Ray's heart broke at how unhappy Evangeline looked while she was with Dr. Facilier.

"He must've told her about his new arrangement."

Naveen groaned after throwing the last of the wood into the back of the truck."What arrangement are you talking about?"

"I overheard the doctor tellin' a few of his buddies about movin' in a child and its mother into their big house."

"That man has no morals," Naveen began typing rope around the wood. "So, why do we need this wood again?"

"I'm sorry Cap but I can't let him get away with dis. I should've warned her." Ray felt guilty.

"Hey, it's their marriage. You don't see her leaving do you?" Naveen asked cynically. "I've been with enough girls to know that if they're willing to stay even if you do treat them like dirt then its their own fault."

Ray found Naveen's behavior more cold than odd. "Have you and Cher been fightin'?"

He frowned. "No, we're alright. Why do you ask?"

Ray sighed. "Never mind Cap. I guess I've been acting strange lately."

"Nah. You're a man in love," Naveen said as a rain dropped on his arm. "Let's get back home and drop off this wood before it begins raining."

()()()()

Evangeline walked into her home to the sound of a baby crying. It was a sound she dreamed of when she first married her husband but now dreaded.

"Well, I guess my son is in need of his new mama," Dr. Facilier said just as Rita, the housekeeper walked down the stairs with a baby blanket on her shoulder.

"Your son is upstairs," she announced to the two.

Facilier locked his arm with his wife's "Shall we?"

She remained quiet as they walked up the stairs. Her mind was blowing at what should she do. There was no turning back as they walked into the nursery.

She was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the nursery was. The round cherry wood baby crib was in the centerpiece of the room and the first thing she noticed.

"You can tour around the room later," Facilier interrupted her trance. "Now go and check on the baby."

Evangeline slowly walked over to the crib that held the crying baby feeling anxious, angry and hurt. She watched the baby cry for a few more seconds before carefully picking him up and once she began lightly patting his back he stopped crying. A whiff of the fresh newborn scent hittng in her nose.

"Oh...my...," she said softly as she took a seat in the rocking chair.

"He's formula fed," Rita added, handing Evangeline the bottle. "He just ate so-

"Thank you Rita...," Evangeline stared at the baby who was staring right back and couldn't stay angry or hurt. He was a beautiful baby. As a matter of fact he look like a child she and Facilier would have if she ever gave birth.

"How do you like him?" asked Dr. Facilier, placing his hands on her shoulders.

Evangeline's lips trembled. "He's...beautiful."

()()()()

"Good evening, Vivienne," Douglas walked into Vivienne's home with high hopes about claiming Tiana. He just knew that she will be his once he gets rid of Naveen.

"What a wonderful surprise to see you Douglas. Still wanting Tiana to marry you?" She teased

He wasn't surprised that she sensed his mission on being there. "So what do I have to do for this voodoo stuff to work?"

"First of all, if ya looking for voodoo to come save the day then ya sadly mistaken." she looked at her fingernails.

"I thought that you do voodoo," He couldn't believe that he was tricked.

"I practice it a little. You know that I'm mainly about black magic," she said.

"So you're no help for me?" he asked, disappointed.

"On voodoo, yes," she answered honestly.

Douglas couldn't believe it. So he began pacing the room. "How am I going to get rid of that bum?"

"Is he from here?" Vivienne inquired.

"Tiana mentioned him being from Maldonee or something." He shrugged. "I could careless about where he comes from. I just need for him to disappear."

"Hmm." she thought out loud."I've heard of a country like that before."

That caught his attention. "You have?"

"An ex-lover of mine took me there before," she remembered Dr. Facilier taking her there. "I can see if I can find some things about him."

"Like mind read?" he asked.

"Something like that..." she began walking into another room. "Follow me."

Douglas followed her and was surprised to see a bath tub filled with soup in the middle of the room. "What the hell is this?"

"My gumbo pot. It has everything you need to know about this man who stands in the way of you claiming Tiana all to yourself," she explained, mentally thanking her great-great-great aunt Mama Odie for the tip of using a tub. "Of course me showing you all of this comes with a price." she looked him up and down.

"Such as?" He asked, catching on quick and not turning down sex from an old friend.

"For old time sake..." she pulled him in for a kiss. "I want to have you one last time. Before you give all yourself to goody girl Tia."

"If you've seen her now you would think differently," he teased, clearly hearing her jealousy.

"Ugh!" The woman grew annoyed, pushing him onto a nearby table. "She's got you for the rest of your life. I got you for several minutes..." And began kissing him again.

Mama Odie mixed the gumbo soup in the tub of her own boathouse after seeing her great-great-great niece giving herself up to Douglas Henderson once again. "She was young and dumb for him then and she's dumb fa him now..." Zuzu saw his concerned friend and listened on as she mixed into another vision, but this time of Tiana sleeping in her bed. "Dat Douglas boy is a whole lotta trouble Zuzu. Just wait and see what he does to dat poor girl he's sweet ova."

()()()()

Naveen and Tiana cuddled under the stars in the back of the old truck after sharing another picnic together. It was quite the surprise when he stopped by after his shift ended. Naveen took a quick wash up from home, made sure his appear was up to par and then brought a basket of goodies that he prepared himself.

Tiana was about to decline until Eudora interrupted and encouraged her to go on the date. She didn't want to leave her mother alone, and felt guilty leaving her behind for some date.

Naveen could sense her being upset and asked what was wrong. When she refused to tell him anything he decided to not press on the topic and try to make her as happy as he could.

"Who knew that late night picnics could be so much fun?" Naveen said, looking up at the stars.

Tiana was staring at the stars as well with her hands on 'Antonio's' toned abs. It felt really good to be in his arms. She felt protected from all the negativity that was in her current life. She rested her head on his chest, inhaling his masculine scent of citric ocean. It calmed her worries and also caused a tingly sensation in her lower abdomen which in a way excited her. She was ready for him.

When Naveen was about to to ask Tiana about her day, he was interrupted by her kissing his neck. His breathing increased and he was struggling to control the arousal that was quickly forming under his trousers. "Tiana...,"

She stopped her kissing just to give him the best seductive glance she could do.

Naveen saw the look Tiana was giving him but didn't want to go too far this quick. The old him would've emotionless had her by now.

'Breathe it out, Naveen. Think of Mrs. Henderson in a bathing suit...' he desperately tried convincing himself.

And just as he was about to overcome his arousal for Tiana she slowly ran her hand down his lower abs and pelvis.

"Tiana?" he asked, heart beat increasing as she began kissing on his neck again. "Ooh..." his eye rolled in the back of his head in a hypnotic coma. It's been so long since he's been kissed on his favourite spot. He usually had to guide women to that spot but of course Tiana would know where to go. "Tiana..."

"Antonio..." she unbuttoned the first buttons of his shirt before placing hot kisses on his muscular chest. She opened her eyes when she felt his arousal rubbing against her and felt some moisture from herself.

Naveen was ready and from the way Tiana was kissing down his six pack abs he could see that she was as well. The old selfish him smirked as his little waitress unbuckled his belt. He couldn't wait any longer so he took her by the wrist, pulled her back up and rolled her under him.

Tiana gasped at the sudden action and finally got to look into his eyes and saw how much he wanted her. With a satisfying sensual grin she felt his strong hands pulling up her skirt by the hem and soon his harden arousal pressing against her own arousal.

Then it hit her. This will be the first time they've ever had sex together.

"Antonio...," she panted while feeling his hand going inside her undergarments.

Naveen was so high that he didn't hear her call out his middle name. He was starving to be inside of her, and when he felt how ready she was it made him twitch.

"Please..." Tiana moaned through his kisses, feeling his finger sliding inside of her which was a little uncomfortable and pleasing. "...it's...it's my first time."

Those four words were enough to snap him out of his spell. He quickly pulled his finger out.

"I'm so sorry Tiana," Naveen was disappointed that he couldn't better control himself.

"No...," Tiana felt more embarrassed and pulled down the skirt of her dress before sitting up. "...I should've told you."

But Naveen shook his head. "No, I would've really hurt you if you didn't. I mean, I would've asked but...It was none of my business."

"It is if we're gonna get married!" She then covered her face. "I can't believe that this is happening. First my mama give me this bad news about her having months to live and-

"Wait!" he stopped her, shocked. "Your mother has only months to live?"

"Yes," Tiana looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "And I don't know what to do."

"Tiana...," Naveen said with concerned eyes. "I'm so sorry. Is there any chances for her to survive longer?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. She said that her chances are a little better with surgery."

Naveen frowned. "Who told her that?"

"Dr. Facilier,"

Naveen snorted. "Of course he'll tell her that when she isn't as wealthy as he is." He knew more than anyone how some doctors were. But he also knew doctors who were there for the people and not money. He will try his best to remember any doctors, particularly his royal doctor. Tiana didn't deserve to lose both of her parents.

"I don't know what I'll do if I ever lost my mother," Tiana confessed.

Naveen cupped her chin in his hand. "You'll have me who will be there to support you."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "I hate feeling this way."

"It's natural to feel afraid of losing someone you love." He remembered losing his grandmother a couple of years ago. She was more of a mother than his own.

"I really wish that I was in your shoes right now. To not remember much of your life. I bet you don't even remember your most painful memories." She rested her head on his chest.

Naveen closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her. He hated having to lie to her for this long. It was time he tell her the truth. She had that right. "About my memory...I-

Loud thunder interrupted him.

Both looked up at the starry night sky.

"Thunder?" Naveen frowned, looking around. "But there's not a cloud in the sky,"

"Actually..." Tiana pointed at the traveling clouds from afar west. "Looks like a storm is heading our way. We should end this depressing night on a higher note." 'Antonio' helped her off the truck and didn't let her go as his honey coloured eyes stared into her brown eyes.

"What is it, Antonio?" she asked him.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips onto hers before saying, "I love you."

She sighed, closing her eyes. "I love you, too."

They silently gazed at one another until loud thunder interrupted them again. "We best hurry if we want to miss this storm."

"Are you afraid of the thunder?" he teased, closing Tiana's door.

"No, I'm afraid of lightning," she said honestly before he closed the door. He finally got in the truck and drove off.

Once they returned back to Eudora's, Naveen walked Tiana to the door and heard her say, "Dr. Facilier gave her some medication that is supposed to help with the pain."

"That's good if it helps," Naveen raised his hand to gently caress her face. He could tell that she was still worried. "You get yourself some sleep."

She closed her eyes and sighed. "I'll try." opening her eyes she saw the concern in 'Antonio's' honey coloured orbs. "I love you."

"I love you, too,"

They kissed one final time before parting ways for the night. Tiana going to bed feeling a little better and hopeful as a new plan came to mind.

"I'm so sorry daddy and Antonio..," she looked over at the cans that held life savings. "But the restaurant will just have to wait a little while longer."

()()()()

Douglas was in a jealous rage after watching Tiana and Naveen parting ways. He couldn't see what she was doing in her bedroom but got to see 'Antonio' driving home to god knows where.

Vivienne watched in humour and mixed away the vision in her tub of gumbo. "Aren't they adorable?"

"Shut up!" Douglas exclaimed. "I thought that you were going to show me more about this chump."

"Calm down already!" she mixed the soup. "Gumbo, gumbo in the pot. We need the man who took Douglas' shot."

The gumbo the flashed a vision that showed 'Antonio' in what looked like at a party.

Vivienne raised a brow. "Well...look at Antonio chug away."

Douglas watched the man gulping down the large bottle of champagne while many women wearing next to nothing surrounded him.

"Hail to Naveen! The Prince Of Maldonia!'" chanted the people at the party.

"Naveen?" Douglas said out loud. Shocked at what he was seeing.

"So I guess Antonio really isn't Antonio," she watched Naveen smoking a substance that she knew all too well. "The good stuff."

"What's that?" Douglas couldn't keep his eyes off the women that were throwing themselves at the prince.

"What he's smoking. It's powerful than the reefer we have here. Its called ganjo," Vivienne explained, remembering when Dr. Facilier took her to the exotic country. "Oh how I miss that stuff." They continued watching the vision...

"I've been with plenty of men," one woman shared with Naveen. "But I've never had a prince before."

Naveen took another puff of the substance before answering. "And I've had enough whores to know that you will enjoy riding this prince all night."

The woman only giggled.

Vivienne began mixing the gumbo once again, showing Naveen in bed with several naked women.

Douglas was enjoying every moment of the vision. "This is was not only an alcoholic and drug addict but also a full blown whore."

"Shh! This looks like his old man and lady!" Vivienne pointed.

The two witnessed the fallen prince getting kicked out and banished from his country. Douglas couldn't be more pleased by the outcome.

"Tiana would never want anything to do with such an arrogant, womanizing lush head and not to mention lazy bum." He then let out a satisfying laugh.

"I wonder how would his daddy the king feel about his son ending up poor and marrying down?" asked Vivienne.

Douglas darkly ginned. "Why don't we call him and find out for himself?"

()()()()

Maldonia – Throne Room -

"Your highness! We have found the prince!" Chalmers the valet rushed into the room before bowing.

Kabir and Nagina both rose from their thrones. "Where is he?" impatiently asked the king.

"Our men has received a tip from a resident there who says that the prince is allegedly still in New Orleans, United States pretending to be a poor painter."

"An artist?" this interested Nagina.

"No your majesty. A painter. The guards have been following him for the past several days since receiving the tip-

"You've known this for several days?" asked a now enraged Kabir.

"Does he look healthy? Does he have a roof over his head?" Nagina wanted to know if her baby was alright.

"He lives in an old small sort of shack near a bayou swamp. Looking quite healthy your highness." the valet added.

Nagina sighed in relief while Kabir was furious.

"My son lives near a swamp and works as a painter?" Kabir was beyond furious.

Chalmers coward toward the door. "As well as a prep cooker, lumberjack and seeing an American girl named...Tiana."

That caught Nagina's attention even more. "He's with just one girl?"

"Looks like it. She's a waitress your majesty," the valet answered.

Nagina smiled. "Is she pretty?"

"That isn't important Nagina!" Kabir walked swiftly toward to door exit.

Nagina followed. "Where are you going, darling?"

"To New Orleans to get our son out of that party town!" he rushed down the corridors.

She jogged behind him. "Then I shall go as well."

"No you will not-

"I will go whether you like it or not," she said.

Kabir grunted before charging to his office. "Chalmers!" he called for his valet.

The man rushed over to the king nervously. "Yes, I'm here your highness."

"You and the queen's lady go prepare my and the queen's things together for the trip," he ordered.

The valet nodded before rushing down the hall.

Nagina shook her head in humour. "I suppose we are overdue for a trip to see our son in the United States."

()()()()