"Babycakes, why don't you go out and be with your friends." said Eudora as she sat beside her daughter on the front porch swing "I know that it's hard right now...but you need to have a little fun."

It had been three months since James passed away and Tiana had been moping around the house grieving. She hadn't sang, laughed, or even cooked since the funeral. She continued to work her three jobs without a problem though. She wanted to fulfill her father's dream as soon as possible.

"I haven't heard from Genie in a good while." said Tiana quietly looking out at the street "I haven't seen her in months."

Eudora sighed "She's just probably very busy. You girls just graduated and her father probably got her courting some young man." she grabbed her daughter's hand "She'll come around."

"But this isn't like her." Tiana shook her head "She tells me everything...I'm worried."

"Charlotte is just a streetcar ride away." she replied "And she is equally as worried about you."

Tiana sighed as she laid on her mother's shoulder "You're right, I'll visit her tomorrow."

"That's my babycakes."

Tiana remembered how the very next day that she was to visit Charlotte, Eugenia's parents came over and informed them that they hadn't heard from her either and told her that they think she was abducted by the same people who killed her father. Tiana couldn't take losing two of the closest people in her life at the same time. It was all too much. Tiana had confided in Vincent throughout it all. Her biggest mistake.

Several months had passed since Tiana and Vincent returned from France and everything was somewhat back to normal. Vincent stayed in Baton Rouge to work most of the time while Tiana sat at home everyday. Neither had talked to each other after what happened in France between them.

Vincent hadn't touched her since then and Tiana was glad about it. They went about their lives as if it had never happened. She somewhat missed Julia but was glad to had finally left that horrid old chateau. Christmas was coming up soon, and Tiana was eager to decorate the entire house with holiday cheer to get her mind off of all the sadness she had experienced this year.

"Betty could you hold this ladder while I hang this garland on top of the fireplace?"

The older woman shook her head "Madame you are almost five months pregnant, it would be best if you let me do it."

Tiana rolled her eyes "I can do it!" she said as she began to climb the ladder and carefully hung the garland before walking back down safely "See! No problem."

"You are one stubborn young woman!" said Betty

"She gets it from her Daddy." said Eudora walking through the front door "Decorations already Tiana?"

Tiana slowly sat on the couch rubbing her swollen tummy "Christmas is next month Mama."

"And so is your birthday!" Eudora sat down beside her "What would you like? I can sew you a new dress or shawl."

"No thank you." She sighed as she stared up at the ceiling "I just want this baby out of me!"

Eudora smiled as she placed a hand on her tummy "You have a few more months before that time comes chile! And you are carrying so big...you're only how far along now?"

"Almost five months."

"Whew!" Eudora stood "This baby is gonna be chunky. i'm just happy that you are married this time around."

Tiana raised an eyebrow, ignoring the last comment "The doctor said that it's normal, he thinks that the baby will be at least ten pounds when it's born."

"I believe it." she gestured towards the kitchen "Do you have any tea on the stove?"

"I'll start up a pot." Tiana said walking into the kitchen, tea and sugar cookies sounded good to her now.

Eudora watched her daughter move around the kitchen "How was France? You never really told me about it...I heard they eat snails and thangs over there."

Tiana rolled her eyes "Mama, I have already told you about all of that.."

"Seems like you and Vincent have been getting along, just fine now." she sat at the breakfast nook "France did ya'll some good...honeymoonin' overseas. Ya didn't even need that foreign fella after all!"

Tiana felt her heart beating faster as she grabbed the box of cookies and placed a few on a plate "What are you getting at Mama? Have you taken your pills today?"

Eudora shrugged her shoulders "Nothing. Just stating the truth...I knew something was goin' on between you two!" she snapped

"No you didn't!" Tiana just about had it "No one knew until the wedding."

"I just don't understand why you would throw ya whole life away for some man that you just met!" she yelled "And a criminal at that!" referring to the men who took him away. "You're better off without him."

"I love him." Tiana said holding back her tears

"I bet you were lovin' him real good when you were going back home to Vincent every night!" Eudora drawled "Whose child are you carrying Tiana? The one you love?" she chuckled

The teapot began to whistle loudly.

Tiana couldn't believe her mother as she ran out the kitchen up the stairs into the bedroom.

How could she be so cruel?

()()()

'Bout time, 'bout time we had little taste of wasted time,

like love a deux, I wasted time alone with you,

'bout time we two we're livin' out a lovely dream come true,

'bout you, 'bout me, 'bout love, yes!

Vivienne set down the tray of washed glasses and snatched a rag from her shoulder as she wiped each glass and placed it on the shelf behind her. She glanced around the rowdy room from time to time, observing everyone who was worthy enough to be here. She knew that only the elite of New Orleans were allowed inside, with the knowledge of one phrase...the door opened into a new world completely known by a few.

She placed the empty tray below her as she filled it with more glasses, ready to be filled with an array of alcohol ready for consumption. She was often nervous coming down here every night, she couldn't risk ever leaving her son at home with the likes of her sister and mother if she were ever sent to jail. That's why she hardly never spoke to anyone there, she just did her job and was out by dawn before anyone could really talk to her.

"What do you mean? I just dropped off three cases of that last night...You miscounted."

Vivienne turned her head to listen to the man with a different accent, she had never heard anyone down here that sounded like that other than the occasional Italian that came to check on the inventory, and her father's before he died.

"Listen, I don't have time to be going back and forth with you. I know what I saw." he showed him the papers

"Bullshit and you know it Frank." the man said as he ignored the papers "I am leaving in two days and your men still haven't gotten their shit out of my condo! What's up with that?"

"They are running a bit late, but they should be here soon…"

Vivienne continued to watch the men argue in the corner as she poured the drinks into the tiny glasses when she realized that one was overflowing. Shit.

"Watch it!"

She began to apologize profusely to her boss as she cleaned the mess up, hoping that he wouldn't fire her on the spot. To her relief he didn't and she left the bar for the crowd to serve drinks to the people who were too busy dancing to head to the bar.

"Excuse me,"

Vivienne quickly turned around to see the man she was just eavesdropping on minutes ago. "Yes?" she answered hoping he didn't notice her spying on them

"I'll have a glass of whatever that is" he smiled pointing to her tray of bourbon

She nodded as he grabbed a glass and knocked it back with no problem and placed a crisp five dollar bill on the tray.

"Thanks."

The brunette watched as he walked his way through the crowd. He was completely oblivious to the fact that they had met before.

"No problem, Naveen."

"I'm so glad that you were able to come Tiana." said Vivienne as she led her inside the house.

Now that Marguerite was out of town, Vivienne was able to host a Women's Suffrage meeting without her knowing. She had invited several guests and Tiana had agreed to help host as well as be a guest. Tiana thought that she had a good spirit and didn't mind helping at all.

Vivienne had really invited her over to tell her what she think might have happened with Naveen, but she wasn't sure how to bring up such a sensitive topic. She would simply ease it in somehow.

"I'm glad to be here." she said looking around the mansion. "What a lovely home."

"Thank you. Would you like something to drink before we get started?" she nodded at her tummy "I don't want to overwork you…"

Tiana laughed "No, I'm fine. I'm ready."

"Alright!" She smiled as she led them to the parlor room "Now we are meeting in here, but we will move into the dining room later for refreshments. I have already prepared a meal and…"

"You can cook?" Tiana interrupted "I'm sorry but.."

"It's alright." She nodded "Yes, I cook for Mother and Violet everyday."

"Really?" Tiana really didn't take Vivienne as the domestic type, from what she saw of Violet she thought that both the Richelieu daughters didn't have to worry about a thing. "What did you prepare?"

"Nothing special, a simple ham casserole." Vivienne noticed Tiana holding back a laugh "What?"

"I don't know, when Violet and myself were in school she used to brag all of time about how she would eat these elaborate dinners..prepared by private chefs for dinner every night...yet it was you all along."

Vivienne chuckled "Violet needs help."

Tiana could definitely agree with that.

After everything was settled, the women found themselves talking about everything.

"So you mean to tell me that you never listened to jazz until just recently? How? Look at where you live."

"I mean I've heard it while I'm working and stuff like that, but I've never sat down and really enjoyed it...you know? Plus I live an hour outside New Orleans...jazz really doesn't live in Metairie." she laughed

Tiana couldn't believe it "We will have to change that...I still have my daddy's collection, it's only a couple records but it's the classics." she took a sip of tea "Where do you work where you can listen to jazz all day?"

"The Blind Tiger."

Tiana almost spit out her drink "The Blind Tiger?" she couldn't believe that a woman like her would want to work at a place like that. Of all places a speakeasy?

"I know." she sighed setting her cup down "But it's the only night job that could work with my schedule. Between me working here in the daytime and taking care of my son I'm loaded."

Tiana was confused "What do you mean you work here?"

Vivienne knew she said too much, but she couldn't lie to her new friend "I clean around the house in exchange for living here."

"What? Why?" Tiana was confused "But I thought…"

"It's a long story Tiana." she sighed "Don't worry, I'm close to getting out of here."

"You can stay with us! We have an extra bedroom for you and Simeon to stay…"

"Tiana. I'm fine. I appreciate you but you and I both know that my brother would not go for that."

"What kind of mother would allow their daughter to do that?" Tiana knew that her mother could be unfair sometimes, but this was a new level.

"Every mother doesn't care Tiana. And I think that I've finally come to accept that."

Ding-dong

"Right on time." Vivienne said as she stood up "Are you alright?"

Tiana nodded as she stood and followed the brunette to the door.

"Couldn't be better."