A/N: Thank you for the reviews. PocahontasJohnSmithForever I never thought about 'Tangled' when I was writing that line. I just wrote what I've been seeing/hearing growing up from various family members. I think that the fryer pan is a good weapon to use against any man who dare to step out of line. Just kidding!
Queen of Maldonia II
A Baron's Honesty
A month later...Piano Room
Tiana listened as James played the piano and was amazed at how quickly he learned the song The Studies on Chopin's Études. She always knew he was very smart for his age so the advance education he was getting also challenged and helped him strive at his studies harder.
James concentrated so hard that at times he would forget that he was even in the palace; more like his own world. It took his fingers hitting the final keys and his mother's clapping to bring him back to reality.
"That was beautiful, baby." Tiana said, seeing how red his fingers are.
"Thanks, mama." He sadly said, closing the piano.
Tiana watched as her son's usually exciting mood after playing was replaced with a heavier one. She knew why. "Your daddy's trip won't be that long."
"The end of the month is three weeks away, mama. He won't make it to my recital on time." Said James.
"Honey I know you're upset, but this is very important for Maldonia! The United Kingdom has been a strong ally of ours for years. And he'll be visiting three more countries during his trip."
The prince sadly sighed.
"He will make it to your recital on time. I already warned him if he did. Oh, why am I even telling you this." Tiana rolled her eyes.
James looked up at his mother holding a serious face. "You can tell me everything as I will be king someday."
Tiana shook her head. "Yes you will be king, but today you are a seven year old prince who will be supportive of his father's departure." She then got up. "Let's go take care of your fingers then pick-up A'lia from her football practice before meeting with your daddy downstairs."
James slowly got up, looking down.
"James..." Tiana said. "...keep your head up."
"Okay." The prince held his head up high and followed his mother out of the room.
()()()()
The nursery...
Naveen was on a mat playing with the twins, Nicholas and Natalia. Both babies were laying on their backs with all smiles at their dad making funny faces and blowing light raspberries on their bellies.
Naveen then covered his eyes with his hands, making both babies react with cooing noises. Then he uncovered his eyes and said, "Peek-a-boo!"
Both babies squealed, finding their father's gesture funny.
He laughed along with them. "I am going to miss you two while I'm on my trip."
Just then, Natalia frowned at her father and poked out her bottom lip.
Naveen noticed. "Aw, I promise to return as soon as I'm..." He stopped when he heard the princess passing gas in her diaper. "That was a loud one mi princessa." He then saw her eyes getting watery and he groaned. Knowing what that meant. "So you wanted to dump your treasures on me before I leave?" Scooping both his children in his arms, he walked them both over to the changing table.
"Ugh." Naveen said, changing his daughter's messy diaper. "What were you eating this morning?" He cleaned the princess and put on a fresh diaper. He checked to see if Nicholas was wet, but to his relief he wasn't. "If you keep this up you will beat your older brother's record at the most dirty diapers."
Tiana along with James and A'lia all walked in the nursery, surprised to see Naveen in the room.
"I thought you were already downstairs." Tiana said, closing the door.
Naveen readjusted the babies in his arms. "No, I was just saying abinaza to the twins beforehand." He looked at his wife and smiled. "You look beautiful."
She smiled back.
James groaned.
Naveen noticed. "What's the groaning about?"
The prince crossed his arms. "Why do you have to be gone for so long?"
"You will understand once you're king." Naveen simply said.
"Papa, will you write to us everyday?" Asked A'lia.
"I will call you everyday as promise and will be back as soon as everything is done." He said to the curly haired princess.
She walked over and hugged around his long legs. "I love you, papa."
He got down to her level and kissed her on the forehead. "And I love you."
"Um..." Tiana rushed over. "You're holding babies."
Naveen laughed a little. "I'm not going to drop my own children." He said, looking at the wide awake babies. "Natalia has James for a run in his money."
"With the dirty diapers, yes." Tiana agreed, taking the babies from her husband.
"I would actually like to speak with you for a second." Naveen said. "Alone."
Tiana then put the babies in their cribs and told the children to watch over them while she speak with their father on the other end of the room. "What is it?"
"I just got a letter from Eduardo this morning, giving me the rights to his school." He handed her the letter. "The contract is in my office and I was wondering why would he give me the rights to his school?"
Tiana shrugged. "I don't know..."
"I'll speak with him about it on my return." He then changed the subject. "Are you sure you'll be okay without me?"
Tiana rolled her eyes. "Is that the real reason you've pulled me over for? I've managed without you for months at a time before."
"I know, but it's different. We have four children-
"Who will be just fine with the help of the nannies, and I'm not exactly too dependent on the help. I still got arms and legs." She explained with a smile.
Naveen knew his wife was in good hands. "Good to know." And wrapped an arm around her. "I'm going to miss not getting to hold this body in my arms."
"You'll manage." Tiana said with sarcasm.
He smiled at his wife before leaning forward and pressing his lips onto hers. Tiana wrapped her arms over his shoulders to deepen the kiss.
"I love you." He said.
"I love you, too." She responded.
Naveen kissed her once more before taking her hand and walking them back over to the children.
"What were you two talking about?" Asked A'lia.
"Nothing." James answered for them. "All I've seen were two people kissing as if they're courting young adults."
"James, act your age." Tiana said.
A knock was then heard at the door.
"Come in." Naveen said.
Helina and Naveen's valet both walked in the room.
"Your car is awaiting, your highness." He said.
"Well, I guess this is abinaza for now." Naveen said.
"Abinaza, papa." The princess hugged her father again.
"Abinaza, papa." Said the prince, now hugging him.
"You two take care of your mother and help her out with the twins, okay?" He instructed the two.
Both children nodded their heads.
Naveen then went back over to his wife and kissed her one more. "I will call you once I make it there."
"I know you will." She said, as she watched her husband leaving the room, followed by his valet.
"Mama, may I go in my room?" Asked James.
"Yes you may." She said. "A'lia-
"I'll stay in with Helina and the twins." Said the princess.
Tiana raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
The princess nodded her head.
"Okay..." Tiana said. "I'll be in my room."
"Okay! See you later, mama!" A'lia said.
Tiana left the room and the first person she saw was the baron, along with some male servants carrying his luggage.
He saw Tiana and quickly walked over to her, with the help of his crutches. "I would like to speak with you, if you don't mind?"
She was hesitate of his request. "Well, actually I-
"I'm leaving Maldonia today." he said, cutting her off. "Please?"
Tiana was surprised by what he said and nodded her head. "Let's go in the Peach Room."
He followed behind her in the room where he closed the door. Once he got to look at her again, he smiled. Trying to lighten the atmosphere. "That's some dress there. You look beautiful."
"So, you're leaving today?" She asked.
"Yes." He answered.
"Where to?"
"My first stop will be London."
Tiana nodded her head. "But what about your school?"
"I gave it to Naveen."
She remembered Naveen showing her the letter. "Just like that?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"But why are you suddenly leaving?"
"I would be lying to myself if I didn't say that you were the true reason for me leaving." He said. "You also being the reason why I moved out of the palace."
She raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Tiana, I have been inlove with you for over a year." Eduardo confessed.
Tiana put her hand on her stomach when she heard his confession.
"You are an amazing woman." He said, slowly walking her way.
"But Maria-
"Maria will always be an important person of my past, and I thank you for helping me move on from the hurt of her departure." Said the baron. "She will always be somewhere in my heart, but she is gone from my life as I need to move on. I did...by falling inlove with you."
"Eduardo...I don't know what to say, I mean, you-I had a feeling that you cared about me but..." Tiana stopped what she was saying when she saw the look in his eyes. The look he was giving her was much like how Naveen gazed at her. "...when you say you were in love with me for over a year. Do you mean-
"I believe that it was our first greeting together. You reminded me so much of Maria, everything. Your big brown eyes, your beautiful smile, the curves in your body...the way you treat people; so gently, so good...like a woman should be." He closed his eyes to compose himself before continuing. "I know that your heart belongs to Naveen and that is another reason for my departure. The last thing I need is to lose years of friendship over my selfishness."
Tiana had a newfound respect for the baron after hearing how honest he was about his feelings for her. "Thank you..." So she gave him a small smile and extended out her hand. "...you really are indeed a good man."
Instead of shaking it he gently took it and kissed it. "And you are a good woman. I will always envy Naveen for having your heart."
She slowly pulled her hand away and nodded her head. "You will find a wonderful woman who will love you as much as you will love her."
The baron then gave her a smile. "If she is anything like you then I will know that I've found perfection."
"How sweet of you." She put her hand over her chest. "Good luck with everything, Eduardo."
"Thank you." Eduardo said, before arranging his crutches. "Adiós mi bella Tiana."
Tiana watched as the baron walked out of the room feeling very overwhelmed. All that her mother has told her was correct, and what Naveen saw was what she didn't see. 'How could I have not seen this?' She thought to herself.
()()()()
London...A day later...
Naveen made it back to the home the Maldonian royal family had in the country and was thankful that it was a gated and highly secured area. Today he spoke with the Prime Minister of the country, made several press appearances and met the Queen. It took up most of the day and all he wanted to do was sleep, after making a phone call to Tiana. Just as he was about to go upstairs, he heard Leni opening the door and seeing the baron coming in. Naveen questioning looked over the baron's way and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I left Maldonia for good."
Naveen walked back down the stairs. "Why?"
He looked over at the guard before returning back at his friend. "Could we-
Naveen waved for the guard to go to another room. "So why did you leave Maldonia?"
"It's time for me to fully move on with my life." He said. "I need to see more of the world."
"When did this suddenly came about? After my questioning your feelings for Tiana?" Naveen asked.
"Tiana had a lot to do with it, yes." He honestly said.
Naveen raised an eyebrow. "What do you meant that she had a lot to do with it?"
"Our friendship means so much to me. I think of you as a brother more than anything else and I respect you-
"You're leaving because you're in love with my wife." Naveen said. "Just say it."
Eduardo was taken aback by getting cut off.
"I knew you were in love with her. Which is why I questioned you when I did." Said the king. "I knew she was the reason for you leaving my palace. I just wish you would've told me when I asked you."
The baron scratched the back of his head. Now feeling like a moron. "I was too proud to admit anything to you, and our friendship-brotherhood is way too meaningful to ruin just because I felt that your wife reminded me of Maria."
"I figured you saw the similarities. I did, too, but is that the only reason why you feel for her?" He asked.
"No, they have their differences, but it's all over now. Whether I like it or not." Said Eduardo.
"Where are you heading?" Naveen asked.
"New York, I have an uncle from there and it could be my first step at moving on." Eduardo stated. "I could always open a new school there."
Naveen extended out his hand. "Goodluck, my friend."
Eduardo returned the handshake. "I thank you for not knocking my teeth out."
"No, I appreciate your honesty and I wish you all the good fortune with your new life in New York. You are always welcome to the palace."
"Thank you for all the help, my brother." Eduardo said, as they separated their handdshake. "Send the children my love. ANd tell them to expect plenty of gifts from uncle Eduardo."
"Will do." Naveen said to his friend. "Abinaza."
"Abinaza." Smiled Eduardo.
()()()()
