A/N: Hey, everyone. I came up with this idea yesterday and had to post it. It's also a way of saying thank you to everyone who's been reading my current main P.A.T.F story (for being so patient for the next post). There's explanation for that at the end of Taste Tests. Please, anyone and everyone, read and review! Thank you and enjoy!
Taste Tests
She was perfect, after five wonderful years that still only felt as one since that fateful moment he first loved her. She had the voice of an angel and was light as air whenever she allowed the music to sway her: never did he have a partner better than himself, especially not one he once had to teach, and just last month, the same woman learned her tenth song on his ukulele. With a swan's poise and a heart tender to those in need, she'd mastered his family's trade in months, in which she was required to enter, upon their marriage, rarely complaining, becoming the blessing his country needed, restoring their trust in him, despite his past faults, which were many.
A chef. A restaurateur, whose business recently profited its first one million dollars since the Depression— after one clever dessert promotion. A best friend. A daughter. A princess. A wife. His wife.
She stood there, studying the boiling pots on the stove, in their loft's cozy kitchen, during an off-day for their American palace. A warm smile curled across Naveen's lips as his pondering wife absentmindedly rubbed her growing belly, peeking through her crisp ironed apron.
"Is the couch comfortable?" her peach-cream voice shot into his ears, sly.
The man lifted his thick brow and rose from the pillows, "Very, princess. Why don't you come and join me?" but he knew why she couldn't, already.
After five years, Naveen was still a poor cook and a risky supervisor, even when Tiana had prepared the simmering dishes beforehand!
But there were two things the husband could proudly boast—one, he'd become a better mincer than his wife. In fact, no chef, and Tiana had hired several since opening Tiana's Palace, had ever come close to mincing food and spices the speed and quality Naveen had acquired. And though his Tiana did not like to admit it, she envied his techniques! The second boast—fried chicken. No one in all of Louisiana could make fried chicken like Prince Naveen!
"You know why I can't come join you, yet!" the expectant mother side-eyed the daydreaming spouse then took one finger, sampling a delicious orange-mahogany sauce, calming off a boil, "Mmm."
Naveen's hazel spheres lit up as firecrackers, "Is something done, Tiana?"
"No, not yet, Naveen." Tiana quickly sealed the dish with its lid, allowing the pot to finish its work, "I was just taste-testin'."
"Oh." the husband's deep voice gutted.
Taste-testing. For the last five years, Naveen always considered Tiana's taste-tests a good thing, the cherry on top to a most assuredly amazing meal. But since becoming pregnant with their first little tadpole—Tiana hated when Naveen called the baby that—her taste-tests had been…Well, taste-failures. But Naveen didn't have the heart to tell her. Anytime he tried, he'd have a flashback to when Tiana first learned she was expecting the baby. She'd made Naveen breakfast: scrambled eggs. Simple, yes?
No.
At first, Tiana watched Naveen shift her hard-earned meal around like last week's scraps for two minutes, and when she finally asked Naveen what was wrong, he told her the eggs she'd made were too salty and had too many diced peppers. The honest critique sent his poor princess into a bawl. Tiana cried into her favorite green apron for almost eight minutes, and while she did so, Naveen sneaked outside their loft, down the restaurant's stairs, and threatened early staff. If Tiana cooked it, they'd like it, and when Tiana would leave them, they'd change it! It was a simple order for everyone to follow, and it was the order everyone had followed for the last five months, including the girl's own mother!
Since Tiana's pregnancy, Louis ate a more meatless diet, opting for meals mostly consisting fruits, nuts, rice, and noodles, due to Tiana's sensitive new palette, over seasoning the most basic meats and jambalayas, and due to her over-sensitive reactions to light requests to alter such bold recipes. The gator had lost fifteen pounds. At the LaBouff mansion, Charlotte had been married for three years, and that event inspired the women to assemble one Saturday each month since then for tea and cakes. For the last two months, Charlotte had the chefs add twice the buttercream layers per cupcake because Tiana didn't think the classic tea treats tasted 'sweet enough.' On an unrequested account, Charlotte had gained four pounds.
The only one who hadn't suffered with Tiana's new cooking was Mama Odie, and the little priestess had her magic to thank for that. Last week, Naveen and Louis took Tiana out to the bayou for a visit. Lately, Tiana's palette had grown fiery, and Mama Odie was just the woman to satisfy her cravings, using her favorite tub gumbo. What was her secret? Her magic club. What would taste unearthly spicy and flavorful for Tiana would taste vibrant yet tolerable on the average tongue, able to be sampled time and time again without excess water— from a glass or the eyes!
It was a God-send, but Mama Odie warned Naveen to watch out, handing the father-to-be a goody-box to take back to New Orleans, "Yo' homelan's next, chil'!"
For the last six days, Naveen wondered whatever she could have meant…
"Naveen, did you hear me, hon?"
The husband swerved his mind out his thoughts, "No, princess. I..I must have dozed off!" he bit his lip.
Lies. So many lies he'd told his princess lately. And why? Because of her horrible over-powering food! A natural pout built amid his guilty oat lips.
"Dinner's ready!"
Heaviana uz Fazio, here we go again!
O*O*O*O*O
"Did you wash up?" Tiana spoiled, pinching the man's cheek as he kissed her palm, entering the kitchen.
"Of course, I did!" Naveen grinned, only washing his hands; he spent most of his time in the bathroom splashing water on his face and trying to catch his breath, prep-talking his quivering form for the powerful meal ahead.
That beautiful giggle which drove him mad emerged through his wife's loving grin, her cocoa eyes radiant as the city's evening stars, "Good." she closed her magnificent pools as the inwardly nervous husband gave her a gentle kiss. She then grabbed his hand, leading him toward the stove, "I've got a surprise for you!"
Ah, how Naveen once loved all her surprises! Now, whenever she said that in a kitchen, he grew afraid.
"Oh, a surprise?" a crack in his accent almost gave his worry away.
"Mm-hmm!" she innocently dimpled, placing a plaid mitten on her hand, and she revealed her newest dish, steam clouding the kitchen's air.
Faldi Faldonza.
"Surprise, Naveen!" Tiana sported a pearl grin, licking her hungered lips as her orbs peeked back into the revealed pot.
That is what Mama Odie meant by his homeland being next! Tiana, his sweet, sweet, wonderful Tiana, out of the goodness of her heart, had made Maldonian Chileze Perpe Zoopa Chedazza. It was his favorite winter dish and a thoughtful gesture. His wife was currently beaming out the kitchen window as little crystals twinkled from the night's clouds, sticking their landing bodies onto the Cresent City's bountiful surfaces, covering sidewalks, roofs, and parked cars. Her fascination gave the prince time to ponder. Maldonian Chileze Perpe Zoopa Chedazza. Maldonian Chili Pepper Cheddar Soup, a lovely dish when the key ingredients were correctly balanced.
"Tiana…" Naveen was at a crossroad.
"Aren't you excited?" her silky cheeks glowed, proud, never attempting the meal before, and handed the frozen man a plate, "Haha! I wrote your mama for the recipe the other day, and she had the Maldonian Viper Peppers imported here last Wednesday."
"Oh!" Naveen's very mouth quietly wept as he smiled, his wife bustling around their beautifully arranged dinner table, "That was the crate you had forbidden me to open in the kitchen that morning?" Tiana ordered a couple of waiters to do it while she sent him to greet guests.
"Mm-hmm! Same one!" she laughed, anxious for him to try it, "Well, sit down, Naveen!" the man was too slow, and she shoved him in a chair.
"Whoa." for a delicate woman in her condition, Tiana was a strong lady,"Uh, darling?" he cautiously chuckled, needing to tell her now.
"Naveen," she turned inside their pantry, "do you want any wine?"
"No! No!"
Wine was why he was in this mess at all…Well, and Tiana's speech that she wasn't getting any younger…and that cute little chemise she had on…Achidanza, when she bought that, he'd never know!
"Well, what do you want?"
"Huh?" the side tracked man glanced.
"To drink, Naveen. We're about to eat?"
"Oh, uh, water—with ice—lots of ice!"
Tiana blinked, "Okay." And she quietly walked to the refrigerator, raising her raven brow as he shifted back toward the table, "I made you pumpkin pie."
"Oh, did you?"
It was too sweet, he'd bet.
"And I got fresh milk from the store yesterday you can drink with it."
"Thank you, honey. That was very nice." the guilt was about to eat him alive, "Let me help you with that, dear." he took the hard-working woman's soup bowls while she carried the buttered bread.
"I made the bread dough myself—garlic."
Faldi Faldonza. The two sat down. How should he do it? Tiana, let's go out to eat tonight. No, too forward. Or, how about, Tiana, you cook so much. You should be resting, getting off your feet. Let Prince Naveen make a few fried chicken dinners from now on, yes?
"No."
"But—"
"Naveen, you heard what the doctor said: I'm the picture of health. I can go on for months before needing to rest from cookin' in the restaurant or doin' housework. And I craved enough chicken my first trimester!"
"Spicy chicken…"
"What'd you say?" her eyes lifted, opposite at the table.
"I said one can never have too much chicken." he grinned a crooked smile.
Tiana's stare was plain, "Try your soup."
"Let's start with the bread!" he insisted; it crunched delightfully in his ears as he broke it between his palms.
Tiana smiled as Naveen slowly bit into the homemade bread, and his eyes glistened as crystal honey.
"It's good."
Tiana laughed, "You sound surprised!"
"I…"darn, "Your cooking still never ceases to amaze me, Tiana!" he let out a thrilled sigh, seeing her pleased dimples, and his heart soon sped, taking the spoon set beside the viper pepper cheddar soup, "So, Tiana," he stalled, allowing more ice to melt within his water's glass, "What all did you put in the chedazza?"
"Everything your mother said you love in chedazza: traditional Maldonian vipers, of course," which, earlier that year, during the spring, it was declared the sixteenth hottest chilli pepper in the world, "jalepeño peppers," which Naveen could see, diced, the rich emeralds garnishing the soup's golden finish, "salt, celery, onion, a little garlic, cayenne pepper, black pepper…"
Faldi Faldonza! Naveen gripped his glass, settling it closer in his reach.
"And butter!" his wife adorably nodded, her sheen ponytail, dotting her motion, "Oh," she remembered, "and I got a tip from your mama that you like it to have an extra kick with Maldonian hot sauce, but we're fresh out."
Whew!
"So I tried addin' a red bell pepper and regular tobacco sauce."
That was the last straw, "Tiana, I don't know how to tell you this, but—"
"Naveen?" her voice cooed as she heard his rising tone and pouted, "Why haven't you tried my soup yet?" the prince saw the tears billowing above her eyelids.
Faldi Faldonza! With a heavy heart, he took one for the team, including his little tadpole, and creamy cheddar lathered his silver spoon. Tiana bit her lip. Naveen lifted the spoon, raised it to his mouth then glanced over at his wife. She nodded, with folded hands along her chin. Naveen sighed and consumed the soup's first bite.
"Naveen!" Tiana frowned while he ceremoniously washed the hot sample down with ice water, "You were suppose to taste it plain before drinkin' any water! I needed to know what you think about it!" she snatched his only support away and put his spoon back in his hand, "Eat it slowly this time!"
"Slowly?" he squeaked, "But—" Tiana narrowed her orbs, and Naveen took a second bite. He savored the dish's flavor, "Mmm…"
"You like it?" she anticipated, Ray and Evangeline dancing for joy within her eyes.
"I love it, princess!" he relished in a third gulp.
Achidanza, did she use Mama Odie's club? It was the best dinner he'd had in weeks!
"Do you want more water, Naveen?"
"Water?" Naveen scoffed, "No, no, no." he startled the wife as he abruptly stood with a napkin entrenched at his belt, "We need to celebrate. Let's get the wine!"
"Naveen?" Tiana called, concerned, leaning in her seat to see him: locating a dancing rear inside the pantry, "What are you celebrating?" she couldn't drink, after all!
"Oh," the chipper prince shut the door with his foot, a wine bottle in hand, "the small things—like a wonderful meal with my wonderful wife!" Tiana furrowed her brows as he returned to the table with two glasses.
"Naveen?" the prince was humming a song in Maldonian, the rose shade wine approached half her glass, "I can't drink."
"Oh." he recalled then smiled, taking her glass, "More for me!" she gasped as the man resumed pouring, his own glass' measure.
Heavy lines embraced Tiana's features as the man continued his singing.
O*O*O*O*O
Her fingernails tapped against her favorite cookbook, closed, as happy whistles twirled their bouts in the bathroom. Naveen exited the bedroom's bath door a short time later, and Tiana rolled her eyes. The man's chiseled jaw was freshly shaved, scented with her favorite cologne, an earth-toned musk. It was to thank for her condition. But the prince wouldn't be so lucky tonight, sinking into bed with a small plate and fork, shirtless, excited to eat his mouth-watering pumpkin pie, topped with frost white whip cream. It was perfect, too—just as Naveen suspected.
"The pie's very good, princess." he complimented, dipping more pie into its cool pure topping.
She shifted her agitated lip, "Why is it the more I eat, the fatter I get, and the more you eat—" the wife was about to point on his fawn-brushed abdominals.
"Aah-ah-ah! Look but don't touch." he taunted, savoring his pie while catching her small wrist.
Tiana crossed her arms then opened back her book, "And you're not fat. You're belia, increzidio mata." he lowered his frame to briefly kiss her alluring cherry lips.
Her hand pressed between them, and he saw her sly brown orbs, "Look but don't touch." she grabbed the amused man's hand before he could pull away, "Naveen."
"Alright, alright, I'll share." he offered her a bite.
"No, that's not that I'm talkin' about." she twisted on the bed, sincere wonder over features, "Why were you afraid to eat my dinner tonight?" she ended her question with a suspiciously cocked brow and repetitively tapped her finger over her opposite folded elbow. He made a hesitant whine, "I want the truth, Naveen." the man choked on his breath as his wife removed her silk white robe, revealing a soft silk and chiffon chemise, ruby, cutting off right at her defined thighs, "Or all night, you'll look and never touch!" she knew she had him when a yelp escaped his throat.
"Tiana, whenever someone tries to tell you your food's too spicy or sweet, you start crying!"
She pouted, angrily for once, "That's not true!" she saw her husband's glare and tried to think back.
Hmm. Her baby-brain was making everything so fuzzy!
"Tiana!"
"Well, that doesn't give you the right to starve yourself 'round here!"
"I've lost ten pounds."
"Charlotte told me!"
"How does she know?!" the prince inhaled a breath, calming after settling in a cozy place of mind as he pinched his nose's bridge, "Tiana, I'm sorry, but I don't like seeing you cry so, yes—for the last five months, I've rinsed our grits, rice, and gumbos under the sink…whenever you weren't looking."
The princess' eyes softened, "Naveen, I'm sorry." she gave him a hug, cradling her head beneath his, "It's the hormones."
"I know, princess. It's a joyous problem to have!" she looked up, puzzled, "I mean because we are having a pobo."
"Hmm." Tiana warmly smiled, her heart filling bright, as she watched her round belly while resting inside Naveen's arms, "I think he's goin' to look alot like you."
"Eh, I'd prefer the baby be a girl that looks and acts more like you. I think Maldonia has seen enough Naveens: one was too many."
Tiana twisted her lip then reached her head high to kiss his chin, "Maldonia is proud of you, and so am I." Naveen kissed her, "Naveen?"
"Yes, princess?" he looked down at her resting dark lashes while nestled over her curly bun.
"How do you say 'baby boy' in Maldonian?"
"Boz babian."
Tiana opened her gaze against his chest, "And how do you say 'baby girl'?"
"Giliae babiana."
The woman's head sprang back, "For five months you've been calling the baby 'pobo'. Does pobo mean baby or baby prince?"
Naveen loudly chuckled, holding his side.
"Naveen.."
He sighed, wiping a tear from his eye, finally able to answer, "No, of course not, princess."
"Then, what does it mean?"
The man glanced down at her, holding her attention with his honey amber orbs, "Pobo is Maldonian—for tadpole." Tiana's confusion melted into a cold hard scowl, "Tomorrow, I'll make us fried chicken for breakfast, yes?" her expression was unchanged, "I love you, Tiana."
A/N: And now the explanation! I've been under the weather for the past week. I'm feeling more like myself tonight. But I swear to you, I'm working on typing chapter six for my current ongoing P.A.T.F story and should have it posted by the deadline stated or a couple of days after that. Until then, please review (new readers, followers, account owners, and anonymous). I want to know your thoughts (love it, hate it—I promise you won't hurt my feelings). Thank you for reading!
Here's the story's glossary:
Heaviana uz Fazio (Maldonian): Father in Heaven
Maldonian Chileze Perpe Zoopa Chedazza (Maldonian): Maldonian Chilli Pepper Cheddar Soup: a traditional dish from the country of Maldonia consisting the Maldonian Viper Pepper, the sixteenth hottest chili pepper in the world as of spring 1931 (*twenty-fifth hottest as of 2020) ;)
Belia (Maldonian): beautiful
Incredizio mata (Maldonian): incredible mother
Boz (Maldonian): boy
Giliae (Maldonian): girl
Babian(a) (Maldonian): baby , (a): feminine accent
Pobo (Maldonian): tadpole