AN: I really wanted to update this quickly but it will be a wait until Chapter Three. I'll also start to include some flashbacks in Chapter Three.

Chapter Two

What good came from a corpse? Wouldn't someone who appeared as a skeleton want to take the body as their own, use it to manipulate the laws and governances of the kingdom to their own benefit?

Those were the thoughts that Naveen had as he stared at the brutalized form of himself. It looked so lifelike and realistic, it was as if he were staring at himself having been murdered and he could see the mark of the other side upon his forehead. This would definitely lead to some problems with his family but perhaps this was better.

He waited as the guards found his body, watching from behind a bush as they identified the corpse. Was this a double of himself? Had he actually died and become a ghost…why was his ghost self a frog unless he really hadn't been cured of that curse from just Tiana's kiss. He sighed as he felt the ear go down his throat without him croaking. He had abandoned his family and repeated Tiana's past. Still, as long as their children were okay, he could stand being the bad guy.

He bowed his head before making his way slowly back to the bedroom he shared with his gorgeous and stunning wife, at least he could watch her from a distance even if getting closer to her wasn't an option.

…

…..

A frightened Tiana held onto her son's hand with both of hers. She was praying for some kind of a miracle to restore her little boy before he became too weak. She felt the tears in her eyes and tried to think of the happiness that they had shared as a family. All of a sudden, she could feel Nathaniel's heartbeat returning and the warmth of his body flowing through him. She heard him take a deep inhale as if he had just received CPR and her eyes focused on his body. On his warm ebony skin, the mark had vanished.

He had been released from the curse. Tiana blinked in shock as her son returned to normal.

"Mama," he whispered whilst shaking and Tiana pulled him into a tight embrace, she reached a hand out behind her for Aurelia who joined the hug. "Mama, I'm sorry," he said in a timid manner but Tiana shook her head. She kissed his forehead lovingly wondering what broke the curse.

"It's okay, baby" Tiana told him. "It's okay."

The nurse in the room rushed over to Nathaniel followed by the doctor. Both of them checked Nathaniel's body, looking in wonder at how the young boy who was nearly dead seemed to have no problems at all to do with his health. Tiana brushed his hair back as the doctors finished their tests and kissed his forehead.

"You want to explain to me what happened?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. She saw the small boy's fear and shook her head, "We can talk about that later," she said before seeing one of the servant's at the doorway. "He's going to be okay," she said and the servant paled.

"The prince is dead," he said and Tiana gestured for Aurelia to be at her brother's side. She blinked hard in disbelief and shook her head. How could that be? She froze as she looked to Nathaniel who was now healthy and away from the death that he would have found himself in only a few moments later. Naveen had given his life for the protection of his family.

"A life for a life," she whispered with tears in her eyes. "Is the queen perhaps available?" she asked and the servant nodded slowly. "Then, with all due respect could you please ask her if she could keep the children with her. I would like them to be safe and with family."

"I'll go inform her," the servant said and Tiana nodded in gratitude. She felt her heart start pounding in her chest but she didn't want to believe that the worst had happened. She reached out to Aurelia who was staring at her in horror.

"I'm sure it'll be okay," she told them, "Your father is stronger and more resourceful than he might appear."

…

…

Having seen the corpse, Tiana felt she knew the whole story of what had happened but she was attempting to figure out why this had happened. They had defeated Facilier all those years ago. He couldn't come back to life to take his revenge, that was impossible, besides she was the one who had led him to his doom and he hadn't come after her.

As she sat down on the bed, she looked around and then broke down into heavy tears. She had wanted a good life for her family, she had wanted to live her dreams. She hadn't imagined something like this would have happened. She curled up on the bed, pressing her face into the mattress. Once again, another male figure had left her. Was that part of her curse? She had lost her father and now she had lost her husband and both men had prioritized their children.

She felt herself shake and lose the strength that she had always built up inside her. Her chest felt like it was burning and she had been kicked multiple times. She would never get over this loss. He had been trying so hard for them and his parents and now it was his brother's role as future king.

"You always…I…I wish I could help you…with your tears," Naveen accidentally said from the window ledge. He jumped, hiding himself from her possible view. He didn't want to admit his amphibian status.

"Naveen?" Tiana asked as she sat up and looked around the room. "I don't…you're dead…"

"I only appear dead," he told her, "you should know that bodies can be…" he saw Tiana stand up, making an attempt to locate him from the sound of his voice. He had to hide again, "fabricated."

"How are you doing this?" Tiana asked as she went to the window and tried to look out of it. Naveen stared up at her, hoping she wouldn't see him in the shadows. She peered out of it and Naveen took the opportunity to jump to under a piece of furniture. "I thought you were dead."

"I'm as good as dead," he said and Tiana turned causing Naveen to put his froggy hand over his mouth. The chef stood, walking to the other window and Naveen struggled not to speak to her. He was never good at controlling his impulses, especially when it came to his love for her.

"Are you…a ghost?" she asked as she sat down again on the bed. She bowed her head, feeling the silence surrounding her. She had to hope that somehow he was a ghost, a spirit that had some presence here. If she could hear his voice that would be comfort enough but he wasn't telling her the truth. "Whatever form you're in, please talk to me?" she asked and he continued to cover his mouth.

Tia listened to the silence, every moment of it that she endured was more painful than the previous and she felt herself break down again. She had allowed herself to trust in someone else and fall in love and they had been ripped from her. She tried to control her breathing, her body hurt from him not being there.

"Any form?" he asked and Tiana sat up immediately, wrapping the sheets around her as she heard that. She nodded quickly.

"I don't want to show you my form," he continued and Tia bowed her head. She breathed slowly. Why did he think that she would care so much? What she cared about was him being alive.

"I love you," she whispered to him. "I understand that whatever happened, you did it for our son. You did it to save him. I just…any form would be better than having lost you at least if you're still alive there's hope. I don't think I could live without you."

"Words like that aren't ones that I believe. You are the strongest woman I've ever met. I doubt that me being gone would break you so much," he told her and Tiana threw a pillow on the floor and pushed her back flat against the wall. She didn't love easily but she loved him unconditionally.

Naveen jumped into the shadows on the window again before looking around. He had to trust in her this time and believe that she would be happier to know the truth about the transformation. He could see her with her arms wrapped around her knees and her head pressed down. He could take the chance of a get away but he didn't want to hurt her. He loved her. He just had to believe she would take care of him in this form.

He jumped onto the bed beside her and placed a hand on her knee. Feeling something touching her, Tiana blinked before looking at the frog that she had memorized so well. She tried to breathe steadily but was choking back her tears. She carefully slid a hand under his body and set him on her knee so they could look at one another. "Hey, handsome," she said as she gently let her finger run across his back.

"I am sorry that I cannot be with you any longer," he apologized and she could see that loss of hope in his eyes. She tried hard not to feel hurt by that and gently took him so that he was in her hand. She didn't want him to hop off.

"You better settle down because I'm not going to let you leave without a fight. It's not just your body that's important to me. It's who you are, your words, your character. You think a kiss is enough to restore this?" she asked before gently pressing her lips to his. Nothing happened. This time she didn't even turn into a frog, nothing happened.

"I don't know if there is anything that can break the curse," Naveen admitted and Tiana stood, still holding him safely in her hand. She remembered when she had been this way with him. She remembered how scared and unsafe she felt.

She sighed as she took him to the window, "You should do what you feel is right for you," she said as he looked at her with large eyes. "I want to remind you that I love you and I wish you could stay here but it's your choice. I'm not going to take away your choice of where you want to be," she said and Naveen slowly nodded.

He looked at Tiana, hoping that she actually meant her words and she watched him hop along to the bed and settle down onto the pillow. She smiled as she sobbed happily and went over to join him. She picked up a satin handkerchief as she did so. She sat next to him and tucked the handkerchief around him hoping that he wouldn't feel cold during the night.

"There, that ought to feel a little better," she said nervously as she watched him. "I love you, Naveen," she whispered and he looked at her from where he lay.

"I love you too," he replied and Tiana watched him feeling the pain in her heart but it was the pain for him, that he had to go through this again. "The children, don't tell them about me."

Tia paused, hesitant in agreeing to anything. The only other explanation she could give to them would be that their father had really died. She nodded to him though as she settled down so that her cheek was to the pillow and she could watch him as she tried to sleep. "I won't," she tried to reassure him, worried that when she was to wake up, he'd be gone.

End of Chapter Two

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