Disclaimers. Disclaimers everywhere.

/

Naveen rubbed his eyes as he waited for the coffee to brew. It was a hard night, he kept tossing and turning, sleeping for a few minutes only to wake up again. He even tried to read the most boring book he owned but instead he got invested in it and put it on his calendar to go buy the rest of the series today.

"Ugh," He took the mug from under the spout of the coffee machine, only to realize that it was not done as it trickled at least a tablespoons worth of French Roast on the counter. "Aw," He groaned putting down his coffee cup and going to find a paper towel.

Tiana walked, fully dressed and ready for the day. Hearing rummaging she looked over the counter that held the coffee maker and microwave.

"Naveen?"

"Ow!" Naveen went to lift his head and slammed the back of it on the cabinet doors edge.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Tiana closed the drawers and the rest of the cabinets as Naveen stood up rubbing the back of his head.

"Yeah, uh. Where are the paper towels?"

"Right here." She put her hand on the roll of paper towels on the wall right next to the refrigerator.

"Oh," He reached for them getting close to Tiana, who awkwardly stumbled back in her heels.

"So," She went to the cabinet above her head and took out a coffee mug. "You're up early, or-" She looked at her watch. It read 7:45am. "Late?"

Naveen laughed to himself. He threw away the paper towels then took his coffee cup from off the edge of the counter.

"Tiana, no one's here." He shrugged at the empty kitchen as he leaned on the island counter. "You can drop the act." He sipped his coffee, locking eyes with her.

Tiana turned around with her head bowed as she started the coffee machine again.

"Act," She repeated to herself, a small smile playing on her lips. "Very well," She licked her bottom lip then turned back around, ready to face him. "Okay, act is dropped. Now what?" She folded her fingers and let them hang in front of her.

Naveen tilted his head as he swallowed a gulp of coffee.

"Well," He set his cup down. "Who knows. Apparently I have been blind in this marriage, especially when it comes to you, so whatever comes to mind, love." He raised an eyebrow. Tiana shook her head then crossed her arms.

"No," She smirked as she made eye contact with him.

"No?" He wrinkled his eyebrows.

"Naveen," She sighed as she took her coffee mug from the machine then turned it off. "You know almost everything about me, what more could you learn?"

"A lot," He suggested as he saw a scar on the side of her neck as she turned her head to the side.

"Like what?" She laughed as she turned around, covering up the side of her neck.

"Like what happened to your neck," He had a deadpan look.

Tiana instantly became uncomfortable. She touched the side of her neck then took it away as if it burned her.

"I'm going out," She took her coffee mug from the counter. "I'll meet you at therapy." She went to the dining room and got her coat.

"I won't be there today, I have too much to do." Naveen called after her grabbing his coffee cup.

"I'm still going. One of us might as well be there." Tiana did not mean for it to come out that way, but she was caught off guard.

"Fine with me," Naveen took a sip of his coffee.

Tiana had nothing more to say. So she put on her coat, took her keys from the bowl and went out the door to the cool bright day.

Naveen watched as she left. She was not telling him something and it was bothering him. Hearing his phone ring, Naveen pushed himself of the island counter and went to the dining room table.

"Hello?"

"Im on her tail, sir."

"Good, dont lose her." He hung up then took another sip of coffee.

/

"So, what do you think?"

"Well," Tiana looked at the living room space and the big window next to her. "Don't you think that it's a little, big?" She questioned as she looked back at her retail agent that was also her cousin.

"Yes. Yes it is." He nodded proudly. "It's so you can entertain and plan for your upcoming event plannings." He smiled.

"Ray," She gave him a small smile and shrugged. "Its too much, remember small, I've already lived a life that involved, this," She gestured to the area surrounding them.

"Small and cozy, I know, I know," He pulled her in for a hug. "I just want you to be taken care of as best as possible. Especially with all that's going on." He kissed the top of her head. Tiana stayed there for a moment as she felt tears begin to form. Ray heard his cousin sniff and gave her another tight squeeze before letting her go. "Here." He handed her a handkerchief.

"Thank you," She sniffed again as she took it from him and wiped her eyes.

"So, how are you?" He asked as they began to exit the building.

"Uh," She breathed out from her chest. "I'm uh, I'm trying. I'm really trying." She nodded as she looked at her hands. They made it to the elevator and got in to which he pressed down.

"Is he still-"

"Giving me hell? Yes, yes he is." She sighed as she remembered their conversation this morning.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with me? Or Charlotte, what about Charlotte? Im sure she wouldn't mind." He insisted.

"No," Tiana gave an uneasy smile. "I couldn't do that to you guys."

"But Tia, we don't mind." He held the elevator door open for her. "You know we don't."

"I would mind Ray, I wouldn't want to put you guys out."

The two walked out the building and onto the sidewalk to which Tiana put her hood up.

"You wouldn't be putting us out." Ray defended.

"Yes. I would." Tiana insisted. "I would stop your lives just so you can take care of me and make sure that I am not hurting or making sure that I'm eating-"

"Are you not eating?" Ray interrupted.

"Of course I am, it's my comfort. Speaking of which, I'm hungry now. Where are we supposed to meet Charlotte for brunch?"

"Rozell Cafe," He answered.

"Oh good, I love their crepes." Tiana nodded in approvement.

"Uh uh," Ray shook his head as the two made a left. "No changing the subject. I'm going to convince you that moving out of that house will be good for you."

"Only to be put back into someone else's care. I don't think so," She opened the door to the restaurant and held it open for Ray.

"Charlotte, please convince my cousin to move out that house and into somewhere else." Ray took off his coat and sat down across from Charlotte while Tiana took off her coat and sat next to her.

"Oh you found an apartment?" Charlotte asked turning slightly to her friend.

"No, not yet. I want something comfortable and small."

"Which you will never find if you keep living in a large and cold mansion. You're going to associate your life with all of the buildings and expect what you're used to now." Ray explained.

"I just turned down the one you showed me today,"

"Right and I suspect that's because you don't like the way the kitchen looks."

"Well, yes." Tiana nodded after thinking about it for a moment.

"And that's because the kitchen doesn't look like the one you cook in now." He further added.

"No," Tiana hesitated.

"Ah, yes. I see what you mean now Ray." Charlotte interjected.

"Thank you," Ray sat back in his chair, allowing Charlotte to take over.

"You're supposed to be my best friend." Tiana whined.

"I know, but Tia." Charlotte turned to her friend. "You could look all your life trying to find the perfect small and comfortable apartment but deep down you will always compare it to your life now."

"I wont, I wont try to at least." Tiana took a deep breath.

The mood silenced and the trio thought about Tiana's situation.

"Charlotte," Ray said after a while. "Don't you have something for Tia?" He suggested.

"Ray, now is not the-"

"What?" Tiana asked.

"She has to know,"

"Okay," Charlotte sighed as she went into her purse. "Now Tia-"

"Hi-oh my gosh Princess Tiana? Im such a big f-"

"Hi honey, milk all around and three strawberry crepes thank you." Ray answered before she could get the rest of her greeting out.

"Oh uh. Okay," She nodded with a smile then left.

"Charlotte," Ray nodded at her to continue. Charlotte cleared her throat then laid the envelope on the table.

"Now, we don't know if this is for certain-"

"Yes we do," Ray interrupted.

"Just remember, we're here with you." Charlotte touched her shoulder in a comforting manner.

Tiana knitted her eyebrows at her then opened the envelope. At first she was not sure what she was seeing than it became clear to her.

"I see," Tiana nodded as she put the pictures back in.

"Tia, we're so sorry." Charlotte squeezed her friends shoulder.

"We're really sorry." Ray touched her hand.

"Yeah," Tiana nodded as she swallowed thickly. "Me too," She began to gather her things plus the envelope. "Please excuse me." She quickly got up and walked out the door with her head ducked.

"Um, do you want me to take the milk and crepe off the bill?" The waitress asked as she moved out the way of the Princess.

"No, give it here." Ray gestured to her to put it in front of him.

"Poor Tia, I hope that she'll be okay." Charlotte said sadly as she watched her friend walk down the sidewalk.

"She will be, once this is all over. She will." Ray said with a nod.

/

HI HI. I AM SO SORRY, THE SITE WOULD NOT LOAD. Thank you so much to those who reviewed and favorited. Kisses all around.