Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I claim to own any characters or concepts related to The Princess and the Frog. This is a nonprofit work of fanfiction.
This piece is set during the epilogue, when Tiana and Naveen (and perhaps a few others) go about renovating the old mill.
Soft Hands
"You know, I must say," Naveen said, "I didn't realize labor was so laborious. Or so painful."
Tiana rolled her eyes heavenward.
She cradled his hand in her lap, broad palm turned face up, long fingers uncurled, his arm heavy on her thigh. "Try to stay still," she said. "This might hurt some."
"I shall endure," he said, so noble, so brave, "with such dignity as aa-amaatarul, what is this--" He snatched his hand back; he pressed it to his chest.
Tiana turned the tweezers on him. "Stop squirming," she said. "I can't dig these splinters out if you keep wriggling around."
"Pardon," said Naveen, "but I do not squirm. I don't wriggle, either, thank you."
"Well, whatever it is you were just doing?" She poked his shoulder. "Don't do it. Now give me your hand."
"Torturer," he said, "I won't forget your cruelty," but he held his hand out to her.
She bent over his fingers, picking gingerly at his palm. His fingers twitched, curling, then straightening. Tiana bit down on her smile.
She drew a splinter out of the thick pad at the base of his thumb. "Whatever happened to those gloves I gave you?"
"Those horrible things?" said Naveen. He made a face; his tongue flashed between his teeth. "They were too tight and they made my hands all sweaty."
"And that was worse than this?" Tiana shook his wrist.
"Yes, all right, I've learned my lesson, Madam Fusspants," he said. "There's no need to go over it again. I bow to your wisdom, next time I will remember to wear the horrid gloves, et cetera. Does that satisfy you?"
"Good enough for now," she said. "Your other hand, please, Mister Fusspants."
"O-ho," he said, "that was clever. Because we're married. Be gentle," he said, as he switched hands, "this is all I ask."
Tiana stroked his palm, so much wider, so much heavier than her own, the skin so smooth.
"I'll do my best," she said.
This story was originally posted at livejournal on 12/13/2009.