A/N: Thanks for the reviews and giving this story a chance. And my apologies if it seems a bit rushed; it's just that this story is a lot shorter than my normal stories so I guess the pace is somewhat faster? And I know a lot of you dislike arrogant/sex-havin'/douchebag/self-loving Prince Naveen of Maldonia. I actually LOVE him this way, but then again I love my men arrogant. Just kidding! I am having fun writing Naveen this way. I mean, he isn't married or tied down to anyone! Well, his heart is. But he is overall a fun-loving guy.

I will post 'A Son For A King II' after this story is over and I want it to be just as great as the first one! I love that story so much! I felt more freedom while I wrote it, if that makes any sense? And the characters (outside of TiaNaveen) are so close to my heart. All the characters I write in my stories are actual people in my life (names and all) or people who were in my life so whenever you say you like them I'm like 'me too' and when you hate them I'm like 'so did I'. Anyway, on with this chapter!

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The Prince And The Waitress

Music Overnight

The next couple of weeks ent by incredibly quick for Tiana as she really had no use to working for an old sugarmill that no longer belonged in her dreams. The Fenners told her a gentleman purchased it, but she have yet seen this man or anyone coming to fix up the building. Which convinced her to believe that the realtors never intended on doing any sort of business with her in the first place.

She also lost her job at Cals when he finally cut her off. She didn't even want to think of that awful night before her shift ended. He was never a fair payer and would sometimes take her tips for his own greed. On a lighter note, her other boss at the elite jazzclub 'Jeune et Riche' was pleased when she asked for more hours so he ended up hiring her as a full-time waitress working five nights a week;getting paid double the amount she made at Cals plus tips!

Charles has been visiting her a lot lately and as much as she tried to get closer to him she just couldn't connect with him. Working with him in Duke's was agonizing enough. And her mother wasn't helping by pressuring her to accept his proposal if he ever asked again. Then with every other vacant building in New Orleans being too small, too expensive or being discriminated against her being coloured and a woman, she was beginning to see her future with Charles becoming more and more vivid.

Just to not hear her mother's nagging she agreed to go out with Charles to an upscale coloured restaurant just south of the French Quarter. The environment was very quiet, romantic. The last thing she was feeling at the moment.

Charles took her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. "You sure look pretty in that dress this evening, Tiana."

She looked down at the turquoise dress and disagree. It felt more like her dress she would wear when she worked at Cals and the v-line showing off her cleavage didn't help either since his eyes were all over them. She regretted her mother picking it out for her to wear. "Thank you, Charles." Tiana smiled, forcefully.

"You know I'm leaving for Morehouse at the end of June." Charles said, looking as serious as he could.

"I know." She answered, looking pass him while daydreaming of her restaurant looking somewhat like this one. Filled with people dressed up in their best attire, elegance all round and hungry customers getting served only the best because it came from her. All the food from her menu would be from her father's special recipe book. She smiled at the thought.

"So what do you say?" He asked.

"Yes." Tiana answered, not knowing what the question was.

"Do you really mean it, Tiana?" Charles beamed.

She turned to look at him. "Wait—what?"

Charles got up from his chair and pulled Tiana into a loving hug. "I promise that we'll be married once I graduate."

Tiana pulled from the hug. "But I didn't accept your-

He pulled her into a kiss that was clearly not appealing for her. So she pushed him back. "Charles, stop it!"

Applause could be heard from behind them.

She frowned and looked around at everyone gawking their direction.

"We will marry after I graduate from Morehouse!" He announced.

Tiana looked over at a very pleased Charles. As much as she wanted to tell him that her acceptance to his proposal was a mistake, she couldn't humiliate the man in front of the crowd. She'd let him down after the date is over.

"And after my studies are over in Morehouse I was thinking of continuing my education at Howard University."

Tiana raised her eyebrows while giving him a fake smile. "That's wonderful, Charles."

He took her hand and kissed it. "It maybe some years, but as long as I have you to go home to it'll be all worth it."

She pulled her hand away and sighed.

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While walking down the sidewalks, Tiana felt as if her right to say no was stolen. She didn't mean for her answer to come out as a 'yes' to Charles marriage proposal. Her mind was preoccupied with her own dreams.

"Once I get a new home that's away from here we will be ready for a marriage." Charles said.

"Actually, about that-

"And you don't need to go along with that silly little dream of yours." He said.

"What?" She frowned.

"You'll be much too busy taking care of the house and children. Where a woman belongs." He smiled. "I'd like for us to immediately begin a family." He took her hand to his. "You know that I am doing very well with my grandfather leaving me the entire farm and all that he's saved over the years." He laughed a little. "Old man knew how to make a profit."

Tiana didn't say anything else to the man after hearing him naysay on her dreams and his comments on where women should be. He's always done it since they've known each other.

"You know I have my own dreams, Charles." Tiana said. "I want to run my own restaurant-

"You will be the wife of a great medical doctor in several more years, Tiana. The only place you'll be running is the kitchen in our home." He spat.

Tiana stopped on her tracks, very offended by his statement. "Now, you listen to me-

He pulled her in his arms. "Feisty!" And pressed his lips onto hers, this time deepening it with passion and force.

Tiana's eyes widen at his sudden move. Growing angry, she put her hands on his hard chest and pushed him away from her. "Charles!"

"Why not, Tiana? We are engaged and..." He took her hand and kissed it. "...I've been dying to feel those soft beautiful lips of yours on mine again."

Tiana stepped back. "Please Charles...get a hold of yourself." She turned away, finding his aggressive behavior extremely annoying. "You can't just touch me any kind of way."

He chuckled. "You're right." He walked over and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I'll tell you what, if you promise to give me just one more kiss I will never ask for another until after the wedding."

She rolled her eyes before facing him. "Look Charles, there's something that I gotta tell you-

"You know what? I think we should marry right before I leave for college. That way you could move into my grandfather's house and take care of it until I return for the holidays or weekends." He caressed her face. "Call it practice for playing house."

Tiana turned her head away from him. "I'm trying to tell you something..."

He leaned forward to kiss her cheek, but stopped when he then heard a trumpet playing. He then looked over at who was causing such attention and saw hefty size man blowing the instrument and to his disappointment Prince Naveen jamming alongside with his ukulele. "This clown."

Tiana looked over to also see Naveen with arrogance in his face and rolled her eyes, but noticed a small crowd surrounded the duo.

"Foolish men." Charles spat.

"They're just enjoying themselves. And the crowd seems to like them." Tiana defended the two, while wishing this day was over.

Charles ignored her comment. "This is why I'm moving away from this city. Too much noise and ignorance. Once we marry…"

Tiana watched as Naveen danced and couldn't help but to be mesmerized. She's always had two left feet and secretly dreamed of moving the way the prince was. She also had to admit that he looked really handsome playing his ukulele while dancing in perfect rhythm.

Charles followed Tiana's gaze and grew jealous. So he quickly snatched her hand. "Come on. I'm taking you home now!"

Tiana frowned and yanked her hand away from him. "Now you hold on there! I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"You're my finacee and you will leave with me." He demanded, grabbing her hand.

"Let go of me!" She pulled away, breathing heavily. "And you call yourself a gentleman?"

"I will act like a gentleman when you start acting like a lady." He challenged.

"I'm walking home. Alone!" Tiana started walking away.

"Oh no you will not!" Charles grabbed her hand again. His jaws tightened as he was slowly losing patience with his 'fiancee'. "You will not defy me on anything. Do you hear me!" He threatened.

Tiana felt his hand grip harder around her hand. "Let go of my hand! You're hurting me."

He effortless pulled her back in his arms. "You listen to me now." His tone lower. "After what you just pulled I think we should get married much soon than my departure. I have to show you where you stand in this relationship."

"Take your hands off of me!" She spat.

"You're my finacee-

Tiana frowned. "I'm not your finacee!" She pulled herself from his hold before quickly making her way over to the crowd.

"Tiana!" Charles called out. "Come back here!"

"Achidonza!" Naveen cheered as the crowed applaud.

"Man we were slammin'!"

"Yes we were, Louis!" Naveen and the man gave each other a five.

Louis then wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Do you wanna jam some more?"

"Why not?" Naveen said and noticed Tiana standing in the crowd, who looked to be hiding from someone. He looked pass the crowd to see Charles searching around. In a way of helping her, Naveen strummed the instrument and the crowd went wild. Startling Tiana a little.

Naveen looked her way and grinned, while showing off his talented musical skills.

Despite hiding from Charles Tiana felt her cheeks flush at the prince's gesture. Then mentally kicked herself for doing so.

He smirked at her innocence and slid over, taking his free hand to hers.

She gave him a puzzled look. "What are you doing?"

"Trust me." Naveen said.

"I'm afraid to-ah!"

He made her do a spin before pulling her back on his front, making Tiana's breathing tightened. With his arms around her while playing the instrument, her heart raced. Never was she this close to a man and felt even more embarrassed that so many people were watching them. 'I can't believe he did that.' She thought felling both annoyance and nervous.

Naveen felt that she was perfect in his arms and was pleased that she didn't storm off by his move. 'I knew that it would be a matter of time before she couldn't resist me.' He thought with a cocky grin.

Charles finally spotted Tiana and grew infuriated when he saw her in the arms of that prince.

"Take your hands off my finacee!" He cut through the crowd to get to them.

Naveen stopped playing and gave Tiana a puzzled look. "I thought you weren't engaged?"

"I'm not!" Tiana said.

"Oh yes you are!" Charles grabbed her by the wrist and effortless yanked her over to him. "You stay away from my girl!"

"I am not your girl, Charles!" Tiana tried getting out of his arms.

Naveen didn't like the way the muscular man was possessively holding Tiana and grew protective of her. "You heard her, she isn't your girl. Now let her go." He warned.

Charles smirked and pushed Tiana from his arms. "Make me." He stepped in front of the prince.

Naveen stared the man right in the eyes and saw sheer hate for him in them. "You just let her go after telling me to make you do so?" He didn't find the man intimidating at all. "So why are you in my face? Trying to find better ways of improving yours?"

Tiana watched the two men face to face. One tensed while the other is relaxed. She mentally prayed for Naveen 'Please don't let this poor prince get killed tonight.'

"You think you're funny, pretty boy!" Charles pushed Naveen back before stepping toward him.

Naveen only chuckled. "I don't ever find myself pretty. Handsomely gorgeous, yes. But never pretty. Leave that for the women" He flashed Tiana his pearly white teeth.

She shook her head.

Charles clenched his fists. "Don't you ever look at my fiancee do you hear me? She belongs to me, she's mine!"

"I'm not you're fiancee and and I don't belong to anyone!" Tiana spat.

"I guess the girl told you." Naveen smirked.

Charles swung his fist, missing Naveen who only laughed.

"Is that all you can throw at me?" He asked, growing even ore cockier. "My mother can throw a better hook than that!"

Charles tried again, but to his surprise Naveen grabbed his fist it and twisted it in his back. "Ahhhh!"

The crowd said their 'ooohs'

Naveen shook his head at the defeated man. "You need to fire your boxing coach." And shoved him off.

Full of shame, Charles decided to end the fight. "The best man walks away from a fight."

"Right, the same best man who just lost to a pretty boy..." He looked at his fingers. "...handsomely gorgeous pretty boy."

Charles went up to Tiana. "Come on."

"I'm not leaving anywhere with you." Tiana said.

"Tiana you accepted my proposal so that means-

"I am not engaged to you!" She said.

"But you accepted my proposal."

"By accident! I never want to marry you! Why can't you get that through your head?" She snapped.

Charles frowned and clenched his fists. "You will regret refusing me." And then gave Naveen a hateful glare before walking away.

Tiana sighed in relief.

"Eh. You didn't need that chump." Naveen went by her side.

Without responding to the prince, she walked away with a mixture of anger and guilt. Angry that Charles went as far as he did, but wish she could've spoken to him about the mistake instead of snapping on him about it in front of the crowd. Charles was a little on the obsessed side but he meant well. At least to her he did.

Naveen exchanged handshakes with Louis before quickly following Tiana. "Hey, Tiana!"

She kept walking as he caught up with her.

"You shouldn't be walking alone at this hour." He walked alongside her.

"It's only eight-thirty and I'm a big girl. I can handle myself." She said.

"I wouldn't have known with the way Charles manhandled you." Naveen pointed out.

"He was simply a concerned friend." Tiana tried defending him, despite being angry with him.

"Right. Yanking a woman as if she's a rag doll is being a concerned friend." Naveen said with sarcasm.

"Look, I thank you for 'saving me', but I can fight my own battles." She said. "I gotta get home and I don't need you escorting me nowhere."

"It's anywhere-

She rolled her eyes. "Why are you following me? Why aren't you following Lottie?"

"She's having a pink night..." Naveen said. "Or whatever that meant." He mumbled.

Tiana shook her head. "I forgot that was today. Well get used to it. She has them once or twice a week. Depends on how she feels." She hopped on the streetcar and put a coin in the basket, he followed and did the same without noticing.

"She also like to have pink out days."

Naveen frowned. "What the heck is pick out days?"

"Pink out days." Tiana corrected.

The two spoke more on Charlotte, well Tiana was. Naveen just listened. He didn't mind Tiana speaking on Charlotte. Her voice was soothing and seductive which was comforting. The way her eyes twinkled when she brought up memories of the two of them as children was refreshing. He never known a friendship so close. He noticed the same twinkle in Charlotte's eyes whenever she spoke of Tiana.

"Well, here's my stop." Tiana said.

Naveen followed her off the vehicle, but saw that the neighborhood looked a lot different than Charlotte's. "You, live around here?"

Tiana raised an eyebrow. "Yes, but why did you follow me all the way home?"

He just realized what he did and slapped himself on the forehead. "Faldi faldonza." 'Idiot! Why did you follow her home?' He thought.

"And that was the last streetcar to come here for the night." Tiana shook her head.

"Where am I going to stay at until morning." He asked outloud.

She closed her eyes and cursed herself. 'I can't just leave him out here...' She looked back at Naveen who was looking around as if nothing was wrong.

"Do you mind if I stay the night?" He asked.

She rolled her eyes. Her mother left to take care of her aunt for the night so she couldn't just lie to him.

'My mama is gone for the night, and he would be gone by the time she gets in.' She looked back at him once more. 'It's only one night'. She told herself. "You could stay with me for the night."

His eyes brightened. "Really? You'd let me-

"Shh!" She shushed him and took his hand before quickly making their way into the home. "Don't want the nosy neighbors to hear you." She said, locking the door.

He gave her a confused look. "What nosy neighbors?"

Tiana decided not to answer his question and instead said, "You can stay in my room for the night."

"Where would you be sleeping?" He asked.

"In my mother's room." She answered. "Now I don't want you messing with any of my stuff-

"Why would I touch your things? I'm rich. I don't steal." Naveen mumbled.

"And please don't drool on my pillow." She added.

"I don't drool." He said.

"And try not to snore…I know you can't help it because you're asleep-

"I don't snore." He was beginning to regret staying the night here. She was as worse as his father with the rules.

Tiana nodded. "Good and don't try anything funny while I'm asleep!" She pointed at him. "I might be a small woman, but I do have a heavy hand."

Naveen chuckled at her warning. "Very cute."

"There isn't anything cute about my warning. I know what you're capable of."

"Hmm." He rested his back on the wall. "I'd like to know what I am capable of?"

"Being a philanderer." She crossed her arms.

Naveen smirked, walking her way. "Is that all? Well let me give you the pleasure in telling you that I am not a philanderer. I'm a lover."

He stopped a few inches from her face, gazing right into her brown eyes.

Tiana challenged his gaze and saw cockiness, overconfidence and lust? She quickly blinked her eyes. No, not lust. Determination.

Naveen could stare into her eyes all night if he wanted to. Unlike her, he was sure of what he saw in her eyes and they were one word. Dull...and beautiful. Okay, two words. He gave her a cocky grin as he noticed a hint of feisty in them. Three words. Dull, beautiful and feisty.

"What are you smiling about?" She asked.

He stepped back. "If I told you you would kick me out of this house."

"Try me." She challenged.

Naveen was growing a little annoyed at her attitude towards him. "You know, that Charles fellow manhandled you and act as if were my fault."

"What?" She frowned.

"I defended your honour when he was trying to take it away from you. In front of all those people!" He explained.

"You weren't doing anything but annoying him with your arrogance!"

"I would much rather be arrogant than an abusive madman."

Tiana sighed, not wanting to fight. "Let's drop the subject."

"Fine." He agreed.

An awkward silence filled the room.

He looked back over at her and couldn't help but to find her cute. The way her eyebrows furrowed when she was giving him her rules, the way her lips would quiver when they shared their little disagreement and the way that dress hugged her body, despite the bright turquoise colour.

"So…" He broke the silence. "Where is your room?"

"Over here." She opened the door to her room and gestured him in.

Naveen looked around the small room and nodded. "Very feminine, but expected."

She rolled her eyes.

He picked up a cooking magazine, "You have a nice looking room."

"Thanks, I guess?" She said, leaving the room, closing the door behind her. But then she just remembered something and swiftly opened the door. "Try not to open the window too wide…" She stopped when she saw Naveen taking off his shirt and his muscular back tugging at each movement.

Her breath tightened, mesmerized at what she was seeing.

He turned and her eyes were locked on his chest and abdomen. His body was perfection.

"Enjoying the view?" Naveen teased. He loved giving a pretty girl a show.

She shook her head. "I meant to…um, I-

"It's alright. I don't mind you staring." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Try to resist me...I dare you."

She rolled her eyes again at his cockiness. "Just don't open the window too widely." She said, closing the door and quickly making her way to her mother's room.

Once she closed the door she rested her back against it and really wanted to kick herself for letting Naveen see her staring at him as if he were a piece of meat. She's never stared at another man before so why was he so special?

'But he did look good shirtless. He also looked good with a shirt on...but those muscles...'

"Ugh." She groaned and fell onto her mother's bed. "Get a hold of yourself, Tiana. He will be gone first thing in the morning, and we'll pretend that this little mistake never happened." She then closed her eyes and the vision of a shirtless Naveen came to mind. She groaned in annoyance at herself.

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