The Prince And The Waitress

Some Things Come In Visions Pt. 2

A month later…

"Thank you." Charles paid the paperboy after receiving the newspaper feeling good about himself until he saw in big bold words ROYALTY IN THE CRESCENT CITY. He rolled his eyes while opening the page to see a photo of the king, queen and a very young prince all waving at what looked like a crowd.

"How did I not know about this sooner?" He asked himself, and heard a car pulling up not too far from where he saw standing.

Naveen, with Tiana on the passenger side parked his car near Duke's. After helping Tiana out of the car, the two held hands walking inside the diner.

Curious as to why Tiana wasn't in her waitress attire Charles slowly followed them.

"So ya finally resigning." Stanley said, hugging Tiana. "I'm gonna miss ya, kid."

"Oh don't make it harder than it already is." Tiana said, growing a little teary eyed.

"Ya gettin' married to a prince. It can't be that hard." He laughed.

"I was just telling her this." Naveen joked with an arrogant but kind grin.

Stanley then turned his soft expression to a stern one as he looked over at the prince. "Tiana is like a daughter to me so you better take care of her. She's a good girl." He pointed over to him.

"No worries. She'll be happy be with me." Naveen said with confidence as his fiancée returned in his arms.

"I'm unfortunately stuck with him." Tiana joked, looking up at him.

Charles huffed before marching into the diner.

Stanley slapped the man on his back. "Tiana is resigning today."

"Ah." He said, leaving the room to wash his hands.

Naveen could feel Tiana tense a little and what ready to leave a soon as he saw the man. "Are you ready to leave?" He softly asked his fiancée.

"Yeah." Tiana nodded as she remembered where she had to be next. "Mama wants me to try on the dress."

"Again?" Naveen frowned. "But I thought she was done sewing it."

"She thinks I lost weight and wants to see if she should make some adjustments." They started out the door. "See ya Stanley!"

"Good luck kid! Keep her happy Naveen!" He said and sighed just as Charles walked back in. "I'm gonna miss that girl."

"She'll be back." Charles stated, feeling bitter.

"That huge rock says otherwise." Stanley laughed. "And not to mention the rave on her new in-laws! This city will soon hold a royal wedding. Tiana's even invited me and Florence to the ceremony!"

Charles began laughing hysterically.

Stanley raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

"You're going that travesty of a wedding! Naveen is obviously using her for image and she's falling right for it."

Stanley knew that the man was jealous and his comments were quite childish. "They're in love, Charles. Move on with ya life boy! Ya young! Maybe you'll find a nice girl in Atlanta when you're on ya break from ya college."

"There won't be any women as worthy as Tiana." Charles grew annoyed.

"There are worthy enough women to slave away for ya. Luckily for me I found a woman who gladly wanted to take care of my house." Bragged the man.

"Good for you?" Charles said with sarcasm

"Sometimes things don't work out the way you want them to, Charles. And a lot of girls these days want to go to school, even if they can't afford it. That nice girl Dolores was just looking for you this morning."

"She can't cook worth a nickel." The man added.

Stanley shrugged. "You've got enough money to pay for her to take some cooking lessons! By the time you come back for the holidays she'll have a thanksgiving feast ready! And she isn't bad looking."

"She doesn't look as good as Tiana." Charles said.

"Naveen has Tiana." Stanley grew defensive.

Charles waved his hand. "You know what, Stanley? I quit."

"What? You can't just quit!" He watched as the man opened the door. "Hey, where are ya going?"

"Away from here." Charles was furious that everyone was okay with Tiana's relationship with Naveen. He also didn't see what was so special about Naveen? He's just a spoiled philandering prince who will use his girl as if she were dirt. "Damn prince." He groaned. All the work he's put with trying to get Tiana was nothing but a huge failure at the end and there was nothing he could do but watch her marry away to this foreign man.

"Good morning Charles!" Greeted a gentleman was walking with his wife.

Charles didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment, but he also didn't want to come off as rude, so with a fake welcoming grin, he says. "Good morning Thomas, Betsy."

"Did you just see Tiana and that prince?" Betsy beamed. "I am happy for them, especially Tiana. Who would've guessed that she'd be the one engaged to be married, and to a prince! She was always such a stick-in-the-mud." She remembered.

"As you can see Betsy is going nuts over this royal wedding a week from today." Thomas chuckled.

"They're getting married a week from today?" Charles asked, surprised.

"It's been all over the paper for the past month. Where have you been?" said Thomas.

"Busy I guess." He didn't bother looking at the paper after seeing an article on Naveen and Tiana's engagement.

Thomas nodded his head. "Well they are! Do you still work at that auction place?"

"No, but I sell a lot of my paintings there. Why?" asked the muscular man.

"Her new in-laws are expected at the audition this afternoon." Thomas explained. "If I had the money-

"Wait, you said they'll be there at the auction?" Charles's mind began calculating.

"I sure did."

"This evening?"

"Yeah why?" asked the man.

Instead of answering his question, Charles made a run for it down the street as he thought of a perfect plan to get back at Naveen and Tiana.

()()()()

"Ouch! Mama!" Tiana cried after getting pinched by the sewing needle.

"Hold still and you won't be ouch-ing!" Eudora told her daughter.

"Ms. Eudora is right, Tia. And you should be use to all the pin pointing." Charlotte said.

Nagina laughed a little. "I know just how you feel, Tiana. All of my dresses are custom made and after the first poke in my wedding gown the royal tailors knew to not make that mistake again."

"Yea but did you have two weddings to get ready for?" Tiana asked with an eye roll.

"No, but at least you have two very different and beautiful dresses to wear! If I could turn back the hands of time I would've asked Kabir for a second wedding. I have my ways of convincing." Nagina said with confidence.

"Don't we all." Eudora chimed in. "James was a good man but he also had his stubborn ways."

Tiana covered her ears. "Mama please."

"Well if you didn't lose an inch from ya waist a week before ya wedding then we wouldn't be in this predicament." Eudora teased.

Tiana rolled her eyes.

"Oh Ms. Eudora please continue. Did you use ya womanly charms to grant whatever ya wanted from James?" Charlotte rested her chin on her hand.

"Mm hmm and it worked every time. Tiana wouldn't be here if it weren't for one of them." Eudora teased.

"Ugh!" Tiana hated when her mother spoke on her intimate relationship with her father. For a woman who was all about morals, she didn't seem to mind other people knowing her business.

"Kabir is the same way. He thinks that he rules me, but that is not the case. When I get him close enough there would be no turning back. And with me being ten years younger than he is also helps." Nagina bragged.

"Ya'll can always talk about this later. You know, when I'm no around?" Tiana pointed out.

"Then where would be the fun in that?" asked a humored Eudora. "Trust me, baby cakes when you and Naveen have a fight and you're not getting your way you will do what you can for him to change his mind."

"Yes, you've already captured my son and you're not even his wife!" Nagina said. "You're a very witty and lucky young lady!"

Tiana snorted. "Naveen and I have already talked about fighting and compromising-

"Forget what ya'll talked about. Listen to us women who have been there." Eudora finished sewing. "Because at the end of the day, you have the upper hand, not ya husband."

Tiana playfully rolled her eyes.

"You'll be thanking us later." Eudora smiled. "But for now, just focus on giving me some grandchildren."

"Mama!"

Nagina and Charlotte laughed.

"Oh Ms. Eudora and Nagina isn't Tia the luckiest to be marrying such a scrumptious man like Naveen? Not even my prince Franco, who is also impressive, could ever have that charismatic charm like Naveen." said the bubbly blonde.

"Don't tell me you're going to break off with him on that." Tiana knew how superficial her friend could get.

"Oh no! I'm going to be Franco's princess and I'll be his southern belle! Just as we both planned!" Charlotte beamed. "He loves me, Tia and I look forward to living in his castle in less than three months!"

"Well that's all done." Eudora said after making sure the dress fit her daughter perfectly.

"My Tiana, your waist is the tiniest I've ever seen and you're not even wearing a corset." Nagina said.

"She's feeding Naveen while she eats nothing." Eudora said.

"All she does is kiss." teased Charlotte. "And that's always the best part."

"Ya suppose to be on my side, Lottie. What kind of maid of honor are you suppose to be" Tiana asked with her hands on her hips.

"An honest one." Charlotte winked. "You know I love ya, Tia!"

They hugged.

"And I love you. Now can I get out of this dress?" The dress fit her just right but she was tired of wearing it after so long.

"Go ahead, but you still get one more to put on." Eudora reminded.

The Maldonian tailors couldn't wait for Tiana to try on the traditional wedding dress.

A knock could be heard at the front door.

"Oh!" All the women but Tiana panicked.

"Let's go in ya room and get ya out of this beautiful thing, Tia!" Charlotte took Tiana's hand, making a run for it in her bedroom.

Eudora then opened the door to Naveen, Kabir and Kanad. "Did ya'll enjoy the tour?"

"It was quite interesting." Kabir answered shortly.

Kanad ran over to his mother. "Mother you should've seen Naveen! He was dancing and playing his ukulele with these men. It was achidonza! May I live here when I grow up?" He asked, excitement still lingering from the day.

"Absolutely not! You will be serving your country in the Navy." Kabir said sternly.

"Aw but papa…"

"No pouting!"

Eudora saw that Naveen was looking around for her daughter. "Tiana is getting out of her dress." She told him.

He raised an eyebrow. "You just finished?"

"Well she had to get readjusted in both dresses since ya leave her no time to eat." Eudora said. "She's getting too skinny."

"At least she has the hips to carry children." Nagina added. "But you two are quite busy with your affections."

Naveen shrugged with a cocky grin. "What can I say? I'm irresistible, and not to mention that she's a great kisser."

"Oh I'm just a great kisser?" Tiana opened the door to her room wearing a sky-blue dress. She faced him with her hands on her hips.

"No, you're not a great kisser…" Naveen stepped closer until they were inches away. "You're the best kisser I've ever had." He wrapped a possessive arm around her waist.

"And what do you think you're doing?" She asked with sarcasm.

"I'm about to seal the kissing deal with my great kisser of a fiancée, yes?" He dipped her in for a passionate kiss.

Tiana softly moaned, resting a hand on the back of his head to deepen their moment of osculating.

"Ah young love." Nagina took Eudora's hand.

"Ain't that the truth?" Eudora agreed.

The queen then whispered. "How long do you think it'll be until they announce that they'll be expecting our first grandchild?"

"At the rate they're going right now I'd say about a month or two after next week." She whispered back.

"I was hoping the same." Nagina beamed.

Kabir pumped his fist as the couple kept at it with their lip lock. "Atta boy, son!" He sighed proudly. "I was this way with his mother! Still am!" He wiggled his eyebrows at Charlotte.

"Oh how romantic!" The blonde then sighed.

Kanad covered his eyes at his brother and fiancée. "Ew!"

()()()()

Later that evening Naveen and Kabir ended up gong to the auction since Nagina's change of plans to join Eudora and Charlotte in for Tiana's surprise bridal shower. The two made up the day after their disagreement and promised to be civil with one another until after the weddings. While the two waited, there were some sculptures that caught the king's attention, none catching Naveen's. He did see Charles several times and had to admit that some of his work was very impressive. But not as good as the artists back at home.

"Next we have Charles Harrison with his latest piece. A portrait called 'Princess'" Announced the speaker with a thick New Orleans accent.

Everyone applaud as Charles walked out with the covered painting.

"That young man has been up here more than the other artists." whispered Kabir.

Naveen watched on.

"The story behind this portrait is very simple." Charles began. "The woman was named 'Princess' who use to be a part of my life. Almost becoming my wife at some point..."

Naveen grew suspicious of the man as he continued.

"...before she was taken from me I made a painting of her one day after she suggested that our bed would look incredibly beautiful with silk purple bed sheets." He looked over at Naveen. "We've shared many good memories on the material and I'd like to share with you all my final night with her." He uncovered the painting and many people were in awe at how realistically detailed it looked.

Naveen's eyes widen as he saw the painting. Right in front of him was a nude portrait of his fiancée lying over what Charles described as silk purple bed sheets. His anger quickly growing.

Kabir frowned. "Doesn't that woman look a lot like Tiana?"

The announcer nodded, "Quite remarkable talent there, boy. Isn't she a beauty?"

"I'd like to buy that painting for five hundred dollars!" Called out a man holding up a pad.

The announcer clapped his hands together as the bidding began. "This boy here wants to start the bid with five hundred, five hundred…am I hearing five hundred?"

"Five hundred!" Someone from the audience shouted, holding up their pad.

"Five hundred is the first bid! Who wants it at five-fifty?"

Naveen was furious as he cut his eyes right at Charles who held a smirk on his lips. "That son-of-bitch."

"What did you say, son?" Kabir asked before rising up his paddle. "One thousand dollars!"

The announcer pointed over at him. "One thousand dollars, do I hear one thousand, one hundred anyone?"

Naveen frowned at his father. "What are you doing?"

"It's not everyday you get a painting as beautiful and realistic as that one?" Kabir wanted to own the painting.

"What are you going to do with a naked painting of my fiancée?" Naveen asked, anger hinted in his tone.

"That isn't Tiana. The woman's name is Princess. Don't be ridiculous!" Kabir said.

"Two thousand dollars!" Shouted an older heavyset gentleman with his paddle up.

Naveen knew he had to get the painting for himself before someone else does. "Five thousand dollars!"

Gasping could be heard.

The announcer was even shocked. "Five thousands dollars! The highest bid of the evening! Does anyone want to go up to-

"Five thousand-five thousand…." The heavyset man raised his paddle again.

Naveen felt as if everything was moving in slow motion as the man kept calling for a higher bid. "Five thousand, eight hundred!"

"Five thousand, eight hundred-

"Six thousand!" Said the same gentleman.

Naveen gave the man a determined look "Ten thousand!"

"Twenty thousand!" The man said.

"Fifty thousand!" Naveen challenged.

"That's right, Naveen! Fight until you win it!" Encouraged Kabir.

"Seventy thousand!" Shouted the man.

"One hundred thousand dollars!" Naveen stood, holding his paddle up high. Not that he needed to.

The other man just waved his hand in defeat.

"One hundred thousand dollars going once, going twice…SOLD! For one hundred thousand dollars! The highest bid of the year so far!"

Everyone including Charles applaud.

Naveen could careless about the attention; all he wanted was to confront Charles for trying to once again dishonor Tiana's dignity. He rose from his chair to face the man.

Kabir was confused as ever as he watched his son stepping up to the artist and wondered what was going on.

"You son-of-a bitch." Naveen spat.

"Don't get mad at me. It's ya fiancée who couldn't get enough of a me. I can give her what she wants." He said.

"You've gone too far with this, Charles." Naveen clenched his fists.

"No you've gone too far with taking what's mine." Charles also clenched his fists. "She belongs to me!"

"Tiana doesn't belong to anyone." Naveen argued.

"What the hell is going on here?" Asked Kabir, approaching the two. "Naveen, who is this man?"

"Your future daughter's former lover. She looked damn good on that painting. Didn't she old man?" Charles smirked.

Kabir couldn't believe it. "That was Tiana?"

"Her name does mean 'princess'." Charles chuckled darkly. "That painting was right before I had her on those sheets."

"Don't listen to him, father. He's a sociopath!" Naveen said.

"No, Naveen is an insecure little boy! He can't accept the fact that I've had her first." Charles decided to have some fun. "Just last month you left her alone in her mother's house, I dropped by and gave her what a real man had to offer." He patted the prince on his back. "Right on the comfort of her bed."

Naveen tried to remain calm, but knew it was a losing battle.

"You know how some women love a good fight before getting into action." Charles chuckled with confidence. "And let me tell it that it was one hell out fight to get through to her. As stubborn as a bull but as tight as a nun's pu-

Naveen's punch Charles across the jaw interrupted the man from completely his statement.

The remaining of the guests witnessed the strike and gasped.

"Naveen!" Kabir shouted.

Both men began throwing punches at one another.

Naveen ducked before Charles' fist came his way and the prince threw a hook right on the man's chin.

The impact caused Charles to fall back onto the floor.

It took a few seconds for the muscular man to realize what just happened to him. Furious, he rose up, ready to continue fighting. "You're gonna pay for that, mother fucker!"

"Hey you two stop it!" Said one man, holding back Charles.

Kabir held back Naveen. "You did well. Being a trained boxer came in handy, son. But what in the hell going on and why is Tiana involved?"

"He's disrespecting Tiana's honor with his lies!" Naveen was furious. "I will not have him continue disrespecting her because he can't accept the fact that she doesn't want him."

Charles wiped the blood from his mouth and laughed. "You might've won this fight, but I won the battle. Who knew a whore could value so much?"

"Let me get him!" Naveen got out of his father's grip but was held back by three more men. "You motherfucker!"

Charles chuckled darkly. "Thanks for the college present! Had I'd known Tiana's body would be worth so much I would've painted her a long time ago." He started walking out of the room. "I'll be waiting for my check by the lobby!"

Naveen was breathing heavily with not one scratch on his face as he watched the man leave.

"Your painting should be ready in about ten minutes, sir." A man told them while carrying it.

"No…" Naveen snatched the painting into his possession. "I'll take it now." He pulled out his checkbook and wrote down the large amount before handing it his father. "Please take care of this." He then stormed out of the room and building with a guard quickly following behind without seeing any sight of Charles as they passed the lobby.

Kabir sighed and tore his son's check then pulled out his own checkbook. "Here's the hundred grand for that unworthy peasant." Handing the gentleman the check before being escorted out by his guards.

()()()()

Naveen decided to not return back to Eudora's with his father, and instead headed straight to his apartment. He needed time to clear his head of the thoughts of Charles hurting Tiana. 'She has to tell me what exactly happened.' He thought.

As he opened the door he saw a candle lit on the dining room table and could something good cooking in the kitchen. He walked into the kitchen where he found Tiana in a very sensual dress holding two plates.

"Tiana?" He was surprised to see her.

"I reckon you'd rather have ya dinner here. The bridal shower was chaotic." She smiled as him. But when he didn't return the gesture she asks, "What is it?"

Naveen showed her the painting.

Tiana sat the plates on the island counter with a questioning look. "You had this done?" She couldn't believe how identical the painting was to her face, her body. She then cracked a smile before hugging him. "It's beautiful, but how did you know how I look...naked?" She wondered. "And I don't think we should have this hanging anywhere."

"I was thinking the same thing." Naveen returned the hug, growing protective. "Charles painted it."

She gasped. "What?"

"Yes and he had some story on how it came about." He dropped the painting. "It cost me one hundred grand to protect your honour."

"You got that from the auction?" She raised her eyebrows, shocked.

"Is there something you're hiding from me?" He asked.

"Why would I be hiding anything from you? I've told you everything there is about me." Tiana grew defensive, not wanting to go into that night with Charles.

"Tiana, you don't need to hide anything-

"I don't want to talk about it!" Tiana turned from his hold, crossing her arms.

"Charles told me that he came over one night last month and slept with you..." He was afraid to finish.

"You know me, Naveen! I would never—" She closed her eyes and exhaled.

"Did he hurt you?" He noticed the discomfort in her body language. All he wanted to do was to hold her in his own comforting arms. "You can tell me, Tiana. I will support you no matter what happened."

"He didn't hurt me in that way if that's what you think." Tears ran down her cheeks. "But he's always came after me even after me telling him no. He never took the hint, even when I tried being his 'friend'." She turned to face him. "He came over about a minute before after you drove off. I honestly thought that I was going to die that night."

Naveen pulled her into a protective hug. "I'm sorry."

Tiana rested her head on his chest. "He threatened to rape me, to be pregnant with his child just to end our relationship. The look in his eyes when he said it, when he held me against my will on my own bed..." She cried softly. "...but I kept fighting him with everything I had with both my body and words. He finally resisted before finally leaving me alone."

"Mi benita..." Naveen whispered, running his fingers through her hair. "I'm sorry."

"He's a perfectionist. He had these plans that involved me. I always found it agonizing that he 'chose' me to be his housewife...his houseslave. At times I use to wonder what was wrong with me not wanting to go the easy way and surrender to him." She admitted. "My mama even went against me at some point as well as my so-called friends. They thought that I was crazy to pass up on Charles's offer."

"Tiana…" Naveen looked into her dark brown eyes. "There is nothing wrong with you having a dream."

Tiana caressed his face before hugging him.

He inhaled her vanilla scent. "I love you."

"I love you." She repeated, wanting to move back on to their dinner. "We best be eating before the food gets cold."

"We best." He loved her accent and southern vocabulary. "I'm sorry for ruining our dinner-

"Okay, you're sorry. I get it" Tiana said playfully. She was tired of hearing apologies. "Let's just try to enjoy this last week before becoming husband and wife?"

Naveen snorted. "You make it sound like us getting married is a prison sentence."

"I didn't want to tell you, but..." She joked, lightly biting the bottom of her lip.

"Come here." He wrapped his arms around her, looking into her eyes. "You play too much."

"Says the man who is the prince of all jests." Tiana smiled.

"My undying love for you will never be considered a jest." Naveen told her before capturing her lips to his.

()()()()

A/N: The last two chapters will feature the weddings! Yes, I said weddings!