A/N: Chapter 11! Enjoy.

I do not own The Princess and the Frog.

The Glory of Love

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They rode along down the twisted trail, away from the castle and towards the cliffs overlooking the sea. Naveen smiled over at his wife, who was sitting very straight and still upon her horse. Her eyes were wide, her lips tight; she looked utterly terrified.

He leaned over to her, and said, "Tiana my love, you must calm down."

"Yeah right, calm down. There's a thousand pound animal underneath me, and you tell me to calm down," she muttered.

"But you are only making things more difficult for yourself panicking like this."

"How do I know that this thing isn't gonna go wild, and throw me off, and trample me to death?"

Naveen raised an eyebrow at her. "Horses are actually quite gentle creatures, Tiana. On a good day, anyway." Tiana's eyes widened even further, and she started thrashing about.

"Let me off this thing!" she squealed. Naveen sighed, and pulled his horse very close to hers. He reached over and patted her arm.

"Tiana, it was a joke!" he said. She did settle down a bit, but still seemed on edge. Naveen rolled his eyes. "Tiana, you have my word that nothing bad will happen to you."

"How do you know that?" she demanded.

"Because Jana is my mother's horse," he said.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Tiana asked.

"When my mother was a teenager, she was out riding one day, and her horse went crazy for some reason, and started running wild. Luckily my father was able to stop it before she could get hurt, but ever since, she will only ride the most benevolent, well behaved horses," he explained. Tiana sighed reassured, and visibly relaxed. She looked over at her husband, and snickered to herself. "What?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing."

"What? What's so funny?"

"It's just..."

"What?"

"I can't believe you actually have a white horse!"

"That is funny to you? It happens to be a long honored Maldonian tradition that the men of the royal family ride white horses."

"I'm sure it is, it's just sort of funny is all!"

"How so?" he demanded.

"Well you know, in storybooks, when they show the handsome prince, he's always riding a white horse," she said.

"And how is that funny, exactly? Am I not handsome?"

"No, of course you are! That's why it's funny!" she insisted. He just stared at her, puzzled. She gave up, and turned away from him, looking straight ahead, towards the sea. "Lotte would think it was funny," she muttered.

They rode on in silence for a few moments. Tiana was really starting to enjoy herself. It was really quite relaxing, riding along with Naveen, the only sounds coming from the sea, the birds, and the clacking of hooves against the gravel path. It was much nicer than inside the castle, where it was deathly silent all the time.

They came to the cliff side, and Naveen dismounted his horse. Tiana tried to do the same, but got her foot stuck in the reins. She fell backwards, and was caught dangling over the side of the horse. "Naveen!" she squealed. He ran to her, and started untangle her boot. She started to fall to the ground, but was stopped. She blinked as she was turned onto her feet. Naveen gently kissed her on her forehead once she was safely on the ground. "Thanks," she said, smiling up at him. He waved his hand, and grabbed a pack from the back of his saddle.

"We will have to walk from here. The horses do not do well on the cliffs," he said, stepping over the edge. He held out his hand to Tiana, who took it, and stepped down onto the steep, rocky path. They carefully made their way down the side of the cliff. Halfway to the bottom, Naveen's foot slipped. He stumbled, but recovered, and continued to the shore.

They reached the bottom, and Naveen started along the rocky shore, tossing the pack he had provided from his horse over his shoulder. Tiana followed him, climbing over the boulders he was jumping over. "Naveen, where are we going?" she asked him, as a wave crashed, spraying her with cold sea water.

"You will see!" He called out over his shoulder as he climbed over some large rocks. Tiana followed, and saw Naveen getting down on the ground, and crawling into a small opening in the cliff. "Through here!" he said.

"There's not going to be room in there for both of us!" she protested, as he disappeared into the hole.

"Trust me!" his voice came from within. She groaned, and crawled in after him. She was plunged into darkness.

"Naveen?" she called out.

"Hold on," came the respond from the darkness. There was the sound of a match being struck, a brief flicker of light, and the cave was illuminated by a small lantern in Naveen's hands.

She looked around the cave, and found it to be much bigger than she had anticipated. It seemed to be very deep, a black gaping hole loomed before her. The ceiling of the cave was nearly high enough for Naveen to stand straight. She got to her feet, and stood beside Naveen, who was bent over, setting the lantern on a flat rock. He stood up, and the two collided. Naveen shouted loudly in Maldonian as he jumped back, and hit his head on the roof. He fell to the ground, holding his head. Tiana kneeled beside him and grabbed his arm.

"Naveen! Are you all right?" she squeaked. He nodded, and she reached up and gently rubbed his head.

"Are you all right?" he asked. "I did not break your nose, did I?"

"No, I'm fine," she said. He smiled, and poked her on the nose. She squealed in pain. "It is a little sore, though!" she added, not noticing Naveen's horrified look.

"Sorry. It seems a lot bigger when you are smaller. And alone," he apologized. He settled back against the wall of the cave. Tiana smiled and sat beside him. "Would you like a drink?" he asked, reaching into the sack again and producing a bottle of wine.

"No thank you," she laughed. He shrugged, and popped the cork. He took a swig out of it and sighed contently.

"I have missed alcohol," he said. "Since somebody won't allow it in our house, or in our restaurant."

"I ain't running no speak-easy, Naveen!" she snapped.

"So you would rather just allow those casks my parents gave us just go to waste in the storeroom?" he demanded.

"It's illegal, Naveen! And I'm a black woman with her own business. I'm treading the line as it is!"

"Oh, that's right. I forget sometimes," he said. "But you are in Maldonia now. There is no Prohibition here, and we do drink. A lot. And the people will expect their princess to do the same."

Tiana considered this for a moment, then snatched the bottle away from Naveen, and took a drink. She swallowed, and made a face.

"Eww, it's like a spoiled grape!" she exclaimed.

"That is what it is, more or less," he said with a shrug. "Perhaps it is an acquired taste..."

"Naveen, I've gotta wonder, how exactly did you find this place?" she asked, deciding to change the subject.

"Well this one day, I was hiding from my tutors, and my nanny, and Lawrence, and my parents, and my grandmother..."

"I get it."

"Anyway, I ran down to the shore, and long story short, I found this cave. Adventurous little eight year old that I was, I crawled in and hid."

"Did they ever find you here?"

"My father did, finally. He did not punish me, though, he just scolded me a bit, mostly went on and on about how I had worried my mother. But ever since, I would come here if I ever needed to be alone for a while."

"Have you ever brought anyone else here?" Tiana asked.

"No, not until now."

"I'm the first?" He nodded. "I'm honored." she said with a smile. She was glad for the dim light, because she felt her face growing red. He took another drink, and a thought occurred to her.

"That story about your father reminded me, Naveen. How was your meeting this morning?"

"Fine. Boring, but informative."

"What did you talk about?"

"It was my between my father, and the leaders of the Shalrad party. The election is coming up soon, and they were discussing who would make the best candidate to go up against Prime Minister Prokopios."

"I thought he was a friend of your family's?"

"He is a friend of my mother's," he corrected. "But he and my father do not always get along. The Arzini Party and the royal family traditionally do not get on well. But they reflect on many of my mother's views, and mine as well, to tell you the truth. So when he decided to run for Prime Minister, my mother really put a lot into his campaign, despite my father's objections."

"So your father wants him to loose the election, then?"

"Indeed. I, on the other hand would like to see him stay in office for at least one more term. I owe him much," he said, putting his arms around her.

"Why do you owe him?" she asked him.

"Well, you remember how when I was cut off, my original intentions were to marry a wealthy girl?"

"Yes..."

"Well, American girls were not where I cast my eyes originally, I had intended to make my way with a Maldonian woman, and my friend Era was my initial target."

"Wait a minute, that sweet girl was your one of your friends?"

"Do not be fooled by her pretty face and soft voice, she can get quite... freaky. Anyway, at the time of my pursuit, she was dating another man, who the Minister liked very much. So he convinced my parents to send me on a trip to wherever I wanted to go, and offered to fund it himself. And all I had to do was stay away from his daughter. So I got to go to New Orleans, and I met the love of my life," he said, kissing her on the cheek. Her face got hot again, so she tried to change the subject.

"So besides political stuff, what else did you and your father talk about?"

"We talked for a bit about the state dinner next month. You will get to see me sing the national anthem, so that should be exciting," he said sarcastically.

"Am I to assume then, that your father is back to grooming you to be king?"

"It looks that way," he agreed.

"Oh Naveen, that's wonderful!" she said, hugging him. He smiled down at her, and drew her closer.

"I kind of owe that to you, you know," he murmured, nuzzling the top of her head. He leaned his head down into the crook of her neck, and started planting soft kisses on her soft skin. She giggled a little, and leaned back into the wall. His kisses went lower, down to her collar bone. Tiana grabbed his head, and pulled his head upward.

"Whoa, now Princey! I am not gonna make it in a cave," she said. He scoffed, and sat up, turning away.

"You wound me, my love!" he said dramatically. Tiana rolled her eyes. "After all this time, you do not recognize my intentions, or stop to think about my standards!"

"Standards?" Tiana asked, amused now.

"Yes. I happen to be a highly bred Prince of Maldonia, the son of two great kingdoms, the first born child of Majencio of Maldonia and Padma of Shambari. I do NOT make love in damp, cramped caves!"

"Well how was I supposed to know?" she demanded, "When I know you ain't against making love in broom cupboard, store rooms, guest houses, bathtubs, and hollow trees?"

"That was a one time thing!" he snapped, "It had been a long night, and you were an exceptionally lovely frog!" Tiana was shaking with laughter now, while Naveen was scowling. He took another drink from the bottle, blew out the lantern, and crawled out of the cave. Tiana crawled out after him, still giggling to herself. Once she was on her feet, Naveen grabbed her and pulled her close. She fought herself free as he tried to place his lips on her neck again.

"I will race you to the top!" Naveen said. "Ready... Set..."

"Hey Naveen, what's that thing?" Tiana interrupted, pointing out to the sea, He turned to look, and she was off like a shot. He sputtered for a moment, then tore after her.

"I think not, Waitress!" he called as he lept over boulders. Tiana was nearing the path leading up the cliff, where she knew she was sure to win. They could only go up single file. She was about to jump up, when she was grabbed around the waist by Naveen. She screamed as her spun her around, and threw her over his shoulder.

"Hey! Put me down!" she screeched, as he carried her up the cliff.

"Sorry, I do not think so!" he said with a laugh.

"No fair!" she pouted. He just laughed as they came to the top, and he set her down.

"I win!" he said, giving her a quick peck on the lips. She stuck her tongue out at him, and stalked off towards her horse.

"So what are we going to do now?" she asked, as she hoisted herself up.

"Well, I do not know about you, but I am getting hungry," he said, climbing onto his own horse.

"Oh yes, I could go for some food," she agreed, as they rode off, back towards the stables.

"Wonderful, then we will head down to the kitchen, get something to eat, and then head back upstairs, and relax for the rest of the night."

"Are we eating with your parents?" she asked. Naveen shook his head.

"My family rarely eats together. Avram eats in the dining hall with his nanny, my father takes a late supper in his study at night, my mother usually eats in her room, and I prefer the kitchen. And if I know my princess, she's probably chomping on the bit to see the royal kitchen."

"You do know your princess," Tiana agreed.

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A/N: Only Tiana and Naveen could go on a date, and have it morph into a political discussion, and a fight.

One thing you'll come to realize about Naveen's parents, is their relationship is... complicated. And Naveen himself is a reflection of that.

So I'll wrap this up then. Thank you all for reading, and please leave a review if you would be so kind.