A/N: Just finished typing this chapter. My apologies for any errors.

Thrill Of It All II

Tiana's Strength

Since the night of the anniversary Tiana haven't seen much of her husband. Which gave her more time
to do what she wanted with the restaurants. She's also seen Naveen here and there in town which included her weekly YNN meetings. She would smile and wave while he would return the gesture and move on. Though she would rather be in his arms.

Today she was to meet with only the girls for an early meeting. She found it a relief because they could discuss more personal topics and she didn't have to deal with a certain Montreuil criticizing about what women are raised to do for their husbands.

Tiana noticed all the girls but one missing. "Where's Loretta?"

"She's at home sick with the flu," said Glenda.

Rhonda wasn't convinced. "I think she's pregnant with Trent Montreuil's baby."

"What? Loretta couldn't possibly be pregnant!" Glenda grew defensive. "She's never...well, you know!"

Tiana crossed her arms. "Ladies."

Both girls got quiet.

"I will stop by her home later and see for myself. For now, we will now discuss-

"Hello?" Naveen opened the already ajar door.

"Its Naveen!" Glenda beamed.

The other girls giggled and blushed as the king stepped into the room.

Tiana playfully rolled her eyes. "You're late."

"And I apologize," he bowed.

The girls sighed dreamily.

"Alright girls..." Tiana found their behavior humourous and understandable. "Now that Naveen is here and our only male-

"I want to play his wife!" yelled out Glenda.

"No me!"

"Me!"

"Me, me me!"

Naveen was flattered and a little nervous. Never since Maldonia has he seen girls act this wild for him.

He saw Tiana with her hand covering her humoured grin and could only shake his head.

"Alright girls calm down now. Glenda can play Naveen's wife today," said Tiana.

"Yes!" the girl exclaimed and stuck out her tongue to the now jealous girls.

Glenda ran up to Naveen, linking her arm with his. "If you were my husband I would be the happiest girl on earth! Just wait until I tell Loretta! She's going to be green with envy!"

"She's already green with morning sickness" Rhonda said to another girl.

Naveen gave Tiana a look of 'help'. This is going to be a long meeting.

()()()()

After the meeting...

Tiana closed the door to her office before handing Naveen a towel. "Hold that for me..."

He held out his hand as she put a few ice cubes into the towel. "Thank you," he said.

"I had no idea that Glenda would drop that hammer on your hand. Who knew that she never used a hammer before?"

"It's okay," Naveen said as Tiana took the compress and rested it on his hand. "That feels really good." he looked at her.

Tiana stared back and felt a warming sensation in her lower abdominal. She placed her hand over it and exhaled.

Naveen smirked knowingly. "Are you alright?"

"Yes..." she breathe but quickly recovered herself. "Yes," she pulled her hand away. "Can you handle holding your compress?" And turned to look at a photo of herself and her family.

"I'll be okay," he stood up, walking over to her. "What happened to you..."

"I'm not supposed to have any romantic feelings for you," she admitted.

"And yet we seem to always end up alone," Naveen added. "Fate must really be on our side if it keeps bringing us together this way."

"Or contracts," she said.

Naveen stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders and leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on her neck.

Tiana closed her eyes at the pleasant sensation of his lips on her skin. "Naveen..." she whispered.

"Tiana..." he continued kissing.

Tiana licked her lips before turning and pressed her lips onto his.

Naveen's tongue entered her mouth, enjoying the sweet taste of mint from Tiana's mouth. He was pleased to be able to kiss this woman. At this moment she was his and will enjoy her for as long as she would let him. He knew that it was pitiful in a way. A king who would break his own family tradition and fall down to his knees to have Tiana as his queen for the rest of his life. Who will do everything in his power for her...

That is until she stops and leaves to be with...her husband.

This time it was him who stopped.

"I'm sorry," Naveen said regretfully. He didn't want to let her go.

Tiana was surprised that he stopped. "Why are you sorry?"

He caressed her face. "That I had to stop kissing you, even if..." he leaned forward again to touch her lips before pulling. "I had to feel your soft lips once more."

"Once more?" Tiana asked while touching her lips with her hand.

"I have another arrangement that I must attend," he said, very tempted to pull her back into his arms and cover her mouth with his.

She nodded. "You enjoy the rest of your day."

"The rest of my day will be hard to enjoy without you in it," Naveen said before leaving the office.

Tiana sighed. "I know how you feel."

()()()()

As Tiana made it back home she immediately ran into Jacques who dropped his suitcase. The two were awkwardly silent before Tiana said.

"Excuse me," and walked around him to walk through the foyer.

Jacques arrogantly snorted. "So I don't get a kiss from my wife who I haven't seen much of for the past two months?" He asked in sarcasm.

She rolled her eyes before turning towards his way. "I don't know. I could say the same thing about you Jacques."

He laughed to himself before walking over to her. "I figured you don't want anything to do with me."

Tiana placed her hands on her hips.

"Well?" he waited for her respond.

When she said nothing he continued.

"While you we're gone doing your so-called work I'm here with Daniel and spending more time with him hoping to bump into you. Who knew you'd show up as soon as I was heading out of the door"

She knew where this was headed. "So you did something nice for our son again?"

"As a father should for his son," he said.

"It also means that you're expecting something from me," she said, knowingly.

"Likewise," he circled her. "You are my wife after all." He then stopped behind her and whispered into her ear, "I'll be expecting you in the black translucent night gown I had shipped all the way from Versailles."

Tiana stepped away from him. "Or you can simply go to one of your whores and have one of them wear it." Just as she began walking she felt Jacques grab at her arm, roughly yanking her to him. Her heartbeat increased. "Let me go!"

"Disrespect me!" Jacques glared at her. "Don't you ever speak to me like that again!" he warned. "Do you hear me?"

"Disrespect?" She snatched her arm away. "Speaking of which, why don't I ask you about my restaurant." changing the subject.

"What about?" he asked.

"Sales are down yet I have a packed house all through the day and night."

"What does that have to do with me?" he asked, irritated.

"You handle the business side of it and I was wondering if all the money is really going into the restaurant?" she questioned, ready for whatever excuse he may have.

"You lowered the value of those fattening dishes any longer and you'll be serving for free!" Jacques said.

"Well at least its going somewhere. Customers are loving the food, its what's happening to the money that's messing things up for my business. And there's also the economy-

"I'll have Derek take care of that," he said, grabbing a hold of her arm again. "I prefer you stay in the house and act like a real wife and mother."

"And you should act like a father more often!"she snatched her arm from his grasp. "And husband." she quickly left her husband in the foyer.

Jacques heard their bedroom door slammed and wanted to go after her but stopped himself. He groaned and took a deep breath before stepping out for work. He'll deal with her later. In bed.

()()()()

Another several weeks went by and it was pretty much same in routine for Tiana. She would spend time with her son, go to the restaurants, speaking with the youth group along with Naveen and her day will end at that. She would hope that whenever they were alone he take her and kiss her, but he kept everything professional which was unusual. Though she wished things remained on a professional level her heart much rather him flirt and kiss all over her. Now he kept a cold distance. Could the woman who arrived with him have returned from her trip?

On her way to the restaurant she saw Derek and his wife fighting in front of their car. A small crowd surrounded them while everyone else minded their own business.

"But what you two doing doing are disgusting!" Tonya exclaimed.

"Its none of our business! Now get in the car!" Derek ordered.

She sighed and did as she was told.

Tiana wondered what the two were fighting about. She sure hope it wasn't about Jacques. The last thing she needed to deal with was a new scandal.

"You are one of a kind Naveen," spoke a woman.

Tiana turned to see Naveen smiling at a well-dressed woman who wasn't his fiancee.

"I could say the same for you, but I would sound like a broken record," he said before they laughed.

Tiana rolled her eyes at the joke. She's heard it from him plenty of times before.

The woman smiled. "Well I don't mind it at all. And I'm hoping that you join me for dinner tonight. I haven't cooked anyone a good meal since, well, you know," she said.

"I'd like that," Naveen said.

Tiana saw the look in his eyes. He cared for this woman and it could be the reason for his recent actions. He's moved on pass her.

"It was bound to happen," Tiana said before entering the restaurant.

Naveen watched Tiana quickly go into the restaurant, tuning out whatever the other woman was telling him.

"Naveen?" she asked.

"I'm sorry Olivia, but I really must go. I forgot that I have a meeting I must attend to," he said.

"Go ahead. I'll see you tonight," she gave him a wink and walked on.

He hurried inside the restaurant and was greeted by a young waitress.

"Good afternoon sir. How may I make ya day a splendid one?"

"I'm here for a meeting with Mrs. Tiana Montreuil," he said.

"Follow me..." the woman said.

Tiana wiped the tears from her eyes with her handkerchief as a knock was heard at the door. "Just a second," she hurried into the bathroom to splash some water on her face then drying it with a face towel. She was thankful to have a bathroom within her office. When she opened the door she was surprised to see Naveen.

"Naveen," she opened the door wider for him. "What are you doing here?"

"Thank you," Naveen said to the waitress before closing the door. "I came to see you." he noticed her eyes looking little red. "Did I come at a wrong time?"

"Why would you say that?" she asked, holding her stance.

"Nothing" he decided to not press on her the true reason behind her redden teary eyes.

"Why are you really here?" she asked.

"To see you," Naveen said. "And how much of a jerk I've been."

"Really Naveen..." she began. "You are not tied down to anyone as of yet. No wife or children to care for so why call yourself a jerk over that."

"Because I'm not referring to myself as a jerk because of that," Naveen raised a brow. "What does my personal relationships have to do with my actions toward you?"

"Nothing at all," Tiana now felt like a jealous idiot. She couldn't believe that she ran her mouth before thinking.

"Listen, I came here to inform you that I plan on staying for one more month."

She tried to look his way, surprised. "You're leaving next month?"

"I came here for business...and cl...," he stopped himself. "...for the youth foundation"

She stepped up to him. "Really? Only business?"

Naveen could smell her vanilla scent and held himself back. It was a struggle, but he didn't budge.

"So what we had together-

"Is all in the past," Naveen said. "I've moved on Tiana. It is time you do so yourself."

Tiana backed away, hurt by his rejection. "If this is all you have left to say then I say bless you on your life."

Naveen knew that she was hurt. He was hurt himself. The last thing he wanted to do was end things, but it was for the best. If she wants to stay married to Jacques then he must wash his hands from her.

"Life is a strange concept," he said.

"I couldn't agree more," Tiana nodded. "Is that all?"

"Yes,"

"Then I bid you an adeiu Naveen."

He took both of her hands and softly kissed them. "Adeiu mi benita."

She closed her eyes before the heartbreaking tears could fall from her.

And when she finally opened her eyes again, Naveen was gone out of her life for good.

()()()()

A/N: Is the end of this story approaching? Not at all. Will this be the end of Naveen and Tiana? Find out on the next chapter. Which will be up soon!