Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

  Ever since she was a little girl, Tiana dreamed of having her own restaurant with her father. Her father was a hard worker, but no matter how tired he was at the end of the day he never let it show around Tiana. Every time she smiled, it warmed him up inside even more than any home made meal ever could.

   Tiana's mother was a very talented seamstress. Her best customer was also Tiana's best friend. Charlotte La Bouff was the daughter of the Eli "Big Daddy" La Bouff. The man was as rich as they came, he was a sugar baron which made him also a very powerful man.

  Tiana sat by her best friend as her mother worked on Charlotte's dress and read to the girls. With how often Mr. La Bouff hired Eudora Rogers, she got to spend a lot of time with her friend.

  "Just at that moment...." she read "the ugly, little frog looked up with his sad, round eyes and pleaded, 'oh please dear princess, only a kiss from you can break this terrible curse.' ."

  Charlotte hugged her cat she had been holding hostage a little tighter, "here comes my favorite part Tia..."

  She couldn't help, but smile at her friend. Though Tiana herself never really understood the fairy tales, Lottie's enjoyment was infectious.

   "The beautiful princess was so moved by the frogs desperate plea, that she picked up that slimy little creature. She raised him to her lips.... leaned forward...."

   Tiana stuck out her tongue, her nose wrinkling in disgust. Even though she knew what was coming, it didn't make the idea any less gross.

  "...and kissed that little frog."

  Tiana gagged "eww! Gross!" Charlotte however gave a dreamy sigh.

   "He turned into a handsome prince. They were married and lived happily ever after."

   Lottie bounced a bit in her spot, "read it again! Read it again!!"

   Eudora chuckled softly, "sorry Charlotte, but it's about time for us to go home. Go ahead and say goodnight Tiana."

   Still taking in the story Tiana crossed her arms, "there is no way I'd ever ever ever kiss ...." She shivered "a frog. Ew..."

   "Is that so?" Charlotte reached over and grabbed a hat that sorta looked like a frog face and plopped it onto her cat's head.

   She held up the cat with a playful grin, "here's your prince charming Tia!!!" She shoves the cat towards her, trying to get her to kiss him as Tiana pushes it away laughing.

  "Come on! Kiss him!!!"

  "No! Stop Lottie!" Tia giggles. "I won't! I won't!"

  Charlotte hugs her cat again, "well I would! I'd kiss a hundred... No no A Thousand frogs if I could marry a prince and become a princess."

  She squeezes the cat, attacking it with a barrage of kisses till it flies from her arms. The cat scurries away, flying up the nearby curtains and getting its claws stuck at the top. Both girls fall over laughing at the poor creature.

   Eudora sighs, shaking her head "stop tormenting that poor little kitty." She gets the cat unstuck, and takes the frog mask off before setting it down. The cat runs off under the bed.

  Charlotte's father walks in with a smile, "Evenin' Eudora."

  Charlotte pops up, and runs over "Daddy! Daddy! Look at my new dress!!" she spins around as the skirt puffs up around her.

   "Look at you!" he picks her up "you look as pretty as a peach in that. Of course I would expect nothing less from the finest seamstress in New Orleans."

   Though she tries not to show her pride, Eudora stands up a little straighter.

  Charlotte's eyes light up seeing the princess' dress in the book, "oooohhhhh.... Daddy, I want that dress!"

  "Now sugarplum...."

  Trying to lean down to look at the picture better, Charlotte grabs a hold of his mustache and pulls on it.

  "I want that one! Please daddy? Please please please?"

   "Eudora... ow... do you... ow.... think you could make something like that?" He sets Charlotte down and she lets go of his mustache.

  Eudora chuckles, "anything for my best customer."

   "Yay!!!" Charlotte bounces up and down, clapping excitedly.

  "Now what do you say to Mrs. Rogers?" Mr. La Bouff rubs his sore face.

  "Thank you." She looks up at her with the sweetest smile she can make.

   "You're quite welcome Charlotte." She turns her attention to her own daughter, "come along now Tiana, your daddy should be home from work by now."

  Tiana walks over and takes her mother's hand and they start to walk off.

  "Wait!" 

  They stop as Charlotte rushes over and embraces Tiana, hugging her as tightly as she could. Tiana returns the hug, trying to get some air from Charlotte's squeeze.

  "Bye Tia."

  "B.. bye Lottie." She breathes out as Charlotte releases her.

  Tiana and her mother walk out of the La Bouff manor and head to catch the bus home. Tiana looks out the window watching the world pass by.

  "You want to know something mama?" She says.

  "Hm? tell me."

  Tiana rubs her sides, "when Lottie loves someone. She loves big."

  Eudora laughs, "yes she does baby. She does indeed."

Chapter Text

Tiana woke up to the smell of food cooking. She sat up in bed, and she rubbed the sleep away from her eyes. She took a deep breath in and her stomach growled.

"Pancakes." She hopped out of bed and scurried into the kitchen.

Her dad stood at the stove cooking away. Her mother sat at the table. Neither had noticed her walk in. Tiana slowed to a walk as something felt off.

"Mama..... Daddy?" She piped up.

They both looked at her, and smiled. Her mother's smile was soft, not as full as it would normally be. Her eyes looked tired, and a bit puffy.

"Good morning baby." Her father said, "did you sleep well?"

"Mama..." Tiana's heart sped up slightly, "have you been cryin'?"

"I'm okay sugar, don't you worry about your mama now ok?"

It got quiet till James spoke up, "why don't you come help me flip these last pancakes."

Tiana perked up and hurried over to her father. He picked her up, balancing her against his side. He handed her the spatula which she had to grab with two hands.

"Slide that under the pancake, just like that." He guided her hands a bit "now, give it a good, strong flip."

Tiana puffed up her cheeks as she attempted to turn it over. The pancake flopped onto its other side, but folded over on itself.

"Aww..." She frowned.

"That's okay baby cakes, some things just take practice." He set her down, "go get dressed now, and we'll eat breakfast."

She goes back to her room and changes out of her nightgown. Once she's dressed she heads back into the kitchen. She sits at the table as the food is put down. Her father serves her up a pancake with fruit and powdered sugar. Tiana's eyes go big giving a small "ooohhh~" before digging into it.

When they finish eating, before Tiana can clear her plate, her mother rests a hand on hers. She looks at her and sits back down.

"Tiana, there's something we need to tell you." She says.

"Baby cakes I'm going to be going away for a little while." Her father says.

She frowns, "Why? How long? When are you going to be back?"

"I'm not sure exactly how long I'll be gone, but I will do my very best to make it home to you."

Tiana jumped out of her chair and ran over to him. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug.

"I don't want you to go." She says, tearing up.

"I know baby. I know." He pulled her down to sit in his lap. "But remember, no matter what... I'll always be with you...." He placed a hand over her chest "right here."

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He hugged his family tightly. They stood at the train station as other soldiers boarded. Many men wishing many families goodbye. The train whistle gave two toots signaling it was time to go.

He looked from the train, back to his wife and child. "Take care of each other. I love you both so much."

He kissed his wife, and gave Tiana a kiss on her forehead. He hopped onto the train, waving goodbye. They waved back. This was the only time, to her memory, Tiana actually saw her father cry. Smoke bellowed out of the stack as the wheels started turning. The train moved slowly at first but picked up a bit of speed as it rolled out of the station.

Eudora and Tiana stood there, till the train was nothing but a dot in the distance. Finally when it had fully disappeared from view, Eudora picked up her daughter and headed home. That night, Tiana made a different wish to the evening star, one that would never come true.

Chapter Text

  Charlotte puffed out her bottom lip looking at her reflection. The black dress had all the frills and puff she could want, but the color definitely wasn't what she would have chosen.

  "Daddy I don't want to wear this...." She crosses her arms, "why can't I wear one of my pink dresses?"

  "You'll stick out and become the center of attention." La Bouff chuckles.

  Charlotte does a little half spin still pouting, "I like being the center of attention...."

  He sighs, getting down to her level, "Charlotte. Today needs to be about Tiana, and Eudora. They just lost a family member. We need to be there for them."

  She nods, understanding, but her glance down tells her dad she's obviously still upset.

  "Tell you what." He smiles, "why don't you pick out one small pink accessory to wear. Can we compromise on that?"

  "Ok daddy." She nods.

  She goes over to a very ornate jewelry box and opens it up. Taking a moment to look at the wide arrange of trinkets. Finally she lands on a pink bracelet with teardrop shaped glass beads.

  "Is this ok daddy?" Charlotte asks.

"That should be fine." He nods.

  She puts the bracelet on, smiling. He picks her up and they head out the door.

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Neighbors and family spilled out of the house. The smell of food, heavy in the air.

Charlotte and Eli managed to squeeze their way inside. Eudora smiled as they walked in.

"Hello Eli, and hello to you as well Charlotte. Tiana is in her room right now if you want to go see her." She says.

Charlotte rushed off to Tiana's room. When she got in Tiana was laying with her back to the door. She gripped the paper her father had given her, tightly to her chest.

"Hi, Tia." Charlotte greets her as chipper as ever.

"Lottie?" Tiana sat up and turned to look at her. Tear lines marked her cheeks.

Charlotte kicked her shoes off as she pulled herself onto the bed. She sits down by Tiana her legs kicking over the edge of the bed.

"I never knew my mom." Charlotte says, "daddy says she passed away when I was still just a baby. So, I don't exactly know what you're going through, but.... I still miss my mommy even though I didn't know her."

Tiana didn't respond, her finger traced her father's handwriting. T.... I .... A.... N..... A..... S..... "It's not the same though...." Charlotte admits. P..... L..... A..... C..... E..... "No matter what though, we'll always have each other."

Tiana, looks at her friend, her eyes still glassy, "forever and ever?"

Charlotte nods, hugging Tiana, "for all of forever, and ever."