𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐮 | 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐞𝐧

[TWO]

TW// FIRE, DEATH

Charlotte raced over to her father. "Daddy! Daddy! Look at my new dress. Isn't it pretty?" She twirled around, showing it off.

Eli laughed and said, "look at you." He picked Charlotte up off the ground. "Why, I'd expect nothing less from the finest seamstress in New Orleans," he gushed as he walked over to Eudora.

The storybook page caught Charlotte's eye. "Ooh! I want that dress!" She exclaimed. "Tia, N/n! Look, isn't it pretty?"

You walked over to the table where the book was set up and Tiana trailed behind you. "I'd like it more if it was f/c" you said.

Eli scolded his daughter gently. "Now, sugarplum..." He started, but Charlotte cut him off.

She pulled on his mustache and cried, "I want that one! Please, please, please, please!"

Eli's voice was strained as he turned to Tiana's mother. "Eudora, you suppose you could whip something up like that?"

"Anything for my best customer," she said, gesturing to the countless pink dresses on mannequins covering half of Charlotte's room. Charlotte cheered loudly. "Come along, girls," she continued, "Tiana's daddy should be home from work by now and we should get Y/n home."

Eli talked to the small blonde in his arms. "All right now, princess, you're getting that dress, but that's it. No more Mr. Pushover." Eudora led the two young girls by hand out of Charlotte's room and down the dim hallway. You turned around to see the shadows of Eli and Charlotte on the wall as Eli said, "Now, who wants a puppy?" and Charlotte jumped up and down.

"I do! I do! He's so cute!" Charlotte yelled. You felt a tug on your hand and turned back to Eudora.

"Come along now."

---

Eudora helped both you and Tiana on the trolley to make sure you didn't trip before she helped herself on. Tiana pressed herself up against the window and you shoved her lightly to see out as well.

The three of you were nearing your stop when a man on the trolley shouted, "Look, a fire! That house, just over there!" The trolley made an abrupt stop and everyone piled off onto the corner of the neighborhood's street. Eudora gasped as she saw it was your family's house up in smoke, almost directly across the street from theirs.

"Girls, hurry along!" She said, urging you down the sidewalk.

"That's my house!" You wailed. You let go of Eudora's hand and ran towards the flames. Eudora urged Tiana to stay inside their house before jogging after you. A man grabbed you by the arm, stopping you before you could get too close.

"Hold on little girl," he said, "it's too dangerous for you to be here. Where are your parents?"

"That's my house! I need to go get Mom and Dad!" You cried. You were scared of the orange flames that towered into the sky, devouring the wood and furniture you grew up with, but you needed to know your parents were safe.

Eudora finally caught up to where you were talking to the man. "N/n, let's go inside Ms. Eudora's house, okay? I'm sure the firefighters will be here soon." 

You pouted. "What about Momma and Daddy?"

Eudora had a sorrowful look on her face as she picked you up to rest on her hip. "I'm sorry dear."

Tears began to form in your eyes, and you wailed into Eudora's shoulder, crying for your parents as she carried you across the street to her house. The ring of sirens grew louder as the truck grew closer, but the sound was muffled suddenly as Eudora shut the door. She set you down and Tiana came around the corner.

"Momma? What's going on?" Tiana asked. She had never seen her mother this serious.

"N/n, sweetheart, you're gonna live with us from now on, okay? I'm so sorry, baby. Let's take you to the guest room. We can go shopping tomorrow for decorations if you want. You and Tiana can share clothes until we can get you some." She held your hand as she led you upstairs. You were confused to be honest, but you would come to a realization soon enough.