Chapter Text
Tiana was waiting at the airport ready to pick Belle up. Her father had fallen ill so Belle had flown back home to France to take care of him; leaving Tiana at home because holiday days had to be saved for their actual holiday. Tiana had tried to protest but Belle made very compelling arguments and Tiana soon found herself agreeing.
So she’d been alone with just their dog all week, trying to distract herself with work and unfortunately getting an assorted and uneven mix of super slow and quiet shifts followed by long and demanded shifts where the restaurant was super slammed. It wasn’t great for maintaining a pretense of being okay with the thousands of miles between them. In a different continent her true love lies, busy caring for her father and being a dutiful daughter. Communication was limited to a shaky Skype call a night and a couple of lines of Messenger at odd times of the day.
The main thing that was keeping Tiana going was the fact that at least Maurice seemed to be doing better. Tiana didn’t know for sure if it was due to medicine or simply having Belle there, but at least he seemed to be recovering. From one of the earliest Skype calls she’s learned that it was nothing too serious, merely a strain of flu that was easily treated. Truth be told, Tiana thought Belle was going mainly over as support but she didn’t really mind. She knew that if she was ill she’d rather have Belle there for her than suffer alone.
So here she was, waiting almost a week after Belle had left, holding a bouquet of soft yellow tulips interspersed with darker blooms with deep red streaks. It was nice bunch of seasonal flowers without being too overboard and she knew Belle would love the simplicity of them. She eagerly checked her watch again, smiling when she remembered the birthday Belle had given it to her.
Then there she was, coming around the corner into full view. Her hair was piled into an elaborate looking bun that had probably taken a minute to pull together, and her sunglasses rested on her head. Her coffee coloured blazer was rolled up at the sleeves and with her skinny jeans with the turn ups, ankle boots to match her blazer and plain vest she was looking incredibly put together with her suitcase rolling behind her. Tiana thought she looked like a princess, classy and beautiful all at once. Her princess looked around until she caught her eyes and then Belle was running towards Tiana with a beautiful smile. Tiana had always hated clichés until this moment when she was living one.
Tiana took Bella into her arms and hugged the flowers carefully against her back while Belle took Tiana's face in her hands and kissed her soundly. By the time they pulled apart enough to grin at each other, Tiana had her free hand placed against one of Belle’s. “Hi, you. I missed you.”
“Me too. Never leave me again. I mean I know that’s not fair considering, but I missed you so much.”
“I know what you mean,” Belle said, leaning her forehead against Tiana’s and taking her hand properly in her own.
“I did vow that when I said I’d love you forever remember?”
“I remember,” Tiana said, running her fingers over the gold band on Belle’s finger.
“Now, I want to go home with my wife who I haven’t seen in a week,” Belle grinned.
“Yes dear. Now you can take these, and I’ll take this,” Tiana switched the flowers and the suitcase despite weak protests.
“I have the best wife,” Belle said as they walked to the taxi rank.
“No,” Tiana said, looking at her softly “I do.”