Redemption 17
Summary: One person, a secret, and an ocean tore them apart. Six years later, they find their way back together. But a rekindled love, is not Redemption.
Warnings: None
Masterlist || 16 || 17 || 18
“Good morning,” Zari puts on her best smile as she walks into the family dining room. She helped Aiden into his seat beside T’Challa before sitting across the table from Alua. “Goodmorning,” The Jabari noblewoman smiles back and continues eating. Conversation flows amicably back and forth like normal and T’Challa couldn’t thank Bast enough. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Alua or Zoe, but he had no idea how this breakfast would go. Especially since he had no desire to explain the full situation to anyone outside of those who already knew. “T’Challa?” the man fell from his thought cloud back to the table. He looked around to realize all the women in his life were staring at him. “Yes?”
“I asked what you and Alua had planned for the day.” His mother repeated. “Oh, I was going to show Aiden the menagerie if you’d like to join,” the king offered before glancing at Zari, “you too Zari.” The woman looked up from the fruit she had resumed pushing around the plate, “Oh, I’d planned to head out to the market and to see my family too. I think it will be good for you and Alua to spend some time alone with Aiden. Especially since she will be joining the family soon enough,” Zari offered up a smile before turning back to her breakfast. “I would love that,” Alua chimed in hoping to break up the silence that had begun to settle over the table. “Zari, I think I’ll join you in the market and visit to your mother,” Ramonda continued around the table. “I’m assuming that you will be in your lab Shuri?” The queen raised an eyebrow. “Only with your kind blessing mother,” Shuri grinned, quickly finishing her plate. Ramonda shook her head as the princess stood to escape to her happy place, “Before you go Shuri, please get Aiden ready to head out with his father.”
“But-” the princess opened her mouth. “I’ve got it, Queen Mother,” Zari spoke, earning a grateful look from the princess. She winked in response, “I’m not going to see him the rest of the day. I want to have a little time with him before we head off.” Aiden smiled up at his mom and Ramonda shook her head but laughed nonetheless as her youngest scampered out of the room before she could insist. “Come on buddy, you finished everything you wanted?” Zari caught her son’s attention who was finishing his last piece of fruit. “Look at you! Clean plate club!” the mother grinned and tickled her son. “Look, daddy?” He raised the dish to show his father who matched his mother’s enthusiasm. “I think that earns you a ride on a rhino if the herders agree.”
Zari shot the king a look that she hoped conveyed her unease and he squeezed her hand under the table. She fought to ignore the electricity between them “It’s perfectly safe,” he reassured. “I’m trusting you,” she warned. “Let’s go get ready so you can see all the animals with Daddy.” Zari stood and escorted her son out of the room.
An hour later Aiden was freshly bathed and dressed ready for his day. T’Challa knocked twice before entering, “You ready Aiden?” He smiled as his son ran over and hugged his legs. “Let’s go then,” He hoisted him up on his shoulders. “No daddy,” he wriggled around. “I wanna walk right now.”
“Oh?” the king raised an eyebrow and looked up at his son who was leaning over his face. The kindergartner nodded and T’Challa shrugged before setting him back down. “Why don’t you go find grandma? I wanna talk to your mom before we leave.” Aiden nodded before skirting out of the room. “No running son,” T’Challa and Zari reprimanded at the same time. The couple laughed. When the following silence became unbearable under T’Challa’s gaze Zari walked around the bed to grab her purse. “I should get-”
“Why did you do that?” the king moved closer to her cornering her against the wall. “What do you mean?” T’Challa moved even closer, practically pinning her against the wall. “You refused to go to the menagerie with us. Claiming you want Alua and me to spend time with Aiden.” the king leaned his head down so that his breath mingled with his love’s. “I- I do,” Zari stammered.
“That’s bullshit.” the king replied cooly searching her eyes. “T’Challa someone might see.”
“The door is closed.” He leaned even closer. His lips brushed Zari’s but his hands still held firmly behind his back. “If she is to become his stepmother then-”
T’Challa captured her lips in a bruising kiss and instinctively Zari wrapped her hands around his neck. The king's hands ventured to her lower back before settling on her butt and pulling them pelvis to pelvis. “He will have only one mother,” the king growled. “But Alua,” Zari started.
“Is in love with M’Baku as he is with her.”
“How can you be-”
“I asked her. We have agreed to try and figure out a way to change the agreement.” Zari looked up shocked and the king reveled in the feeling of still being in control of her body. “So your excuse stands today. Tomorrow, however, you are mine Zari.” The king searched her face for any signs of hesitation or defiance before stepping back and walking out of the room.
A few moments later, Zari caught her breath and looked at the time realizing she was probably keeping Ramonda waiting. “What is wrong with me,” she sighed, grabbing her things and making her way out of the room. A few hours later, Zari and Isha were huddled in their childhood hideout. The window seat in Zari’s bedroom was more cramped than either of them remembered but the conversation at hand was more important. “I just think we’ve missed our timing,” Zari sighed. “ I feel like you are deciding that for him, Zar. I mean you’ve only been here a few weeks. Albeit a few horribly timed weeks, but I think you should cut him some slack.”
“Yeah, but what if Bast is trying to tell us that she doesn’t approve?”
“Or she is simply testing the strength of your love. Think about it. You all have been apart for years. It is easy to fall in love with the idea of the relationship you had with T’Challa. But maybe she is making sure you can actually still love the man he has become. Not just the man he was.” Isha rubbed her friend’s back as they watched her nephew run around the backyard.
“I think I just need to give him some space. Take Aiden back to New York for a few weeks and once the marriage issue is resolved, send my baby back here until school starts.”
“If that is what you truly believe is best, then I support you. Personally, I think you’re running from the fact that you’re still in love with T’Challa.”
“I-”
Isha cut her friend off with a look, “I know you are and it’s okay. Just make sure that you are making this decision for him and Aiden, not just you being afraid to put yourself on the line.”
“So you don’t think I should give him some space to figure it out?”
“If you want to, you should. But I think you should reconsider not coming back with Aiden. I think you should come back to stay with him for the rest of the summer. Even if only to see me,” Isha added. Zari snorted as she hugged her best friend turned sister, “I missed you too Isha.”
“Okay Mister,” Zari smiled at her son as he was tucked in his covers. T’Challa had been quiet the whole time they got him ready for bed. He’d kissed Aiden goodnight and headed out claiming he had something he had to finish in his office. The mother was slightly worried about what had put him in an off mood but decided to talk to him about it after. “Tablet off? Toys away? Teeth brushed? Ears and Toes cleaned? Night light on?”
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Yep. Yes.” Aiden smiled back at his mom. “Alrighty then,” Zari pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I love you Aiden.”
“I love you too mommy,” he kissed her cheek before she headed out of the room, making sure to turn the lights out before shutting the door. Next thing she knew she was pressed against the wall with T’Challa hovering over her again. “For Bast’s sake T’Challa! What on earth are you doing?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“You couldn’t have asked me like a normal person?”
“You aren’t enjoying meeting like this? You seemed to enjoy it earlier.” The king raised an eyebrow and Zari felt heat rush to her cheeks. “What do we need to talk about?”
“Us. Zari, I want you and not as a friend. Nor as a co-parent. I want you as my wife.”
“But, you are already engaged.”
“An engagement I am trying to end. Zari, I never thought I would see you again. If I had known that just a few weeks later I would find the love of my life again, we wouldn’t be in this situation. We’d be planning an engagement party for all of our friends and family.”
The designer chuckled at the earnest truth that laced T’Challa’s insistence that they be married. “You didn’t know though. Now someone else’s life has been dragged into this mess-”
“Someone who loves another as well Zari.” The king interrupted. “I know T’Challa,” the mother looked away and bit her lip. “I love when you do that,” The king leaned in closer and Zari couldn’t hold in her laughter.
“Are you really this horny your majesty?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in his voice and suddenly Zari felt the wind leave her lungs. She’d expected him to joke it away but she could tell something had shifted. He was done playing games. This was no longer the 18-year-old prince she’d known intimately years ago. Before her was a man, who knew exactly what he wanted and she was what his eyes were set on.
“Oh,” her voice came out barely a whisper. “Zar, look at me,”’ the king lifted her chin. “What is keeping you from running away to elope with me right now.”
“Besides your fianceé sleeping in a guest room down the hall?” Zari chuckled and the king frowned. “You’re avoiding the question again.” He stated and felt Zari squirming even more under his gaze. “Tell me what is truly on your mind, Zari.” He asked softly, only a step above pleading. “At every step you’ve been so willing to give up on this relationship so quickly. Why?” He searched her gaze.
“A few weeks before I found out I was pregnant,” Zari started out softly, “you’d left something at my house. I came by the next day to drop it off and overheard your father speaking with one of the elders.”
[6 years ago]
Brinin Zana, The Royal City, Wakanda
The Palace
“Your majesty,” Zari froze as she heard voices coming down the hall. Not wanting to be caught leaving the Prince’s quarters unattended, she hid in an alcove close by. “Yes Semi.” King T’Chaka paused his walk to acknowledge one of the elders. “The rest of the council has asked me to speak to you about your son’s choice in a romantic partner if you will.”
“Yes,” the king gestured for the man to continue speaking. “Many of the council members are afraid of the consequences that will occur if the two decide to wed one day.”
“Wed?” Zari shook her head, “Who was thinking about marriage when college decision day was just around the corner. She prayed she could even make it through the rest of her final year of school with her head on straight.”
“As you know,” the elder continued, “The girl is not of noble blood. If the two should wed, well it simply has not been done. The elders would like you to put a stop to this relationship if at all possible. To preserve the traditions of Wakanda.”
“Is that all?” King T’Chaka glanced at the clock on the wall. “Well yes, your majesty.”
“Good. Semi, they are just children. Infatuated with each other. As you and the council are aware, children are not expected to marry as young as we were when we were younger. Both of them plan to attend college before any discussions of a family begin.”
Zari smiled, glad that the king at least seemed to understand the priorities of her and T’Challa. They weren’t even sure they’d be attending the same colleges for the next few years, let alone discussing a wedding or children. Though she and the prince had begun to explore the delightful method through which children were brought into the world. Zari fought the heat rushing to her cheeks at the mere thought of their escapades. “They are not even planning to attend the same schools as far as I understand. I highly doubt this relationship will last the separation and therefore, I will be doing nothing of the sort. My son is happy and the girl is a delight to have around. Now if they are still together in five years we will revisit the situation with both of the children involved and treated like the adults they are. Until then, my son will be allowed to enjoy this young love and it will end on its own timing.” The king dismissed the elder and continued on his walk in the hall. Leaving behind a Zari who was an odd mixture of pleased and hurt. Everyone was banking on her and T’Challa’s relationship failing? Sure she’d had her own doubts about her value in the eyes of the country as a royal, but it was different to hear your fears voiced out loud.
Present Day
“From then on, I felt like our relationship was on borrowed time. Even with Aiden it still is. The council will accept him, he is of royal blood. I am not.”
“Zar,” the king reached out wanting nothing more than to comfort the woman he could tell was seconds away from retreating from him once more. “No, T’Challa. Unless you can look me dead in the eye and tell me that the council would feel any different about us being together now than they did back then… I think it is best that Aiden and I leave for a few weeks. Just so you can sort out the marriage contract. I will send him back to spend the rest of the summer with you.”
Zari turned to walk away but T’Challa grabbed her wrist gently. “What about you?”
“I don’t know T’Challa.” Zari offered a sad smile before vanishing off down the hall.
“Come on baby, tell daddy you’ll see him soon,” Zari sighed as she watched her son sniffle his way through his hug with T’Challa. She loved how close the two had gotten and for a moment she wondered if she was doing the right thing by taking him away. It's just for a few weeks, she chastised herself. “Don’t cry son, it’s just for 14 days. Auntie Shuri taught you how to count that high. So every day, I want you to count down until I can come to get you okay.” The king wiped his son’s tears as the child nodded. “Okay,” Aiden mumbled and moved to take his mom’s hand. Ramonda, Shuri, Okoye, and Alua watched as the mother-son duo waved goodbye, T’Challa following close behind. At T’Challa’s signal, one of the Dora helped Aiden into the car while the king gently pulled Zari closer. “T'Challa, what about your family?”
“Two members of my family are leaving. They can excuse my PDA just this once.” The king gently pulled Zari even closer by her elbows so that their foreheads touch. Tears start to slip down Zari’s cheeks and the king wipes them away. “And here I thought you weren't going to miss me.” Zari chuckled and punched the king’s chest. “I do truly love you T’Challa. I just can’t fight this fight again. I want us to end on our own timing, not because the elders won’t approve.”
A tear sneaks out of T’Challa’s eye as he pulls Zari in for a hug. He holds her close, fearing that maybe this would be the last time they were this close. “I love you Zari,” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. She sniffled and hurried into the car before she could make a different decision.
“When you love something, sometimes you have to let it go before it can fly back to you.” Alua hugged T’Challa from the side before walking off with Shuri who patted her brother’s shoulder. “Let’s talk,” Ramonda touched her son’s shoulder and he followed her into the parlor. “You know, this might be the worst decision you have ever made.” The Queen started after they had been served a late lunch. “Esh, what have I done?”
“You let my future daughter-in-law just walk out of here. You didn’t even put up a fight.”
“Mama, you didn’t even hear what the elders said about her when we were kids. I can’t put her through that again,” the king shook his head. “Well then change the traditions.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I thought you were the king?”
“What if she says no?”
“Then you can rest,” Ramonda pulled T’Challa’s hands into her own, “Knowing that you fought for her. But if you don’t get her back now, or at least try. You will always wonder, ‘What if I had just fought for her a little harder?’”
“And Alua?
“I’m sure you can think of a way to appease the Jabari. Besides, we both know the girl is in love with M’Baku. You’ll both be happier with different people. So stop making excuses and go. Zari is the one that is about to get away.”
Taglist: @blackbypurpose @tchoking @sisterwifeudaku @wikiwakanda @royallyprincesslilly @90sinspiredgirl @thedelightfulone @autumn242 @purple-apricots @kumkaniudaku @queertrex @kaciidubs @halfrican-heat @skysynclair19 @dramaqueenamby @leahnicole1219 @kreolemami @mzbritt @derangedcupcake @chaneajoyyy @lalapalooza718 @ororowrites @leahnicole1219 @sarcastic-sunshines @sarahboseman @waitingonafriend-blog @faatassbitch