Redemption

Chapter 17

"Good morning," Zari puts on her best smile as she walks into the family dining room. She helped Aiden in to his seat beside T'Challa before sitting across the table from Alua. "Goodmorning," The Jabari noble woman 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 not 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 visiting 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-"