Underwater

All kids love playing in the water so much, T'Challa was certain of it.

He looks toward the beach, Nakia and a little boy running along the waves, their faces lighten up with big bright smiles as the mother and son chase after each other.

The little boy.

My son.

T'Challa has always thought of having a family with Nakia since he was young and they grew up together over the years.

They would play in the catacombs when they were little and were caught by Baba. T'Challa chuckles at the memory.

They spent their time playing in the palace’s garden, and running along the rivers guarded by the river tribe, Nakia's home.

They would jump down into the river and play with the other children for the rest of the evening, they had such a carefree life back then.

It was all the precious memories he and Nakia will forever share.

T'Challa's heart melts as he witnesses the scene before him, Nakia and their son, Toussaint, a beautiful name given by Nakia to their son. They both kneel on the sand, searching for shells and crabs while sand splashes on their faces, the two laughing at each other, he laughs along with them, standing a few feet behind them.

It was almost six months later after the battle with Thanos. They came back from the so-called "Blip", but in reality, it has already been five years. 

They were gone for five years. For the people who got snapped away when they lost to Thanos, right here in Wakanda.

T'Challa himself and Shuri were gone for these five years, leaving their loved ones, their mother, Ramonda, their general, Okoye and his love, Nakia and a son he didn't get to know behind. 

They have lost so much time with them. As T'Challa vows he will make it up to them, for their family and Wakanda. He will make up what was lost for these five years.

But sometimes when something is lost, it will be lost forever.

T'Challa thought of the man who saved the universe.

Tony Stark.

They had a brief encounter during the Civil War with Captain America and on the battlefield. But still, T'Challa held his highest respect for Tony.

Without him, they wouldn't be here, the people who dusted away five years ago.

Without him, T'Challa wouldn't know he had a son and a family waiting for him.

T'Challa's heart aches for Tony's family, he remembers he had a daughter, around the same age as Toussaint. 

Families reunite and rejoice, 

but a daughter had just lost her father forever.

T'Challa believes that Tony Stark will live in the hearts of everyone who owes their life to him, and the others who sacrificed during the battle.

Tony will forever be remembered, 

In the hearts of the Wakandan people,

In the hearts of the people from Earth,

In the hearts of the people from outer space,

In the very heart of his daughter, Morgan.

Always.

As T'Challa vows, Wakanda will no longer hide behind their walls as they will fight with the people on Earth together from now on.

T'Challa walks toward the mother and son, trying to lift them up from the waters; they have been at the beach for quite some time now. He's worried they might catch a cold with their soaking wet clothes.

"All right, little panther. You already had a bucket full of shells, what are you going to do with it?" He ruffles his son's hair while holding Nakia's hand to lift her up. They lean into each other and smile together while they look at their son, still digging in the sand looking for shells.

"Does he remind you of someone?" Nakia chuckles at him.

"You? You do like to bury yourself in the rivers all the time when we were young…" T'Challa smirks back at Nakia.

"I was going to say you! Look at his little face, he had your "I'm going to dig the entire beach today" face now!" Nakia laughs at him openly, leaning her weight on him comfortably.

"Yeah, yeah, you can say all you want…" T'Challa beams at her, he loves seeing her smile, and he would do anything to see Nakia happy.

"Okay, now you said it, our son does remind me of someone…" T'Challa and Nakia's eyes met in the soft breeze, they were pretty sure they thought of the same person that came to their mind that moment.

"Our T'Challa Jr does look like his Auntie Shuri when she was young," Nakia confirms their thinking, smiling at the memory of little Shuri.

Oh Bast, T'Challa remembers it now.

All kids love playing in the water so much.

Including his little sister, Shuri.

When she was around the same age as Toussaint was now.

He had to drag her out from the waters every time when she had the chance to dip herself in it, saying, "The SEA is CALLING to me, brother! I have to go—!" She has been playing in the rivers for hours, T'Challa drags her out every time, ignoring her protest, while Nakia wraps her around with warm towels, ensuring the princess doesn't catch a cold.

"We can come and play again another day, sisi. I promise you," Nakia promises the little princess as T'Challa wraps his arm around little Shuri. The warmth of her brother's arms lures her to sleep instantly after playing in the waters for so long.

"She is a handful, isn't she?" T'Challa tells Nakia while he stretches his other hand for Nakia to hold. She takes it as his eyes shine with love looking at both her and Shuri. The people in Wakanda all know their prince dotes on their princess just way too much.

Both T'Challa and Nakia were almost 20 years older than Shuri. Bast, if they decided to settle down way earlier, Toussaint would probably be the same age as Shuri.

"She's your sister, indeed." Nakia counters him, not wanting to let go of T'Challa's hand when they reach the palace.

"How long are you going?" T'Challa asks Nakia gently, not wanting to wake little Shuri up.

"A few weeks, maybe a month?" Nakia knows her duties as a War Dog.

T'Challa knows he has to let go, "Be safe, my love." As he kisses her gently and lets her go.

For years, they've been together and been apart, breaking up and getting back together again, and separated again. T'Challa was sure this was the so-called "test" that was given to them by Bast. At last, they will not be "breaking up" again anymore.

"Baba! Mama! Look!" Toussaint calls for them as they return from their memory lane.

"Will Auntie Shuri like this?" He's holding up a perfect and golden-coloured shell-shaped shell to them, asking for their approval.

"Anything you got for your Auntie Shuri, it will be perfect in her eyes, Baba is sure of it," T'Challa tells their son firmly.

"Baba, Mama, when will we meet Auntie and Grandma?" Toussaint looks at them expectantly, wanting to meet his family so much from the moment they told him weeks ago.

T'Challa came to Haiti secretly months ago to find Nakia and was surprised with the biggest blessing in his life.

He knows Mama and Shuri would blame him for not taking Toussaint home to meet them sooner. Nakia looked at him and they chuckled together. 

Oh Bast, they would spoil him so much, especially Shuri. 

"Soon, my usana," my baby, "You are going to meet your umakhulu and umakazi soon enough," grandmother and auntie, T'Challa assure his son, they have been arranging the relevant matters to welcome Toussaint home. 

However, they have changed their mind. T'Challa and Nakia decided to bring Mother and Shuri here, in Haiti to meet Toussaint instead.

T'Challa and Nakia had told him their home, Wakanda. And his family, Mother and Shuri. Toussaint was most excited to meet with his Auntie after T'Challa told him how amazing she was. 

"Mama, I'm done! Let's go home, Baba! I think I could finish making shell necklaces for Grandma, Auntie Shuri and the other Aunties like Auntie Okoye!" Toussaint beams happily at them, running back home with a bucket full of shells.

"So that's what he's been planning about?" T'Challa raises his eyebrow at his wife.

"Yep, he has a creative and loving personality like me!" Nakia smirks at him and tugs him to run toward their son.

"When do you have a creative mind—HEY—" T'Challa glows at Nakia and is tugged away, walking faster to their home together.

As a myriad of twinkling lights shines in the villages through the clear night sky.

Families reunited and rejoiced.