Esihle was barely one year old when the parenting drama started.

Shuri should have known things wouldn't stay so tranquil, but it was easy to forget. Having a baby took much adjustment but being royalty, she had more than enough help. Nakia was the best godmother of course and Toussaint loved being an older cousin. Many nights after sitting at council meetings and working in her lab, Shuri's favorite pastime was bouncing Esihle upon her lap, listening to her baby's ebullient giggles with techno music in the background.

Eishle was so bright already, not genius levels though like her mother or deceased uncle. The baby took to water like spots on a cheetah. Her talent for swimming was so innate that Shuri worried if she'd sprout fish gills (thankfully, she hadn't yet). Esihle's skin was still brown and not blue and her little afro was growing more each day. All things a testament she was more her mother than her father, hopefully.

Namor had even been surprisingly pleasant for a while. He made constant trips to the surface world and sent Attuma or Namora in his stead when he absolutely couldn't get away. Esihle was terribly spoiled with gifts and her father's attention. Her only option was to be a daddy's girl.

It was on one of his routine visits with their daughter that Namor broke the facade; again, they had yet to put a name to their relationship or their voluntary co-parenting. The passion that burned between them hadn't waned, but Shuri was keeping her distance. They needed to figure things out and not inadvertently give Esihle a sibling.

Namor was visiting her rented AirBNB in Haiti, a country she had grown to adore. For some reason, the Caribbean country brought her peace when she was at her lowest.

His expression was serious, with no easy-going smile or even the threat of danger. Eerily silent. His hand under his chin, looking like his own version of the Thinking Man statue.

"Esihle needs to see her people," Namor said.

She decided to play dumb which as a genius is hard to do. She closed her laptop and readjusted Esihle on her lap. "And how many people is that? She sees me, you, and Wakandans every day. Today, she even saw the owner of this house."

He didn't even dignify her with a response. Already she felt herself frowning, knowing where the conversation would turn.

"Yes, her mother's blood is Wakandan, but she needs to see Talokan as well."

Shuri stayed calm.

"Yes, I think she should one day. Her aptitude in water is marvelous, almost second nature." At her praise for their child, he relaxed a bit. His impending storm stalled only for a few moments.

"Of course, she's Talokan—"

"And Wakandan." Shuri asserted. Esihle turned around and smiled at her as if realizing they were talking about her. Shuri smiled at the joy sitting on her lap.

Namor stood up, sauntering around her room. Kings didn't need to pace for anything. The luxurious beach house didn't impress him. Few things from the surface world did, but he had to think of Esihle now. How would she turn out on the surface? "Almost too much. I speak to her in my language, and she barely responds save for basic commands."

"Eat, sleep, and poop. That's every baby's language." Shuri smushed Esihle's cheeks together. The baby laughed in return. "She isn't fluent in Wakandan either, but she's picking it up quickly. She'll be trilingual soon: English, Wakandan Creole, and Yucatec Mayan. If I stayed here longer, she may even pick up French and Kreyol."

He drew closer to her taking Esihle from her arms in one gentle motion, but his eyes were nothing of the sort; Namor's brown eyes were turbulent.

"You'd keep her from me."

"Stop."

"Stop what?"

"Jumping to conclusions. I've not kept you from her." Shuri folded her arms.

"But you've kept me from taking her to Talokan. Always you only let me take her to the water but never beneath it. She's their rightful princess." He closed his eyes for a moment. "I never thought I would have an heir. Hadn't even desired it until her." What emotion was going through him Shuri couldn't decipher. Gratefulness? Fear? Relief?

Namor kissed the top of Esihle's forehead, a look of tenderness passing through his gaze. "If she wished, I would destroy the world just for her smile. Any oppression or opposition I would knock down. I don't care who I've to kill if they get in my Izel's way."

Shuri shuddered because she knew he made good on his promises.

"Children need their mother." Shuri made her way to him, holding her arms out to retrieve Esihle. Esihle was beginning to doze off, unaware of the tension. Namor only repositioned her head, wiping away slobber at her little mouth.

"Children need families. Talokan is a whole community. All my children love their siblings."

She had a logical mind, so she wanted to de-escalate the situation though she was annoyed.

Choosing her words carefully, she reminded him, saying, "You're sealing away your own reign. Esihle is a direct threat to ruling Talokan. You know that right? She's only half-Talokan anyway. Your people may not accept her."

His chuckle held no humor. "Talokan doesn't lead by bloodline only competency. My people continually choose me. It's always their choice because I'll always have their best interest at heart. If my child, one day succeeds me, I fully support her."

Shuri shook her head. Their baby was sleeping now in her father's arms.

The young woman was inches from his face. And there was no waver or lie in her voice. "I know you're fond of kidnapping. But, if she's ever taken away without my full agreement, I won't fail to incapacitate you for good." His left wing had still never grown back, but he took to water not the sky, so much was not lost. "And I don't need to be the Black Panther to end you."

"Shuri," he began, somewhere between amused and genuinely concerned. "It's not becoming for her to be of this world. Even in prosperous Wakanda, she will take on the surface world's ways. Colonizers stay hungry, seeking to devour. She should never have to see her people tucked under and bowed."

Anger poured from her. "Tucked under? Wakanda doesn't cower before anyone! Let me remind you only a few of our warriors could rival and best your armies. You may think yourself high and mighty, but you're not. You may be a god, but you're not a savior. Your blind spots will wound you."

When she reached for Esihle, this time he relented. A cold look on his face. Somewhere deep she had penetrated his armor.

She continued," And what will you do? If you take her, I'll do everything to get her back." She didn't realize her eyes were watering. "Will you kill me too? Will you take away Esihle's mother too with your shortsightedness?"

Shuri knew it was a low blow, but she would dig that knife into him every time. Losing her mother was a continual hurt. She laid Esihle down on a blanket spread out on her bed before whirling in fury back to face Namor.

What surprised her was his solemn look. He reached for her.

"No, Shuri. That I'd never repeat. I swear I'll never separate you two. Living this long, I forgot how much we need our mothers. When it involves you, Esihle, or my people, I'll do anything. My "anything" can be drastic and fatal, but I don't ask for forgiveness or make excuses. At my core, I'm a protector. I need to protect her from this world."

Shuri wiped the streak of tears from her cheek. "You can't. As parents, our job is only to prepare her for the world."

He wiped her other tears with his fingers. His fingertips brushed her eyelashes.

Apologies weren't really Namor's thing as he held his convictions close to his heart. But his actions always showed his feelings. And truthfully since their shaky alliance, he had treated her as his own people and cared for and contributed to Wakanda. He had done everything in his power to fill in the gaps left by Ramonda's death. It would never be filled or enough, but Shuri knew he had changed for the better. She also knew he loved her despite his twisted ways, at times.

Namor cupped Shuri's face in his hands. "Come with me. You and Esihle. Make a life down in Talokan. Wakanda will always be here waiting for you. But I only have so little time with my family as our years aren't the same."

"K'uk'ulkan."

He released her face and she embraced him. For some reason, they were hugging now. How a parenting conversation hit every emotional trajectory was a story in itself. But Shuri felt safe in his arms. She felt protected.

"I can't leave my home permanently, but we could have a second home—a vacation home in Talokan."

The closest thing to kindness (because this was Namor after all) stirred in his eyes. "I'll make you reconsider," he murmured.

"You won't," Shuri smiled.

They broke apart from their hug. New understanding within them. It took growing pains, but their communication was getting better.

"K'uk'ulkan, I'm finally ready to accept your proposal," Shuri said. He had proposed so long ago before Esihle was even a thought. Maybe even back when they first met and he gifted her his mother's bracelet. "But I think we should get therapy first. Let's get marriage counseling."

The look on Namor's face was so hilarious, that Shuri's laughs woke Esihle.

I told myself this was just a one-shot. I just knew it was, but whaddya know now it's a two-shot.

It started getting a little too angsty, so I tried to lighten it up. But these two have so much to unpack or ignore.