Kaldur watched like a hawk over the team. He never let any of them be alone with Shalina. When it was merely the two of them as the team watched for behind the corner. The two of them were in silence for several long minutes until Shalina broke the silence.

"Kaldur, you were always meant for greater things. Your father and I only wanted to help you achieve that." Shalina said facing her son.

"You only wanted to create a monster." Kaldur clarified.

"Our ways were forcefully, yes, but we wanted to you to be a king." Shalina argued.

"All you wanted was to use my pain as a weapon. I never wanted to be king! I am loyal to the king and to Atlantis." Kaldur explained.

"You are nothing more than a lackey and a fool. You had the potential to become a king and you threw it away." Shalina said in disappointment.

"I have always been a disappoint to both of you. I wanted a better life and all you ever wanted was to rule." Kaldur said as he detected the disappointment in her voice.

"I expected you to be stronger that this." Shalina said.

"Did you even care that I was dying? I almost died of blood lost! I fell into a coma for crying out loud!" Kaldur shouted angrily.

"We have prying eyes my son." Shalina said as she saw Megan's foot from the corner.

"Team get in here!" Kaldur ordered.

The team filed in the room, but stood back so that they would not get caught in the crossfire.

"I want them to hear this from me." Kaldur said as the zeta beam announced Black Canary's arrival.

"What is going on here? I come here to check on you guys and I hear you screaming." Black Canary asked.

"My son is going to explain something that is completely false." Shalina said with an innocent look on her face.

"So the fact I almost died was false. Tell me this 'mother' was it easy letting your child die alone in a hospital with strangers, Or maybe the fact that the healer said that had no idea if they could save me if I was to flat line again." Kaldur explained getting angrier by the second.

The Team was in shock along with Canary. Shalina face became like a statue, unmoved by what was said.

"And let us not forget how you gave Manta permission to let him kill me. What did you tell him, ah yes, "he is not of any use to us anyway so why not end his life." Did you even come looking for me when I was releashed?" Kaldur added as his rage increased.

"I-your father- that is not fair." Shalina said in defeat.

"No, me wanting to kill myself when I was 7 years old, that is not fair." Kaldur argued.

Megan gasped as the rest of the team shot daggers like stares at Shalina.

"You ruined my life! I wanted to die as a child. When the healers saved my life, I asked them why did they save me. Mera was sobbing at my words. She was the only one that gave a damn about me and if I lived or died. She stayed with me during the night before I awoke to my nightmares. Mera stated once that I said that the demons was coming to get me." Kaldur said as tears started to form in his eyes. "She is the only person that acted like a mother to me. You were perfectly ok with me dying. It was not like you were going to my funeral any any right." Kaldur added as a sob took control of him.

"She is not your mother. Did she give you life?" Shalina demanded.

"She might as well of." Kaldur answered bluntly.

"She made you weak. She should have let you die. Do you show your loyalty to your family in this manner?" Shalina begged.

"My family would not have left me to die." Kaldur said. "Tell me this, did you know that I would harm myself at night?" Kaldur asked.

Shalina stood there like a statue. Kaldur groan in frustration and angry. He has never felt this much anger and rage in his life. The gates of hell opened at that one question. There was no turning back now.

"You knew! I almost killed myself in that house and you did not even try to stop me! How dare you call yourself a good mother!" Kaldur shouted in tears.

"You needed to learn to toughen up. If you harmed yourself that is your own fault." Shalina explained.

"I hate you! You and the Manta could fall off the face of the planet for all I care! I hate you! When you die, all of hell and it's servants will rejoice, for their queen has returned!" Kaldur shouted as he stormed off.

The Team and Canary stood there is shock. Wally finally got his true answer on why Kaldur hates his mother. Robin could no longer feel pity for Shalina after what was said. Canary wanted to strangle Arthur after what happened. She went back to the Watchtower in hopes of finding Arthur.

The Team went to look for Kaldur art the pool and in his room but no luck in finding him. Zatanna went to look in the library to see him on the floor next to the fire place, sobbing into his knees. Zatanna ran to him and tried to comfort him.

"Kaldur, it's ok. Let it out." Zatanna whispered softly to him.

All Kaldur did was sob harder. The rest of the team came in and tried to comfort him.

______At the Watchtower____________

Canary stomped into the Watchtower and demanded loudly to see Arthur.

"Where the hell is he?" Canary screamed.

"Who?" Green Arrow asked.

"Where is Arthur?" Canary demanded.

"What do you need Black-" Arthur said but was cut off by Canary slapping him.

"How dare you allow her to stay with them after everything she did to him." Dihan screamed.

"I was going to tell you." Arthur tried explained.

"The second we came up with this idea, you should have told us!" Dihan explained angrily.

"What happened?" Oliver asked, trying to defuse the situation before it got worse.

"Kaldur told me and the Team everything. He used to harm himself to deal with the pain. How could you." Dihan explained.

"Where is he?" Arthur asked worriedly.

"The Team went looking for him." Dihan said.

Arthur walked to the zeta beam and went to Atlantis. Black Canary and Green Arrow looked confused.

________In Atlantis_______________

Arthur went to his room he shared with Mera and knocked on the door. He doesn't even wait a second ,as he usually did, before he walked in.

"My love, what is wrong?" Mera asked worriedly.

"I am taking you to the surface. Kaldur need some assistance." Arthur explained.

"Very well." Mera said as she quickly got up and followed her.

The zeta beamed both of them to the cave. Arthur lead Mera to the library, which he somehow knew where Kaldur would go to him, and saw the Team trying to comfort a sobbing Kaldur. Mera rushed to his side, kneeling next to him. She closed her eyes and her hand started to glow slightly. She placed her lightly glowing hand on Kaldur's quaking back. Kaldur whimpered lightly before his sobs turned into sniffles.

"It is alright my son. I am here now." Mera said in a soft whisper.

Kaldur picked his head up and looked in shock to see his queen. She pulled him into a hug as she rubbed his back slowly. He nuzzled his head in the crock of her neck. Small little sob escape his throat as he allowed himself to be consoled by his queen. The Team realized that they were no longer needed and quietly left.

Mera sat on the floor with her child and quietly soothed him. It shattered her heart to see her child so upset. She softly hummed a lullaby to him as he took his time in and exhaling. After several minutes on the floor, Kaldur took his head off of her shoulder and wiped his tears.

"Are you any better my child?" Mera asked, still keeping her soft tone.

"Yes my queen. Shalina, she is so cruel. My queen, she knew about my harming myself and did nothing to stop it. How could I ever be related to someone so cruel and evil spirited." Kaldur explained as he leaned against the wall.

"I do not know my dear. I never told you this but when you fell into a coma, I ordered the healers to save you. No matter the cost" Mera explained.

"You told me of this my queen." Kaldur said slightly confused.

"I said excatly, and I quote, "You must save my child." I felt from that moment that you were my child." Mera explained.

"My queen, thank you." Kaldur said as he rested his head on her shoulder.

"You are welcome my son." Mera said as she wrapped an arm around him and kised his forehead.

They sat their on the floor for what felt like hours, but the time seemed endless to them.

______Back to the Team______________

The Team went back into the 'breakroom' and tried to think of a way to help Kaldur. It almost killed them to finally know a piece of Kaldur's haunting past.

"We can't keep her here." Artemis said boldly.

"We have no choice." Robin explained.

"Look at what has happened to him. He is in a corner crying his eyes out and we have to put him through this for the rest of the week." Artemis smmarized angrily.

"She has a point. This is wrong." Wally added.

"I know it's wrong but we have no choice. We have our orders. We need to keep them as far away from each other as possible." Robin explained.

"Why can't we just tell Kaldur to go back to his apartment on the surface?" Connor asked.

"He got an direct order from his king to stay put. He wouldn't disobey him like that." Megan answered.

"But this will kill him if he doesn't." Wally added.

"We need to talk to Aquaman about this." Robin said.

They went to find Aquaman only to find Shalina. They walked by her and found Mera and Kaldur leaving the library. Mera shot daggers at Shalina.

"What brings you here my queen." Shalina asked with a small bow.

"That is none of your business Shalina." Mera said coldly.

"It is my business if it envolves my son." Shalina agrued,

"I am not your son. Since when hav you cared what happens to me Shalina?" Kaldur corrected.

"Oh, but you are Mera's child. She made you into an obedient lackey. You are nothing more than a surrogate for her." Shalina said with a grin on her face.

"What is that suppose to mean?" Mera asked denfesvly.

"You could never have your own child. So you took my child as a replacement." Shalina explained.

"Kaldur has always been a child to me. Biologically or not, I will treat him a such." Mera argued.

"My son was born a warrior. He would have been a king ruled over Atlantis with an iron fist. You made him soft. I could have used that rage to fuel an army." Shalina ranted angrily.

"I would have been a monster. Queen Mera saved my life." Kaldur argued.

"She ruined your life." Shalina corrected.

"My queen saved me from death. She made sure that I was insured a future at all. You are nothing more than a egg donor and the devil's wife. I wanted to have a chance at life. One you never wanted me to have." Kaldur explain as he defended his queen.

"You are a fool Kaldur. Your father remind you of your foolishness soon enough." Shalina explained with a smirk.

"We shall see Shalina." Mera said as Shalina walked away.

Mera turned to hug her son tightly. She placed a small kiss on Kaldur's cheek.

"Unë duhet të shkoj tani birin tim. I vendosur një pajisje komunikimi në xhepin tuaj. Ju do të jenë në gjendje të kontaktoni me mua, nëse keni nevojë për ndonjë gjë." (I must go now my son. I placed a communication device in your pocket. You will be able to contact me if you need anything.) Mera explained.

"Po mbretëreshën time. A jeni të vërtetë kanë për të lënë kaq shpejt?" (Yes my queen. Do you really have to leave so soon) Kaldur asked softly in the embrace.

"Mjerisht fëmija im po bëj unë. Ju lutem kontaktoni time me mua para se të shkoni për të fjetur sonte në rregull." (Sadly my child yes I do. Please my contact with me before you go to sleep tonight okay.)
Mera said as she tightened her arms around him.

Kaldur nodded slowly as he tightened his arms around her.

"You are a very good boy Kaldur. Do not let Shalina's wickedness taint that kind heart. Am I understood?" Mera said seriously as she looked at him in the eye.

"Yes my queen." Kaldur said as he bowed his head to her.

Mera kissed his son's cheek one last time before walking to her husband. She leaned up and whispered something in his ear. By the look of Aquaman's now fearful face, it was not good. He teleported her back to Atlantis as the team watched Kaldur walk away.

"Aquaman, you need to rethink having Kaldur on this mission. They will kill each other before Friday." Robin said.

"I know. I need to talk to him." Aquaman said as he walked to find Kaldur.

Aquaman found Kaldur in his room with the door closed. He knocked it gently and waited for a response. When he heard feet walked to the door and the loud creaking of the springs of the bed. He saw Kaldur open the door and his eyes still slightly red from crying. Aquaman instantly pulled him into a hug and started to kick himself for letting this happen.

"Kaldur I am so sorry." Aquaman apologized.

"This is not your fault my king." Kaldur said

"I should have never suggested that the Team would watch over Shalina." Aquaman argued.

"This was out of control from the minute you heard of Manta's plan to raise Atlantis." Kaldur explained.

"I know. I still feel guilty though." Aquaman said. "Kaldur, I understand if you want off this mission. I will not be mad at you or punish you for your decision." Aquaman explained.

"No. To be honest, I do not trust Shalina around the team. I have a bad feeling about her turning herself in so easily. I would like to keep an eye on her." Kaldur explained.

"If that is what you want." Aquaman said as he released him.

Kaldur wasn't sure on that part at all.