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Makena groaned as Shuri ran over to her, wrapping her arms tightly around Makena, clearly forgetting that Makena just had a spear lodged in her. "Oh sorry," Shuri apologized, loosening her grip.

"It's okay. Are you okay?" Makena asked in concern. "You have cuts all over your body. Why are you worried about me?"

"Because I felt you get stabbed," Makena explained. Shuri's brows scrunched in confusion but she didn't even wanna know. "I'm okay. I'll heal," Shuri reassured. Makena nodded and removed her arm from around M'Baku, having enough strength to hold herself up. "Good."

"Are you healing?" Shuri questioned, looking at all the slashes on Makena. A few of them had healed up but some were still there. "Yeah, I'm just a little weak right now so it's taking me a minute," she explained.

"Okay. Come, let's sit you down," Shuri mumbled. She helped Makena sit up against one of the crates. "We'll be home soon and then I can see why your healing process isn't as fast as it was." Shuri said.

"Mhm, sounds good."

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Makena sat on the table in the lab, reading some kind of book she was sent. She didn't know who sent it yet but it looked important so she began reading it anyways. It was written in Sokovian. Luckily Makena had learned a lot of it when she met Wanda. She was really good at picking up languages for some reason.

Makena frowned in realization. "Huh, I actually haven't heard from Wanda in a bit," Makena mumbled. But she just decided to shrug it off. Maybe Wanda just didn't wanna be bothered.

Shuri walked into the lab, "Yo," she greeted Riri.

Riri turned around and grinned, they shared a little friendly handshake. "All set to head home?" Shuri asked.

"As long as you're sure the police won't be waitin' for me at the airport," Riri said.

"Don't worry, I took care of that. But you might wanna slow down on your homework for higher reasons." Shuri joked. Riri chuckled softly and nodded, "It can slip and I can't help you with that." Riri nodded understandingly.

"You said you wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Yes. Your suit. It's a great design but, I can't let you leave with it." Shuri said apologetically.

"It's all good. Figured the least I could do was help Wakanda clean up my mess." Riri replied understandingly.

Shuri smiled softly, "Makena and I, actually have something we wanna show you." Makena perked up at her name being said. "Kena put the book down. Come." Shuri took Makena's hand and she set the book down on the table before standing up and following Shuri as Riri followed behind them.

Makena gestured Riri to pull the car cover off and she did. Riri let out a small gasp of shock and happiness. "It took us a while to find all the parts from the river. But, it was worth it." Shuri stated.

Makena leaned on Shuri with a smile, "mhm, for once I actually regretted throwing something in the river."

"It's my dad's car. We used to work on it before..." Riri trailed off and both Shuri and Makena nodded, understanding what Riri was saying so she didn't have to continue.

"You sure this is it?" Riri asked, opening the drivers side of the car.

"Every part. I'll have it shipped to Boston, it'll be there before you arrive." Shuri explained. Riri popped open the hood and smiled to herself. She closed the hood before turning to Shuri and Makena.

"Bring it in man," Riri said. Shuri chuckled and embraced the girl. Makena backed away, not very fond of hugs unless they were from Shuri.

"You too, cmon," Riri smiled. Makena shook her head and backed up, "Nope. Not a hugger." Makena said.

Riri and Shuri both scoffed before Shuri grabbed Makena's waist and pulled her over. "Hug the girl before I make you listen to that barbie song you hate," Shuri threatened, playfully of course. But she was very serious.

Makena sighed and let Riri hug her tightly, it took Makena a second before she finally hugged Riri back. "Gonna miss having another American around," Makena mumbled.

"Panther, Miss William's transport has arrived." Griot informed.

Riri pulled away from Makena and smiled gratefully at the couple. "Look after yourself." Shuri said as two men entered the room, ready to escort Riri out.

"You sure y'all not tryna slide to Chicago? Catch a Bulls game?" Riri suggested.

Makena smiled to herself, "Maybe another time." Makena said.

"Yeah. Sounds fun, but I have something I need to take care of." Shuri said.

Riri nodded understandingly and turned to walk out but Makena spoke up. "Here, you ever need me, just give me a call." Makena handed Riri a Kimoyo Bead bracelet and Riri smiled. "Thank you. For everything," Riri said.

Makena nodded and watched as Riri was escorted out.

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Makena sat across Shuri on the truck, wondering why she still decided to tag along. But Shuri insisted she come with her. Two men sat next to Shuri talking in Haitian.

The truck stopped and the man pulled down the door to the trunk. He helped Shuri out and Makena just jumped off with her hands still tucked into her pockets.

"Thank you," Shuri said in Haitian and he nodded.

Makena looked around as Shuri payed the driver. "Thank you."

"You are welcome."

Shuri took ahold of Makena's hand and they walked to the entrance of the beautiful home. Nakia already walking out, expecting their arrival. "Welcome," Nakia greeted with a smile.

"Hey," Shuri said and Makena waved her fingers.

"Hello." Nakia pulled both women into a hug, despite Makena hating them but she enjoyed Nakia's hugs. Nakia just held a vibe that was full of comfort. Almost like when Kenni used to hug her.

"It's good to see you both. Everything is ready. Just give me one moment," Nakia said.

Makena furrowed her brows a bit confused. Shuri still had yet to tell her why they were even there. She just knew they would be staying there for a few days.

"Actually, I think I should do it on my own." Shuri spoke up and Nakia nodded understandingly. "Of course."

"Kena, can you wait here please?" Shuri requested. "Yeah, sure. Be careful baby," Makena pressed a kiss to her cheek before following Nakia into the house. She glanced through the window to make sure Shuri was safe. Even if Shuri was the Black Panther that didn't stop Makena from being protective, maybe a little possessive too. But in a good way obviously.

Makena followed Nakia to the room, "You and Shuri will stay in here," Makena nodded. "Stay here, I will be back," Nakia said.

Makena grabbed Nakia's hand before she could leave. "Uhm, do you know what she's not telling me?" Makena asked with a raised brow.

Nakia looked down with pursed lips, it took her second before she looked back up at Makena. "It's not my place to tell," Nakia decided.

Nakia walked out and Makena sighed, running a hand over her hair. She absolutely hated not being told what was planned. It made her get anxious and overthink which she hated because that made her vulnerable.

Makena set down her bag and leaned on the bed frame. She turned around suddenly when she felt a finger tap her lower back, which was exposed as she had worn a crop top and some low waisted grey jeans. "Hey. I know you," Makena bent down to she was at a similar height to the little boy.

"Yes, you are Makena. My other Auntie's wife," The little boy spoke. Makena smiled in confusion and looked up at Nakia. "This is my son, Toussaint." Nakia said.

Makena grinned and cracked a soft chuckle. "Yeah, I am Makena. But unfortunately, I'm not your other Auntie's wife." Makena spoke.

Toussaint smiled at her and set his hand on her shoulder, "Well, you should be."

Makena chuckled and stood up as Toussaint walked over to Nakia. "Yeah, maybe we should go tell her that." Nakia smiled and Makena followed the little family out.

Makena followed them down the small hill to the beach and seen Shuri sitting on a log looking at the sunset. "Shuri," Makena called.

Shuri turned her head to look over and noticed Makena standing next to a little boy and Nakia. She held confusion on her face as she looked at the boy.

"Can we join you now?" Nakia asked, holding Toussaint's hand. Nakia noticed Shuri's confusion and spoke, "This is my son, Toussaint."

Makena smiled as Nakia leaned down to Toussaint's height. "Toussaint. This is your Auntie, Shuri."

Toussaint smiled brightly and waved at Shuri, "Hi."

Shuri still held much confusion and shock on her face. Makena walked over and sat down in the sand to Shuri's right. Toussaint and Nakia sat to Shuri's left and both of them shared a small chuckle.

"We agreed it was better for him to grow up here. Away from the pressure of the throne." Nakia told Shuri. Then she looked down at her son. "Your father. Your Baba, prepared us for his death, didn't he?" Toussaint nodded.

Shuri blinked, trying to wrap this information around her head. "But he didn't want us to go to the funeral. Because he felt the time was not yet right. So we had our own ceremony for him here." Nakia explained, also speaking to Makena who wasn't the slightest bit surprised Toussaint was T'Challa's son.

"Did my mother meet him?" Shuri asked.

Makena squinted her eyes now understanding why they had Makena wait in the aircraft when Nakia wanted to speak with Ramonda privately.

"She did."

Shuri sniffled and smiled, she glanced over at Makena. "Did you know?"

"Nah, she just told me in the room. He thought I was your wife," Makena mused.

Shuri chuckled and turned to look back Toussaint. "It's nice to meet you." Shuri held up her hand and he gave her a high five. "Nice to meet you," he replied.

"Toussaint is a beautiful name. It holds a great history." Shuri said.

"Thanks. Yours is cool too, I guess." Toussaint said. Makena cracked a small chuckle seeing a lot of T'Challa in that boy. They shared the same smile, that same humor that T'Challa held. Shuri chuckled with the boy. Even the laugh was like T'Challa's.

"My mom says you both are good at keeping secrets. Is that true?" Toussaint asked the couple.

Shuri grinned in amusement and nodded at the boy. "Yes, we can keep a good secret."

Toussaint looked at Nakia who gave him an encouraging nod of approval. "Toussaint is my Haitian name."

Shuri looked at Nakia with squinted eyes and she nodded softly. "Who are you?" Shuri asked Toussaint in Xhosa.

"My name is Prince T'Challa, son of King T'Challa."

Makena's lip twitched into a small smile as a tear escaped her eye. Shuri looked at Makena, both having very similar reactions to the news.

"Toussaint has something to give you," Nakia spoke. Makena furrowed her brows as Toussaint pulled out a small wooden box and placed it in Shuri's hands. Shuri smiled knowing what it was already.

"What's that?" Makena asked.

They all looked at her and Nakia smiled which made Makena even more confused. "Toussaint, let's give them a moment," Nakia said. Toussaint nodded and followed his mother back up the hill.

Makena still sat there in confusion and Shuri stood up. Shuri reached out her hand and Makena took it, letting Shuri pull her up and Makena wiped off her jeans from the sand. "So, you gonna tell me what this is and why they just left?" Makena's lip twitched into a small smile but she still held confusion on her features.

"Walk with me." Makena nodded softly and walked on Shuri's right side as they walked down the beach.

"You remember what you told me before we went to war?" Shuri asked, stopping and turning to face Makena.

Makena's brows scrunched as she thought back to that night. "That I'll always support you?"

Shuri chuckled and shook her head. "No. The other thing."

Makena smiled to herself in realization. "That when this is over I really wanted to marry you? You know when I said that it was mostly just for motivation for you to not totally die." Makena mumbled with a small smile of amusement.

"So you don't want to marry me?" Shuri raised a brow, not believing that.

"Have I ever said I didn't? I just don't wanna rush it when you're going through all of this," Makena said. Shuri smiled and nodded in understanding. She knew Makena would never stop worrying about her. I mean she was literally destined to protect people she loves.

"I understand what you mean but if I'm being honest here, you're the only reason I'm still going. And the fact that we're not tied together by our love yet definitely keeps me up at night. Anyone of us could die at any time, and Bast forbid that happens but if it were to happen I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that I could've married you."

Makena let out a breath in shock, trying to figure out the words to say. "This isn't exactly how I planned for this happen. And I know you've said that the idea of marriage when you have no family left scares you. But just because they aren't here physically, doesn't mean they aren't here mentally. So yes, we may not have our family here but it doesn't diminish my desire to be your wife and I hope it doesn't diminish yours either."

Shuri noticed the tears threatening to fall in Makena's eyes and sucked her lips in with nervousness. She was really hoping for Makena to say something.

"I thought I told you I was supposed to propose to you," Makena chuckled. Shuri cracked a small laugh, relieved that Makena's reaction was good.

"I'm impatient and you take too long," Shuri shot back and Makena laughed to herself.

"If you had given me another month to finish my plans, this would be the other way around." Makena sighed and pulled out a small dark purple box from her jacket pocket. "And if this is going the way I think it is, I really hope this ring fits," Makena mumbled, looking at the box.

Shuri softly chuckled and nodded, and she opened the small wooden box. Makena placed a hand to her mouth as tears threatened to fall. "How? How-How did you get it?" She stammered. Makena watched as Shuri pulled the ring out and set the box in the sand.

"T'Challa gave it to me a few months after N'Jadaka...passed. He told me that Erik asked for myself to give it to you when you find that special someone to put up with your bullshit." Makena chuckled softly, wiping a tear at the memory. She used to always complain that she would never be able to find someone who could put up with her. Makena didn't realize how much she really missed him until more recently.

"I hope I'm not wrong but I like to think of myself as that special someone." Shuri said. Makena nodded and Shuri put the ring around Makena's neck as Killmonger always wore it on a chain. "Will you marry me, Makena Ahmed?" Shuri proposed.

Makena smiled and nodded repeatedly, "Yes. Yes I will marry you."

"Just kiss already!" Toussaint but in front where he and Nakia stood eavesdropping. Shuri and Makena shared a laugh, getting a little bit of deja vu. T'Challa once shouted the exact same thing when Makena and Shuri had got into an argument and both refused to apologize.

Shuri cupped Makena's face and kissed her fiance passionately. Toussaint grimaced and Nakia covered his eyes but he pulled her fingers open to peek anyways.

Shuri pulled away and smiled, "Before you give me yours. I hope you didn't think that was your only ring." Makena furrowed her brows in confusion and Shuri pulled another ring out of her pocket. "This is your ring. It was my mother's ring when my father proposed to her." Shuri explained.

Makena smiled softly and held her hand out, Shuri gently took it and slid the ring onto her finger. "It's literally gorgeous." Makena admired the ring with a smile.

She blinked, snapping out of her daze and she handed Shuri the small purple box. "You open it. I'm way too nervous for that," Makena mumbled nervously.

Shuri cracked a laugh and opened the box. She smiled brightly, realizing this was the exact ring Kenni had planned to give Makena's mother. When he left back to Wakanda he always carried the ring with him, promising one day he would return to her and propose with the ring. Shuri remembered when she stole it once to impress a girl she liked in school and he freaked out, tearing the entire house apart to look for it.

"Wouldn't your father want you to have it?" Shuri asked, pulling the ring out carefully.

"Honesty, no. It has more sentiment to you than it does me." Makena gently took the ring from Shuri as she spoke. "Remember when you told my dad that you dreamed of being proposed to with a ring exactly like this one?" Makena asked.

Shuri nodded, and chuckled realizing Makena read her mind. "Did you read my mind?"

"Not on purpose." Makena slowly got down onto one knee and Shuri chuckled knowing this was something Makena said she'd never do. But Shuri always dreamed of this so Makena wanted to make her dreams come true. "Will you marry me, Shuri Udaku?"

Shuri pursed her lips, pretending to think it over. "I guess so, I mean it's the least I could do," Shuri shrugged. Makena rolled her eyes at her antics, "I hate you."

"And I love you. Yes, I'll marry you, Kena. Now put the ring on," Shuri rushed. Makena laughed and slid the ring on Shuri's ring finger. Shuri pulled Makena up and kissed her passionately, almost forgetting two people were watching. Maybe a few more, who weren't physically present.

Toussaint cheered and ran down the hill, Nakia following him with a giggle. Makena bent down and picked Toussaint up from the sand. Nakia put her arm around Shuri, whispering an "I'm proud of you" into her ear.

"T'Challa would be so so happy for you both. Correction, T'Challa is so so happy for you both. And he can't wait till you get married and live the life he always wanted you to live." Nakia spoke, putting her arms around both girls, Makena holding Toussaint on her hip as they looked at the sunset.

"Wakanda Forever, right?" Makena smiled, winking a Shuri.

"Wakanda Forever," they repeated softly.

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a.n: omg, this is the end of the book wtf (for now) a bonus chapter will drop when i publish my riri book as it's almost done so don't put this in archive yet baby ;)

just so everyone knows, when Shuri appears in the Ironheart series (and anything else), and if it fits with my plot than I will write for the parts Shuri appears in and add Makena ;)

this book was definitely a journey and I'm so thankful for everyone who gave it a chance and read it. I appreciate all of you, and hope you stick around for more of my work <3

a riri book will be published soon so make sure to check it out :))

all love ~ adri

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