A/N: Thanks for all the comments and reviews! It's so nice to know y'all are enjoying this story. I hope that continues. This is a short update (short for me anyway) but better short than none...well, sometimes... And of course, no, I don't own He-Man, Adam, Teela, Duncan, etc., etc., etc.

Teela

Well, that workout might have been a mistake. I always had a habit of pushing myself too hard, and after not doing much for a few years, my body was in no way prepared for the old routines I was once used to. I plopped down on my couch after Adora left, thankful that I had nothing else to do that day.

And then there was another knock on the door.

"It's open," I yelled, too tired to get up. I just hoped it wasn't Adam.

Father walked in with a frown. "Teela, that's very dangerous. You really should come back to the palace. You're much too easy a target out here."

It was the same lecture he gave me every time he visited. "I know, Father," I said. He was still frowning at me, and it occurred to me that I probably looked and sounded a bit like I'd been drinking. I felt a little mischievous about it. "Help yourself to something," I said, raising one arm. "I'd offer to get it for you, but I'm not sure I can stand." Okay, it was mean and probably dumb. He suddenly looked like he was going to cry.

"Teela," he said in that disappointed tone that fathers do so well.

"I'm not drunk, Father," I admitted apologetically, albeit with some amusement. "Adora and I worked out this morning, and I'm afraid I overdid it."

He stared at me. "You worked out?" His tone was one of complete disbelief, and as with Adora, I couldn't blame him. I'd been a mess for the last few years. Well, really the last nine, but it hadn't been bad until the last four or so. Once my drinking had impacted my job, I sort of spiraled downhill. I wasn't addicted or anything—okay, I was, but I'd been sober for three months now, except for yesterday. At any rate, five years ago my father had given me an ultimatum: resign or be fired. Not that it mattered. Either way I knew everyone would know the reason, or think they did. They didn't know about the anger and the guilt.

I forced that train of thought away. "Yes, I worked out," I confirmed for him, smirking slightly. I had thrown him completely. But I didn't get a chance to enjoy it, because my father wasn't one to beat around the bush, and he promptly brought up the reason he had come.

"I spoke with Adam last night." His dark eyes stared straight at me, gauging my reaction.

Everything that had felt good about working out and getting through another few hours without a drink, thinking yesterday's lapse wasn't going to become a habit again, suddenly imploded. "So?" I asked, crossing my arms belligerently.

"It doesn't take the Oracle to know that whatever has been bothering you for the last nine years involves Adam," Father said steadily. "I thought that part of your problem was the grief of dealing with the loss of both him and He-Man, but after talking to Adam, it's obvious to me I was wrong."

I shrugged and averted my face. I couldn't bear to admit what had happened. Not only because of what Father would think of me, but because of what he would think of Adam as well. He thought the two Eternian moons rose and set on Adam. I couldn't be the one to disillusion him, to prove that neither of us was as good as he thought we were.

"What did he do to anger you so, Teela?" Father asked me lowly.

"I don't want to talk about it," I replied stubbornly.

Father let the silence stand for a few minutes. A tear trickled down my cheek and I wiped at it angrily.

"I can guess."

My head whipped around to him. "I don't think so," I countered with a choked half-laugh.

Father leaned back and crossed his arms. "Let's see. We had two lifelong friends who didn't even realize the attraction brewing between them. He disappears, you get upset, and the only person you talk to is Adora, whom you don't really know, who doesn't know you, comes from a world with a different system of values, and has no expectations of what either you or Adam is like." There was a wise sadness that grew in his eyes as he spoke. His voice sounded thick as he concluded, "I can guess, Teela."

Attraction brewing between them? My mouth dropped open. He had noticed it? That blew my mind. It terrified me. "Stop!" I cried. I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs. "Stop," I repeated pleadingly, tears pouring down my face.

"Teela, whatever happened between the two of you, I love you both and that will never change," Father said firmly, moving to sit beside me. "But this anger you have held on to, it has destroyed your life. Adam's back. As painful as it is, you need to confront him with the truth and move on. You need to reclaim your life."

"I can't," I denied, even though I knew he was right. He was right, but I couldn't stand even the thought of how Adam would look at me.

"Teela-" Father began, but I interrupted.

"You don't know what you're asking!" I cried out. I buried my face in my hands. "Please…just tell Adam to stay away from me. I can't handle this. I can't handle him." I sounded like a blubbering idiot. I hated it, but I couldn't seem to stop.

"Young lady, that is not how I raised you!" Father said sharply. I looked at him out of habit; when Father spoke like that it wasn't smart to ignore him. If you did you might find yourself peeling potatoes in the kitchen for three days straight. His voice softened as he looked at me, but his tone was no less firm. "I didn't raise you to run from your problems. And that's not who you are. I don't care what Adam did to you or what you think he did to you. You are Teela, my daughter, not some simpering courtier who can't find her way to the ballroom on her own!"

I guess that was what I needed. My chin went up and I nodded with difficulty. "You're right," I whispered. "But I need some time, Father. I didn't expect him to come back anymore. Please ask Adam to wait. I can't face him yet. I don't know what to say. I'll…I'll let him know when I'm ready to see him."

Father stared at me for a long moment, then nodded. "Three days, Teela. If you haven't talked to him by then, I'm sending him to you. This isn't fair to either of you."

Three days to gather my courage. It didn't seem enough, but I nodded my agreement anyway, even though my heart felt like it was full of mud from the Tar Swamp.