Adam

This was becoming a first-class mess. All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and hide. Remembering what had happened between us seemed to have eased the tension in my stomach, but my head was still pounding. My emotions were absolutely raw. My parents and Ham coming in at that particular time was just...well, I'm sure someone somewhere thought it was funny.

Teela seemed frightened of my father as he turned to her. I don't know what she expected him to say, but all he said was, "Teela, it is good to see you my dear. You've been absent from the palace for far too long." Then he gave her a quick hug, which she didn't return. She had a dumbfounded look on her face; I knew how she felt. Father never used to be a hugger. I gazed at Ham, wondering if perhaps he was the one who had changed that.

"It's good to be here," Teela finally managed to reply.

"Adam," my mother said gently, catching my attention. "Are you alright?"

I nodded, smiling slightly at her concern. "She-Ra healed the wound. I'm fine. Just exhausted and still sporting a headache."

Ham wiggled his way out of Mother's arms and came to me, catching one hand between his own two small ones. "You're my hero," he said, his eyes wide. "You're even braverer than He-Man."

I felt a little thrill of alarm that I hid - as I always did when someone compared me to He-Man - and forced a chuckle. "I don't think anyone's braver than He-Man, Squirt. Besides, you were pretty brave yourself." I don't know what made me use the nickname, but he beamed, so I guess he didn't mind.

"He-Man's got super strength to do all that stuff he does," Ham answered earnestly, intent on proving his point. "You don't. That makes you braverer."

I glanced at Teela. Her eyes had narrowed and her lips were pursed. She was thinking. That might not be a good thing.

Father, bless him, cleared his throat. "I suggest we all let Adam get some rest." He threw a pointed look at Teela, then turned back to me. "Son, I do hope you feel well enough to join us for dinner?"

I nodded. "Yes, Father." Now that the nausea was gone, I could handle the thought of food again. But in the meantime, I could use some precious time to think. Flashes of memory were coming at me - memories of passion, anger, fear, remorse. I swallowed hard and happened to look at Teela just as she cast a confused, questioning glance my way. I shook my head slightly, and she sighed and started to head to the door.

In spite of myself, I couldn't let her leave just yet. "Teela," I called softly, stopping her. She turned to me with a guarded expression. "Will you dine with us?"

"Yes, Teela, do stay for dinner," my mother urged. She smiled broadly, her face alight with anticipation. "It will be wonderful to have everyone together again. I'll go tell the servants to set a place for you." Then she went out the door before Teela could reply.

Teela shifted uncomfortably as the rest of my family filed out, Ham waving cheerily. "I wish you hadn't done that," she said with a frown.

"I'd like to talk to you some more." I met her gaze steadily, hoping she would understand. The moment we had shared earlier was intense. There was an honesty to it that we hadn't shared since I had returned, an honesty I feared we would be unable to recapture. I inwardly cursed the timing of my family's arrival. "I just...need a little time, Teela, to process all this...and I'd like to try to get rid of this headache." I swallowed hard as the memories threatened to engulf me. "Do you think maybe we could talk after dinner?" She stared at me for a minute, then nodded.

"Okay," she said reluctantly. "I'll go see what Father is up to."

She left, the door swooshing closed behind her. When the solitude came, it was as if a dam inside burst. I had remembered things but was trying to let them in slowly. Now I gasped slightly as I gave into the memories from that night.

I hadn't gone there to seduce her. I knew that now. But I should have put a stop to it. I could have. I should have. But that kiss...all I had wanted to do was to tell her how I felt, but I couldn't seem to put words to anything. That kiss was borne of an incompetence to express everything that had exploded in my heart during that week, when I realized how deeply my feelings for her ran.

I remembered now going to her room, intent on having a heart-to-heart. But when she opened the door, those unfamiliar feelings welled up again, catching me off-guard. At the same time, I wondered if I was doing the right thing.

"So…what's up?" she asked.

"I had a lot of fun at the carnival with you yesterday," I said, unable to voice my real reason for being there just yet. "We haven't had fun like that in a long time."

She had offered a small smile. "No, we haven't," she agreed. "I enjoyed it too."

There was a short silence. I didn't know how to start the conversation I wanted to have. How do you tell your life-long friend you've fallen in love with her? What if it ruined our friendship forever? I walked across her room and stared out the window for a moment.

"You were really brave with the shadow beast," I commented, not turning around. I was tempted to walk out, to let things continue as they had been. She was the next Sorceress. Some things might be better left unsaid. Yet I didn't move.

"Which time?" she asked logically. She had in fact calmed the beast during the carnival show and at Snake Mountain, when it had held me - or rather He-Man - up in one hand over its head and threatened to toss me over a cliff.

"Both," I answered. The memory of her chained up in Snake Mountain leapt before my eyes. The realization of what Skeletor and his goons could do to hurt her suddenly hit me anew. I turned and strode to her. Her lips parted slightly as she craned her head to look up at me. "Why did you go to Snake Mountain alone?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

"Because I thought you had," she replied, a tad impatiently. "It's my job to protect you."

She had been in danger because of me. I already knew that on a logical level. I always had. But for some reason, now that I had admitted my feelings to myself, the idea screamed in my mind and I frowned. "Maybe I don't want to be your job anymore," I growled at her.

She backed away, surprise on her face. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I was scaring her. She didn't say it, but I saw it flicker in her eyes. Not fear of course, but the anger Teela felt when she was uncertain or fearful. I tried to calm down, to explain all my feelings. "I can't have you putting yourself in danger on my account. I just can't do it anymore, Teela."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand."

Only my Teela could be so obtuse about a man's feelings for her. This wasn't going right at all. I had to tell her. "I realized something today," I said, staring at her.

"What?" she whispered, searching my face with her eyes.

Our eyes met and I couldn't stop myself. I stepped closer and put a finger under her chin, tilting her up. "I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you because you were trying to protect me." I stroked the side of her face, hoping she understood what I was trying to say.

"But that's part of my job," she said. She licked her lips nervously, and suddenly all I could think about was kissing her. Maybe that would explain it better than words. I lowered my head slowly, giving her a chance to pull away, but she didn't. Our lips met in the most tender expression of love I could manage.

When I pulled away, it seemed she understood. "Adam?" she whispered. I waited for her to go on, but she didn't.

I cupped her face in both hands. "Teela, I...I love you. I think I have for years. I just didn't realize it before. I was so used to you being around that it wasn't until I truly thought about the danger you were in that I realized...I want you by my side, for as long as we have. Not as a sister, or a Captain of the Guard. As much more than that." And I kissed her again, expecting her to pull away and sock me on the jaw, but she didn't. Instead she responded whole-heartedly, holding nothing back.

After a while we broke apart, our breathing labored. "I think I love you too," she murmured. She traced my jawline with one finger. "A-Adam, I never thought…"

"Me either," I said, my own voice raw with emotion. "It's a lot to think through." This was serious for me. As the prince, I didn't court women. Flirt, dance, laugh, yes. Kiss and profess love, no. But though my intentions were long-term, and my feelings were true...acting on those would mean a lot of changes in her life. This idea was brand-new to her, and I knew I needed to respect her by leaving before things got out of hand. "I should go."

"Not yet," she whispered. Then she kissed me.

From there, we got carried away, almost like we were under a spell. We couldn't stop. Neither of us even tried. What can I say? We were young, stupid, and hormonally challenged. And maybe all of our actions - me flirting with girls in front of her, her lambasting me over the simplest things - maybe for years we had been hiding our physical attraction. I hadn't thought about it that much yet. I hadn't expected the world to explode when I kissed her.

Almost immediately after we made love, Teela withdrew emotionally, tensing up physically. It didn't take much thought to figure out why. I was fully aware of my reputation as a womanizer, and I'm sure she was wondering if she was just another notch on my belt, so to speak.

"Are you okay?" I demanded, my voice still husky. I was on my back, with her pressed against me, but her arm, which had been draped across me, began to pull away.

"What did we just do?" she asked in a slightly horrified whisper. She rolled onto her back and put a hand to her mouth.

Yup, definitely thinking about notches. I raised myself onto one elbow and stared into her suddenly fearful and sadly regretful eyes. My heart broke. This hadn't been my intention. I let things get out of hand and I shouldn't have. I knew better. But I also knew where I wanted to go from here, and I knew I needed to reassure her.

"We made love to each other," I said softly, looking deep into her eyes. "And maybe we rushed things, Teela, but please understand. I love you. I could never figure out why none of the women my parents marched through here ever appealed to me. But I've realized it's because you've always been by my side, and that's exactly where I want you. For always." Part of me recalled she was supposed to be the next Sorceress and demanded to know how I planned to fix that part, but I shoved it aside. We would figure it out later. "You are my best friend. I love your smile, your temperament, your determination, your zest for life, the way you challenge me to be a better person. Teela, daughter of Duncan, you are life to me. Your love means more than all else. I vow to love you and cherish you forever, to forsake all others and to be at your side for as long as I breathe." I reached up and cupped her face in my hand. "If you'll have me."

Her eyes widened. These words were part of an old Eternian custom, and she recognized them. Part of me knew this was happening too fast, but either of us could die at anytime and I was not willing to wait. Looking back, I couldn't help but wonder if we were drugged or something, because neither of us seemed to be exercising our usual level of caution.

My stomach twisted as I waited for her response, fearful that she would say no. If she responded that she would have me, then we would be as good as married. And I knew she was familiar with this custom. But she had so much to consider. This would make her the future queen. It wasn't to be taken lightly, and I could almost see the thoughts running across her eyes. There was a silence that seemed to last forever, then suddenly her eyes changed, reflecting peace and joy for the first time in a very long time. It was as if something had suddenly fallen into place for her.

"Yes, Adam, my love," she said softly. "Your honor knows no bounds, your compassion is a blessing. Your love is a balm to my soul, and I vow to return that love and care for you until my last breath."

We kissed deeply, and spent the rest of the night exploring each other - not just our bodies, but our thoughts. We talked more than we had in months. We were in love. At least we thought we were. That night, we felt as if nothing was wrong, that our love would carry us through any challenge.

Then reality set in.