Author's note: I tried writing in the planning session, but I kept falling asleep. No... really, it was dreary. I gave up, and decided to go this route. Just assume they've been covering all the bases.
After two weeks of planning – both for the wedding and for the mission, everyone was exhausted –emotionally and physically.
Adam and Teela dutifully walked to the King's office, both dreading yet another evening of heavy strategizing with meals hastily taken while working. The work was emotionally and mentally exhausting, but neither Adam nor Teela ever gave a hint that they were tired. They would perform as needed without complaint.
"We've changed the location," Duncan told them, intercepting the couple as they neared the King's office. "If you'll follow me."
They followed Duncan and after five minutes of walking, Teela finally broke the silence.
"Can't you tell us where it is? Why the mystery?"
"These meetings are secured, Teela. You know that."
The gentle censure in his voice only irritated her more.
"Where is more secure than the King's office?"
"Duncan, has their been a breach? Do you have reason to believe -"
"Okay – we're here. Why don't we take this inside," Duncan hated interrupting Adam, but he was already knee deep in subterfuge already.
Adam and Teela entered the indicated room and each stilled, taken aback by what they saw. An opulently laid out table awaited them with candles flickering, offering gentle light to go with the gentle music wafting softly through the air. It was clearly a romantic setup with dinner for two.
Adam looked over at Duncan, unable to comprehend what had happened.
"What's this?"
Duncan laughed at the Prince.
"I guess it has been too long, lad," he joked. "This is a night out with Teela. You two deserve a break after the rigor of the last few weeks."
"What about you and my parents?"
"We'll dine in the formal dining room -"
"I meant, our strategy meeting -"
"Adam, there's such a thing as too much work. "
"Adam, do you think he's an impostor," asked Teela only half-jokingly.
"Come on kids," Duncan growled. "You aren't the only ones working hard. We all need a break."
"Then why go to all this trouble, Duncan, if you're tired," Adam challenged his assertion that he hadn't gone to any trouble.
"I hardly did anything. The palace staff did much of the work -"
Adam shook his head.
"Okay, old friend. But thank you anyway. And thank my parents please. This is incredibly thoughtful."
"Can we really do this," Teela asked, feeling strange about not working.
"Yes, you can. You two need this, my dear," Duncan told her gently. "You can't start off your married life in a state of exhaustion."
"But I never said I was tired -"
"And you never would," Adam told her. "Your father knows that."
"We know that about you too, son," Duncan told him. "Between He-Man, planning for the mission and planning your wedding, you're not getting any time to just be a person. Just enjoy tonight. The King expressly forbids you to discuss the mission. This room is secure, but not secure enough."
Adam nodded and smiled his thanks. Teela hugged her father before he left them alone.
She looked up at Adam and saw that he was casting his gaze around the room, stunned at the effort that had gone into creating a mood.
"This is incredible," Teela murmured. "Do you think they picked up on my exhaustion?"
"I think they picked up on everyone's exhaustion," Adam told her, coming over to her. He placed one arm around her back and stood next to her taking in the sight. "I can bet that they were in need of a break too."
"All those contingency plans – the logic charts – the -"
"We aren't allowed to talk about it," He said with mock alarm. "Seriously. My father will throw us in prison if we break his orders."
"Yes. He's such a tyrant," she giggled.
"I say they went to a lot of trouble on our behalf. We should enjoy the results of their hard work so we don't hurt their feelings."
She shyly smiled at him and nodded.
"Please sit, my lady."
He gallantly pulled out a chair for her, and she giggled at his regal manners.
"Thank you your Highness," she told him, falling into the spirit of the moment.
"You won't be able to call me that for long, Teela," he said, teasing as he sat down opposite to her and poured her wine before pouring his own. "It will describe you as well."
"Is that why you're marrying me? So I can't use your title against you?"
"You know it. It's a sacrifice, but I'm used to those."
"Still a brat -"
"I've had a bad influence my whole life," he countered.
"Imagine what our children will be like," she blurted out, and then flushed a little in embarrassment.
"Do you think about that?" His voice was curious, edged with teasing.
"Yes..."
He grinned.
"I do too. They should all look like you and have my easy-going temperament."
"You realize you've just ensured we'll have high-tempered blonde and blue eyed children," she said good-naturedly. She too would prefer children with Adam's temperament.
There was a pause in the conversation and they ate together quietly for a while.
"Teela? How are you doing?"
"Exhausted."
"It's been hard, hasn't it? Emotionally difficult, but also – elders, sometimes I find myself zoning out. I know we have to focus – but all those contingency plans..."
"And here I thought you never tired of that sort of thing. Certainly as He-Man you never showed any weariness in battle planning."
"I'm good at hiding it."
"I suppose you are..."
"I know we have to be very ready for anything – but it's too much sometimes. I guess it would be worse if I wasn't going through this with you. There have been times during the last few years where I've felt exhausted and 'done', but as I was hiding the secret from you and my parents, I wasn't able to really recoup my energy."
"Oh, Adam -"
"Not that i'm complaining. I'm just comparing now to then. Now – we're all tired, yes – but we can appreciate the way we all feel. You aren't wondering how I can be so tired if all I did today was go fishing."
"I knew you didn't just hang out and fish."
"What did you think I was doing?"
"Napping... flirting with pretty girls."
"Ouch."
"Yeah. Ouch. I'm sorry I thought so little about you. The kid I knew wouldn't have grown up to be that way -"
"Why not? It's not unusual for an active child to grow up into a lazy teenager, especially if he's royalty. I think based on how I acted your perceptions were spot-on. You couldn't have known the truth because I was keeping it a secret, with a lot of help from Grayskull's magic."
"Remember the time I forced the memory projector on you? Ancients I feel badly about that now. What a terrible thing to do – a violation. I forced you to share your thoughts."
"I was pretty angry at you, Teela," he laughed. "But I didn't say anything because that too would have been out of character."
"You were angry?"
"Well, I felt – like you said, it was a violation."
"I'm sorry," she said softly, reaching out to take his hand.
"It's okay. I'm just glad you didn't see me on a mission-"
"Well, it would have brought us closer, sooner," she answered, running her thumb across the back of his hand.
"Maybe," he said. "I'd like to think so..."
"Were you angry when I wouldn't leave you alone – that time you actually dismissed me?"
"I was very angry... not just at you, but at all of it. I complained to Cringer that day who told me to stop whining."
"He did not."
"It's an accurate paraphrasing. He was very angry on your behalf. Seriously, he was furious that I'd spoken to you that way. He refused to let me delude myself."
"I was hurt," she said, her eyes clouding over as she remembered the moment. "I felt that you'd put a barrier between us that would never be broken. Up until then we'd been Adam and Teela... and then suddenly we were Prince and Captain."
"Yeah," he exhaled, gripping her hand tighter. "I know. I'm really sorry. I remember thinking it my head – if you use your title, she'll have to leave you alone. Just do it... and I did it... feeling sick as I said it because I knew it was wrong for us. The minute I said it, I felt sick."
She nodded.
"You were tired. You needed your rest. I know because I'd battled with you... and you'd been in the battle longer. "
"I don't know where you get your energy from," he shook his head. "You never tire out."
She blushed a little at the double meaning and he gave her a smile – the kind of smile he only ever gave her when they were alone.
"Teela, don't do that," he warned.
"Is that an order?"
"It's a very emphatic suggestion."
She giggled.
"I guess I'll be good. Only two more weeks, anyways."