A/N: Hi guys. Today is another dual update so Chapter 36 immediately follows. Thanks to all for your comforting words; it helped. I'm alright...I'm no longer sad or depressed just a bit PO'd (LOL). Yeah, I'll live. :) Anyway, I hope you like what I've got here. Thanks to those of you who have Favorited/Followed since my last update. Please review as it really keeps me going and my muse shifts into overdrive. I love hearing your thoughts.

Chapter 35

"Where are you? We're worried sick, Captain," Gada declared through the communicator, her exasperated tone echoing in Teela's Greyskull bedchambers.

Teela stood beside the bed and closed her eyes shaking her head in response. "Don't worry I'm fine. And Adam is better, too. Our location is classified. We just needed time away to allow him to heal," she explained.

There was a small pause. "What happened? Some of the servants here at the Palace saw him being admitted to the infirmary. They say he looked like he was at death's door. Rumors quickly spread throughout Eternos." She stopped and gave a heavy sigh. "Teela, they thought he had died," she stated, her voice haunted.

Teela's stomach churned with emotion at the memory. "I'll tell you when we get back tomorrow."

Another pause. "Tomorrow?" the voice replied with excitement.

"Yes," Teela replied. "But keep it to yourself, Gada. Our return is conditional upon Adam's progress. If he's not feeling well enough to return to work and daily life, then we remain here a few more days."

"Acknowledged, Sir. We miss you. It's so quiet around here. We miss you constantly barking orders at us day and night," she teased.

"Teela smirked. "Yeah? Well don't get too comfortable as I'll have you all doing nightly field exercises before you know it," she joked.

"Can't wait," Gada replied sarcastically. "Alright, Captain. Later."

"Much," Teela replied with a smile as they closed with their usual sign off, enjoying their inside joke from their school days. She had also spoken to a very worried Duchess of Aberra prior to her call to Gada. Shutting off the communicator, she reflected for a moment on how blessed she was to have two best friends with very different and distinct personalities and insights; polar opposites really.

She suddenly felt two strong arms slowly encircle her from behind, his nose nuzzling her neck. She leaned into his chest and reached behind to caress his cheek, her hand sliding upwards and fisting into his soft hair as she rolled her head to the side allowing him access. She moaned as his lips trailed kisses behind her ear to the base of her neck.

"How are your friends doing, Cap'n?" he breathed huskily into her shoulder.

She swallowed hard, the center of her body now lit up like the core of Mt Eternia. "Fine, Love," she managed as she cleared her throat, her voice quivering with desire. "Yours?"

Adam straightened and turned her to face him. He stared down into her eyes, his 6'5" frame towering over her.

"David is well and very anxious to see me," he replied, his face turning serious. "Eve and her father Johan are pretty upset over what happened and want to come to Eternos."

Feeling a slight twinge of jealousy, Teela searched his expression and nodded. Princess Eva'Na was considered one of the most beautiful women on the planet and has always been a close friend of Adam's. Some nobles believe they make the perfect match; Adam and Eve. Both royals. Both gorgeous.

Her stomach clenched slightly.

Staring into his loving eyes however, she regrouped and mentally berated herself for feeling insecure.

He held her gaze and pulled her closer. "Tee, thank you for staying with me," he began. "You left your post to assist with my recovery. I know you have a life—"

She put an index finger to his lips. "You are my life, Adam," she replied as she cupped his face. "I love you with every fiber of my being. I'll always be by your side and I can't wait to be your wife," she stated before rising up on tiptoes to place a soft kiss to his lips.

As the kiss deepened, Adam responded by tightening his embrace and easily lifting her off her feet. Teela wrapped her arms around his neck as the kiss grew in intensity; their pulses quickening and their breathing accelerating as they devoured each other, their separate disjointed thoughts seeking the other out and quickly merging, their souls now intertwined.

Adam's com-link suddenly buzzed to life startling both of them and shattering their connection. He quickly dropped her to her feet.

"Oh for crying out loud!" he exclaimed in exasperation as he grudgingly reached into his back pocket.

Teela, her face flushed with passion, couldn't help but release a giggle at his frustration.

The Prince stared down at the display. "Oh, it's my father," he stated absentmindedly. He opened the channel. "Yes, Sir?"

"Son? How are you feeling today?" came the reply.

"I'm well Dad, thanks."

"I understand you had a bit of a relapse the other day. What happened?"

Adam and Teela exchanged anxious looks: the transformation and Tri-Klops' discovery.

"Oh…umm…I just over-exerted myself. Tried to do too much too soon that's all. But I'm okay," he replied.

"Please son, do be careful. Take it slow. There's no need to rush your recovery. Your mother and I have everything handled here at the Palace in your absence," he reassured. "Your territories are being monitored and attended to daily and the treaty you signed with the Gamanthians before you were attacked was ratified," he explained. "Forget everything and just take care of you, son."

The corner of Adam's mouth curled slightly in appreciation. "Thank you, Father. I appreciate the help. Kiss Mother for me?"

"I will. We'll see you tomorrow." A pause. "I love you."

Unaccustomed to hearing his father express his love so openly, Adam's eyes widened as he jerked his head up to meet Teela's equally shocked emerald gaze.

"I…I love you too, Father."

After switching off the com-link, the couple stared silently at each other for a few moments, each unsure of what to say.

xxxxxxxxxx

The atmosphere was charged with excitement as everyone gathered around the BlackJack table, their gazes glued to the exotic looking self-proclaimed magician as he beat the Dealer at every hand. Although the House changed dealers several times, he still managed to win cleaning out the small casino's cache of $250,000.00.

Once the Floor Manager gave the signal to end the game at 3AM, they attempted to throw the Sorcerer out; however each security officer inexplicably came down with intestinal problems leaving him free to collect his gains and exit the building with his woman.

"That was embarrassingly easy," he later scoffed in their small seedy motel room. "These Terrans are quite simple. They are easily impressed and extremely gullible."

"Perhaps Queen Marlena is an exception," Lyn's mind muttered as she eyed him and undressed for bed. "Yes, my Prince. They cannot detect your magic at play and they don't appear to possess any supernatural gifts," she observed. "Your plan will have you wealthy by the end of the week," she surmised as she removed her top revealing a white lacy bra.

His eyes glued to her body, he dropped his money belt onto the nearby table and stalked towards her causing her to freeze in panic.

He grabbed her arms and kissed her roughly, biting her lip and tearing her at her bra. Pulling back, his dark eyes turned cold and steely, boring into her apprehensive violet gaze as she attempted to cover herself in vain.

"Sex," he commanded. "Now."

Staring silently at him, she nodded and complied, her eyes wide with fear.

xxxxxxxxxx

Prince Adam and Lady Teela sat at the back of the enclosed royal carriage quietly holding hands as he stared pensively out the window at the passing landscape.

Earlier, the King had dispatched the Royal Escort to the Castle bearing gifts and flowers addressed to the Guardian of Castle Greyskull for her 'Invaluable assistance in nursing the Prince back to health'. If Adam wasn't mistaken, he may have caught her blushing in response to the King's enthusiastic generosity; there were thousands of roses and lilies accompanied by a wooden chest of precious jewels.

The Sorceress initially refused the lavish gifts but acquiesced at the insistence of the young couple. She vowed to retain it out of respect for Eternia's monarch stating that the chest would be stored safely within Greyskull's quarry.

They both had given the Sorceress warm goodbyes expressing their gratitude for aiding in his recovery.

xxx

"Something wrong, Adam?" Teela asked softly. The two were now in the transport and halfway home.

Adam turned to find his fiancée studying him, a look of worry lining her beautiful features.

He smiled and caressed her cheek. "No, Love." Lowering his hand, he blinked and corrected himself. "Well, not with me anyway. I'm trying to anticipate Skeletor's next few moves. Once on Earth, he would need money for food and shelter; the basic necessities. Next, he'll need to influence those around him exploiting their strengths and weaknesses in order to supplant and ultimately control." He again met her eyes. "No doubt he'll attempt to seize control over the governmental infrastructures of the world and inevitably the armed forces. To do that, he'll need massive amounts of currency which will win him supporters if he goes the route of subtlety. If he decides on blatant otherworldly fantasia, then he'll use sorcery…," he shifted his gaze to the flooring and released a breath before meeting her eyes again. "Or quite possibly both."

Teela worried her lip with her teeth. "Your mother's family. Are they still alive?"

He shrugged heavily, concern etched upon his features. "Mom says her parents had her young. They were only nineteen and twenty years old at the time she was born. 'High school sweethearts' is the way she put it," he recalled with an amused upturn to the corner of his mouth. "They married young, right out of academy. They may still be alive."

She crinkled her brow. "What's a 'high' school?"

Adam shrugged wordlessly.

Cringer lounged on the ornately weaved rug which covered the flooring of the regal carriage, his ears flicking quietly back and forth in response to the somber conversation.

xxx

The transport had just reached the outlying country villages surrounding Eternos when the sounds of raised voices reached their ears. Mistaking the cheers for a riot, Adam and Teela glanced at each other in confusion before peering out of their respective windows. Villagers casually chased after them, their faces registering joy and relief.

After reaching the city, swarms of citizens enthusiastically rushed them as it made its way through the streets, many tossing single-stemmed flowers toward the transport as others reached out to touch the enclosed carriage. Cringer yelped in fear and jumped to his feet as they banged against the carriage doors, all of them ecstatic at the Prince's return.

Concerned over how the ardor might affect her, Adam glanced back at Teela; her back was towards him as she waved cheerfully.

He arched an amused eyebrow wisely biting back a humor laden sarcastic remark.

xxx

They finally reached the massive Palace courtyard stopping at its ornate wrought iron and golden-point gates, the Guardsmen struggling against the mobs of citizens pressing against the carriage.

With the Guard successfully restraining the masses, the carriage entered slowly, stopping at the fountain as the King, Queen, Man-At-Arms, and Commander Trevian waited with their entourage looking on in excited expectancy. Orko did back flips in the air.

Adam turned to Teela.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked, his brow crinkled with apprehension.

Teela took a deep breath and released it slowly. With a small nervous smile, she cupped his cheek and nodded. "Yes, my Love."

He nodded.