"This is incredible," Teela said, looking around the sturdy domicile they had been assigned. There were many empty ones, a sad testament to the fact that the Horde had captured or perhaps even killed many of the former occupants. "Much nicer than what one might expect for a ragged rebellion in the woods. These are actual beds."

"These people should live in homes."

"Home is where the heart is, Adam, as your mother always says."

"Don't talk about my mother," he told her, his voice almost rough. He reached out to hold her, seeking something... anything to help melt the ice that had gripped him since hearing about Adora and the things she had done. He'd asked Bow not to spare his feelings – and the other man, seeing the intensity of his need, had acquiesced and told Adam stories. While Adora couldn't be called cruel, she was efficient … she had singlehandedly led raids that had left villages bereft of children – children taken to 're-education'. He shuddered. How could his sister do to others what had been done to her?

"Why," Teela began to retort teasingly. "Is it a -" she broke off as he gripped her arms and tugged her close, his hold on her a little rougher than she was used to. She thought he might be teasing, but the pain in his eyes told a different story. Before she could ask him what was wrong, he crushed his mouth against hers in a kiss that seemed to scorch it's way through her very soul. Unhesitatingly she wrapped her arms around him, giving him every bit of love and acceptance she had to spare. If tonight he needed comfort, she would give him that. After all, he had done the same for her throughout her entire life.

Adam fought against the anger that threatened to choke him. Teela was in his arms. It wasn't right to give her anything but love. He pushed the darkness away, but it kept coming back. The passion seemed to make it worse. He tightened his grip and pulled her even closer.


"Now can we talk," Teela whispered in the dark, her body still alive from the encounter.

Adam tensed at her question, hoping she wasn't upset. He gently rubbed his thumb along her upper arm, worrying a bit at how hard he had gripped her earlier. He had to get himself under control.

"Elders, Teela. I am sorry."

"What are you apologizing for," she asked.

"I... this. Tonight."

"For being unsettled? Or for making love to me?"

"I was angry."

"I know."

"I'm sorry for that... for what happened. For what I did."

"For making love?"

"While angry – while … "

"Did you not notice that I enjoyed what we did?"

"I did. "

"Good because otherwise I'd be questioning your perceptive abilities."

"Teela... I – used you."

"To do what?"

"To feel something other than anger and betrayal, I guess."

"So sometimes we share joy... other times, pain - Adam – what?"

Adam had shifted to face her, his hands suddenly cupping her face, she could sense his gaze boring into hers even though she couldn't see in the dark.

"I hurt you?"

"No. Not that way. I meant... sometimes we share joy. Other times, sorrow. Anger. Whatever. Isn't that what we pledged to each other?"

He pulled her tightly into his arms. She felt his heart racing.

"Oh. Thank the elders."

"Adam. Stop doing this to yourself. It really is okay if we seek comfort from each other. You know... I was ready to do it after Lee. I was angry, hurt – frightened. I felt like my entire world had crashed down around me. My entire identity had been rewritten, and I felt so unsettled. All I wanted was to lose myself in you. I would have done it if it hadn't been for the pesky gossips."

"You really mean that?"

"Yes. I mean... I'm glad our first time together was joy instead of sorrow, but … I'll take sorrow over solitary suffering any day. Take comfort in me. I do so with you," she said kissing him hard.

He hugged her close and began to rub his hand gently up and down her arm, idly inducing sleep.

Her slow breathing finally signaled her descent into sleep. He smiled mirthlessly. At least one of them could find solace in sleep. Luckily grayskull's power would sustain him regardless. His mind was active. All he could do was recall the pain of their departure from Eternia early that morning.

His mother had hugged him desperately. He knew she was both terrified of losing him and losing Adora all over again. When the portal had opened after the farewells had been shared, she'd approached it and stroked the energy field lovingly, as if somehow trying to transmute her love for Adora through to her, to reach out to her lost child.

Adam's father came over and held held her, and Adam knew this wasn't comfort. Randor had been restraining his wife, preventing her from leaping in where she knew her daughter to be. Marlena had attempted to tug free for one brief moment – her despair and anguish overpowering her good sense and in that instant, Adam saw his father as more than just his father or his mother's husband – he was the aggressor, keeping Marlena from her child. Anger that had been swirling around in his deepest corners of his psyche threatened to emerge. He wanted to push his father bodily away from his mother and set her free to do whatever her will desired.

His father sensed his anger, because Randor gave Adam a look of such pained honesty –clearly asking what Adam would do in his situation and he knew his father was right. Marlena should not be with them in this world. Her presence would alert the Horde immediately to their intent. Yet... all he could recall was Skeletor restraining his mother as Hordak stole away her child - just like Randor was doing now. He hadn't done anything. Like before when it happened, he did nothing to help her. He just nodded at his father. Trying to reassure him.

His mother had come over to him, her momentary madness abated... and she hugged him tightly. He returned the hug with equal fervor.

"I swear to you. I will bring her back."

"I know."

They parted quickly. The pain was too great for anything prolonged. And soon … Adam found himself in this world that looked too much like home – but so very obviously wasn't. He was trapped here now – the only familiar and loving thing was Teela – which was plenty indeed, but the idea that his only family beyond her was this bizarre simulacrum of the sister he had once known tore at his heart.

Homesick. I'm probably just homesick.