C. Cowboy: Hey, hope you like it so far, this one's got a happier ending then the last chapter and I'd like to thank my buddy Fusionblaster for helping out with this one. (There I fixed it, happy now?) Anyway I hope you like. Read and review please I like responses. Pretty please!

Chapter 4: Safe Again

Ramman led King Randor out to the courtyard "What… in… the gods' names?" the king looked around and saw Teela Cradling Duncan's body and Cringer standing beside Adam who was rolled in a ball setting on the ground trembling violently. "Duncan!" Randor yelled in terror as he ran to his friend's side, "Oh Duncan…" Randor said looking down sadly realizing he was too late. "I'm so sorry Teela." Randor said placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Adam?" Randor asked walking over to where his son set on the ground, holding his knees tight to his chest. "What have I done?" Adam asked no one in particular as he rocked back and forth. Cringer was there rubbing up against him trying to comfort him. Randor saw the bloody sword and Tri-Klops' body lying close by and figured out what had happened. "Oh my son…" he said wrapping his arms around him.

"I've battled as He-Man…for over two years… I've never…killed…before…" Adam said tears running down his face. "It'll be ok son, I know what you're going through, and I know what it's like." Randor said, Adam looked up with a look of mild anger, "How do you know what's like?"

"Simple I've carried that burden for a long time." He said closing his eyes. "You've..." Adam asked not believing his ears.

"Yes before the war with Keldor." Randor explained, "I was only a year in the service and I was investigating a series of murders. I finally confronted the killer. He had a child hostage. I had put down my sword so he would let the child go. He just broke the child's neck. I knew right then I couldn't let him go. HE was a monster worse then Keldor. HE killed just for the pleasure of it." Adam's eyes widened in disbelief, "So you?" Randor sighed loudly, "Yes. I never looked at life the same after that. It's not an easy thing son, killing a man. You take away everything he has and everything he's ever going to have. But sometimes you have to, some times it either you or him, and don't tell me you ever thought Skeletor would go quietly or even go at all?" Adam sighed and looked down sadly, "You are a warrior son, and sometimes you have to do what has to be done. I know it hurts, but you did what had to be done." Adam then got up coldly and walked out of the court yard stopping long enough to gaze on his mentor one last time, then walking back inside the palace, punching the wall on the way in, venting his frustration.

Later that night, Adam shot up in his bed. Visions of Duncan and Tri-Klop's deaths haunting him every time he closed his eyes. "Duncan…" Adam said getting up and getting dressed. He then took his hoverboard to a secret clearing in the Evergreen Forest. Where Duncan took him to hone his new abilities as He-Man. There was a large obstacle course, and a wooden training dummy. Adam went straight toward the dummy and looked at it…

'Adam, er He-Man, go ahead, throw a punch at it, but be careful. You must use your powers carefully. Yes you may have to take a life someday but if it can be avoided, avoid it. Life is a precious thing, and something that should be protected weather it be an enemy or ally.'

"Duncan." Adam said again as he threw a punch at the dummy, then another, and another. "It's my fault."  He then started hitting harder and harder,

' "Adam…Please… promise me you… you won't give up… a-and please… please t-take… take… care of…Teela…promise me A-Adam…" Duncan gasped squeezing his hand. "I…I promise…" Adam said eyes beginning to water. Duncan then smiled at his daughter and then at Adam, "Adam…I-I always… t-thought of you… as…a…son…" '

"It's all my fault!" Adam said hitting the dummy even harder. "You're going to hurt yourself if you keep that up." Said a voice from behind him, "Cringer?" the green tiger walked up and set down near where Adam was taking out his frustration. "What happened earlier Cringe?" Adam asked continuing to punch the dummy now starting to break and splinter from blows to a single spot. "I thought you was scared of everything and everyone, how could you have attacked Beast Man like that?" Adam said his blows growing harder and harder, hoping his friend might say something that would help his now tormented soul. "Who said I wasn't scared, Adam? I was scared, I was so scared I almost froze, but then another fear took over, I was scared of him hurting you. That fear took over that's all." Adam continued to punch as his gantlets began to buckle. "That doesn't help." Adam said jerking slightly from the pain of his the skin on his knuckles broke.

Adam finally stopped, his arms starting to fatigue. "Why don't you go talk to some who's as upset about Duncan as you." Cringer suggested, Adam just looked down at his fists, and then threw his board and leapt to it and took off into the skies. Cringer smiled at his master before sticking his chest out, "Ha! Who can mess with me! I took down the big bad Beast Man! So world! BRING IT ON!" then a squirrel rattled some leaves, and Cringer jumped six feet into the air and dashed back toward the palace.

Adam slowly made his way into the palace trying to attract as little attention as possible. He finally made it to Teela's room, and stared at the door for several minutes. "Come on Adam, its just Teela. You've known her since you could talk, what are you so scared of?" Adam finally took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He heard her yell 'I'm coming' and after a few moments, the door opened and he saw exactly what he was so scared of. The sight almost took Adam's breath and made his jaw drop. He was expecting the usual tough warrior, but instead got a beautiful young girl. Her long reddish brown hair was down, and flowed down below her knees, and though her light green eyes were red and puff from crying, they were beyond beautiful. And she was wearing a long flowing lacy nightgown. "Adam? What are you doing up so late?" Adam was at a complete loss for words. He hadn't seen her out of her combat suit since they were kids, and she has grown since then. "Adam? What's wrong." She said blushing from his stare. She then looked down at his hands, "Adam! What happened? You're Bleeding!" she said taking his hands in his own, "Let me take you to the infirmary!"

Adam shook his head, "No, it's ok, no need for that." Teela looked in his eyes worriedly, "At least let me bandage you." she said dragging him into her room. "Sit down." She said dragging him to her table, "Teela I'm fine, real…" Adam said earning a glare, "SIT! NOW!" Adam stared to argue but after another glare, he obediently did as told. Teela then came back to the table. Teela then set down next to him and gently slid his gantlets off, and began to treat his wounds with herbs. After she was finished she wrapped them in an herbal wrap. "There you go. Do you want me to kiss it better too?" She said with her usual smirk. "Teela?" Adam asked looking in her eyes, "Uh… yes Adam." Adam took a deep breath, "Why were you crying?"

Teela blushed, "What? I… I wasn't crying!" Adam smiled, "Then why were your eyes so puffy when you came to the door?"

Teela then humphed, "Funny I thought you were looking at 'other parts' of me at the door." Adam then blushed as red as his jacket, "Well, you're beautiful Teela, not… not that you wasn't always pretty…I d-do think your pretty…and… ummm… what the hell am I saying? Ummm… Maybe I should go…"Adam said starting to get up. Teela then gently grabbed his hand and he slowly set back down, "No…Adam?" Adam then looked at her nervously, "So you really…think I'm pretty?" Adam then tried to say something but instead fell from his seat and landed hard on his rear.

They both broke into laughter. Then they both slowly stopped, and it clicked to Adam why she had been crying. "Teela…" Adam said getting back in his seat, "I miss him too." Teela then looked like she had been shot. "I'm so sorry Teela, it was all my fault." Adam said standing and turning toward the door, "If I hadn't of messed up, and lost to Skeletor, I could have been able to change into He-Man today and stop them myself, and he'd still be with us. I'm so sorry." Adam started to leave when he felt an arm go around his, "Wait… Don't…don't leave me… you're all I've got left…" Adam looked around and Teela was once again in tears. He was taken back. He had always thought of Teela as a proud warrior, independent, and not needing anyone, but here she was, crying and begging him not to leave her.

"Teela…" Adam said turning around and looked at her tear-filled eyes. "I promise." Adam said softly brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I promise Teela, I'll never leave you. No matter what." He then gently kissed her on the lips and wrapped his arms around her back. She was shocked for a moment, but closed her eyes and returned the kiss, and for the first time since her father died earlier that day, she felt safe.

The next morning, Adam slowly opened his eyes and looked down at the angelic warrior sleeping in his arms. He didn't mean to stay there all night, but she had fallen asleep in his arms, and he didn't wish to disturb her sleep. He then gently kissed her on the forehead, "I love you Teela." He quietly whispered and hoped no one heard him. But little did he know that on the outside of the window, one of Trap Jaw's spy robots was watching and listening.

To Be Continued…