A/N Here is the last chapter. I enjoyed writing and I hope you enjoyed what I wrote. Thank you for your reviews, they were responsible for me getting this far, or else I would have abandoned this a long time ago. Thanks to Lady Moria again for betaing and pointing out holes (I wish I had her at the start of this). Any mistakes are mine.

casper23

Chapter 14

They went directly to the infirmary, landing on the roof as Duncan had earlier that day. There, they met Dathan playing a game of solitary chess. He had patched up his comrades and was now keeping an eye on the sleeping and resting occupants of the other room. He got up quickly at the sight of them, grateful for something to do, and quickly set about cleaning and bandaging Man-at-Arms' wounded shoulder. He-Man settled Buzz-Off on the chair. He insisted that he would be fine and that he did not need a doctor, just some rest.

"Where is Evil-Lyn?" Teela asked as she watched Dathan finish tie the bandages around her father's back.

"She's sleeping in the other room. I checked her out—she'll be fine. Just a few bruises on top of the ones from her fall, and they're healing too." If he had looked up from his work, he would have noticed that she had not listened to anything he had said beyond the first sentence.

"Where are you going?" Duncan turned to watch his daughter march purposefully to the side door.

"To get her out of here. She used Uncle Carr. I won't stand here while she continues to manipulate us."

"No."

"No!" Teela's voice shook; she was barely able to contain her temper. He-Man watched them closely from across the room, ready to diffuse the situation if it was necessary.

"Take some time to think, Teela. In order for anything Skeletor said to make sense, Evil-Lyn would have had to willingly allowed him to fling her down Snake Mountain, somehow ensure her survival and know that I had planted Orad in there that very day. Teela, I know you don't trust her, but you don't have to, just trust me—she is not a threat. At least not today."

She looked at He-Man and almost missed his imperceptible nod—she knew how he felt anyway. She sighed, "I trust you, Father."

"Thank you. Now we need to tell King Randor what happened today. He-Man," he'd hardly said anything at all since they left Snake Mountain, "when we are done, you can leave."

"Yes, I know."

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Teela trudged the suddenly infinite path through the hall toward her quarters. It was all over and done with, she thought. An old enemy had been vanquished. Somehow the thought did not make her giddy with relief. Instead she kept seeing He-Man standing there with the look on his face. She was glad that Skeletor was no longer a threat to their world, but somehow she suspected that He-Man would continue to berate himself for taking a life even though he had no choice. She promised herself to somehow find him, or get Adam to find him tomorrow and talk to him about it. She just had to find Adam.

According to the other Masters, Trapjaw and Beastman were safely locked up in the palace dungeon while Clawful and Whiplash had escaped. By all accounts, Merman hadn't appeared during the battle. She did not care. It had been a long and horrid day and all she wanted to do was crawl into bed. She pushed open the door to her quarters and dragged herself over to her bed. She thought long and hard about lying down, but decided against it. If she did, she wasn't getting up again for a very long time, and she really needed to wash the grime off. So she hauled herself to the bathroom and started peeling off her armor.

"Teela!"

She smiled gratefully at the appearance of Tula, her attendant. Years ago they had dispatched with the formal nonsense and were now friends more than anything else.

"I am so glad to see you, well… alive!" She rushed to her mistress and gave her a bear hug. "But so dirty." Teela laughed. "So much blood." Her wide brown eyes grew even larger with concern.

"Don't worry Tula. Just help me with this bath. I am so exhausted I don't think I have strength enough to get out of these clothes."

"Leave everything to me." She went to the tub. Teela flopped gratefully onto a stool and watched Tula's efficient buzzing.

"Do you know if Adam is in the castle?" she asked.

"Yes. I saw him on my way here. He didn't seem like himself though." While she talked Teela finished undressing and moved to settle herself into the fragrant water, hot enough to make you gasp—just the way she liked it.

"He did not even stop to flirt with me in the hallway like he usually does." Tula pouted then went on to verify with her mistress all the rumors she had heard being tossed about the castle since that afternoon. Was Skeletor really dead? Yes? Finally. Some of his minions got away but most were locked up in the dungeon. Thank goodness. Those others probably won't cause too much trouble now that their Master's dead. What do you think is Prince Adam's problem? You would think he would be just as relieved as everyone else. And there's going to be a feast tomorrow to celebrate our victories, did you hear?

But Teela wasn't listening; Tula looked down at her sleeping mistress's face.

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Sometime later she found herself in front of Adam's door. Her tentative knocks went unanswered so she opened it and stepped inside. He was sprawled on top of his bed with one arm draped across his eyes. For a moment she thought he was asleep and turned to leave, but then he suddenly got up, swinging his legs to the side so that he sat watching her.

"Yes?" his voice was tight, almost as if he was angry with her.

"Where were you?" He sighed as if finally encountering something he had been dreading.

"I was coming back to the castle after finding He-Man, but my speeder broke down so I had to walk. Then the storm rolled in so I decided to find a dry place to wait it out." He answered immediately, his delivery smooth. Teela would have believed him if she had not heard several variations on the same in the past.

"I don't believe you," she said calmly and watched his reaction closely.

"That's your prerogative, I suppose." He met her gaze head on he was clearly angry.

"What's the matter, Adam? Why are you so upset?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'm upset because my best friend just called me a liar." He tilted his head to look at her accusingly. "We both know you think I'm a coward, so now I guess we can add 'Liar' to the list. What's next: Thief? Murderer, perhaps?

"Adam! Stop it!" He shook his head slowly. "Why won't you tell me the truth?" she pleaded with him. She knelt in front of him, willing him to look at her, when he didn't she hugged him instead, snaking her arms around his back and laying her chin atop his bowed head. "I am your friend. Your very best one. When you are ready to confide in me I'll be here. I can be patient." He looped his arms loosely around her waist in reply.

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Epilogue

He jumped out of the speeder and walked the few steps to the door. For the first time in several weeks he was feeling close to normal again. It was a glorious day after all, though a bit windy, and he took a few moments to acknowledge the gentle roar the trees made as the wind sifted through their leaves. He loved that sound. He knocked and waited patiently for her to pull open the door.

It had been four months since she and her mother had left the castle. It was a long time to put off the inevitable, but he understood that she needed time. Hell, he was the one who needed time. It had taken him this long to stop feeling guilty about his failed relationship with his brother and start replacing the memory of his death with the memories of the few good times they had as children. The time also served to cement in his mind the obligation he felt toward his brother's son until finally, he found himself clearing his schedule for the day, telling Teela where he was going, climbing into his speeder and now, forty minutes later, he was standing there staring at the woman who had the power to allow him to be a part of his nephew's life or not.

"Oh, it's you." She did not seem surprised to see him.

It was as if he was seeing her for the first time. Besides the obvious swell of her stomach, she had put on some weight. Not too much though, just enough to soften the edges. He found that he preferred her this way

"What?" she asked impatiently. He had been staring.

"Ah…you look—"

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "How do I look?" She asked slowly. Duncan clearly heard the warning in her tone.

"Good. You look very healthy," he rushed to explain, "It's just that, the last time I saw you, you were still a little worse for wear. You seem fully recovered, I am pleased."

Her brow arched suspiciously. "Thank you." she offered finally and stepped aside to let him enter.

"So, how have you been? How is the baby?"

"We are both fine. And yourself? Your shoulder must be almost totally healed by now." She observed, noting that he was not wearing his characteristic armor.

"Almost." The pain was a distant echo now, and he had just about recovered the full use of his arm. He stepped past her, "May I sit?"

"Of course." She motioned to one of three chairs around a small table to the left of the door. Duncan sat and looked around the room silently taking in the little feminine touches that had been added since the last time he visited his brother's home. When he realized that his hostess was still standing by the open door watching him, he looked at her questioningly. She closed the door and sat opposite him at the table. "I am waiting for you to tell me why you are here."

"Is there a reason why I shouldn't be here?" She did not answer but looked at him patiently. "Where is your mother? I thought she was staying here with you."

Her eyes narrowed, "Are you keeping tabs on me, Man-at-Arms?"

"Not at all, Evil-Lyn. During your stay at the castle you and your mother were overheard discussing your living arrangements, that's all."

"Shouldn't you be worried that your palace guards spend so much time eavesdropping and gossiping? It's a wonder they managed to defend the castle all these years."

"From what I heard, the volume of your…conversation made eavesdropping unnecessary," he offered an appeasing smile. "I was relieved that you were not going to be alone."

"My mother." Evil-Lyn shook her head, "She insisted."

"I'm glad she did. You shouldn't be alone in your condition."

"Ah...yes, the debilitating affects of pregnancy."

"It's not that we doubt your ability to take care of your self, Evil-Lyn. I'm no expert on what happens to a woman's body when she's expecting," he ignored the amused of sounds coming from her throat.

"I didn't think you were."

"But, I understand it can be difficult."

Evil-Lyn thought about her arching back, expanding feet, frequent exhaustion and headaches and expanding waistline and realized she could not contradict him. "So it is. My mother has been living here with me these past months; she went to her home earlier and should be back tonight. She has been very helpful, despite herself. She can be a very difficult woman to get along with."

"I hear that's genetic."

"Exactly." she smiled proudly. "Well this is odd," Evil-Lyn said suddenly "You. Me. Here. Sitting together like this. A few months ago neither of us would have ever foreseen a scenario like this."

"That's true." He chuckled quietly then seemed to be trying to find the words to say what was on his mind. "I am here to ask you a favor."

"Oh?" That mobile brow arched up again.

"Yes…" he cleared his throat "I know it may not be what you want, but I can't help wanting to be a part of my nephew's life. I realize that you have no obligation to allow me access to the boy when he is born, but I sincerely hope that you will."

Evil-Lyn sighed heavily and got up, moving to the cupboard where she kept the raisin bread. She hadn't made one in years, but now she couldn't get enough of the stuff. Well, not "made" exactly. She had her mother make two loaves while she stood next to her, wondering aloud, every few minutes, when she was going to be done. She cut two slices and placed them on plates. Walking back over to the table she dropped one plate in front of Duncan and carried the other back to her seat.

She had known this was going to happen. Damn these honorable men and their damned devotion to family and responsibility. She had entertained thoughts about Man-at-Arms' role in her son's life, only because that's what Carr would have wanted. However, the thought of having this Master underfoot for years to come filled her with a deep sense of foreboding. Though, it must have been damned hard for him to swallow his pride like that and ask her permission, instead of storming in and demanding his rights as 'Uncle,'' which he really wasn't if one wanted to get technical. What had surprised her the most about all this was the fact that she did not want to get technical, or even, for that matter. She had opened her heart to Carr and it had stayed open for their son. Whether that was a good thing for her or not, she didn't know yet. It was a good thing for Man-at-Arms though, she thought wryly.

She was so deep in thought that she did not hear him the first time.

"What?"

"I said: I understand if you need to think about this for a while."

"I have already made up my mind, Man-at-Arms." Duncan braced himself. "One thing I know for sure is that there is no such thing as destiny, only choice. Despite knowing that your brother and I were vastly different and that a happy ending would be almost impossible for us, I still chose to love him. Mostly because he refused to take no for an answer, but also because I needed him. I didn't know I was broken until he was helping me put the pieces back together. And I…I feel he needed me, too.

"I know now that I can't go back to being the person I was before I met Carr, but that's good, since I don't believe that person would have been able to care of the life I have growing inside of me. And I definitely know that that person would not be willing to put aside her differences with you so that her child could get to know his father's brother. So, yes. You can be a part of Caleb's life."

"Caleb?" Duncan breathed the name he had not heard in years. "You are naming him after my father?"

"Yes. Carr would have wanted that. He never forgot how your father saved him and his mother."

Duncan looked at her for a long time. He had no idea that Carr had shared everything with this woman. He must have loved her …and she had loved him. Until that moment, he had not been completely convinced—he felt relieved. 'Thank you," he said.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, each feeling the need to say something more, to acknowledge the changes that had taken place between them. Finally Evil-Lyn said, "You must think it strange that I say all these things to you. The few times we've talked I find myself …trying to make you understand me."

"It's not so strange," he said gently even though he wondered why himself.

I have just one regret: in the time I spent with him I never once said the words 'I love you' or told him how he made my life better, made me better. Silly, don't you think?" She said softly.

"Don't worry about it, he knows. Remember the stars." She nodded and returned his grin with a hopeful smile of her own.

The End

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A/N Oh gosh. I just re-read this story. Some parts of it, many parts of it, made me cringe. Please, Lord, please, from now on, help me write good.