Archive of Our Own ^beta

The Whispering Woods were a soothing presence around Glimmer as they made their way through the short stretch between where Bow had instructed her to teleport to and his parent’s library. Bow and Catra were up ahead messing around, leaving Glimmer to hang back with Adora. Adora was comforted a lot less by the chirping, glowing and rustling around them but she was making a good show of trying to be.

It was weird to see her in her uniform again for the first time since the Fright Zone and Glimmer could only imagine it was weird for her to wear it. They wanted to make sure they could quickly subdue any Horde stragglers who’d missed the memo that the war was over. General Adora in her full regalia was the easiest way to do that. Glimmer just hoped there wouldn't be any soldiers. She hoped they would walk in on Bow’s parents having tea or something and that everything would be fine. He had certainly earned that kind of luck but Glimmer was worried he wouldn't be afforded it anyway.

In her half-anxious glancing around Adora’s eyes met Glimmer’s.

“Glimmer”, she said with a nod and an attempt at a smile.

Glimmer almost chuckled. “We already said hi half an hour ago, Adora.”

“I know”, Adora said, looking anywhere but at Glimmer. After another pause she said: “So… how’s it been going?”

“Good, good”, Glimmer said with a shrug, unsure how else to answer; what this was about. “You know. Spending time with my parents…”

She still felt awkward bringing them up to Adora. Adora had helped rescue them but she’d also helped get at least her mom captured in the first place and… yeah. It was all very awkward.

“Of course”, Adora said. “Cool. Cool.”

“We don’t have to talk, you know”, Glimmer said with a chuckle. She supposed she appreciated that Adora was trying but it felt a little unnecessary and very forced.

Adora sighed and shrugged with a wistful smile. “I know, but the faster we start making up properly the sooner Bow and Catra can stop conspiring to get us to talk to each other.”

Glimmer nearly stopped walking. “They– what?”

“Oh come on”, Adora said, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me Bow hasn’t been giving you subtle hints about me the way Catra has about you. How we might get along if we tried? How we’re such similar people.”

“We’re not that similar!” Glimmer blushed at the knee-jerk exclamation, but Bow had in fact been hinting at it and despite having made up with Adora the comparison still chafed.

“I agree!”, Adora said with a chuckle and a helpless hand gesture. “But try telling them that. I can think of three separate occasions of them excusing themselves to leave the two of us alone together since the war ended. Right now is number four.”

Hmm. Now that Glimmer was thinking about it… “They’re friends, of course they want to spend time together”, Glimmer tried to reason. She thought back to those times she and Adora had ended up alone, remembered Bow’s and Catra’s conspiring exchanges of looks. Her shoulders fell with a sigh. “Okay, I see your point.”

“So no more awkwardness?”, Adora asked with a crooked smile. “For them if not for us?”

Glimmer chuckled. “Yeah, I wouldn't mind less awkwardness myself. It’s just… you know.”

“Yeah”, Adora agreed, scratching the back of her neck. She looked away again.

Years of being enemies was hard to sweep under the rug. It wasn’t even just all the bad things Adora had done while still with the Horde anymore. It was all the horrible things Glimmer had personally done to Adora, feeling perfectly justified for it throughout. Glimmer could concede to Bow that if they hadn't met with all those circumstances, her and Adora would probably get along – as it was, it just didn't quite feel comfortable still. It was cute that Bow was trying anyway.

Glimmer shook her head, smiling at the thought of him. “I can’t believe that even now he’s thinking of me.” She grimaced, remembering what they were here to do. She would be there for Bow this time, no matter what they ended up finding. “Be honest, Adora. How likely is it for his parents to still be alive?”

Adora grimaced as well and her response was in that matter-of-fact tone that Glimmer had found so heartless at first but understood better now. “I give them about a seventy percent chance. But, you know. Your folks had ten percent at most so I’m letting myself be optimistic this time.”

Glimmer couldn’t help but smile at that. “Thank you”, she said honestly. “For coming.” Adora didn't have any obligations toward them anymore and yet here she was.

“Of course”, Adora said easily. “If there are Horde stragglers here it’ll be much faster and easier with my help.” Then she shrugged, looking a bit lost. “And it’s not like I had anything better to do.”

“It’s weird, right?”, Glimmer found herself asking as she recognised that look on Adora’s face. “Not to have to worry about the war anymore.” It was a relief of course, but at the same time it had left Glimmer feeling kind of… well, lost. At a loss of what to do with herself now, at the very least.

“The weirdest”, Adora agreed, perhaps the only person who could really understand how Glimmer felt.

Okay. So maybe Bow and Catra had a point. Maybe they were kind of similar.

—

The library was a gorgeous and ancient building, the kind of building that Adora hadn’t gotten to see during her time with the Horde. Everything in the Fright Zone was metal and wire, reconstructed and updated with the newest tech in a never ending process of optimization. Bow’s parents’ place was the exact opposite of that. Wood that had to be centuries old blended with the foliage and was clearly lovingly maintained. Artistic flourishes on window frames and columns proved that efficiency had not been a priority. Adora was slowly learning to appreciate things like that. Right now however, she was on duty.

“Okay, I go in first, just in case”, she said to the others as they had gathered in front of the arched double doors. “Since neither of us have received any signal from here anything could be behind this door so stay vigilant. Glimmer, you stick with Bow.” If it was bad Glimmer should be with Bow so she could comfort him or get him out of there – whatever he needed. She turned to her own girlfriend then. “Catra?”

Catra gave her an eager smirk. “Right beside you, babe.” Adora would never get sick of hearing that.

Refocusing on the task ahead she turned back to the door. She had a standard issue Horde combat staff with her and she was not quite used to the weight of She-Ra’s sword being gone, despite how briefly she’d worn it. It was going to be fine.

Adora knocked and waited a moment, but no response came. She looked to Bow who seemed obviously nervous, but he shrugged. Adora tried the knob and the door immediately gave, swinging inward. Not locked. She looked to Bow again questioningly. Was this usual? Bow just shrugged again, still looking worried.

Adora sighed, bracing herself and cautiously stepping through the door. Catra stuck to her right, a step behind her just how they’d been drilled by the Horde. Conflicted as she now was about her past, she did appreciate how useful these techniques still were to her.

Bow and Glimmer were a few steps behind her, bow and magic staff at the ready respectively. They moved silently through a grand foyer, then down a hall, Bow gesturing where best to start looking for his parents. They came to a door that Catra seemed to hear something behind, indicating silently to check it out.

“How many?”, Adora asked. There was a chance Catra was hearing Bow’s dads.

“More than two for sure”, Catra responded quietly with a frown.

Great. So much for the best case scenario. Adora made sure that all four of them were ready, then tried the door handle again as quietly as possible. The door clicked open. She took a bracing breath, gripping her own weapon and then kicked the door the rest of the way open, bursting into the room beyond.

What greeted her there was a kind of sitting room, she supposed. There were shelves of books along the walls and a writing desk by the window, but the center of the room was taken up by a group of sofas. Scattered on those sofas were about a dozen people in simple clothes, all young, all startled and staring at them with wide open eyes. Adora’s training was still in full force so she automatically checked them for visible weapons and was slightly taken aback when she saw some of them had them – Horde weapons. These were Horde soldiers.

“Holy fuck!”, one of them exclaimed, tumbling off the couch in his shock.

“Oh my Lord!”, another one hissed, paling. “That’s General Adora.”

A girl whose reaction thus far had been to narrow her eyes and seemingly prepare for action threw a derisive glance at the second. “We know! Shut the fuck up, idiot!”

“What do we do!?”, another girl asked, sounding panicked.

Adora instantly relaxed considerably. These were cadets. They must have been fresh out of training when they’d come here, just like Adora had speculated.

A boy close to them held his hands above his head, kneeling on the couch to plead: “We’re sorry! Please forgive us, General. We are but humble foot soldiers who–”

“Fuck that!”, the girl who looked ready for a fight said, getting up from her seat. “Your war is stupid and we’re not fighting it for you! You can have me dead or not at all!”

“Fran!!”, the girl sitting next to her said, trying to pull her back onto the couch.

A different cadet jumped up from his seat as well. “Yeah! We’re not afraid of you!” It did not escape Adora’s notice that the cadets willing to fight were also the ones who carried weapons. Even so, she slowly lowered her own, a little gobsmacked.

Adora knew she had no right to, but she felt oddly touched. They were standing up to her, scariest Commander in the whole army. She was a little confused how this had happened and what was even going on anymore, but they clearly weren’t fighting for the Horde, which was a relief.

Bow obviously still had other concerns though. Pushing past her lowered weapon he asked: “Where are they? The researchers who live here. Where are George and Lance?”

Another cadet got up and pulled out a knife at the words, face set, even as his hand shook. “If you want them, you’ll have to g-go through us.”

“That’s right, they’re under our protection”, the first fighter – Fran – said, her own hand placed on her stun-gun. “We defected. We won’t be pawns anymore.”

“They’ve gone mad, General!”, the first one who’d pleaded was jumping in now, seeming close to hyperventilation. “It’s the– the forest flora! P-please forgive them!”

“Please don’t kill us”, the girl now half hiding behind Fran added.

Adora was trying very hard to school her features, to not let it show just how much this little, fearful but determined resistance affected her. Obviously she was doing a kind of bad job as Catra poked her cheek. “Drop that face, Adora”, she chuckled. “You look like you swallowed a frog.”

Adora sighed, swatting Catra’s hand away. “Well, I guess that explains why we never heard anything back”, she said, gesturing at the still tense group of former Horde soldiers. “They defected, so cut off all communications.”

Catra’s smile was nearly gleeful. “They have no idea what the fuck has been happening.”

The comment caused a stir among them as they exchanged worried whispers.

“At ease soldiers”, Adora told them, almost chuckling herself. Getting to share this news with them she couldn't keep a wide grin off her face. “You’re not in trouble. The war is over.”

A moment of stunned silence followed, broken only when the hysterical cadet exclaimed: “It is!?”, in utter disbelief.

The other recruits whispered amongst themselves again, remaining weary. If there was one thing the Horde really instilled it was mistrust. It would probably take a while to convince them they weren’t lying.

Bow understandably didn't have time for that. “I’m their son, I won’t hurt them!”, he nearly pleaded with the cadets, eyes bright with the hope of having heard confirmation that they were alive. “Where are they!?”

They looked at him with narrowed eyes for a moment until the fearful boy said: “Bow?”

Bow was taken aback. “You– you know my name?”

“Yeah, they talk about you sometimes”, the boy said with a tentative smile.

The girl next to him said: “I’ve seen your baby pictures.” To which the nervous one confirmed: “You were a very cute baby.”

Bow processed this for a moment, confusion and frustration fighting in his features until he shook his head. “Please just tell me where they are.”

Glimmer stepped up beside him, taking his hand with a reassuring squeeze. “Look, I’m a princess”, she told them, staff gone, hand raised calmingly. “We’re not a danger.”

The information that she was a princess came with a new wave of reactions, some of disbelief, some of wonder and a few cadets tensed with renewed fear. Adora cringed, knowing what propaganda was making them shy away.

The boy who’d recognised Bow looked between him and Glimmer and Adora. “But then what about–”

To Adora’s surprise it was Fran who interrupted him. “They’re in the First One’s ruins south of here for a lecture”, she said, gesturing in the corresponding direction.

“A–”, Bow started, brow furrowed with new bewilderment, but finally he thought better of it. “Nevermind. Thank you.” He immediately turned back to Glimmer, a brief, nervous smile the only sign of his hope and anticipation that he let slip. Then he looked over to Adora and Catra.

Catra was faster to respond. “Go”, she said with an encouraging smile. She nodded her head sideways toward the cadets. “We’ll stay here and fill these greenies in on everything.”

Bow nodded, grateful.

The nervous boy gaped at them. “You’re leaving us alone with the General and Force Captain!?”, he squeaked, shrinking back again.

“Oh please. We don’t bite”, Catra told him. After a dramatic pause and a wicked, toothy grin she added: “Much.”

Adora rolled her eyes. This was going to take a while. Still, she found herself strangely excited to do it.

—

They were alive. They were alive and giving lectures. Looking back it seemed almost silly to believe his dads would let a simple thing like a war stop them from doing exactly what they wanted to. They were alive.

The relief was almost overwhelming and Bow fought not to cry – not yet. He needed to stay strong to go see them. The ruins were usually a thirty minute walk away and it seemed to take forever. The moment it came into view he asked Glimmer to teleport them, making it there in less than ten. Glimmer held his hand through the trek, silently supporting him. There was nothing he needed to hear right now beside his fathers’ voices and she knew that. He was so glad she was here with him. He was excited for her to meet them, but first and foremost he was just glad he got to see them again at all after all these years of lies and uncertainty.

His heart tripped over itself as he stepped into the half-crumbled temple of the First Ones and heard a familiar voice echoing in the distance. His steps picked up in speed and by the time he reached the right room his clattering footsteps were echoing through the cavernous First One’s temple, heralding his arrival.

Another group of what he assumed were former Horde cadets sat on cushions on the floor, looking at him with surprise and bewilderment. In front of them, staring with even more shock were–

“Dad? Pops?”

They looked older than when he’d last seen them – of course they did – but they were still them. Still Lance and George, with their cozy academic’s clothes and Lance’s little reading glasses and George’s well-kempt mustache. Bow’s feet felt unsteady but kept him walking closer, letting go of Glimmer’s hand to meet them, drinking in the sight of them. He felt his heart both heavy and light in his chest.

George looked frozen and overwhelmed and it was Lance who managed to break out of the stunned silence first.

“Bow!?”, he called out, grabbing George’s shoulder, tugging him gently from his catatonic state. Lance had tears in his eyes when he got them both moving toward him.

“Bow, we were so worried about you!”, George said. “Where were y–” He cut himself off as his eyes darted to the bow strapped to his back. He froze again. “Is that a weapon?”

Bow froze too, but found his voice quickly, shooting back: “Are those Horde soldiers?”, with a raised eyebrow – a challenge.

George and Lance shared an awkward look.

“We can explain”, Lance said.

Bow crossed his arms, heart hammering. “So can I.” His stomach twisted at how quickly this reunion had taken such a frustrating turn. Couldn’t he just be happy to see them again?

“You don’t have to, I already know what you’ve been doing”, George said, face grave. Then his expression guttered with an old and familiar grief. “You joined the rebellion, didn’t you?”

Bow’s eyes widened, shocked. “You– you knew?” He supposed it was rather obvious right now but it sounded like George had known for longer than that. Guilt twisted his insides into yet more knots.

“I had hope that we were wrong”, George said. He didn't sound angry. Just… disappointed.

“But– how?”, Bow asked, guilt at having lied to them not stronger than his curiosity. “Since when?”

“Oh, we’d suspected when your accounts of the Academy of Historic Enterprises were… less than accurate to actual student life, let’s say”, Lance said with a chuckle, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

George stayed grim. “But I knew for sure when you mentioned the fire at the science labs.”

Bow frowned. “What? How?”

Lance began reciting from memory: “‘It smelled like a cat that had sadistically been set ablaze’?” He raised an eyebrow. “Come on, we know a description from ‘Arcana Academy 4: The Visiting Sorcerer’s Heart’ when we see it.”

George, sighing and expression finally lightning a little again added: “Also, your plagiarism of plot points got more blatant after that.”

Bow was still a bit panicked, feeling foolish about being caught so easily. “You– you’ve read the Arcana series?”, he asked with some embarrassment.

“Bow”, Lance said, affecting a kind of seriousness that was somehow simultaneously not serious at all. “We are gay nerds. Of course we’ve read the Arcana series.”

Bow’s face felt hot. “Oh.” That made sense, he supposed but knowing that his dads knew and now also knew that he knew that particular piece of literature felt… awkward.

“You were smart enough for the academy, so I knew there was only one reason you would have lied to us”, George continued.

“We were worried sick for you”, Lance said, stepping closer, holding out his hands. When Bow raised his own to meet him his dad’s eyes darted down to his right hand. “Is that–” Bow’s two prosthetic fingers glinted in the soft light. He nearly flinched at how much sorrow was in Lance’s eyes. “Oh, Bow.” Before he knew it his father’s arms were wrapped around him, squeezing tight, pressing his quiver into his back. After a moment of hesitation he hugged his father right back, his eyes stinging.

“It’s fine. I’m alright”, he managed to say after a moment, extracting himself from Lance’s embrace a moment later. Still feeling a little indignant, Bow added: “And like… we kind of… won the war. So there.”

That left both of his father’s speechless. They exchanged another shocked look before George looked back at him, eyes worriedly darting to his hand briefly before he said: “You– what?”

Bow felt too awkward to explain it, too overwhelmed. He felt like crying but he wasn't even sure what for anymore.

“It’s true”, he heard from beside him and then Glimmer was holding his hand again, instantly making him feel more grounded. He took a steadying breath as his girlfriend explained. “Hi. I’m Queen Glimmer of Bright Moon and the Rebellion could not have achieved what it did without Bow. I would not have made it without Bow.”

“That’s– wow”, Lance found his voice again first. “I mean… Bow. Of course we would have been proud of you no matter what.”

Despite being encouraging words, Bow kind of felt worse. The implied ‘you didn't have to go so far as to win a war to earn our approval’ made him feel so conflicted.

“We just wish you would have told us”, George jumped in, face twisted with his own guilt. “Felt like you could tell us. I know that is on us too, for making you feel like you had to hide this part of you. I never meant– I mean…” He hesitated and Bow knew full well that his own past, his own regrets were plaguing him. Bow hadn't been able to tell him exactly because of that and they both knew it. “I just wanted you to be safe”, he finished. “To be happy.”

Then George hugged him too and despite all the complications and conflicted feelings Bow felt safe in those arms. Felt relieved to finally be there and his heart calmed and the reminder of this unconditional love he’d been so afraid he might have lost.

“I know”, Bow said. “I'm sorry too.” He should have found a way to tell them – shouldn't have lied. They couldn’t change the past though, so he hoped they could set things right for the future. To let go of all the mistakes they had all made.

Stepping out of his dad’s embrace again he smiled.  “And I am safe and happy”, he added, reaching for and squeezing Glimmer’s hand and briefly meeting her eyes, her encouraging smile. Then his eyes looked past her to the group of strangers who’d been watching this intensely private interaction with wrapped attention. “Now, would you please explain this?”, he told his dads with a bit of exasperation.

“Ah”, George said, as if he’d completely forgotten they were there. “Right.”

“Well, a few years ago these youngins found the library during a scouting mission for the Horde”, Lance explained with a big smile. “They were very fresh out of training so they didn’t exactly know the protocol when they encountered us. So we did the thing we’re best at: We taught!”

With the attention now clearly at them, some of the cadets perked up at attention.

“Feeding them a proper meal also helped”, George added with a smirk.

“Yeah, Horde rations fucking suck!”, one of the cadets – students? – shouted.

Another one pitched in: “The Horde is evil but that food was diabolical!”

“Calling it food is an insult to food”, a third said in agreement, many of them nodding their heads.

Bow almost laughed. Of all the things he suspected might turn a recruit away from the Horde, the food would not have been his first guess. Although Catra had mentioned the terrible rations before.

Lance met his eyes with a grave expression and said: “We’ve never had this easy of a time getting kids to eat vegetables.”

That did finally make Bow laugh.

The second student who’d spoken up – a girl with dark frizzy hair – waved, drawing his attention to them again. “Hi, Bow, by the way”, she said. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”

“So I gather”, Bow responded with a weary glance at his parents, wondering how many Horde cadets had seen his baby pictures at this point. They didn't even look like they felt guilty about it. Typical.

A blue-skinned, gilled boy raised his hand in question. “You said the war is over. Does that mean… what happened to the Horde?”

A question with a kind of complicated answer. His parents looked at Bow with the same curiosity as the students. He tried his best to explain: “The Horde… urgh, this is really complicated, but put simply: The Horde isn’t fighting anymore. Hordak was… well, let’s say usurped–”

“The Horde unionised”, Glimmer interrupted him succinctly.

Bow nodded, squeezing her hand again in gratitude. “The Horde unionised. We came to an amicable agreement with the Horde’s new leader.”

“Seriously!?”, one of the students asked. “Who?”

“It can’t possibly be the General, can it?”, another student wondered.

The dark-haired girl shook her head. “Word among cadets was that General Adora is brutal.”

“I heard she once cut off some rebel’s fingers in cold blood”, the gilled boy added, seeming to shiver at the thought.

George and Lance were instantly looking at Bow's hand again and this time he hid it behind his back, the attention on it unbearable. Was that really everything anyone could focus on? Why did this one loss have to define him? They had won the freaking war! They had successfully turned the General against her own army. But it seemed neither him or Adora would be able to leave the past in the past today.

“The General defected before the union thing even got started–”, Bow said, knowing he sounded defensive – because he was. “Like I said, it’s complicated. How about we get back to the library and talk it out. We can make introductions with her and each explain in more detail what’s even going on.”

“Wait– you’re saying General Adora is here!?” Bow wasn't sure which cadet had shouted it but it caused a stir among them.

George and Lance looked concerned too. “Are you sure she’s safe, Bow?”, George asked. “From what we’ve heard–”

“She’s safe”, Bow instantly insisted with maybe a bit too much force. “If I can trust her then so can all of you.”

George and Lance exchanged one more look, worry clear but Lance at least seemed optimistic and George finally relented. “Alright. Let’s go.”

They started making their way back to the library, Lance wrangling the students to get going, seeming to say a few finishing words on the lecture they had interrupted. With him distracted George eventually came up to Bow, giving him a questioning glance that silently asked to speak with him alone. Glimmer squeezed his hand and gave him an encouraging look and then gave them some privacy.

“Bow”, George started gently, taking his hands, brushing caring fingers over the over-engineered replacements for his own. “Forgive us our worry. I hope you know why we never wanted this for you.”

“Yeah. I know”, Bow said with a sigh. “But it was worth–”

“You shouldn't have had to make that sacrifice”, George insisted.

Bow shook his head, frustrated. “I know. I wanted to change things. I did change things, I–” The words got stuck in his throat as tears finally burst from his eyes, overwhelmed by the emotions he was feeling but had no idea how to even begin sharing. Of course he knew. Of course they wanted a different life but why was the one he chose so bad? Why did they only have sorrow and pitty for him?

George pulled him into another hug and Bow’s hands shook with his sobs as he returned it.

“I know, son”, Lance said as he stroked his back. “I know.”

Bow was glad to be in his arms – wanted his dad to hold him – but there was something hollow about this comfort. The relief was real and the past years had been hard and this support was one he dearly needed. Bow couldn't help but feel like George was still comforting somebody else who just wasn't quite him.

—

Glimmer was walking a bit ahead of everyone, feeling like the former cadets weren’t entirely comfortable with her presence. The Horde had to have done quite the number on them, she thought. It made her wonder if Adora had ever been afraid of Princesses. She was glad that things between them and Bow’s parents had gone so well – she couldn't help but admire it. She was beyond happy for Bow. She knew first hand how much of a relief this had to be, even if it wasn't immediately easy.

Lance walked up behind her, pulling her from her thoughts. She smiled at him. He seemed like a nice enough man who had just been very worried for his son, which she couldn't fault him for.

“So, Queen Glimmer, was it?”, Lance asked. “I hope it’s alright that I speak frankly with you.”

“Oh, of course!”, Glimmer assured him instantly. “Bow is like family to me. I don’t need royal decorum from his parents – wouldn't want it, honestly.”

“That’s good”, Lance said, smile seeming a bit awkward. “The two of you are close.”

“Very”, Glimmer said softly, her heart still warming with just how lucky she felt every time she thought about it. “Your son is the best partner I could have ever asked for. I meant it when I said I don’t know where I would be without him.”

She had a vague suspicion that she would either be dead or Shadow Weaver’s powerless pawn. She tried not to think about it too hard.

“That’s Bow”, Lance nodded wistfully. “Always supporting the people he cares about, always willing to help and be kind to strangers. Even enemies. It would have made him an excellent librarian.”

Glimmer refrained from telling him that it also made Bow an excellent freedom fighter. It didn't seem like her place to have that argument with him and it honestly made her a little uncomfortable. Bow had told her why he’d been lying to them and she understood even better now. George’s grief and resentment of the war had been clear in the brief interaction earlier.

“I am sorry it took this long for you to reconnect”, Glimmer said instead. “By the time I even found out he was with the rebellion against his fathers’ wishes I was too busy and… too reliant on him to make sure we survived to spare it much thought. You shouldn't have had to stay in the dark for this long – I know that isn’t easy.”

“I understand that as a regent you have a lot of responsibility”, Lance said and initially Glimmer was relieved he seemed to be so understanding. Then he said: “It’s exactly for this reason that I worry if you’re the right partner for my son.”

Glimmer nearly tripped over her own feet, heart squeezing painfully. “What?”

“Bow will always put others first”, his father explained. “And I truly mean no offence, I think it is only right for a regent to put their people and duty first. I just worry that Bow might end up taking on too big a burden – that he already has.”

Glimmer just stared for a moment as she processed. She had to remind herself that Lance hadn't seen his son in years and that Bow had kept secrets even in his childhood. She felt almost sorry for Lance, except she was too upset to fully mean it. A flicker of doubt was a dangerous thing when she had worked so hard to believe she was worthy of Bow’s love – when Bow himself had worked so hard to make her believe it. Lance didn't know, but even so he had no right to break that.

“I see where you are coming from as a concerned parent and I’m glad Bow’s parents care about him this much even after all this time”, Glimmer said diplomatically once she had gathered herself enough to do it. She stopped then, to level a serious look at Bow’s dad. “But with all dear respect, Lance, you do not know us. Bow is an adult and able to decide for himself if a relationship with me is too big a burden.” Her voice nearly hick-upped but she reached for the necklace at her chest and steadied herself. “And I assure you, your son's needs are my needs. I would never intentionally neglect him and always take accountability if it happens by accident. His pain is my pain, his joy is my joy, his heart is my heart.”

Lance seemed appropriately stricken by her declaration, needing a moment to find words. “Of course”, he said looking down briefly. “Forgive me.”

Glimmer sighed, tension fleeing hee body. “I will”, she said. “Because Bow is a lot more important to me than my ego.” It was of course about a lot more than just ego, but that was none of his business. “And because I could see my father saying something similar to Bow.”

He was just concerned, it was a perfectly dad thing to do. That was what Glimmer told herself for the rest of their walk, feeling reassured when Bow joined her side again. His eyes were a little swollen and she took his hand again. Something was bothering him too, she could tell, but he did seem overall relieved. He was going to be okay. She would make sure of it.

When their group arrived at the library and they headed to the room where they had left Adora and Catra with the other cadets they heard odd noises coming from inside. Glimmer briefly worried as it sounded distinctly like fighting and she saw George tense, opening the door in a rush. Inside most cadets were still seated on the sofas but the one cadet another had called Fran was locked in battle with Adora, staff against speer.

George’s face was panicked and Glimmer quickly held up an arm to stop him from rushing into the fray. “Wait”, she told him as he looked at her with some outrage.

Within the next moment the fighting abruptly stopped, the cadet having halted mid-movement with the point of Adora’s staff close to her throat and the two of them dropped their stances, Fran softly cursing.

“Good, that was better”, Adora said encouragingly. “Keep paying attention to your stance but keep your eyes on your opponent.”

Catra jumped toward them then from where she’d been leaning against the back of the sofa to watch the duel. “Hey guys”, she said. “Good news, the twerps aren’t afraid of us anymore.”

One of the ‘twerps’ raised a hesitant hand, saying: “I’m still kind of afraid of the Force Captain.”

Catra turned back to smirk at him. “Good. You should be.”

“Catra”, Adora scolded her, joining them. Then she turned to Bow with obvious excitement in her eyes. “Bow! These are your parents? I’m so glad I was right.” Moving on to George and Lance she added: “It’s an honour to meet you.”

Glimmer sympathised with Adora when Bow’s parents looked her up and down wearily.

Goerge crossed his arms with a scowl. “What exactly are you doing with our students?”

Adora, still clearly feeling the rush of fighting, did not pick up on the man’s animosity. She waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, just reviewing some basics.”

“Fran attacked her but her technique was sloppy”, Catra added.

“I got schooled”, Fran shouted over begrudgingly.

“It’s just some sparring, don’t worry”, Adora said with a shrug.

“So you’re the General who cut off two of our son’s fingers?”, Lance asked, eyes narrowed.

“Oh-kayyy”, Bow quickly interjected awkwardly, saving poor, stricken Adora from having to answer that particular question. “Let’s maybe take this conversation somewhere private. Dad, would you put on some tea and then we can discuss this calmly. Without all the cad– students watching.”

Right. They really didn't have to do this in front of an audience. There were some disappointed sighs and murmurs among those cadets/students as the two groups got together, whispering back and forth. The group from the ruins watched Adora dubiously but it seemed the group who’d been here had warmed up to her already. Not that that was surprising, Adora tended to have that effect on people. For all their sakes Glimmer hoped it would work on George and Lance as well.

—

With how smooth Adora’s introduction to Glimmer’s parents had gone she’d totally forgotten that Bow’s parents might have an issue with her. Really, they were right to. She had hurt him, permanently. Had made his life that much more dangerous and difficult for years. Bow might have forgiven her but she knew from first-hand experience that harm caused to a loved one wasn’t as easily forgiven as harm caused to yourself. Still, Adora dreaded having to go through this again. Arguably she deserved to – that didn't make it any less painful.

Bow went on ahead with his parents, exchanging some more quiet words with them and part of Adora just wanted to leave them be. They should just be having a happy reunion right now and instead they had to discuss her. She hung back to give them some space for that. Catra had no such qualms though, curiously rushing after them and pestering them with questions about the cadets.

Adora only realised Glimmer wasn't by Bow’s side as well when she suddenly walked up next to her. “Hey, chin up”, she said, making Adora frown more about the fact that her bad mood was so obvious. Glimmer’s reassuring smile was genuine though. “Being a former Horde soldier hasn’t defined your and Bow’s relationship in a long time.”

“Thanks”, Adora said with a self-conscious shrug. “Too bad they don't know that.”

To Adora’s surprise Glimmer grimaced. “Yeah, they don’t know a lot about Bow and his relationships it seems.”

Adora was confused by Glimmer’s tone and she couldn't quite believe the only justification for it that eventually came to mind.

“Wha– you too?”, she asked. “But… but you’re you! You’re a queen and practically perfect, what could they possibly have against you?”

Glimmer shrugged helplessly. “Apparently dating a regent is too much of a burden. You really think I’m perfect?” She regarded Adora with a mix of surprise and her own confusion.

Adora snorted, taken aback by that expression but she supposed it was valid considering their currently incredibly weird relationship. “I’m grading on a scale, here”, she said.

Glimmer laughed heartily at that. “Fair enough.”

Adora shook her head then, kind of frustrated on both of their behalf. “Seriously though, you and Bow are perfect for each other at the very least. If they can’t see that they are blind.”

“Thank you”, Glimmer said, sounding a bit self-pitying herself. Then she smiled at her. “If they have even a bit of sense they’ll see you’re a good friend too.”

The compliment took Adora slightly off guard, not used to kind words from Glimmer. Once she’d regained her bearings though it made her smile all the more. “Thank you.”

Then Glimmer shrugged again with a sardonic expression. “And if not, at least we can be disapproved of together”, she said, making Adora laugh.

They trailed after the others all the way to a different room dominated by tall shelves lining one wall heavy with books and artifacts displayed against the other. The center of the room once again had a quaint seating arrangement but Adora was far more intrigued this time by the ancient scrolls behind glass and masterfully crafted objects displayed on pedestals. One of those objects was a vase painted in still vibrant colours that immediately caught Adora’s eye because– was that She-Ra?

Blond hair billowing along the red cape, sword aloft and gold details of tiara and armour, the depiction was unmistakable. It had to be the first She-Ra that existed when the First Ones had originally settled here. That alone was fascinating, but the most startling detail was that this She-Ra was sitting on the back of a snake-like, winged beast. Adora couldn’t believe it. The original She-Ra had had a dragon!? She wanted a dragon! She knew she wasn’t She-Ra anymore but still. Adora was trying to get a closer look, leaning down to see if there was any additional information she could glean from this… ancestor? Of hers? It felt strange to think about but her thoughts were interrupted by George’s sharp voice.

“Get away from that, it’s a priceless relic from the First Ones Era”, he said, loud but not quite loud enough to be a shout. Rather it was said sharply, in a way that reminded Adora of the instructors from her time as a cadet.

Adora instantly took a step back, hands raised. “Sorry, I was just– it looks like She-Ra is all.” They already disliked her, the last thing she wanted to do was make it worse.

Her words seemed to take both librarians off guard. They exchanged a shocked look before Lance was the one who found his voice again first: “You know about She-Ra?”

Before Adora had time to respond though, George cut in with a glare at Adora. “Who cares what she knows about? I suppose I’m glad you are no longer leading the siege against my home continent but I think I would prefer not to have you in my house, General Adora.”

The look of disapproval leveled against her made Adora feel ridiculously like a misbehaving child. A year ago she would not have taken treatment like this from anyone, but now… “I’m not really a General anymore”, she said carefully, a timid defense she knew would likely be in vain. “I just put on the uniform so I would be able to subdue any Horde soldiers who still think we are at war without much fighting.”

George and Lance did not look mollified but Bow stepped in, the frustration in his features almost a shock. Thankfully it was levied against his own parents rather than her.

“I know this might sound difficult to believe but Catra and Adora are my friends”, Bow said to them. “We all made mistakes during the war but that’s in the past. All I want to do now is focus on the future. No more war. No more fighting. Okay?”

Now it was George and Lance who briefly seemed like misbehaving school children, though Lance was faster to look contrite. “Of course, Bow”, he said apologetically, turning to his still-frowning husband, gently taking his hand. “George?”

George glared at Adora one more time and in that expression Adora finally recognised him. A jaded veteran who had seen violence and resented it, a soldier from a war he’d lost. Adora had sympathy and respect for that, if only he would let her say as much and actually believe it. Adora didn’t bother trying.

“Fine”, George finally relented with a sigh, not looking at Adora anymore.

The atmosphere was accordingly tense as they all took a seat, George and Lance on one couch and Bow, Glimmer and Adora on the one opposite from them, with Catra perched on the couch’s armrest, half leaning against Adora’s shoulder. Catra’s presence was reassuring as always, but Adora found herself exchanging a commiserating glance with Glimmer as well. It was an unflattering view of their situation, but Adora couldn’t help but think of the saying that nothing made allies quite like a common enemy. At this rate Glimmer and her would be thick as thieves by the end of the day.

There were biscuits on the table that nobody was partaking in except for Catra and Lance poured them all some tea before settling down himself.

“So, how have you been?”, Lance broke the awkward silence, smiling broadly at his son with a sliver of grief visible in his eyes. He took George’s hand. “When you stopped responding to our letters we were really worried. We were starting to think you might have…”

Their obvious concern was undercut by Bow’s confusion. “What do you mean? We were worried when you stopped writing!”

Adora cringed, knowing she had to speak, that she could illuminate this failure of communication. “Mm, that might have been the Horde’s doing”, she said. “Cutting off channels of communication is among the first steps of conquering a region. The cadets would have been in charge of it, haven’t they mentioned anything about it to you?”

“Are you trying to imply our kids would lie to us!?”, George retorted sharply, making Adora look down at her own hands.

She took a steadying breath, not letting herself be cowed and meeting his eyes once again. “I’m not trying to imply anything, I’m trying to help.”

“She really is”, Glimmer tried to throw in as well, but George was already on the offensive again.

“Well, you’re not”, George spat despite his husband’s effort to calm him. “You spent years leading the Horde against us, harming innocents like our Bow and indoctrinating new people into this cult of warfare!”

The accusation stunned Adora into silence. She’d never personally indoctrinated anyone and the mention of it reminded her instantly of Shadow Weaver. Had she been like that? No. No, she hadn’t, but she had perpetuated the war, leading to more people getting caught up in it, she couldn't deny that. She had also helped put a stop to it but it suddenly sounded petulant and naive to point that out. She didn't know what to say, couldn't have spoken anyway past the lump suddenly in her throat.

Catra spoke up for her, which brought her a mix of worry and relief.

Catra leaned protectively in front of Adora and glared at Bow’s parents saying: “Have you ever considered that maybe we were indoctrinated too? Who do you think raised us? I’m sorry we couldn't all trip into your library to be rescued. We had to survive on our own. We had to find our own way out but just like the greenies back there, the Horde is not who we are. Fuck you!”

Despite the escalating situation, Adora instantly felt a little better. Catra was right, she hadn’t chosen this. She didn't have to feel guilty about it, not anymore. She wasn’t harming people anymore and didn't deserve to be admonished for it – but she wouldn't argue her case right now either. Glancing over at Bow’s barely concealed misery she knew this situation had to be defused.

She got up from her seat, looking down at George and Lance with a resolute expression covering her disappointment. “If you don’t want me in your house I’ll leave”, she said calmly.

As good as Catra’s defense felt, Adora didn't need to expose herself to this attitude in the first place. It would only sour this reunion further.

“Wha– Adora!?”, Catra protested as she began to leave, grabbing her hand to keep her there.

“This isn’t about me, Catra”, Adora said, squeezing her hand. “It’s about Bow. He should get to spend time with his parents without me casting a shadow over it.” She didn’t care about defending her honour or whatever. Her staying would just cause all of them unnecessary pain.

Bow jumped up from the couch next. “Adora, I–”

“It’s okay, really”, Adora interrupted him, swallowing down the tears that wanted to spring free at his attempted support. She was loved and George and Lance couldn't take that away. She took a bracing breath and turned to them saying: “I am truly sorry, for everything the Horde has put you through. The way we were raised isn’t an excuse for the harm I’ve caused. Know that I would never willingly put anyone through what I experienced in my childhood. I’m grateful for what you were able to give the kids out there. I only had one good thing growing up”, she paused to smile at and squeeze Catra’s hand. “And I’ve tried very hard to let go of everything else that I was given by the Horde. I’m still trying. But it’s not your job to watch and judge me doing it.” She turned to Catra fully then, taking another step towards the exit. “Come on, Catra.”

Catra pouted, even as she did follow. “I wanted to see Bow’s baby pictures!”

Before Adora was out of the room though she heard Bow speak up again, making her pause and look back.

“We might as well leave too”, he said, taking Glimmer’s hand who looked concerned but followed him to her feet.

“What?”, Lance was instantly up as well with George right behind him, pleading: “Bow! Why?”

“Because”, Bow hurled at his parents, and Adora was reminded of how he too was a veteran, a tactician, a commander in his own right. “Clearly you don’t care about listening to me! I told you Adora is a friend! I asked you to be nice! Hell, I told you I won a war and all you are able to focus on is the things I lost!” He wavered a little, then, voice dropping to a quieter, calmer tone. “I’m glad you’re okay, It was good to see you again. But if you still don’t like how I live my life – if you can’t accept who I am – then just like Adora said: You don’t have to be there for it. I would like you to be. But not if it’s like this.”

Bow’s words were followed by a silence so heavy Adora could feel it sinking down over them. George and Lance were stunned, finally exchanging an affected look. Some wordless communication passed between the two of them: A helpless gaze, a hand on a shoulder, a reluctant nod of admission, a sigh of acceptance, a bracing of determination. They turned back to Bow.

“Bow. we’re sorry”, Lance said for both of them, his head hung in shame. “It’s just… it’s hard.”

“I know that”, Bow said, still upset. “I need you to put in the work like I am! The George I remember taught me that empathy and caring were a good thing! That you shouldn't judge people on first impressions, to give them a chance!”

“You’re right! You’re right”, George said. He took another deep breath and then turned. “Adora?”, he said to her apologetically. “Please come back. We…” He exchanged another quick glance with his husband. “We appreciate your apology.”

Adora was too stunned to move immediately.

“You are headstrong as always, Bow”, Lance said meanwhile. “I’m proud of you. I am proud of everything you’ve achieved – we both are. I know we’re doing this all wrong. It’s just so overwhelming to finally have you back.”

Bow crossed his arms, not assuaged. “Glimmer’s parents managed just fine.”

Adora could see the reluctance in Glimmer’s face as she said: “That’s not really a fair comparison, Bow.” She put a soothing hand on Bow’s arm, carefully working to calm him.

“Or accurate”, Catra pitched in with a snort, beginning to walk back to the group, Adora trailing after her. “Glimmer’s parents thought she was a hallucination and had to have the sense punched back into them.” Looking at Bow’s parents briefly Catra gleefully added: “Although I would be happy to offer this service now too.”

Adora chuckled, pretty sure it was a joke but took Catra’s readied fist in her hand anyway, kissing the back of it. “Catra. No.” Then she sighed. “Also, the whole She-Ra thing made winning them over a lot easier.”

George and Lance exchanged another startled look. “What She-Ra thing?”, Lance asked.

Bow was still frowning, arms still crossed, though he seemed less tense with Glimmer holding him. “You shouldn't have to be a warrior of legend for people to give you a chance, Adora.”

“Thank you”, Catra agreed emphatically. “What Bow said.”

Glimmer sighed and added: “And it’s not like being a queen has helped either, so.”

Bow startled a bit at that, looking down to her and Glimmer returned his look apologetically, shrugging. She seemed nonchalant and Adora wondered how much of her own disappointment she was hiding to make sure this situation didn’t get even more conflicting for Bow.

“I’m sorry, are you all implying that Adora somehow… is She-Ra?”, George finally brought the conversation back on track, the expression of confused disbelief on his face almost comical.

“I was”, Adora said with a shrug, feeling somehow self-conscious. “But I was also under mind control for a long time so I… quit once I knew Etheria didn't need her anymore.”

“What do you know about She-Ra?”, Lance asked her, eyes shining.

His enthusiasm just stoked Adora’s frustration. She threw her hands up. “Pretty much nothing! That’s why I asked. Did she really have a dragon? I might have kept the damn sword if I knew it came with a dragon.”

“Well it was a long time ago, so scholars disagree about whether this depiction is just symbolic”, Lance said, sounding very much like an academic.

Adora’s shoulders fell a little in disappointment. “Oh.”

Then Lance grinned smugly. “But personally I find scholars who think like that are cowards. There is plenty of corroborating evidence for dragons to have existed back then when you don’t falsely group it in with other similar fauna.”

Adora perked up again, but before she could ask follow-up questions about dragons George interrupted again. “I’m sorry, how exactly were you She-Ra?”

It was a frustrating question because Adora didn't really have a good answer for it. She tried her best to explain: “I could be turned into her with this First Ones Sword because of my DNA or something.” She struggled for a moment before adding: “I’m… I’m a First One, technically.”

George’s eyes just grew wider. “How is that possible?”

“Weird space portals?”, Adora shrugged helplessly. Nobody else in their group could give a better answer to that either. “Ask Entrapta. Or Hordak”, Adora finally said. “He was an adult when we came through it. I was a baby. I only found out I was a First One a few weeks ago.”

“So you know nothing about the First Ones?”, Lance asked and there was some genuine sympathy in his tone. The sympathy was lessened a bit when he added: “A shame. We have so many writings we’ve been struggling to translate.” He walked over to one of the framed artifacts on the wall, a small scrap of very worn down paper. “Like this. No matter how long we try to work out the writing system, we just can’t seem to get to a scheme that makes sense consistently.”

Adora followed him to the artifact, the rest of them close behind. Adora’s eyes scanned the neat lines of text for a moment, the symbols consisting of lines and circles like on She-Ra’s sword.

“This is a grocery list”, she said after another moment.

Lance stared at her. “W-What?”

“Wait, no”, she corrected as she looked closer, indicating certain parts of the paper as she read them. “Those are ingredients. It’s a recipe. For stew. Water, salt, vegetables, meat. Cook for forty minutes. It’s a recipe.”

“You–”, George pushed past his husband to gape at Adora and the artifact. “You can read this!?”

Adora looked right back at him, a bit baffled herself. “Y– you guys can’t?”

Beside her Catra was crowding her to also take a look at the ancient piece of paper. She shrugged. “Looks pretty but means nothing to me.”

Adora frowned. She’d never learned to read First One’s writing and it felt strangely invasive that she just could.

Bow’s dads were a lot less conflicted about it. Sharing a look of excitement, George soon turned back to Adora.

“Stars, this is revolutionary!”, he said, pulling up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo on his forearm. It was a word in First Ones script. “Here, what does this say?”, he asked her.

Adora felt incredibly awkward and almost wished they would go back to mistrusting her but reluctantly read the word out to him. “Uhh… it says ‘lunch’.”

George immediately deflated. “Oh”, he said. “I thought it meant love.”

For a split second Adora wondered if she should have just lied somehow and not ruined this for him when Lance burst into laughter.

“You–”, he started, but couldn't finish because he was still laughing too hard, holding his stomach. “You thought–” He held on to a pouting George’s shoulder to keep himself upright. Once he’d calmed down enough to form complete sentences again he looked into his husband's eyes and said: “I told you not to get it without knowing what it means.”

“Whatever”, George said stubbornly. “It means love to me.” Then he too couldn't contain just a bit of a smile, briefly touching Lance’s hand on his shoulder before refocusing and turning once again towards Adora.

“I’m sorry, Adora”, he said earnestly. “Clearly, we’ve judged you too soon. And I’m not just saying that because I have a lot more ancient writing I want you to have a look at”, he added hastily. From his tone Adora thought he was being genuine, or at least she really hoped he was, and she smiled tentatively.

“That’s good”, Catra said beside her, hands suddenly around Adora’s shoulders, inching towards the librarians with an expression that gleefully promised death. “Because if anyone were trying to exploit Adora I would have to scratch their eyes out.”

Adora appreciated Catra’s support but was a tad embarrassed by her intensity, grabbing hold of her arm just in case. Bow’s fathers were obviously taken aback, exchanging another brief glance. They looked to Bow then, who along with Glimmer stood a bit further away from the framed artifact. Adora instantly felt bad that it was falling on Bow to de-escalate again, to justify his weird, violent friends.

Bow didn't seem upset though. In fact he smiled and then told his dads: “They are married, yes.”

Of all the things he might have said, this was perhaps the last Adora had expected. More confounding still was his parents’ reactions. Lance just chuckled. 

George meanwhile smirked and asked: “It was a spring wedding?”

Catra blinked, confused. “What is happening right now?”, she asked, echoing the sentiment Adora was too dumbstruck to voice herself.

“Oh good, I’m not the only one who’s lost”, Glimmer remarked as well.

Bow chuckled, turning toward her. “It’s from a book”, he said. “I keep telling you to read the Arcana series.”

Glimmer considered for a moment before her face brightened with recognition. “Oh, I remember you talking about that! It’s book seven, where the ruthless valedictorian falls in love with the rebel loner when they’re forced to work on a project together but both refuse to admit their feelings for– oooh, I see it now”, she interrupted her recap, looking at Adora and Catra with a smirk.

Adora was only half paying attention at that point though because her thoughts had inevitably begun drifting right after Catra’s threat and Bow’s… exaggeration of reality. The others were busy enough with their conversation not to notice, but obviously Catra picked up on her far away imagination immediately. She grinned, poking Adora’s cheek for the second time that day.

“Are you thinking about us getting married now?”, she asked quietly with a very pleased smirk.

Adora shook herself out of her daydream. “No”, she insisted, even as her face was bright red. “Shut up.”

That made Catra pur smugly while Bow and Glimmer laughed and any remaining tension in the room was gone just like that. Adora still felt embarrassed, but she supposed that was better than the alternative. Bow especially seemed lighter. They all returned to the couches to give pleasant conversation another try.

—

Bow was still upset that it took more than his word to get his dads on Adora’s side but he was trying hard to cut them some slack. They didn't know what he knew, had obviously seen Adora as the Commander she used to be first and foremost. Now that they knew she was a curious and very in-love person for themselves, they would act better – this bit of faith in them he still had left. It was a bittersweet relief but he supposed reuniting with his parents was never going to be easy. They all had things to make up for. And finally, his dads were trying.

“So, Bow. How long have you been together with Glimmer?”, Lance asked, seeming almost apologetic as he glanced at her. Bow briefly looked at Glimmer himself but she acted innocent. He’d have to ask her about that in private soon but he’d let it slide for now.

“Oh, man”, he said, struggling to remember the exact timeline. Time had just flown by recently. “It must be, what… two years now?”

“Already?” Glimmer seemed downright shocked. She shook her head. “That can’t be right. You only asked me out a few months before my mom was taken and that was a year before we captured Adora.”

“Which is a few months ago by now”, Bow said with a smile. “It’s totally been over two years.” Difficult years to be sure but he wouldn't change them for the world. Not if it meant never being with her.

“Oh stars!”, Glimmer exclaimed as she followed his math. She grabbed his hand and looked up at him apologetically. “I completely forgot! I missed our anniversary!”

Bow laughed, stroking her shoulder reassuringly. “Glimmer, you were having your magic and energy sucked out by a vindictive witch. I think it’s fair to miss an anniversary or two.”

Glimmer’s relief was quickly replaced by determination. “I’ll make it up to you next year!”, she declared. “There’ll be a parade!”

That fire in her eyes could almost scare a man. “Oh no, please no parade”, Bow chuckled. “That really won't be necessary.”

“Yes please, a parade!”, Catra interrupted him with an even more concerning glint in her eyes. She mimed her next words out with her hands: “We’ll put you each on a float on opposite sides of Bright Moon and then drive them at each other until you crash!”

Glimmer blinked, then laughed. “You have a very different idea of what a parade is like than me.”

“It doesn’t even really matter when we made things official”, Bow said, squeezing Glimmer’s hand to get her attention back on him. “Because I fell in love with you the moment I first laid eyes on you.”

Glimmer’s breath caught and Bow just kept smiling at her, drinking in her look of adoration, committing her features to memory for the millionth time. At first he’d been his own worst enemy in failing to admit his feelings, then the war had gotten in the way. But not anymore. Two years weren’t remotely enough, Bow already knew he wanted to be with Glimmer for the rest of his life. Now that her parents were back and he had reunited with his dads… all it took was the right moment. This moment wasn't that moment quite yet, but Bow still found himself tempted to lean down and kiss her.

“Okay!”, Lance said, loudly clapping his hands together, clearly intentionally interrupting the moment. Glimmer chuckled at Bow, rolling her eyes as if to say “Parents”. Because they both had parents to be embarrassed and interrupted by now. Bow felt infinitely warm. Then Lance went on to say: “So who wants to see Bow’s baby pictures?”

“Yes!”, Catra cheered.

“Why!?”, Bow whined.

But his protests were of no use.

—

“I have fought a literal war and that was the most nerve wracking thing I’ve ever done”, Glimmer said as they left the room about two hours later. It had all worked out in the end but she’d been absolutely tense for most of it. Balancing supporting Bow and making a good impression and the general nerves of meeting Bow’s parents had been… a lot.

Now they were dispersing for dinner, Lance planning on cooking his famous risotto with Bow’s help. They’d eat together later but for now Bow had indicated that he was ready for some alone time with his dads so Glimmer, Adora and Catra were finding other things to do in the meantime.

“You’re telling me”, Adora returned with a chuckle. “I know it’s not good for me to rely on what I can do for others but for the first time I’m kind of glad to be a First One just for how much smoother it made this conversation”, she admitted, probably only because Catra had rushed off back to the former Horde cadets after making sure Adora was okay. Otherwise Catra would have definitely argued her point.

Glimmer could relate to the feeling of relying on what made one special to be loved and knew it took more than platitudes to overcome it. Once again, Bow’s insistence that they had more in common than not was ringing true. Glimmer tried to think of what Bow might have said to her in this situation.

“But Bow stood up for you”, Glimmer told Adora. “Because you are our friend. And you do deserve to be treated like it, ‘useful’ or not.” She couldn’t deny that it was true and hoped it would mean something to Adora to hear her say it.

“Thank you”, Adora said quietly, seeming contemplative but smiling just a little. Then she perked up, seeming to put the more conflicting feeling aside for now. “We did it!”, she proclaimed.

Glimmer laughed with her own relief. She couldn't help but agree. “We fucking did it!”

—

“So yeah, this is them”, Catra said, holding the communicator up so that the group of “students” behind her was nearly fully visible on the feed.

“Oh, hi!”, Kyle nearly seemed to coo on the screen, waving excitedly. He briefly checked something on a stack of papers in front of him. “You’re squadron B-45-Gamma, right?”, he asked.

“Not anymore!”, Fran shouted out of the group, eliciting some cheers from other cadets.

Kyle chuckled. “Right, of course”, he said, making a note on the papers. “Well, we’re glad to see you’re accounted for. By the power vested in me by the union you are all pardoned for your desertion. If any of you want, there is always room in our Alleviation and Restoration Group–”

“Still a shit name”, a voice that definitely belonged to Lonnie could be heard shouting in the background, making Catra snort.

“We’re workshopping it”, Kyle said with a flinch. “Otherwise, feel free to live your lives however you wish.”

“Cool”, Catra said, glad that was taken care of. She’d known Kyle would need to do some annoying paperwork and had wanted to get it out of the way, relieved that it turned out fairly straightforward. “Bye Kyle.”

“Bye Catra. Say hi to Adora for me”, he said with another wave, Lonnie and Rogelio also saying their goodbyes and well-wishes in the background before Catra hung up the call.

“I still can’t believe it’s really over”, one of the cadets said then. “We can just… do whatever we want. Go wherever we want.”

“It’s the best feeling in the world”, Catra told him with a grin. This was why she’d wanted to be here for this. “Any plans yet, squirt?”

“I… I kind of want to stay here”, he said after a moment of hesitation.

“Really?”, Catra asked dubiously. “You’re going to stay in a musty library?”

“It’s not musty!”, another cadet jumped in to his defense. “And there is so much fascinating information here. To preserve and pass on knowledge is invaluable. I think I want to stay here too.” Then he shrugged. “I mean, someone is going to have to take over this place eventually and I was not getting the sense that Bow will want to do it.”

That made Catra laugh. “Yeah, no. Bow is all about that palace life.” She didn't quite understand the appeal of that either but she supposed preferences differed.

“I’m leaving”, Fran meanwhile declared. Now there was a girl more to Catra’s own tastes. “Not sure where yet though.”

“This Restoration Group sounds interesting”, the girl next to her spoke up. “I know we weren’t soldiers for long but it still sounds nice to help put Etheria back together after everything the Horde did.”

Some of the cadets mumbled in agreement, others also prefering to stay put, at least for now. Catra could understand that too – not wanting to risk change. The only reason it was so easy for Catra to chase every new curiosity was because Adora was always there with her. The Horde worked hard to instill rigid thinking and it would probably take some time for these kids to unlearn it.

One of the boys eventually spoke up saying: “I want to read that Arcana series they mentioned. It sounds fun.”

Another stared him dead in the eyes and said: “The Arcana series is gay erotica, Jeff.”

Jeff blinked, clearly taken aback and Catra barely suppressed her snort. “Really?”

“Yeah, really”, the second boy confirmed. “Lance has all sixteen parts in his private collection. I can show you where if you want.” He hesitated for a beat before shrugging and saying: “It’s pretty good.”

Jeff processed this for a moment. Then he said: “Cool.”

Yeah. The kids were going to be alright.

—

Bow really wanted to learn the recipe his dads were using but he ended up too busy talking to pay too much attention. He was talking and this time around they were actually listening. He told them all about how he met and befriended Glimmer and how passionate he was about archery and helping to free Etheria. He told them how good he became at tech and showed off his prosthetics once his dads promised to hear him out rather than focus on the loss. Finally he tells them everything about how they captured Adora and at first mind controlled but eventually won her over, along with every other princess in Etheria. He told them how happy he was with his life and how proud of himself he was. How much he adored Glimmer, everything she managed to overcome and everything he still hoped to do with her.

They took it all in, sometimes with their mouths hanging open, at first asking follow-up questions hesitantly but eventually warming up to his tale. Especially as things became more and more unbelievable their questions became louder and gobsmacked. They never accused him of lying but did end up laughing at points when it just couldn't be processed without laughter anymore. The cooking took longer than usual and they had an amazing time. When they were done and both of them hugged and reassured Bow again that they were so, so proud of him he finally felt like he had his dads back – for real.

They had dinner at a hugely long table with all the students, their family group clumped together at one end of it and chatted and laughed. Catra kept getting pulled into quipping exchanges with the students and upon Fran’s insistence her and Adora duelled one more time before they left. Lance barely dared watch while George kept a serious eye on them but finally admitted that Adora was being safe and responsible. Fran never managed to win but she certainly tried her best.

Bow promised his dads that he would convince Adora to join them on a research trip sometime as a translator. Knowing Adora she would be eager to prove herself useful so Bow didn't hesitate. When it finally became time to leave to return to their duties at Bright Moon, Bow found himself tearing up again. The entire day still felt so surreal. He hugged his dads tight for what felt both like the millionth time but also like he hadn't yet done it often enough.

“Don’t be a stranger, son”, Lance told him during their final, crushing hug.

“Now that you have a proper communicator nothing could stop me”, Bow returned with a beaming smile. He’d brought them the newest model with the most reliable connection he’d personally worked on with Entrapta.

“It really has been such a joy to see you again”, George told him, tears in his eyes as well. “To know you’re safe. We love you, Bow.”

More happy tears rolled over Bow’s cheeks that nearly hurt from smiling so much. “I love you too.”

They both hugged him again, briefly, before letting go so Lance could pat his shoulder. “You’ve found a life for yourself that you can really be proud of. Being a King won’t be easy–”

“Dad!”, Bow interrupted him with some indignation.

Lance dismissed his protests with a gesture. “But I know you are up to the task. Glimmer seems to be a lovely woman and you fit well together.”

That made Bow emotional again. “Thanks, dad. I’m glad you finally got to meet her. Maybe you can come to Bright Moon sometime. I’m sure her parents would love to meet you as well.”

“That sounds lovely”, Lance said and George agreed and Bow was already looking forward to it. It would be strange and maybe complicated but also wonderful and amazing – just like today had been.

Glimmer clung to his arm on their way back home and he was glad for it. Having Catra distract him from his worry on the way there had been nice, but now he was happy to get to hold his girlfriend's hand. To continue to feel the strength of her that had carried him through the day.

They could have obviously teleported home, but all of them had felt in the mood for a walk to decompress after the day they’d had. Catra and Adora were somewhere behind them, messing around and talking as well. He was happy they ended up having a good time – at least Catra most certainly had. He could still hear her laughing as she looked through his baby pictures. He might never live that down. He smiled at the thought.

“All’s well that ends well I suppose”, Glimmer said with a bit of a chuckle at one point, caressing the back of his hand and sighing. “I’m sorry it didn't go quite like you imagined.”

“That’s okay”, Bow said with a shrug, meaning it. He was still smiling thinking about it all – would probably be smiling for a long time. He squeezed her hand, touched by her worry for him. “It wasn't your fault – it was nobody's fault. And like you said, it all worked out in the end.”

“I wish I could have done more”, Glimmer said, and Bow’s heart squeezed. She’d gotten better but she was still insecure at times. Bow just wished one day he’d succeed in letting her see how much her mere presence meant to him, how perfect she already was.

“You were there. You held my hand through it”, he told her, leaning his head briefly against hers. When she remained quiet he pulled them to a stop to properly face her. Catra and Adora were lagging behind anyways. “I’m serious, Glimmer”, he told her. “I couldn't have done it without knowing you were there to back me up. You gave me the strength I needed not to fall apart and to stand up for myself. You inspire me.”

Glimmer’s expression seemed to melt with his words, into touched adoration. “Bow”, she said quietly, gratefully.

Bow slung his hands around her waist, pulling her close. “I’m really glad my dads ended up liking you because it would have really sucked to cut them off after everything”, he told her completely seriously. If they made him choose he would choose her every time.

“Bow!”, Glimmer shrieked at that, both chiding and laughing, too overwhelmed by the implication. Her cheeks were adorably pink. He leaned in to nuzzle his nose against hers and before he knew it his lips found hers. She felt so good in his arms, so soft and warm and comforting and every movement of her lips against his was yet another beat of his heart reiterating how much he loved her.

Their kisses stayed gentle and reassuring and ultimately brief. Bow had more things to say. Still holding her he smirked at her, saying: “And don't think I missed you talking to Adora more.” He hadn't expected it and was all the more delighted. “You even stood up for her as well.”

“Yeah, well”, Glimmer said, glancing away with her cheeks getting even redder. She smiled sheepishly. “Someone’s been telling me that we’re not so different and could get along if we tried.”

“He sounds very wise”, Bow said with a solemn nod.

“He is”, Glimmer agreed, laughing. Getting a bit more serious again she reached up to cup his face in her hands, smiled and said: “I’m glad I listened to him.”

Then she kissed him again, decidedly less gently and his heart sang with joy as they ended up pressed against a tree for a moment, simply enjoying the other. In many ways, it was a perfect moment. Bow and Glimmer had so many, he had no qualms about sacrificing one.

“Would you listen to him again?”, he whispered into her ear in a low, sultry tone.

“Of course”, Glimmer gasped, excited anticipation in her eyes. “Always.”

“Very good”, Bow said, kissing her one more time before saying: “In that case: I think now that my family stuff is sorted out it’s time to stop by Mystacor.”

Glimmer instantly stilled, her shoulders falling as she groaned. “Noooooo”, she whined childishly, even going so far as to stomp her foot, making both of them laugh.

Finally Glimmer sighed, lovingly leaning her forehead against his for a moment. She knew she had to do this too. Taking his hand to continue their walk home, he knew that she knew he would be there for her every step of the way.