Act of Faith
by Athena13
Copyright © 1999
Rated: NC-17

See Chapter 1 for notes and disclaimers.

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Stand up, don't you fall.
You just take good care of where you are.
You're thinking life's thru with you.
That's not what he'd want or what you should do.
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Chapter 6 - Parenthood
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"Come on Starbuck it will be fun," Apollo coaxed his friend. "You need a break after the long ranges we just endured."

"Real fun, being a third wing with you and Sheba. Come on Apollo, it's embarrassing. It will look like I can't get my own date!" Starbuck disagreed with his friend's suggestion.

"Starbuck, just because Cassi is busy doesn't mean you have to sit in the barracks alone and mope. We'll have a good time at the Rising Star. If Sheba and I want to be alone, we'll let you know, okay?" Apollo pressed on.

"Only if you promise to tell me to get lost if you want to be alone...and stuff," Starbuck tentatively agreed.

"Definitely," Apollo smirked.

"Are you sure Sheba is all right with this?" Starbuck asked one more time.

"Sheba will be thrilled," Apollo assured him.

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"I don't want him sitting in the barracks feelings sorry for himself," Apollo whispered pleadingly at Sheba.

"I don't either, but I thought this was our cycle to finally be alone," Sheba looked over at the warrior waiting uncomfortably at the other end of the corridor. "It's fine. We'll have a good time."

Apollo breathed a sigh of relief and followed her towards Starbuck.

"Glad you're coming along," Sheba linked her arm with Starbuck's.

"I bet," Starbuck gave her a knowing look. "Apollo promised that you two would tell me to get lost when...you...uh... when you want," he trailed off lamely.

"I promise you Lieutenant, we will," Sheba said sincerely.

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"You look lovely and healthy," Jack commented as soon as he caught sight of Athena.

"Thanks, I think?" she winked.

"I thought we might have a drink before Caphis and Omega meet up with us," Jack suggested, unperturbed by the sensitive topic.

"Sounds like a great idea. I could use an altered nectar," Athena smiled and slipped her arm into the proffered crook of Jack's arm.

As they waited for their drinks to be served, Athena crossed her legs and looked around the bar. As expected, the fleet inhabitants were out in large numbers celebrating their so-far uneventful entrance into the new sectar. This one was much larger than the last, however, and there were many more sectons for adventure and mishap. Nonetheless, nothing was going to prevent the Colonials from taking advantage of every small meterpassing.

"Here," Jack slipped a sweet drink into her hand. "To our returned health and the coming cycle together."

"Cheers," Athena echoed his sentiment and touched her cup to his.

"I love how that dress brings out the color of your eyes and I don't think I've ever seen you with your hair up before," Jack commented as he admired the slope of her neck leading to her blue dress. His fingers reached out and traced her creamy skin.

Athena felt a shiver travel down her spine and she could feel her nipples harden at his sensuous touch. Her pupils dilated and she moistened her now-dry lips as Jack stared into her eyes.

His fingers trailed down her collarbone, not stopping until they reached the slope of her breast. From the look in his eyes Athena could tell he noticed her arousal and that he returned it.

Before she could think of anything to say, her drink was taken from her hand and she allowed herself to be led to the dance floor.

Their bodies connected as Jack slid his arms around her body. He rested a hand on her bare neck and the other rested on her lower back. Athena's breathing became even more shallow as she felt her hardened nipples pressing into his solid chest and the evidence of his answering arousal pressing into her stomach.

Athena felt a flood of moisture between her legs and she wished they were alone.

Jack's breath lightly touched her ear and Athena slid one hand into his dark hair. Her other rested on his shoulder.

"I do want you," he murmured.

"I want you, too," she admitted with some relief as she pressed herself more firmly against his body. She wasn't sure she could be aroused by anyone but Starbuck anymore. The realization made everything more heady than it might have been otherwise. Perhaps she wasn't as hopeless as she had feared just a few sectons ago.

They moved slowly to the music, parting reluctantly only when it was truly over.

"We'd better go meet them," Athena said after taking a few calming sips of her drink. As the altered liquid flowed through her body, she felt the urgency of her desire recede. Carefully she put the drink down on the bar and put her hand out to Jack. "Come on."

Jack took her hand and they began to leave when suddenly they heard Athena's name being called.

"Uh, hi Apollo," Athena flushed as she faced her brother and his companions. "Hi Sheba, Starbuck. You all know Jack?"

"Yes, good to see you Jack," Apollo shook his hand. "Looks like we had similar ideas on how to relax this cycle. Would you like to join us?"

"No thanks," Athena said quickly, not letting her gaze stray to Starbuck. While she wasn't particularly uncomfortable by her recent revelations to the man, she didn't think it would be fair to place Jack in the midst of that situation and wanted to move away as quickly as possible. "We're meeting Caphis and Omega in a few centons. We have reservations at the Star Lounge."

"I can see how you wouldn't want to pass those up," Sheba smiled. She had been trying to get reservations there for her and Apollo for the past couple of sectons. "How did you get the reservation?"

"I did a professional favor for the host," Jack smiled and put his arm around Athena. "If you two want..." Jack offered.

"Sure, can we let you know when we're both not working?" Sheba asked excitedly.

Starbuck, meanwhile, was working hard to look casual. It wasn't easy since any micron he expected Jack to turn around and deck him for kissing his date _and_ getting him sick.

"No problem. Have a good time tonight. It's nice to see you looking so well Starbuck," he smiled mischievously at the warrior.

"Uh, thanks. You too," Starbuck's face turned red.

"Good cycle," Athena nudged Jack towards the door. "I can't believe you said that!" she laughed once they were out of sight.

"Why? I thought it was funny," Jack shrugged his free shoulder.

"Oh, it was, it was," Athena grinned. "It's something _he_ would do. That or punch you."

"I considered that, but didn't think it was acceptable behavior in public," Jack teased her.

'What wasn't acceptable?" Caphis asked from behind them.

"Nothing. You don't want to know," Athena told him as she turned around.

"We just saw Starbuck," Jack grinned.

"I say we agree with Athena and get on with our evening," Omega offered his opinion.

"Aw, I didn't hurt him. I just made a joke," Jack shrugged.

"Don't forget he's a warrior and can kick your astrum," Caphis warned.

"I'm bigger than he is," Jack practically pouted.

"Is he Athena?" Caphis said with a wicked glint in his eyes.

"I really didn't have enough to drink for this. When is our reservation?" Athena flushed and changed the subject.

"In about five centons," Omega couldn't quite hide his grin. "Come on," he put his arm around Athena and began to lead her towards the Lounge. "We're going to have a nice cycle," he promised.

"Why did that sound ominous?" Athena asked with a sigh.

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"You have to admit that was pretty funny," Sheba was giggling as Starbuck glared at her and Apollo did his best to look neutral. "Look, it could have been worse. He could have hit you. No one would fault him for that, well other than Athena who wouldn't want to end up on the IFB again."

"Oh frak," Starbuck threw his hands up in the air. "Why don't I just hide in the barracks? Everything I say or do ends up hurting someone! Listen, I'm not going to be much fun this cycle. You two go on ahead. I'm going back to the ship!"

As Starbuck turned to leave, Apollo placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Starbuck?" Apollo's tone held an implicit question.

"I'll be fine," Starbuck shook the hand off and walked away.

"Wow," Sheba said breathlessly as she watched the normally good humored warrior stalk off.

"My thought exactly," Apollo wondered whether he should go after his friend and find out what was wrong. "I don't know, Sheba. He just hasn't been himself for sectons."

Sheba placed her hand on Apollo's arm. "If you need to go talk to Starbuck, I'll understand. I just wish he and Cassi would settle things and maybe then he'd snap out of this mood. They're speaking again, but I don't think things are going well."

Apollo placed his hand over Sheba's and looked down at her. "I don't know if it's that simple Sheba," he shook his head.

"You think he's still in love with Athena," Sheba acknowledged their earlier conversations on the subject, but didn't rush to agree. "Maybe he's just running scared from commitment again?"

"I don't know what's eating at him, but for right now let's go enjoy our cycle. Starbuck has some things he needs to work out alone," Apollo brought her hand to his lips. "If he needs to talk to me he knows where to find me."

Sheba opened her hand and cupped his cheek. "So how about that private room we originally planned to use? I didn't cancel the reservation."

Apollo smiled and placed his hand around Sheba's waist. "That sounds like a great idea to me," his eyes communicated just how deep his approval ran.

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"Rhys!" Athena exclaimed as her old friend approached their table with her date for the cycle.

"Athena," Rhys leaned over and kissed Athena's cheek. "It's great to see you."

"We have to make some time," Athena shook her head. "One of us is always too busy. Why don't you join us now?"

"Is that all right?" Rhys looked up at her date at his nod Jack waved over their waiter and requested two more place settings.

"Jack," Rhys turned to the legist she sometimes worked with. "You know Marty. Marty, this is Athena and..." she trailed off.

"Caphis of the Orphan Ship, Omega a fellow bridge officer," Athena finished the introductions. "I should have realized you two knew each other," she turned to Jack.

"We're the few remaining legists in the fleet. Jack has been a big help on our project to create a new legal system," Rhys explained as she took the newly added seat. "Marty is a political historian. He works with me as well."

"It's nice to meet you Marty," Athena smiled.

"We've eaten our first course already, but we can wait until you catch up," Caphis told the newcomers.

"So how do you and Rhys know each other?" Jack asked.

Athena and Rhys looked at each other silently for a few microns before Athena nodded. "Rhys and I met when I was in Academy and she was at the neighboring Lyceum. She and my brother Zac had a class together," she looked at Rhys for approval of her explanation.

Rhys' brown eyes communicated her gratitude at Athena's delivery of a shortened version of their history. "Did you get a chance to read the preliminary report I sent over?" Rhys turned to Jack with her question.

"Yes, when I was quarantined I got to catch up on my reading. I plan to send you a detailed critique next morning cycle, but overall I did like your outline for the Fleet Code," Jack told her. "Hopefully you'll be able to appease all the groups. I don't envy you that task.

"You could still join me?" Rhys offered with raised brows and a hopeful grin. "We can always use more allies in this effort."

"I might just take you up on that. You've gotten me thinking. You have some good ideas for the criminal justice system, but I think I can find some more room for compromise. Particularly in the areas the Gemons are fighting most about..."

"I thought we weren't talking shop tonight?" Marty took advantage of the lull in their exchange to interject.

Athena felt a twinge of relief at Marty's interruption. She too was beginning to feel uncomfortable as the two legists seemed to exist in their own world. Athena caught Marty's sympathetic smile and returned it with one of her own.

"Since I created the rule for tonight I had better follow it," Rhys smiled apologetically at Jack as she brushed her blonde hair over her shoulder and turned her attention back to the rest of the table. "I can't wait to have a _real_ fresh veggie mix!" she exclaimed as she perused the electronic menu in front of her.

"That's what I started with," Athena told her. "I highly recommend it! There is also some real fruit extracts to drink."

"I never thought I would welcome fresh veggies," Caphis chuckled. "The children can't get enough of them now either. There's an aluminous lining to everything I guess."

"I'd like to think there is something good in every situation," Rhys said seriously. "It keeps me sane."

"We all need that," Jack looked at Rhys as he spoke softly.

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Contrary to his parting words to Sheba and Apollo, Starbuck hadn't gone back to the Galactica, instead he boarded the shuttle to the Science Ship. He had decided that if he didn't resolve things with Cass one way or another he was going to lose what was left of his sanity. Things between him and the med-tech had been in an intolerable state of limbo since she finally agreed to speak to him again almost a secton ago, but as with everything lately, things hadn't worked out as planned.

It seemed like forever had passed when he finally found Cass studying in the biblio where she had said she would be. She wasn't, however, alone and Starbuck quickly turned around when he spotted her in the group of what he supposed were other medical students. He had a feeling she wouldn't appreciate his intrusion.

He didn't want to go back the Galactica then either, knowing he wouldn't be able to be alone and he really needed to be. For sectons now he'd found himself experiencing more mental upheaval than he could ever remember. As usual, he had tried to ignore it and hope it would go away or that he would be able to beat it down into submission. Or repression as Cass often said.

But it wasn't working.

Obviously, Cass's suggested solution was the one he had to try now - it was the only one left. He had to think back to the cause and work his way through everything. If he didn't, he would finally manage to alienate all his friends and possibly endanger himself, his wingmate and the fleet because his concentration was beginning to slip. At this juncture, he was even considering asking Apollo to take him out of the patrol schedule. That's how he knew he'd better get a hold of himself real fast.

So instead of heading back to the battlestar, Starbuck had returned to the Rising Star and secured a private room for himself. It had cost a few extra cubits on such short notice and had earned him some surprised glances from the staff when they realized _he_ really was alone, but he couldn't think of anywhere else he could go.

Once alone in the room, he threw off his jacket and boots and was presently lying across the entire bed. He figured, since he didn't have to share for once, he might as well be comfortable. It probably was the first time in as long as he could remember that he actually _was_ alone.

"So when did all this...this...whatever start?" he asked the ceiling. He closed his eyes and tried to relax as Cass had taught him., one muscle at a time. First the toes and then slowly he concentrated on every centimeter of his lithe body.

After a few centons he felt himself begin to "float" on the top of the bed and he began to sift through his mind trying to pinpoint when he first began to feel so agitated.

Or more precisely, when Athena had become such an integral part of his life that not seeing her for days at a time scared him so much..

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"Apollo?" Sheba sat up in the bed and held the sheet to her bare chest.

"Hmmm," Apollo said absently from across the room where he was bare-assed and preparing the meal that had been delivered over a centar ago.

"You know how you kind of hinted that you wanted to stay out of the Starbuck-Athena-Cassi situation?" she asked.

"You don't want to leave it alone," Apollo smiled as he continued his task and keeping his back to the bed.

"I can't. Our friends are suffering, as are our plans to be alone," Sheba continued. "We have to do something. We need to find out if Starbuck loves Athena or Cassiopeia."

"This sounds so familiar," Apollo shook his head and turned back towards the bed. "Over a yahren ago I believe, before you got here. I couldn't think of any way of finding out then and I can't think of anything now. Best I've been able to come up with is to place little hints and hope Starbuck makes up his mind soon."

"I'm not sure it's a matter of Starbuck making up his mind," Sheba stood up on her knees, still clutching the sheet to her chest, to Apollo's disappointment. "I don't know that he even realizes there is any question about whom he loves since he's never had to consider whether Athena would be around or not. She just always was. Now that she's made commitments off the Galactica and is dating someone he's actually met and doesn't live there..." Sheba trailed off as she gathered her thoughts before continuing.

"I'm not sure what he was thinking when he got involved with Cassi, but it definitely wasn't serious until after I showed up and Starbuck sensed some competition in the form of my father and his legend. I _know_ he cares about her, but how much? Was it convenience and new challenge? Was Starbuck more ready to settle down than he has been willing to admit? He did propose to Athena...although that might have been in a panic."

"Then again," Sheba continued, cutting off Apollo's unnoticed attempt to speak. "This just might be something he's only coming to terms with now that Cassi has made it clear she wants a commitment, someday at least. What do you think? He's your best friend," Sheba finally looked up at him.

During Sheba's oration Apollo had seated himself at the dining table and was sitting patiently with his legs crossed and his chin in his hand. "You sure you're ready?" he asked laconically.

"What?" Sheba looked at him quizzically.

"Nothing," Apollo waved his hand. "I think what you're saying has merit. But I've been pretty blind about Starbuck's feelings for my sister since the beginning. He has spoken to me about Cassi. Some of what he's said I now know wasn't completely true, such as the claim that she was the only woman he ever considered settling down with. And on that score Athena is just one of a few I've known about in the past. He's also said that he would get sealed to Cassi when we find Earth, but now that she's indicated she wants that as well, he's backing off. And he did say he loved Athena in the present tense the other day. I just don't know, Sheba. I should but I don't. Maybe there's nothing to know," Apollo sighed in frustration. "This food can't get any colder, by the way."

Sheba nodded and dragged the sheet around her body and sat down across from Apollo. She picked up the glass of chilled ambrosa Apollo had poured and continued to think aloud.

"No, there's definitely something going on. He did kiss Athena and he tagged along to the Orphan Ship. From what Cassi told me, he was completely freaked out when he thought Athena died. More than Cassi had expected, anyway. That's really why she couldn't speak to him for days. And now that they are speaking, things aren't going well," Sheba explained.

"You know," she said putting her cup down heavily. "I really shouldn't be getting so involved in this. I _am_ one of Cassi's closest friends. I think I'm intrigued by the idea of true love winning out. Probably not the best thing considering...things," she sighed.

"What things?" Apollo looked up from his plate.

Sheba shrugged and looked down at her own plate of food, suddenly unable to consider eating a bite.

"Sheba, what's wrong? What things?" Apollo put down his utensil and reached his hand out to clasp her chin.

Sheba looked at Apollo and sighed. She had tears in her eyes. "I'm being insane is all," she gave a tender smile. "Somehow all this got me thinking about Serina. I guess it's my comeuppance for talking about this behind Cassi's back."

"Sheba, you must know that you are the keeper of my heart, whatever and whoever was in my life before," Apollo knelt down before her and held her hand in his. "I've been told that I tend to be slow and dense and I know it's caused me to lose time. I don't intend to let that happen now. Sheba, will you consent to be my wife?"

Sheba's hand covered her mouth as tears began to spill down her cheeks. Apollo's eyes were a brilliant mix of gold and green as he looked up at her. Indeed, she could see him handing her his heart. As much as she wanted to accept his proposal, she couldn't speak. Instead she placed her free hand on his cheek and leaned down to capture his lips. Letting the sheet slip down her body, she communicated her love and acceptance with her lips until she too was kneeling on the floor, her bare body pressed against his.

"Is that a 'yes'?" Apollo pulled away just long enough to ask.

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Sometimes it seemed that Starbuck had known Athena for more yahrens than he could remember. He had to admit that continuity alone made her special in his life. But length of acquaintance wasn't their only tie. She was his best friend's sister and they had shared some funny and some touching times between the three of them. They had even corresponded for a while when she first went to the Academy, but as he expected she soon didn't have the time or inclination to answer his messages and that had lapsed. Still, her presence in his life was, well, nice, but certainly it wasn't something he counted on or required all the yahrens he had known her. Certainly not before she joined the Galactica crew.

That hadn't even changed after she arrived on the Galactica. If anything he had been a bit amused by her arrival because Apollo had asked him to look out for her and protect her from being taken advantage of by other warriors. He was a warrior not a babysitter and since when did Athena need anyone to protect her? She seemed to have done pretty well without Apollo around and, while Starbuck hadn't seen her in a few yahrens, from what he remembered Athena had been a pretty little kid, but not someone who was going to cause the riot that Apollo seemed to expect. So both Boomer and Starbuck had nodded in agreement with Apollo and secretly told the other their only intention was to protect Athena from her overbearing older brother. Zac had concurred with their plan to ignore Apollo's concerns knowing that Athena would not appreciate being hovered over.

"I was blown away," Starbuck mumbled aloud as the images of Athena's arrival on the Galactica flowed through his mind. Starbuck and Apollo were scheduled for patrol within a half centar of Athena's arrival and were waiting together in the shuttle lounge with Zac as the new crew members arrived.

Starbuck remembered as his eyes sifted through the crowd looking for the little girl he remembered to disembark. A smile touched his lips as he remembered his gaze doing a double-take on a beautiful young woman who passed in front of his gaze and he even had made a mental note to look her up later before resuming his search for Apollo's sister. Within a few microns, however, Zac was rushing up to that very woman and engulfing her in a bear hug. Starbuck's eyes widened as he realized the sexy new crew member was actually, well, Athena!

Lords. Starbuck could remember his confusion as he returned her hug. Apollo was right to want to protect this child in a woman's body from the other officers he had decided on the spot. So while he had accepted this incredible beauty was Athena, he hadn't yet accepted that she had grown up inside as well. It would be something that would take sectars to sink in. Still that didn't stop him from having to fight his physical urges as he held her in his arms or over the centars of his patrol that day. And many days after that.

With a flush of shame and titillation, Starbuck remembered how close he had come to opening his pants and relieving the throbbing pressure within while sitting in his viper as the memory of her warm body pressed against him in greeting wouldn't leave his mind. But she was Apollo's little sister, practically his own little sister and not to mention the Commander's daughter! Somehow, after many centars of lecturing himself, he had managed to put his physical reaction to her safely away. And for sectons he refused to let himself think of her as anything but "his little sister."

"Until _that_ cycle," Starbuck's eyes closed in the dark and he shifted across the bed. His hands absently rubbed his thighs and his breathing became shallow as he settled down to remember.

All the friends had gathered in the O' Club to celebrate Zac's natal day a few sectons after Athena's arrival on board. It was the first cycle that Apollo and Starbuck had gotten during which they could observe just what effect Athena was having on their fellow warriors. As Apollo predicted, Athena along with her friends Bree and Dietra, were already popular among the more outgoing warriors.

Boomer and Zac concurred with the wingmates' observations with casual shrugs, obviously confident Athena could take care of herself. Neither Starbuck nor Apollo felt so complacent. Starbuck had already had to hold himself back from punching a few warriors over the past sectons whenever he walked through the corridors with the young woman, who for her part seemed oblivious to the lustful stares she caused. Starbuck wasn't oblivious, however, even if he wasn't going to let himself want her that way, again, himself.

"Oh Lords," Apollo groaned beside him, breaking his train of thought.

Starbuck had been about to ask what was wrong when he caught sight of Athena dancing with Lieutenant Targon, a man with as big a reputation as Starbuck, except that the women Targon dated always ended up hurt and defamed. Starbuck's vow to stay away from Athena that cycle dropped from his head without notice.

"I'll take care of this," Starbuck assured the older brother and strode to the middle of the dance floor.

"May I cut in?" Starbuck said smoothly, slipping his hand on Athena's arm even as he went through the motions of asking politely for permission. "Thanks," he said before Targon could even respond and pulled Athena into his arms.

As her arms slipped around his shoulders, he suddenly remembered his pledge and why it had been made. Belatedly, he tried to keep some distance between himself and his dance partner. Yet despite his well-trained thoughts, Starbuck's palms slipped sensuously down the soft navy blue material of Athena's new uniform and settled around her hips and pulled her closer, as he would have with any attractive woman.

"That uniform," Starbuck chuckled into the dark, momentarily distracted by the memory of it's first appearance in all of their lives. Whoever had chosen that uniform must have had Athena in mind! It was that party, in fact, that she had first worn it and directly led to the vow he had immediately thereafter broken.

Athena had arrived at the party after Apollo and Starbuck as she had been on bridge duty until then. Starbuck had almost choked on his grog as he caught sight of her in her new blue bridge uniform. The uniform skimmed her curvaceous body and accented her deep blue eyes. If she hadn't been wearing her hair up, Starbuck didn't even want to imagine the reaction she might cause in _other_ warriors there that cycle. And even though she didn't cause that kind of reaction in him, not after that first time and that was only because of his surprise, he vowed not to get too close to her. Of course Starbuck had been partly wrong, hair up or not she caused a stir among the warriors...

As they danced to the slow song, her body settled more fully against his. Even as he thought he should escort her back to her brother, Starbuck could feel her breasts pressing against his chest and her pelvic bone was rubbing against his. Then her breath stirred the hair around his left ear and soon his hair wasn't the only thing stirring as he felt himself surrounded by the heat of her body. There was no way he could bring her back to her brother now.

Unconsciously, the hands he had settled on her hips pulled her lower body even tighter against him and the evidence of his desire.

"Starbuck," Athena gasped in his ear as she stopped pretending not to notice his arousal.

"Frak," Starbuck exclaimed and tried to pull away.

"Wait," Athena tightened her arms around his neck.

"For what?" Starbuck asked suspiciously as his hands encircling her arms in order to pull them away.

"Can you, uh, move away uncovered?" she whispered, a blush staining her cheeks.

"Oh Lords," Starbuck dropped his forehead against hers as the truth of her questions sunk in. He couldn't move away from her without everyone seeing the evidence of his unwanted arousal. He had to wait for it die down. 'Yeah, with her in my arms,' he snorted out loud.

"If it makes you feel better, I'm flattered?" Athena said teasingly, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"Well, that makes me feel better," Starbuck opened his eyes and looked down at her innocent blue eyes.

"It should, I've waited yahrens for you to want me as a woman. Of course, I was about eleven when I made that vow," she chuckled.

"Almost twelve," Starbuck corrected her automatically.

"It's late, how about you need to walk me back to my quarters?" Athena offered.

The present Starbuck rolled over in the bed on the Rising Star and buried his face in a pillow.

'She's certainly different,' Starbuck thought as he and Athena had left the party early in order to protect him from embarrassment and probably a pummeling from her older brother. Not only was she protecting him, all the way back to her quarters she hadn't mentioned his arousal but talked of inconsequential battlestar business. Most women, he knew without arrogance, would have already thrown themselves at his lustful mercy - in the middle of the O' Club!

Part of Starbuck had been relieved, but another part was insulted that she could treat his desire so casually. Obviously, he thought then, she didn't return it. A few centons later Starbuck was wishing she had taken his desire as casually as he had assumed.

"Why do you want me?" Athena asked him as soon as they were safely behind closed doors in her chamber.

"Um, uh, what?" Starbuck asked lamely.

"You obviously want my body, I was just wondering why and what you plan to do about it," Athena asked as she turned the light on.

"Nothing," Starbuck shrugged.

"Is it because my brother would kill you or because you think I'm just a child in a woman's body and couldn't handle you?" she sat down on the bed and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Both?" Starbuck could remember making the mistake of saying.

"Oh," Athena nodded and uncrossed her arms.

"Oh what?" Starbuck asked, knowing he should just leave the room now, but intrigued despite himself to hear what this intriguing female would say then.

"That's what I expected. You're pretty predictable, Starbuck. For all your bluster about living on the edge, you rarely stray from your pattern," Athena seemed to dismiss him as she began to pull off her boots.

"Pattern? Predictable? Me?" Starbuck asked in an insulted and shocked tone.

"You flirt with every woman you find attractive, you take her out to dinner, maybe you make a little love to her, but it's rarely more than that. A dinner every few sectons until she realizes you're just marking time and she decides to move on. And you feel safe that way. I've seen women with real substance, women with more than a desire to feel attractive by being seen with you or to take the challenge of making you adore them, try to strike up conversations with you and your eyes glaze over and you tune them out," Athena unbuttoned the collar of her uniform top.

"And you're one of these women of substance?" Starbuck asked hurtfully.

"Not really. Not to you," Athena didn't let his defensiveness break her. "I'm in a category all by myself and you're not sure how to handle it. Is this the first time you've been aroused by me?"

"What?" Starbuck was surprised by the question and unwilling to answer it. In fact, the entire conversation was making him uncomfortable.

"It's not. I saw how stunned you were when I got here. Although you haven't seemed bothered by me until tonight. Of course you were too busy defending me from predatory warriors on my brother's orders," she rolled her eyes.

"I was not defending you because your brother ordered me to," Starbuck could remember feeling satisfied that he could refute something she had said in the past few centons.

"Oh?" Athena asked as she pulled the pins out of her hair. "Then why were you defending my honor and chastity?"

"I, uh, you see," Starbuck jabbered as he watched in fascination as Athena's hair fell around her shoulders. Her fair skin gleamed out from the frame of darkness and her eyes looked deeper and fathomless.

"See, that worse category, you don't know what to do. I'm a little sister to you, yet you find me desirable physically. Mentally, however, I haven't been promoted from a little girl either. Definitely something that Starbuck has not encountered before. Your normal pattern would be to either ignore me or romance me a little and then drop me. You can't do either because of my brothers and father," Athena sighed as if she sympathized with him.

"Let me give you a little help here," she approached him slowly.

"You want to help me?" Starbuck crossed his arms in front of his body.

"I"m not a little girl. Physically or emotionally. What I do with my love life is my business. I know you want me physically, but that's not enough to make for a satisfying interlude. You have to accept me and want me mentally as well. So I won't take advantage of your desire, this cycle," Athena said confidently. "But if you ever find yourself putting me in that substantive woman category, come find me before you write me off. Maybe I can teach you a thing or two." Athena watched him struggle for a few microns for a response before pushing him out of her room.

Starbuck stood staring at the closed door for a few centons before he realized what he was doing. Securing his dropped jaw, Starbuck turned on his heels and walked out of her quarters.

The present Starbuck began to laugh as he remembered how completely the "little girl" had thrown him for a loop. Of course, being himself he had pretended her words hadn't effected him. But truthfully, and he knew she knew it, he could think of little else but the words she had _dared_ to speak to him. No woman ever had before.

He had to admit, he kind of liked it. Somewhere along the way, after the Destruction, he realized she had lost the inclination to stand up to him and shock him. Perhaps because the last time she dared he had walked away from her without a backwards glance and brought Cassi to where he knew Athena would find them. Whatever the reason, Athena never dared to speak her mind to him that way again, and if she began to he always made sure to flaunt Cassi in his face. Until the cycle she ended their romantic relationship once and for all.

Still, despite the end of their romantic relationship, Athena hadn't left his life the way most ex-girlfriends did and he began to try and goad her into opening up to him that way again. A few times he had seen her face settle into the expression he knew preceded her telling him what was what, but she never did. Then suddenly, she wasn't around to play the game with him anymore. And he didn't know what to do about it.

"Perhaps because to her it was never a game, you stupid astrum," he said to the empty room.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"How long have you and Jack been together?" Rhys asked as they fixed their hair in the ladies lounge.

"A couple of sectars," Athena answered, her eyes focusing on her friend's reflection in the reflector glass. "Why do you ask?"

Rhys shrugged and tried to look nonchalant. After a few microns her mask fell and Athena could see the emotions in her eyes.

"You're in love with him," Athena turned and faced her petite friend. "I had no idea. You've never even mentioned him. What about Marty?"

"Because I knew if he saw you he would fall for you if I introduced you two," Rhys admitted with some embarrassment. "I've waited for him to get to a place where he could date without guilt. I had hoped I would be the first woman he thought of. Marty and I are just friends. He knows how I feel about Jack."

"I'm sorry," Athena felt guilty. "I had no idea. If it makes you feel any better, he and I are more friends than anything else. I don't think we'll work out as anything more."

"No!" Rhys protested. "You can't hurt him now just because of me."

Athena opened her mouth to speak and then shut it. She didn't know what to say. She really didn't think she and Jack would work out for the long term, but were just having a good time. There was no way, however, Athena could do that now knowing how her friend felt. The question was what to do now? She had no idea how Jack felt about Rhys. She couldn't imagine that he was immune to her, she was intelligent, loyal and simply gorgeous. First, Athena decided, she had to find out if Jack had any interest in their mutual friend!

"Let's get back," Athena smiled brightly at her friend.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"So how long have you known Rhys?" Athena asked Jack as they danced to the slow song the band was playing.

"Yahrens actually. We traveled in some of the same professional circles back in the Colonies. I never worked closely with her until the fleet though," Jack answered absently. "You've known her since your Academy days?"

"Yes, she and my brother Zac were engaged to be married," Athena told him, hoping that would gain a reaction.

"He was killed when the Cylons attacked," Jack remembered the story. "I had no idea she had lost someone..." he said absently as his gaze sought out the blond woman in the crowd.

"It's not something you brag about," Athena told him, even as she sensed his pique at her not sharing the bit of information when Rhys obviously knew about his family.

"No, but...we've talked about that sort of thing," Jack said with more than a trace of anger.

"She's a very private person," Athena explained. "Perhaps she wasn't ready to talk about it, or felt it wasn't as...wasn't comparable to your loss?"

"I do tend to close off during those discussions," Jack admitted. Athena noticed his eyes again stray towards the blond woman as he tried to work out the mechanics of their past relationship.

Athena watched with a sad smile on her face. Once again, it seemed, she was left out in the cold. 'But that's the way it should be,' she closed her eyes and took a breath.

Jack was not the man for her. It seemed there had never been any other man besides Starbuck. She had faith in both of those facts, but that didn't mean her life was over, nor did it mean she should sit idly by and let Jack and Rhys continue to fumble their way towards a relationship. Not when there was something she could do about something.

"I'm really sorry guys, but I have this headache that I just can't get rid of tonight. I'm going to go back to the Galactica and get some sleep," Athena announced suddenly as she and Jack returned to the table.

"Oh? I'm sorry Athena. Rhys, Marty, I hope you have a nice evening," Jack looked disappointed as he moved to Athena's side, preparing to escort her home.

"Oh no, this is your first evening out since quarantine, please stay. Marty said he would walk me to the shuttle," Athena smiled weakly, trying to convey herself as someone with a headache.

"I did?" Marty looked up at the mention of his name. Then he looked at Rhys and Jack and stood up quickly. "I did," he said more confidently. "I, uh, have some work I had forgotten about. So, why don't you stay too, Rhys, and keep Jack company. So have a good cycle you two."

Before either of the victims of the rash excuses could speak, Marty's hand was on Athena's back and he was leading her away from the table.

"What you've done tonight is really nice for your friend," Marty said to Athena after they were outside the club.

"She's in love with him, what else could I do? She deserves to be happy and, from what I saw, Jack might return those feelings," Athena shrugged.

"Still, he was your date," Marty smiled. "I think you may be right. Jack might just be ready to recognize his feelings for Rhys. He came to see her right after he got out of quarantine...so are you really planning to go home?"

"Yeah," Athena sighed. "I think I've done enough for one cycle."

"You did a lot. I've been trying to get them together for ages. This couldn't have worked better if we had planned it," Marty chuckled.

"Well, whatever happens now is up to them," Athena pointed her thumb back towards the club. "It was nice to meet you, Marty."

"It was nice to meet you too, Athena, hope your head feels better," Marty winked.

"Hey, aren't you walking me to the shuttle bay," Athena teased. "Seriously, no need. Go have a good time, you've had your eyes towards the gaming tables all cycle."

"You're right about that, somehow I never seem to make it here. Have a good cycle," Marty shook Athena's hand.

"You too," Athena waved before turning and heading for the shuttle lounge.

<><><><><><><><><><>"

The game, I've missed the game!" Starbuck sat up in a rush of inspiration. Suddenly he began to feel much better. It all began to make sense to him. He and Athena had been engaged in a game for so long and she decided to stop playing without telling him. Starbuck knew he wasn't the type of man to let up on a challenge.

"So that's why it upset me and I kissed her!" Starbuck leaped off the bed and began to reassemble his uniform. Finally, he had some reasonable explanation to offer Cassi. Now things would be all right between them again!

<><><><><><><><><><>

"Come live with me on the Orphan Ship, we can get sealed," Caphis lay soft kisses along Omega's jaw line as they lay in bed.

"I wish I could," Omega mumbled, obviously half asleep. "I have to be on the Galactica. Come live with me. Couldn't someone else cover for you whatever cycles I'm not on duty, particularly the late ones?"

"Why do I feel like this is a replay of yahrens ago," Caphis sighed and lay his head back on Omega's shoulder.

"It's not. We'll work it out. When I'm not on call and we don't expect danger, we can stay on the Orphan Ship. Other times we can stay on the Galactica," Omega kissed Caphis' forehead.

"You're right. We both do important work we can't abandon, but we can't abandon each other either. So do you know of any other couples on the Galactica where one spouse works elsewhere?" Caphis traced patterns on Omega's naked chest.

"Actually, I do. Generally the spouse lives on the Galactica, though," Omega chuckled at the irony of the situation. Yahrens ago they had been separated by time and space. Certainly this minimal distance could be resolved.

"Let me think about it. I'm sure my assistant could handle me being away some of the time," Caphis promised. "In fact, he'd probably love it if I wasn't always breathing over his shoulder."

"That _I_ can't understand," Omega whispered.

"Oh really?" Caphis rolled over and poised his lips above Omega's shoulder.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"Athena...um, Starbuck," the two warriors exclaimed in surprise as they bumped into each other looking for seats on the crowded shuttle. Both pair of eyes fell onto two empty seats in front of them and then back to the other's face.

'It's not like this cycle couldn't stand to get worse!' Athena thought as she struggled to keep the tears out of her eyes. While she was genuinely pleased for Jack and Rhys, assuming they didn't mess things up, it didn't stop the feeling of loneliness that radiated from her aching heart. All she wanted to do was endure a long ride back home and lock herself into her chambers and cry herself to sleep. Instead, the very cause of her sadness stood before her ready to share the long ride back with her. Now Athena worried whether she could hold the tears at bay until she was alone.

"Athena, are you all right?" Starbuck slipped a solicitous hand under her elbow and guided her unresisting body into a seat. "Athena," Starbuck whispered again as he sat down next to her.

"What?" Athena roused herself from her reverie and looked at the concerned friend at her side.

"Are you all right? Do you feel well? Did Jack do something to upset you? He didn't come on too strong did he?" he demanded.

"I'm fine, just a headache," Athena repeated the lame excuse she had spontaneously made earlier.

"Are you sure?" Starbuck whispered.

"Yes, I just need to close my eyes," she smiled weakly at him before doing just that.

"Do you want me to take you to the Life Center?" Starbuck persisted. "Are you still...um...sick?"

"No, I'm fine Starbuck, I just need some sleep," Athena insisted wearily. If he didn't stop being so solicitous she really was going to start sobbing!

"Here," Starbuck slipped his arm around Athena's shoulders and pulled her head until she was resting on his chest.

"No, Starbuck!" Athena tried to squirm away as his warmth and familiar scent surrounded her.

"If you don't fall asleep right now, I'm taking you to the Life Center," Starbuck threatened.

"This is going to cause rumors," Athena insisted against his chest, even though she found herself beginning to feel less sad as his chin settled in her hair and his hand absently clasped her own in his lap.

"Everything does, why bother to care?" Starbuck shrugged underneath her cheek. "You have a headache and I can be here to make sure you're not disturbed. Now try and feel better," Starbuck began to stroke her hair with his free hand in a rhythm he knew from prior experience would soothe her to sleep.

"If you insist," Athena murmured as her arm slipped obligingly around his waist.

"I insist, what are friends for?" Starbuck smiled into her hair.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Starbuck closed his eyes as he breathed in the scent of the sleeping woman on his chest. Less than half a centar earlier, he had convinced himself that he didn't feel anything of a romantic nature for her and was only interested in the challenge she had unwittingly created for him. Somehow, his body hadn't gotten the message and it was taking all his willpower not to wiggle and probably wake her up.

"Starbuck," Athena mumbled sleepily against his chest.

"Yeah," Starbuck paused to clear his throat. "Um, yeah." When Athena didn't respond, he brushed the hair off her face and took a peek. She seemed to still be sleeping, unconsciously his hand tightened around her hair as he realized she was mumbling his name in her dreams.

'I wonder what she's dreaming about?' Starbuck wondered uncomfortably as his hand dropped from her hair and moved to rest on her bare shoulder. He dropped his eyes and let out a breath, trying to calm the riot of tension that was stiffening his body. 'Big mistake,' he groaned to himself as his eyes strayed to Athena's bare legs. Unable to stop himself, his other hand dropped to Athena's thigh and he smoothed down her short dress, ostensibly to keep her covered from prying eyes, but in reality he wanted to confirm whether her dress was as soft as it looked when he had seen her earlier dancing with Jack.

It was.

'Frak!' Starbuck groaned as he felt his arousal heighten and his hand strayed back up her lap. The pads of his fingers tingled as he was barely able to stop himself from slipping under her skirt and seeing whether she was as aroused as he couldn't help imagining.

'It's the color,' he told himself. Her dress was the same dark blue as her uniform. As "that" uniform he had been thinking about earlier.

"Mmmm," Athena let out a wistful moan against his chest.

Starbuck looked around to see if anyone could see them, but fortunately Athena was in the window seat and her body was well hidden from everyone else, including the people across the aisle.

'Just one more time and she'll never know,' Starbuck thought urgently as he slid his hand off her shoulder and under her arm until his hand was cupping her breast. He felt a stab of pleasure between his legs as her nipple tightened beneath his thumb. All during his movements he kept a close watch on her expression so he would know when she woke up. So far, she didn't seem aware of his guilty caresses.

Starbuck's tongue slipped out of his mouth and wet his lips as he imagined taking the hardened pebble into his mouth.

Slowly, Starbuck slid his hand from Athena's skirt and slid his fingers along her bare thigh until one more movement would have him under her skirt. Then Athena shifted, bringing her knee up against his leg and his hand came to rest on the inside of her thigh. Even centimeters away from her center he could feel her heat on his hand. It was irresistible.

Not bothering to check if she was still sleeping, Starbuck slid his hand up her leg and brushed his fingers over her aroused center.

"Oh God," Athena moaned.

"Uh, I, uh," Starbuck froze as his eyes met very awake, and very aroused blue ones looking up at him.

"Starbuck?" Athena asked in a sleepy voice.

"I, I, I..." Starbuck couldn't think of one thing to say to explain what the frak he was doing to her formerly sleeping body.

"Maybe you could move now?" Athena prompted him.

"Yeah," Starbuck moved his hands off her body and pulled away. Flushed, he looked away as Athena fixed her clothes.

"What were you doing?" she asked him a centon later.

"The color..." Starbuck fumbled around for an explanation. Yet, how could he provide her with one when he couldn't explain it to himself. Just a centar ago he had convinced himself that it was just the challenge, but how much of a challenge was a sleeping woman? Cassi! He suddenly remembered who he was going to see. He was going to make things right with Cassi and here he was fondling Athena, again!

"Forget it," Athena said stiffly as she looked out the window of the shuttle.

"I'm sorry, I, uh, I don't know what I was thinking," Starbuck mumbled.

"I never know what you're thinking," Athena said bitterly as she fought back tears.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"Good, you're here," Starbuck came barreling into Cassi's quarters. He had decided to put his lapse with Athena behind him. He had promised himself that he would work things out with Cassi and he wasn't going to back down from that goal because of a few centons slip up. 'I'll make it up to Athena later,' he put the sight of her reddened eyes out of his mind as he waited for Cassi to turn around.

"Starbuck," she said in surprise and turned around to face the harried warrior.

"Cass, I figured it all out!" he grasped her arms.

"Hang on," Cassi shook out of his grasp and put her hand up. "Figured what out?"

"Why I've been so crazy the past sectars," Starbuck smiled. "I did some thinking tonight and I put it all together!"

Cassi sighed and sat back down on her couch/bed. She didn't look as excited as Starbuck seemed to expect her to. "What did you figure out, Starbuck?" she asked patiently.

"This whole thing with Athena. I figured out why it's bothered me so much. It's because I was engaged for so long with her in this game and she just stopped playing without telling me! Maybe she didn't realize we were playing, I didn't until tonight. But _that's_ why I kissed her! I was frustrated, but now I know why! So now there's nothing for us to worry about, nothing for you to worry about since I knew it wasn't going to happen again!" Starbuck finally paused for a breath.

"Did you work all that out by yourself?" Cassi looked up at the pacing warrior.

"Huh?" Starbuck turned to look at her for the first time since he started his tirade.

"Starbuck, sit down," she asked him quietly.

"Why do I think you're not all that impressed with what I've figured out?" he asked warily as he complied.

"Starbuck, you're kissing Athena isn't the only problem between us. I think you know that," Cassi placed her hand over his.

"I definitely sense you're not excited," Starbuck quipped weakly.

"Starbuck, things between us they just don't work. Maybe we never should have gotten to this point? Maybe I never should have pushed a commitment? I don't know. I do know that for sectars you've been distant with me. Sometimes things would be really great, but sometimes you just weren't there. And ever since the mission on the basestar and I made it clear how I felt, it's only gotten worse. The situation with Athena is only another symptom," Cassi said seriously. "I'm leaving Starbuck. The Galactica, you, all of this. I've decided to commit to medical classes full-time and will be living on the Science Ship. There's no reason for me to hang around here and wait. You love me Starbuck and I love you, but it's not that burning passion that will carry us much further. I think it's best we end this now before we begin to resent each other even more."

"I don't resent you, Cassi," Starbuck's eyes were mysteriously blurry. "I don't want you to go. I can fix this, I know I can."

"It's over, there's nothing to fix," Cassi stroked his cheek as tears began to overflow from her own eyes. "I love you Starbuck, more than I've ever loved any man. This wasn't an easy decision to make."

"So don't you think you should have made it with me? You're the one who is always talking about discussing things first," Starbuck said angrily as he stood up.

"Breaking up is not usually something that's jointly decided, not when it's something one person knows is right. This is right ,Starbuck," Cassi wiped her cheeks.

"You said you forgave me about Athena!" Starbuck accused.

"I do forgive you, Starbuck, that doesn't mean I can just forget it. Look at yourself. You rush in here trying to fix our relationship by coming up with some ridiculous rationalization as to why you've been preoccupied with another woman. And part of that rationalization is that you've been playing some sick game with her for...for just how long? Our entire relationship? Don't you see? Athena has always been a part of our relationship. It's only when she hasn't been there that you've noticed that. That I've noticed that."

Cassi stood up and began pacing. "I understood. I thought I did. She was just another fling you were having with some lovely young woman. Then she turned out to be your best friend's sister. So she was a part of your life. I was fine with that. You had chosen to be with me. But did you really Starbuck? This game? What was it? Using me as a shield from her? Because she turned down your proposal? Was getting married to me her punishment?" Cassi demanded.

"I..." Starbuck tried to figure out how to respond. "It was never like that, I don't know what you're talking about!"

"It's over Starbuck. In another secton I'll be off the Galactica, maybe then you can figure out just what kind of game you've been playing with yourself?" Cassi controlled her tone again.

"My games? Maybe you're the one who has been playing games!" Starbuck drew himself up to military posture. "You've tired of playing med-tech and girlfriend of a warrior, so on to bigger and better things for the former socialator!"

"It doesn't have to end like this,"Cassi said pleadingly.

"No, it just has to end," Starbuck hissed, his eyes flashing with anger.

"There's something else," Cassi's shoulders drooped. "I had intended to save this for another time, but I think I'd better tell you now."

"What other surprises does the woman have in store for us tonight?" Starbuck threw his arms in the dramatically.

"I think you'd better sit down," Cassi told him.

"Whenever someone tells me that, I can't sit down," Starbuck said stiffly.

"It's about your...it's about Chameleon and the genetic tests," Cassi started slowly. "He asked me to lie to you. He is your father."

"What?!" Starbuck shouted.

"He didn't want you to abandon your life for him. I didn't want you to abandon your life, so I respected his wishes," Cassi admitted, flinching slightly at the hurt and fury on Starbuck's face.

"You lied to me about my father?" he asked in a strangled voice. "You, of all people, the person I trusted most with my...you kept this from me? How dare you! How dare both of you!"

"We did it for you," Cassi backed away.

"For me? You dare say you lied to me about this for me? If you can say that, if you can do that...you are not the woman I thought I loved. You're not even someone I like," Starbuck spit the words out at her. "I never want to see you again. You can't be off this ship fast enough for me."

The former couple stood staring at one another for another few microns before Starbuck turned on his heel and stalked out.

"Someday I hope you'll forgive me," Cassi wiped the tears from her cheeks, still it felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Indeed, the weight of the lies she had lived with for sectars was finally gone.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"Athena, I thought you were on the Rising Star," Colonel Tigh said in surprise as he saw his assistant heading down the corridor towards him.

"I was, I got bored. I was just going to see my father," she shrugged.

"He's asleep, if you can believe that," Tigh chuckled.

"Oh, I guess I'll try and do the same," she sighed.

Ever since leaving the shuttle, however, Athena had felt too jumpy to sleep. It was no wonder, considering.

"If you're really bored, you could always take an extra cycle of duty," Tigh offered.

Athena thought for a few microns. "Let me change and I'll meet you on the bridge?" she laughed at the strangeness of the entire day. She wasn't going to get any sleep this cycle, she might as well be productive.

"I've never seen you this happy to go on duty before!" Tigh called down the corridor after her.

"You have no idea!" Athena continued to laugh as she headed towards her quarters to change.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"Athena, I thought you were off duty this cycle," Rigel looked up in surprise as Athena sat down next to her.

"I was, but things didn't work out as expected. So...here I am," Athena shrugged. "Have things been quiet?"

"Blessedly yes. The biggest events tonight have involved some ships calling Core Command and complaining about late delivery of the new fruits and vegetables from the Agro Ships. They think they're being slighted in favor of Council Members again," Rigel rolled her eyes. "And Starbuck took a shuttle somewhere."

"The legacy of Sire Uri lives on," Athena observed. "It's been a secton and already we're getting spoiled. The Commander is right, we haven't lost our basic qualities."

"I can vouch for that!" Rigel nodded enthusiastically.

"How about a drink after shift?" Athena proposed as she tried not to wonder where Starbuck was taking his girlfriend.

"Sounds like a plan!" Rigel smiled at her friend before turning her full attention back to the calls coming in to Core Command. "I'll need it by then."

"I already do," Athena mumbled to herself as she headed to the Command Bridge to take Omega's usual spot and give his furlon replacements a break for the cycle.

"So, do you like that seat?" Colonel Tigh asked from her father's usual seat.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Athena spun her seat around to face her superior.

"Well, it's a comfortable chair, but it's not made for me," Tigh chuckled. "No one can fill his seat."

"Can't argue with that," Athena tilted her head. "I say the same for Omega. So what's with the question?"

"Can't a Colonel make idle conversation?" Tigh crossed his arms.

"Not usually he can't. What gives?" Athena turned back to the console.

"I've been wondering if Omega might leave us to join Caphis on the Orphan Ship," Tigh commented.

"Are there any rumors that escape your notice?" Athena wondered aloud.

"Not many. Like the one that I just heard a few centons ago about a certain med-tech breaking up with a certain warrior so she can pursue her career as a doctor," Tigh studied his fingernails as he imparted the surprising news.

"What?" Athena dropped her hands to her lap to prevent herself from doing any damage in her shock.

Tigh stood up and came to stand behind Athena's chair. He leaned over and pressed a few buttons over the shocked bridge officer's shoulder.

"Where in the world did you hear that? I just saw Starbuck not half a centar ago," Athena shook her head. "I think you're getting misinformation."

"My source was pretty reliable," Tigh assured her. "Sources actually."

"Maybe," Athena said hesitantly. "But why...I mean, I'm sure I'll find out, but..." she trailed off, not quite willing to ask Tigh why he was gossiping!

"You want to know why I'm telling you?" Tigh understood. "No, I don't normally gossip about my warriors or officers, but I thought Starbuck might be in need of some friendship soon. Apollo and Boomer aren't around and probably won't be when Starbuck gets back."

"Back from where? And why me?" Athena shooed Tigh's hand off her console so she could finish her calibrations.

"You and Starbuck have a special bond, Athena. You always have, despite the events of the past yahren," Tigh said quietly. "If Boomer and Apollo aren't around to ground him, that leaves you or your father."

"I'm not so sure this is a situation in which my efforts will be appreciated," Athena said uncomfortably as she tried not to remember what had happened earlier in the shuttle.

"Perhaps," Tigh shrugged. "But you can keep an eye on him. My intrusion won't be welcome and no one else knows enough to stop him from hitting self destruct. Except maybe now his father, if he'll listen to him."

"Colonel, no offense, but you're losing me again and possibly your mind!" Athena barely refrained dropping her head into her hands.

"Chameleon is really his father," Tigh put his hand on Athena's shoulder. "He asked Cassiopeia not to tell Starbuck. Starbuck raced out of here on a shuttle a few centons before you got here to find him."

"Oh Lords," Athena whispered brokenly as she suddenly realized why Tigh was imparting this knowledge to her. If anyone would understand what this information could do to Starbuck, it was her family. Starbuck's putative family and closest friends. He had been prepared to desert his friends and responsibilities to follow Chameleon. Lords knew what he might do now that he had discovered he had been deceived.

"I see you get my meaning," Tigh said solemnly.

"He went to look for his...father," Athena stated over the weight on her chest that was making it hard for her to breath. Athena's heart yearned to jump out of her seat and run after him, but knew that there was nothing she could do. She only hoped he would allow someone to be there for him when his temper wore off and he landed.

Whichever came first.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Starbuck's hands were still trembling as he waited for the shuttle's systems to power down. The deceit that had just been revealed to him half a centar before was still sending adrenaline through his system. The first woman, no make that the second woman, he had laid his heart open to only to have the door slammed in his face.

'At least Athena never lied to me,' he thought, getting angrier by the micron at the full import of Cassi's continuous deception became clearer through his red haze of anger. He didn't know how he could deal with it, or her.

"I don't have to deal with her! She's already gone," he swiped his hand through the air demonstratively. Now he just had to figure out how to deal with Chameleon. His father.

Father.

The word held so many meanings for him, some he had never dared to analyze too deeply. Belonging. Normalcy. Stability. Everything he never had and always yearned for. Something he believed he could never have without parents, or at least discovering who they were and where he came from. So now he did have at least one of his parents and links to the mother he could never remember or meet, if any part of what Chameleon had once said to him was true! And now that parent didn't want him.

'Would anyone?' the question slithered through his mind and it suddenly occurred to him that it was one he had heard many times before. One that undermined his entire emotional life.

Starbuck's eyes closed as he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

While it might have seemed to be a silly and useless question before, it was one that had proven to be all too true. His father didn't want him, not then and now now.

Now, Starbuck wanted to know why?

<><><><><><><><><><>

Starbuck didn't have to search hard to find where his "father" was hiding on the Senior Ship. A few well-worded questions about gambling or fun found him heading towards a recreation room within centons. His eyes were immediately drawn to the elder gentleman who was at the center of attention, not surprisingly playing what looked to be an intense game of pyramid.

Starbuck almost got a perverse pleasure as his determined stride broke the players' concentration.

"Lieutenant Starbuck," Chameleon looked up in surprise.

"Chameleon," Starbuck nodded mockingly. "I need to have a word with you. In private."

"In a moment, Son," Chameleon smiled and turned back to his hand.

"Interesting you should call me that," Starbuck commented before striding out of the room to wait.

A few centons later a wary looking Chameleon joined him in the corridor. Without a word, Starbuck turned and led them to an empty recreation room, trusting that the older man would follow.

As soon as the door closed, Starbuck whirled and began to ask the questions that were crowding in his mind.

"Was I so unworthy and unwantable as a son," Starbuck tried to keep his composure. "Were you so ashamed of me? Did you want to travel light?"

"Starbuck?" Chameleon asked hesitantly. "What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about? I'll tell you what I'm talking about, Father," Starbuck spit out the last word with as much disgust as he could muster. "I'm talking about a few lies and a genetic test."

"Cassiopeia told you," Chameleon nodded as his fears were confirmed.

"Yeah, she finally confessed!" Starbuck said waspishly. "So tell me, why did you want to lie about your relation to me?"

"I didn't want you to leave your life for the likes of me," Chameleon spread his hands out, palms up.

"What?" Starbuck put his hands on his hips.

"You were going to quit the military and join me on the senior ship. You were planning to leave your friends and make your way around the Fleet as father and son. I couldn't let you do that. You mean to much to the Fleet and you mean to much to me to allow you to abandon your life," Chameleon said as earnestly as he could.

"I..." Starbuck closed his eyes. "I did say that. But don't you think I deserved the right to make that choice? You just didn't want me with you!"

"No, son. I would want nothing more than to be your father, but I don't know how to be one. I haven't been one to you since you were three. But I knew enough to know it would be wrong for you to give up your entire life. I knew that you would end up hating both of us after you gave up the people and the things that have been your family a lot longer than I," Chameleon tentatively placed his hand on Starbuck's arm. "I love you, Starbuck, and I'm proud of you. Cassi was only doing what I asked her to."

"She knew, she should have known how important this was to me. She shouldn't have agreed to lie to me. She shouldn't have lied to me and she should have told me much sooner," Starbuck said bitterly.

"Don't blame her. If anyone is to blame, it's me," Chameleon sat down on couch.

"No, I can't forgive her for this. She knew how important finding my family is, was, to me. She knew! I may have said some crazy things, but I wouldn't have deserted Apollo or Adama. I am a warrior and a good one. She should have trusted me. You should have trusted me," Starbuck's hands still trembled.

"Perhaps we should have," Chameleon sighed. "But I was overwhelmed. I had never thought to find you again. It was all a hoax to escape the Nomen and suddenly I found myself the father to a brave, wonderful man who wanted to abandon his life for me. For what? To travel around and con people and gamble? Cassiopeia took pity on me and she thought you would leave her."

"So instead she lies to me and now she's leaving me!" Starbuck threw his hands in the air. Nothing made sense to him at this point.

"She's what? I can't believe that. She loves you. Even I could see that," Chameleon shook his head in disbelief.

"Love? Love is not about lies and deception. Love is about trust and truth and not walking away..." Starbuck trailed off as the import of his words hit him. A confused look crossed over his face as he wondered when he had made _that_ connection.

"Perhaps you're right, but she meant well. Everyone makes mistakes," Chameleon told him.

"Yeah, they do," Starbuck said absently. Something, he had figured something out, but what?

"Starbuck, son? Are you all right?" Chameleon stood up and approached his son.

"What? Yeah, I...I need to think," Starbuck shook his head.

"But you'll be back?" Chameleon asked fearfully.

"Do you want me to?" Starbuck looked at the blue eyes so like his own.

"Yes, I do," Chameleon said sincerely.

"Then I'll be back. You're my father and I...I love you," Starbuck swallowed. "So I won't walk away. But I need to...there are things I need to think about."

"I owe you that, I can wait," Chameleon said, even as his eyes showed the fear that Starbuck wouldn't return.

"I will be back, I promise. I just need to think," Starbuck put his hands on Chameleon's arms. "How about dinner next night cycle?"

"Yes, and I'll make it up to you," Chameleon promised.

"You must be my father," Starbuck sighed, the anger having left his body. "I say that all the time. I think I need to follow through on some of those promises myself."

"Are you going to talk to Cassiopeia?" Chameleon asked hopefully.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Starbuck promised evasively before running out.

<><><><><><><><><><>

And Starbuck didn't stop running until he reached the door that was his goal since leaving the Senior Ship. As his hand rested on the cold metal, he wondered why life was always bringing him back here. Uncaring as to whether he could be seen, Starbuck rested his forehead against his hand and closed his eyes. As he brought his breathing under control, he tried to find one thought he could hang on to. With a chuckle he gave up and pressed the announce button. If he had a clear head, after all, he wouldn't be here.

After a centon there was no response inside and Starbuck began to get worried. Athena hadn't seemed well the last time he saw her. It was possible she was sleeping and hadn't heard the chime, but what if she was ill again and unable to answer? His heart began to speed up as he rang again.

"If you're looking for Lieutenant Athena, she's on bridge duty," a voice from behind informed him.

"Uh, duty?" Starbuck turned around, momentarily disoriented. "Thanks."

"No problem, Lieutenant," the unfamiliar ensign continued past.

'I wasn't gone that long, she wasn't scheduled for duty,' Starbuck thought to himself as he walked slowly back down the corridor. 'Perhaps it's a reprieve,' he thought with bitter humor.

What was he doing showing up at her door, once again, in the midst of an emotional crisis just because Apollo and Boomer were otherwise occupied? Starbuck ran a hand down his tired face as he tried to think of what to do now. The woman had admitted she loved him and here he was inflicting himself on her to comfort him over his girlfriend, make that ex-girlfriend's, deceit.

At the remembrance of Athena's admission, Starbuck felt a fluttering in his stomach.

'She loves me,' he repeated the words to himself for the millionth time since the admission. His hands bunched into fists as he stepped onto the turbo lift and absently pressed a button for a lower level. 'And I couldn't do a thing about it because I was with...her,' Starbuck was still unable to even think the name of the woman who had so recently been discovered to have so profoundly betrayed him.

He slumped back against the wall as he tried to block the confusing thoughts from his mind. As always, he had been doing that for sectons, sectars even, and it was time for of reckoning.

'No time like the present. I doubt if anything else can come at me now,' Starbuck thought with dread.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"I thought you were going to avoid him?" Bree shook her head from her position on the couch.

"Yeah, what about the vow to get over him?" Dietra chimed in from the other side of the room.

"They are right," Rigel told Athena who was sitting on the floor in the middle of the other women.

"I know, I know," Athena acknowledged with a sigh before taking another sip of grog, suddenly glad she hadn't revealed what had happened earlier on the shuttle. If her friends knew that, Starbuck would be out with the next refuse dump.

"So what's going on? I heard he broke up with Cassiopeia last cycle," Rigel propped her feet up on a table. "And he left and came back while we were on duty."

"Are there no secrets on this ship?" Dietra said into her cup of grog. "Give the poor man a chance to recover. I'm sure he'll be here soon, though."

"I doubt that," Bree shook her mane of blond hair over her shoulder. "He knows Athena won't give him the time of day after what he did last yahren."

"Why would he think that?" Rigel asked the pretty pilot. "He never thought any woman was immune to his charm, especially Athena whom he knows is in love with him."

"You're still in love with him?" Bree almost dropped her cup of grog. "I mean, I know that, but he knows that?"

"I told him a few sectons ago," Athena admitted with a blush in her cheeks.

"You what?" Dietra sat up, echoing her wingmate's shock. "You told him that? Is that why Cassi dumped him? Is that why he kissed you? Why didn't you tell us?"

"I thought once I decided to get over him it would be easier if I admitted it, like fighting an addiction, admit you have a problem," Athena leaned her head back against the desk behind her.

"You've been trying for over a yahren. Why would now be different?" Dietra asked logically.

"I didn't because...I don't know," Athena chuckled. "I figured he and Cassi were going to be sealed and I just would."

"You'd better watch out," Bree warned. "He's bound to be lonely and wanting some comfort. In his mind you're practically a sure thing now."

Athena bit her tongue. Her friends obviously didn't know the rest of the story, about Chameleon. If anything would send Starbuck reeling in her direction, it was that fact. No matter what had happened between them, Starbuck knew Athena was someone he could trust with his feelings on that subject. Even if she couldn't trust him.

"Don't let him draw you back in," Bree repeated her warning.

"I don't know guys, I think Starbuck is still in love with Athena," Rigel disagreed. "This might send him back to her, but maybe he's ready to settle down?"

"Starbuck? Settle down? Commitment?" Bree said doubtfully.

"He committed to Cassi, she broke up with him," Rigel pointed out, unaware of the last cycle's transgression.

"He kissed Athena, that's hardly commitment. I say he can't be trusted anymore than he could before," Bree refilled her cup as she spoke. "I've dated him myself," she reminded her friends.

"You went to dinner with him a couple of times. I wouldn't call that dating. But Bree's right about the fact he's probably going to try and use you to get over Cassi," Dietra said rationally. "I'm only saying this because I don't want to see you get hurt by him again. You have a whole new life now. You're going to adopt Noah and...well...things with Jack didn't work out, but there are other men in the Fleet who are worthy of you."

"Starbuck is worthy of me!" Athena defended. "He's just...he's just not the man for me. He doesn't love me. I'm sure when he finds the right woman he'll change his ways."

"I think you're the right woman for him," Rigel said quietly. "It just wasn't the right time and circumstances. I do agree, though, that you shouldn't just let him use you to get over Cassi. He needs to figure things out first."

"Starbuck does _not_ love me, not in that way," Athena refused to let herself believe what her roommate was saying. She wanted desperately to believe it and such thoughts had only caused her hurt in the past. "I am making a new life for myself. Starbuck and I are friends and avoiding him only makes him seek me out more. I'll get over it in good time."

"I don't see how you can with him always around," Bree observed. "Maybe Rigel has a point though, he is always looking at you or for you. But he definitely hasn't figured it out yet."

"Habit," Dietra suggested. "Athena is his best friend's sister and they've known each other forever. She's practically his sister."

"I appreciate all this advice, but you're only confusing me more!" Athena squirmed, he certainly hadn't touched her like a brother today or in the O' Club. "Starbuck does not love me and I will get over him. And I won't let him use me ever again!"

"Fine," Bree shrugged, letting the subject drop.

"Good," Dietra agreed.

"We'll see," Rigel smiled. "But we'll be here if you need us."

"Thanks. Now can we change the subject?" Athena pleaded.

"So, do you think I can get Mirak to ask me out?" Bree asked.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Starbuck sighed and stood up. He had been sitting in the celestial dome for centars trying to get his thoughts and emotions in order. Now, all he wanted to do was take out his laser and shoot himself in the foot for being so blind.

It was all so simple. It had been right there in front of his face. For yahrens. Probably for sectars. Certainly for sectons. Ever since his blow up with Apollo.

Now, finally, after yahrens of wishing he discovered who his parents were only to discover that his father hadn't wanted to claim him, or that's what he had believed at first. He had also discovered that the first woman he dared to commit himself to fully had been deceiving him all along. And then he practically molested a sleeping Athena right after he had concluded he wasn't really attracted to her romantically. He wondered if he could be more blind?

Yet, out of all the betrayal and lies, he had finally discovered the largest deception of all had been his own on himself.

For sectars he had told himself that Cassiopeia was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and that once they reached Earth he would do so. He had told himself and others that he was fully committing himself to making that relationship work, yet had he really?

Ignoring the artificial time limitation he had created, just a few sectons ago, when given the opportunity, he had given into the temptation of Athena's body. To touch her, to taste her, to feel her against him again was something he had denied himself for so long. Placed within his reach, literally, he had to do it and for those centons he had wanted nothing more than to hear her breathless murmur of his name and her answering desire on his fingers. On his body. To be inside her all he could think about. To hear and feel her ecstasy surround him his only thought.

There had been no thought of Cassi then.

Even today, right after he had supposedly figured out that Cassi was still the woman he wanted and that Athena was merely a game he hadn't been able to give up, he had pressed her against his body and yet again been unable to resist touching her. Unable to fight the flaming desire coursing through his body as she lay vulnerable and trusting against his chest. Unable to stop himself from feeling her under his hands.

Even as he ran back to Cassi to propose getting sealed.

Even now, after the emotionally turbulent and horrible cycles he had just lived through, his lips tingled and his body surged at the thought of Athena looking up at him with passion flaring in her deep blue eyes. Eyes that reminded him of the Caprican sky. The idea of her lying beneath him, naked and open and confessing her love, was making him tremble.

Unconsciously, Starbuck rubbed his palm against his arousal.

Desire. He could lay it all on desire and leave it at that. But now was the cycle for all truths to be laid bare.

It wasn't desire that led him to her door shortly after confronting Cassi and Chameleon's deceit. It wasn't desire that threw him into Cassi's protective arms after Athena's stinging refusal of his fumbled proposal. It wasn't desire that led him to attempt to reestablish a friendship with her sectars ago. It wasn't desire that made him flaunt his relationship with Cassi in her face for the past yahren.

So despite the betrayals that lay at his feet and despite his characteristic cynicism and defensiveness, for the first time since their world had been so brutally taken he could see a future ahead of him. A future that included a self that he had only hoped and imagined he could someday become.

Ironically, he had always thought finding his parents, or at least knowledge of them, would be the catalyst for the person he truly wanted to be - a secure man who knew where he belonged outside the close confines of a viper and amongst his few trusted friends. But when he finally discovered his father, it was only to be told his father hadn't wanted the responsibility to make him a whole person, to raise a son in a few centons. So, as promised, he would go to dinner with Chameleon and they would begin to bridge the distance and betrayals between them. No, it wasn't finding his father that opened this future to his heart, it was the words he said to Chameleon that opened that door.

"Love is not about lies and deception. Love is about trust and truth and not walking away."

He, Lieutenant Starbuck, avowed ladies man and gambler had uttered those very words not too long ago. It was as if a treasured goal had been reached, as if a veil had been lifted from his soul and as if someone had handed himself as a reward for his struggle.

Yet, the struggle wasn't over. While he may have figured out what his true destiny was, there was no guarantee that it wasn't too late to take a hold of it.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"I can't believe you're going to be a mother," Dietra told Athena. "It's so unreal! You won't be able to slum around with us anymore."

"Of course I will!" Athena protested. "I'll just need more advance notice and sometimes I won't. I'm not joining a virgin sect or something on another ship!"

"Still, it is so weird. If you had gotten sealed and stuff first, this is sort of backwards," Bree pointed out. "Not that there's anything wrong with it. I think it's really sweet. We just had no warning. Noah is a wonderful little boy though. I can hardly resist him."

"You can't resist any male," Dietra teased her wingmate. "It'll be nice to have bigger quarters I bet."

"I'll have to break in a new roommate, though," Rigel complained. "I mean, I've already gotten Athena just where I want her and I'll have to do it all over again."

"You could find a man or a child of your own and avoid all that," Athena teased. "There are plenty of children who need someone like you."

"I know," Rigel nodded. "I have been thinking about it since you brought us to the Orphan ship and revealed your plans. It's not a bad idea. There is a dearth of men these days, why should we have to wait to have children?"

"You do have a point," Dietra said thoughtfully. "But as pilots it might be...well, Apollo does it..."

"Girl, you are just too trend inspiring," Rigel teased.

"Oh please," Athena covered her face.

"Hey, at least this would be a worthwhile one," Bree pointed out.

"Not that forgetting to take off the really gaudy color Bree suggested you try on your lips before leaving the powder room on the Rising Star wasn't worthwhile," Rigel chuckled. "How hilarious was it to see almost every woman in the fleet wearing that same horrid color?"

"Hey, it looked good in the market," Bree defended. "Besides, Yalma sold out her entire stock and made a nice profit."

"And never made another batch," Athena laughed. "That was pretty funny."

"Does anyone else hear something outside the door?" Dietra put her feet on the floor and put her cup down.

"I didn't hear anything," Bree looked towards the door.

"Neither did I," Athena looked towards the door.

In the quiet the sounds of someone's steps could be clearly heard.

"Someone is walking by," Bree shrugged and looked away.

"No, they're not disappearing. Someone is pacing out there," Rigel stood up and walked towards the door.

"I bet that's Starbuck now," Athena joked.

Rigel pressed the button and opened the door and looked straight into the startled face of one Lieutenant Starbuck.

Athena's blue eyes widened as her heart sped up at the sight of him.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"So what are you going to do if Starbuck starts to date Athena again?" Tigh asked his old friend.

"Do? I'm not going to do anything, though I suspect you're right about that happening," Adama told his second-in-command as they sat alone in the War Room. Adama had awakened from his sleep cycle and returned to the Bridge and Tigh had just finished filling him on the events in the fleet before turning in for his own sleep cycle.

"Apollo isn't going to be thrilled," Tigh pointed out.

"I'm not to sure about that. I've gotten the impression that Apollo is actually supportive of those two getting back together," Adama told him.

"You're kidding? What about the battle they had outside the Bridge a couple of sectars ago?" Tigh asked dubiously.

"I think that's when Apollo changed his mind," Adama answered. "I don't know the details, but I think Apollo is remorseful for his behavior before the Destruction."

"Do you think Athena and Starbuck could work?" Tigh asked the father.

"They could...if both of them could stop worrying about what everyone else thinks," Adama said slowly. "They both seemed to have grown up a lot in the past yahren."

"What about Chameleon? I mean that's going to have a big impact on Starbuck," Tigh observed.

"But not necessarily a negative one in the end. Perhaps Starbuck finding what he has always searched for will make him rethink his goals and believe they're not all unreachable. Have faith my friend," Adama said sagely.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"Well girls, we have patrol in a few cycles, might as well get some sleep," Dietra slammed her cup down on the table. "Athena, remember what we said. Come on Bree."

"I don't think we should leave her alone," Bree protested as Dietra pulled her by the hand out of her relaxed pose.

"She's armed," Dietra said as she looked at Starbuck with a warning glare on her face.

"I, uh, I didn't mean to interrupt," Starbuck stammered as he backed away from the door.

"No problem. Like Dee said, we need some sleep," Rigel gripped Starbuck's arm and pulled her into the room.

"Hi Starbuck, bye Starbuck," Bree said breathlessly as she tried to grab her jacket and not lose her arm. "Let go, Dee," she whined.

"Fine, we're going," Dee said menacingly to her wingmate before turning her attention to Starbuck. She looked at the flustered warrior for a few microns, expressing with her eyes what she knew Athena would kill her for saying out loud.

Starbuck clearly caught the threat as his cheeks flushed and all hint of hesitation disappeared from his posture. He was a warrior who never backed down from a challenge. It was all he needed to prepare for the coming confrontation.

"See you two later," Rigel broke the staring contest and herded the departing guests out of their quarters. "Sorry to hear about Cass," Rigel turned to Starbuck. "I'm going to get some sleep. Clean up will you Athena? Good cycle."

"Sure, fine, whatever," Athena said oddly as she began to pick up the empty cups and pitcher of grog.

Rigel smiled at the scene before she closed herself off in her bedchamber.

"Here," Starbuck murmured and took some of the load out of her hands. "I'll bring this down the corridor and be right back?"

"Yeah," Athena looked at Starbuck, her eyes finally beginning to clear. After Starbuck departed she began to pace the small area of her main room. 'I will not be taken in by him, he's here for a friend....I will not be taken in by him, I will not be taken in by him," she repeated to herself over and over again. Still, her heart clenched in her chest at the pain and determination evident, to her at least, in Starbuck's eyes..

"I thought you would be alone," Starbuck said quietly, halting Athena's frenzied pacing. "I didn't mean to ruin your fun."

"That's okay. We were all on the verge of falling asleep anyway," Athena dismissed his concerns with a wave of her hand.

"If you're tired, I can go," Starbuck said, but didn't move a muscle.

"Starbuck, you came all this way. You obviously need...someone to talk to about Cassi. And Chameleon," Athena sighed.

Starbuck's eyes widened at her mention of his father. "How did..." he started to ask.

"Tigh," Athena explained quickly. "He thought you might need a friend before Apollo and Boomer got back. I think he thinks more of our relationship than either of us do."

"What do you mean?" Starbuck stiffened.

"That came out wrong. I just meant that he seems to think we're closer than we actually have been for a long time," Athena said tiredly. "Let's sit down? I know I'm tired."

"Sure," Starbuck said, a frown on his face as he went over Athena's last comments. "I guess it is strange to you for me to be here to talk to you about this."

"About Cassi yes, about your father, no. Actually, I kind of expected you to..." Athena broke off and looked away, letting a shrug of her shoulders finish her thought for her.

"To what?" Starbuck settled his frame next to her, his hand settling centimeters from her hair across the back of the couch.

"To trust me to talk about Chameleon. It's an old topic for us, your family," Athena said stiffly, not bothering to mention her belief that he was also there for "comfort" about Cassi as well.

"It is," Starbuck leaned back, comfortable to fall into the old patterns of conversation between them. "I never thought I would really find my parents. I can't believe Cassi kept this from me. I can't believe _he_ did. You were the first person I thought of to share this with."

"Third, after Apollo and Boomer," Athena corrected.

"Perhaps, but only because I really have no right to be here. But to tell you the truth, you're the first person I wish I could turn to," Starbuck said softly as he lifted a few strands of her hair and began to twirl them around his fingers.

Athena ignored his statement and plunged directly to what she thought was the point of his visit. But she didn't pull away from him. "What was his explanation? I guess he didn't want you to abandon your life as you were recklessly prepared to do when you thought he might be your father."

"That's what he said," Starbuck sighed. "It doesn't excuse her deception, not for this long."

"So why did she break up with you?" Athena had to ask, resisting the urge to close her eyes as Starbuck's hand strayed to her neck and began stroking it.

"I don't really remember what she said," Starbuck admitted. "I was too angry to really listen. She thought that my kissing you a few sectons ago was indicative of my feelings for you, or rather my lack of feelings for her. Either. Both. I'm not sure. I'm not sure I really care."

"Oh," Athena looked at her hands with great interest as she tried to frame a response to that. She knew it wasn't because he had any real romantic feelings for her, but it was a pleasant fantasy for a quarter of a micron.

Even as she thought this, Starbuck's fingers began to slide up her head and against her scalp. A shiver ran down her spine.

"I think she was right," Starbuck said softly, moving his body until it was flush against Athena's side.

"What? About what?" Athena looked up, thinking she had imagined the words. As she turned her face she found her lips centimeters from Starbuck's lips. His breath caressed hers and a bolt of desire ran down her body.

"I think she was right, Athena," Starbuck repeated as he cupped the back of her head against his palm and placed his other hand against her cheek. "I know the timing stinks and you won't believe a word I say right now. But tonight, Cassi breaking up with me, finding my father, thinking about you, being near you again like...that, she's right Athena. My love for her was never as strong as it was for you. She and I, at first we were convenient. And I came to care for her a great deal. And she knew more about this relationship stuff than I did so I thought it could work. You and I...we both suck at this stuff. Or we did."

"Starbuck, what are you talking about?" Athena shivered again, but was unable to pull away from his almost embrace.

"I love you, Athena. I've never said those words to you before, but they're true," Starbuck spoke gently, his lips hovering almost against hers.

"Don't you dare use those words on me, Starbuck! Not now," Athena finally pulled away, her face red with anger. "I know you're upset and lonely. And I'm trying really, really hard to be your friend and overlook my feelings for you and what happened on the shuttle...don't you dare manipulate me like this!" Athena took a deep breath and tried to fight the tears of pain that threatened to fall from her eyes. "I deserve more than that from you! I'm not some consolation prize and you can't use me as revenge."

"That's not what this is about, Athena," Starbuck said in a shocked tone. He had expected her to be disbelieving, but not hurt by his admission. He placed both his hands on the sides of her face and turned her back towards him. "Look into my eyes, Athena. They've never lied to you. Not as long as I've lived. You've told me that hundreds of times."

"So what is this about then? I can't believe you've _suddenly_ had a revelation," Athena whispered as her eyes searched his for the truth he spoke of, even as she doubted him.

"It's about this," Starbuck said in a raspy voice before pressing his lips against hers. "I love you," he said as he plied her lips open and began to kiss her. His hands slid to the back of her head as she breathlessly gave into his expression of love and began to return it.

"Starbuck," he felt her say into his mouth.

His body trembled as he began to lay her back against the couch and he slid his body along hers. Despite the urgency of his passion, however, he was careful to keep his hands on her head.

After a few centons Starbuck pulled away, breathing heavily. He knew that if he didn't stop soon he would be unable to stop himself from seducing her. And if he did that, he knew, she would never trust him again.

Athena stood up and moved until most of the room separated them. With her chin held high and her arms crossed protectively over her chest she finally looked at him again.

"Why do you do this, Starbuck? So many times I've tried to be brave and strong. You've hurt me so much and I've tried to remain friendly, mostly because of Apollo and the rest of the family, but also because I thought you had some semblance of respect for me. But why do I think that? My brother and mother are killed and our world destroyed and all you can seem to think about is...I don't know what, maybe your ever-present loneliness that you use to push people away. I needed you to hold me so bad and you just walk into the arms of another woman. Now she leaves you and you want me back. And then you dare use those words and then...then...kiss me. How can you expect me to believe a word you say? Do I even need to recount how many times we've been down this trajectory?" Athena finished hoarsely.

Starbuck closed his eyes and swallowed his own tears. He wasn't sure how much more emotional upheaval he could stand in so short a time, but he had to bear it. This was the rest of his life he was fighting for now.

"Is it too late for me to hold you now?" he asked. "I won't try and seduce you. I promise."

"Oh God, Starbuck, why?" Athena's head dropped into her hands. "Why can't you just...just be my friend and stop using me?"

"I know the timing is suspicious. I know you can't trust me right now, but it's the truth and I've owed you this for a long time. I want to hold you now to try and make up for all the times I didn't before. Because I care about you too. Because I love you. I'll make you believe me."

"Maybe you will Starbuck, you've done it so many times before. And every single time you've turned and walked away as soon as I believe you!" Athena said angrily.

"How can I make you believe me? I'll do anything you say," Starbuck said almost pleadingly.

"Did you hear what I just said? You work so hard to make me trust you again and when I do you get bored. It's just a challenge to you. I don't think there's anything you could do now to make me believe you. You're hurting and you're scared, I understand that Starbuck. I more than anyone understands. I'm asking you now, please don't do this to me. I won't forgive you again," Athena said in an exhausted voice.

"I know that I've hurt you in the past, Athena, but I swear it's not like that this time. Wait, I won't mention this again right now. I'll give both of us some time. This won't go away Athena, I won't just go away. Not this time. I _will_ find some way to convince you I'm worth your faith, no matter how long it takes and we will be sealed," Starbuck said earnestly.

"I found my father, Athena," he walked up to her still figure and put his hands on her face. "My father. Lords of Kobol. I found him. I've always thought once I had my parents everything would fall into place for me. That I would feel whole. But it didn't make me feel that way Tena, because while I was having my insides torn out, that something was missing. You were missing. You weren't there to share it with me.

"When I went to see him, I was so hurt and angry that he lied to me, that he rejected me. I was yelling at him. I was, and you'll get a kick out of this, explaining to him what love is. Do you know what I said? I said love was truth, trust and not walking away. Me! It's almost poetic!" Starbuck smiled gently.

"We haven't gotten the not walking away part down all the way, but we've always been there for each other in the end. We just need to work on the timing and trust. I have given you the truth. I love you. I can't be whole without you. I just need you to have faith in me again," he bared his soul as he had never done before. As he never had to before.

"I can't, Starbuck. There's no place in my life for this uncertainty and instability. I'm going to be a mother, Starbuck. My son deserves better," Athena clasped his hands and pulled them from her face.

"You're what?" Starbuck's jaw dropped open.

"I'm adopting Noah," Athena couldn't help chuckling at the jealous and confused expression on his face.

"Oh," Starbuck sighed. "Congratulations, to both of you. He's a lucky little boy."

"No, I'm the lucky one," Athena shook her head as a contented smile transformed her face. "I'm the lucky one."

"I'll be here to help you, if you ever should need it," Starbuck squeezed her hands, which were still entwined with his. "I'll back off for now, but I won't be far. Have a good sleep Athena." With those words Starbuck leaned in and kissed Athena's cheek.

"You too," Athena said after Starbuck had left.

Outside the door Starbuck closed his eyes and squared his shoulders.

This was Athena. The girl he had watched grow into a woman. Always Athena. Even when he didn't realize it. Even when he didn't want it. When he refused to want her.

"It's always been her," Starbuck whispered to himself.

She always told him the truth, even when he didn't want to hear it. He trusted her implicitly. Even after she turned down his sloppy proposal and he feared that she would hurt him again, it hadn't been because he didn't trust her. It was because he didn't know she loved him and because he wasn't ready to admit he loved her. And walking away? In one way or another they had both walked away from each other, yet somehow they always found their way back.

He walked away from her in the locker room, stung by her words of rejection and selfishly ignoring her despair. She walked away from him to stop them from destroying their then-fragile friendship with their romantic games. And he walked away from her for the safe haven of Cassi's arms and knowing ways. And recently she had walked away because she still loved him and didn't want to interfere with his happiness.

"One out of three," Starbuck chuckled to himself as he recounted what he had given Athena in return. "I've given her trust. Now I need to give her the truth and prove that I won't walk away from her, ever again. And that I won't let her walk away from me!"

"I love you," Starbuck said to the closed door before heading down the corridor.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"You look well rested," Caphis commented as Athena stepped into his office.

"I might say the same for you. I didn't expect you to be back here so early," Athena said questioningly. Despite, or because of the tumultuous events of the past cycles, Athena had fallen into a deep sleep the moment her head hit her cushion.

"Omega had duty," Caphis shrugged. "So what can I do for you?"

"There's something I want to ask you, well, discuss with you. It's about Noah," Athena said hesitantly.

"Sit down," Caphis came out from behind his desk and waved her into a chair before sitting down in the chair facing hers. "You want to adopt him."

"I'm beginning to think I'm the most transparent person in the fleet," Athena said good-naturedly. "Yeah, that's about it. Do you think I'm rushing things?"

"Not really. Most people come here without ever meeting a child and pick one to take home with them. I can't fault them for their desire to give the children a home, but I do prefer they get to know them first. In fact, I insist on it. You've known Noah for over a sectar and a half and you two have been taken with each other since the first micron. I just need to make sure that you know the full implications of this undertaking. The responsibility, the commitment. And I need to make sure...I don't want to insult you, but I need to make sure that this isn't just because you're lonely and if you had a boyfriend..."

"I do understand. I don't know how to explain it, but I do know. Partly from being a teacher, partly from caring for Boxey and partly because I've always wanted to be a mother. I just know that Noah and I were...'meant for each other' is the best description I can think of. I just know it, in my heart and soul," Athena smiled softly. "I've realized that Noah has things in common with Starbuck and I've given that a lot of thought and I can honestly say that I'm not using him to take Starbuck's place. If I had to choose between them, I would choose Noah. He is my son, no matter that it's not official yet. Noah is filling an empty space in my heart, but it's a space he belongs in and no one else."

Caphis studied her for a few centons before speaking. "I believe you. I've watched you with him and the other children. I have no problem approving this. I just had to ask and see if you knew."

"Thank you," Athena said with tears in her eyes. "How soon can he come live with me?"

"Well, we need to ask Noah first, but I don't think he'll have an objection. As far as I'm concerned he can go this cycle, but I'm sure there are arrangements you need to make on the Galactica first, housing, scheduling, for instance. Then we'll have the formal adoption procedures," Caphis explained. "But he can stay with you before that. The courts have no right to object unless the adopter is unfit, which I would never allow anyway."

"That's wonderful! I do have arrangements to make, but those shouldn't take long. And I need to tell my family," Athena chuckled. "Can we talk to Noah this cycle?"

"Let me have him sent over," Caphis stood up and walked to the comm. "When you get sealed, your husband wouldn't have to formally adopt him."

"That is not something even on the horizon right now," she chuckled, refusing to allow Starbuck's ardent promises of the cycle before or upon waking up in his arms intrude on her inner peace.

"You never know," Caphis raised his eyebrows at her.

"So have you and Omega worked those things out yet?" Athena asked.

"Actually," Caphis' features settled into a brilliant smile. "I'm going to be moving to the Galactica myself, at least part time. Omega and I will stay here when he can actually escape."

"That's wonderful!" Athena clapped her hands together. "I'm so happy for you both! Am I invited to a sealing soon?"

"We haven't gotten that far yet, we have yahrens to catch up on first," Caphis held up his hands with a laugh. "Slow down."

"You never know," Athena shot his words back at him. "Sometimes things happen fast and you just have to have faith."

<><><><><><><><><><>

"You look like something a daggit dragged in," Apollo clapped Starbuck on the back as he joined his wingmate for the morning cycle meal in the Mess Hall. "Spend the rest of the evening in the gaming rooms?"

"Not quite," Starbuck sighed and sat back in his seat.

"What?" Apollo said as he perceptively heard something more behind his friend's short statement.

"I'm not even sure where to begin," Starbuck sighed.

"How about at the beginning?" Apollo said gently.

"Cassi and I are over, I guess that's the beginning," Starbuck shrugged.

"Are you sure? I mean, it wasn't just a fight?" Apollo asked carefully.

"No, it wasn't just a fight. She's leaving, going to the Science Ship. I can't say I'll be sorry to see her go," Starbuck said in a voice tight with anger.

"You don't mean that," Apollo shook his head doubtfully.

"Chameleon is my father," Starbuck looked Apollo dead in the eye.

Apollo's jaw dropped open, not for a micron did he doubt the seriousness of his friend's revelation. One of the few things Starbuck didn't make light of was his parentage.

"She lied to me, he lied to me. All this time," Starbuck said, the wealth of hurt apparent to his best friend.

"Why?" Apollo was stunned by Starbuck's accusations. Not once did he ever question Cassiopeia's honesty or caring for his friend.

"Chameleon asked her to. He said that he believed all my wild ramblings about deserting my job and my life to be with him. She should have known better. She definitely should have told me long before now," Starbuck slammed his fist on the table, drawing the attention of the warriors around them.

Apollo remained silent until he managed to glare off the attention. "She told you this when she said she was leaving?" Apollo worked hard to process everything, but it wasn't easy considering how little sleep he had gotten in the past couple of days.

"I'm stunned. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you," Apollo said sincerely.

"Not _that_ sorry," Starbuck said with a leer.

"Well," Apollo felt his cheeks turn red, which only made them turn redder.

"I can't believe you still blush," Starbuck chuckled.

"Glad I could make you laugh," Apollo said good-naturedly.

"You do, you do. Not an easy feat this cycle. Listen, I have something I need to do," Starbuck rose from the table. "I'll meet you at the bay."

"Do you need any help?" Apollo made to rise.

"No, no," Starbuck stood up and shook his head. "It's nothing important. I'll see you there."

"Sure, buddy. Listen, do you want to keep this quiet?" Apollo asked as he eyed Boomer heading their way.

"You can tell Boomer. See you later," Starbuck walked away.

"What's going on?" Boomer sat down in Starbuck's vacated seat.

"You're not going to believe this," Apollo started to explain.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"Did I do something wrong?" Noah asked as soon as he walked into Caphis's office.

"No, no," Caphis laughed. "Athena and I just wanted to talk to you for a few centons."

"Athena!" Noah saw her standing nervously on the other side of the room and launched himself into her arms.

"Hi sweetheart," Athena laughed as she wrapped her arms around his small body. "You have a good early cycle meal?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Noah said with a normal child's roll of his eyes. "What do you need to talk to me about?" Noah suddenly sounded fearful.

"It's nothing bad, I promise," Athena took his hand and led him to the couch. She waited to continue until he was seated. "Caphis wants to speak to you alone first. I want you to be honest with him."

"Of course," Noah agreed, but his eyes still showing that he was scared and was trying to be brave.

"I'll be right back," Athena assured him before she stood up and left the room.

Caphis took her place on the couch and smiled at Noah, trying to put him at ease.

"What's wrong?" Noah's blue eyes were wide as he looked up at the large man who had settled on the couch next to him.

"Nothing is wrong," Caphis tried to assure the small boy again. "I just have a few questions for you."

"Then how come Athena had to leave?" Noah asked suspiciously.

"Because I want you to feel free to be honest with me and not worry about hurting her feelings," Caphis stopped hesitating. "Do you understand? Anything you say to me we can keep secret here. Okay?"

"Oh, okay," Noah's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but at least his fear was gone.

"Would you like to go live with Athena?" he asked.

"You mean leave here?" Noah's eyes widened, this time in surprise.

"Yes. Athena has asked if she could adopt you. The decision is yours. We can even do a trial period if you want," Caphis told him.

"She wants to take me home? To the Galactica? To live with her? And Apollo and Starbuck? Really? She said that?" Noah jumped off the couch in his excitement.

"Yes, she really did. She cares for you a great deal. She loves you and she wants you to come live with her. You don't have to," Caphis confirmed Noah's understanding.

"I want to go," Noah straightened his back, as if he was already on a military ship. "But will she be my new mother?"

"In a way. You still remember your mother?" Caphis pulled Noah back onto the couch.

"Uh huh," Noah nodded and shrugged.

"I'm sure Athena doesn't want to take her place. She just wants to care for you. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you continued to call her Athena if you want," Caphis assured him.

"I don't want to hurt her feelings. What if she doesn't want me then?" Noah asked fearfully.

"Why don't we ask her? Do you want me to ask for you?" Caphs suggested, knowing that nothing he said would reassure him. Noah nodded and Caphis rose and went to call Athena back into the room.

A tense postured young woman walked hesitantly into the room and smiled nervously at Noah. She looked to Caphis to lead the discussion.

"I've asked Noah if he wants to come live with you and have you adopt him and he does, but he has some concerns," Caphis opened the conversation. "Noah remembers his parents and he doesn't want to forget them. At the same time he doesn't want to hurt your feelings if he didn't call you 'mom.' He wants to make sure that you're comfortable with that."

Athena swallowed back a lump in her throat as she moved forward to kneel in front of Noah who was sitting quietly on the couch. "Noah," she clasped his hands. "I do not want you to forget your parents or to take their place. If you want to continue calling me Athena, it wouldn't hurt my feelings. I lost my mother too and I wouldn't want anyone to try and take their place. No matter what you call me I would be honored to have you come live with me," Athena said gently. "Do you want to?"

"Yes!" Noah exclaimed and threw himself into her arms.

Athena closed her arms around the boy and held him tight. Her eyes closed and a lone tear fell down her cheek.

Caphis looked on with a satisfied smile.

<><><><><><><><><><>
Galactica Mess Hall

"Wow, I would never have thought Cassi..." Boomer was surprised by Apollo's revelations. "How is Starbuck taking all this?"

"Pretty well. Or so he's making it seem. I'm not really sure, truth be told," Apollo said in confusion. "I would have expected him to be much angrier than he was, but if he is, he's hiding it well even from me."

"Maybe he's had some time to calm down?" Boomer said doubtfully. "So this all happened just last cycle? Man, I wish we had been here."

"Me too," Apollo sighed. "I hate to imagine him dealing with this alone. I'm just relieved he didn't do anything rash."

"Nothing we've heard about anyway. Well, he knows if he needs to talk," Boomer sighed, knowing that Starbuck sometimes found it hard to discuss things like this even with them.

"So tell me about your latest date with Rena?" Apollo changed the subject.

Boomer sat back with a grin on his face. "What can I say, she's as wonderful as I thought she would be," he spread his hands out in front of him and shrugged.

"That means it's going well, I take it," Apollo was happy for his friend.

"Very well," Boomer confirmed. "She's coming to our next Triad match, which is in a day. Do you think Starbuck will be up to it?"

"Starbuck miss a match? I didn't think anything could keep him away...but now I'm not sure. He's having late cycle meal with Chameleon this night cycle. We have practice scheduled for later after patrol, but we both forgot to confirm it. I'll have to ask him," Apollo sighed and fiddled with his cup.

"You're worried about him aren't you?" Boomer concurred in that feeling.

"You know how much finding his parents has always meant to him. Look how crazy he got when Chameleon first floated the possibility that he might be Starbuck's father. Yeah, I'm worried," Apollo confirmed.

"Me too," Boomer agreed. "Have you seen Athena today?"

"No, I haven't seen her since the Rising Star," Apollo shook his head. "Have you?"

"Yeah, briefly. She bailed on working out this cycle, she was heading for the Orphan Ship," Boomer informed him, but was hesitant to reveal what else she had said.

"What's going on Boomer?" Apollo asked curiously.

"I think you'd better talk to your sister, that's all I can say," Boomer said evasively.

Apollo looked at his friend carefully. "You'd tell me if she was in trouble, right?"

"Of course," Boomer prevaricated a little.

"So I shouldn't worry?" Apollo crossed his arms.

"Definitely nothing to worry about," Boomer assured him.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"Perhaps I shouldn't broach this while you can shoot me down, but I thought it safer than if you could get your hands around my neck, again," Starbuck said hesitantly a half centar after launch.

"What?" Apollo asked apprehensively.

"I love her," Starbuck said softly.

"I'm sorry, Starbuck. I wish there was something I could to make this easier," Apollo said sympathetically.

"Not Cass," Starbuck said carefully. "I mean I cared about her a great deal, I guess I loved her in a way, but I'm not talking about her."

"Then who are you talking about?" Apollo sounded confused, but inside he was almost certain that Starbuck was finally going to acknowledge his feelings for his sister.

"Athena. I love Athena," Starbuck finally spit it out.

A grin spread across Apollo's face. "You love Athena?" he repeated in an expressionless tone. "And when did you decide this?"

"After I got back from the Senior ship. I know it sounds crazy, just as crazy as me throwing myself into Cassi's arms right after proposing to Athena for the first time, but it's not rebound Apollo. I've always loved her. I just didn't want to admit it," Starbuck rushed to explain to the woman in question's brother.

"The first time?" Apollo asked, this time his surprise was genuine. "When was the other?" Apollo had hoped, even expected Starbuck to begin to realize his feelings for Athena when the pain of Cassi's leaving began to fade. He never thought it would have happened so soon. With a pounding heart he realized that his sister wouldn't believe him under these circumstances. He hoped Starbuck hadn't said anything to Athena yet. It did, however, explain how Starbuck dealt with everything so well last cycle while he and Boomer were gone.

"Last cycle," Starbuck said carelessly.

"I'll bet she didn't believe you," Apollo sighed over the comm.

"Of course she didn't believe me. She accused me of trying to use her to get over Cass _and_ as revenge. I wasn't thinking too clearly then," Starbuck sounded frustrated with himself.

"I could see how she would think that," Apollo sounded as if he agreed with his sister's point of view, and despite his certainty that Starbuck did love Athena, he had to be sure that Starbuck actually realized it and wasn't just reacting to the emotional events of the past few cycles.

"Yeah, I should have left it alone for a while and regained her trust first, but I just had to tell her," Starbuck admitted. "I do love her, Apollo, this isn't just...well, it is a reaction to everything that happened. You have to believe me. When I realized how Cassi and Chameleon had deceived me, I was furious. Not to mention when Cass told me she was just up and leaving with no prior discussion or anything. I was furious! If I hadn't already spent time in the brig and been on trial for murder..." Starbuck trailed off meaningfully.

"You and Boomer weren't around, the only other person I could think of that I could talk this out with was her. Then I realized she was the only other person I knew I could trust never to do this to me. Then I realized how crazy I've been the past sectons with Athena not being around and how much I've missed her," Starbuck let out a breath.

"Apollo, I've been insane since she turned down my proposal. I never stopped loving her and know I know she loves me. I just have to prove to her that I mean it this time!" Starbuck vowed.

"I wish you luck," Apollo said sincerely.

"You do?" Now it was Starbuck who sounded surprised.

"I do. I've felt terrible about how I came between you before. This time I promise to do everything I can to help you," Apollo said.

"Um, how about you just stay out of it?" Starbuck said in a pained voice.

"I think I can handle that. I'm not much of a matchmaker," Apollo chuckled. "But seriously, I am sorry about Cassiopeia, but I am relieved you found all this out before you got sealed."

"You and me both," Starbuck agreed heartily. "I can't believe I'm looking forward to being sealed."

"Well, this might be one of our last patrols with you as a living man," Apollo couldn't resist teasing Starbuck about the latter's comments before he and Serina had been sealed.

"Don't go getting all sappy on me, Captain," Starbuck chuckled. "But if you like, we can go looking for new bed coverings."

"Oooh, I can't wait," Apollo said sarcastically. "Speaking of sealing, I have some news."

"Finally. Some people are just naturally slow, doesn't mean they're stupid, just slow," Starbuck didn't sound one bit of surprised. If anything, he was amused.

"I've heard that before," Apollo commented.

"So have you set a date?" Starbuck asked.

"I need to speak with Boxey first," Apollo told him. "How do you think he'll react."

"He loves Sheba. I think he'll be fine," Starbuck said confidently. "Have faith. And congratulations."

"I thought I was supposed to be telling you to have faith about now," Apollo sighed.

"We all know I'm the better friend," Starbuck joked.

"Oh yeah," Apollo said dryly. "I forgot for a centon."

"Good thing I'm around to remind you," Starbuck chuckled.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Athena was smiling broadly when she spotted Jack coming down the corridor towards her.

"I thought you might be here," Jack said stiffly. "I need to speak with you."

"Yes, of course," Athena said as seriously as she could, inside she was fighting back curiosity and her own happiness. Jack's stiffness could either mean things went well on the Rising Star, or that they completely backfired.

"Last night, after you left..." Jack began to speak as soon as they were alone in an empty classroom. "Oh, how's your head, I forgot to ask."

"It's fine now, Jack," Athena said quickly, wanting him to hurry up before she just asked him outright what had happened with Rhys. Besides, he knew it had been a ruse. 'He must be more upset than I had thought,' she realized worriedly.

"Good, good," Jack sounded distracted again and began to pace. "I'm a legist, I should be better at this, but I've always hated personal confrontation..."

Athena was this close from personally confronting him!

"After you left the club, Marty never returned and then Caphis and Omega left, well Rhys and I decided to make a cycle of it. We danced together a bit, we talked and laughed. We both got tired and decided not to head back and got a room. We could only get one. I don't know how it happened, Athena," Jack finally turned to face her.

Athena bit her lip so her smile wouldn't be obvious.

"I made love to her, Athena. I'm so sorry. I know we didn't really have a commitment, but she's your friend and I shouldn't have..." Jack was struggling with his words.

"Jack, you and I are not meant to be anything but friends. While we probably could have some fun, there's someone out there with whom you do have a shot. I love Starbuck and I may never get over that. Let Rhys heal you. You love her don't you?" Athena asked, letting her happiness show through.

"Yes, I do. I didn't even realize it until I kissed her. I know sometimes we run around in circles until something happens that makes you realize how you felt all along," Jack smiled at her.

Athena thought back to the sight of Cassiopeia in Starbuck's arms after his return from the baseship. 'Yes,' she thought, 'sometimes it just hits you.'

"You're a great friend, Athena, thank you for understanding," Jack clasped her hands in his.

"Jack, for the record, I didn't really have a headache last night cycle. I was trying to throw you two together. I saw how you looked at her, and I knew she loved you too," Athena admitted.

"You are an amazing woman, Athena. Starbuck is a fool if he doesn't see the amazing woman in his life," Jack caressed Athena's cheek. "I have a strong feeling things will work out for you."

"Just make sure one or both of you call me and tell me what happens," Athena sighed. Why did everything and everyone have to remind her about Starbuck today? For one day she wanted to be able to forget him!

"You'll be the first one we call," Jack promised.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"What's wrong Boxey?" Athena asked as she met her nephew as he left their classroom.

"Nothing," Boxey said in a sullen manner.

"Don't tell me nothing," Athena said as they walked down the corridor.

"It's Dad," Boxey said reluctantly.

"What about him?" Athena thought she had an idea of what was troubling her nephew.

"He didn't have to work last night but he spent the evening on the Rising Star with Sheba!" Boxey admitted to what was bothering him.

"Don't you like Sheba?" she asked.

"Sure, but he's been spending a lot of time with her. She's always around. We haven't spent time alone in sectons," Boxey was upset.

Athena stopped walking and knelt down to face him. "Your Dad and Sheba are a couple now. It's new to them so they're being all...silly," Athena couldn't find a better way to explain how people acted when they first fell in love.

"They're in love. I know. I know. But is he ever going to have time just for me?" Boxey asked in a quiet voice.

"Of course he is," Athena ruffled his hair slowly. "He's just trying to see if Sheba is someone that he wants to spend a lot of time with in the future and whether you welcome her as a family member too. Your opinion matters a lot to him. He just wants all to work out."

Boxey sighed. While he sort of understood how adults worked, it didn't stop him from being jealous. "Is he going to be sealed to her?" he finally asked.

"I'm not sure, but I hope so. Do you not want him to?" Athena asked.

"No, she makes Dad happy, but...I don't need a new mother, Aunt Athena," Boxey said as tears filled his eyes.

Athena felt a stab in her heart at his heartbroken words. These times were so hard on the children, it was so easy for the adults to forget that their lives were even scarier than their own. "Sheba doesn't want to make you forget Serina. I can promise you that. She just wants to make you and Apollo happy. I think she can do that," Athena told him.

"I think so too," Boxey shrugged. "I just don't want him to forget about me."

"Your father will never forget about you. None of us will. We all love you and each other. Do you know how lucky we all feel to have you as part of our family?" Athena asked him.

"You do?" Boxey looked up at her.

"We do. We're kind of funny sometimes, but I think we're a pretty good bunch," Athena smiled at him.

"Yeah. We are kind of funny. I guess it won't be so bad to have Sheba around more. Even if she does become my stepmother," Boxey smiled back. "She does make him more fun."

Athena chuckled at his logic. "I have something I need you to help me with," she told him.

"What?" Boxey's interest was piqued. What could an adult need his help with, he wondered.

"Remember Noah?" Athena asked him.

"Of course!" Boxey rolled his eyes. As if he would forget.

"How do you feel about him coming to live with me on the Galactica?" she broached the subject slowly.

"He would be my...cousin?" he asked. "That would be cool!"

"I think so too. In order for him to live with me, though, I need to pick out new quarters where we can both live. Do you want to help me? You can tell me what he would like," Athena propositioned him.

"Right now? How about the one next door to me and Dad?" Boxey suggest eagerly.

"I was thinking the same thing, but I think you should look it over and see if a kid would like it," Athena said with serious intent.

"Okay, I can show you," Boxey grabbed her hand and began to rush down the hall.

"Hang on!" Athena exclaimed as she tried to stand up and not stumble as he hurried on.

<><><><><><><><><><>

"Have you spoken with Boxey yet?" Sheba asked as soon as Apollo appeared.

"Yes," Apollo smiled down at his fiancˇ. "We're going to be late for dinner."

"Don't you dare!" Sheba pulled on his hand, refusing to budge from the corridor leading to the women's barracks. "Tell me!"

"Bossing me around already," Apollo teased as he swept her into his embrace. "He's very happy for us."

"I'm so relieved," Sheba buried her face in his shoulder.

"What were you so worried about?" Apollo laughed.

"Don't be so smug. You were worried that he might be upset," Sheba smacked him lightly on the arm.

"He has been sullen for the past few days," Apollo admitted. "But when I told him he was genuinely pleased. He also informed me that we'll be having another new member of our family. Not that you're exactly new."

"Who?" Sheba looked at him curiously.

"Noah. Apparently my sister is moving forward with the adoption already. Boxey helped her pick out quarters this mid-cycle. Right next to us I might add," Apollo told her.

"So soon? When you're sister is determined to do something that doesn't involve Starbuck, she doesn't hesitate. I have to give her credit for that. It'll be good for Boxey to have his cousin and his aunt so close. How do you feel about this?" Sheba asked as they began to head for Adama's.

"I'm not sure. I'd like to see my sister do this in the conventional way of course, but if this makes her happy, who am I to argue?" Apollo shrugged philosophically.

"Oh yeah, you never tell her what to do," Sheba rolled her eyes. "I think this is good for her. I've never seen her so...content than she's been since she met this little boy. And he is completely adorable."

"Another point I can't argue with. Both points actually. I think Athena will make a great mother. I have some news for you as well," Apollo informed her.

"Oh? Something that competes with all this other news?" Sheba queried.

"Starbuck has informed me that he's in love with Athena and is determined to win her back," Apollo said lightly.

"He what? You don't believe him do you?" Sheba was shocked.

"What do you mean? I thought you agreed with me?" now Apollo was surprised.

"I do, but Starbuck deciding this now so soon after Cassi left him...it's seems more like his old pattern of running to your sister to avoid things. Remember what happened when Aurora showed up? She'll never believe him anyway. Why do you?" Sheba asked.

"I had the same hesitation, but I do believe him. I think he believes himself this time. Of course, proving it to Athena will not be an easy task, especially since he's already informed her of his intentions," Apollo disclosed.

"Well, if I were going to advise him not to do anything, that was it! She'll never believe him now. And just because...wait, he already said something to Athena? When?" Sheba sighed.

"Apparently right after he went to see Chameleon," Apollo explained.

"I hope she's too busy with Noah over the next few sectons for Starbuck to pressure her," Sheba said doubtfully. "Otherwise he's going to push her away."

"So I tried to tell him, but Starbuck on a mission is not easily deterred," Apollo reminded her. "I can only hope he'll adopt some strategy."

"Your sister is not a mission," Sheba said dryly. "And don't forget that just because Cassi may have called it quits with him doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings for her still and isn't using Athena to bury them."

"We'll just have to have faith. I'm not getting involved this time," Apollo crossed his arms.

"I can tell," Sheba rolled her eyes.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Everyone at the table couldn't help looking at the empty seats that stood in sharp contrast to past dinners. Cassi's usual seat was empty and would likely not be refilled, not with that woman again. Starbuck's seat was similarly empty as he was on the Senior Ship dining with his newly discovered parent. Athena's seat was also empty. The last fact was to be remedied shortly after the meal was served when Athena came rushing into the room.

"Sorry I'm late," Athena apologized and went to take her seat at the foot of the table. A quick glance, however, reminded her of their missing companions and she quickly took a seat closer to her father. "I had some things to take care of before the meal."

"So we gather," Apollo looked at his sister with raised eyebrows. "Are you planning to tell us what's going on?"

"Sounds like you already know big brother," Athena chuckled at Apollo's sarcasm.

"It's still nice to hear it from your lips," Adama interrupted his children's bickering.

Athena and Apollo shared grins before she responded to her father's prodding. "As of tomorrow, I will be a mother. I have adopted Noah and he will be coming to live with me," she said with a proud smile.

"And living next door to us," Apollo rolled his eyes as if the prospect bothered him.

"You'd think they were still children," Boomer commented to Adama and Sheba.

"They _are_ still children," Sheba told him, earning a chuckle from Adama.

"Don't you have some news, brother?" Athena propped her chin up on her hands.

"Get your elbows off the table," Apollo shot back.

"Nice stall," Athena commented even as she obeyed him and dropped her arms to her lap.

"So what is this announcement, Son?" Adama asked his son.

"Um, well," Apollo stood up awkwardly. "Sheba and I have decided to be sealed."

"Congratulations!" Adama leaned over and pressed a kiss against his future daughter's cheek. "Congratulations," he repeated as he stood up and proceeded to give his son a hug.

"Congratulations!" Adama leaned over and pressed a kiss against his future daughter's cheek. "Congratulations," he repeated as he stood up and proceeded to give his son a hug.

In the meantime, Sheba and Athena were embracing with Boxey stuck between them.

"So are you happy about this?" Athena whispered to her nephew after Sheba moved away to receive felicitations from Boomer.

"Yeah," Boxey nodded.

"Good," Athena ruffled his hair and looked up to find her brother waiting expectantly.

"Congratulations," Athena pulled her brother into her embrace. "I'm so very happy for you."

"And I'm happy for you," Apollo stroked her hair. "You're going to be a great mother, just ask Boxey."

"What do you mean?" Athena asked.

"Thanks for talking to him for us," he said quietly. "So are you going to put off transferring to pilot status now?"

"Actually, I've put it off for good. I don't want to be a viper pilot anymore," Athena informed her brother.

"What!" Apollo exclaimed in surprise, attracting everyone else's attention.

"I didn't think it was such big news," Athena looked around at the curious onlookers.

"Athena just told me she doesn't want to be a viper pilot anymore!" Apollo informed the rest of the family.

"I knew that," Sheba put her arm around her fiance's waist and smiled.

"Always the last to know," Apollo grumbled as he saw the unsurprised looks on both Adama and Boomer's faces.

"I think all these surprises call for some ambrosa!" Boomer declared.

"I think you're right Lieutenant," Adama agreed and opened a bottle he had sent up just for this occasion. Once everyone's glasses were filled he raised his glass for a toast. "To the new members of our family and the happiness they will bring us, to Sheba, Noah and Chameleon."

Everyone clinked glasses and took a sip to echo Adama's sentiment. Athena's gaze settled on Starbuck's empty seat. She had forgotten in all the excitement that Starbuck was dining with his newly acquired parent this cycle. With all the wonderful things that had already happened that day she had faith that it was going well.

END Chapter 6

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