Act of Faith
by Athena13

Rated: NC-17

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Love is a healer.
There is no purpose served in holding on.
Love is a healer.
There is no understanding why.
Love is a healer.
There is no sin in you that brought this to your door.
My love, it just is.
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Chapter 8 - Kinsmen
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[On the Rising Star]

"Okay enough toasts, I think we should off some words of wisdom to impart to Sheba before she takes this last step that will forever alter her state of being," Brie suggested, waving her cup of ambrosa around to punctuate her suggestion.

"Considering the fact that only one of us is actually sealed, maybe we'd better not. And don't even think of asking me for any advice, I've had way too much ambrosa by now to be useful," Lila, Jolly's wife, said without a hint of remorse at her tipsy state. It was a celebration and the women were allowing themselves the rare treat of altered spirits.

"There is that to consider," Dietra agreed with a laugh.

"Please, I don't think I could handle anymore advice. All the sealed women I know have already inundated me with tips on how to handle my man," Sheba groaned good-naturedly.

"Okay, then how about Sheba tell us why she's consented to seal with the man and help us single women learn your wise ways?" Ereen suggested.

"That's simple," Sheba whispered, her eyes taking on a far away look.

"Well, go on," Brie urged.

"He's the best person I've ever known. He cares about people and ideas. Oh, he's stubborn and maddening, but it's only because he's so passionate about everything and I admire that. He's loyal, brave, a natural leader, a skilled pilot without being arrogant about it and he has this sweet, romantic side. Of course, he's not completely perfect, he always makes a mess in the turbo wash and he's really grumpy when you wake him up. And I love him for all of those things."

"I always hoped that Apollo would find someone who appreciated him properly, I'm so glad he has," Athena said with touched gratitude as she squeezed Sheba's hand.

"Me too," Sheba smiled at her soon-to-be-sister and already-friend.

Athena smiled and looked away as she tried to catch her breath. Furtively she took a long, deep breath. Though it was Sheba who had bared her heart, the words had left Athena feeling as if she was the one who shared her feelings for Starbuck.

"I think I'm thoroughly depressed now," Rigel sighed and leaned her cheek onto her hand.

"Why are you depressed? You'd hate to give up being the most desired woman on the Galactica," Dietra said.

"That's true," Brie brightened up and winked at her friends.

"None of us are going to find our forever love by sitting here, let's go dancing!" Ereen insisted.

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[Apollo's Quarters]

"Seems familiar doesn't it?" Apollo asked quietly.

Starbuck, sitting next to his friend on the couch watching Boxey and Noah playing, nodded understandingly. "Are you thinking a lot about her?"

"I can't help but compare then and now," Apollo admitted, his voice low so that Boxey couldn't accidentally overhear.

"And you've been so concentrated on soothing their concerns you haven't had a chance to really consider how you feel. So how do you feel? Are you sure about taking this step?" Starbuck asked.

"Yes I am, I'm just feeling a bit sad. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm not sure that I'm doing the right thing, I just can't help but think about Serena. There was so much loss surrounding us when we sealed I didn't think it could get worse, now I feel so lucky I can't help but wait for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. Maybe I just feel disloyal?" Apollo wondered.

"You're being overly pessimistic my friend. What you're feeling is perfectly natural. I'm not ending my fun, I mean being sealed," Starbuck shot Apollo an unrepentant grin. "And I can't help but think about how different things are now. Before I thought Aurora had been lost, I had been rejected by Athena and pretended I was relieved and had begun seeing this socialator I was lucky enough to find in the midst of chaos and I felt sorry for myself because I was losing my best friend. Not to mention the fact that I was playing pyramid with a tin head when you actually got sealed. Now I'm sitting her babysitting with you and scheming to get your sister to seal with me and let me adopt Noah. Not too long ago I would consider the tin heads a less constraining fate than all that."

"Okay, you convinced me, it's normal to wonder. So how did you convince my sister to let you watch Noah when I was available?"

"Easy, I told her you would be supervising," Starbuck said. "Actually, I just offered and she accepted."

"That's a good sign," Apollo observed with a curve to his lips.

"I think so, too," Starbuck agreed, his blue eyes twinkling. "I think things are just looking up for us buddy."

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[Rising Star]

"Hello Cassi," Athena was the first to notice the latecomer.

"Hello, looks like they're having a good time," Cassi commented about their friends who were busy dancing. "Why aren't you out there?"

"I was just about to leave actually," Athena said.

"So early?" Cassi asked.

"I want to make sure that Noah is all right," Athena evaded the truth.

"Congratulations on the adoption," Cassi offered her late felicitations.

"Thank you," Athena smiled.

"And Apollo is watching him while his bride-to-be parties," Cassi chuckled.

"Actually, Starbuck is," Athena's chin lifted almost imperceptibly as she imparted the telling fact.

"Oh, then I guess you two...?" Cassi trailed off.

"Not officially, not yet," Athena admitted.

"I expected that, I thought it might take a bit longer," Cassi admitted.

"He's a good man Cassi, I know that a lot of his maturity has a lot to do with you and for that I'm grateful. I thought you had a right to know," Athena said gently.

"I'm sure Starbuck isn't so grateful to me," Cassi said.

"Maybe not right now, but he'll get over it. He has a big heart," Athena's face glowed.

"I thought I was the wise one," Cassi teased gratefully.

"I had to grow up sometime," Athena grinned. "Tell Sheba I had to go..."

Before Athena could finish her explanation the ominous sound of slamming metal was heard bringing a hush over the crowd, above which the reverberations echoed through the large, full room.

"Ladies and Gentleman, we have been instructed that we are under red alert status and we have closed the blast doors. You are perfectly safe in here and recommend that you all continue with the festivities until the doors can be opened again."

"Oh yeah, heard that before," Athena commented dubiously, referring to a less than festive occasion when she and others were trapped in the Galactica Rejuvenation Center while the great ship burned out of control.

"Is there anyway out of here?" Cassi stood up.

"I'm afraid not, once those doors closed we're trapped," Sheba answered as she and the rest of the women returned to the table. Behind them, in contrast, the civilian partygoers heeded the advice of their hosts and resumed their leisure activities.

"We have to get out of here. There has to be a way back to the Galactica," Rigel insisted.

Athena silently agreed. She was beginning to feel that the fates were against her and Starbuck being sealed. Oh Lords, she thought in a panic, what if something happens to him before I get to tell him that I accept his proposal? I'm stuck in this surreal celebration while Starbuck is out there facing who knows what. And Noah! He must be terrified.

"It could be the Cylons," Dietra stated what they were all thinking.

"It's been sectons since we destroyed those two base ships, I'd hoped we'd seen the last of them," Rigel rubbed her arms as if gripped by a sudden chill.

"If it's them, they're probably really angry," Ereen said.

"Rigel is right, we can't just stay here and wait while our loved ones are out there fighting for our lives. There has to be some kind of ventilation system or emergency exit," Athena said.

"Ventilation...wait a micron, I'm not climbing through some dusty and dirty pipe that we don't know where it ends only to get out of here and face who knows what!" Rigel protested, but no one was listening.

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"I'm sorry," the Council Security guy shrugged.

"I can't believe they did this, he has to be wrong," Sheba was scowling.

"This was built as a pleasure ship not a war ship, some details had to be sacrificed to retrofit defenses," Dietra reminded them.

"I can't stand here and just wait," Athena blinked back tears and rubbed her arms.

"Maybe if we can contact the Rising Star bridge we can learn something?" Dietra suggested.

Without pausing to discuss the merits of the idea, the women turned towards the Security guard and converged on him.

"Well, I think we're at a dead end ladies," Ereen told her friends ten centons later.

After persuading, well bullying, the guard to let them use his comm, the bridge had told them they didn't know what was going on, just that they had been ordered by the Galactica to slow down and protect themselves. They hadn't seen or heard anything since. The Captain also refused to help them out of the social room.

"The way out of a dead end is to make a u-turn," Sheba's eyes narrowed as she looked carefully around the room.

"That's the way we came in, remember?" Ereen pointed to the blockaded entrance. "We all want to get out of here and do our jobs, and make sure families are all right, but what do we do once we get out of this room? We fight our way to the launch bay and commandeer a shuttle? There's no way off this ship and we don't know if it's even safe to try. The Captain isn't going to let us onto the bridge. I think we should just...wait it out."

Athena and Sheba clasped hands and squeezed.

"You're right," Sheba practically growled.

Athena closed her eyes and fought back her fears. Fears for Noah and Starbuck. Her brother, nephew and Father. Her friends and colleagues. Beside her she knew that Sheba were struggling with the same worries, they all were.

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"Why haven't they given us clearance to launch?" Starbuck asked his squadron leader.

"I don't know, all I'm getting is a hold signal and no answers," Apollo sounded just as frustrated.

"This is core command, Blue Squadron is ordered to stand down."

"What?" Starbuck exclaimed.

"You heard them buddy," Apollo said.

"False alarm?" Starbuck suggested.

"We'll find out," Apollo advised.

Half a centar later Starbuck and Apollo were not much closer to finding out what was going on. They had been blocked from access to the bridge and told to wait for Colonel Tigh in Landing Bay Gamma. The aforesaid man had yet to appear and none of the personnel present could tell them anything.

"At least it's not the Cylons," Starbuck stood with his hands on his hips. Before coming to the bay, the men had stopped off to reassure Noah and Boxey that everything was all right, and that Athena and Sheba would be home safely soon. Not that either men knew that for certain, communications with the rest of the fleet was only on priority basis and the other ships were still ordered to hold away from the battlestar.

"I just wish I knew if Athena and Sheba were all right," Apollo said stiffly.

"They 're fine, and apparently giving the Captain of the Rising Star a hard time for being trapped in the Star Club," Colonel Tigh entered.

"Are they in danger?" Starbuck asked.

"No more than we are," Tigh said cryptically.

"And what kind of danger is that?" Apollo asked.

"We'll see soon enough," Tigh gestured towards the shuttlecraft that were approaching the bay to land.

"What is that between them?" Starbuck asked, referring to the unidentifiable object being towed by the two shuttlecraft onto the larger ship.

"That is what we're here to find out," Adama said from behind them.

Starbuck shot Apollo a glance. If Adama was here, it had to be big.

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"So what is it?" Starbuck asked.

"It doesn't appear dangerous," Doctor Wilker had declared a few centons earlier not having found any weaponry or bio-hazards. Now, all the warriors and bay personnel were crowded around the large metal thing trying to see for themselves just what it was. It was definitely too small to fit a person.

"Does it have any communications devices?" Adama asked.

"It appears to have had some rather primitive scanning capabilities. I suspect it's an exploration device of some sort. We're going to take it back to my lab and see if we can decipher logs," Wilker told them.

"I think it's from Earth," Apollo said as he stood in his father's office.

"I knew you were going to say that," Starbuck crowed triumphantly.

"Perhaps, let's not get everyone's hopes up," Adama cautioned.

"But you think so too don't you," Apollo said.

"Some of the symbols are similar to those found in the Book of Kobol. The placement of the stars on a solid field near next to stripes," Adama looked thoughtful.

"One of the symbols looked a lot like that transmission we found," Apollo pointed out.

"I hate to break up the happy fest, but we saw that transmission right before we ran into the Cylons," Starbuck said.

"I still think that was a coincidence. I think we're getting near Earth."

"I think that we're not going to find out anything until Doctor Wilker has at it. I think you two should get back to your duties or else my daughter is going to be even more upset when she gets back from the Rising Star," Adama cut short the impending debate.

"You don't think maybe they'll stay on the Star and continue the party?" Apollo asked hopefully. He didn't imagine Sheba would be happy at having been confined during a red alert and he felt bad that her celebration had been marred.

"Not a chance my son, they'll want to make sure that we're all right," Adama said.

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[Athena's Quarters]

The urgency that had spurred her from the Rising Star and towards her quarters had evaporated as she neared her destination. Now, Athena stood outside the door to her quarters trying to figure out what exactly she was intending to do once she entered and came face to face with Starbuck.

"I don't even know what time it is, Noah might be awake," Athena admitted and leaned her head against the door. She had missed the little boy all cycle and now she was in no fit state to have him see her. Athena let out a chuckle at her predicament. Starbuck didn't even have to be present to cause her to revert to a childlike state. At the thought of him she closed her eyes and felt her heart begin to pound wildly. A silly grin spread across her face and she let out another chuckle.

Leaning her palms against the door she pushed herself back to a standing position. Then she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders before letting herself into the brightly lit room.

The first thing Athena did was confirm that Noah had gone to bed by noting that the door to his chamber was now closed. Then she let her eyes search for him. She found him lying asleep on her couch/bed. Her hand slid towards the lighting controls to dim the light even as she felt her stomach drop in disappointment. She hadn't expected him to be asleep after the turmoil of the past cycle.

'It must be later than I realized,' she sighed and moved to his side and looked down at him for a few microns before slipping into Noah's chamber to check on him. Finding him peacefully asleep she let him be and returned to the outer room.

She knew Starbuck had patrol the next cycle and the original plan had been for him to sleep until she returned from the Rising Star. Settling into a sitting position on the floor next to him she fought the urge to wake him and instead indulged herself in watching him for a while.

With a full hear she softly pushed his hair out of his eyes. Starbuck shifted his position slightly at her touch. Athena waited to see if he had woken up.

When she realized he was still asleep she brushed her fingers down the his cheek and over his lips. It was rare that Starbuck let himself look like he needed a shave, but she felt the stubble abrade the tips of her fingers. Then the touch of his soft, moist lips eased the friction. Unable to help herself she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

Athena brushed her lips over his for a few microns before pulling back to study his face. As she watched his eyelashes flickered momentarily before she found herself drowning in his sleepy blue eyes. She couldn't help but smile tenderly at him.

"'the?" he mumbled and moved to sit up.

"No," Athena put her hand on his shoulder and kept him from rising from the blue colored couch.

"What time is it? Is everything okay?" he sounded worried and confused as he came further awake.

"Everything is fine, just fine. Is Noah all right?" Athena asked.

"Listen, I know what you're thinking and..." Starbuck sat up quickly and began to defend himself as he had been preparing himself to do until he had fallen asleep.

"I'm not doubting you, I just need to know," Athena said.

"He was a bit upset by the alert, but he was with Boxey and when Apollo and I told him you were all right, this time he believed us. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the cushion," Starbuck said.

"No pyramid?" Athena narrowed her eyes and studied the man who was smiling nervously at her. Then she burst into amused laughter and stood up.

"Oh Starbuck, don't ever change," she pleaded.

"Are you drunk?" Starbuck asked as he stared at Athena as if she was crazy.

"Certainly not," Athena said haughtily as she brought her amusement under control. "I might be slightly mad though."

"That I can believe," Starbuck observed, his own lips curving into an amused grin as he looked at her happiness. Even though he wasn't sure what she was so happy about. Hesitantly he stood up.

"I bet you're wondering what's going on here," Athena said breathlessly once she had her mirth under control.

"I don't think I care," Starbuck shook his head and put his fingers on either side of Athena's happy face. "I haven't seen you look this happy in...well, a long time. You look beautiful."

"It's because of you," Athena looked down and took a deep breath. "I love you and I want us to be sealed."

Then she waited, watching as comprehension and then wonder lit up Starbuck's eyes.

"Did you just say what I thought you said?" he said dumbly.

"Is that all you have to say?" she teased.

"Are you drunk?" he asked again.

"No. I'm completely sober and completely certain. If you meant what you said then I want us to be sealed. I want you to be Noah's father and father to whatever other children we adopt or have together. What do you have to say?" Athena slid her arms around his neck.

"Yes?" Starbuck asked.

"Yes," she said before pressing her lips against his and kissing him breathless.

"So, can I sleep here?" Starbuck asked hopefull when she stopped for air.

"Not until we're sealed," Athena informed him, raising her chin imperiously.

"That better be soon, but until then I'm going to have to dedicate all my energies towards trying to change your mind," he warned as he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.

"Don't get cocky because you seem to be a roll," Athena warned as she slipped her arms around his neck.

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"Before I leave for the Orphan Ship can we discuss something?" Caphis asked Omega in an unusually serious tone.

"What's wrong?" Omega was immediately aware of his boyfriend's serious mien. He stopped putting on his uniform and looked expectantly across the bed at Caphis.

"What do you think about us getting sealed?" Caphis asked.

Omega's face lit up and he walked around the bed and took the shirt out of Caphis's hand.

"I think it's exactly what I've been thinking. I thought you wanted to wait until we were back together longer before we talked about it again," Omega said tenderly, running his hand over Caphis's muscular chest.

"I love you," Caphis whispered and pressed Omega's hand over his heart.

"I never thought I would be this happy again," Omega said and pressed his lips against Caphis's and slid his tongue between his lover's lips.

Caphis slid his hand over the swelling arousal straining under Omega's pants and began to caress..

Omega pressed his hips forward and moaned.

Caphis opened Omega's pants and wrapped his hand around Omega's erection and began to pump it until a droplet of arousal appeared. Then he bent down and slid it onto his tongue. Omega threw his head back and his hips bucked. Obligingly, Caphis slid his tongue down the silky hardness and then took it into his mouth and made love to it.

"I'll ask Adama if he'll perform the ceremony," Omega said breathlessly, later as he held Caphis in the circle of his arms.

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"Are you sure this is what you want?" Athena asked as they sat wrapped in each other's arms.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Starbuck said softly as he stroked her arm. "Do you mind telling me what brought about this about-face on your part?"

"I realized how hard I was trying to not believe you and that meant that I already did believe you and in us," Athena smiled tenderly up at him. She reached her hand up and stroked his cheek tenderly.

"It wasn't just the red alert?" he needed reassurance, having acted hastily once or twice himself during times of stress.

"I was already leaving when it went off," she promised.

"So do you want a double ceremony with Apollo and Sheba?" Starbuck suggested.

"Are you insane? I don't have a dress or a furlon scheduled. Or anyone to watch Noah. I think it's too soon to leave him alone while we go off for our post-sealing trip? Maybe we should wait a while longer," Athena's mind was racing with plans and concerns about their sealing celebration.

"Ahem, I hate to be a guy about all this, but if you're planning to make us wait until we're sealed I'd rather put off the trip," Starbuck said meaningfully.

"Yeah, well," Athena blushed and looked down at her hands. "I'm sure Noah wouldn't mind staying with my father and Boxey."

Starbuck chuckled and squeezed his future wife affectionately, touched by the fact she still could blush. Especially after practically growing up with him!

"You have patrol tomorrow," Athena looked up at Starbuck, mentally gauging whether their new status was going to cause her to worry about him now. She was relieved to discover that she didn't feel different. "Sleep well," she pressed her lips against his.

"I'll be dreaming about you, as usual," Starbuck waggled his eyebrows lecherously.

"I promise I'll make it worth your while then," Athena winked.

Starbuck, instead of answering, pulled her against him and gave her a searing kiss. As his lips and tongue invaded her mouth, his hands slid down to curve her ass and press her against the evidence of his arousal.

Athena gripped his hair.

His lips moved to suckle and lick her neck and one hand slid up her body until his palm was cupping a breast. After teasing for a few centons he bent down and took the sensitized nipple into his mouth and began to suckle it through the thin layer of covering.

Athena's moans urged him on and he moved his attention to her other breast.

As Athena's breathing reached fevered pitch he raised himself up and wrapped her legs around his hips and pressed her, hard, against the door.

"Is this what you mean by persuasion?" Athena asked before he claimed her mouth again.

"I need you," Athena pleaded as he ground himself into her throbbing center.

Starbuck lifted her legs around his waist and continued to thrust against her.

"That's it," Starbuck urged.

"Starbuck! Oh Lords," Athena cried out.

A few centons later she was hiding her face in Starbuck's shoulder and he was stroking her hair gently.

"Are you blushing again?" Starbuck asked teasingly.

"Yes!" her voice was muffled against his uniform.

"All this talk about waiting and anticipation had me worried, I wanted to make sure you remembered what you were missing," he whispered in her ear.

"I'll find a dress real fast," she promised as Starbuck laughed.

"I just remembered that Chameleon and Blasi invited you and Noah to join us for a late cycle meal, maybe I should invite them here to join your father?" Starbuck suggested.

"There really is no way we can be alone is there?" Athena sighed.

"Anticipation, your idea, remember?" Starbuck winked.

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[Early Cycle - Galactica Gymnasium]

"So how did Sheba's party turn out?" Boomer asked his work out companion as they sat on neighboring leg machines.

"Fine," Athena couldn't suppress a smile at the memory of the all that had happened the cycle before.

"Fine? That smile says more than fine," Boomer observed, breathing through his teeth as sweat glistened on his bare chest.

"The party was fun, the Star was packed, red alerts not fun," Athena said vaguely. She and Starbuck had parted without making any definitive plans as to when and how they were going to announce their new commitment and she was fairly bursting at the seams to tell someone!

"Hey, there's something you're not telling me," Boomer said perceptively.

"There is, just wait a little longer all right," Athena stood up and picked up her towel.

"I don't believe it! That guy has all the luck!" Boomer exclaimed.

"So what about you and Lila?" Athena changed the subject.

"Nowhere close to where I suspect you and Starbuck are, but she is wonderful Athena," Boomer practically swooned.

"Glad to you liked your natal day present," Athena giggled.

"I've been improving my scurry too, speaking of presents. Rematch?" Boomer challenged.

"You don't give up, you're on!" Athena shook her head in sympathy for her poor friend.

"And you're so beat!" Boomer promised and hopped off his machine, taking his towel with him.

"Not yet!" Athena finished her reps and followed quickly after him to the next machine.

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[Launch Bay Beta]

"All right, what gives?" Apollo asked his wingmate when he finished his pre-flight inspection of his shuttle.

"Are you sitting down?" Starbuck asked.

"Funny," Apollo rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. They were standing underneath his viper.

"We're going to announce it to everyone at the meal later, but I thought you should know now. Athena and I are going to be sealed. She said yes," Starbuck looked at his wingmate worriedly.

Apollo's expressed went from stunned to happy and he gave his friend a hearty hug.

"Congratulations, brother!" Apollo exclaimed.

"I was hoping you would be happy since you've been playing matchmaker," Starbuck was relieved.

"I am, I just can't believe she made it so easy!" Apollo said.

"Easy? You think this was easy? Perhaps you haven't been keeping up all these yahrens?" Starbuck snorted.

"I could swear that you were the pain in the astrum," Apollo said dryly.

"Yeah well. Can I ask you something?" Starbuck said hesitantly.

"You're not going to ask me for my permission are you?" Apollo joked.

"Actually, I was thinking of asking Adama. I know it's old fashioned, but I think after everything that's gone on between Athena and me I have a feeling he might not be so thrilled," Starbuck explained.

"I think it's a very fine idea Starbuck, but I don't think you need to prove anything to my father. He's always approved of the match, even when I didn't," Apollo said.

"Guess that takes a load of guilt off of your shoulders old buddy," Starbuck clapped his hand on Apollo's back. "So one bachelor party or two?"

"Somehow even the most serious conversation ends with a reason for women, party or gambling," Apollo gave a long-suffering sigh.

"Keep telling yourself you hate it if it makes you feel better," Starbuck told his friend.

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Athena stood looking out at the Fleet and the passing stars. She hadn't bothered to turn the room's lights on, afraid that if she did this dream would end. And it was a dream. A dream that had finally come true. Yet it was nothing like she had imagined.

She stood in a sheer white sheath that was practically see through, chosen of course by her husband, as she waited for Starbuck to enter and begin the slow process of seduction that would seal them once and for all before God and the Lords of Kobol.

Yes, she couldn't fight the smile on her face.

Yes, her body ached for Starbuck's touch.

Yes, her heart pounded in anticipation.

For the first time this day everything was exactly as she had always imagined it would be.

Before now everything was different.

The location, so far from Caprica, the absence of her mother and Zac, the presence of her child and the ceremony being performed by her father, all of that was different.

The most telling difference, however, was what passed between her and her husband at the ceremony. Even believing he loved her she had expected a look of panic in his eyes. In all of her fantasies over the yahrens she had never been able to realistically picture the look of certainty and love on Starbuck's face as he accepted her unto his soul. And while he spoke his vows without a micron of hesitation, behind him stood his father and his new son.

There had even been tears in his eyes as he gently stroked her cheek with his knuckles before pressing his lips tenderly against hers. As he brought their bodies together she felt his heart pounding strongly and in time with hers.

"I've waited days to see you in that," Starbuck's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Days?" she chuckled, refusing to turn away from the view and face him.

"Hmmm, days," Starbuck corroborated.

"Mmmm," Athena murmured absently as she let the heat of his nearness seep into her skin. "Maybe you should move back so you can get the full view?" she suggested.

"Some other time," Starbuck's lips were now hovering over her ear. "My wife..." Starbuck paused so they could both drink in the title. "My wife seems to have other things on her mind that require my attention. You know, I almost thought I'd find you in your blue officer uniform just now."

"Why?" Athena finally turned around and looked her husband in the face.

"Lords, don't you know how much it turns me on, when you're wearing it that is," Starbuck stroked his knuckles over the side of her breast. "Or when you're not."

"I'll remember that when you begin to ignore me," Athena shivered.

"Now that you're mine to make love to whenever I want do you think I'll ignore you? Heck, Apollo can't even glare at me now if I kiss you in front of him," Starbuck pressed his lips against her neck.

"He's been getting it out of his system for sectons now I noticed," Athena tried to hold onto the conversation.

"It's all bluster, he told me ages ago he approved of us," Starbuck ran his tongue down her collar bone.

"He did," Athena sighed and her eyes slipped closed.

"Let's not think of him right now?" Starbuck flicked his tongue over Athena's hardened nipple, which was still covered by the filmy material of her gown.

"Who?" Athena slipped her fingers into his golden hair.

"Right," Starbuck growled as he took her aching tip into his mouth and began to caress it with his lips.

"You're naked!" Athena exclaimed as her hand encountered bare skin. Her eyes flew open and confirmed her words.

"Told you I didn't bother with wardrobe," he chuckled and bit down on her nipple. "But yours I like."

"Lord," Athena sighed as Starbuck lifted her in his arms and carried her towards the bed.

"I like the title, but husband, lover or Starbuck might make this a little more personal," Starbuck teased as he placed her down gently and skimmed her body with his eyes. "You are a goddess."

"Starbuck!" Athena protested in embarrassment.

"You're my wife, I can say silly and adoring things if I want. Just don't tell anyone," Starbuck winked.

Athena began to caress the bare skin of Starbuck's chest and stomach.

"My wife," Starbuck whispered in awe as Athena's hand finally wrapped around his arousal. "My wife," he repeated as she began to stroke him.

"My husband," Athena grinned up at him.

Starbuck leaned down and captured her lips in a searing kiss. His hands holding her hips in place under him. "I want you so badly," he growled.

"I can tell," Athena sighed as Starbuck slid a hand underneath her gown and found her already wet with arousal.

"I want to adore your body all secton, but right now I need to be inside you," Starbuck pleaded breathlessly as he slid a finger inside her and rubbed his thumb over her swollen clitoris.

"Yes!" Athena arched her back.

Starbuck positioned himself between her legs.

"Starbuck, please," she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Slowly, he slid himself into her. "Athena," he cried out as the tight heat surrounded him. "I can't go slow."

"Don't," Athena's response acted as a spark setting Starbuck's combustible passion in motion. Yahrens of waiting, and more particularly sectons of waiting through Sheba and Apollo's wedding, through Caphis and Omega's small ceremony and planning their own day, were put to an immediate and forceful end as they satisfied the fates, and themselves.

"So why didn't we do that before?" Starbuck asked later as they lay in each other's arms.

"So we could be here with our whole hearts," Athena's eyes opened and she looked up at him.

Starbuck gazed down at his wife. "And I am here of my whole heart Athena, my wife. Forever."

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Act of Faith
by Rick Springfield

It's gonna take an act of faith to stand up and face the day.
It's gonna take an act of faith, nobody can make you stay
It's gonna take an act of faith
maybe love will find it's way back into your life
Here's my heart my love is in it

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.
I know you loved him baby celebrate who he was.
I know you've got to go on and live your life.
Go down to the river of the spirit that runs through you,
and lay yourself down in the healing waters.
Love is a healer.
There is no purpose served in holding on.
Love is a healer.
There is no understanding why.
Love is a healer.
There is no sin in you that brought this to your door.
My love, it just is.