Rated: NC17
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Chapter 4
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It's been three days since I told Starbuck the news. Since then I've been spending too much time in the children's class room. I know it doesn't take centars to hang up decorations or to grade assignments. I still haven't heard that the sealing that is scheduled to occur in a cycle has been cancelled. I was wasting my rest period waiting.
I sigh as I lean back and check and see if the garland is straight.
Starbuck has been back from his patrol, with his new wingmate Sheba, for centars now. I thought that he at least would come speak to me before the ceremony to inform me of his decision to go through with it. To tell me whether we were going to announce his paternity and how he planned to be involved in raising this child. But by now he had to be busy getting ready for the sealing.
I had thought for sure that the embrace I had witnessed between Biehn and Cassi hadn't been goodbye.
"Athena, can we talk now?" Starbuck's voice interrupted my still undefined disappointment.
"Of course," I turned, but did not rise.
"The room looks pretty, fun. The kids must love you for a teacher," he commented as he came to stand before me.
"I hope so," I said.
"I'm sorry it took so long for me to come see you, I've had a lot to do," he began. "A lot to try and figure out." He sat himself down at the edge of my desk.
"My sealing is off," he said the words I had been waiting to here. I bit my lip to prevent my relief from seeping out.
"As you already knew, there have been feelings between her and Biehn for sectars now. Feelings they no longer can suppress as it happens," he said.
"I'm sorry, I should have told you," I said.
"Cassi should have told me," Starbuck cut me off. "It's not like I didn't stray myself. Look at this situation, if I hadn't been...I can't condemn her when I've done so much worse."
"What now?" I asked.
"I don't have a very good history in asking you this, but will you be sealed to me?" he asked.
"Sealing is a lifetime commitment, Starbuck. At least for me. We've never even dated successfully," I said, ever the practical one. Oh, how I wanted to throw caution to the wind and accept. But I couldn't think just for myself and what I was saying was true.
I couldn't even honestly say what my feelings for this man were. There was so much history between us it would be too easy to delude myself that it was the kind of love that two people would share in life and beyond. It would be too easy to agree and risk him getting claustrophobic and leaving again, both of us.
"I know how much you want to be a part of this child's life, I won't deny you that," I promised.
"But you don't know if you can trust me?" his shoulders drooped.
"We need to take time and make sure this is right," I said.
"Then live with me, let's give it a real try," he clasped my hands.
"We're not even dating, Starbuck,"I laughed.
"You're pregnant with my child. Do you really think we can have casual meals together?" he said.
Lords, this man...
"Live together or just room together," I asked.
"Live together. I want you and this child Athena," Starbuck's darkening eyes held a promise.
"I think I still need some courting," I said, feeling ridiculously shy.
"You can call the shots, for now. I've asked Apollo to wait for us in Adama's office," he held out his hand.
I took it.
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Father was, well, Father. Surprised, but not angry. I knew he had a soft spot for Starbuck and I suspected he already knew before we told him who the father of this baby was. Whether from Doctor Salik or his own resources I would never ask.
Apollo's reaction was surprising.
"You should be sealed," he crossed his arms and glared at us, endearingly like an older brother should and in direct opposition to his feelings on the matter only a yahren ago.
"I asked," Starbuck said.
"And why did you refuse?" Apollo asked of me.
"Apollo, that's not really our business," Father put a restraining hand on my big brother's shoulder.
"She refused because she's smarter than I am," Starbuck put his arm around my waist. "Until a couple of days ago I was going to be sealed to someone else. We need some time to rebuild our relationship so for the next few sectars I'm going to court her and hopefully I'll be able to convince her to seal with me. Either way, we'll live together and raise this child."
"Well, congratulations are in order," my father broke in. "To the parents!"
"Parents?" Starbuck and I looked at each other in shock.
That got Apollo laughing as my father ordered a bottle of Ambrosa to be delivered.
"We're going to be parents," Starbuck whispered in panic and awe.
I was speechless. I had never looked at it that way. What if things didn't work out between us? How could we live together.
"So wasn't I good?" Starbuck asked.
"You were masterful," I looked over at him and chuckled.
"Deserving of a kiss?" he nudged me with his hip.
"Maybe," I raised my eyebrows at him.
His hand tightened around my waist.
"Not in front of my family," I laughed at his audaciousness.
"You owe me," he said.
"Fine, fine. Starbuck, how are we going to announce all this? What about the cancellation of the ceremony?" I asked.
"Well, the ceremony isn't exactly cancelled, it's just a bit of a cast change. After that we can announce our news," he said.
Cast change?
End Chapter 4
Chapter 5
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