"I need you to say it." Lee Adama said to Kara Thrace as they stood alone in the pilot's briefing room.
"That's too bad, 'cause I'm not gonna say it." She replied slyly.
"Aww, come on Starbuck, why not?"
"Because it's unnecessary."
"Oh. I think it's very necessary." He teased, subtly smirking at her.
"Nope….not gonna happen." She shrugged as she started to pick up the papers that were left behind by the other pilots so that she could make a hasty retreat out of there.
He moved to still her hands and stood directly in front of her, preventing her from going anywhere. "Please? For me?"
She dropped her head and shook it in amusement. "You really are easily satisfied aren't you, Adama?"
"Nothing about this is easy, not in the slightest. Getting you to say those three little words is like pulling teeth, and I think that after the day I've had, I deserve to hear you say it. It'll be my reward for putting up with you."
She reached out to gently push a finger against his chest. "Why do I need to say it at all? Haven't I already shown you? Shown you that it's how I feel. Don't you believe that I believe it?"
"Yes." He said grasping the finger in his hand and holding it to him. "But I want to hear you say it, because it makes me feel good…… because you only ever say it to me." He grinned.
She covered her eyes with her hands in exasperation. "Alright."
"Really? You're gonna say it?" He asked surprised.
"Only because it's you." She sighed looking straight at him. "Anybody else, I'd tell them to go frak themselves."
"Alright then." He nodded in a mock serious tone. "Should I sit down for this?" He asked looking around at the chairs.
"Only if you want me to make it so that you never stand up again." She hissed.
"I feel like there should at least be a drumroll or something." He laughed.
She laughed too. "You wanna shut the hell up so that I can say this and then get out of here already?"
"Okay." He plastered a very sober look on his face.
"Listen carefully, Apollo." She breathed, moving slowly and slightly to stand directly before him. "Because I don't say this very often, and I only ever say it to you."
"Go on." He urged her.
"I…….."
"Yes?" He teased.
"Was……"
"Uh-huh." He grinned so hard she thought his face would break.
She took a deep breath. "…….WRONG."
He clutched his chest with his two hands. "I think I'm gonna have a heart attack."
"You're such a jerk." She giggled as she pushed him and he fell into the chair behind him. She then started to walk out of the room.
He called after her, still laughing. "Those are the three most beautiful words I've ever heard come out of your mouth."
-finis