A/N: I'm not making any profit of this, just writing for fun, the characters don't belong to me, you all know that…

Enjoy!

Nightmare

The blue squadron hurried to their vipers to fight off another attack of the cylons. Once they got the command, they launched. Although the cylons had twice as much fighters as the Galactica had, the training of the humans paid off. They watched out for one another, making some close escapes from cylon's shots, whereas almost every one of their shots hit a target. Apollo and Starbuck had taken down 6 fighters together, when the Captain noticed a cylon behind his wingman's back. But right the moment he tried to warn his Lieutenant, the cylon shot and it was too late. Apollo could only watch in horror when Starbuck's viper was hit and exploded in a red fireball. There was no chance anyone could survive this, not even his friend with his famous luck… Apollo closed his eyes in despair, a cry of pain escaping his throat. The rest of the fight was only a blur to him, nothing penetrated the thick fog in his mind.

The brunette had soon escaped to the Celestial Dome, wanting to be alone with his grief. Sure, everybody grieved for Starbuck, but for Apollo it was worse. They had been very close friends, had known everything about each other. 'Well, except one thing' The Captain thought. There was something he had hidden from Starbuck quite some time now: his love for him. He had kept it hidden not because he was ashamed of it, but because he feared it might ruin their friendship. He was sure Starbuck didn't return these feelings. But now… Tears welled up in Apollo's eyes and he didn't fight them back, he let them flow. Even a warrior had the right to cry sometimes, there was nothing to be ashamed of that.

The thought that he'd never see Starbuck again was almost unbearable. The blonde had helped him so much to carry out his duties, he'd always lightened his spirits. By now, his father joined him, sitting down beside him and laying an arm around his shoulder, pulling him a little closer.

"I'm so sorry, son."

"Why him? Why he of all people?"

It was always hard to lose men, but as long as his friend had been there he'd somehow managed. Adama sighed.

"I cannot tell you that, Apollo. But I can tell you he wouldn't want you to grieve that hard. Remember him like he used to be, that's what he would want, don't you think?"

Apollo nodded instantly. Images flooded his mind: Starbuck fuming one of his cigarillos, laughing at a joke he'd just made, Starbuck at the OC flirting with women, Starbuck when he asked him for money for his pyramid games, Starbuck in his viper, their many patrols...

"Yes, that's what he'd want… But it's so hard!"

For the first time he lifted his tear-streaked face and faced his father.

"I know, son. With time the pain will diminish, even though it will never be completely gone. It will cease to a dull ache in your chest, that will become bearable, like a scar which itches, you'll get used to it."

Apollo knew his father spoke the truth, there was no way the Commander would lie to him. But right now, he couldn't believe it, the pain was too fresh and too strong. The Captain excused himself, he went to his quarters and throw himself onto his bed. So much had happened today and the brunette was tired. Athena had taken care of Boxey, knowing Apollo would need some time alone now. Apollo slid under the covers and coiled up. Tearstains still covered his face, but he didn't care. He cried himself to sleep, his grief once more overwhelming him.

When the Captain woke up, he lay on his back, his face completely dried. He remembered Starbuck's death at once, having to let go off the blissful oblivion sleep had allowed him. The pain hadn't subsided, not at all, it still seemed as if a knife had been stabbed through his heart. He wanted nothing more than to stay in his bed, to stay alone and make the pain go away, however he couldn't. He knew the fleet counted on him, counted on him in fulfilling his duties. With a heavy sigh, he got up.

Later, when he entered the command center, he met his father. After exchanging their greetings, Adama noticed his son's dark mood.

"Hey, Apollo, what's up? You seem so sad."

The Captain was irritated. Had his father forgotten what had happened to Starbuck? He'd always thought Adama was fond of the Lieutenant, but now he seemed not touched at all by his friend's death.

"Father? Don't you remember what happened yesterday?"

"No. Tell me, what's this about?"

"Starbuck died yesterday and you don't even remember?"

Apollo was furious now, about to storm off, when the Commander's voice reached his ears.

"Apollo? Starbuck is alive, I just saw him."

The brunette's heart jumped from joy, even though he couldn't understand it. Had it been a dream? But it had seemed so real…

"What? Are you sure?"

Adama just smiled.

"Yes. Search him, if you want to be sure."

He would certainly do that! Within microns, Apollo was out of the door and went in search of his precious Starbuck. It wasn't long until he found him in the quarters the Lieutenant shared with 3 fellow officers. The blonde was changing into his uniform getting ready to go on duty. For a centon Apollo drank in that sight, then he closed the distance between them quickly and embraced Starbuck tightly. A sigh escaped his lips as he felt Starbuck's warmth shooing all the coldness in his body away.

"Apollo, you okay?"

"Yes, now I am."

Starbuck was curious. His friend had never behaved like that and he was determined to find out the reason. To lighten up the question, he joked:

"I know I'm irresistible, but what was that for?"

"I had a terrible nightmare and thought I'd lost you…"

Starbuck saw that Apollo shivered and stepped closer, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, it's over, Apollo. I'm here and I will be here, okay? I won't leave you. Tell me about this nightmare."

These words were spoken softly, yet intense, and had the desired effect: Apollo calmed down and with a quivering voice spoke of his dream.

"It was a fire fight against the cylons… They outnumbered us, but we took a lot of them down and then I tried to warn you about one behind you and I was too late… Your viper exploded."

Both were silent for a few microns, lost in their own thoughts. Starbuck was amazed at how distressed Apollo had been at the thought of losing him. Sure, they were best friends, but could it be Apollo felt something beyond friendship? Like he himself did? He'd wished for that quite some time now, but had never thought the brunette would ever return his feelings… Was it time to act on them? Starbuck decided it was, took heart and tried to approach the subject carefully. He knew he wasn't good at that, normally he just blurted out what he wanted to say, but this was too damn important. This needed to done right, because Apollo certainly wasn't one to be won easily.

"'Pol, I know, how you feel. Remember the ships of light? They asked Sheba and me if we were ready to sacrifice ourselves to bring you back to life."

Starbuck had never spoken of this before and Apollo listened intensely, somehow guessing where this was leading.

"I was and I am still, but not out of altruistic reasons… I can't live without you any more. For you I care more than I ever did for anyone else. The thought of you being hurt makes my blood run cold. I would do anything to keep you out of harm's way…"

Starbuck swallowed hard, but noted Apollo's eyes had begun to shine as if he guessed where this was leading and wanted this as bad as the blonde did. With a nervous smile the Lieutenant continued with a soft voice, even though he did not quite manage to hide his nervousness.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm in love with you… have been for some time now."

Apollo remained silent, it was a little much to take in: at first he had thought Starbuck was dead, then finding out it had just been a vivid nightmare and now Starbuck confessing that he loved him… For his friend though, this moment of silence was torture, his anxiety mounting with every micron.

"Apollo, say something, please!"

The brunette smiled at him.

"What do you want me to say? That I am in love with you too and feel absolutely the same about you?"

With that he took a step forward, closing the distance between them and bringing their faces just inches apart. His eyes sparkled with joy and happiness when he spoke further.

"Yes, I am and I do."

Then he reached out, put his arms gently around Starbuck's waist and drew him closer. His emerald green eyes met Starbuck's blue ones and they both bent forward, finally kissing properly. It was a kiss that spoke of devotion, gentleness, passion and love, the kind of love that was deeply rooted in one's heart and lasted for live.

Apollo smiled weakly.

"I hate to say that now, but we gotta go, duty calls."

Starbuck groaned. Apollo never changed, did he? But to be honest, he just loved him the way he was… However before they went, the blonde stole another kiss, which his friend was only too happy to give.

A/N: If I get any reviews I'll write a sequel containing the coming out to Apollo's father… Interested?