Chapter Eight:

Kara was busy packing her and Kacey's bags in preparation for their departure to the Galactica. It had been a wonderful week for both of them on the Pegasus, as they got the opportunity to spend a lot more time than they normally do with Lee. Kara had almost been tempted to take Lee up on his offer to transfer to the Pegasus permanently. His quarters on the Pegasus had become a home for both Kara and her daughter. But for now, Kara needed to be on Galactica, where she felt like she belonged. Although she felt she belonged with Lee, too, she did not feel ready to give up Galactica.

"Mommy," said Kacey, who was sitting and watching Kara pack.

"Yeah, baby," said Kara, as she continued to pack.

"I don't have a Daddy, right?"

Kara stopped what she was doing, and then looked pointedly at Kacey. The mention of Kacey's biological father, the Cylon who had held Kara prisoner for four long months, always made her tense. Kara took a moment to relax, and then answered her daughter.

"Right," said Kara. "You're Daddy is gone."

"Hera has a Daddy," said Kacey.

Kara nodded. "I know," she said.

"Can Lee be my Daddy?" asked Kacey.

Kara smiled. Kacey had voiced the feeling that Kara herself had been feeling since she and Lee had reconciled and since Sam left the picture. As far as Kara was concerned, Lee was Kacey's father. But Kara had always been sure not to press the issue with Kacey. She had let Kacey's and Lee's relationship develop in its own way. Lee considered Kacey to be his daughter, and now Kara knew that Kacey felt Lee was her father.

"Tell you what. Why don't you ask Lee yourself when he gets back?"

Kara finished packing, and then sat down to put on Kacey's shoes. As she did, Lee came in the door.

"Raptor's waiting for you," said Lee.

"Thanks," said Kara. "We're just about ready."

"Lee," said Kacey. "Can you be my Daddy?"

Lee looked at Kacey with a stunned expression. Kara had to chuckle at Lee's surprise at having been asked that question by Kacey. The man just stood there in silence, trying to find the words to respond to Kacey's very direct question. He looked at Kara, who nodded in response to Lee's silent question. "You know how I feel," said Kara.

Lee did. He walked over, picked up Kacey, and hugged her tight. "I would love to be your Daddy," said Lee. "More than anything in the world."

"Good," said Kacey. "Love you, Daddy."

Lee's heart soared after hearing the little girl's words. Kara's face, which had held an amused expression just a few moments ago, took on a look of pure joy. Her eyes began to tear at seeing the man she loved be accepted by her daughter as a Dad. Lee held out his hand and pulled Kara to him. Lee held by Kara and Kacey in his arms.

"I love you too," said Lee. "My daughter. I love and your Mommy so much."

"Why have to go?" asked Kacey. "I want to stay!"

"I know, baby," said Kara. "But right now, we have to go home to Galactica. Mommy has work to do there. Daddy has to work here. You know that your Grandpa is on Galactica, and so are Helo and Sharon and Hera and Galen and Cally. They all love you."

"Want Daddy!" said Kacey, as she began to sob.

"Shh," said Lee, rubbing Kacey's back. "I know, sweetheart. I miss you, too, when I'm not around you. But I will visit you and you will visit me as much as we can, okay. I'm not far away. And if you ever need me, I'll be there, okay."

Lee and Kara finally quieted Kacey's sobs. They picked up the bags, and walked to the Raptor, with Kacey held firmly in Lee's arms. As they placed the bags on the Raptor, Lee buckled Kacey into her seat. Kacey's face held a sad expression that was breaking both Lee's and Kara's hearts.

"Come on, now," said Lee. "Give me a smile."

Kacey looked up, but didn't smile. "Okay then," said Lee. "You are forcing me to tickle you to get a smile."

Lee reached down and started tickling Kacey. The little girl began to laugh, and finally did smile. "That's my good girl," said Lee. "Now, be good for Mommy, okay. I'll come and see you, soon."

"Bye, Daddy," said Kacey.

Lee smiled and kissed his daughter on the cheek. Kara then placed her hand on Lee's arm, and pulled him towards the Raptor's hatch. They stepped onto Pegasus' hangar deck, and Kara spoke softly to him.

"Oh, Lee, am I doing right?" she said. "She wants to stay here so bad. Am I being selfish for wanting to be on Galactica for now?"

"Kara, you've been through a lot," said Lee. "You can't move here until you are ready."

"Kacey's ready," said Kara. "Who am I to hold her back?"

"Her mother," said Lee. "But you are also a human being. You need time. Kacey will be back on Galactica, and she'll have all those people you mentioned who love her. She'll be okay for now."

"I hope so," said Kara.

"I can't believe I just talked you into staying on Galactica," said Lee.

"If you were selfish, you would have tried to use Kacey to keep me here," said Kara. "You're not like that. That's Leoben and all he did to Kacey and me. That's not you. Which is why I love you so frakking much."

"I love you, too," said Lee.

He kissed her goodbye, and then Kara joined Kacey on the Raptor. Lee stood on the flight deck until the Raptor was off, and then headed back to his quarters. He sat down at his desk, and picked up a picture of Kara and Kacey taken on board the Galactica by one of the other pilots. Lee looked at his family, and listened to the empty silence that permeated his quarters now that they weren't there. "I miss you both already," he thought.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two days later, Kara was heading towards Sharon's and Helo's quarters to pick up Kacey. She had just come off CAP, and had left her daughter with Sharon and Hera while she was on patrol. Kara knocked on the hatch, and heard Sharon say "come in" from the other side.

Kara opened up the hatch and found Kacey and Hera playing with their dolls on the floor. Sharon was sitting at a nearby table working on her flight logs.

"Hey," said Sharon. "Here for your little trooper?"

"Yep," said Kara.

"Hi, Mommy!" said Kacey, who ran over for Kara to pick her up.

"Having fun?" asked Kacey.

"Yeah," said Kacey.

"Good," said Kara.

"You still going to take Hera later tonight?" asked Sharon, who got up and walked over to Kara and Kacey.

"Don't worry, you and Helo will get your alone time," said Kara.

"Mommy," said Kacey. "Can we go and call Daddy? I miss him."

"You bet," said Kara. She looked over at Sharon, who had a rather strange expression on her face. "Oh, I told Kacey we would try and call Lee today. I just hope he isn't too busy to take the call."

"Yeah, Kacey's been talking about it," said Sharon, with a note of disdain in her voice.

Kara picked up on Sharon's mood. "What?" asked Kara. "Something wrong?"

"Nothing," said Sharon. "It's nothing."

Kara put Kacey down and looked silently at Sharon, and saw that the latter was upset about something. They had overcome a lot to become friends, despite Sharon's Cylon heritage and Kara's history with Sharon's people. Kara decided that if there was something wrong, she had better handle it.

"Kacey, why don't you and Hera play for a few more minutes," said Kara. "Sharon and I need to talk outside."

Kara opened the hatch, and motioned for Sharon to step out into the corridor. Sharon didn't move at first, but then quietly stepped outside with Kara.

"Okay, what's wrong?" asked Kara. "You sounded upset just now."

"I shouldn't be upset really, it's just," said Sharon. "Kacey told me earlier that she was calling Lee 'Daddy.' It kind of, well, stung me."

"Why?" asked Kara. "Lee has been more of a father to her than I could have ever hoped for. We love each other, and we both love Kacey. Kacey adores Lee."

"Kara, Kacey is half-Cylon, and, well…I just couldn't help but think about the fact that my child was taken from me because I'm Cylon," said Sharon. "And she was raised for over a year by a human woman, and Hera called her 'Mommy.'"

Kara looked at Sharon with disbelief. "You can't SERIOUSLY compare that to Kacey's heritage," said Kara. "You and Helo conceived Hera in love with one another! Leoben didn't! He used his DNA to inseminate one of my STOLEN eggs, and then implanted it into a captive woman! A SLAVE! Leoben then captured me and held me captive for four FRAKKING MONTHS, and tried to use Kacey to make me LOVE HIM!!! He doesn't DESERVE the right to call himself Kacey's father, and I will be damned if I will be ashamed of giving Kacey a father who loves her and loves me!!"

Kara was about to open the hatch to get Kacey, but Sharon stopped her. "Kara, I'm sorry," said Sharon. "I didn't mean to imply that Leoben has any right to claim Kacey. He doesn't! You're right about that! What he did to you was DISPICABLE! I guess it stung me more because of my experience with Hera being taken from me! I was projecting that onto Kacey's situation, and I shouldn't have."

Kara took a deep breath. "Look, Sharon, they shouldn't have taken Hera from you. You are her mother. I know how I would feel if Kacey was taken from me. I'm sorry if I overreacted…"

"It's okay," said Sharon. "And you're right. Lee is a good father for Kacey. I'm glad you both have Lee, especially after what happened to you."

"Look, just remember that Kacey and Hera now both have loving parents," said Kara.

Sharon smiled. "You're right. And you'd better get Kacey and go call her Daddy."

Kara smiled, and then opened the hatch to retrieve her daughter and go to call Lee.

End of Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine coming soon.

For those of you who have been keeping up with this story, thank you for your continued interest. I'm sorry it takes so long for me to update the story, but real life has been very busy for me of late. Thank you to those who have provided feedback through your reviews, and please do keep providing me with your comments.