A/N: This was part of a longer chapter, but I wanted to post something. More coming soon!!

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Kara was awoken rudely the next morning by one very cranky doctor.

"Get up," Cottle ordered, cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "I have to give you some things and don't have time to wait around for you to wake up."

She sat up groggily. "What happened to you being nice?"

"That was a one-time thing. You're alive and healthy again, which means I can go back to treating you like a pain in my ass. Now pay attention." He looked down at the chart in his hands. "The fetus is healthy; looks like the Cylons kept good care of you and it. You know the rules right?" Kara nodded. "No smoking, no drinking, no flying, no cursing…"

"No cursing?" Kara asked in disbelief.

"Just seeing if you were paying attention," said Cottle. He took a final drag of the cigarette and put it out. "I want you in here every two weeks for now. Take one of these," he handed her a bottle of neonatal vitamins, "everyday with food. With food, got it? Stay away from the caffeine. Any questions?"

So many I don't know where to start, she thought. Out loud, she said, "What can and can't I do?"

Cottle shrugged. "You mean physically? Pretty much whatever you want, within reason. You're fine now for Maintenance. It'll get harder when you get bigger to get around under the birds, but you're fine doing that as long as you can manage it. As far as exercise, you should definitely keep it up. Just listen to your body. If it tells you stop, stop. And come in here if you think anything is going wrong. Got it?" Kara nodded. "Good. Now get the hell outta my sickbay."

Kara rolled her eyes. "Mind if I use the head here first?"

Cottle lit another cigarette. "Fine," he said. "But then you're gone."

After using the head Kara washed her hands in the sink and for the first time in several weeks was able to see her own reflection. She stood up straight and turned to the side, looking at her body in the mirror. There would be no hiding it, she thought as she ran her hands over her stomach lovingly. She was definitely pregnant. "And it's only getting bigger," she muttered to herself.

Her belly twitched in response.

Kara gasped, surprised. Recently she'd been feeling small movements, but she could never tell if they were real or just her imagination. But this…this was definite. It wasn't quite a kick, more like the baby was rolling over. Kara smiled at that, imagining her child shifting inside her into a more comfortable position.

"Hey there," she whispered. "You moving around? You like being on Galactica, don't you?" More movement followed as if in response. "Yeah, me too." She felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Too bad Daddy isn't here to feel this." Shaking her head, she cupped some water into her hands and splashed it on her face. "Get a grip Starbuck," she told herself. "It's not the first time you've been alone."

"You're giving up that easy?" his voice asked. "I thought you were braver than that Kara. You've come such a long way; you've learned so much. And now you're giving up at the first little challenge?"

She shook her head again to clear it. Splashing water to her face once more, she let out a long calming breath. He was right. She could do this. In the past she'd always run from her feelings, run from Lee. No more. For the first time in her life she wasn't afraid of what she wanted, and by the Gods she was going to get it.

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She had a surprise waiting for her back in sickbay. A tall man was sitting in the chair, feet propped up on the bed.

"So," he said. "You got time for an old friend, or should I make an appointment?"

"Karl," Kara said, embracing him. "I was saving the best for last."

"Nice save," he said. He put his hands to her stomach. "And what does Baby Thrace think about Galactica?" He winked. "Or should I say Baby Adama?"

"I think someone's wife has a big mouth," she retorted, punching him lightly in the arm.

Helo smiled and hugged Kara again. "I can't believe you're really alive," he whispered. He pulled back, wiping his eyes.

"Aww, Helo," Kara teased, even though her own eyes were moist. "You crying?"

"So are you Starbuck."

She shrugged, smiling. "I won't tell if you won't."

"So," Helo said after a moment. "You ready to get outta here?"

"Hell yeah."

"Good." He knelt down and plopped a large cardboard box onto the bed. "Welcome home."

"What's this?"

"This," he said, opening the box, "is all your stuff."

"My stuff?" Kara looked in and found her things staring back at her- dress uniform neatly folded, sweat pants, tanks, even her more personal items. "I don't understand."

"Well, I figured you'd like to wear your actual clothes. Although they might not fit anymore."

"Why wasn't this stuff auctioned?" she asked as she removed a pair of sweats and tanks. Before he could answer, she made a motion for him to turn around.

"No one really even considered it," he told her as she changed. He chuckled. "No one could put up with your crap when you were alive, and they didn't want to have any of it when you were dead."

"Really?"

Helo turned around. "No," he said seriously. "After the fight, Apollo marched straight back to the bunkroom and emptied out your locker. Didn't speak to anyone, just did it. One nugget tried to put in a bid for something and…Well, he ended up visiting sickbay." Helo nudged the box. "Apollo kept this in his room til he and Dee split up and he moved back into Senior Officers' Quarters. He didn't have any room there, so he gave it to me."

Kara ran her hand over her old things. While she'd been away she never once thought about her uniform or her favorite sports bra, or her book of Scripture. But now, seeing her old things again, she felt like she was truly returning to her life.

There was a question Kara had been wanting to ask since learning of Lee's divorce, but Helo was the only one she trusted to ask. "How's Dee?"

"She's moved on, if that's what you mean. Actually, it was Dee who filed for the divorce. I think she finally realized she deserved more than Apollo could give her, and she's found someone who can."

"Who?"

Helo grinned wickedly. "You'll never guess."

"Kelly?"

"Nope."

"Uhh….The weird looking Comms guy from Pegasus?"

"Hoshi isn't that weird looking. But no."

"Well, I have no frakking idea."

Helo leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "Gaeta."

Kara gasped. "No!"

"Oh yes."

"I thought he had a crush on Baltar!"

"I think he did. Apparently he…you know…" Helo made a motion like a pendulum. "But he's been after Dee for a while now too. You remember how they were even before the attacks. Finally made his move about two months ago, as soon as the divorce was finalized."

Kara nodded.

"So," said Helo. "Now that you know Dee isn't out there waiting for revenge, can we go?"

"Yes. Definitely." She reached for the box but Helo grabbed it first.

"Don't even think about it. Come on, I got one more surprise for you."

"What?"

"You'll see." They exited sickbay. "So Starbuck, you think you're up for parenthood?"

"Well, Helo, I figure if an idiot like you can do it, it can't be that hard."

The two friends' laughter echoed down the corridor.