A New Beginning
By: Meredith Richardson
Summary: AU What can one teenage girl do to fight for those she loves? The untold story about Kacey's teenage sister Allison, her life after the End Of The Worlds and fight to keep her family safe despite the ever growing threat of the cylons.
Disclaimer: I don't own Battlestar Galactica or any of its characters, if I did Kara wouldn't have gone POOF and Starbuck and Apollo would have walked off into the sunset together. Though Allison, Jenny, and other original characters are mine yay.
Authors Note: I can't believe how much fun I'm having writing this story, it seems to just flow out on paper! Please review and let me know what you think, it motivates me to continue with my story.
AN 2: I also want to thank my new beta Gweaz for all the work she's done to help me produce a great story. It's going to take me a little longer to post new chapters but I've got tons written and I'm dying to share it with you guys.
Journal Entry 31 (41 days after the end of the worlds)
I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open! I've spent hours trying to sleep, but to no avail. When mom got home from work last night I told her the news about Hotdog and our dinner invitation. She was looking forward to it. She was happy to finally get a night off work to spend time with her family and happy to finally meet her friend's son; she'd also heard a lot about Hotdog!
We talked about my sessions with Mrs. Costanza a bit before I nonchalantly asked her what I should wear to dinner. Luckily she easily picked out outfits for all three of the Brynn women. For a while, I remained quiet as mom rattled out a story about a drunk customer who made a fool of himself at the restaurant, but I only listened with half an ear. I contemplated asking my mom about the party, I had promised Jenny, but I was afraid that if I mentioned the party she'd bring up my birthday. I'm hoping that the excitement and media frenzy over the Quorum of Twelve and President Roslin will keep my mom busy...
Journal Entry 32 (still 41 days after the end of the worlds)
I am so embarrassed, I wish the cylons would come and put me out of my misery. The evening started out great, I was finally able to shake my exhaustion as dinnertime came closer. Mom had picked out a cute, but comfortable faded jean skirt, my favorite ribbed blue shirt that matched my eyes, and black pumps.
We met the Costanzas at the restaurant entrance where Jenny introduced me to her "fearless viper pilot" brother, Hotdog. Brendan blushed at her description before he shook my hand and tickled Kacey's belly, making her giggle. He stood beside me as we waited to be seated and asked to hold Kacey, who went willingly.
The restaurant was crowded so we sat waiting for our names to be called when they had an available table. Brendan held Kacey tenderly in his arms as we waited. I was surprised by the warm feeling that grew in the pit of my stomach as I watched him talk playfully with Kacey. I assumed he'd feel awkward around Kacey like so many other guys his age. He noticed my stare, smiled, and reminded me that he'd had three younger siblings and was familiar with how to act around babies. He told me that he even missed his baby brother and sister after checking to make sure his mother couldn't overhear us. We played with Kacey and tickled her into fits of giggles until the hostess came to lead us to our table. Jenny sat beside her brother, but I sat across from him after mom scooped Kacey out of my arms.
The conversation started light as we all grilled Brendan about his life aboard Galactica. We all congratulated him on his wings when he told us the story about his "frakking badass" flight instructor and her heroic attempt to save her nuggets. He also told us he'd never tell her that, though, because it was already hard enough living with her after her plan was responsible for our recent victory against the cylons. Apparently she was known for having a bit of an ego. After watching Brendan continue to throw smiles my direction and seeing how amazing he was with Kacey my palms started to sweat and I started to stutter every time I spoke, it only got worse from there.
The waitress delivered our desert, chocolate ice cream (some of the last among the fleet), and the conversation turned to the Quorum of Twelve and their impending arrival. Jenny excitedly told everyone that she was going with Broady to the dance because her brother was going to be attending as well. My mom looked up from feeding Kasey a little of her ice cream and I knew that she'd figured it out. She announced that it was the perfect way to celebrate her daughter's fifteenth birthday by letting me attend the party with my friends.
I tried to keep my cool as everyone stared at me as I told her that I was planning on hanging out with Kacey and didn't want to celebrate my birthday this year. Kacey let out a small cry, distraught over my loud voice. It startled me so much that my fork went flying, shattering my glass, and spraying Brendan with water. Everything and everyone seemed to freeze and then speed up as everyone but me moved to clean up the watery mess. I was humiliated. I ran out of the room to out here in the garden to hide my embarrassment. I don't think I'll ever be able to face him again...
Allison looked up to see Brendan walking towards her. She quickly slammed her journal shut and tossed it in her purse as he walked closer.
"Mind if I take this patch of grass?" Brendan asked, pointing to the spot beside her as she tried to avoid looking at him. She nodded her head in response as she was too embarrassed to speak.
They sat side by side in utter silence-Allison with her back ramrod straight, while Brendan relaxed back on his hands, staring up at the holographic sky. After a few moments Brendan broke the silence.
"You should've been there when Commander Adama gave me my wings. It was terrible, I had just been rescued by a raptor after having to eject for the first time because my viper was damaged. I got sick all over the flight deck. Chuckles and Kat, two of my friends and fellow cadets will never let me live it down." Allison finally lifted her head and turned towards Brendan with a small grin.
"That's not even the worst bit," Brendan stated, now smiling at Allison. "A big part of being a new cadet or nugget is the hazing performed by the senior pilots. I waited and waited as one by one the other cadets got hazed. The worst part was the unknown... I knew it was coming but I never knew when. They decided to play a little joke on me, we'll say, about a week after I joined up. I went to the Head for a shower, left my clothes on the bench and hung my towel off the side of the shower stall. I was only in there fire minutes. Ten max. And when I went to grab my towel, it was gone! I peeked out of the shower stall and found the head empty with my clothes nowhere to be found!"
"Oh my Gods! What did you do?" Allison exclaimed, trying hard not to laugh at his predicament.
"Oh you think that's funny? That's not even the best part. I looked everywhere, but couldn't find anything to cover up with, so I waited, hoping someone would show up so I could send them to grab some of my clothes, but no one came. I finally got the courage to sneak back to my quarters to get some new clothes, but I notoriously have the worst luck ever" he said before pausing dramatically.
Allison waited eagerly to hear what happened next.
"I almost made it back without being seen, when I had just turned the last corner when guess who I ran into?" he asked.
"Who?" Allison asked quickly, not even bothering to conceal her eagerness, her previous embarrassment forgotten.
"Commander Adama and President Roslin."
Allison finally lost the battle and burst out laughing, tears streaming down her face and Brendan joined her. "Oh my Gods that's horrible, what did the Commander do to you?"
Brendan finally stopped laughing and said, "He was too shocked to say anything so I ran past him and slammed the hatch shut behind me. I ran to my locker and got dressed while all the pilots laughed and teased me, Starbuck and Apollo were the worst, but it didn't last long. Commander Adama walked in silenced everyone with a look. He then went ahead and punished us all with extra shifts on the hanger deck. Before he left he turned to me and told me the President said that she finally understood why my call sign was Hotdog. I was so embarrassed! At least the Commander wasn't angry. He was laughing as he walked out and closed the hatch."
"Okay so maybe my disaster tonight wasn't that bad," Allison said. "I'm still really sorry for getting you all wet, though. I guess I freaked out a little when Jenny started talking about the party."
Hotdog gave her a half smile before saying, "Or after your mom mentioned your birthday. Any reason that you don't want to celebrate it? I can't think of a better reason to celebrate right now. We've lost a lot over the last two months, we need every bit of happiness we can get."
"I dunno, every time I think about it I remember my dad and all my friends back home. It doesn't feel right that I get to celebrate another year while they're all dead." Allison turned away as a tear fell down her cheek.
"I know exactly how you feel. Did Jenny or my mom tell you about why Galactica recruited me so quickly?" Brendan asked.
Allison turned back towards Brendan, "Jenny mentioned something about an accident aboard Galactica. I heard a little bit over the wireless."
Brendan nodded, "Yeah, the accident killed thirteen pilots and injured nearly thirty good men and women. If that hadn't happened, I never would have had the opportunity to become a viper pilot. I love what I do every day! It's one of the most rewarding and gratifying experiences of my life, but I never would have wished that on anyone, just like it's not your fault the cylons attacked us... Unless you're one of them," he teased her. "You're alive today, which is something worth celebrating and we're going to celebrate it." He gave her a smile and pulled her close for a small hug.
"We?" she asked him smiling again.
"Are you kidding, you think I'm going to go alone to this shindig. Someone's got to keep me company and distract me from threatening Jenny's new boyfriend." he joked.
Allison relaxed and smiled again "Fine, I'll go but I refuse to dance!" They both stood up and Brendan walked Allison safely back to her room to meet her worried mother.
Journal Entry 32 Continued (still 41 days after the end of the worlds)
Okay maybe tonight went a lot better than I originally thought. Brendan found me in the garden and told me a few stories about his life on Galactica and a few times that he was embarrassed even more then I was tonight. I felt bad for him, but I couldn't stop myself from laughing at him. He flashed President Roslin and Commander Adama! We also talked about why I didn't want to celebrate my birthday this year. He made me feel a lot better about everything. He really is a good guy.
I haven't been able to sleep I'm so excited! He told me he wants to hang out with him at the Colonial Day Celebration. I hope he doesn't ask me to dance; I have no idea how! I've got to get some sleep... I need to talk to Jenny and get her help because I have no idea what to wear... when did I become such a girl!
An: Next up is the Colonial Day episode which will be done in two chapters. We'll finally see the main cast coming aboard Cloud 9 and Allison meets Starbuck, Apollo, and Baltar. Review and let me know what you think is going to happen when she meets everyone and what you think should happen between Allison and Hotdog.
