Alpha Station: A Battlestar Galactica Fantasy Reboot

by LeoLovesAries

200,000 years after the Colonial Fleet touched down, Earth is in a state of disaster. Its inhabitants have fled to orbiting space stations. An ancient cylon couple helps them work to fulfill a prophecy; The leaders who brought the people to earth must return. Roslin & Adama arrive first and find more than just a new task awaiting them. EPILOGUE POSTED. 3rd NEW FICLET ADDED!

25. Chapter 25

Warnings and ratings say the same. EXTRA WARNING for vague but more intense love scene than has been featured previously. It is in the 3rd section/ setting change ( MILITARY VISITORS QUARTERS; ASSIGNMENT PETROV/ISAKOFF) If you chose to skip it I would advise scanning for it and still reading the first and last parts of the section as there is plot content that would be missed.

Approximate translations at the end.

Lots coming up !

Thank you and good hunting.

Chapter Text

LOCATION: DELTA SPACE STATION; approximately 200 miles above the surface of planet Earth

CORRIDOR B

MILITARY QUARTERS

CABIN 126B: ASSIGNMENT; ROSLIN/ADAMA

YEAR: 2315

Laura didn't recognize the beach she was on. It wasn't on Scorpia where she used to vacation. She knew that much. The cloudy skies and foamy churning waters told her that it had to be someplace with a colder climate. Maybe one of the coasts of Caprica's northern hemisphere; one she'd never been to. Maybe an isle on Aerilon. The breeze swept through her hair and blew through her gossamer dress as she watched the waves roll in. The salt was so heavy in the air that she could almost taste it but it wasn't unpleasant. The sea was a peaceful shade of green and the overcast of clouds made it seem sort of cozy, like the sky was draping her in a big downy blanket. The wet sand was cold under her feet but she dug her toes in anyway.

Laura smiled when she thought that she heard the far off laughter of a child being carried by the wind. When she heard it again, this time far closer, she turned around to face the direction it had come from. To her surprise a few yards up shore sat a dark haired little girl of three or four, all alone. The child happily played with a few beach toys, giggling to herself as she dug in the sand. Laura looked around, searching the beach for a companion who might be watching the little one from afar. When she found no one she started to make her way to where the girl sat. It was only when she'd gotten just a few feet away that she recognized her.

"Katya," She called out getting the little girl's attention.

The small child looked up with a faint smile before returning to her toys.

"Hi, sweetheart. What are you doing?"

"Playing."

"I see that," Laura smiled, giving the shore-side another once over. There was no else there who could have brought the child along. "Katya, what are you doing here all alone?"

"I was waiting for my mommy."

"You were?"

The little girl nodded.

"Can I sit with you?"

Katya didn't answer. She just held out a sand covered yellow shovel as an offering. Laura smiled and took it before sitting down beside her. For awhile she just sat there watching her dig and play. Now and then she handed her little multi-colored cups that Katya filled with sand and dumped into a little pile. As Laura watched the girl's inky black hair blow softly in the breeze she so badly wanted to reach out and run her fingers through it. Twice she went to do it, only to hesitate and pull her hand away. The third time the girl turned to her with a smile that seemed to tell her that it was okay. When Katya looked back to her sandy creation Laura finally ran her hand over the silky black hair that fell down her little back. She could feel the soft cotton fabric of her little shirt and under it every precious breath of salty air that she let in and out of her little lungs.

"What are you building, sweetheart?"

"A cabin."

"A cabin? Really?" Laura smiled, looking down at the mound of sand the little girl's hands were eagerly patting into the shape of a house. Katya nodded and started to dig at a hole that she'd made in front of it. "And what's that?" Laura asked pointing to the shallow little divot.

"That's the lake."

"The lake," Laura echoed. "Well I think that whoever lives in that house will be very happy. Don't you think so?"

The girl nodded in agreement and Laura watched her working diligently for a while longer, enjoying her sweet face in the soft muted daylight. Soon Laura stopped looking around for whoever was supposed to be looking after the child. She was happy to sit there with her. The more time passed the less she cared if anyone ever came by to bother them again. It was as if they'd always been there together, just the two of them.

"All done," Katya said looking at Laura and attempting to rub the sticky sand from her hands.

Laura glanced down at her work and smiled proudly.

"That's just beautiful, Katya. You did a wonderful job, sweetheart."

Katya smiled back and held her sandy fingers out in display.

"I have an idea. How about we finish it off by putting some water in that lake?" Laura suggested. Katya smiled and nodded happily as Laura took her little red bucket from where it sat. "And then maybe we'll use the rest to wash up?" She added as she dusted at the girl's hands with her own.

"Okay, mommy."

Laura squinted at the girl's words. For a split second they didn't sound right. In that fraction of a moment it felt like she'd made a mistake but in the next instant, like water through the sand, the words sunk in and felt perfect. It felt like she'd heard the girl call her mommy thousand times before and would never tire of it. She smiled and nodded at Katya before turning to walk to the water to fill the bucket.

Within a few paces Laura was down by the surf again. She waited for a wave to break and collected enough water to fill the little toy pail. The water was too cold for swimming but it would serve well to clean their hands with and fill their little lake. When Laura was done she turned around to head back up shore. She lifted the bucket and looked up to wave and show Katya what she'd gotten but the little girl was nowhere to be found. Laura frantically glanced from left to right before rushing back up to the spot where she'd left her. The toys were still scattered in place and the sand cabin stood untouched. She dropped the bucket at her feet and searched the sand for signs of where her little footprints might lead. There weren't any to be found. None. Not even any that would have lead her there in the first place. Laura thought of scouring the entire beach; searching behind every rock and dune. She thought of screaming her baby's name until her lungs burned, just hoping that the girl would hear her and call out mommy once again. She couldn't do any of those things. She could only cry through the sharp pain in her chest. She dropped to her knees and thought that she'd let her tears fill the little lake.

"Laura, get up."

She heard Bill's voice drumming in her ears. It was as coarse and gravelly as the sand.

"No. I'm never getting up," She cried.

"Laura you have to."

"Just leave me here."

"I'm not leaving you anywhere. Just look at me. It's okay, Laura."

"How can you say that?"

"C'mon. Get up. You need to calm down. We have things to do."

"There's nothing to do. Nothing."

"Laura, should I have Saul reschedule your shuttle?"

"What?"

When Laura looked up the beach was gone from under her feet and the breeze in the air was missing, but she could still taste the salt on her lips. It was just that it was coming from the tears that ran down her face and into the corners of her mouth.

Her eyes darted in frenzied little jolts until she saw the sheets around her, the dim light coming from above and Bill perched on the side of their rack looking down at her with a concerned grimace.

"I said, should I have Saul reschedule your shuttle?" Bill repeated. "Sergeant Petrov is supposed to come get you within the hour. If you're not up to it I'll tell Saul to readjust the flight plan. You and Alexi are supposed to be the first to leave for Delta."

"Oh my gods," She said palming her forehead and letting out a little whimper.

She just couldn't shake the awful despair that she'd just been feeling.

"That's it," Bill said picking up his wrist and starting to dial Saul, "I'm making the decision for you. You're in no shape to go."

"No. Wait!" Laura shouted, abruptly sitting up in bed and pulling his other hand away from his cuff. "Don't. I was…I was dreaming. I'm sorry. I got confused. You woke me and I…"

"Laura, as soon as I so much as touched your arm you burst into tears. I don't know how much longer you can continue to wake up like this!"

"No. No, Bill, this wasn't the same. It wasn't…"

"I know. It wasn't one of the nightmares. It was Katya, this time, right? I heard you calling her name before I tried to wake you. Laura what's the damn difference when you wake up hysterical either way?"

For the last few nights Laura's dreams had been focused on her daughter. Now that she'd been going through the Tigh's albums she'd been seeing Katya in her dreams in different ways. She no longer came to her as just a tiny baby or as a grown woman. She saw her as a toddler, as a little girl, as a budding teen. While the dreams of her daughter weren't much less taxing than her dreaded recurring nightmare she welcomed the break from the mysterious and terrifying vision of tubs and pillars. Ever since she'd left Katya's cabin after her haircut the girl was all that she could think about. The captain hadn't admitted what was wrong with her, but she wasn't denying that there was a problem any longer. Laura had shared it with Bill. He'd agreed that for now they would respect her privacy. The only thing that was keeping Laura from worrying herself sick was the fact that Katya had been at least attempting to keep her promise to stay in touch. The night after their visit she'd sent Laura a little message on her cuff. It amusingly read, 'Does your husband like your hair?' Laura had responded in kind with a message of repeated thanks. Later the next day Laura sent Kat another message asking for help finding a copy of the Quartz Plates they'd been told about. Katya helpfully sent her a link to their place on the network right away. It wasn't much but it was something. They were communicating, ever so minimally without being forced into it.

"There's a big difference, Bill!"

She shouted back at him with some unexpected venom, and he actually jumped at the anger in her voice. She didn't appreciate his cold equation. Though her dreams of their daughter often left her in tears she took offence to the way he'd just lumped them together with the strange terrors of her nightmares.

Her nerves were totally raw from the dream. She had no patience for him, especially considering what he was about to do later in the day. While she lay in bed the night before reading the digital copy of the prophecy he lay beside her going over Orbit Patrol flight plans. It wasn't even official yet and he'd already started talking like a soldier again and immersing himself in Orbit military protocol as if he actually expected to be given any kind of responsibility. She couldn't help it. She couldn't rationalize it to herself. He was about to take his oath and she just resented the hell out of it.

"Fine. Either way," He huffed, "You're not making that flight. You don't need to fly in this condition," He said looking back down at his cuff.

Laura swung her feet out of bed and nearly swatted his hand off of his wrist.

Bill's eyes went wide.

"That's not your call, Bill! You're not an officer yet. We've still got a few hours before that happens. You don't get to make those decisions and even so, I'm not your frakking subordinate. You don't get to tell me what to do or what I can handle. I'm going. Don't you dare tell Saul otherwise," She spit as she escaped to the head to get ready.

Bill winced as the door slammed. He'd been ready for it but it was still jarring to hear so early in the morning. He wouldn't go after her. He would only make things worse. He sighed, looking down at his lap. He had to trust that they would get through it, just like they had with so much else.

LOCATION: INNER ORBIT; approximately 200 miles above the surface of planet Earth

ALPHA STATION ORBIT PATROL SHUTTLE-HAWK

ENROUTE TO SECTOR POD SIGMA; DESTINATION SECTOR POD OMEGA; ENROUTE TO DELTA SPACE STATION

YEAR: 2315

"What's wrong Admiral?" Katya yawned as she leaned back in her shuttle seat fighting sleep.

She'd been watching him since they took off from Alpha. He'd looked miserable when she arrived to pick him up at his cabin, but she'd shrugged it off due to the hour of the morning. Laura was already gone when she'd gotten to their quarters. Alexi had picked her up at an ungodly hour and they'd already made and completed their contrived flight plan to the other station. Ellen had made the trip a day and a half before and Saul and Blaze had both gone to Beta the previous night to escort Sharon and Helo. Katya was Bill's assigned companion for the trip but the two of them had hardly spoken the entire morning.

"Nothing, Captain," He assured her.

"Are you nervous about taking your oath?" She prodded.

He was obviously stewing about something. She figured that she might as well start some measure conversation to stop herself from snoozing the whole way. She'd suffered with nightmares all night, worried there would be an atmosphere breach while the cylon members of her family were spread out all over the system. That meant Alexi hadn't slept much either. She felt awful about how often she caused him to go without a proper night's rest. A few nights before Blaze and Saul left for Beta the lieutenant had spent the night on their couch, annoyed by some barrack nonsense. He'd sat up with Katya after she had a particularly bad dream, allowing Alexi to take a one night reprieve. Katya wished she could get a reprieve from the nightly disturbance too.

"I'm not taking it lightly," Bill finally answered."If that's what you're asking."

"Well I'm glad to hear that. It's not the kind of thing one should."

"No it's not," Bill agreed, looking down at his lap.

They were silent for a while longer. When Katya felt her eyes starting to close she picked her head up and looked back at her birthfather.

"Laura's angry at you," She guessed, catching him off guard.

She figured stirring up some trouble would help to keep her heavy eyes open.

Bill squinted at her words. Her tone almost sounded accusatory.

"Why do you say that?"

"You have that look on your face that says 'I'm two steps away from sleeping on the sofa'," Katya teased. In truth, the last time she'd spoken to Laura she'd gotten the feeling that she wasn't very happy about Bill's choice. When they'd spoken about his enlistment Laura seemed put off. That coupled with the Admiral's demeanor and the fact that they were just hours away from the ceremony was enough for Katya to guess. "I see that look on Alexi and Uncle Saul enough to know it when I see it," She joked trying to get a smile out of him.

He gave her a small one and then nodded.

"We're okay."

He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than he was her.

"I'm sure you will be," Katya shrugged. "It's the commissioning, isn't it?" He didn't answer but the look on his face confirmed it. "She'll get passed it," The captain added.

Bill nodded but avoided her eyes as he spoke.

"I think she's worried about not knowing where she fits into all of this. I don't either. I just want to help in any way that I can. She had so much to do last time. She hardly had time to breathe. I think now she might be a little upset that she can't find some immediate work to do."

"Maybe she feels like you're leaving her alone."

Bill looked up at Katya and furrowed his brow.

"I'm not."

"No you're not, but you'll certainly be spending less time with her if you plan on acting in any sort of meaningful capacity," Katya argued.

"That's true."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm glad to have you as part of Orbit Patrol. It's an honor," She offered honestly.

"Thank you. That means a lot actually."

She nodded and looked down at her boots.

"Just be mindful of how Laura feels. You know.. you're all she has."

Bill stared at his daughter until she felt his eyes and looked up at him.

"I'm not all she has, Captain. Not anymore."

She ignored his sentiment and soon she lost the battle to stay awake.

As Katya nodded off in her seat with her hand limply settled over her middle, Bill watched her and smiled to himself.

LOCATION: DELTA SPACE STATION; approximately 200 miles above the surface of planet Earth

CORRIDOR B

MILITARY VISITORS QUARTERS; ASSIGNMENT PETROV/ISAKOFF

YEAR: 2315

The commissioning ceremony was a private event held within the commander's office. Saul and Delta's Cmdr. Thibodaux officiated with the assistance of Cpt. Isakoff and Lt. Bishop.

The air was strange in the room. There was a mix of doubt and hostility from some and either eagerness or indifference from the rest. It was quite strange to see the three resurrected leaders donning Earth Orbit uniforms, but in a way Katya thought that they wore them well. It was obvious that all three of them were comfortable that way. That part, at least, she understood.

Before the ceremony started Saul took Katya aside and asked for her cooperation. He asked that she do her best to welcome her birthfather and treat him as a respected member of Orbit Patrol as she would anyone else. She merely nodded in agreement but she wished that she could tell him that she wasn't the one who needed convincing. When Katya greeted Laura before the commissioning began she noticed the woman's less than sincere demeanor. Laura was pleasant enough, friendly and polite to everyone in the room but underneath her smile was an air of unease. Katya figured that no one else besides Bill would probably notice but she certainly sensed that Laura was less than enthusiastic to witness what was about to take place. Katya couldn't say much to her without drawing unneeded attention to the situation so she chose to ignore it, telling herself that it wasn't her problem. She left Laura to stand with Ellen and the two women watched on from a slight distance.

After Bill, Sharon and Karl took their final oath Blaze and Katya were called to present their parents with their respective station bands. Despite Laura's air of apprehension Katya thought that she saw her tear up and smile when she placed the blue arm band over her father's bicep and followed with a salute. Whatever emotion the woman had felt was gone by the time Katya was able to take a better look at her. When it was over everyone was civil and congratulatory.

After the welcoming and congratulations had died down Saul and Ellen suggested that they all take some time to themselves to change and get ready for the Officer's Ball. Ellen asked that they all reconvene at 2030 for a celebratory toast at the Exchange Unit bar where a cocktail hour would be held.

Now that Katya and Alexi were back in their room she wished that there wasn't so much time between events. The more time she spent in their visitors quarters the less she wanted to go back out. As far as she was concerned she would be perfectly happy to curl up on the civilian style bed with her husband and lounge away the night. She was still so exhausted and as she got dressed she was becoming more and more frustrated with herself.

"Can you tell?" Katya asked, nervously pulling at the fabric of her dress in the mirror.

It wasn't exactly clingy, though it had turned out a bit more low cut than she thought it would. Ellen hadn't been kidding when she said that she wanted to see Katya in Alpha Blue. She'd ordered the dress herself and given it to Katya as a gift so that she could represent their home station in style. With discretion in mind Katya couldn't give Ellen her new measurements and when the garment first arrived she'd been nervous about the way it would fit. The pearly blue satin hung from two delicate straps that crossed over Katya's back at the shoulder blades. It hugged her form enough to complement it without sacrificing what she wanted in the way of modesty.

"Nyet, Yekaterina," Alexi told her once again from where he lay on the unusually comfortable bed. He'd gotten as far as taking off the top of his uniform and station tanks before he'd flopped down on the mattress. His duty formals still hung on the back of the head door. The lure of the cushiony soft surface was just too much for him to resist and he was rather enjoying the view that he had from his lolling position. "I told you no twice already. You look beautiful."

"I feel like it's noticeable."

"It's not."

Katya walked closer to the mirror and tilted her head as she scrutinized her figure.

"I notice," She mumbled. "I feel it."

"Katya, stop. No one could possibly tell unless they really knew what they were looking for. Besides, no one is going to be inspecting that closely. Except for Blaze," He snorted.

"Alexi, zatk'nis . You know I don't like when you say stuff like that."

"Why? Because it's true?"

"Because he's your brother," She retorted. "Will you ever get passed it?"

"I will when he does, which I'm not counting on being any time this century," Alexi answered with a roll of his eyes. "It's never been you I was concerned about, Katya. You understand that I'm not jealous. I feel for him. I honestly do. It can't have been easy for him all of these years."

Katya huffed and looked at the floor. She'd always been able to ignore it until someone else brought it up.

"I don't want to talk about this."

Alexi sighed as he stretched his arms over his head.

"You don't want to talk about anything, Katya."

She didn't care for his casual accusation.

"Who are you to say that, Alexi?" She countered as she continued to obsessively gauge her appearance in the mirror.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you're one to talk. We are hours away from the download on Delta and you still haven't said a word about Gamma Station. You're as guilty as I am of avoiding talking about things," Katya scowled and shook her head dismissively. "So, we aren't the best at sharing. So, we don't talk about everything. You've never minded before."

Alexi propped his head up on his elbow and looked back at her.

"We've never had this much to talk about, Yekaterina."

Katya finally stopped fussing with her dress and turned to face him where he lay on the bed.

"Tell me, Alexi. What do you want to talk about?"

He inhaled and let it out as a low hum that almost boarded on a growl.

"Nothing now. You're too distracting in that dress."

She arched a brow in response.

"I could take it off," She teased before turning and looking back into the mirror.

She watched him in the reflection as he leaned up to sit on the side of the bed.

"Are you still in much pain?" He asked gesturing to his own chest.

"Not as much. It comes and goes," She shrugged. "It's fine right now."

Tawny had told her to get used to it, that for a while the soreness in her breasts would only get worse. She was doing her best to heed the warning and focus on anything else. At the moment her hair was a pretty big distraction. It had been pulled back for the commissioning ceremony and now that she'd taken it down she couldn't get it to fall right. Nothing was going smoothly.

Walking over to the dresser she picked up a hair clip and tried to make use of it. When its sharp teeth grazed against her scalp she hissed and threw the bobble back down with a force.

"Fucking frak it!"

She was ready to just forget the whole night. She didn't want to go anyway.

"Calm down, myshka," Alexi said as he rose from the bed and made his way to her.

He came up from behind, wrapped his arms around her and kissed at the tender spot on her head. She relaxed within his embrace and looked back into the mirror, this time only so that she could watch him holding her.

The fact that he'd been lounging around the room shirtless for the last half hour wasn't helping Katya's attitude toward going to Delta's Officer's Ball. She could simply stare at him all night and be all the happier. They'd been together for so long but she still wasn't over the sight of him; tall and chiseled like a mighty titan with the burden of Atlas in his eyes. Since they'd moved in with each other eight months before, they had been enjoying their freedom as a newly married couple. They no longer had to sneak around Saul and Ellen when they wanted to be together. They didn't have to ignore perverse comments and rude remarks as they made out behind the curtain of his old bunk in the marine barracks. They had their own home, with their own walls and they had been taking advantage of it often and with great relish up until a few weeks ago. Now as far as Katya was concerned, getting Alexi to touch her in any way other than for protection or comfort was becoming a chore. She appreciated his concern but only when warranted. His resistance mostly made her feel awful. There were times when he was right and they both took Tawny's advice to abstain and allow Katya's body to rest. Sometimes it was necessary to just enjoy the chaste comfort of one another's arms but after a while Katya felt as if Alexi had begun to develop some sort of phobia, even when they were perfectly able. Getting him to succumb to her advances was like pulling teeth. She couldn't understand his willpower. She surely didn't have such self-control and as they stood their together her frustrations were gnawing at her. She knew that whenever Alexi showed the slightest sign that he might give into temptation she needed to move fast before he could convince himself otherwise. As he held her in his muscled arms she wondered if she might have weakened his resolve already. Testing the waters she turned her head to kiss at his bicep and watched his face in the mirror. His eyes were closed and he had his nose still buried in her hair inhaling it's scent. When he didn't seem to mind her kisses she nibbled at the skin of his arm and then firmly leaned back into him. When she did he moved his lips from her hair and started to kiss down her jawline on the way to her neck. She tilted her head to the side, gladly giving him access and pushed her backside into him a bit more adding a slight roll of her hips. When she felt his response below the small of her back she felt like she'd just hit a bull's eye on the target range. She couldn't relent. She kept the pressure of her body firm against his. She didn't want to leave any space between them. Space meant leaving him time to think and thinking meant that he might stop. When he started to lick and suck at the sensitive flesh below her ear she smiled with a sense of hesitant victory. She reached for his hands that were still held tightly to the sides of her ribs and she moved one slowly down low on her hip. He kissed down to her collarbone and she took it as another win. She then took his other hand and guided it up over her breast. That was when he stilled behind her.

"Please don't stop, Lex," She said breathily as she turned in his arms to face him. She looked up at him and placed her hands on his shoulders. She wondered if he was truly going to make her beg. At this point she thought that she actually might. "Please?" She asked, closing her eyes and resting her head against his chest.

She moved her hands around to his back and dragged them down until they rested on his rear. She pulled him forward as she pressed the front of her body into his. If they stopped now they would both be headed for a cold shower before they could even attempt to go anywhere. Alexi lowered his head and nosed her hair away from her ear. He sucked at her delicate lobe and moved his hand down the side of her silky dress until he got to its hem. He grazed his knuckles up her inner thigh and moved his hand up under the satin. He stopped once he could feel the heat under her skirt.

"Is this okay, Katyy?"

His voice was low and husky but she could still hear the hesitance within it.

"Yes, malysh," She told him, nuzzling into his bare chest and giving him a few tender kisses. "We have time."

Her answer purposefully avoided what she knew he was really asking.

"No," He said taking his lips from her neck and, to her great dismay, removing his hand from the juncture of her inner thighs. "I mean…are you sure we can do this?"

"Oh, for fuck sake, Alexi," She said with breathless frustration, "Yes."

"How do you know?"

She'd been in the ward less than a week ago and Alexi couldn't forget what happened while he was away. His heart sunk whenever he thought of it.

"I just do," She answered looking up at him. "Please?" He really was going to make her beg. If that's what he wanted she would give it to him. "Alexi, I know that I don't have the right to ask another thing of you. You've already given me so much, but right now I need you to keep touching me. Please?" She hated that her eyes had suddenly started to water. She just couldn't help herself lately. Her emotions were all over the place and crying wouldn't help make her case. "I'm still the same. I need you to see me that way."

Her words made Alexi lower his brow. She was afraid of what he was going to say but then he said nothing and instead leaned down to kiss her lips. His kiss was hot and wanting, something she hadn't felt from him in weeks. Despite the pleasure it gave her it almost made her feel worse to realize that he hadn't even been kissing her the way that he used to. When he broke the connection her lips were wet and so swollen she could feel her pulse throbbing in them.

"Katya, you have no idea how I see you," He finally spoke looking intently into her teary eyes. "You don't know how hard it is for me to resist you every time we're in the same damn room, maybe now more than ever," He admitted, "But it isn't the same. Nothing's the same."

She finally felt one of the tears she was holding back slide from the corner of her eye. She wished that she could swat it away but that would mean letting go of him and she didn't dare take her hands from his body.

"I know how you must feel, Alexi. I'm sure you've never been so afraid of losing something…but I'm right here. We're both right here."

"I want to keep it that way, Yekaterina. I'd do anything, give up anything."

The intensity in his cool blue eyes made her want him even more. Finally she was sure that he wanted her too. She could feel it low against her belly as they stood tightly pressed together. At least she knew that he wanted her physically. At least she could still elicit that response from him.

"There's so much we have to sacrifice, but we don't have to give this up. Not now," She tried to assure him as she brought her hands to the front of his waist. She undid his belt and kissed at his chest until she heard his pants drop to the floor. When she glanced up to see his reaction he eagerly took her mouth again. As she went to dip her hand into the waist of his boxers she felt his hand go back under her dress and she hummed in encouragement. "It's okay, Alexi," She whispered against his chin. "Just don't stop. Prikosnis' ko mne. It feels right, doesn't it? Ti ochen' nuzhnA mne. Keep going. Let me keep going."

He licked his way down her neck again and nodded into it with hungry affirmation. She turned in his arms giving him access to her zipper. He brought it down to where it stopped just below her bottom and its slick fabric slid off of her in seconds puddling onto the floor around her feet. She had nothing on underneath except a pair of lacy white panties and he stepped back to marvel at her.

"You're so beautiful, myshka," He told her, though he knew it would only make her more self-conscious.

They had to lie to so many other people. He couldn't tell her anything other than the truth.

She didn't respond to his admiration, she just took his hand and pulled him toward the bed. He kicked away his trousers and went willingly. When they got to the foot of the bed he picked her up and laid her down on the mattress as gently as he possibly could. He leaned over to her ear and breathed heavily when her hands went right to the waistband of his boxers. He let his hands roam around the expanse of her body enjoying the feel of her velvety smooth skin.

"Ti takAya nEzhnaya. I want this, Yekaterina. I do. I want you so much. I just don't want to hurt you."

"We'll go slow," She whispered in a mixture of reassurance and encouragement.

He nodded in agreement and started slowly kissing his way down her body. Soon he was reveling in her vocal responses as he worked lovingly and passionately between her long lean legs. The sensation of the warm smooth skin of her thighs brushing against his ears sent shivers through him but before they went any further he wanted to give her what he'd been holding back for so long. It didn't take much to send her toward the brink and her readiness filled him with both passion and guilt. Once it happened he insisted on giving her time to recover before they continued but Katya was insistent and in no time she was working her way down his body and returning his gesture. When she could tell that he was passed the point of no return she leaned up, pushing him back on the bed. She climbed up on top of him and finally took what she'd been pining for. As promised she didn't give into the temptation of losing control. She was languid and deliberate with every exquisite roll of her hips and it didn't take long for both of them to find the release they needed together. Along with the waves of pleasure came a sudden flood of emotion that Katya just couldn't hold back. She found herself sobbing into Alexi's chest in a mix of gratitude, love and relief. It scared him. She knew that it would before the first whimper escaped her lips. Immediately he tried to lift her up off of him but she refused to move, clenching around him and holding onto his shoulders. She promised that she was okay over and over. She apologized again and again and swore that she was fine. She wasn't hurt. She was overcome with her love for him, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Eventually, he believed her.

Once Katya had settled down Alexi moved her under the bed's quilt and climbed in beside her. She lay on her side and he rubbed at her back while her breathing slowly but surely calmed. He watched her, enamored with her feminine form but still so cautious of any sign that she might be less than well.

"Don't get mad at me for asking this; but how do you feel?"

Katya stretched under the sheets and though her eyes were still red and a bit weepy her grin grew.

"I feel amazing," She told her husband happily. "I feel better than I have all week."

"I'm sorry for the way I've been acting, Katya…but I can't even promise I'll stop. I'm just so worried."

"I know, Alexi," She nodded. "I'm sorry too. I'm sorry that this isn't easier. I wish it were. I'm sorry to make you feel badly. I just needed this tonight. I needed to know that you still wanted me the way I want you. It's okay if we wait now. It won't be much longer."

"We'll just go day by day, myshka," He assured her. "And of course I want you. I don't think I've ever wanted you more. Ti nuzhnA mne vsyO bOl'she i bOl'she. Ne magU zhIt' bez tebyA. I'm amazed by you."

For a while they cuddled up against each other enjoying the lingering effects of their union until both of their cuffs buzzed under the bed's quilt. Only Alexi had the will to glance at his.

"It's Saul. He and Ellen are coming over."

Katya groaned.

"It's funny how they don't ask. They just tell."

"Should I ask them not to? We aren't even dressed."

"No," She answered reluctantly. "We should get up anyway. I can get into that dress just as fast as I can get out of it."

The couple forced themselves up and started preparing to leave for the ball once again.

Alexi made the bed while Katya washed up and changed. They made haste and swapped in enough time for Katya to greet their guests.

Saul and Ellen arrived while Alexi was still in the head dressing.

Katya still hadn't been able to do anything with her hair and now it looked a bit worse for wear. She wore a distinct pout on her face as she opened the hatch for her parents.

"What's wrong with you?" Saul teased.

"Oh, kitten you look beautiful in that dress!" Ellen cooed. "I told you that you were going to love it."

"I don't want to go," Katya whined in return. "My hair isn't cooperating."

"Where's Alexi?" Saul asked ignoring her sulking. "We came by to see if you two wanted to join us for drinks. Just the four of us before everyone else gets down there."

"Oh that's nice," Katya said turning her forced frown into an appreciative smile. "Lex is in the head getting dressed. I'm sorry that I'm not done yet. I'm just frustrated," She explained, running her hands through her hair.

"Don't get all bent out of shape over that, kitten," Ellen said reaching out and dragging her fingers through Katya's mussed waves. "I'll help you. I'm the only one who's ever been able to tame this mane anyway. Saul why don't you take Alexi and get started? I'll help kit, and we'll catch up."

"Take me where?" Alexi called as he emerged from the head in full marine formals.

"Oh my! Doesn't he look handsome?" Ellen nearly purred. "Kit, you are one lucky woman."

Katya smiled in agreement, amused over how much Alexi blushed at Ellen's comment. Despite their familial connection the woman had been ogling him since he was about sixteen. Though Alexi knew that she did it in jest, mostly to inflate his ego, he'd always found it totally mortifying coming from the closest thing he'd ever had to a maternal figure.

"To the bar," Saul clarified, ignoring his wife's over enthusiastic acclaims. "Ellen's gunna help Kat with her hair and then they'll meet us."

"Sounds good," Alexi agreed with a shrug.

Ellen walked in and made herself at home on the end of the bed as Alexi joined Saul in the doorway. The sergeant bent down to kiss his wife.

"See you in a bit, myshka."

"You do look very nice, Alexi," She teased.

"So do you."

"Alright, let's go," Saul grumbled.

Katya giggled and turned to wrap her arms around the colonel before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"You look very handsome too, Uncle Saul," She said sweetly.

Any stern look or gruffness that had been plastered on the man's face immediately melted at his daughter's gesture. She always could turn him into a puddle of mush within moments.

"And you'll be the second prettiest girl at the ball, kit," He said returning her kiss and winking over at his wife. He cleared his throat and abruptly gathered himself. "Sergeant. Let's go start getting drunk," He barked as if it were a direct order.

"Sir, yes Sir," Alexi answered in an almost barreling voice as he followed his father in law out of the door.

Katya laughed as the hatch shut and then turned to face Ellen. She was perched at the foot of the bed with the skirt of her lilac dress laid out around her like a proud blooming Beta tulip. She wore a pert smirk as she looked back at her daughter.

"What?" Katya said defensively as she went to retrieve her brush from the dresser top.

"Nothing. Just come over here and let Auntie fix your sex hair," Ellen teased as she patted the space next to her on the bed.

"Ellen! It is not!"

"Oh, it is so," Ellen said with a dismissive wave. "I don't blame you one bit, baby. That boy grew up to look like he was carved out of marble. Anyway, you know I can always tell."

"But do you have to always say it?!"

"No. And I don't always say it. Believe me; I helped Alexi sneak out of our cabin in the early hours of the morning so often that I lost count. I could have let him face Saul's wrath plenty of times. I keep my mouth shut when it matters."

Katya glared at Ellen as she held out the brush. Ellen took it from her and laughed some more as Katya sat down on the bed beside her with a huff. She ran the brush through her daughter's dark flowing hair a few times before stopping.

"Just tell me one thing, kit?"

"What?"

"Did you use The Swirl?"

"That's it," Katya said, getting up off of the bed and making like she was going to leave. "I'm done. Go without me."

"Oh, sit down," Ellen laughed, "Since when are you such a prude?"

"I'm not," Katya answered, sitting back in place. "I just don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, okay," Ellen relented.

Katya started to giggle to herself as Ellen continued to brush back her hair.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing…You just reminded me of the first time you caught Alexi in my bedroom."

"How could I forget?" Ellen remarked with a snort. "I opened the door to wake you up and there were two people in the rack. You weren't laughing then. I can tell you that."

"No I sure wasn't. You woke us up out of a dead sleep and told Alexi to get dressed and follow you if wanted to keep all of his teeth. I was sure that you were going to read me the riot act when you came back in but you just asked me what I wanted for breakfast."

Ellen smiled to herself as she recalled the scene.

"I'd been waiting for it to happen," She confessed. "Once the boys moved to Alpha, Alexi was hanging around so much. I knew it was a matter of time. I didn't let you get by totally unscathed. We had a nice long talk that night."

"Yeah, but you were so good about it."

"Well compared to what you would have gotten from Uncle Saul, yes. I guess I was."

"I thought you were going to tell him. I was freaking out the whole damn day."

"He caught you a few weeks later anyway," Ellen amusingly scoffed.

"I remember. He punched Alexi right it the solar plexus."

"He sure did."

They could both still remember Saul calling Alexi into the living room after having walked in on the impassioned teens in Katya's bed in the middle of the day. The colonel waited patiently for the young couple to get dressed and emerge from the bedroom. Then once Alexi walked close enough he knocked the wind right out of him without so much as a warning. Saul sent the boy out of the cabin with a roaring warning of another blow if he didnt get out of his sight fast. Alexi stayed away for a while but it hadn't been enough to scare him off for long.

"And you just kept on sneaking him out," Katya mused

"You kept sneaking him in," Ellen teased.

"I don't know how you ever put up with me, Elle."

"You were fifteen. I was expecting it."

"Still," Katya shrugged.

"You know Uncle Saul reacted that way because he saw his little girl growing up. That's hard for any father to accept. The fact that it was Alexi actually helped him deal with it a lot better than he would have. I think he might have killed anyone else."

"Why? What do you mean?"

"Well, we both always just trusted him with you. We knew that he was a good boy and we could both see how much he loved you. We saw that early on. I think that we were both glad that you had someone to love who truly understood who you were and what your place was in life. In a lot of ways we thought we were lucky. I know that Uncle Saul was glad once Alexi moved to Alpha. It meant he didn't have to ward off potential suitors anymore. He knew that Alexi would take care of that much."

Katya smirked at Ellen's explanation.

"Alexi always thought Uncle Saul hated him."

"He's never hated him. He loves him very much in fact. You know it's complicated, the way he looks at that boy."

"You mean because of…"

"Yes," Ellen cut Katya off not wanting to discuss the reason. She was more than aware that Saul looked at Alexi differently because he was Caprica's child. She was sure that the boy constantly made Saul think of the son he'd lost. She understood how it felt to lose a child. She still felt the pain of losing Daniel, but she also still felt the pain of knowing that Saul had conceived a love child with another woman. It still hurt her so deeply, though it was ages ago. It made her sympathetic and jealous all at once. "It may have seemed that way, kit. You were growing up and Saul was flipping out. You know Uncle Saul; he doesn't act like he likes anyone. He cares for Alexi a great deal though, just like I do. We love him and we both always trusted that he would do right by you. We just got used to having him around," Ellen said with a little chuckle. "Even when we both knew that you two were fooling around behind closed doors."

"What? You're telling me that Uncle Saul knew and would let us get away with it?"

"Eventually…at least sometimes. Especially once you got older. As long as I was there to calm him down and convince him to let it go. It was half the reason he signed off on the marriage license application last year," Ellen explained.

Earth Orbit law stated that twenty-one was the age of legal adulthood. Though Katya was old enough at the time of their application submission Alexi still needed his guardian's consent the same way he had for his enlistment.

"Saul knew that you two needed your own place. He was sick of having it go on under his own roof."

"I don't know whether to be thankful or grossed out."

"We trusted you. We trusted Alexi. We wouldn't have let it go on if we didn't," Ellen shrugged as she tucked some hair behind Katya's ear. "You know sweetie, to be perfectly honest it helped that we never had to worry about the two of you…well," She stumbled feeling sort of guilty for what she was implying. Some nights the thought of Katya's infertility made her lose sleep worrying about how it would affect the young woman later on. Other nights it helped her sleep soundly knowing that the young couple in the other room wouldn't be getting themselves into any trouble. "It was one less thing that we had to consider. Even though I worried about what it would mean for your future I guess back then it was a bit of a relief while I was raising a teenage girl. I was able to let you have a good time and explore, find your own way without that possibility hanging over our heads."

"I get it," Katya said curtly.

She'd suspected as much. She knew it was why they'd never made her get an implant put in even though they never said so. She'd noticed by the time she was sixteen and every other girl she knew around her age had one except Margot. She almost had to laugh at its irony.

"I'm sorry, kitten."

"No. Don't be," Katya said in a low voice."It's okay."

"I'm glad you two fell in love, no matter the consequence," Ellen affirmed. "I'm happy that you're together. Just fits."

Katy bit her lip and nodded.

"I just...I feel so bad for him."

Ellen scowled. Her heart skipped a beat wondering what Katya was talking about. She was still so sure that something wasn't right. She was starting to become paranoid, expecting some big awful confession from her daughter every time she opened her mouth.

"Why? What's...Oh…you mean because of Gamma?" Ellen surmised after a second. She could suddenly feel a sense of deep empathy coming from her. When Katya nodded she sighed. "I know, honey. This weekend won't be easy on him. Has he said anything?"

"What do you think?"

"Of course not," Ellen huffed.

The sergeant was tight lipped by nature. When Ellen and Saul had first taken over responsibility for the young man he hardly spoke at all. He was quiet and reserved. Ellen had worried about him back then. At the time of his foster father's murder and the destruction of his birth parents bodies he'd shown almost no emotion. Spending time with the Tigh family was the only reason he'd become as verbal as he had, but they still never expected him to openly divulge any feelings, not easily at least.

"I can tell he's thinking about it, though," Katya said in a voice strained with compassion. "A few times I gave in and read him. I know that I shouldn't have but I did. He's not okay with it as hard as he tries to pretend. As difficult as it's been for me I just keep thinking about what it would be like if I never got the chance to know Bill and Laura. Nothing's been easy with them and I guess they really haven't been what I expected…but at least I'm getting to try. At least I got to see where I came from. Lex is gunna live his life out never knowing. It's not fair."

"He's going to have to make with peace with it, Katya. He will. In his own way and in his own time. All we can do is show him that he has a family right here who loves him just as much as anyone else ever could," Ellen said with careful purpose.

When her daughter nodded and composed herself Ellen got up from the bed and walked over to the dresser. She picked up a few hair pins and the barrette that Katya had angrily discarded before her arrival. She fiddled with them keeping her back to the girl as she spoke.

"Oh, that reminds me…I meant to tell you; it was very nice of you to give Laura that dress, kitten."

Ellen had been waiting to bring it up. With how busy they'd all been over the last few days she hadn't found the time. She wanted to do it now, before all three of them were in each other's company again.

Katya's eyes went to Ellen. Her back was still turned and she was obviously waiting for a response.

"How'd you know about that?"

Ellen finally spun on her heels and walked a few paces back to where Katya sat on the bed.

"She told me."

"What?" Katya snapped. "Why?"

"Well after your dress was delivered I remembered that Laura and Sharon would be joining us for the banquet. I only had a day before I needed to come here so I thought I should make sure that they were both prepared. I left something for Sharon with Uncle Saul so that he and Blaze could bring it to her when they reported to Beta for escort duty," Ellen explained as she clicked the hairclip open in her hands, "But since Laura was right there on station I thought I'd let her pick something out for herself. I went to her cabin to offer and she told me that she already had something. She said that you gave it to her. "

Katya looked back at Ellen with muddled eyes. The girl looked angry and abashed all at once.

"You're looking at me like you're ashamed, Kat."

Katya looked down at the quilt on the bed.

"I met her on the flight deck when Blaze came home. She asked me about the ball. I offered."

Her explanation was halting and matter of fact. Ellen could tell that she didn't want to talk about it. She'd figued as much before she'd even brought it up. She hadn't enjoyed hearing about it from Laura. She wished that Katya could have shared it first. The fact that she felt the need to hide it told Ellen something much more.

"That's okay, kitten. It was very sweet."

Katya rolled her eyes and lay back on the bed. When she realized the display she was making of herself she quickly crossed her arms over her middle and turned on her side.

"Get up. You're going to wrinkle that dress."

"It was on the floor twenty minutes ago, Aunt Ellen," Katya said with some displaced heat in her voice.

"Sit up. I'm not done with your hair," Ellen told her. She reached for her wrist and Katya went willingly as she pulled her upright. "Kit, listen to me. You don't have to feel bad about what you did for Laura. You don't have to be angry that I know about ot. As long as things don't change between you and me then I don't mind what happens with you two. You don't have to keep things from me. Not about Laura and not about anything else."

Katya didn't miss Ellen's last little dig but she ignored it.

"Nothing's happening with her," Katya insisted. "I gave her a dress."

Katya shrugged trying to look as disassociated from the gesture as possible.

"You helped her. You did something nice for her. You probably made her feel pretty damn good. I can tell you that she sure liked being able to tell me what you did," Ellen needled.

"What's that mean?" Katya scowled. "She was rubbing it in?"

If that was the case Katya decided that she might choke Laura with the damn dress.

"No, no. Well I don't know." Ellen couldn't help jabbing in the bit of doubt. She knew that later she wouldn't be happy with herself for doing it but she couldn't fight it. Her habits were hard wired and they were of no help while she was precariously walking the line between being supportive and wanting her child all to herself. "Even if she was, it just made me proud to hear it. I'm glad she can see what a sweet girl I raised," She said as she gently clipped the barrette back into the side of Katya's hair. "There we go. Beautiful."

Ellen smiled and put her hands on her hips admiring her own work.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do," Katya said out loud though she wasn't really asking for a response.

The more time she spent with Laura the more she was realizing how much she wanted to know her. There was just something about her. She didn't know what it was. Maybe there really was some kind of natural connection that existed between them. Maybe she'd just misjudged the woman and was finding that she rather liked her after all. Katya had found herself making a journal folder on her tablet the day after she'd last spoken with her birth mother. She felt a little foolish for trying to replicate Laura's coping skill but part of her was grateful to have been offered the advice. She'd been recording her thoughts in the diary every night since. She was still so confused over how she felt about Laura Roslin. All she knew for sure was that she didn't want to pursue any more of a relationship with her if it meant hurting Ellen. No matter how much she'd ever wanted Laura in her life she would give her up for Ellen. She didn't want to hurt her anymore than she already had.

"You're not supposed to do anything, baby. There aren't any rules to this. Just remember what Uncle Saul and I have always told you; no matter what happens, you're our little girl and we love you."

Katya nodded. She wondered just how much Ellen knew. Did she know how she'd also cut Laura's hair? Had Laura told her how long they'd been together? Did she know how she'd let the woman into her bedroom and that they'd talked about their dreams? Did Ellen hear about how they'd gone through the whole closet searching for just the right dress? Was she aware of how Laura had clung to her so fiercely when she thought that she might collapse? Could Ellen have any possible notion of how strangely comforting it was to have another woman, a stranger, soothingly rub her back to make her feel better? Katya hoped that Ellen couldn't sense it and that Laura had been brief with what she'd shared.

"I love you too," She told her. "So much."

Ellen reached over to where she'd tossed her clutch purse on the bed. She popped it open and pulled out a little satin pouch.

"Here," She said offering the bundle of fabric to Katya.

"What's this?"

"Open it," Ellen instructed as she took a seat back on the end of the bed.

"What's it for?"

"Uncle Saul and I just wanted to do something special for you. We know that you're a little sad about being away from Alpha on Unity Day. We're sorry that you're apart from your squadron and most of your friends for the holiday weekend. We just wanted to cheer you up. We were going to give it to you when we went out for drinks. That's why we came here early, but you can just thank Uncle Saul once we catch up with them. He won't mind."

"But my birthday just passed."

"So?"

"Are you sure I shouldn't wait for Uncle Saul?"

"For frak sake, Katya. Open it," Ellen said rolling her eyes.

Katya opened the little blush satin pouch and looked inside to see a little glimmer of silver at the bottom. She shook it out into her other hand and then gently picked it up. It unraveled and dripped back into her outstretched palm. From a delicate silvery chain hung a tiny charm in the shape of an A. It matched the symbol that Katya had tattooed on the back of her neck. All of the kids had one. It was something they'd done when Margot finally turned of age. To celebrate their legal adulthood, each of them had their home station's symbol inked somewhere on their bodies. Katya's eyes watered as the A shone in the dull cabin light.

"It's beautiful."

"We know that you've been having a tough time the last few months. Nothing's been easy. We also know that we've been busy and sometimes we don't give you the time and attention that we used to. We just wanted to remind you of how much we love you."

"I don't really know what to say."

"It was Uncle Saul's idea. I told him that I wanted to do something special just for you and this is what he came up with. They were doing some repairs on the flight deck last week. Saul took an old discarded nickel bolt from the bulkhead that was being replaced. He fed it into the merch printer and ordered this."

"He thought of that on his own?"

"Yup."

"That's the cutest thing I've ever heard," Katya said as she wiped away a few tears.

Ellen smiled and took the necklace from her daughter's palm. She unclasped it and then fastened it around Katya's neck. It hung gracefully, stopping just above her breast bone

"Now you've got a part of Alpha with you wherever you go so home is never far away."

Katya turned and hugged Ellen as tightly as she could. When she leaned back her hand went to clasp the little A within her fingers. She wiped away a few more tears and smiled over the sweet gesture. She loved her family so much. She didn't deserve them. She didn't deserve any of them.

"I want to go give Uncle Saul a big hug."

Ellen thumbed at a tear of her own before it was able to make its way past her lashes.

"Me too," She agreed with a little sniff. "So quit crying so I can do your makeup and we'll get down there. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay. I love you. Thank you for this."

"You're so very welcome. I love you too, kitten. More than you know."

LOCATION: DELTA SPACE STATION; approximately 200 miles above the surface of planet Earth

CORRIDOR C

MILITARY STATION EXCHANGE UNIT

BALLROOM

YEAR: 2315

When Katya and Ellen arrived at the bar Alexi and Saul were already on their second round of drinks. Katya had squeezed Saul so hard in thanks for his thoughtful gift that he thought that she might pop his other eye out. He told her to wear it proudly and in good health and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. They were able to have their little family toast before Blaze and the Agathons joined them. When Bill and Laura arrived they had yet another celebratory toast all together. The mood was light and jovial. It was a strange but welcome feeling for all of them. The air since Bill and Laura's resurrection had been heavy with turmoil. Though the weight wasn't exactly gone it felt good to finally allow for a temporary distraction.

Soon they were sectioned off into conversations. A few notable Delta officers came up to introduce themselves to the resurrected saviors turned newly commissioned Orbit Patrol members and Saul was all too happy to be a liaison between his system colleagues and his old fleet shipmates. Almost everyone generally seemed to be in good spirits but Katya could tell that the smile on Laura Roslin's face was still being forced to a degree. It looked almost rigid, as if it might break. At one point Katya noticed that Bill had left Laura sitting alone at the bar while he joined Saul for another introduction. Katya sidled up next to her and discreetly pushed a drink that she'd only tongued an ice cube out of in front of the woman as an offering. She smirked when Laura quickly accepted the glass and downed it in a few short gulps.

"Don't you look lovely," Katya offered as she scooted a bit closer and waved down the bartender.

When he answered she asked for a water, instructing the man to put some kind of garnish in it to masquerade its benign nature. She then proceeded to order Laura another drink without asking, though she didn't protest.

"Thank you," Laura answered once she had Katya's attentions again. "And thank for this," She said gesturing to her dress.

"Looks great on you," Katya said as she scanned the bar for people she knew. She didn't really care to find anyone. With Ellen just steps away she was just trying her best to make sure that it didn't look like she was having any sort of meaningful conversation with Laura. "You really do look very nice," She added. "That's a good color on you."

The bartender handed Katya her glass. She took a few sips of the ice water before giving the lime that floated on top a frustrated and almost disgusted poke with her finger.

"You look very nice too," Laura told her.

She noticed that Katya wasn't offering much in the way of eye contact but she looked healthy and beautiful in her new dress. It gave Laura a bit of relief as she remembered how she'd last seen her; flustered and faint in her cabin.

Katya chuckled and shook her head.

"No, I don't. I'm a mess. Ellen had to come over at the last minute and all but slap me together with spit and tape," She joked. "But thanks for saying so."

Laura nodded and Katya gave her a brief smile before leaving to return to Alexi's side.

Once Margot and Sydra finally showed up they all made their way into the ballroom.

They sat and ate at a large round table set for ten. The flow of alcohol aided in the conversation as did Blaze's ever congenial attitude. He and Alexi were half in the bag by the time their dinner plates were taken away and they were both encouraging Helo to keep up with them. Though the younger men were surly enjoying the booze Bill and Saul had them all beat. They laughed and told ancient stories from shore leaves and fleet weeks. Ellen demonstrated her own level of inebriation by adding to their tales and making Katya blush more than a few times.

Katya wished that Margot and Sydra had been seated with them. They were the only people in the room who looked just as sober as she was. The couple was assigned to a table of Delta delegates and Margot knew better than to let loose in front of her mother and bunch of stuffed shirts. Every now and then Katya and Margot would exchange looks and cuff messages from across the room musingly asking each other for help and complaining about the food.

There were a few formal speeches given during dessert that seemed to drag on forever. Alpha's ball was much the same and everyone knew that once the obligatory ceremonials were through the real celebration would usually begin. When the music finally started Ellen was the first to drag Saul to the dance floor. Not to be outdone Blaze sweetly asked Sharon to dance and she happily accepted. To everyone's surprise Alexi proved just how wasted he was by asking the Admiral's permission to dance with Laura. She was a little reluctant at first but seeing the rare smile on the handsome young man's face made her change her mind. Laura thought that if anything, it might give them a moment alone to talk.

Katya was left with Bill and Karl Agathon. The two men mostly spoke over her as she sat there trying not to appear like she was pouting. She wasn't used to being sober at such events. She was finally realizing how awful it was to be around drunk people when you weren't drunk yourself. After a few minutes Margot came over to their table. She seemed much more at ease. Many of the more conservative delegates had taken their leave and her mother had given her the okay to join her friends and have a good time. She'd taken three shots in rapid succession just to catch up with her Delta comrades. Katya was relieved to finally have Margot by her side. She thought that she'd at least sit with her for a while until Alexi returned but she'd come with a mission. After less than two minutes of chit chat with Katya, Margot was pleading with Helo to explain pyramid to a group of Delta officers who were eagerly waiting at a nearby table. It seemed they'd all been quite intrigued by the new toy Margot had been toting around the station for the last few days. She'd even brought the ball to dinner and discreetly hidden it under the table as they ate. When Helo eventually agreed and went off with the specialist Bill and Katya were left on their own.

"Your husband's quite a bit more…animated when under the influence," Bill teased breaking their silence.

They both looked over to where the sergeant had Laura Roslin in his arms on the dance floor. It was a strange sight but they were both smiling.

"He sure is," Katya agreed with a roll of her eyes. "She's got her work cut out for her too," She added nodding in their direction. "Our culture doesn't just hold ballet in high esteem. We're known for ballroom dancing too and believe it or not Alexi is quite light on his feet for a marine."

Katya scanned the dance floor for the Tighs. She wanted to see if they had noticed the amusing fact that their son-in-law was dancing with Roslin, but when Katya finally saw her parents dancing together she could tell that in the moment they only had eyes for each other. Despite how crass they could be and in spite of their frequent bickering she still found them incredibly sweet. They'd been in love for thousands of years, through a few different lifetimes, in a few different worlds and they still seemed as taken with each other as a pair of newlyweds.

"You know, I remember the first time I danced with Laura," Bill started as he scooted over to Alexi's empty chair.

He could tell that Katya wasn't having a very good time and what Laura had told him about her dizzy spell was still on his mind. Though he had his own theory about their daughter's health he'd hesitated to share it with his wife, choosing to simply insist that he had a feeling that she was fine.

The captain had hardly touched her meal and Bill knew very well that she wasn't drinking, though she tried to make it appear as though she were. Something about the way she sat there with a feigned pleasant look on her face made Bill want to make her genuinely smile.

"It was at a celebration a lot like this. Have Saul or Ellen ever told you about Colonial Day?"

Katya was glad to see how much lighter Bill's attitude seemed and how well he wore his new uniform. She figured that the booze was helping but he looked to be in much better spirits than he had on their morning shuttle ride. She could tell that there was something different about him. He seemed happier than she'd seen him in the months since they'd met. If pledging an oath to a uniform had done that for him Katya thought that Laura would just have to find a way to get over it.

"Colonial Day? Um, maybe. I'm not sure I remember," She admitted.

"Same basic concept as your Unity Day. It celebrated the signing of our Articles of Colonization," He told her as he thought back to the night on Cloud 9. "We were under attack and running for our lives but we still wanted to keep our traditions intact as much as we could. Laura had just named Baltar her vice president," Bill explained as he looked over to where she was now dancing with the infamous man's son. He shook his head and laughed at the irony. "We had a celebration; music, dancing and for awhile she and I were able to watch our soldiers, cabinet members and crew have a good time and forget for just a moment what we were running from," He said wistfully, watching Laura in the large young man's arms. "Then I got tired of just watching and so I asked her to dance. Not in so many words but I did and she agreed."

"Uncle Saul never told me that one," Katya half smiled.

"Oh, I doubt he noticed. I think he and Ellen were just as preoccupied with each other that night as they are right now."

They both looked over at the ancient cylon couple who gazed lovingly into each other's eyes as they danced.

"They know how to have a good time," Katya said with pride. "They still enjoy each other's company so much."

"That they do," Bill agreed. "They always have…So what do you say, Captain? Would you mind dancing with an old Colonial patriot?"

Katya turned to him and studied his face for a moment before her grin inadvertently grew. She arched her brow and cocked her head to the side before she responded.

"You're supposed to be an Earth Orbit patriot now, Sir," She corrected.

"You're right," He conceded with a nod. "C'mon. I've never danced with a real ballerina before," He said standing up and offering his daughter his hand.

She hesitated but when she took it Bill was finally pleased with the smile on her face.

Nearby, Blaze danced with Sharon doing his best not to step on her feet in his less than sober state. Sharon didn't care though. It was so sweet the way he'd asked her to join him. She knew in some way that it must have made Karl proud. As she held him close she was filled with a strange mix of emotions. He really was a grown man. In the short time that they'd known Blaze he and Karl were starting to get along like old friends, like brothers. It was nice to see but Laura was right. So much had been taken from them. They would never get Blaze's childhood back but while they danced Sharon promised herself that she would savor every moment she had with him from now on. As their dancing continued she suddenly felt like he'd become less than enthusiastic about it. Something about his posture and speed had changed. It was only when they turned a bit that she noticed the Old Man and his daughter had joined the dance floor.

"So how long have you been in love with the Captain?" Sharon asked getting Blazer's attention.

He leaned back and gave her a confused smile.

"Call it mother's intuition," She shrugged. "You've also been looking in her direction every five minutes since we got here."

She'd seen the way he was looking at Katya since they were at the bar, though she'd already surmised his feelings from little things that he'd said over the past few weeks. Sharon could tell that the light in his eyes changed whenever he spoke of his Koshka. Now that they were alone she figured that she would bring it up. If they were going to take advantage of being together now, she might as well jump in with both feet. When he didn't answer right away she frowned, afraid that she'd overstepped. They continued dancing and Blaze was uncharacteristically quiet for a moment longer.

"It's not like that," He said eventually.

"It's not?"

"No. Not really. Not anymore."

Sharon gave a little smirk. She didn't want to insult him but she didn't believe it worth a damn.

"You sure?"

She watched him look back to where Adama held the young woman in his arms.

"No," He admitted before giving her his eyes again and blushing with an honest but sad smile.

Sharon just shrugged against him as they swayed.

"No judgment. I have to say I'm a little surprised though. I mean, I know I haven't known you for long but she…isn't exactly what I pictured as your type."

"You've pictured my type?" He teased.

"Well, once I noticed."

"Well then tell me, Lt. Agathon, what is my type?"

Sharon tilted her head in consideration.

"Someone friendly, sweet, personable…kind?"

She regretted her words when she saw him grimace.

"Katya's a good person. You just don't know her. She just comes off kinda…harsh."

"I didn't mean any disrespect," Sharon attempted.

"Forget it," Blaze shrugged. "Sorry. I shouldn't have even…She's my partner. She's my brother's wife. She's one of the best people I know. I do love her, but that's all it is."

"Okay."

Sharon noticed when Blaze led them purposely out of view of the Captain and the Admiral.

"So what else does your mother's intuition tell you about me?"

Sharon considered her answer for a moment and leaned in to hug her son a bit tighter.

"It tells me that someday soon you're gunna find someone who loves you in the same way that you love them," She told him as she leaned back and gave him a genuine and almost apologetic smile. "It also tells me that you and I are getting another drink after this song."

Blaze chuckled and nodded.

"Sounds like a plan, Athena."

Katya felt a little uneasy in Bill's arms at first. He was looking right at her. His eyes almost seemed to demand that hers meet them as they dance but she just couldn't. She didn't trust herself to look right at him. She'd seen the intensity of his gaze. Whether he was angry or amused it inspired a reaction from everyone it fell upon. She didn't know what kind of response she'd have she chose to look back at him now.

"I want to thank you, Katya," Bill told her in a firm but low voice.

"Thank me? For what?"

"For keeping your promise. For making an effort."

Katya shook her head as they moved to the music.

"Don't thank me for that."

"Why not?"

"Because you're just thanking me for not being a miserable brat. That doesn't deserve thanks."

Bill couldn't help but love the feeling of having his daughter in his arms. No matter how she felt about him in return he was already glad to know her. In a way he thought that he had been from the first night he'd learned of her. He still remembered the feeling he got when he held Laura in bed that night, knowing in some way that they'd created a life together. At the time he'd been ashamed of those feelings. It felt wrong with all the hurt surrounding the situation. He didn't feel ashamed anymore. He had a child with the woman he loved. He finally had a daughter. It was so much like being with Kara again but with a new and tangible connection. Katya's entry into the world was strange and almost morbid but he was still grateful. He'd finally gotten his little girl; the one he'd always hoped for and best of all, she was Laura's.

Bill shrugged in consideration of Katya's dismissive words.

"I think you've been doing a bit more than that. I think you've at least tried, especially with Laura. I can tell you that she very much appreciates it. I know what you did for her. I know all that you've done for the both of us for years now. I think that deserves some thanks."

"I haven't done much where Laura's concerned and I can't say I'll do much more. I just…I don't know."

Katya gave up trying to explain herself.

"That's okay. She doesn't know either," Bill chuckled as they stepped about the dancefloor. "She is very worried about you though," He admitted after a beat. Katya pulled back as if she was going to leave but Bill held on to her tighter. "Relax, Captain, relax. I'm not asking you a thing. And if it makes you feel any better, you look strong and healthy to me. I just want you to know that you have our sincere offer of support. If you were to ever need anything we would do our best. That's all. It's all I wanted to say. I know that you have a fine set of parents already. I know that they love you very much. Just know there are two more people around now who care about your wellbeing."

Katya's face was stolid but after a moment she nodded.

Bill was happy when she allowed him to hug her a little tighter. As they danced closely Bill found himself smiling again and thinking back to their shuttle ride to Delta. He wouldn't dare ask, because it was none of his business but as he held Katya close he was even more convinced of his suspicions over his daughter's condition.

Bill's thoughts were interrupted when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He leaned away from Katya to find Saul standing beside them.

"Ellen went to hit the bar again. Mind if I cut in, Admiral?"

"Not at all," Bill said releasing Katya's hand. "Thanks for the dance, Captain," He told her with a wink and a sincere smile.

She nodded at him and as she watched him walk off she bit down on her tongue hard enough that she tasted the slight tang of copper once she swallowed. Saul reached to take Katya's hands but instead she quickly wrapped her arms all the way around him. She rested her head on his shoulder hiding her face in the crook of his neck. He was surprised at the force with which she clung to him. He hugged her back and after a few moments he got her to sway with him to the music just a bit.

"What's the matter, princess?"

"I don't know."

'What don't you know?"

"Anything," She mumbled.

She knew that she sounded like toddler but she didn't care. That was how she felt.

"I think you know more than that," Saul said with a low chuckle into her hair.

"I know that I love you and Aunt Ellen and that I love Alexi and that's all I know anymore."

"Well to know those things for sure is to know an awful lot, kit. At least that's the way I see it."

"Sometimes it's all I want to know."

"You know that we love ya back. That doubles your knowledge right there," He teased.

"I guess so."

"And…I think you just might have some room in your heart for a few others some day."

"That I don't know."

When Katya saw Saul after being in Bill's arms it made her want to clutch on to him and remind herself of who her father was. It was a painfully familiar feeling. She could still remember when she'd first started to become comfortable with her adoptive dad. She'd taken to Ellen right away. Feminine care and comfort was something that Katya had never known and as soon as it was offered to her she'd soaked up every bit of it. Loving Saul had taken more time. She liked him. He was sweet to her. He was protective, funny and kind, but for a long time she'd felt guilty about her feelings for him. She'd already had a father who she loved. She'd watched him die. It felt strange when she'd found herself anxiously awaiting Saul's homecoming in the evenings or when she missed his goodnight kisses when he had a late shift. Somehow it felt disrespectful toward Mikhail Isakoff. She'd hardly grieved him before allowing another man to become her beloved protector and guardian. At just seven years old she would lay awake in her rack trying to convince herself that she didn't love Saul as much a she'd loved her father. One day she finally admitted to herself that it was a lie. Now there was Bill Adama, but Saul hadn't gone anywhere.

"It's alright, kit. You don't have to know that. Not right now. You wana know what I know?"

"What?"

"You're the prettiest girl in the room."

"I feel like a mess," She confessed in a voice that sounded so pitiful to her own ears that it made her cringe.

"You don't look it. I may just have the one eye but I can see that," He said trying to lift the obvious doubt she felt. "I know that Ellen's been buggin' ya, kit. She thinks there's something up with you. She says you're always worn out. She's worried about you but ya' know what?"

"What?"

"I'm not."

"You're not?"

"Nope. Not even. Ellen thinks you've been looking tired and acting distracted. I don't see it. In fact I think you look great."

"You're just trying to make me feel better."

"No way. I mean it. I don't know what it is. Just something about you lately."

Katya was caught off guard by just how deeply Saul's few thoughtful words touched her. Ellen and Laura were acting so concerned; questioning her left and right to try and find out what she was withholding. She felt like lately she was being watched and scrutinized by the both of them. Though Bill had given her some encouraging words she couldn't help but suspect that he would be reporting back to Laura. Katya knew that she was being carefully observed by all four of them, but somehow she felt like Saul was the only one who could truly see her.

"I love you, Uncle Saul."

"Right back at ya, kit."

LOCATION: DELTA SPACE STATION; approximately 200 miles above the surface of planet Earth

CORRIDOR B

MILITARY VISITORS QUARTERS: ASSIGNMENT; ISAKOFF/PETROV

YEAR: 2315

It wasn't Ellen's beach. The sand wasn't rocky and pebbled. It was soft, fine and peppered with shells and seaweed. The waves were white capped and seemed to dully roar against the shoreline instead of washing calmly in and out. There was no sunset. There was overcast. It could have been a little before dawn or a little before dusk but there wasn't any way to tell, not that she'd know the difference anyway. The breeze was more harsh, the smell of salt a little more pungent. It wasn't unpleasant it was just different. The muted glow that the clouds gave off was somewhat peaceful and the delicate sand felt good under her feet. Katya walked against the gentle breeze so it blew her hair back from her shoulders and her skirt against her legs. She couldn't see an end to the banks ahead of her but she didn't care. She just kept walking. She walked until she spotted a bit of color in the water, a bright bit of yellow floating in with the sea-green surf. When she bent down to pick it up she found that it was a child's toy shovel. It was the kind that Ellen would project for her when she was little when they'd sit on their projected beach. Katya would dig in the sand while Ellen sat and relaxed, soaking in a dreamed up sunset. When Katya looked up shore for somewhere to discard it she was surprised to see a child playing in the sand not far from where she was standing. She shook her head in confusion wondering how she'd missed her there. The girl couldn't have been more than three, maybe four. She sat alone in the sand surrounded by more brightly colored little toys as the breeze blew through her sweet russet-red pigtails. Deciding the surf must have stolen the shovel away from the child, Katya walked up to return it. As she got closer the little girl continued to busily play, not paying any mind to the world around her.

"Hello," Katya greeted.

The little girl looked up at her with eyes the color of the ocean's waves and only gave her a silent smile.

"Privyet?" She tried but got no answer. "Hmm, no? Let's see, Nǐ hǎo?" Katya attempted again. The little girl just looked back down to her toys and continued to play. "Okay, so you don't want to say hello. That's alright. Is this yours?" She asked, bending to her knees and offering the girl the shovel. "I think the waves got it."

The child grinned happily and reached for it.

"Yes!" She said, eagerly taking her toy.

"Ah, so you do understand me," Katya smirked as she handed it over.

The little girl just gave her another impish grin and went back to her sand.

Taking a look around Katya couldn't find another soul on the beach. There didn't seem to be anyone watching the young child. She wondered who would have left such a little girl there all on her own.

"Sweetie, where's your mom?" Katya asked but the child didn't respond. Immediately she regretted the question. If someone had asked her that at four years old she wouldn't have known how to answer either. "Are you here by yourself?" She tried again.

This time the toddler looked up and shook her head.

"No? You're not?" Katya asked as she looked around the area once more.

"I'm waiting for my brother," The girl casually added as she dumped a bucket of sand out by her little feet.

"Your brother? Oh…well alright. Do you mind if I sit with you until he comes?" Katya asked not wanting to leave the child unattended.

The girl nodded and she joined her.

"I'm Katya. What's your name?"

The girl looked over to her with another friendly but tight lipped smile.

"Don't want to tell me, huh? That's okay," Katya said figuring the child must be painfully shy. "We're at the beach…I'll just call you rybka," She teased.

Surprisingly the girl let out an amused giggle.

The sound was an unexpected delight to Katya's ears. It sounded like music or tiny precious chimes being carried away with the wind.

"What's that?" The girl asked through her sweet little laughs. "Rybka?" She attempted to repeat.

Katya smiled, happy to have her talking.

"It means, little fish," She translated before puckering her lips into a fish kiss. The girl laughed again and then mimicked her, making her own darling lips do the same. Katya's grin grew. "Yes, rybka it is," She decided with a wink and a nod. "You know, rybka, I know someone else with pretty green eyes like yours."

"You do?"

"Yes. Just as pretty as the sea," She told her as she surveyed the sand in front of them. "So what is this green-eyed little fishy making?"

"Rocket ships."

"Rocket ships," Katya repeated, "Very useful. And where will you fly when you're done?"

"I won't fly them."

"Then who will, rybka?"

"Husker and Helo."

"Hm?"

Katya's brow crinkled, caught off guard by the little one's answer.

"My brother's here. I have to go now," She replied without looking up from where her tiny hands were still patting down the sand.

"He is?" Katya asked, looking around for whomever the child was referring to but she couldn't find anyone, "Sweetie, I don't see…"

She glanced back toward where her young companion was seated and found her missing. Katya hurriedly looked around wondering where such a small girl could have possibly gone to so quickly. Then in an instant somehow Katya understood that she wouldn't find the little girl or her brother no matter how hard she looked for them. She sat there in solemn disappointment until the tide came in and took the yellow toy shovel back with it.

"Kat! Kat!"

Katya shot up in bed with a gasp at the sound of Alexi's shouting voice.

"Jeez, Lex! What the fuck?!"

"I was trying to wake you up."

"Nice job!"

"You were panting and sweaty. Were you having a nightmare?"

He watched her face. She seemed unsure of how to answer.

"No…No but thanks for the lovely morning greeting though. Scared the hell out of me."

Alexi winced. He hadn't meant to. He was trying to make things better by freeing her from the fitful sleep and whatever was causing her so much distress.

"I'm sorry, myshka. Are you alright?"

"Yes...I'm fine."

"Good. Cause we need to go. Quick. We overslept. We're going to be late to the meeting if we don't hustle."

"Shit," She said with a huff, flopping back against her pillow.

"Up, Yekaterina. That's down."

"I'm coming."

"Faster, Koshka. Let's go. This is it. It's the last one. Let's just go get it over with."

LOCATION: DELTA SPACE STATION; approximately 200 miles above the surface of planet Earth

CORRIDOR C

MED WARD

YEAR: 2315

Delta's ward had been prepped just like the others and cleared of all other patients. Ellen's stream pedestal, the tubs, the grotesque cylon cables and connectors that protruded from them; it was all the same. The only thing that seemed any different besides the amount of people in attendance was the level of expectancy in the air. The anticipation had been great with the others but it was never like this. The usually cold and brisk ward air now seemed thick with apprehension and dense with hope.

There was something else unspoken that made the atmosphere seem especially heavy on the shoulders of a few of the attendants. This would be Ellen's last direct contribution to the project. She'd done all that she'd promised. Though she knew that she would continue to help in the fight she also knew that this final resurrection would complete the plans she'd started so long ago. By the end of the day what she'd worked so hard to discover for years upon years would be wiped clear from her memory. She'd always thought that it would bring her relief. Instead she felt as though she was about to sacrifice another precious part of herself. Even so, she was ready, willing and determined to do what she felt was right. All she had to do was glance over at her daughter and it was enough to remind her that she wanted Katya to live in a world where mortality was sacred, life was precious and peace was practiced.

The previous evening had turned out better than any of them expected. Katya and Laura were the first to excuse themselves, but the rest stayed out well into the night. At some point Alexi and Blaze had helped Sydra pour Margot into bed. To say she'd overdone it would be an understatement. No one blamed her, though. They all understood the significance of what she would soon be facing. All they could do was keep an eye on her and let her have some fun. Her mother hadn't stayed around much passed the Unity dinner. Though the Tighs were drunk enough themselves they kept a watchful eye on the girl all night. It was when she tried to start the system's very first pickup-game of pyramid on the dance floor that Sydra asked the Colonel for help. It took Saul a few gruff orders that he knew the specialist wouldn't remember in the morning to get her to willing let the boys take her home. She'd totally missed the morning briefing. With the shape she'd been in none of them knew just how she'd managed to wake up, dress in full uniform and drag herself to the ward. After one look at her Katya had quickly grabbed a chair and insisted that she sit while they all awaited the final preparations. Margot had been slumped over with her pounding head resting against the captain's hip ever since.

Katya stood sturdily in place by the chair, allowing Margot to use her for support. She ran her fingers through the other woman's pixie blonde hair and every now and then rubbed gently at her temple. She'd been in her position before and she could only assume that her head was throbbing. Katya watched Dr. Le Blanc as she prepped for the download. She had hardly acknowledged her daughter when she'd arrived. It was obvious that the doctor was understandably angry that Margot had missed the morning meeting. When she'd seen her condition that anger only escalated. When the specialist first stumbled in through the curtains Sydra had attempted to go over to her. Le Blanc stopped her in her tracks insisting that she had work to do. The timid young scientist could only give her lover a sympathetic look before going back to her duties. Margot had gone too far at the party but Katya still couldn't help but feel bad that her friend didn't have her foster mother's support during such a difficult time. Katya has been a mess herself before Roslin and Adama's resurrections. She'd gotten trashed the night before and she'd woken up miserable, insisting that she wouldn't even attend the download. She'd insulted her parents, acted selfishly and even so, they'd been by her side with encouragement, assurance and loving hugs. Michelle Le Blanc gave Margot none of that and as Katya stared at the woman she hated her for it and for a thousand other old reasons.

"Here," Sharon's voice interrupted Katya's thoughts. She held out a small cup of water in one hand a two capsules of some sort in the other. "I got it from one of the medics."

"Oh, thanks. That's probably a good idea," Katya answered.

She rubbed at her friend's shoulder, trying to encourage her to sit up but Margot shook her head against her hip. Katya looked at Sharon and shrugged. She didn't want to move away from the poor girl. She wasn't sure how much she was actually supporting Margot's weight. Though everyone's attentions were on Ellen and Dr. Le Blanc, Margot's entrance hadn't gone unnoticed and Katya didn't want to make an ever bigger spectacle by letting her fall to the floor.

Sharon nodded and kneeled down in front of Margot's chair. She placed the cup on the floor and handed Katya the pills. Gingerly, she put a hand on the ailing girl's knee and spoke in as soft a voice as she could manage.

"I had fun last night," Sharon started. Margot cringed at the mere mention of the event. She closed her eyes against the ward light, turning her forehead further into Katya's hip but Sharon continued anyway. "I think it was the first time I really laughed since my resurrection. It felt good…Doesn't feel all that great right now, but still." Sharon joked, getting the tiniest smile and nod out of the girl. They were all hung over but Sharon could tell that Margot's emotional state was making it so much worse for her. "I know that you don't really know me and I don't really know you but I knew your birthmother, Margot. She was one of my sisters. She was a complicated woman, but she was strong and determined and I can tell that you are too," Sharon could feel the despair coming from the young officer. She knew that she shouldn't be reading her but she just seemed to need someone. "I can also tell that you have lots of people here who love and care for you, even if they aren't the ones you'd expect." Margot opened her eyes at Sharon's words. She could tell that the other cylon woman was scanning and reading her but she was too miserable and tired to be annoyed. She certainly didn't have the energy to block her and for some reason she didn't really want to. Something about the way she was speaking to her was actually somewhat soothing. "You can get through this, Margot. Hasn't Ellen ever told you about her theory about cylon women? She says we're different. She says were special and that we can understand and endure things that others can't. I sure as hell know we're tough as nails," Sharon teased.

Margot gave a small but thankful smile at Sharon's last remark and when Katya gave her another pat to the shoulder she finally sat up and took her weight off of her friend's side. Katya handed the pills back to Sharon who offered them silently to the girl in the chair. Margot hesitantly took them and when Sharon offered her the small cup of water she downed the entire thing. Her thank you wasn't much more than a whisper but Sharon could feel that it was genuine. With a nod and a compassionate smile she stood up and made her way back to Helo's side.

"That poor girl," Laura whispered so that only Bill would hear.

She'd been watching the scene from across the room with tears in her eyes. Though she couldn't hear what Sharon was saying to Margot she could see the pain in the young woman's posture and she knew that it wasn't just from a night of overindulgence.

"She was pounding the booze back pretty hard last night," Bill shrugged. "You left early. You didn't see the worst of it. I'm surprised she's even awake. She's paying the price for it now."

"No, Bill. She's paying the price but not for that. These kids have been suffering the consequences of something that wasn't their fault their whole lives. It's so unfair."

Bill nodded in understanding and put his arm around Laura. They watched their daughter comfort her lifelong friend as Blaze and Alexi stood protectively nearby. It seemed wrong to be glad that such a violation had been committed four times over but Bill couldn't help but be grateful that they'd all had one another. He could tell by the way they were looking at their anguished peer that they all knew her pain intimately. It was a sad sort of comfort to know that they at least had company in their hardship.

Though Saul was aware of the specialist's condition his focus was on his wife as she prepared for the final download. He saw thousands upon thousands of years of devotion in her eyes and he hated what he knew he would have to do once the resurrection was complete. He agreed with the reasoning, but to wipe out any part of the brilliant mind of the woman he loved was going to hurt. He'd known some of the strongest people alive in his time, but he'd never known a strength quite like Ellen's. He balled his hands into fists at his sides as he walked up to where she stood staring at Sam's unconscious body.

"You ready?"

Ellen shook her head as her eyes welled.

"I promised him so long ago that I would see this through."

She had made that promise to Sam twice over. Once when they'd left their Earth and then again when they'd left him to die within Galactica's superheated bulkheads. Saul had a feeling that she was referring to both.

"And you did. People can say a lot of things about you, Ellen, but you've never been one to break a promise. I love that about you."

She nodded and wiped a tear off of her cheek with the back of her hand.

"I'm ready."

"I'll be right behind you."

Ellen took her place by the pedestal with Saul at her back. She cleared her throat a few times trying to get everyone's attention but the fog of their hangovers, lack of sleep and the distraction of their internal thoughts was keeping most of them in a daze. Finally Blaze noticed that Ellen was struggling to keep her composure as she tried to get the attention of the room.

"Eyes up front!" He barked making half the room jump in surprise.

Ellen gave him a small smile and a nod of appreciation. He winked at her in return hoping his usual casual flirting would put her somewhat at ease.

"I think that Dr. Le Blanc, Dr. Kahdim and I are ready to begin," Ellen started, as she quickly glanced at Michelle and Sydra for confirmation. Both women nodded in agreement. "I guess that I just wanted to say something before we start." Ellen took a deep breath in and swallowed it down. "I've been trying to remember what it was that I said before our first download so that I wouldn't repeat myself and then I realized that almost half the people in this room weren't even conscious to hear it. I guess that means we've really done it...I used to send my raiders into Orbit with the simple message of an offer of help, only to watch them get shot down time after time. Then one day someone listened. Saul and I wanted to help the Orbit system because we felt like it was our divinely given duty. Our hybrid and your Quartz Plates; it all just seemed to line up. We felt drawn to play protectors but after the last decade and a half of living within the system I can say that we also want to help because this has become our home. The people here have become our friends and family and we want to see them finally live life peacefully and safely. I don't know if there was a lesson learned this time or not. Something tells me that even if it was, it'll be forgotten one day. As sad as that is I suppose that's the lesson I've learned. Maybe we just learn a little bit more each time. Maybe sometime in very far of future we'll finally get it right. All that I can say is that my husband and I have done our part and we're glad that we did. This might be the last step in our plan, but we won't rest until we have nothing left to give…That's all...That's all I wanted to say." The room was silent as Ellen looked over the faces that watched her. She hadn't expected anything in return. There wasn't anything for anyone to say. She felt Saul's hand come up from behind her and rest supportively on her shoulder. When he gave it a gentle squeeze she swallowed hard. "I'm ready if you are, Michelle," Ellen said looking over at Dr. Le Blanc who nodded back.

Everything went as planned. Ellen was able to connect to the other side as smoothly as she had the last two times. Sometimes she was unnerved by how easily she was able to tap into it once she'd figured it out. It was scary but it was familiar. She'd been there a few times before herself. They'd all passed through before resurrecting. That was how it worked. She'd just never gotten to spend much time there. Her need to get back to the living had always been so strong and she wondered what it was that made Laura speak of the other side as if it were nirvana. Ellen hadn't ever felt the pull to go back. Though she sometimes felt the toll of the endless burden of service as much as Saul did she simply loved life far too much to ever consciously want to return. She wondered if death would ever really come for her again. For now she still had a job to do.

Ellen focused on D'Anna first; one of her precious creations. She'd made her brave and strong and she'd filled her with the fear and love of a holy divine creator. Ellen wondered sometimes if she'd made the Threes too dominant. She'd done it so that the other models would have a protector; someone to look to for guidance. The third line was intended to be seen as sort of an older sister to the rest, but they'd turned into near narcissists. Ellen could remember when the Three to her left decided to name herself. John had scoffed at the idea, Galen and Tori had refused to even acknowledge it, Saul and Sam laughed it off, but Ellen was so proud. She considered it as proof of their individuality, proof of their separate souls. She'd made their bodies and programmed their defining traits, but their essence had come from a higher force than herself. D'Anna had been true evidence of that.

Ellen could still remember when Saul told her about leaving D'Anna Biers on a decimated Earth. No one could understand how it had broken her heart to learn that her husband had gotten back in his shuttle without the Three.

"How could you have left her there, Saul? She was the last of her line. They're extinct."

Saul had furrowed his brow, shaking his head at his wife.

"She wanted to stay, Ellen. We made her; built her to function within this life. She never asked us to and she just didn't want to do it anymore. She had a mind of her own, her own free will. The least I could do for her was to let her use it," He'd argued.

For a while Ellen had heald on to the belief that she could have convinced D'Anna to come back with them had she been there. For sometime she'd clung on to the thought that she could have changed her mind and that Saul hadn't tried hard enough. Eventually she'd accepted that the last of her Threes had chosen to die on what was left of her old home and there was nothing that she could do about it.

Though Ellen knew that Saul was right about letting D'Anna choose for herself she'd always suspected that it had been quite hard for him to leave the Three there to die. When the project started in Orbit and he jumped at the chance to bring D'Anna back in Starbuck's place Ellen knew that she'd been right all along.

When a high pitched strangled gasp came from her left she felt herself jump and wince.

"Got her!" Le Blanc's voice shouted.

It was almost enough to make Ellen slip. She felt Saul leave her side and rush toward D'Anna's tub. For a moment she thought that it had broken her concentration but when the tingling in her upper body didn't fade she told herself to go on. She could feel her hands shaking within the shallow fluid of the stream. She'd been waiting so long for this part. She cringed as she remembered the way she'd seen Sam last. She couldn't use that memory to bring him back. She had so many others to choose from. She could still picture him as a young scientist back on their Earth. He had a quick wit and was a blatant charmer even then. Saul couldn't stand when he'd bring his guitar into the office. He said it was a bunch of noise but Ellen got a kick out of it. Of course she flirted with him mercilessly. It was mostly harmless and Sam had known her well enough to understand that it was just a habit. He was more of a protégé to her than anything else. She thought he was brilliant, that he could have done so much for their planet if he had the time, but the end had come far too soon.

Sometimes their journey to the Twelve Colonies of Kobol felt as if it would never end. Sam was her rock during times when Saul struggled with holding on to his own hope and sanity. Sam Anders had always been there for her. Ellen smirked as she recalled their last project together before they'd all forgotten who they'd once been; the development of the eight models. She'd put Saul and Sam in charge of designing the physical body of the sixth model. It was a decision she rued to this day. She remembered how she'd voiced her disapproval to Sam at one point, accusing their design of being nothing but a blatant sexual fantasy with no real thought behind it. She was well aware that she was being irrationally jealous but she'd never been particularly good at quelling her baser reactions. She'd gone to Sam first knowing that Saul would just accuse her of being petty and envious. Sam had looked her right in the eyes and tilted his head for a moment as he seemed to ponder something.

"Saul wants hazel," He'd said after a beat, "But no. No, I'm going to give her a set of blue eyes. Just the same blue as yours, Ellen. Blue in your honor," He'd told her with a smile before walking away without another word.

She hadn't bothered either one of them with their design again.

For some reason Ellen didn't hear Sam's hacking and struggling right away. She didn't hear Sydra's calls or the accelerated beeping of the monitors either. It was as if she'd gone in deeper to get him somehow. When she finally heard Sydra calling for her she looked over toward Sam's tub. He was already sitting up and fighting to breathe. She'd heard almost nothing from D'Anna but Sam was loud and he surely wasn't resting anymore. He was fighting against poor Sydra as the small woman tried to keep an oxygen mask over his mouth. Ellen didn't know how he'd woken with such strength. She rushed to his side. Bill had woken angry but not like this. Sam's eyes were wild and she tried to get him to focus on her voice while she struggled to assist the doctor.

"Sam? Sam sweetie, it's Ellen. Please calm down. You're safe. Please? It's Ellen Tigh, Sam!"

The machine gauging his heart rate was chiming at a rapid pace and adding to the anxiety of the moment. She pleaded with him over and over but he only hacked, coughed and thrashed around in return. A medic came over to assist Sydra and for a moment they were able to hold him steady within the tub. Ellen looked over her shoulder at her husband who was sitting beside the relatively, and even strangely, calm D'Anna. He held the newly woken woman's dripping hand, watching on as she struggled to take even breaths behind the O2 mask while Le Blanc assessed her vitals. As Ellen watched she decided that she wouldn't take him away from the Three. She could calm Sam on her own.

"Sam? Sam, it's Ellen," She repeated. "I brought you back. You've resurrected and you're safe. I just need you to calm down. It will all be okay if you just calm down and let me explain."

Finally he seemed to hear her voice but it didn't have the calming effect that she'd intended. With a burst of new energy Sam shot up in the tub freeing himself from the medic's firm grip and batting Sydra's hand away and the O2 mask along with it. The force of his body made the tub's fluid slosh and spill over the sides. In moments he was clawing at the rim of the vat trying to get enough leverage to pull himself up. Ellen panicked and before she could think to call for the help of the medic she stood to try and push him back within the depths of the tub. In a sudden rage Sam pushed her with an untamed force. With the ward floor already slick with cylon goo Ellen slipped and fell backwards onto the floor.

"Ellen!" Katya shouted as she watched her hit the cold hard surface.

Margot had been more than alert since the start of the resurrection process and Katya didn't even think to stay beside her when she saw the enraged man put his hands on Ellen. In seconds she was hurrying toward the scene.

"Katya, stay here!" Alexi called after her. He didn't want her anywhere near the chaos that was brewing "Katya, stoy! Ostanovis! Stoy!" He shouted but his wife hardly heard him as she rushed to Ellen's side.

He followed her halfway and stopped when it seemed the medic had gotten Anders under control.

"Ellen, shit! Are you okay?" Katya asked worriedly as she knelt down next to her.

She put her hand out for Ellen to take but was shocked when her forearm was abruptly gripped by a slick and powerful fist. Katya looked at the large glistening hand that held her arm like a vice and then up toward the face of the man it belonged to. Anders had struggled out of the medic's grip yet again and he was sitting up and looking right at her with savage eyes.

"Kara?" He said softly at first, "Kara!" He began to shout and as the volume of his voice grew so did the grip he had on Katya's arm.

"Get your fucking hands off of her!" Alexi demanded as he rushed the rest of the way toward Sam's tub.

"Back off, Sergent! We've got this," Saul yelled as he left D'Anna's side and went toward his wife and daughter.

Sharon immediately took his place by the Three with Karl not far behind. She knelt down by D'Anna and as she made eye contact with the woman's blue-grey stare the look in her eyes gave Sharon chills. She'd seen her eyes after putting a few bullets in her, but this was nothing like that. For a moment she was lost in D'Anna's gaze until she heard Sergeant Petrov's enraged bellowing voice once again.

"Get this asshole's hand off of her now or I will!" Alexi demanded in the Colonel's direction.

Katya was too stunned to say anything. All she could do was stare back at Sam, mouth agape as he bore into her eyes and tried to pull her in closer.

"Sam!" Ellen shouted as she struggled to her knees again. "Sam, honey please let go. Kara isn't here. You need to let go," She told him, over and over, but it was as if he couldn't even hear her.

"Kara, Gods, Kara where have you been?" Sam cried, never once breaking his gaze with Katya.

"Let her go, you ancient fuck!" Alexi growled into Sam's ear but the cylon man made no indication that he knew the sergeant was even there.

"Back off, Sergeant!" Tigh ordered again.

"Then do something!"

Ellen put a hand up as if she could physically block Alexi's anger.

"Sam, sweetie, please stop. Please let go. It's Ellen. You have to listen to me. Kara isn't here. She's not here. Saul and I tried to bring her back but we couldn't. We tried so hard. We just couldn't do it. This is my daughter and I need you to let go of her. We're all here to help you if you'll just let us."

Ellen's eyes started to tear as she pleaded with him.

"Anders let go," Saul added. "We'll explain everything just let her go."

"Kara, say something!" Sam begged. His face changed from irate to desperate as he held steady onto Katya's arm and locked into her frightened gaze. "Please, Kara. Don't you know how long I've been looking for you?"

"He's crazy!" Alexi barked, "Sydra, Le Blanc, do something! He's out of his mind!"

Laura could nearly see the steam coming out of the young man's ears and she didn't blame him. Though she didn't know exactly why, it was obvious that he was more than a little concerned for his wife's safety and she had a feeling he had every right to be. She'd seen just how quickly Katya could take ill. She didn't know if Sam's minor assault would trigger such an episode but she couldn't stand by and wait to find out.

"Bill, do something," Laura urged. "He needs to let her go."

"Saul!" Bill shouted, but before he could continue the Colonel cut him off.

"I've got this, Bill!"

"It doesn't look like you do!" Bill argued but Saul didn't answer.

"Put the motherfucker out!" Alexi demanded. The veins on his muscled neck were protruding and Ellen didn't know if she'd ever seen him so angry. She was afraid of what he might do to Sam if she couldn't make him let go soon. "Sydra, do it!" Alexi told the doctor in a voice that vibrated in Ellen's eardrums.

"No!" Ellen protested. "No, please not yet! He won't hurt her, Alexi! Stop it!" She cried. "Sam, please, let go. Please. You're confused. I want to help you. Me and Saul, we're here for you. I need you to let go. Just…please?" She shook her head in frustration when she couldn't even get his attention away from Katya for a single moment. "I need help, Saul."

"Helo!" The Colonel shouted. "See if you can get his grip off of the Captain's arm," He instructed.

"Are you kidding me!?" Alexi roared again. "You're going to pry him off of her!? Fine, let me do it. I'm ready to tear his arm off."

"Blazer!" Saul shouted.

The Colonel didn't have to give him a directive. Blaze understood that he was being asked to control his brother. He just didn't know if he wanted to. He was ready to punch Sam Anders out himself. He swiftly made his way over to Alexi putting himself between the sergeant and the chaos of the tub to placate Tigh for the time being.

As Helo wedged himself into the scene and attempted to get to work Margot followed. She shook off what was left of her nausea and sunk down behind Katya. She held her at the hip with one supportive hand and protectively wedged the other between the hard slippery edge of the tub that she knew had to be pressing harshly into Katya's abdomen.

"It's alright, Kat. I've got ya. Just a second. You're okay," She tried to assure her, but Katya was stricken silent and Margot felt her body trembling under her embrace.

"C'mon, Sam. It's Helo. Just let go, man," Karl encouraged as he struggled like hell to peel the man's slick fingers off of the captain's quivering arm. "I dunno, Colonel, he won't budge."

"Kara, please! Talk to me! Please!" Sam begged again into Katya's stunned face.

"That's it," Alexi said balling his fists. "If you won't put him out I will!"

"Alexi, no!" Ellen screamed.

"Back the frak off , Sergeant or I'll have you thrown in the frakkin' brig!" Saul threatened.

"Then you're going to have to toss us both in, Tigh!" Blaze interjected, ready to unleash Alexi. "I'm with the Sarge. He's gunna hurt her!"

"Saul, this is making it worse!" Bill shouted across the room.

"Ellen, please let the doctors do something," Laura pleaded. "This isn't working."

"She's right, Ellen," Helo added. "I can't do it. He's on her like a frakkin' bear trap."

"I agree," Le Blanc called as she left D'Anna's side and hurried over to the frantic huddle, "Sydra, put him out. Now!" She demanded.

Sydra didn't know what to do. Ellen started sobbing loudly at Le Blanc's order.

"Mrs. Tigh?" Sydra asked, looking for her Alpha superior's confirmation.

Ellen was in tears and she couldn't answer.

"Aunt Ellen," Katya finally whispered. Her eyes didn't leave Sam's. It was like she couldn't make herself look away no matter how much she wanted to, "Aunt Ellen, please? Please...make him stop."

Ellen looked at the force with which Sam held Katya's arm and then at the fear on her daughter's face. Finally she nodded.

"Just do it, Sydra!" She cried, "Don't knock him out! Give him something to calm him down. I want him to stay conscious!"

"Yes, Ma'am" Sydra said as she went to work loading a syringe pistol.

"It's for your own good, man," Helo told Sam before abandoning his place beside him and joining Sharon by the eerily silent D'Anna.

"Kara! Kara no! Make them stop! Don't let them do it, Kara! Kara, please!" Sam begged Katya before Sydra lurched over the expanse of the tub and shot him in the side of the neck with the sedative.

"Kara," Sam rasped hoarsely once more before his grip released and he slunk backward into the cool murky gel.

Katya slumped back into Margot's lap.

The specialist's arms went around her holding her in place.

"I've got you, Kat. You're okay," She told her.

"Myshka!" Alexi shouted as he made his way over.

Blaze joined them and the three bombarded Katya with an onslaught of concerned questions as Ellen sobbed by Sam's shoulder.

"I told you, Sam," Ellen cried, "Why didn't you listen?"

Sam winced as he struggled to keep his eyes opened.

"Karaaa," He repeated in a low strained voice making Ellen shake her head in frustration.

She hadn' wanted his resurrection to go like this. This wasn't how she'd pictured it.

"Sergeant!" Saul shouted once he was sure that Sam was no longer a threat to himself or anyone else. "I want to speak to you outside!"

"Not a chance!" Alexi protested, "I'm not leaving Kat!"

"You're lucky I don't have your fellow marines toss your ass behind bars. Now get up and go!"

Alexi stood up and turned toward his father-in-law.

"I'm not leaving my wife's side, Sir."

"The hell you're not," Saul seethed.

When they heard Anders mumbling they both turned toward the tub.

"My wife, my wife," He repeated in his drug induced fog.

"That guy is a lunatic!" Alexi growled at Saul. "She's your daughter! I'd think you'd be more concerned!"

"Outside, Sergeant! Now!" Saul howled as he pointed emphatically to the curtain.

Blaze stood up in Alexi's defense.

"Colonel, give him a break. C'mon," Blazer argued.

"I will not give him a break! He was totally out of line!"

Laura took Blaze's abandoned spot by Katya's side. Ellen seemed totally distracted by Sam's state and Margot couldn't seem to really assess the other girl's condition with the captain sitting still on her lap.

"Are you okay, Kat?" Laura asked as she took hold of the girl's wet and already bruising forearm. The fluid coating her arm made Laura's hand tingle on contact and she pulled it away for a second in surprise before forcing it back. Katya still looked so confused, as if she wasn't quite sure what had just transpired. "Katya?" Laura said again.

The young woman swallowed hard and cringed as if it hurt to do so. She nodded after a moment.

"I'm okay," She said in a far away voice, her eyes still unfocused. "Just, please make them stop yelling."

The heat between the three men was escalating. Saul understood that the boys had been concerned about Katya. He didn't like what went on either but his daughter wasn't some delicate flower. She'd been through worse and had inflicted worse on others. He couldn't understand the level at which they'd reacted. He couldn't understand why they were so ready to put their hands on the confused and frantic man. Bill had grabbed him when he'd first woken but the thought of hurting him never crossed Saul's mind. The sergeant and the L.T. had both completely overreacted as far as he was concerned, especially Alexi.

"It's not fair," Blaze announced loudly. "That man had his hands on the Sergeant's wife and he's in trouble? That guy could have pulled her right into that slop!"

"You want to join him outside, L.T !?"

"All of you!" Bill's voice thundered breaking the tension. "Stand down and back off!"

"Alexi," Laura's voice cut in. "Why don't you go? Just to make things a bit easier? We'll make sure she's alright."

"She's right, Sergeant," Bill added. "Just go. Don't make this harder on her, on everyone. The Colonel gave you an order."

Alexi grunted. He looked as if he were about to protest again but then Katya stopped him.

"Stoy, malysh," She told him. Her voice sounded somehow small and she didn't even attempt to look over at where he stood. "Just go."

He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists before giving in and deciding to listen to her.

"Stay with her, Blaze," He directed before turning on his heels and begrudgingly heading toward the curtain. "See a doctor, Yekaterina! Ya skoro vernus'!"

"Quit your godsdamn slavic babbling," Saul grumbled after him as he followed the angry young man through the curtain and out of the ward.

"Laura," Bill started, "Why don't we put her in that chair?" He suggested nodding toward the specialist's abandoned seat. "You ladies are all sitting in a puddle."

Laura gave Bill a short nod. He gestured for Blaze to assist and the two men freed Margot and helped walk Katya to the empty ward chair.

"You alright, Captain?" Bill asked the obviously shaken girl.

She nodded but wouldn't give him much more of an answer.

"Cap, you want something? Some water?" Blaze asked. "How's the arm? Guy's got a wild grip," He tried to joke but Katya wasn't laughing.

"No. I'm fine."

"Okay, Koshka."

Blaze shrugged at Margot. She shook her head and rubbed her hands over her face. Glancing toward Katya she gestured for him to join her out of ear shot, leaving their friend with her birth parents.

"What the fuck was that shit?" Margot whispered harshly.

"I don't know. Your dad's a nutcase," Blaze spit.

"You think she's alright?"

Blaze shrugged and looked back at Katya who had a concerned Laura kneeling by her side.

"Yeah…yeah she's okay."

"The side of that tub was pressing into her pretty hard. I tried to get my hand in between but I don't think it made a difference," Margot said opening and closing her fists. "Think it could have done something? Should we call Tawny?"

Blaze sighed in consideration.

"No. No, she's fine. If she wasn't she would have let one of us know somehow."

"Still, she should probably get an exam," Margot decided. "Sydra can do it. We can trust her."

Blaze nodded in agreement.

"I really thought Lex was gunna deck that guy and I'm sorry, Margot but I was about join him. I was this close to shoving that ball of yours right up his ass."

"It's okay. So was I. What I don't get is why Katya didn't do it herself. She had a free hand."

"Yeah she looked- Indunno…out of it. Still does. The Colonel is fucking pissed. You'd think he'd be more concerned about his own kid. Ellen too."

"They don't know Blaze," Margot defended. "They aren't on the same kind of high alert as us. Think about it; we never would have freaked like that if she…"

"Yeah, well maybe not," Blaze cut her off. "But that man is deranged. On the other hand," He said turning his head toward where his parents still knelt by D'Anna's tub, "this one seems relatively mute."

As Margot looked in her birth mother's direction she felt her stomach flip. She'd hardly had a chance to process the fact that D'Anna was awake with all of the other chaos. The woman lay in the tub taking deep and somewhat harsh breaths but she seemed placid and unafraid. Margot looked across the room to find her mother talking to Sydra by one of the counters. She'd yet to say a thing to her. She wondered if she even would.

"You alright, Margot?" Blaze asked. "You're not gunna barf are you?" He cringed, worried that her adrenaline was wearing off and her hangover was settling back in.

She shook her head and he nodded sympathetically. He knew enough about what she was feeling to understand that she needed a moment. He left her to stare at the woman in the tub and returned to Katya.

Bill stood close by as Laura knelt down by their daughter's chair. She'd been doing her best to get the girl to speak more than a few words but she wasn't having much luck.

"Katya," Laura whispered. "Do you need to see a doctor? If you do we'll go now. Ellen's distracted, Saul's left. Just a quick check up? There are medics at the desk."

Katya shook her head. She was fine. Margot had helped to alleviate some of the pressure from the edge of the tub from digging in. Thankfully she felt no lingering pain or discomfort resulting from it. Her arm would bruise from the man's grip and maybe her ribs from where they'd hit the tub's edge when he'd first pulled her, but they were her only injuries. She could deal with a couple of black and blues. At the moment they were the least of her concern.

"Why would he call me that?" Katya asked breathily, still staring into nothing.

"Oh, sweetheart, he's just confused," Laura assured, placing a comforting hand on Katya's dry arm. "He's scared. Sam didn't know what he was doing. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Are you absolutely sure you're okay?"

Katya swallowed again and nodded.

"I just…I don't want to be around him right now."

She wanted to leave. She wanted to get as far away from Samuel T. Anders as she could. She wanted the cylon fluid from his tub off of her body. It was seeping through her tunic and making her skin tingle.

"Alright, how bout I take you back to your cabin?" Laura offered. "I don't think they need you here any longer. You could get washed up, put some ice on your arm."

Katya nodded at first. She was willing to go with Laura if it meant getting the hell out of the ward and into the shower. Then she remembered Ellen. She shook the fog from her head and looked over Laura's shoulder to see Ellen still in tears by Sam's semi-conscious form.

"No, wait. I can't," She decided. "I don't want to leave Elle," She said loud enough for her to hear.

"It's okay, kitten. You go. I'm sorry I can't go with you. I just can't leave him right now. You go, baby," She assured Katya through her subsiding tears.

Katya didn't want to leave her. She looked so distraught, but there was little she could do for her. Ellen wouldn't leave the man's side and Katya wouldn't go anywhere near him.

"Go, kit," Ellen repeated. "I'll call you soon, honey. I'm so sorry. I am. I'm so, so sorry."

Katya nodded and looked down to her lap.

"Ready?" Laura asked.

"She's so upset," Katya whispered.

"I'll stay with her, Captain," Bill assured. "Don't you worry. "Lt. Bishop, would you escort Ms. Roslin and the Captain back to visitors quarters?"

"Yes, Sir."

"C'mon," Laura said giving Katya her hand. "It'll be okay."

Katya took it and slowly stood up beside her.

Laura wanted to put her arm around her, just for a little support but Katya's body was rigid. She'd taken her hand but she could tell that she wasn't ready for much more. When Blaze scooped in and did it instead Laura took her place beside them. They walked slowly toward the curtain until Katya stopped by Margot who stood staring at D'Anna's tub.

"It's okay, Margot," She said before leaning off of Blaze to hug the girl.

Katya leaned up on her toes and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before taking Blazer's hand again and following Laura out of the partition.

Margot nodded after them. She watched Katya leaving with her birthmother and once they were gone she found herself looking back at the tub that still held her own. D'Anna was quiet as the Agathons sat close by. She didn't know what made her do it but suddenly she found herself walking slowly toward the tub. She took a few steps and then a few more until she was at the foot of the cylon vat.

"Margot," Sharon said as the girl stood there mouth agape, "Maybe you should sit back down. Now probably isn't the best time."

Sharon figured that there wouldn't be much of an explanation needed once D'Anna saw the girl. The resemblance was too uncanny. She thought that it would be best to hold off for a while until D'Anna had some time to get over the immediate trauma of resurrection.

Margot nodded at Sharon. She didn't even know why she'd walked over. Sharon was right. She should go. She decided to step back and return to watching from afar but before she could turn around she noticed D'Anna's hand slowly reaching up from the slimy depths of the fluid. Her coated fingers slipped as they tugged at the oxygen mask that covered her nose and mouth. Before Sharon could reach over to stop D'Anna from pulling it off she managed to push it down enough to free her lips. With a few little coughs she opened her eyes and looked down to the end of the tub where Margot stood. She locked eyes with the girl and her mouth slowly curled into a smile.

"You," D'Anna said in a low and raspy voice. "I've been waiting ages to meet you."

Translations

E-Fed

Myshka: Little Mouse

Nyet: No

Malysh: Babe/baby

Prikosnis' ko mne: Touch me.

Ti Ochen' nuzhnA mne: I need you so much.

Ti takAya nEzhnaya: You are so soft

Ti nuzhnA mne vsyO bOl'she i bOl'she: I need you more and more.

Ne magU zhIt' bez tebyA: I cant live with out you.

Stoy/ Ostanoivis: Stop/Halt/ Don't go.

Ya skoro vernus': I'll be right back.