Chapter 38
What are Dads For?
In a bold move that was carried out without Cylon detection, a group of engineers was able to design and test an upgrade of the Mark VI Viper during the five years between wars. Miniaturization of most of the computerized components allowed Mark VII technology to be retrofitted into a Mark II body. Due to the secrecy surrounding the project, only a dozen of these ships were outfitted and ready to fly when needed at the start of the Third Cylon War. The best Viper pilots in the fleet were assigned to fly them.
-Bartell, History of the Second Cylon War
.
Laura looked at Kara just before they went downstairs to get into the limousine that would take the two of them to the temple. Kara looked so beautiful tonight that Laura knew she would take Lee's breath. And if her father didn't see her as the woman she was becoming, then he never would.
"My dad's going to cry," Kara said. "You look so beautiful he's going to cry."
"We're probably all going to cry," Laura smiled. "I'm sure I will. Since I've been pregnant, I cry at everything."
"Your hairdresser guy did a good job with your hair. The pearls look great."
In the limousine, Laura reached out and squeezed Kara's hand. Kara smiled at her.
"What do you want me to call you?" Kara asked.
"What are you comfortable calling me?"
"Laura."
"Then Laura, it is."
They arrived at the temple just at sunset. The photographer very discreetly took a picture of them getting out of the limousine. Together the two women walked up the steps and waited at the back of the temple until Elosha signaled the two musicians to begin playing.
Laura looked at John. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo, and Lee looked so handsome in his dress uniform.
She watched Lee's and John's faces as Kara started down the short aisle. She saw the pride in John's eyes. She wasn't sure exactly how she would describe the look on Lee's face. It was a combination of amazement and awe and…yes…love. She tried to imagine his thoughts. The only word that came into her mind was wow.
Kara arrived at the front and turned. They were waiting for her. Laura stepped into the candlelit temple and went to meet her groom. The look on John's face was not all that different from Lee's. You're beautiful, he whispered as he took her hand. Together they faced Elosha.
"Lords of Kobol, we come together in your presence for this most joyous and solemn of occasions, the uniting of this man and this woman as husband and wife. We have been given the sacrament of marriage that this couple may pledge their love in the presence of the gods and in the presence of those who witness their intention to join as one. John and Laura, the heart of a marriage is the relationship that you create, and the vows you now take will serve always as a reminder of the act of faith and trust you now perform. Pythia tells us that the gods shall lift up those who lift each other. The union of a marriage is fulfillment of the sacred scripture as it was written."
She looked first at Kara and then at Lee, "the rings, please."
Kara slid her father's ring off her thumb and handed it to Elosha. Lee handed Laura's ring to her. Elosha turned and held both rings high before the altar.
"Gods of the sky and sea and land, gods of the hearth and harvest, add your blessings to these symbols of union, the circle representing the eternity of love and the cycle of time and the ever renewing nature of our faith."
Elosha handed John's ring to Laura and she slid it on his finger as Elosha said, "Laura, do you accept this man's love and return it by taking him as your husband?"
"I do."
Elosha said, "John has asked to say something to you before he takes his vow."
"Laura, a long time ago in another ceremony, an officer in the Colonial fleet pinned Viper wings on my chest. I didn't think anything would ever mean that much to me again, but today, by becoming my wife, you've pinned wings on my heart."
Laura looked down at the ring John slid on her finger. It wasn't a simple band at all. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. The diamonds sparkled fire in the light from the candles. Her eyes filled with tears and she looked at him.
Elosha said, "John, do you accept this woman's love and return it by taking her as your wife?"
"I do."
"By the giving and receiving of these rings and by the exchange of these vows, you have consented to become one. As priest of our faith and representative of the gods, I say to one and all that you are now husband and wife. Cherish one another always as you do this day. Laura and John, you may share your first kiss as a married couple."
Kara was the one who finally looked at Lee and grinned. "Are we going to let them stand here all night being mushy? We've got guests waiting. It's time to celebrate."
…
Lee thought Kara looked so beautiful that he couldn't keep his eyes off of her as the limousine took them to the Libran embassy where the reception was being held. Instead of the ponytail her hair was curled and waving around her shoulders. In her ears she wore small ruby-colored drop earrings. She had on lipstick, too, a color that complimented the claret color of the dress. He'd never seen lipstick on her beautiful mouth before. He tried not to think about kissing it until there was no lipstick left.
Kara saw him looking at her and smiled. "I clean up good, don't I?"
"You look…I can't tell you how beautiful you look tonight."
Kara raised her eyebrows mischievously. "Wait until I take off the jacket."
Lee slid his hand across the foot of space separating them on the seat of the car and took her hand.
On the opposite seat in the limo, Laura and John were so wrapped up in each other that neither appeared to notice.
Lee said, "I know guys have told you that you're beautiful before, haven't they?"
"You mean not counting my dad?"
"Not counting him."
Kara thought of Hugh Connelly and the time in the refugee camp that he'd told her she was beautiful.
She grinned. "Every day somebody usually sees the messy ponytail and is overwhelmed by my beauty."
Lee rolled his eyes. "I'm trying to pay you a compliment and you make a joke."
Tory Foster was waiting for them when they got out of the limousine. They stood while Laura spoke with her for a moment. John came over to Kara and hugged her. "You look beautiful tonight, baby. You look all grown up in that dress."
"I am grown up." She raised her eyebrows at Lee.
John put an arm around Lee's shoulder. "I saw you holding her hand in the car. I'm so happy tonight that I don't mind. You might even get away with kissing her, but you know where to stop."
Lee nodded. "Don't worry."
Laura came over to them and John let go of Kara and Lee and took her hand. "Tory says that everything is ready. A few of the guests are here early. I told Tory she could bring someone. She just told me Sam Anders will be here later. I hope it doesn't upset anyone. "
Kara looked at her father. "Why would I care?"
John said, "I'm okay with it, too."
But he glanced at Lee and Lee acknowledged it.
Kara stopped him before they went up the steps. "What was that look for?"
"I'd rather John told you."
"Sam told me that he didn't like pilots because a pilot had snaked a girl from him once. Was he talking about my father?"
"Kara, I'd just rather you got it from John."
"No damn wonder my dad is so hung up on karmic justice. He'd totally freak if he knew Sam had taken me to dinner and given me that ticket to the game."
Once they were inside the ballroom of the embassy, Laura told them that they would stand near the entrance for twenty or thirty minutes and greet their arriving guests. Kara eyed the bar. She was nervous about all the important people who were going to be there like President Adar and his wife and most of the Quorum of Twelve delegates and their spouses.
But after the first few people had gone through the line, it became routine. Smile, shake hands, say 'Nice to meet you'. Repeat for the next person. She met Laura's fellow Cabinet members. With the exception of the President, she knew she would later have a hard time remembering their names.
Jack and Nancy Fisk came through the line and shortly after that, Karl came through with Sharon. He was wearing a new suit and Sharon had on a pretty blue dress. Kara and Karl hugged and she introduced him to Lee.
"You've met once before, but this is my best friend, Karl Agathon," she said proudly.
The two men shook hands. "So you're going to the Academy?" Lee asked.
"If I get in. Sharon and I are both going."
"Sharon Valerii," the girl in the blue dress reached out and shook Lee's hand.
"Nice to meet you," Lee said. "Did you come from Picon like Kara and Karl?"
There was just the smallest hesitation before she said. "I was born on the mining colony of Troy. I was visiting my grandmother here on Caprica when the accident happened. I've been here since then."
Karl said, "We're holding up the line. We'll talk to you later."
Before they walked off, Kara asked, "What about Jared and Maggie?"
"I don't think they're coming. I know Maggie's not."
The next one through the line was Zak Adama.
Zak reached for her hand. "All I can say is I'd rather kiss the maid of honor tonight than the bride."
"You're not going to kiss either one of them," Lee said quickly.
"Whoa, who made you her keeper, big bro?"
Zak smiled at Kara. She understood why he had a lot of girlfriends. He had enough charm for a dozen guys.
"Didn't you bring a date, Zak?" She asked. "I don't think there will be too many girls here for you to pick up."
Zak chuckled before he headed toward the bar. "All I need is one."
Kara knew Lee would have had a comment to make to his brother, but his mother and father were right behind Zak. Instead Lee said, "Kara, I'd like for you to meet my parents. Mom and Dad, this is John's daughter, Kara Thrace. Kara, this is my dad, Bill, and my mom, Carolanne."
The man standing before her shaking her hand didn't look anything like Lee, except for his blue eyes. He was olive-complected and stockier built, but still handsome in a rugged sort of way. His wife was paler and blond. Lee definitely took his coloring and classic cheekbones from her. Kara caught the odor of alcohol. One or both of the Adamas had been drinking.
Tonight the commander was wearing his dress uniform. She saw the medals and decorations down the sash and the white shoulder cords. She suddenly realized how important Lee's father was. He was as important as the President.
"It's a real real honor," she stammered.
Bill looked at her with eyes that were much kinder than she thought a man of his rank and power could have. "My son has told me some of your story. You're a remarkable young woman. How are things going with you and your dad?"
Kara smiled. "We've had our ups and downs."
Bill smiled, too. "Knowing your dad, I don't doubt that at all. I hope I get to talk to you later. If not, maybe Lee can bring you to lunch tomorrow."
Carolanne grasped Kara's hand tightly. "I'm so glad to finally meet the girl who has charmed my oldest son. You'll have to tell me all about yourself."
If the faintly-slurred words hadn't already given it away, Kara would have realized which one of the Adamas had been drinking from the strong smell of alcohol as Lee's mother leaned toward her.
"Mom," Lee said softly. "Not now. You're holding up the line."
"Well, we must observe protocol considering she's the Secretary of Education."
"Carolanne," Bill said softly but sharply.
He took her arm and walked her toward a table. Kara realized that without her husband's support, Lee's mother would be unsteady on her feet. How embarrassing for Lee. His mother was already half-drunk.
"Don't pay any attention to her," Lee mumbled under his breath. "She's not usually like that."
Behind Bill and Carolanne was a young couple that Kara didn't know, but apparently Lee did. They had been talking to John and Laura, but now moved on to them. She felt Lee tense slightly beside her.
"I'm Billy Keikeya. I work for Laura. And this is Blaire Merric."
Kara didn't realize Blaire was the girl Lee was getting drunk over that long-ago night at Zeno's until she heard his voice as he greeted her. It was cool, devoid of the warmth he had used when greeting the other guests.
"Hello, Blaire."
"Lee," Blaire's tone was chirpy. "How are you? You look great."
"I'm fine. This is Kara, John's daughter."
Kara wasn't sure what made her do it, but she edged closer to Lee and slipped her arm through his.
Kara said with a sweetness that bordered on sarcasm. "It's so good to finally meet both of you."
Blaire was sharp. It took her all of three seconds to intuit the nature of Kara and Lee's relationship. If Billy understood, he managed to look completely clueless.
Two ruddy spots of color appeared in Blaire's cheeks. "Nice to meet you," she mumbled and hurried past them.
"Thanks," Lee said softly to her.
Kara dropped her hand. "So how hot was the thing you two had?"
"Not hot enough to withstand me being on a battlestar for a year."
"I can tell Billy's way hotter. He's a real babe magnet."
"You're kidding."
"Of course I'm kidding. His idea of a hot date is probably reading one of Laura's budget proposals to Blaire."
"Billy's a nice guy. That was cruel."
"I bet you didn't feel that way about him last year," she muttered as the next couple got to them.
Sam Anders came in, but he didn't come through the receiving line. He went straight to the bar.
Lee nudged Kara. "Speaking of babe magnets. I think that's the genuine article."
Kara snickered. "Only if you're a babe."
Tory walked over to them. "When the band finishes the next song, Lee you can go ahead and make your toast. I think most of the guests who are coming are here. Then you two and the bride and groom can dance and mingle with everyone."
They all walked to the bar. Kara gave her father a questioning look. "One glass of champagne," he said. They all got drinks. Laura got ginger ale.
Lee took his drink and went to the low raised dais where the band was set up. The bandleader handed him a microphone. He tapped it several times and the room grew quiet.
"I'd like to welcome everyone tonight to help celebrate a really happy occasion with us…the marriage of my good friend, John Gallagher and the beautiful Laura Roslin." Applause rippled throughout the room and Lee waited until it was quiet again.
"Many of you here tonight know John, and if you don't know him personally, you've seen his name in the news recently. I met John almost four years ago on my father's battlestar the Galactica, and from that time he's been a close friend and the man I've turned to for advice on all matters relating to women. John always had words of wisdom to offer me on the subject of women…until I started dating his daughter. Now his advice consists mostly of telling me that if I don't behave myself, I'm a dead man."
While he was waiting for the laughter to die down, he looked at Kara and smiled.
"I haven't known Laura for quite as long as I've known John, but she's been a friend of my family's for years, and from what I hear she's always been passionate about the education of the children of Caprica and more recently, the welfare of some of its most forgotten citizens, the people who lived in the refugee camps. I would like to say to you, John, that you're the luckiest man on Caprica tonight to have finally convinced Laura to marry you. And for you, Laura, I have just one question. What were you thinking?" He raised his glass.
The room exploded in laughter. John and Laura were laughing as hard as anyone. Lee handed the microphone back to the bandleader and stepped down from the dais. Now he could relax.
To his surprise, Kara walked past him and said something to the bandleader. He handed the microphone to her.
"Everyone…hi…my name is Kara Thrace. My father, John Gallagher, told me not to say anything tonight because he didn't want me to embarrass him like Lee just did, but I don't listen to him all the time…so I have to say something. We were on Picon when the Cylons attacked and he risked his life to get me to safety here on Caprica. That same night we got separated and that's another long story, but I just found him again and we're back together and Dad, I just want you to know that I think marrying Laura was the smartest thing you ever did since she takes my side most of the time." She had to wait until the laughter stopped.
She raised her champagne glass, "with love to my dad and Laura."
She gave the microphone back to the bandleader. "Play something nice and slow so we can dance," she whispered to him before she stepped down.
Tory stepped up on the platform. "Ladies and gentlemen, our newlyweds, John Gallagher and Laura Roslin."
The band began playing and John took Laura in his arms and began to dance with her. Lee looked at Kara and held out his hand.
"I guess that means you're asking me to dance," she said. She took off her jacket and draped it across a nearby chair. "That's better."
They joined her dad and Laura on the dance floor. Lee whispered, "You took off most of the dress."
"No, I did not," Kara retorted. "I'm still plenty covered up."
Lee glanced down. "Not from my point of view."
Kara realized he could see the tops of her breasts. "Then quit looking."
"You might as well tell me to quit breathing."
"Eyes up here. My eyes, Lee, look...at...my...eyes."
Lee willed himself to look up.
Kara said, "Your father doesn't look too happy."
Lee glanced over at the table where his father and mother were sitting. Kara was right. His father didn't look happy at all. His mother looked miserable. The drink in Bill's hand wasn't champagne, either. It looked like straight whiskey. There was a cup of coffee sitting in front of his mother. He had seen his father half a dozen times in the last three weeks and his father hadn't mentioned Laura's impending marriage to him even once. When he told his father that John had asked him to be his best man, all Bill had said was, "I figured he would."
Lee thought about the look in his father's eyes that long-ago night when he'd watched Laura walk away from their table.
"A cubit for your thoughts," Kara said.
"They're not worth that much."
The song ended and John and Laura walked over to them. "Your speeches were perfect," Laura said.
"I've got to dance with my daughter," John said. As they walked a few steps away, Lee heard him say, "What happened to the rest of your dress?"
In response he got an eye roll from Kara.
Lee looked at Laura and smiled. "I guess this is our cue to dance."
Laura slipped her jacket off and put it on the chair with Kara's. The bodice of her dress was made much the same as Kara's dress. Lee managed to keep his eyes on her face. He knew her legs were really nice. He imagined the rest of her was, too.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said.
"Thank you. You and Kara make a very nice-looking couple. Even John agrees."
"He does?"
"He's going to be fine with it when she's a year or two older."
"I've behaved myself with her since I found out. I haven't even kissed her."
"Well, kiss her tonight," Laura said in a conspiratorial tone. "You both deserve it."
Someone tapped Lee's shoulder. "I'd like to cut in." He looked back. It was his father. "Carolanne and I won't be staying much longer. I'd like to dance with the bride before I leave. Go sit with your mother, Lee."
Without a word, Lee stepped aside and let his father take Laura in his arms. He walked to the small table on the side of the room where his mother was sitting. He could tell she'd already had way too much to drink. She must have started long before they arrived.
"Hi, Mom."
"I didn't want to come," she slurred. "He told me we were obligated. I told him to go by himself. He said it wouldn't look right. So here I am."
"What's wrong?"
"Don't pretend you don't know about her?"
"What are you talking about, Mom?"
"Her," she said drunkenly. "It's always been about her."
"You're wrong."
"Your father does love me in his own way. He loves me because I gave him you…and Zak. You're the one he's so proud of, though. You're the one he always talks about. Lee did this and Lee said that. You're his pride and joy."
"He's never said anything like that to me."
"Oh, he loves you. He loves you with so much fatherly pride. And he loves her. He'll always love her."
"Come on, Mom, let me call a transport and take you home."
"We've got a driver. He's waiting. Walk with me out to the car. I'll wait in the car. I can't stand to see him dancing with her like that, wishing he was the one who had married her tonight."
Lee put his arm around his mother and helped her to her feet. On the dance floor he saw Kara glance at them and say something to her father. They walked over.
"I need to get Mom out to the car," Lee said. "She's not feeling well."
Carolanne looked at John. "I feel sorry for you," she slurred. "Maybe you should come home with me tonight so he can go home with her."
"What's she talking about, Dad?" Kara asked.
"Carolanne's had too much to drink and her imagination has got the better of her. I'm going to help Lee get her outside."
John got on the other side of Carolanne and together he and Lee walked toward the door with her. Kara followed them. When they got outside, her father looked back over his shoulder. "Go tell Bill we've taken his wife to the car."
Kara went back inside and waited for the song to end before she walked over to Laura and Lee's father. "My dad said to tell you that he and Lee have taken your wife to the car. She's not feeling well."
Bill looked at Laura. "I wish you and John every happiness," he said before he walked away.
"What's going on?" Kara said. "Everybody seems to know something but me. Is there something going on between you and Lee's dad?"
"Oh, no, Kara, no. Bill and I have known each other for a number of years. His father and mine were good friends."
"Then why did Mrs. Adama say something about my dad going home with her so Lee's dad could go home with you."
The color rose in Laura's cheeks. "Oh, dear gods."
"So you're saying there is something going on?"
"Not now…a long time ago. Bill was my first love. We're just very close friends now."
"So there's no reason for me to think the baby might not be my dad's, is there?" Kara asked defiantly.
"Absolutely not! For you to even ask that question is very distressing to me. You don't honestly think I would do something like that, do you?"
"I just want to make sure because my dad doesn't deserve someone lying to him and being in love with another man. He loves you."
"I know, Kara. I love your father. I wouldn't have married him if I didn't. Had he not wanted to marry me, I was prepared to resign my position and raise our child myself."
Kara turned and walked away. She needed time to think about what she had just learned. She needed time to decide if Laura was telling her the truth or just telling her what she wanted to hear.
Kara walked outside and down the long portico that connected the main embassy building to a smaller one. So Laura had once had something going on with Commander Adama. She was sure her dad must know about it. So what was Carolanne Adama's problem…besides being drunk? Why did she think her husband still loved Laura? Kara turned around at the end of the portico and started back. She was so deep in thought that didn't notice Jared until she was almost to him.
"Hey, Kara."
She jumped. "Damn, you scared me. What are you doing here?"
"You invited me, remember?"
"I didn't invite you to hang around in the bushes."
"I went inside and didn't see you. I was going to leave and then I saw you walking this way. What are you doing out here?"
"Getting some fresh air."
"You look so beautiful tonight. I've never seen you in a dress before."
"Join the crowd. Nobody else has either. Let's go inside. Karl and Sharon are in there."
"I'd rather talk to you out here."
Kara folded her arms. "So talk."
"I called you at work a couple of weeks ago. I was going to tell you I would help you find your dad."
"Was that before or after he was shot and it was all over the news?"
"I think it was the same day."
"I never got the message. And somebody else helped me get to Sovana."
"Karl said your boyfriend is a pilot?"
"A Viper pilot just like my dad. I'm going to the Academy…maybe this year if I pass the test and get admitted. And if you don't know already, I'm not in the group anymore. I got it all straightened out with Frogman."
"I really miss you, Kara. Every day I wake up and I think about you…"
"Jared, don't go there…please."
"Would you still meet me at the deli sometimes? I could buy you dinner and we could talk….just talk. I want us to still be friends."
"I don't think that's a good idea. You'll never see me as just a friend. You'll always want something more from me."
"Please, Kara." He put his arms around her and pulled her tightly against him. "Please."
"Jared, don't."
"I love you, Kara. I'll do anything for you."
"No, you won't. You wouldn't even help me find my dad. Now let go of me. I want you to let go…"
"I think you'd better take your hands off my daughter," her father said gruffly.
Jared let go of her and backed away. She stepped between him and her father. "Dad, don't."
"Is your friend hard of hearing? Or is he just not bright enough to understand what let go of me means?"
"Please don't do anything to him. It's your wedding night. You don't want to spend it in jail. He's leaving."
"You're damned right he's leaving…after he apologizes to you."
"I'm sorry, Kara. I apologize," Jared said quickly.
Her father looked at her. "I guess he's brighter than he acts." Then he said to Jared, "When a woman tells you to take your hands off her, you take them off. And if I ever find out you've bothered my daughter again, you'll answer to me. Do you understand?"
Jared gave them a wide berth and hurried toward the steps leading to the parking lot.
Her father put his arm around her shoulders. "Let's go back inside."
"You're not mad at me?"
"Why would I be mad at you?"
"I used to live with him. He was one of my roommates."
"That was Jared?"
"That's him. I used to make out with him, too. That's why he…why he put his arms around me. I should never have done it. I know that now. It wasn't fair to him. I never felt about him the way he feels about me."
Her father didn't say anything for a minute. "We all make mistakes, Kara. I made plenty of mistakes growing up."
"Why are you being so nice to me tonight? If I'd told you this last week, you would have been all over me about it."
He smiled. "It's my wedding night. I'm in a good mood. I'll get on your case tomorrow…or I might wait until next week…or I might just forget about it."
"Thanks for rescuing me."
"What are dads for if not for rescuing daughters from jerks?"
They went back inside. Laura was near the door. "There you are. I've been looking for you."
"I helped Lee get Carolanne to the car."
Kara saw her father and Laura exchange a look.
"Too much to drink?" Laura asked.
John nodded. "Way too much."
"Bill had been drinking, too. Not as much, but he'd definitely been drinking. He was a bit morose, too. Something is troubling him a great deal right now."
"They've got problems we can't do anything about," John said.
"It's a shame, but you and I have guests. We need to mingle."
"Stay inside, Kara," John said as they walked away.
"Don't worry, Dad." She began slowly walking toward the bar. She wondered what her dad would do if she got another glass of champagne.
"I don't guess you planned to speak to me tonight, did you?"
Kara turned. Sam Anders stood there. He looked good in his dark jacket and shirt and tie.
"I've been busy. Besides, you haven't got any room to talk. I never heard from you after the championship game."
"Not true. I left you four or five messages and you never called me back."
"You left me four or five messages where?"
"You were living at Tory's place. Where do you think?"
"You left me four or five messages on Tory's phone? What makes you think I could listen to her voice mails?"
"Oh, crap," Sam said. "She must have picked them up. I hope I didn't mention any names. Maybe she thought they were for her."
"She must have. You're still hooking up with her."
"How do you know that?"
"I'm psychic."
"Would you go out with me again?"
"I have a boyfriend now."
"The best man?"
"His name is Lee. So who did my dad snake from you?"
"A girl named Lissa. She was hot, too. A little older than me, but hot."
"Oh, gross," Kara said. "Even if I didn't have a boyfriend, I don't think I could date a guy who hooked up with a girl that my father lived with for two years. That would make us almost related."
"I might give her a call now that she's a free woman."
"I'll bet she'll be glad to hear from you."
"I'd still like to take you out."
"Forget it, Sam. I'm sixteen."
"Sixteen? No way you're sixteen. You need to come up with something better than that."
Zak Adama walked up to them. "She's telling the truth, dude. She's sixteen. So, Kara, do I get to dance with the hottest maid of honor ever?"
Sam said, "I was just getting ready to ask her to dance."
"Tough. I'm claiming her," Zak said. He took Kara's hand and led her to the dance floor. "So how are things going with you and Lee?"
"Fine," Kara said.
"Really? How come he's been hanging out with me the last couple of Saturday nights acting like a complete mope?"
"I've been studying so I can pass the test to get into the Academy. Laura got me a tutor."
"Most people study to get out of school. Studying to get in? Man, that's warped."
"No it's not. I'm going to be a Viper pilot like my father. At least I have a goal in my life."
"You sound like Lee and my dad. What are you going to do when you grow up, Zak? You need a goal in your life, Zak. You need a plan for the future, Zak. What kind of a future have any of us got? Living under Cylon rule for the rest of our lives?"
"We won't be living under Cylon rule forever. We're going to get rid of them. You need a better excuse than that."
"What? We're going to blow up a couple of basestars with rubber bombs. What are you going to do? Bounce them out of the universe? You're as funny as my dad and Lee."
"It's hopeless even trying to talk to you."
"Maybe I don't want to grow up. Lee's grown up enough for both of us."
"Everybody has to grow up sometime. I did in the camp. I didn't have a choice."
"That must have been a bummer."
Kara shrugged. "You had to be there to understand."
"I've thought about trying to get into Caprica U. I've thought about joining the Marines. I've thought about doing a lot of things. I've just never done any of them."
"What do you want to do? Frak your way through all the hot babes on Caprica before you make a career choice."
He grinned. "I need to start calling you Lee junior. You sound just like him. The thing is…I don't know what I want to do. I really don't know. At one time I thought I'd like to play pro soccer. Now, I don't even know about that. I thought I had a PR job lined up with a sports management company, but that fell through. So I'm still selling golf clubs and scuba gear at Bull's Eye. I don't know who my dad is more disappointed in…me or my mom."
"Was it just tonight or does your mother drink like that all the time?"
"She's always had a problem with alcohol. I thought she was better, but lately she's drinking again. My dad's gone a lot now with his meetings and stuff. Lee's got his own place and I work until nine at Bull's Eye most nights. I can't take it when I am home. Her drinking and crying and him shutting himself up in his study ignoring her and scribbling notes in all these notebooks in some sort of secret code that only he understands. I'm thinking about moving in with a couple of guys I know. Mom's freaking out about that. She says she's alone too much as it is."
"She needs something to do with her time."
Zak shrugged. "My dad's tried to get her some help. She went one time five years ago when I was fourteen after she OD'd on sleeping pills. She got better. She won't go now. I don't know why. I asked her what the problem is and she just cries and talks about how empty her life is. My whole family is totally frakked up."
"Lee's not."
"Yes, he is. Don't kid yourself. He just hides it better than the rest of us. Mom and Dad's problems frakked him up just like they did me. He thinks he's got to be perfect in everything he does. Lieutenant Top-of-the-class Lee Adama. If you stick with him you're in for a tough time. Sooner or later you'll screw up and then he'll let you know how disappointed he is in you."
"I don't believe that. It sounds like you're jealous of your brother."
Zak grinned. "Why wouldn't I be? He's got the hottest girl in the room tonight."
"So out of all your girlfriends you couldn't find even one to invite to the reception?"
"You have to be careful about inviting a girl to a wedding. It gives them ideas. Did you meet Billy's girlfriend Blaire?"
"Yeah."
"Blaire has a roommate, Dee. She came in Bull's Eye a couple of times during the last two weeks and talked to me. I finally figured out she was trying to get me to invite her to the reception tonight."
"Why didn't you?"
Zak shrugged. "I think she's still got a thing for Lee. I didn't think you'd want her drooling all over him."
The song ended. Kara glanced at the door and wondered when Lee would be back. Her breath caught. She couldn't believe it. Hugh Connelly, looking better than he ever did in the refugee camp, was standing in the doorway. He saw her.
"Excuse me, Zak," Kara said.
She was already walking toward Connelly and he was walking toward her. She walked past her father and Laura who were talking to Jack and Nancy Fisk. Kara reached Connelly and threw her arms around his neck. He lifted her off the floor in a hug.
"Oh my gods, I don't believe it. I didn't think I'd ever see you again." Her eyes met his blue ones. The bond that had been between them in the camp was still there.
He put her down but kept his arms around her. "You wouldn't kiss me goodbye, but you promised to kiss me hello. Are you going to keep that promise?"
He didn't have to ask twice. She kissed him.
At that moment Lee came back from outside. Her father reached them, too.
"What the hell?" He took her arm and pulled her away from Connelly. He sounded as angry as he had been about Jared.
"When I left the camp I promised Connelly I'd kiss him the next time I saw him. And let go of my arm. You're hurting me."
He let go of her.
Laura got to them. She put her hand on John's arm. "What's going on?"
"That's exactly what I'm trying to find out. What is it with you and men tonight, Kara?"
Laura said quickly, "We need to take this somewhere else. We've got guests watching."
"I'm sorry," Hugh said. "I shouldn't have kissed her like that."
"You're damned right you shouldn't have," John said.
"It was my fault," Kara said fiercely. "I kissed him."
"Outside," Laura said in her soft voice that had the steel edge of command to it. "Outside, all out you. This minute!"
Everyone obeyed her.
"That was more than just a hello kiss," her father said. "Damn, in another minute you'd have been pulling your clothes off."
"No, we wouldn't." Kara said hotly. "You don't understand! You'll never understand!"
"Explain it to me, then."
"I can't. You weren't there. You don't know what it was like in the camp. You can't even begin to understand. None of you will ever understand except Connelly. He was there. He knows what it was like. He knows about the…the…he knows…"
Kara was starting to tremble. Memories of the camp flooded her…the mud and the rats and the near-rape. Only Laura seemed to grasp what was happening to her. She quickly put her arm around Kara. "Let's go inside, just the two of us." She turned to John. Her soft voice assumed the steel edge again. "If you get into a fight with Hugh over Kara, then you and I will not share a hotel room tonight. Whatever your differences are with him, you'd better work them out like gentlemen."
Laura walked back inside with Kara. They went upstairs and into one of the embassy's small waiting rooms and sat on a couch. Laura got some tissues from a container on the table and handed them to her. Kara wiped her eyes.
"I didn't mean to embarrass you."
"Your life has been turned upside down in the last six weeks, hasn't it?"
"That's no excuse."
"I know you had a crush on Hugh," Laura said gently.
Kara nodded. "A big one. My first kiss, too."
"And he obviously also cares a great deal about you."
"He's too old for me and he's married now, but I was just so glad to see him. I didn't think. I acted. My dad does not understand about the camp. We talked about it in the hospital and I told him it wasn't too bad because he feels guilty about giving up on looking for me. Those of us who were there…we share something no one else will ever understand. Ever since I found Connelly in the woods that day, we've had…we've had a bond."
"He told us you had saved his life."
"I stopped him from shooting himself. And then he saved me when two guys tried to rape me."
"Oh, Kara. I didn't know about that."
"My dad doesn't understand. Hugh Connelly will always mean something to me. I'm not in love with him anymore, but he'll always be special. He was the first man I ever had feelings for like that. Do you understand what I'm talking about?"
"Yes, I do," Laura said softly.
The two women looked at each other and suddenly Kara realized that they shared something…an understanding about the nature of love.
Lee appeared in the doorway with two drinks.
"Come in," Laura said as she got up. "I'm sure Kara needs that ambrosia. Sit here. I need to get back to our guests. Will you be all right, Kara?"
Kara nodded.
Lee sat beside Kara and handed her the drink. She blew her nose. "Thanks."
Laura looked at him. "If John hasn't done something stupid, he and I are going to the honeymoon suite of the Kings Bay Hotel. You're going to take Kara home with you tonight. She does not need to be at our apartment alone."
"I'll be fine," Kara said.
"John will kick my ass," Lee said.
Laura smiled. "One of you is going to sleep on the couch. I'll let you work out which one."
Laura turned and left.
"Who won the fight, my dad or Connelly?" Kara asked Lee.
"They were sitting outside on the steps having a drink when I left. They were talking. I think John believed Laura when she told him he'd spend his wedding night alone if he got into it with Mr. Connelly."
"Good. I'm glad somebody can keep my dad from acting like a complete idiot."
Lee took a sip of his drink. "That was pretty impressive…that kiss."
"At least one guy wants to kiss me."
"Kara, that is not fair. Do you think I don't want to kiss you?"
Kara shrugged. "You made my dad a promise. I know. That means more to you than kissing me."
"If I kiss you…even once…I'm not going to want to stop. And then you know what will happen. And then my word to John means nothing. He trusts me, Kara. He trusts me to do the right thing."
"Why is us being together all of a sudden the wrong thing?"
"You're sixteen."
"I'll be seventeen in a couple of months. You and my dad…you're both hung up on a number. That's all it is…a number. There were parts of Aerilon where fourteen and fifteen-year-old girls were still being married off to older men. Saggitaron and Gemenon, too."
"That was only in a few remote areas and that doesn't make it right."
"Okay, then what is different about me today than six weeks ago? Huh? Tell me that. I'm the same person I was six weeks ago and you were fine with us being together then."
"Six weeks ago I thought you were nineteen, almost twenty years old."
"So it's you that's changed. Not me."
"I'll agree. You're right."
"Do you honestly think if I go back to your apartment with you tonight that one of us will sleep on the couch?"
Lee couldn't look at her. "No."
"Then it's settled. I go back to Laura's alone. I'll be fine."
"I'll take you."
John appeared in the doorway.
"Oh, great!" Kara said. "Now I get to listen to him chew me out."
Lee stood up. "Can this wait, John?"
"No, it can't."
Kara sighed. "Let's get it over with. I've ruined your wedding reception anyway."
John said, "You didn't ruin anything for me, Kara."
She waited. "And?" She finally asked. "Finish it. I'm grounded until I'm eighteen."
"Laura told me you were going back to Lee's apartment tonight…that she'd told you to."
"Laura is wrong. I'm going back to her place alone just like we'd planned."
"I just want you to know it's all right."
"What's all right?"
John took a deep breath. "If you want to go back to Lee's apartment tonight, it's all right."
"What?" Kara and Lee both said at the same time.
"I know you'll be safe at Lee's place."
"No. I'm not going to do it, Dad. It's not fair to either one of us."
"Damn," her father said. "How can I say this without saying it? I'm not putting any conditions on you going to Lee's place with him tonight."
Lee looked at John skeptically. "You've changed your mind?"
"I just had a talk with Hugh Connelly…"
"What the hell is this?" Kara asked, suddenly furious with her father. "You're going to let Lee take me home with him because you're afraid if you don't, I'll go home with Hugh Connelly? Because if that's what this is all about, you can just…"
"Let me finish, Kara. I had a talk with Hugh about the camp…an honest talk this time. I know that what you went through in that camp was a lot worse than you told me. I know you've lived like an adult for the last year or longer. You've made decisions about your own life without me telling you what to do. And you've done a damned good job of it. You've been responsible and mature. I'm saying you're grown up enough to make a decision like that about your life. Does that make you happy?"
Kara got up and put her arms around her father. She knew what it must have taken for him to say that to her. She knew how much he must love her and trust her to have said that. "I love you," she whispered.
Over Kara's head, John looked at Lee. "You take good care of her. I swear to the gods, if you don't, you'll answer to me."
Lee nodded. He was still trying to convince himself that John was really okay with him and Kara being together.
"Now we all need to go back downstairs. I think we've had enough drama for the evening."
"Since you're feeling so generous, Dad, is this a good time to talk about me going to the Academy this year?"
"Damn," her father said, "you don't know when to quit, do you?"
"That's what Jack is always telling me."
"Jack's a smart man. What's he going to say when you hand him your resignation?"
"I'm not going to do that."
"How do you think you're going to ride a motorcycle for him and go to the Academy, too?"
"Does that mean…?"
"It means you take the entrance exam next week. Let's wait and see what happens. In a month if you get an acceptance letter, we'll have this conversation again."
"It's my destiny," Kara said and looked at Lee. She smiled. "Some things are just meant to be. My dad's finally beginning to understand that."
John said. "Did I mention this karmic justice thing is hell?"
...
Kara and Lee stayed at the reception until the last guests were gone, nearly half an hour after John and Laura left. They sat at a table and talked to Karl and Sharon and Hugh Connelly and Zak. She danced with all of the men. Lee danced once with Sharon, and Zak danced several times with her. Karl watched them but didn't say anything. Kara and Karl and Sharon asked Lee a lot of questions about the Academy and Flight School. Kara learned that Connelly would be teaching at the Academy beginning with the fall semester. He was in Caprica City over the weekend to find an apartment and make arrangements to move from Antioch. She tried not to think of how weird it would seem if he were one of her instructors.
During the last dance with Lee she told him that he should come back to Laura's apartment with her. "I don't really want to leave your apartment tomorrow morning wearing this dress."
"I understand," Lee said. "We'll go by my place first and I'll pick up a change of clothes. I don't really want to leave Laura's tomorrow in my dress uniform, either."
At Lee's apartment Kara waited in the transport while he went upstairs. He was back in less than ten minutes wearing a pair of jeans and a blue sweater and was carrying a small zip-up bag.
When they got to Laura's apartment, Kara unlocked the door and turned off the alarm. She led the way into the den and turned on the gas logs. "The bar's behind those cabinet doors."
Lee opened the double doors and saw the silver flask. "Siren's Kiss?"
"Why not?"
He poured two small glasses and sat beside Kara on the couch. "Are you glad it's over?"
"Totally glad. Laura's been stressed out about the wedding plans for the last three weeks. Maybe she can relax now. This last week me and Dad have both been tiptoeing around her."
"What the latest with John's arm? I've been afraid to ask him."
"He goes back to the doctor next week. I think he's doing better, but he doesn't think he can pass a flight physical yet."
"Do you think he would consider teaching the Viper simulator at the Academy if he doesn't pass…maybe even if he does? There're two simulators out there, a Mark II and a Raptor. My dad wants more pilots trained next year. The only way we can do that is to have more instructors. I think he's already talked to Colonel Winters and Colonel Burgher about it. Burgher can teach twice as many students in Basic Flight if he doesn't have to do the Viper simulator training too. I think John would be good at teaching the Mark II."
"I don't know if Dad would consider that or not."
"I know a lot of John's identity is tied to flying…to being a pilot, but this would be a lot more important to what my dad wants to do than flying a government ship for a year."
"What does your dad want to do?"
"Get rid of the Cylons. He has a plan. That's a big secret, Kara. I'm trusting you with a really big secret."
"Does my dad know about this?"
"I'm sure he does. Him and Laura both."
"Zak said your dad scribbles in notebooks all the time…a secret code that only he can read."
"Zak should know. He lives there."
"He said things are really bad with your mom now."
"Zak exaggerates."
"But tonight…"
"She doesn't do that all the time, Kara. She used to have a problem but she's got it under control now."
"You dad invited us to lunch tomorrow. Does that mean we'll be going over there?"
"I doubt it."
"Lee, you should at least talk to your dad about what's going on with your mom."
"I tried to talk to my dad tonight. That's why I was outside for a while. He said this was a one-time thing. My dad doesn't talk to me about his personal life…about their personal life so let's just drop it."
"What's your dad's plan?"
"He's the only one who knows all the pieces. I know that part of it involves having enough pilots."
"You want me to talk to my dad about teaching the Viper simulator?"
Lee smiled. "You seem to be on a roll with him."
"Right. He's a real marshmallow."
"I'm here am I not? With his permission, even."
"For all the good it's going to do me."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I've got a feeling that you're not okay with it?"
"I'm having a hard time switching mental gears. I keep having a vision of John walking in and kicking my ass out the door."
"Sure. He's going to get out of bed with Laura and come all the way back over here. He thinks we're at your place, anyway."
"It wouldn't take him long to figure out where we are."
Kara turned up the glass and drank the last of the Siren's Kiss. She set her glass on the coffee table, took Lee's from his hand and set it beside hers.
"Kiss me," she said. "At least you can kiss me."
Lee knew even as his mouth found hers that they weren't going to stop with a kiss. He felt her hands slide under his sweater and push it up. He felt her mouth on his chest. He leaned back as she slowly moved down, savoring the taste of his skin. She tugged at the button of his jeans. He helped her.
He reached for the back of her dress and found the zipper. It soon joined his sweater and jeans on the floor. The only thing she was wearing underneath was a whisper of black lace. It took only seconds for it to join the pile on the floor.
He pushed her back until she was lying on the couch and kissed her again. He moved down. She moaned softly, one hand gripped the side of the cushion, the other was in his hair. They were both hot now and in a hurry.
The firelight was on her body, on the pale, slim legs and high, firm breasts. He groaned. "You're so beautiful," he said as he slid up her body and his mouth found hers again and then her hand was on him, guiding him to her.
"Wait…I've got to get something."
She took his hand and put it on the back of her hip. "Birth control patch," she whispered. "It's all right."
His body was over hers but still he held himself back. "When?"
"I got it two weeks ago."
"How did you know we'd need it?"
"Some things are meant to be." She reached for him again.
This time he let her guide him into her. The sensation was so good it almost overwhelmed him. He held himself still in her and looked into her green eyes.
"I love you, Kara. I've loved you ever since John first told me about you."
She looked into his eyes. Was this what love felt like? To be able to give herself completely to him as Kara and not as Carrie? To hold nothing back from him? To take him into her body like this? To let him make her feel the way only he could make her feel? The way he was making her feel right now? She trusted him with her body. She made the leap of faith. She entrusted her heart to him as well.
"I…love…you," she managed to whisper as the rising tide of sensation began to engulf them. Tears filled her eyes as she said it more confidently, said it aloud in a soft cry as the wave pulled them in. "I love you, Lee, I love you." She knew she would remember the look on his face for the rest of her life.
Lee had heard or read somewhere that there are moments that transcend the physical act of love, when you reach into eternity and touch the divine, when your souls merge for the space of a few heartbeats even as your bodies yield to the physical ecstasy. He had never believed it until he looked into Kara's eyes that night, eyes that held all the stars in the universe, the green eyes of the beautiful girl whose kiss had given him the gift of love...then and now.
Kara was right. Some things were destiny. Some things shouldn't be questioned. Some things were simply meant to be.