His head was buzzing. He could feel the stares and hear the whispers of the crew as he walked down the hallway. Adama's son. Thrace's kid. He knew they didn't mean to be rude, but it was becoming taxing with every step.

"Hey, you became the new celebrity of the Galactica overnight. Hmm?"

Chris looked to his side and saw Tamara smiling at him, egging him on to say something to the contrary. But it wasn't in him. He didn't feel like putting forth the effort. Not to mention that being around Tam was becoming uncomfortable the past couple of days. They would always end up bickering about something, and she would walk off in a huff…leaving him desperately wondering what he had done wrong to anger his best friend.

"Hello Tam. How are you today?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Here we go again! Can't even ask her how she's doing? He quickened his pace again. Chris had to get to the XO's quarters in less than two minutes to be briefed for an off-ship excursion.

"Sorry Tam, I've got somewhere to be."

"Oh yeah…tell my cousin hello for me, then. She hasn't talked to me since the dance, I hope you know!"

Tamara turned around in a huff, cursing under her breath about insensitive and stupid men.

"What the frak was that supposed to mean?"

What she didn't know is that Chris hadn't spoken to Megan, either. Since the Cylon attack, Master Chief Galen Tyrol had been giving him all kinds of looks that entailed fatherly notions of shooting a young man. And he really hadn't done anything to deserve it. Megan only spoke if she had to because of regulations or if they were flying CAP together…which had only happened once. He suspected that Helo had been behind that one, too.

He knocked on the door to his parents' quarters, and was greeted by his adorable little sister.

" 'Lo brudda."

She pulled on his pant leg to get him to pick her up. When he did, she went about messing up his carefully combed hair.

"Better."

Kara laughed as she witnessed the exchange between her children. It was hard to believe that they were all back together, as a family. It had been a dream she'd never thought possible.

Chris pulled a small journal from behind his back. It was something that Rebecca had given him long ago, to give him some answers. He assumed she had given it to him so that he wouldn't hate her as much when she was gone. And now he was going to give it to his parents, to satisfy their need to have their questions answered. He was pretty sure the journal would cover all of them.

"Mom…for you and Dad. You know…to read when you get the chance. Just about everything you ever wanted to know about the first sixteen years of my life are in there. Maybe it will help you understand things a little better."

Kara fingered the blue velvet that covered the binding. It was torn in a few places, but as she opened the cover, she could tell that it had been treated with love. It was only worn from where the owner had put in many subsequent entries.

"Thank you, Chris. Your father will be here in just a minute. Have a seat."

Several minutes passed before Colonel Adama came bursting through the door. He was out of breath, even though he'd carefully worked to keep his stunning physique over the past twenty years.

"Come on you guys…yes…all of you. We've got a Raptor to catch."

They boarded the Raptor, which was headed for the Geminon Traveler. Chris knew that the former President Laura Roslyn was living there now. She was almost in her seventies, and had decided it was time for a quiet, non-political life.

"Is everyone aboard, sir?"

Chris was surprised to see that Major Agathon would be in charge of their flight for today. It had been a long time since he'd seen the man outside of a Viper. And he didn't miss the cool look that was passed over him as Helo looked in the Lieutenant's direction. Chris made sure he nodded back, and then looked away to the ECO's station.

"Okay then. Let's go."

The ride was extremely short, for which they were all thankful. Lydia barely contained herself as the hatch opened into the waiting transport ship's hangar bay.

"Grandpa!"

She jumped into the waiting arms of Admiral William Adama…who had kept the rank and title of the office, but was really just a superficial advisor at this point in his career. There wasn't much that Commander Parrish and his son the Colonel couldn't handle without him anyway.

Kara took Christopher by the arm, and led him down the ramp to meet his grandfather, for the second time in his young life.

"Dad…this is your grandson."

Bill Adama did something he hadn't done in a long time. He cried. Reaching out and taking his grandson into his arms, he sobbed, releasing a lifetime of tension and worry and grief that he no longer had need for. Chris returned the embrace, though he was a little concerned the Old Man might physically hurt himself with so many tears.

It took a few minutes before he calmed his sobs, as he had made all of them begin crying, too. Little Lydia broke the moment with her childlike questioning.

"What's the big deal?"

They all began laughing, and Adama gave Christopher one more bear hug before letting him go.

"Welcome home."