Lee smiled to himself as he approached the bed that Kara was lying on. She was asleep, a few locks of her hair having fallen in front of her face, and he couldn't remember ever seeing her as being more beautiful. Carefully, not wanting to wake her, he reached for the small bundle in her arms. Her hands reflexively tightened their grip.

"Easy, Kara," he whispered to her. "It's just me; let me take him." Her eyes didn't even flutter open as she allowed him to pick up their six-hour-old son.

Adama was watching the scene from across the small curtained off area in the Life Station, and a smile crossed his face as his son moved toward him, gently cradling his own child, who was also sound asleep. "Dad," Lee quietly said as he gave him the newborn, "I'd like you to meet Zakary William Adama."

It had been a long time since the Commander had held a baby, but it still felt just as good as he'd remembered. "You're going to keep us all on our toes, aren't you?" he asked his grandson. Kara had started to go into premature labor twice, only for Zakary to be born five days late in the end.

Lee's grin widened as he watched them. Zakary had little wisps of brown hair and his father's blue eyes, but other than that, he looked more like his mother. He had apparently inherited Kara's temper as well, and so far she had been the only one to successfully calm him when he cried.

"How is she?" Adama asked his son, tilting his head in Kara's direction. It had taken a long day and a longer night to finally have the baby in their arms.

"Justifiably exhausted," Lee replied, "She fell asleep before Zak did."

"She's all right, though? No problems?"

"No, she'll be okay. Although she swears Zak won't be getting siblings anytime soon."

He chuckled softly. "That doesn't really surprise me…Lords, he looks just like her."

"Yeah, that's what everyone's been saying." Zak's eyes cracked open, and after taking a look around, he started to whimper. "Hey, none of that," Lee told the baby. "Your mom's sleeping, and I think she earned it, don't you? You're going to get me in trouble if you keep that up."

"Like you need his help getting yourself in trouble," a groggy voice came from behind them. Both men turned to see that Kara was awake, if just barely. Lee winced inwardly. He really had hoped they wouldn't wake her; she definitely needed the rest.

"Sorry," he whispered as he went and took her hand. Kara sent him a glare, but it was softened by a still-sleepy smile. Adama kissed his 'daughter's forehead.

"You did good," he told her. "He's beautiful."

Kara's smile widened. "Thank you."

Zak's whimpers were turning into full blown cries, so she reached to take her son from her father-in-law. "Well, I won't intrude any longer on your time together," Adama said after watching the three of them together for a moment.

"Don't worry about it," Lee started, but the older man shook his head.

"Enjoy your family. I need to make sure Paul isn't letting this ship fall apart without me." They all smiled at that. Lee walked with his father out to the hall, and by the time he returned, Kara had quieted Zak.

"It looks like the legendary Starbuck's got the magic touch with more than just fighters," he said with a grin as he sat on the edge of the bed beside her.

"I'm surprised he missed me that fast," she replied.

"Why wouldn't he?" Lee countered. "He's had nine months – and five days – to figure out how incredible of a person his mom is."

"Flattery will not get you out of getting him for middle of the night feedings," Kara declared as she curled up at Lee's side, both of them holding Zak between them. She ran a finger across the baby's chubby little cheek as he yawned; he really was a perfect combination of the two of them. "Despite how long we've been waiting, I still can't believe he's actually here," she whispered.

"I know what you mean."

"I've been so nervous that I wouldn't know what to do, but…I don't know. I saw him, and I wasn't worried anymore. And I'm still trying to figure out how we got here, you know? How we got to a place where things were so good without me screwing it up."

"Hey. You gave up on living life like a wrecking ball a long time ago. We're going to be fine."

Kara nodded, relaxing in his arms. Exhaustion was settling in again. "When you say it, I believe it."

"Good." Quiet fell for a long moment, and Lee was certain that Kara had gone back to sleep. But then,

"So, where's my stogie?" she whispered, a small smile crossing her face even though her eyes were closed. "I know you've got a stash to pass around when you go down to the deck, and don't even think you're gonna get away with not saving one for me."

Lee chuckled. "I've got one saved for you, all right, but you can't have it while you're nursing Zak. Don't worry; I'll keep it safe for you."

"You better," she threatened, her voice barely audible, as she drifted off. Lee just smiled to himself. She should have known by then that he'd do anything for her. They were opposite sides of the same coin, and he couldn't imagine his life without her in it. And now they had Zak, too.

Lee gently took the baby's hand, a smile crossing his face as the tiny appendage gripped his index finger by reflex. He could see their future in his son's eyes, and couldn't wait for it to begin.

FIN

I'm working on a sequel, that will be set in the months before and after the epilogue. Hopefully I'll have something with that ready to post this weekend. It'll be a Kara/Lee fic at heart, with Sharon/Tyrol, too, 'cause I've already set stuff up with them in this fic. Anyway, hope you enjoyed, and thanks so much for all the reviews. Any comments that will help make the next story better will be much appreciated.

UPDATE: The sequel to this story is called Chance. I'm also working on a third story in the series, Foreverland.