Disclaimer—I don't own this stuff.

Chapter 9

"I hear the Commander and President Roslin finally gave up trying to annul their monkey wedding," whispered Kara teasingly as Lee pulled out a chair for her in the mess hall.

Lee rolled his eyes. "Seems no one in the colonies knows how to go about the annulment process for a Monkey-dom wedding. Even Lady Vagalal forgot how it works."

"Guess that means Cally and the Chief are still married too, huh?"

"Yep, Cally's been on a warpath ever since. She's still not talking to the Chief—something along the lines of this one being his entire fault."

"I can't blame her; the Chief did order her to join in that monkey hocus-pocus crap." Kara snickered as she relived the memory.

"Kara, you do realize these are the two people you want to be the godparents of our children, don't you?"

"Yeah…but they only get one kid, the other kid is getting Dee and Billy for godparents. See? I can distribute equally too."

"Uh-huh." Lee sighed. "Tell me, how much longer until things return to normal?"

"Oh please, you don't actually believe that, do you? I have to figure out how to breastfeed two kids at one time! The doc keeps telling me it's not possible!" exclaimed Kara as she stabbed a fork into her tray of food. Lee flinched at the sound of metal scraping against metal.

"Anyway, my father has a couple complaints against this wedding you want."

"Like what?"

"Oh, you know, the usual stuff…you don't really need vipers flying overhead, do you?"

Kara grinned. "Of course I do, I want the military as involved as possible…we are both part of the fighting class, remember?"

"Unfortunately. Alright, how about this one—do you honestly want a marine salute?"

"And I want a real pianist with a real singer; lots and lots of white daisies, a cake as big as the Chief's head, and stogies for everyone," finished Kara triumphantly.

Lee made a face before leaning across the table, closer to Kara. "Is this the babies talking, or is this actually what you want our wedding to be like?"

"At this point, I think it's a little of both. You should be happy I restrained myself from making our wedding into a theme wedding."

"A theme wedding? You're joking, right?"

"Lee, I'm carrying two gigantic sperm whales in my stomach, I hardly think I'd joke about something as serious as the ceremony that will unite us as husband and wife," returned Kara with an ominous look.

Lee raised his hands in defense, leaning back in his seat. "Hey, just thought I'd ask before I commit myself to you for the rest of our god-forsaken lives."

"Ha. Ha. Forgive me for not laughing here."

"Sorry." Lee managed a small smile that Kara blithely ignored by returning to her meal. "So where do you want to go on our honeymoon?"

"I just want to be back in my viper again."

"I don't think there's enough room in the viper for the two of us."

"Shows what you know, flyboy. I can make room for you if need be. I thought we weren't going to take a honeymoon; I thought your dad was grounding us to the Galactica."

"He is, but just in case he changes his mind and wants to steal our children away for a couple of days I'd like to be prepared," replied Lee waving his fork in the air. Kara chuckled at the thought.

"Gods, could you be anymore of a tightwad?" she murmured.

"Frack you."

"You already did, Captain, that's kind of how I ended up looking like a bloated whale. Haven't you noticed?"

"How couldn't I notice? You toss and turn all night, you steal the covers, and you cry every time we try to cuddle because my arms can't fit around your waist anymore," groaned Lee.

"Well excuse me! Do you have any idea how horrible it is to wake up in the morning and the first thing you see is your belly staring right back at you?" demanded Kara spiritedly.

"I know, I know. Dr. Baltar already told me you've asked him to find a way to make men carry unborn babies in the future. He's hard at work on that particular project as we speak, Kara."

"No he's not," muttered the blonde darkly as she placed a hand on her stomach. "He's too busy hiding from Lady Vagalal—she finally decided she wanted to marry him rather than Crashdown or Gaeta."

"Can you blame her? Baltar's just as crazy as she is, it's a match made in heaven. I'm sure his invisible friend is thrilled to have another mental patient to play with." Lee smirked, but his face faltered as he noticed Kara shifting around in her seat.

"What's wrong?" he asked, edging closer to panic.

Kara narrowed her eyes. "This frackin' seat is uncomfortable!"

"They weren't made with relaxation in mind, we're on a battlestar, not a luxury liner."

"Yeah, yeah, up yours, Lee," snapped Kara irritably. After more shifting she pushed herself up and out of her seat.

"Now what?"

"The seat's wet! Who the hell is in charge of keeping these fracking chairs dry? I want answers—and I want blood!" retorted Kara. Lee's eyes widened in alarm as his mind registered Kara's heated words.

"K-k-Kara, honey, do you think maybe your water just broke?" Lee was on his feet and at Kara's side as she gave him a funny look.

"Are you crazy? We still have…um…like…oh."

"Oh? What oh? Your water broke, didn't it? Kara," Lee's voice trailed off nervously as Kara doubled over in pain.

"Yeah," she hissed sucking in her breath, "I think we're about to have some babies, Captain."

"Oh no, not right here!" cried out Hotdog overhearing the Lieutenant as he tried to walk by. "I just ate, I don't wanna see some bloody babies—no offense, Captain," he ended lamely upon getting a dark look from Lee.

"Then help me get her to the med bay."

"Yessir!" Hotdog tossed his loaded tray up and over his head in a rush to aid Lee. Together the two pilots picked Kara up in their arms and began a frantic wobble-run towards the med bay.

"For frack's sake, Starbuck, how much do you weigh?" gasped Hotdog trying not to lose his grip.

"You're lucky I'm in labor, nugget, or someone would be wiping you off the walls right about now," seethed Kara in between ragged breaths.

"I've got to agree, Kara," added Lee after another moment, "I'm putting you on a strict workout regimen as soon as the Doc clears you for normalcy again."

"You…are…a…dead…man…walking!" vowed Kara. The group was almost to the med bay, every single person they passed moved aside as Lee called out ahead into the upcoming path.

Cally froze and then squealed with delight as Hotdog and Lee rushed past her with Kara in their arms. "Oh man! Are you going into labor, Starbuck?" she cried out running after them.

"Seems…like…it."

"Okay, remember, breathe in, one, two, three, breathe out. Got that?"

"Sure…hard to…forget…with all…the pain—owwwww!" Kara broke out into a loud scream as more convulsions hit her. Cally was jumping around excitedly as Lee and Hotdog placed her on the first empty bed in the med bay.

"Find the Doc," ordered Lee patting Hotdog on the back. The younger pilot nodded, dashing off in a hurry. Lee turned back to Kara and took a sweaty palm in his own. "Kara, darling, are you okay?"

"Am I okay?" seethed Kara between gritted teeth. "Do I look okay to you? I'm about to give birth to a fracking wooly mammoth! Of course I'm not okay!"

Lee nodded trying to soothe his flustered fiancée. "Right, right, forget I asked."

Cally rolled her eyes and took a couple of voluntary steps backwards. "Maybe I should go find the Commander and President Roslin—"

"President Adama!" corrected Kara sharply.

"Of course!" Cally nodded in agreement. "I—I'll go find them."

"And Dee…and Billy…and your husband…anyone else, Lee?" asked Kara breathing in relief as the pain fled momentarily.

Lee shook his head quickly. There was no way in hell he was about to start arguing with a woman in labor. Cally opened her mouth but wisely shut it before retreating from the bed. Just as she was leaving, Doctor Cottle appeared, pulling a pair of latex gloves onto his hands.

"How's my least favorite patient?" he asked gruffly.

"Drugs! You gotta give me drugs, Doc!" pleaded Kara desperately trying to lean up on her elbows. "I know they have special drugs for pregnant women! Come on! Just a little bit!"

Doctor Cottle shook his head regretfully. "As much as I wish I could, and believe me when I say I really wish I could, Thrace…but we don't have any more drugs left. Last ones were used up couple of months ago."

"What?" Kara's mouth fell open. "You gave away my drugs? Why you son-of-ahhhhh!" Kara fell back onto the bed, another convulsion wracking her body. Lee yelled out as well as his hand was crushed in Kara's iron-like grip. Shaking his head, the doctor pulled the curtain around the bed closed before propping up Kara's legs and inspecting her.

"Here's some good news. The first kid is on its way as we speak."

Kara gritted her teeth. "How about you tell it to go right back in? I ain't having any babies today. Nuh-uh, I'm not ready to be a mom yet. Tell it to stay in my stomach—or better yet, tell it to teleport into Lee's stomach and make him pop a few kids out."

Lee shook his head in amusement as he smoothed Kara's hair off her forehead. "Kara, I think it's time, whether you want it to be or not. Let's have our babies."

"Oh no, hell no! I don't mind being fat—really; it's kinda fun, in a sick, twisted sort of way. Owowowowowowow!"

"Here it comes!" announced the doctor with a large grin on his face. "On three I want you to push."

"Huh?" Kara picked up her neck to glare down at the doctor. "Three?"

"Three!"

"I wasn't ready!" screamed Kara as she pushed with all her might.

"Kara, my hand…Kara!" Lee chomped down on his tongue in surprise as Kara squeezed his hand, cracking a couple of the bones in it. The enclosed area was full of chaotic yelling. The doctor saying push, Lee howling in pain, and Kara screaming at the top of her lungs. And then a minute later a new sound joined in. The cry of a baby.

"What's that?" asked Kara, cutting off her mid-scream. Lee gasped in amazement as he caught sight of his newborn son.

"Is that it? That wasn't so bad," said Kara taking a deep breath. Lee was still speechless as Hotdog returned just in time for Cottle to thrust the bloody baby into his hands.

"What's this…I don't want it!" murmured Hotdog, his eyes widening at the bloody baby in his arms.

Doc Cottle grunted. "Don't drop it, and clean it off with a cloth. Now, Thrace, I need you to push one more time, okay?"

"What for?" demanded Kara suspiciously, her hand tightening around Lee's broken fingers.

"Because your other kid is ready to pop out too." As if on cue, Kara writhed in pain, signaling the fact that she was ready.

"I hate you, Lee! I hate you!" she shrieked glaring at him with sweat sliding down her face. "If you ever let your naked body near mine again I swear to the gods I will turn you into a fracking woman! You got that mister CAG man?"

"Yeah, loud and clear, Kara. Now, push!" ordered Lee sternly, his hand going numb from all the pain. Kara's screams resounded throughout the med bay as she pushed once more. Hotdog was entranced with shock as he watched Kara give birth to a daughter, the other baby still in wriggling in his hands.

"Thank the gods!" exclaimed Kara exhaustedly as the second baby wailed aloud. "I am never having anymore children after this."

"No…problem," wheezed Lee clutching his broken hand the second Kara let it go. Doc Cottle shook his head and set about cleaning up the newborn babies. He wrapped them in white cotton blankets and handed one to Kara, and the other to Lee. With another shake of his head, the old man took Hotdog by the shoulders and led the scarred pilot away from the first time parents.

"She's so tiny," cooed Kara fingering her daughter's small wisps of blonde hair.

"No kidding," breathed Lee cradling his son in the crook of his arms, forgetting all about his aching hand.

"And we get to keep them, right?" murmured Kara looking up and around in case someone decided to jump out and snatch the babies away from her.

Lee chuckled. "Yeah, they're all ours. Forever too."

Kara's face fell. "You mean we can't sell them the day they turn thirteen?"

"I don't think that's legal."

"Huh, your new step-mom's the president, bet she could make it legal later on down the road."

"Yeah, but right now, I don't think I'm ever going to want to get rid of them."

Kara snorted, "Suit yourself. They're all yours when they're thirteen."

Lee looked up sharply. "Hey now, I never said I wanted them all to myself. This is a two way deal, Kara. They're as much yours as they are mine."

"Where are my children?" boomed a deep voice from the other side of the curtains. Kara and Lee exchanged sneaky looks before Commander Adama and the President bounded through the curtains. At the sight of Lee and Kara each holding a child, the Commander's usually stoic face wrinkled into his first grandfatherly smile.

"How beautiful," breathed Roslin softly. She came to stand beside Kara, gazing down at the dozing babe.

"Boys? Girls?" demanded Adama edging closer to his son.

"One of each," replied Lee with an amused smile.

Roslin looked up in surprise. "Have you two decided on names yet?"

Lee and Kara exchanged another knowing look before answering. Kara cleared her throat to indicate the child in her arms. "This is Gwendolyn Hope Adama."

"And this," continued Lee proudly, "is Rocket Carter Adama."

The Commander glanced back and forth between the two pilots suspiciously. "I thought you didn't like that name."

"Changed my mind," murmured Lee looking down at his son.

Roslin pursed her lips thoughtfully. "How long before you guys agreed on these names?"

Kara giggled. "I threatened to throw Lee out the airlock if he didn't choose Rocket."

"And I threatened to impregnate her before she could return to the air if she didn't find a sensible name," added Lee.

"I see. I like them," said the Commander. Lee grinned up at his father and without speaking, handed Rocket over to his grandfather. Kara smiled and turned to Roslin, handing the President Gwendolyn.

"I think we're grandparents, Commander," murmured Roslin as she rocked the baby in her arms.

"Seems that way," was all the Commander could muster as he smile down on his grandson.

"Gotta love Lady Vagalal—the woman works in mysterious ways," sighed Kara.

"Tell that to the Commander. He had Lady Vagalal sent to the brig an hour ago." President Roslin winked at Kara conspiratorially.

"For what?" questioned Lee with a slight frown.

"For being a sneaky old hag," returned the Commander smoothly.

"Right," said Lee, "because that's first class treason right there."

"Awwww!" the small group turned to see Dee, Billy, the Chief and Cally standing just beyond the curtains. They quietly entered to gaze upon the latest generation in the Adama family.

After several more minutes of adoring the babies, Cally finally broke the silence. "Hey Chief, I want a baby."

A/N—I didn't mean to take so long, but I really hope this one's worth it. One more chapter to go and then I will officially be done with this story. So next chapter will be the long awaited wedding. Enjoy until then!