A/N – Okay, originally this was going to be a one shot, then I got all fanciful and girly like. The result – pure meringue. And there's at least one more chapter to come, but I have to sleep now.

Thanks for the reviews, ps.

Chapter 2

He thinks he may burst, and grins like a goofy cadet. "Really? If you're kidding, so help me gods, I may be forced to..."

She snuggles her body closer to his and strokes his cheek before bringing her mouth to his. When their lips meet, it is a kiss like none they have shared. Like rain in a desert, it quenches them, washes away their sins and seals them to each other.

"I'm not kidding." She says, pulling back from him slightly to meet his gaze. Her breath draws in, as it does every time she catches sight of the exquisite cobalt of his eyes. "You're my soul, Lee Adama."

He can't imagine being any happier than he is at this moment. Then she straddles him.

"I did it." He sits back into the chair, cigar hanging from his mouth. "I did it, and she said yes." He grins and blows out a ring of smoke. Before he is aware of what he is doing, he swings his feet up onto the desk, leans back and laces his fingers behind his head.

"Watch your feet, Captain." The commander smiles slightly, tickled at the sight of his son sprawled out over his desk. "Your fiancés views on decorum seem to be rubbing off on you."

Lee swings quickly around and chokes a bit as he inhales inadvertently. "Sorry, Dad."

"I'm very happy for you both. And from the stories I've been hearing, it's about damn time you made an honest woman out of her." Lee blushes, but he laughs. The elder Adama goes to the bookshelves that line the walls of his small quarters. He pulls out a volume and takes a seat across from his son. "I have something for you."

Lee watches as his father opens the hardbound book. He removes a small envelope from its pages and hands it to his son.

"It was your grandmother's." The commander's voice is gruff. Lee lifts the flap of the envelope and shakes the contents into his hand.

"Her wedding ring?" Lee holds up the delicate item to the light. Composed of several filaments of contrasting medals braided and intertwined in a complicated weave, the ring is beautiful.

"Look here – on the center of this piece." His father points. There, on the band, is a tiny star. "Your grandmother would love her. The two of them share a certain spark." He presses the ring into his son's hand. "You did good." Lee stands and hugs his father tightly. "Now, a drink. To celebrate."

"So, Chief, do you think you can help me?" She really wants this to be perfect, and figures the only way to pull it off is to pull in professional help.

"Yeah! In fact, I think that's a damn clever idea, Lieutenant." He grins at her. "I'm really happy for you, by the way. I think the entire fleet is looking forward to this wedding."

"Don't remind me. I'm nervous enough as it is."

"Not getting cold feet, are you?"

"About marrying Lee? Not at all. It's the wedding that scares me shitless." She laughs loudly. "Colonel Tigh already bet me a bottle of shampoo and a pair of socks that I won't be able to get through the whole thing without saying 'frak' where someone important can hear me."

"Can I get in on that bet?" He ducks quickly, before her fist connects with his shoulder.

"Sweet Lords of Kobol, where in the frak did you find this?" Kara howls with laughter as she holds up a nearly invisible nightie. The girls around her collapse in giggles, everyone enjoying the heady rush of champagne. Never one to really relish "girl time" she found herself having a lot of fun.

"One more gift, Starbuck." Dee flashes her an evil grin, moving to the door behind her. "A little payback for taking that fine, fine man of yours off the market permanently."

"Oh shit. I don't think I want to know what's behind that door."

"Ladies! May I have your attention, please?" Dee is barely holding in her laughter. "One night only, here, on the great warship Battlestar Galactica, I present to you, the Naughty Nuggets." The room is suddenly filled with music and one by one, the young men in Kara's training group dance into the room, flight suits open to the waist and shirtless. The women explode in catcalls as the men turn their backs to the group and collectively shake their backsides at the adoring crowd. Kara is laughing so hard she has tears running down her face. Suddenly she is on her feet, being pulled by Dee and Kat.

"Shot time!" Racetrack is holding a tray of makeshift shot glasses. "Starbuck, you're first." She grabs Hotdog by the latch on the front of his suit and drags him to a chair. "Sit, nugget." She pushes him down and slips a test tube of ambrosia in the waistband of his boxers.

"I'm scared," he whimpers. "Please don't hurt me, Starbuck." The crowd roars. Gamely, she kneels in front of him.

"If you all even consider doing anything like this for Lee, I will personally kick your ass all the way to Earth," she whispers in his ear. She winks, puts her hands behind her back and takes the shot in one gulp.

"You sure you want to do this?" Lee asks, nuzzling against her neck as he fastens the buttons on his uniform jacket.

"Abso-frakin-lutely." She turns and helps him with his cuff link. "It's the only way I'm going to be able to get through tomorrow." She smiles at him. "You look delicious."

"You don't look so bad yourself." He gives her an appreciative ogle. She is luminous in a simple sheath dress, the ivory of her skin radiant against shimmering sky blue silk. He can't believe that she is about to be his wife. "We should go. My dad and the President will be waiting for us at the shuttle." He takes her arm gallantly. "I love you, Kara." He thinks he sees tears in her eyes, but she blinks quickly and kisses him.

"I love you."

At the shuttle pod, the Commander is pacing.

"That won't make them come sooner, you know." Laura spoke to break the silence.

"Do you think this is a good idea?" He asks her, stopping his steps for the moment.

"Actually, yes. I can only imagine how terrifying it would be to share such a personal moment with the entire fleet. I think this is very smart of them. And not a little romantic." She smiles, charmed by this side of him. "Here they come. Stop acting so nervous." She reflexively smoothes the collar of his jacket then pats it absently.

"Kara, you are a vision." He leans over to kiss his future daughter-in-law on the cheek, and then hugs his son.

"Thank you both for letting me be a part of this." Laura grasps Kara and Lee's already joined hands. "I'm truly honored."

"I'm glad you're here, Madame President. It means so much to us."

They stand in the center of the temple, with left hands over each other's heart, right hands clasped together. The Priestess stands beside them.

"Lee William Adama, are you prepared to make your promise to this soul?"

"I am." He looks down for a second, and squeezes her hand. She knows he is nervous. She smiles at him. His smile, the one she only gives to him. The rest of the world fades into the background; the galaxy again becomes just the two of them. "Every minute you love me I become a better man."

But wait! There's more!