Notes: I wanted to start by thanking everyone who is still reading the story. I apologize for my sporadic updates. The holidays of course demanded by attention, then, to top it off, I came down very sick towards the end of last week, and didn't feel like doing much typing. I will try to do better about updates.

Its time for Lee and Kara to go to the ball. Don't worry, that won't be as corny as it might sound. At least, I hope not. Big developments this chapter. By the way, Angelii…good prediction regarding who they will run into at the ball.

Chapter Ten:

Lee checked his dress uniform over one more time in the mirror. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow. It was already soaked from the previous time he wiped sweat away from his face.

"Frak, why am I so nervous?" asked Lee of himself. "I've been out with Kara before. I SLEEP with her every night."

But Lee knew that this night was going to be special. He and Kara were going to be presenting themselves as a couple in front of a large number of the fleet's officers. Kara's and Lee's relationship had been mostly private up to that point, with the exception of the unknown people who may have glanced them eating at a restaurant or having drinks. Even the other officers on base didn't see them publicly affectionate with one another at the Officers Club. Kara was always nervous even to hold Lee's hand. Her friend Shane thought she was nuts, that if she had Lee as a boyfriend she would have her hand planted on Lee wherever they went to claim him in case other women got any ideas.

Kara was putting on her dress at Shane's quarters. Both ladies picked out the dress together, and were being very secretive about it. Lee couldn't wait to see Kara in a dress, knowing that despite her fears, Kara would look beautiful in a dress.

Satisfied with the appearance of his uniform, Lee turned off the lights in his and Kara's quarters, stepped out the door, locked it, and walked the dozen or so yards over to Shane's quarters. He walked up to the front door, straightened his uniform blouse one more time, and knocked.

A few moments later, Shane answered the door.

"Hi, Lee," said Shane.

"Shane," said Lee. "You know, I'm still surprised you aren't going to the ball tonight. I'm sure you wouldn't have any problems getting a date."

Shane smiled. "Thanks, Lee. But I'm like Kara…I hate formal occasions like that. If it wasn't for you, she sure as hell wouldn't be going either."

As she and Lee entered the living room of Shane's quarters, the door to the bedroom opened. Kara stepped out of the bedroom in a beautiful blue dress, her hair made up, and wearing just the right amount of makeup.

As soon as Lee looked at Kara, coming gracefully out of the bedroom, a big smile on her face, Lee Adama was hypnotized. He stood there, completely overwhelmed by the beautiful sight in front of him. She stood still for a moment, not sure how to take Lee's stunned expression.

Finally, Lee managed to speak. "So, um…" he began.

Kara realized finally that Lee was so impressed with her appearance that he was speechless. She recognized Lee's demeanor when he was stunned into silence. Kara got the same reaction one time from a more intimate and skimpy piece of clothing she wore for him once, in the privacy of their bedroom.

She walked over to stand closer to him. "I cleaned up good for the occasion, huh," said Kara.

Lee smiled. "Cleaned up good? Kara, you look…you look amazingly beautiful." He closed the distance between them, and put his arms around her waist. "Kara, you look….I swear you look like Aphrodite herself."

Kara giggled nervously. "Nice line, flyboy," she said, kissing him gently on the cheek.

"That's no line," said Lee. "I mean it, Kara."

"You two better get going," said Shane.

"Um, Lee," said Kara. "Just give me another minute, huh?"

"Sure," said Lee, finally shaken a bit more out of his trance. "I'll got get the car."

Lee backed towards the door, not taking his eyes off of Kara until he opened it and stepped outside. After Lee was out the door, Kara started to breath heavy.

"Frak me!" said Kara, putting her hand on her stomach.

"Kara," said Shane. "Stop being so nervous."

"This is nuts!" said Kara. "I mean, I can take a Viper and perform maneuvers that could kill me unless done perfectly. But I get in a dress and go to a dance with a guy, and I feel like I'm spiraling down towards an asteroid out of control. Frak, why did he have to be so damned gorgeous in his dress uniform to top it off?"

"Kara, you have nothing to be scared of," said Shane. "If a guy loved me like Lee loves you…"

"Shane, stop putting ideas like that in my head," said Kara. "Look, he's waiting, so."

Kara walked towards the door, took a deep breath, and went to open it. Shane stopped her.

"Kara," said Shane. "Take a good look at how Lee sees you sometime. You'll get ideas of love in your head just from that. The great thing about it is that I know you love him, too."

Kara smiled to herself briefly, knowing in her heart that Shane was right about the latter. But it was the former that nagged at her. Finally, she opened the door, to meet her prince and go the ball.

When they pulled up in front of the mansion where the ball was being held, two dress-uniformed petty officers walked over and opened the doors to Lee's car. The couple got out as the petty officers saluted Lee. One of them took Lee's keys to park the car. After the car pulled away, Kara walked over to Lee and adjusted her uniform collar.

"There," she said. "That's better. The seatbelt messed it up a little."

"Thanks," said Lee. He held out his arm, and she took it. "Shall we?"

"Into the breach we go," she replied.

They walked into the ball together, and made their way through the receiving line. The hosts of the party were both Admiral Nagala and the governor of Picon, whose mansion was the setting for the occasion. After making their way through the line, they stepped into the resplendent ball filled with dress-uniformed officers whose ranks ranged from Junior Officers to Admirals of the Fleet. Lee recognized many of them, as did Kara.

"You know," said Kara. "One bomb set off here and a large portion of the fleet would be crippled."

Lee chuckled. "Kara, the thoughts you have…"

"Lee," said a man's voice from their right.

It had been a while, but Lee would know that voice anywhere. He and Kara turned to face the approaching form of Commander William Adama.

"Dad," said Lee with a startled voice. "Um, I mean, sir." He and Kara both came to attention.

"At ease, Lee," said Adama. He held out his hand, and the younger Adama took it. "How are you, son?"

"Fine, sir," said Lee. "I…I didn't know you were on Picon."

"The Galactica is in port here for repairs," said Adama. "Anyhow, the Admiral insisted I show up for this little party of his." Adama looked pointedly at Kara. "Lt. Adama, where are your manners? Please introduce me to this lovely young woman on your arm."

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Lee. "Dad, this is my girlfriend, Lt. Kara Thrace. Kara, this is my father, Commander William Adama."

"Honored, sir," said Kara, holding out her hand.

Adama took it in a gentle handshake. "The honor is mine, Lieutenant. My son has told me in his rather infrequent letters," saying the last part looking at Lee, "that you are a flight instructor at the Colonial Flight Academy."

"Yes, sir," said Kara.

"And you were my younger son, Zak's, instructor," said Adama.

Kara suddenly became nervous. "Yes, I was. Sir, I…regret he didn't…"

"Not to worry, Lieutenant," said Adama. "I looked over your evaluation of Zak's performance. Your decision to flunk him was a sound one."

"I appreciate that, sir," said Kara.

"Something else I wanted to ask you about," said Adama. "I actually want to ask both of you about this. Scuttlebutt around the fleet is that my son…my normally reserved and in control of himself son…challenged you to a competition of sorts on the Darby Queen?"

Lee grimaced. "Um, yes sir."

"And that you lost said competition, Lee," said Adama.

"Yes, sir," said Lee.

"How?" asked Adama.

"She did a reverse spiral near grid seven of the course," said Lee, smiling at Kara with a sort of pride in his eyes for his girlfriend's piloting skills.

Adama looked at her with shock. Grid seven was towards the end of the course, and one of the most dangerous portions of the Darby Queen. "Are you that good or just frakking nuts?" he asked.

Kara smiled. "I think kicking your son's ass to the curb proved how good I am, sir."

Adama chuckled. "Son," he said, looking at Lee. "I like her."

Lee put his arm around Kara. "Glad you approve, sir," said Lee.

"Of course, you still need to get your mother's seal of approval," said Adama. "How is she by the way, Lee?"

Lee became quiet for a moment before answering. "Fine, sir," he said.

"Good," said Adama. "Well, if you two will excuse me. I have to make the rounds with the brass. Lt. Thrace, once again, it was a pleasure."

"Me too, sir," said Kara.

"Lee," said Adama. "The Galactica will be in orbit for a week. Give me a call. We'll have dinner."

"I'd like that, sir," said Lee, with less than sincere enthusiasm.

As the Commander walked away, Lee let out a deep breath he seemed to be holding. "Lee, he doesn't seem so bad," said Kara. "Of course, my experience with parents should not be used as a gauge for anything."

"I just never know how to relate to him," said Lee. "He's always been such a distant person. Our dinners…when we have them, are always about the service and how our careers are both going. Or talking about the family, which is kind of awkward now that he and Mom are divorced."

"Well, no need to worry about that now," said Kara. "I believe you brought me here to dance."

"I sure did," Lee said, looking at his beautiful date with a smile.

They stepped out onto the floor and started dancing to the slow, steady rhythm of what Kara had described as elevator music. As they danced, Lee and Kara exchanged a few words here and there, and enjoyed being together.

"I'm glad you talked me into coming," said Kara. "I'm having a great time."

"Me too," said Lee.

"I also liked being introduced to your father as your girlfriend," said Kara.

Lee smiled. "I like introducing you to people as my girlfriend. That's why we are here, after all. I want to show you off to the world."

"Good evening," said a man's voice.

Kara recognized it, and grimaced. "So much for a great time," she said.

Captain Ellis Paret stood there with a sneering smile. "Lt. Adama," he said. "Captain Paret, we met at the O Club that time."

"I remember, sir," said Lee.

"So, may I cut in?" asked Paret.

Before Kara could answer, Lee spoke up. "Sorry, sir," he said, turning to smile at Kara. "Her dance card is full."

Kara smiled at Lee. "Gods, I love him," she thought.

"I think I'd like to hear that from her, Lieutenant Adama," said Paret.

"You have your answer, Captain," said Kara. "I'd suggest you look elsewhere. Come on, Lee, let's get a drink."

"Now that's not very courteous, Lieutenant Thrace," said Paret, who caught Kara by the shoulder. This brought an immediate and forceful response from Lee, who knocked Paret's hand off of Kara's shoulder, and pushed Paret away from Kara.

"Keep your hands off her!" said Lee, in an angry tone. He knew Kara's history with Paret, and did not like the way he was interfering with their enjoyment of the evening, and definitely did not like him touching Kara.

"Lee," said Kara, in a calming tone, putting her hand's on Lee's chest. The rest of the officers around them stopped dancing and stared in shock at the scene.

"I suggest you watch your tone, Lt. Adama," said Paret.

"I suggest you back off before I knock you on your ass," said Lee.

"What is going on?" asked Commander Adama, as he walked up to the scene.

Lee and Kara noticed everyone around them had stopped to see the altercation.

"Daddy comes to your rescue," whispered Paret to Lee in an attempt to goad him. Lee didn't take the bait.

"Sir," said Paret to Commander Adama. "Just a slight disagreement between Lt. Adama and myself. Nothing to be concerned about."

"Any disagreement that disrupts a formal military function is something to be concerned about," said Adama. He turned to look at Lee. "I thought better of you, Lieutenant."

Lee said nothing, but instead stood and looked at his father in silence. Paret, standing slightly behind the Commander, sneered with delight. Kara could take no more.

"Commander," she said. "Lee was provoked. Captain Paret asked me to dance, I didn't want to dance with him, but the Captain wouldn't take no for an answer. He grabbed me unexpectedly, and Lee expressed…concern."

Adama looked his son. "Is this true?"

Lee nodded. "Yes…sir. But you are right, and I will apologize to Admiral Nagala."

"In writing," said Adama. "Fortunately, he was in dispose, so he didn't see this. As for you, Captain Paret," he said, turning to Paret. "I'd suggest next time that you take no for an answer, and keep your hands to yourself. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," said Paret, the sneer now gone from his face.

The crowd broke up and went back to dancing and participating in the festivities. Lee and Kara decided to go outside to get away from the crowd for a while. The garden outside was large, and relatively empty save for a few people close to the back entrance to the mansion. They walked away from the mansion and into the outer part of the gardens.

"I'm sorry, Kara, that our evening got spoiled," said Lee.

"Who said our evening has been spoiled?" asked Kara. "I'm having a great time, Lee. Besides, its not every girl who gets to see her boyfriend stick up for her." She turned to him, pulled him into her embrace, and kissed him gently on the lips. "My protector," she joked.

"I don't know what happened," said Lee. "I just…I could have handled that better."

"Lee, Paret is a prick that doesn't deserve any more of our attention," said Kara.

They stood there for a few moments, just holding one another. Lee brought his hand to Kara's face, and cupped her cheek gently. He smiled at her, holding back for a moment, but finally deciding to risk saying what was on his mind.

"I love you, Kara," said Lee.

Kara's expression was unreadable to Lee. Inside of herself, Kara felt a storm of emotions, ranging from joy at hearing Lee say those words to fear that this might all be a dream that she would wake up from. She had to confirm what she heard.

"Did you say you love me?" asked Kara.

Lee brought Kara's face closer to his, and kissed her tenderly, but passionately, on the lips. As he broke their kiss, Lee smiled. "Yes, I did."

Tears began forming in Kara's eyes. "Do you mean that? Because, I mean…if you didn't mean what you just said…"

Lee kissed away a tear that fell down Kara's cheek, then kissed her on her forehead, then once again on her mouth. "I mean it, Kara. I love you."

"Lee, no one…ever…has said that to me," said Kara. "Well, not since I was very little. At least…no one said it with any real meaning."

"You deserve to hear it," said Lee. "You deserve to be loved, by someone far better than I am."

Kara laughed slightly at the thought. "As if there could be anyone better than you," she said, caressing Lee's cheek with her fingers. "My beautiful man. My Lee." She kissed him with more feeling than she has ever kissed Lee before. "Gods, Lee Adama. I am so frakking in love with you it scares me."

Lee let out a small laugh, filled with joy. "You said it, Kara. You…you love me."

Kara nodded. "Yeah," she said. "I love you."

They kissed each other one more time, then just held each other for a long time. Finally, Kara looked up at the man she loved. "Lee, take me home. Make love to me."

Later that night, Lee and Kara held each other in their bed. Kara's head rested on Lee's chest, and he had his arms wrapped protectively around her. They're love making both exhausted them and filled them with more life than either of them had ever felt. They didn't sleep for a while, but instead enjoyed holding one another as they began a new chapter in their relationship.

End of Chapter Ten. Chapter Eleven coming soon. As always, feedback/reviews are welcomed and very much appreciated.