Chapter 6

Disclaimer: Still don't own anything.

Kara did not even have to remind the commander about finding her private quarters the next morning. Someone beat her to it. Her fellow bunk mates obviously did not relish the thought of spending another night with Kara and her screaming child. They were just finishing breakfast when her favorite XO approached her table.

"Good morning Lieutenant, heard you had a rough night last night. For some reason the words Starbuck and Mommy just don't seem to fit," he said with a smug grin.

"What do you want?" Kara replied testily. She was not in the mood to take on the XO this morning.

"I was just going to show you to your new quarters. Sorry I didn't get around to it sooner, but there are some things a little more important than helping you play house."

"Whatever just show me the room," she said flatly while picking up her daughter.

He stood there for a moment just starring at the two of them together. "What?" Kara asked impatiently not enjoying being starred at.

"Nothing, just a sight I thought I would never see," he replied shaking his head.

The room was actually three rooms. Nothing great, but better than what Kara had expected. It was an old office that had been converted to living quarters. The large room had been some sort of waiting area there was a large desk and a couch, and off the main room was a smaller room that was already occupied by a bed. Off of that room was a very large closet. Kara guessed it at one time housed filing cabinets, now it had a very small bed and a chest with a few toys.

"The Admiral had people running all around the ship trying to furnish this for you, so you better be grateful!" He spat out before leaving Kara and Leah to their new home.

"Well what do you think?" Kara asked setting the little girl on the floor. "It's not Cloud Nine, but it sure is a hell of a lot better than sharing a room with 6 other people."

Leah immediately began exploring her new surroundings. Kara followed her as she quickly found the room with the toys. There was a doll that looked like it had seen better days, some building blocks, a ball, and a toy viper. Kara couldn't help the smile that appeared as Leah grabbed the Viper. Maybe not the most appropriate toy for a 1 year old, but it sure did make a mama proud.

The Admiral had given Kara the rest of the week off. Kara took advantage of the time to relax, bond with her daughter, and figure out how she was going to introduce Leah to her father.

Lee was ready to go back home, so ready he came back half a day early. He thought it funny he considered Galactica home, seeing as how he thought it was an old outdated hunk of junk almost a year earlier. He could not wait to get off Pegasus. Even with Admiral Cain gone the whole ship still retained her arrogant 'in your face attitude'. The new commander would never have made Commander in the real world, but for now he would have to do.

Lee was anxious to find his father and give him his report on how the Pegasus was doing. He was disappointed when he found his father was on Colonial One in a meeting with the President.

As he left CIC he heard footsteps approaching behind him. He turned and was greeted by a friendly face. "Dee.." He began to reach out to her, but stopped when he realized they weren't alone in the corridor. "Major Adama," she said not missing a moment to use his newly appointed rank, "it is good to have you back."

What began as harmless flirting over training sessions, had grown into something more over the past few weeks. Neither of them was sure what exactly their relationship was, but it was more than friendship, but not quite lovers, yet. Dee had been in a relationship with the president's aid, one that she had broke off the minute Lee had shown the slightest bit of interest in her. Lee recently had been involved in his affair with Shevon aboard Cloud Nine, so neither of them were pushing the relationship, just letting it take its course.

"It's great to be back," He confessed. "You don't realize how much you miss certain things until they are no longer around." He replied looking down into her green eyes. He didn't miss the blush that crept into her cheeks with his comment.

"Well sir, I am sure they missed you too," she said keeping the conversation vague until they could reach more private quarters.

He hoped his office would be empty, since it was the first room they came too, and by the way Dee was looking at him, he had a feeling she was ready to take the relationship to the next level. As he spun the handle on the hatch, he had the sudden thought of Starbuck sitting there, feet propped on his desk, his pen in her mouth as she tried to muddle through all the paper work she so hated. Oh gods he prayed she wouldn't be there - this wasn't something he wanted to explain, at least not to her.

His prayers were answered, no Starbuck, but what surprised him was to find Kat sitting at his desk, bent over a pile of paperwork. She wouldn't dream of putting her feet on the Major's desk.

"Kat what are you doing in my office!" He snapped at the surprised officer.

"Sir!" she said standing suddenly to salute her senior officer. "Just trying to figure out the next flight schedule, Sir," she replied looking very nervous.

"Why are you doing the flight schedule Kat?" he asked growing more confused by the minute.

"Well sir, I was the acting CAG while you were gone," she tried to explain.

"Where the frak is Starbuck?" Lee asked.

"Well she was in hack for the first part of the week." Kat began to explain.

"Great what did she do now?" Lee asked.

"You mean you don't know?" Dee asked entering the conversation.

"Know what?" Lee replied.

Kat couldn't hide the big smile that was covering her face. This was going to be good. "I can't believe they didn't notify you Major with the news." Kat said with a saucy grin.

Lee looked at Dee with a bewildered expression, begging her to explain, but Kat got there first.

"Starbuck's a new mommy." Kat said trying so hard not to laugh at the shocked look on the Major's face.

"What," Lee stammered trying to register the information. "Kara wasn't pregnant, there is no way she could have had a baby, I was only gone a week."

"Lee, there has been a lot happening while you were gone." Dee said trying to explain.

"I think that is the understatement of the year." Kat said with a laugh.

"Quiet Kat!" Lee said sharply. "Dee please explain."

"Lee, maybe you should talk to Kara." Dee said not liking the angry look already on Lee's face.

"Kara did not deem it necessary to tell me about this, so you are going to now Dee. I am sorry, but that is an order," he replied. "Start with why she was put in hack."

"I believe the charges were for assaulting a security guard in sick bay, and waving a weapon in a populated area."

"Okay, no surprises there," he replied quickly. "Now what about this nonsense about her having a baby?"

"It's true sir. She has a child, a daughter. She is not a baby though, not really. I believe they said she is one. She has been on board Galactica all along - Kara had another family taking care of her, but now she is with Kara her real mother." Dee said trying to get the facts straight.

Shocked was not the word for what Lee was feeling right then. It was that and so much more. He was angry, and felt foolish and betrayed. Here he was finding out that Kara, whom he considered his best friend, had a daughter, and everyone new about it, but him.

"Where the frak is she?" He asked Kat in a surprising quiet controlled tone.

"I believe I saw her last on Hangar deck B." Kat said.

Lee forgot about the other two women in the room. He now only had one thing on his mind. He was like a madman as he stormed his way toward the deck. When he reached the balcony over looking the deck, he quickly scanned it looking for her.

His scanning was quickly interrupted by the Chief approaching. "That's Starbuck for you, the kid's not even two years old and she already has her in a viper," he said with a chuckle.

Lee followed the chief's glance and saw the familiar blonde head in his Mark VII. She was in the process of climbing out, then reached back in and pulled miniature of herself. Lee had the proof right before his eyes. Kara had a kid, and hadn't even bothered mentioning it to him.

One of the deck hands approached the two of them pulling a wooden cart. He saw him say something to Kara, which she responded to by throwing her head back with a laugh; he could hear her chuckle all the way from where he stood watching. She bent over and placed the little girl in the cart and let the deck hand take the child for a ride. She stood and watched with an amused grin on her face. Lee was not amused.

He sat their glaring at her, the anger building up threatening to consume him. It was like she could feel his eyes boring into her, she turned ever so slowly, and then looked up. As their eyes met, a strange look crossed her face. Then she waved at him and smiled. The gesture was not returned.

Kara had been trying to pass the time waiting for Lee to return. She was nervous, and Leah was restless. They made their way to the Hangar deck, she always enjoyed spending time here. If she couldn't be in her Viper flying, she was happy just being around them. The crew had only known Leah for a week, and already they had all fallen in love with the little girl. Children were such a rarity on Galactica, and it seemed like everyone had a little sister, cousin, niece, or child, that Leah reminded them off. They all took a moment to say hi to the little girl, try to get a high five, or get her to say their name. She was a celebrity and didn't even know it.

Kara noticed Lee's Viper was set out having routine maintenance checks done. "Hey Cally, do you mind?" Kara asked the mechanic lying underneath the plane. "Leah really likes planes."

"Hey you're my boss, Lieutenant, be my guest," she said standing and pulling the ladder up to the cock pit.

"Thanks" Kara replied. "Come on Leah, you want to get in," she asked climbing the ladder with the little girl in her arms.

She situated Leah between her legs and let her start playing with the powerless controls. "This is your daddy's" she whispered in her ear. "And he is amazing in it, one day you will see. You're going to meet him today." Kara said the nervous excitement building up. She knew he would first be upset with her, but she prayed after the initial shock he would be happy. How could you not love this little girl. Leah squealed with joy as she pulled on the throttle. "I think you are going to love flying as much as your parents." Kara said kissing her daughter on the head. "Well Leah, as much as you are enjoying this we are going to have to give Cally her plane back" she said climbing out of the cock pit and pulling Leah out with her.

Jake one of the younger members of the crew approached her pulling a wooden wagon behind him. He was one of the crew that was particularly fond of Leah. "Sir, I made this for Leah, in my free time of course," he said looking around nervously for the chief.

"Sure, Jake, I know you have just tons of free time around here. Thanks she'll like it."

"Do you care if I take her on her first ride?" He asked.

She couldn't help but laugh at the kid. It's pretty bad when the highlight of your day is taking a little girl for a ride in a wagon. It was sweet.

"Sure go ahead," she said setting Leah down in the wagon.

She watched her laugh as he pulled her across the deck. Then she felt it, something that made her turn and look, up.

Her eyes met his cold blue ones. He was back, early, and he knew. She could tell by the look on his face someone had told him.

She didn't know what to do. Breathe Kara, smile and wave.

She made her way up the stairs toward where he was standing. She noticed Kat and Dee standing behind him, odd group, she thought quickly. "Hello, Lee…" She began, but was cut of quickly.

"Lieutenant, I left you in charge, and I come back to find you have taken the week off and Kat has taken your place."

"Lee, I can explain," she said quickly surprised at the hard look on his face.

"I already know the story Starbuck, you were in hack and now you are playing Mommy," he spat at her.

"Lee, please…"

"I don't want to hear it," he said cutting her off. "Need I remind you this is the Hangar deck of a Battlestar and not a playground. You need to take your kid and find another place to play," he said sharply.

This was not like she had planned it. She wanted to be the one to tell him about Leah, it wasn't supposed to happen like this. She had to bite her lip to keep the tears back that threatened to spill.

"If you would just let me frakkin explain." She said in a tight voice.

He was hurting her, he knew it. He saw the tears that were threatening to spill, but he didn't care. He was tired of the drama, the stress, the constant turmoil that revolved around her.

Their discussion was interrupted by the announcement over the com, "Action stations, action stations, we've got incoming raiders, launch the alert fighters."

Immediately everyone scattered, Kara looked around quickly trying to locate Leah.

"Kara take your kid and go, you're not needed here." Lee commanded.

"Lee I can be in the air in three minutes, let me just leave her with Jake…" Kara pleaded.

"You don't even have on your flight suit Kara, take her and go." Lee said turning his back on both of them.

She quickly went from being sad, to being really pissed off. He thought he knew the whole story that was fine. She wasn't telling him a thing, if he ever wanted to know more than that he could come to her. He could figure out himself why her daughter resembled him so. Yeah everyone immediately saw the blonde hair and thought Kara, but she wondered just how long it would take for them to take a second look and see she was the spitting image of their CAG. She had not planned on keeping her from him, she had every intention on telling him Leah was his daughter, but if he wanted to act like a..a… she couldn't even think of a name bad enough to call him, he didn't deserve to know. She knew he would be angry when he found out she had not told him about Leah, but only because he was her father. She never imagined he would be so ticked and not even know she was his.

If only she could have talked to him first. The thought of someone else sharing something so personal about her with Lee made her sick. She wanted to beat the crap out of whomever it was. She was assuming it was Kat, but there would be time for that later. Right now she just wanted to get back to their room, and away from him.

AN: Thanks everyone for reading, and for your thoughts. I am sure you noticed in reading the story events are different than in the series. Example, Billy isn't dead, and Kara doesn't shoot Lee. I am going to skip right over that drama. Sorry I couldn't help but bring Dee in the story, I hope that is okay. I really do enjoy her character, I will not make her a bad guy, but nor will she end up with Lee, sorry. I am still planning on going back and writing about Kara during her pregnancy state, but for some reason this chapter was just begging to be written first.

Thanks Tracyj23 for being the beta for this chapter.