Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to Battlestar Galactica.

Previously….

Kara hung up the phone from Laura with a sigh of relief. It sounded like once again the lady had helped solve her problems. Laura had a cousin, who had a friend that was stationed on Galactica. They were willing to meet with her after the baby was born, and discuss possibly being foster parents for the baby until Kara was settled in her career.

Now all she had to do was actually have the baby. Kara took Laura's advice and spent the next week climbing stairs and walking the treadmill. Kara never being one to do anything in moderation pushed herself. Probably harder than a woman in her condition should, but she was determined.

Brett had been the one to point out she was overdoing it, but she shrugged off his advice and continued to do her own thing. He was becoming too protective of Kara; she was starting to feel smothered. That night in bed Kara found her mind wandering to Zack. She tried to move on, but even after all these months she still thought of him, longed for him. She let out a little sigh thinking how frakked up the whole situation was. She was lying in bed with one man, dreaming of another, and pregnant by that man's brother.

It sounded like an episode from one of those smutty talk shows Kara hated. She could just see the title of the episode under a big pregnant picture of her. "How screwed up is Kara Thrace? Tune in to find out how she got pregnant by her dead fiancés brother!" This time she couldn't help but let out a grunt of frustration.

"Is something wrong?" Brett asked her suddenly bringing her back to her reality. "No," she mumbled rolling over to her side trying to pretend she was asleep.

"Kara, I know you well enough now to know when something is bothering you," he replied pulling her closer to him. "Are you hurting is it the baby?"

"No, I'm just thinking about all I have to do before I leave for Galactica," she lied.

"Kara, you know you don't have to go. Stay here, with me. We make a good team; you know I would be there for you and the baby." He said making the same argument he had been for days.

"Brett please, it takes more than team work to make a life together. We care about each other, but come on; deep down you know I am not going to be the love of your life." She said rolling back over to face him.

"You don't know that Kara, I care about you a great deal."

"Like I said Brett, you care about me, you don't love me." She said begging him to understand.

"Maybe because you won't let me, have you ever considered that," he said with pent up feeling in his voice.

"Frak!" Kara said suddenly interrupting whatever else he might have said.

"Frak what?" he said seeing the puzzled expression on her face.

"I think I just wet the bed." She said pulling up the blanket and looking under the covers.

"Is that something normal in pregnancy?" He asked the puzzled expression now on his face.

"OH GODS," Kara suddenly moaned curling into a ball and clutching her stomach.

"Kara what is wrong?"

"I think it's time." She replied through clenched teeth.

"What do you mean time? Time for the baby?"

She took a deep breath. "Yes I believe my water just broke. Can you drive me to Laura's?" She asked with a calm that surprised even herself.

That was all the explanation he needed. Brett was like a man possessed, throwing clothes on, throwing clothes at Kara, and rustling around her apartment for car keys. The contractions were coming every 5-10 minutes, so Kara tried to hurry and dress. She remembered the bag she had packed with her clothes in it and the tiny little outfits (mostly pink) that she secretly had so much fun picking out.

She phoned Laura from the car and let her know they were on the way. She said everything was already ready. Sometimes Kara swore the woman was a midwife/psychic.

Brett wanted to stay with Kara while she had the baby. For some reason she did not feel right having him there. It was not his baby and already he felt more connected to Kara and her baby then he should. With the help of Laura she convinced him to go home and get some rest and she would call him as soon as the baby was born. He left, very reluctantly but he left.

Laura and her assistant Julie led Kara to the room they had prepared for the delivery. "When did the contractions start?" Laura asked walking by her side.

"I think I have been having them all day," Kara admitted. "They didn't start hurting though until about an hour ago."

"You are already dilated to a 6!" Laura exclaimed after doing a quick exam. "You are more than half way there Kara."

"Great its 0100hours right now, what time will this all be over?"

"Kara this isn't like a military op, it all depends on your body. Now how far apart are the contractions?"

"Oh no, it's coming again," she exclaimed biting down hard on her bottom lip.

An hour and a half later Kara was in the worst hell she could imagine, never in her life had she felt so much pain. "Please Laura," she gasped through a contraction she thought was going to rip her into. "I need something for the pain."

"Nothing will take it away Kara until the baby is born, but we can try something to help ease the pain some." They proceeded to give her a shot in the arm. It made her drowsy, but when the contractions hit she was wide awake.

"Okay Kara, it's time to push!" Laura said not hiding the excitement in her voice.

They helped Kara assume the position. As the contraction came she pushed as they instructed with all she had. "I'm never letting a frakking man touch me again." She said gasping for breath.

"Come on Kara keep going." They coached.

She pushed for 30 more minutes still no baby. "Tell me we are getting closer." She said frustrated with the whole situation.

"You are moving the baby down good Kara. Sometimes first time mothers will push for hours." Laura explained patiently.

"Frak that, we are getting this kid out now!" Kara screeched as the pain began again. With one last strong push, a screaming baby girl made her entrance into the world.

"You did it Kara! You did it!" Laura said as she worked on separating the baby from her mother.

"Oh Kara, she is beautiful!" Alice exclaimed.

"Is she okay?" Kara asked trying to get a look at the gooey squalling baby.

"She is perfect," Laura assured bringing the little bundle over to meet her mama. "You can rest now."

Kara reached out to stroke the baby's little face. She wanted to study her, see for herself she was alright, count her fingers and toes, but the combination of the drugs, the exhaustion from labor, and working herself to death over the last week kicked in, and Kara could fight the sleep no longer.

"Kara, what are you going to call her?" She heard someone saying above her.

"I.. I don't know.." she replied her tongue feeling heavy. "Maybe Lee ah…" she was going to finish the thought with maybe Lee should decide, but that was all she got out. Kara was asleep.

"Leah," Laura said looking at the little bundle. "I love it."

Kara slept for 3 hours straight before waking up to meet her little girl. She was amazed how long she slept, and was angry with Laura for not waking her.

"You obviously needed the sleep Kara, you have been pushing to hard," she said gently.

"Little Leah has been doing just fine. I think she is getting hungry, are you ready to feed her?" Laura questioned.

"Leah? You named her while I was sleeping?" Kara said with a frown.

"But, Kara, we asked you what you wanted to name her, and that is what you said." Laura said a confused look on her face. "Did you have another name in mind?"

"I'm sorry, I don't remember that Laura. I really hadn't decided on a name yet. Let me hold her, please." Kara said reaching out to take the bundle in Laura's arms.

"Am I doing this right?" Kara questioned trying to mimic how Laura was holding onto the baby.

"Yes Kara, you are doing just fine." She said stepping back and letting mother and daughter have a moment together.

"Hello in there." Kara whispered pulling the blanket back from the tiny red face. "I've been waiting so long to get a look at you." She looked up at Laura. "She's beautiful isn't she?"

"The prettiest baby I've delivered yet," she replied with a smile.

"I agree, she looks like a Leah." Kara said suddenly.

"Kara really you can change it to whatever you want." Laura interjected.

"No it fits."

"What about a middle name Kara?"

"I'm not sure, what do you think goes with Leah?"

"Isn't your middle name Elizabeth?"

"Yes."

"Well there you go. Leah Elizabeth Thrace." Laura said enthusiastically.

"I like it." Kara said with a grin.

"You could call her Leah Beth." Laura added.

"No!" Kara said strongly. "I hated when my mother called me Kara Beth, my daughter will not be Leah Beth."

"Okay, I will remember that no Leah Beth."

After feeding her hungry daughter a bottle Kara watched her as she slept. She couldn't stop the tears that spilled over when Laura left them alone. She had dreamt of having a child one day with Zack. This was supposed to have been their baby, their life together. There was no doubt this baby had Adama blood, just not the right Adama. It surprised Kara how much she resembled Lee. Her eyes were bright blue, but Laura had explained all babies had blue eyes when they were born. The shape of her face the set of her eyes all belonged to Lee, but her mouth, her sweet little mouth was all Kara.

Kara had seen new parents or relatives study a new baby, picking over each feature determining which belonged to which side of the family. She had always thought they were all crazy, and that the baby looked like any other baby, but now, now that she had her tiny little girl she was doing the same thing.

Kara glanced over at the phone on the table next to the bed. Lee should know. He had a right to know. It had almost been a year now since Zack's death. Maybe Lee would have found enough healing to face her again, to not feel so guilty about what had happened between them. Kara felt no guilt over it. She regretted the decision, but she did not feel guilty.

She grabbed the phone in one quick motion, before she could change her mind. She used directory assistance to get through to his ship, it took quite some time, and the pushing of many buttons to finally talk to an actual person.

"Hello operator can I help you?"

"Yes, I need to speak to Lee Adama, it is a family emergency." She said into the phone.

"Just a moment please, I will transfer you."

Kara held her breath, trying to come up with the words to say.

"Hello, Atlantia CAG, you are trying to reach Lee Adama?"

"Yes, may I speak with him please."

"I'm sorry he is on leave, he should be planet side. He didn't leave a number to reach him. I'll transfer you to his voicemail….click."

"Frak." Kara muttered as the familiar recording began. Right as the leave your message after the beep sounded Leah began to scream. Kara quickly slammed down the receiver. She would have to try again at a later time. She was frustrated and tired, and now her baby was crying.

Kara took to mothering her daughter with the same ease she had flying a viper. Anyone who knew her would have been shocked to see how gentle and at ease she was with the tiny little thing. Brett was amazed when he came to visit two days later. Gone was the cocky, rough flight instructor, and in her place was a surprisingly pleasant woman. It was plain to him Kara loved her baby very much.

"Kara, there was someone asking about you yesterday." Brett said casually while holding baby Leah on his lap.

"Oh, who was it." Kara replied looking up from the paper she was reading with interest.

"It was Zack's older brother. Lee Adama, isn't it?"

Kara suddenly felt a little shiver run up her spine. "Yes, where was he?"

"He dropped by the academy, he was picking up some files to take back to his ship."

"You said he asked about me. What did he want?"

"He just asked if you were still teaching here. I told him you weren't and that you were being transferred to the Galactica. He acted surprised. Isn't his father the commander, you would have thought he would have known?"

"Did you say anything else, did he ask anything else, I mean, you didn't tell him about the baby?" Kara said her words all coming out in a jumble.

"Kara what's wrong. I only told him about Galactica, you know I wouldn't mention anything about the baby." He said studying her intently.

"Did he say anything else, ask where I was, or if I still had my apartment?"

"No, he didn't say anything else."

"Did he say where he was staying, or how long he would be in town?" Kara said still bombarding him with questions.

"Kara, I don't know I wasn't paying that close attention. I think he mentioned he was catching a flight that afternoon, so he is probably gone."

Kara let out a sigh of frustration.

"Do you two not get along?" Brett asked.

"I don't know Brett, its complicated" she said pausing for a moment, not wanting to have this conversation now.

"How are things going. Are you doing okay without me?" She said changing the subject quickly.

As he gave his long winded exposit on how the nuggets were doing, Kara found her mind wondering to Lee. He had been here all along. Not even bothered to look her up so it seemed. She had checked her messages every day since staying with Laura, none from Lee Adama. Maybe the gods had intervened, perhaps Kara had been right in her decision not to tell him. Stupid frakker had not even tried to check on her.

Lee left the academy paper work in hand. So Kara was joining his father on the Galactica. Probably the only commander on the planet that would have such a loud mouthed frak up on his ship. He understood why. She was his last connection to Zack, and it made Lee sick.

He wasn't going to, but couldn't come this close with out seeing how she was doing. The one year anniversary of Zack's death was approaching. He hoped she had been able to move on with her life, that she wasn't still drowning her sorrows in booze. He felt guilty for leaving her the way he did. He had called her once after she had left a pitiful sounding message on his machine. She wasn't home, and he didn't leave a message, he became so tied up in his own life and career that he had pushed Kara Thrace and all the memories that came with her to the back of his mind. Whenever he thought of Zack he thought of Kara, and whenever he thought of Kara he thought of Zack, so he found the easiest thing to do was to try and forget both of them.

He knocked on her door several times with no answer. He flicked the door handle to see if it was left open, it was not. He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocked and started to write a note, when the a woman walked out of a neighboring apartment.

"Excuse me, do you know if Kara Thrace is still living here?" He asked.

"She was until about three days ago. I saw her leaving in a hurry in the middle of the night with her boyfriend. I don't know, maybe they went on a trip or something, but she hasn't been back."

Lee nodded his head in understanding. He mumbled his thanks and pushed the paper back inside his pocket. It sounded as if Kara was doing just fine.

Three weeks later Kara was on the shuttle plane that would take her to her new home, Galactica. She looked across the aisle, and saw Leah sound asleep in her new caretaker's arms. Laura's plan had worked out perfectly. The couple was willing to care for Leah as there own, with Kara still having full custody, and visiting rights. They knew the situation was only temporary and once Kara felt her life and career were in the right track Leah would be returned to her. Kara was excited about her new position, but already the separation of a few feet from her daughter was killing her.

Kara had said her goodbyes. The ones to Brett and Laura had been hard, but the hardest goodbye of all was not to a person, but to a place. She did not think packing up her apartment would be as hard as it was. It was her last tie to Zack, the last place that they had been together. It had taken the entire year for her to finally have the strength to pack up all of his things. She boxed them up, and took them to a local charity. The only things she kept were his favorite T-shirt, one she had slept in almost every night since his death. His sliver ring, which he had given her as a temporary engagement ring, she placed it on her thumb, for it was the only finger it would stay on. Last was a picture that was taken just weeks before his death. It was one of the three of them together, Zack, Kara and Lee. She had studied it for a moment, and then folded it in half, placing the smug looking Lee out of site.

She was greeted as soon as she stepped of the shuttle by the Commander himself. He pulled her into a warm embrace and was saying how glad he was to finally have her on his ship. Kara did not say anything, but only watched helplessly as her daughter was carried in the opposite direction.

It did not take Kara long to be recognized as top dog. She returned to her flying form quickly, and soon lived and breathed flying. She also soon regained her reputation of being as loud mouthed and reckless outside of the cockpit, as sharp as she was in it.

She did not do well balancing her job, and her child. Her visits with Leah became shorter and shorter each week. As the months passed by, Kara realized that Eve was more of a mother to her child than she was, and maybe it was for the best. When the decision was finalized that the Galactica would be retired, Kara had to make a decision.

She had been on Galactica for over a year now. The decommissioning ceremony was scheduled for today. Kara still was not sure where she would be going, or what she was going to do with Leah. Leah had still remained a hidden part of Kara's life she had not revealed to her new friends, or the man who had become like a father to her. Kara just wasn't sure how to go about broaching the subject, so she didn't.

She also knew Lee would be here today. It would be the first time she saw him since, well since the making of her daughter. Kara had a lot on her mind today. Maybe that is what made her decide to pick a fight with the XO of the ship, which landed her butt straight in the brig.

The only relief she felt about being in the brig was the thought that she may not have to face him. She was pacing the small confines of the cell with all these thoughts running through her mind. She needed an outlet. She dropped to the floor and began manically doing pushups. Working her body, to the point of exhaustion, so all the thoughts would be drained from her mind.

"This looks familiar." He said.

Kara looked up. He had a smile on his face. Playful banter she could go with that. Soon though the conversation turned from friendly to painful memories neither of them had yet put behind them.

"I think you had better leave before I get the urge to strike another superior asshole." Kara said finishing the conversation

He blamed his father for something that he had nothing to do with. If Lee should be mad at anyone it was her. She was the one that had caused Zack's death, and she felt the pain of it everyday, even two years later. Lee seemed to have conveniently forgot about the two days he had spent with Kara in her's and Zack's apartment. Kara had made a choice and she now felt like she had made the right one. Lee was no more prepared for parenthood then she was. If he ever did want children it would not be with her. She would take Leah and go her separate ways. There would only be one Adama brother in her memory and in her heart. She had thought of Lee in the past as a friend, a good friend, but she didn't need him. She was Starbuck, she didn't need anyone.

AN: First I apologize. I would have loved to have quoted the scene word for word between Lee/Kara in the opening of the mini, but I lost the DVD, and couldn't find a script with that particular scene in it. So you will all have to watch it or remember it for yourself.

Also, I had a problem with Microsoft word. I must have did something, but line breaks kept appearing where I didn't put them. I don't know where the extra lines came from. My bad!

This is my last of the flashbacks. I must say I am kind of sad, I enjoyed writing this part of the story even though I know it is not your favorite to read. I tried my best to get Kara and Lee's characters to a place that would go along with the start of the series. Kara obviously realizes she cares more about Lee than she thought when she thinks he is dead, and as you all know their relationship grows to friendship/desire so forth and so on.

Next chapter probably wont be up until Tuesday, sorry! Thanks for reading.HWEHHHER