Kara looked at the ring on her finger. She felt something deep in her gut, an emotion she didn't think she would feel during what was supposed to be the happiest time in her life.

She couldn't keep it in any longer. She started to sob.

Wasn't she supposed to be happy? Sam had asked her to marry him a few hours before-- and she only slightly hesitated before she said "yes." She knew she loved him.

Didn't she?

Truth be known, what had seemed so obvious to her once before was now a little hazy.

It had been six months since she had rescued Sam from Caprica, and that time had been a blur. She remembered lots of partying, fighting, and sex. She also remembered him making her feel special and loved. And he had a great way of "handling" her when she got a little crazy. Almost every fight between them ended with her laughing.

Most importantly, he seemed to need her.

Anyone who knew him would think that he didn't need anyone. He'd always been in charge of his own destiny. Head of every pyramid team he'd ever been on--- from grade school to the pros. Head of the resistance on Caprica. Head of his work crew on New Caprica. He was a born leader.

Yet, he still listened to Kara. And wanted to please her.

It had been her idea for him to move down to the surface. He didn't want to go, because she made it clear she wasn't leaving Galactica, even though nearly a third of the crew had left to pursue new lives. Starbuck couldn't imagine giving up her Viper for a million cubits, much less life on a cold, wet, desolate rock. Sam had understood. He even offered to become a member of Galactica's maintenance crew so he could be with her. She knew he could do better, and insisted he move down the surface to see what he could find there. But it meant shuttling back and forth on weekends. He didn't miss a single one. Even when Starbuck was on duty, he would hang out alone in the officers' quarters for hours until her rack time. She would always come to bed exhausted, and he would just hold her until she had to get up a few hours later.

Tears streamed down her face as she thought back to those nights. She would always lie there in his arms, feeling the warmth of his breath as it hit the back of her neck. She always felt safe, but she also felt guilty. Because she couldn't stop imagining that it was Lee who was holding her.

"Thrace, you are such an idiot," she muttered under her breath as she wiped tears from her face.

She knew that she and Lee Adama didn't have a chance. He had made it clear that he and Lt. Dualla were together. Painfully clear. Every time he caught Kara looking at the two of them together, he would move to touch Dee in some way--- from something as small as brushing her elbow with his hand, to moving a strand of hair off of her face, to putting his arm around her shoulder. And who could blame him? Anastasia Dualla was elegant, graceful, and beautiful. Everything Kara was not. At least in her own mind.

"You're not still frakking Dualla... are you?" She had said those words flippantly once to Lee, knowing that she would hurt him. She had wanted to hurt him at the time, because she felt betrayed. He was her partner. There was no one she would rather fly with, no one she would rather have watching her back.

And as much as she wanted to deny it, he was the only person she couldn't live without.

Which abruptly brought her back to Sam. She did feel something very powerful for him. It just wasn't the same.

Just two hours before, she was just about to refill his glass with ambrosia when he placed his hand over hers.

"No more for me."

She eyed him curiously and laughed. "I think you need it. You're starting to look just a little too serious."

"Well," he said reaching into his back pocket. "It doesn't get much more serious than this."

Starbuck dropped the ambrosia bottle. Sam was holding a tarnished silver band in between his thumb and index finger. And he was holding it out toward her.

"You've gotta be kidding me," she said with a slight laugh. She saw the slightly hurt look on his face, and changed her tone.

"You aren't kidding."

"I know it's not much, but there's a bit of a shortage on gold and diamonds these days," he said a bit sarcastically. "And unfortunately, my standing as a star pyramid player doesn't carry the same clout as it did before the attacks. If it did, I could've gotten you a rock the size of your fist." He started to put it back in his pocket.

"No," Kara said quickly. Why did she always have to frak everything up? "It's beautiful. It's perfect." Sam had stopped putting the ring away, but she still didn't reach for it. Neither said anything as Kara continued to stare at his hand.

"So...," he said.

Her heart pounded a little faster. "Samuel Thaddeus Anders... are you asking me to marry you?"

He smiled slightly. "That was kinda the idea."

Suddenly, she felt an urgent need to stall. She tried to justify her feelings of panic by telling herself she was just afraid of commitment. He sensed her hesitation and started to look a little concerned.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Thrace," she thought to herself. Why wouldn't she marry Sam? She cared for him deeply, and he was crazy about her. And Lee---- lately, any picture she had of Lee included Lt. Dualla. The more beautiful and more elegant Lt. Dualla.

She eyed the floor, pointed at it, and shook her head. "Uh-uh... you're going to have to work a little harder than that."

Sam let out a small sigh of relief as he smiled and rolled his eyes. "All I can say is--- you'd better say 'yes' after all of this." He got down on one knee. "Kara Thrace, will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Samuel Anders?"

"Uh, I don't think so," she said teasingly. "But I'd be more than happy for you to become Mr. Kara Thrace."

He stood up, grabbed her, and swung her around. "I never really liked my name anyway." He put her on the ground and gave her the ring. She slowly slipped it on her finger and looked at it. She immediately pushed the twinge of sadness she felt to the back of her mind and looked up at him. "You have NO idea what you are getting into."

He said softly, "I have some idea."

She jumped up on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He brought her to him quickly and planted his lips on hers. They moved toward her bunk and he threw her on the bed...

Kara was quickly brought back to the present by the loud jolt of the door to the senior officer's quarters. She quickly wiped the tears off her face and tried to look busy. She glanced over to see Admiral Bill Adama standing in the doorway. This was unusual.

"Sir," she couldn't hide the surprise in her voice. "What--- what are you doing here?"

The Admiral looked around the room as though remembering what it was like to live in such tight quarters. He looked nostalgic, with a very slight smile on his face.

"Last I heard, Captain... this was my ship. Am I not welcome here?"

Starbuck felt her face turn red. "Of course. You are welcome any time... you know that. It's just that--- I've just never seen you in here before. You can stay as long as you like." She could feel that she was too upset to keep facing him, so she motioned to some clothes on her bunk. "Uh, do you mind if I continue..."

Adama gave a slight nod. "You do what you need to do. I just wanted to check in."

Starbuck smiled as she folded a shirt and put it in a box beneath her bunk, "No offense, but... since when do you come to the officers quarters to check in?" She didn't turn around as she grabbed a pair of pants and folded them over.

"No offense, but when did you start folding your clothes?" He had a slightly playful tone, but he couldn't hide the concern in his voice, as though he knew something was wrong. Starbuck froze for a moment. My gods, the old man knows, she thought. She abandoned the effort to fold the pants and threw them on the bed. She couldn't look at him.

"So. I guess good news travels fast," she said nervously. She put her hands on her waist and turned around slowly-- her eyes on the floor. She still couldn't look at him.

Adama's voice was quiet. "I like Sam, but he's definitely not military. He is stopping everyone in the hallway--- practically bouncing off the walls." Adama paused. "Says he's getting married."

Kara tried to force a small smile... still looking at the floor, the table, the wall. Why couldn't she look him in the eye? "Sorry about that. I'll tell him to bring down the enthusiasm a bit."

Adama moved closer to Kara so he was standing right in front of her. "You don't seem nearly as excited."

"Sir...," her voice cracked.

"Kara," Adama interrupted. He took her hand and held it. "You don't have to feel guilty about this. I know you still love my son."

Kara caught her breath and closed her eyes. How could he know? Had she been that obvious? "You... know...?" she said weakly.

Adama smiled. "Of course. But Zak is gone. And I know he would want you to be happy."

Kara exhaled, relieved. He thinks this is about Zak. For the first time, she looked at his face, grateful that her true feelings weren't coming through.

She wasn't about to say, actually, sir--- it's your OTHER son I'm thinking about. Lee is ALL I can think about. Day and night.

Afraid that her true feelings would be revealed if they talked much longer, she grabbed him in a hug, saying, "Thank you. "

Adama patted her on the back as he pulled away. "I just thought you should know I'm happy for you." He kissed her forehead and turned to walk away. As he reached the door, he turned around.

"So, are you two moving down to New Caprica after the wedding?"

Kara froze. When she agreed to marry Sam she didn't think about the fact that other aspects of her life might change. Leaving Galactica--- the only real home she'd ever known-- was the last thing she wanted to do.

"Of course not. Why would I do that?" she said.

Adama gave knowing smile and walked back to where Kara was standing. "Kara. It's been six months since we saw our last Cylon. You've been a great CAG for the nuggets." He took her hand into both of his. "But you'd be an even better mother."

Kara burst out laughing. "Me... a mother? That poor kid would be frakked up from day one." She stifled another laugh. "Excuse me... but I think I just proved my point."

Adama patted her hand. "I think you'd be surprised," he said as he started to walk away, "at how similar it is to being a CAG."

Kara smirked. "I don't think so. You're not getting rid of me that easily." She sounded a little desperate. She only felt truly at home when she was in the cockpit of a Viper. She wasn't leaving Galactica.

Adama turned as he reached the door. "The truth is Kara--- we're starting to cut back."

She felt her heart sink.

"We only need a small number of pilots to run the CAP each day. And even those pilots say there's really no reason to be out there. I'm starting to think the war might actually be over."

Kara felt as though she'd been kicked in the stomach. Life without Galactica--- even on a real honest-to-gods planet--- didn't sound that enticing. "The Cylons could come back any day. What happens then?"

Adama smiled. "I really don't think that's going to happen. And in the meantime, I have a long list of crew members who want to start a new life. You should be on that list. You've done more than your fair share for this fleet, now it's time for you and Sam to focus on each other."

Somewhere in the pit of her stomach, Kara knew this was the wrong decision, but she could tell that the old man didn't want to hear what she had to say. So she said nothing.

As Adama started to walk out the door he seemed to remember something, and stopped.

"Have you told Lee?"

Oh yeah, there was that. The very mention of his name sent her head into a tailspin. She tried to look casual as she leaned back on the bunk for support.

"Not yet."

"I won't say anything then. I'm sure you want to tell him yourself." He smiled and closed the door behind him.

Kara felt herself deflate. She curled up on her bunk and put her head into a pillow as the tears welled up in her eyes.