WHTMT - chapter 2

Well folks, this will be the last chapter of this before the season finale. I've added another spoiler to the mix - but some of how the story will go is still my imagination. It may well be that it will go AU after tonight. We'll just have to wait and see!

oooooooooooooooo

Two weeks had gone by - two more yet to go till the wedding, and still Lee felt unsettled about it. The anger had faded and left in it's place an uncomfortable feeling in his gut.

Of course it didn't help that the election had gone about as badly as it could possibly go and Baltar had won by a landslide. Settlement was now occurring on the planet they were calling New Kobol (some wanted New Caprica, Baltar included, but many factions from other planets threatened to revolt if they did), at a rapid rate. People were so eager to leave their ships and feel terra firma beneath their feet that they were sleeping in tents, some without even having sleeping bags.

But still, dissension in the fleet notwithstanding, Lee was uncomfortable about Kara and Anders. The feeling only occurred when he thought of them, though he'd already accepted that 'them' was something that was going to last. At first he'd been happy they'd decided to wait a month - give Kara time to figure out if this really was what she wanted. Kara was headstrong enough to want to 'do it now!' if the feeling so dictated, and he was glad she hadn't. Frak - they'd only known each other six days and already they'd gotten engaged! Either they were crazy, or Lee was going to have to rethink his position on love at first sight.

But the more time that passed, and the more rumours he heard about them convinced him there was no turning back. She was going through with it. They were the talk of the hour - even eclipsing the election - Starbuck was always a good target for the rumour mill anyway, being somewhat larger than life, but she was making no attempt to hide this. She and Anders were together almost every minute they were able to be, she wore his ring for everyone to see, and they shared a bed. It was plain for everyone to see - Starbuck was happy. She'd fallen in love and was willing to commit herself forever, and that had people talking.

It took a long while before Lee could put his finger on exactly what was bothering him. It wasn't that he was jealous of Anders for having Kara, he was jealous of what they had together. For what he and Dee had couldn't hold a candle to it. It was nice, and fun, and definitely enjoyable in bed, but that's as far as it went. Dee was a nice girl and he truly did like her, but he couldn't imagine risking his life to go back to cylon-infested Caprica just to save her, the way Kara had for Anders. He couldn't imagine the all-consuming passion Kara had that had nearly driven her over the edge into suicide. He couldn't imagine knowing someone for less than a week and already knowing he or she was your soul-mate. Hell, he'd known Dee for the better part of a year, quite well the last few months in fact, but as much as he tried to throw himself into the relationship ... he didn't love her. Didn't know if he ever would. That spark that Kara and Anders felt for each other just wasn't there for him. Sometimes it is, he reminded himself, just for Kara, not Dee. You should have claimed her while you had the chance! But he reminded himself that while that spark of attraction was definitely there between himself and Kara, it could never go anywhere. They'd both known it, which is why it never had, save that one time they were both drunk and needy, desperate to escape their inner demons. Yeah, and that's the perfect reason to get yourself into a relationship with someone else - because you're trying to run away from what's inside yourself.

"You're really one frakked up dude Lee," he mumbled to himself as he worked, shaking his head at his own stupidity. Why is it personal relationships are so very hard? Commanding a battlestar is easy in comparison!

oooooooooooooooooooo

Kara sat in her office, slogging through page after page of papers that needed to be filled out. It was one of the parts of Lee's job she'd never envied him, and she certainly was less than thrilled now that the responsibility had fallen on her shoulders. The glint of her ring distracted her every so often though, and she smiled as she thought of Sam, and their upcoming wedding.

She'd second-guessed herself a little since coming back to Galactica, not that she'd ever admit that to him, since everyone thought she was more than a little crazy marrying a man she hardly knew. Not that she wasn't known for crazy stunts, but this had hit everyone a hard left field, and the talk had been unending.

She'd tried to ignore it though and searched her heart. Was this what she really wanted? Yes, it was. She loved Sam, he loved her. She may not know everything about him, but she knew enough, and the rest would come. They had the rest of their lives, after all, to get to know one another. But who knew how long that would be? She thought back to the conversation she and Lee had had the night they'd gotten drunk and nearly frakked.

"The President says we're saving humanity for a bright, shiny future ... on earth, that you and I will never see." She paused, then whispered, "we won't." Then her voice gained strength again, "because we go out there over and over, till one day some metal motherfrakker is gonna catch us on a bad day and just blow us away." She smiled ruefully, knowing the truth hurt, but knowing also that it had to be said.

"Bright shiny futures are overrated anyway," Lee said, topping up their glasses.

"That's why we've got to get what we can ... right now."

The expression on his face was curious, but he agreed with her. "I'll drink to that."

And they had.

Of course, 'getting what we can' had had a slightly different meaning then - and she'd almost been able to believe that Lee was what she wanted, but in hindsight, it had been a mistake. She'd been pissed as hell at Lee for stopping things to talk, isn't that just like Lee - always trying to over-think things! , but now she was grateful he had. Sam had been faithful to her, and she had intended to be faithful to him, her resolve only cracking under the intense pressure she'd been under.

But the truth of that conversation was undeniable - who knew how long any of them had to live? Especially those out on the front lines like herself. No, we can only count on this moment, here and now, today, and I'm not going to waste any of them! I love Sam and want to be with him, so to hell with what anyone else thinks! It had been a hard sell to the Admiral though.

"You're what? he exploded, usually placid face screwed up in shock.

"Getting married," she repeated, holding the ring out for him to see.

"I knew there had to be a personal reason why you were so desperate to go back to Caprica, but Kara ... are you sure this is what you want? I mean, he's here with us now - you have time to think and decide if it's what you really want."

"I don't need to, and it is. I've thought about it. All the way home I thought about it. I'm sure."

Adama studied her for a few moments. She was. She wasn't the usual arrogant Starbuck, who was bucking convention just to be a pain in the ass, nor was she Kara, the vulnerable, scared woman who was still suffering from the consequences of the bad decisions she'd made, reaching out to find acceptance and love wherever she could. She was the perfect mix of both - a woman who knew what she wanted and was confident that she was making the right choice in giving herself to this man.

He took her hand in his. "Just do me one favour. Please?"

"Anything for you sir, you know that."

"Give it a month. Plan the wedding for a month from now. Give yourselves some time to get to know one another better and figure out how he can fit into your life here. It's pretty full already."

"I'll make room." She smiled at him. "One month it is then."

"Good. That gives us time to get this ... stupid election done and dealt with." He shook his head. "I wish it was over already. I hate politics."

"Me too." She squeezed his hand. "Thank you sir. I really appreciate the support."

He took her into his arms and gave her a fatherly hug. "Always for you Kara. Always for you."

A knock at the door pulled her back to reality.

"Knock, knock," Sam said, as he pulled the hatch open and stepped inside.

"Hey, you done already?" Kara smiled.

"Yeah, they let us go early today." Sam had decided to join the marine corps - he couldn't stand to just sit around and do nothing, not after spending almost a year fighting - and had begun training a few days earlier.

Kara moved to the front of her desk and leaned back on it as he came forward, arms encircling her waist. "How's it going?"

"Good. A lot of this stuff I figured out during the past year, but I'm sure there's more to come yet." He smiled and her heart puddled in her chest, as it always did when he smiled at her. He is so frakking gorgeous! How did I get so lucky?

"You nearly done? I was hoping we could get dinner."

She sighed. "This job sucks. Way too much paperwork. I've got a little bit more that needs finishing today."

"How 'bout if I stay and give you incentive to finish quicker." He claimed her mouth and kissed her passionately. Kara's hands came up involuntarily and laced themselves in his hair as she gave herself up to the moment. Then she pushed him away and laughed.

"Yeah, that's really gonna make me want to work."

He flashed her that heart-stopping smile again and walked over to the couch. "Fine. I'll stay over here then."

"Much better idea," she smiled as she sat down and picked up her pen.

Sam watched her as she worked, brow furrowing in concentration. She twirled a loose strand of hair between her fingers, and it was all he could do not to go over and join her. He longed to pull out her ponytail and run his fingers through her soft, flaxen hair. It aroused him greatly, and judging from her response when he did it, she found it just as stimulating.

He couldn't believe that this beautiful, incredible woman was about to become his wife. His heart felt like it would burst with happiness at the thought. Gods, I've never been so happy - even when we won the Pyramid Cup! He sat back and smiled, content to watch he work. So long as he was with her, he couldn't be happier. Lords of Kobol - thank you for answering my prayers. Thank you for giving me Kara, the most amazing woman I could ever imagine knowing. Protect her and keep her safe when I can't.

TBC