Lee stared in wonder as his daughter took her first few steps right into her mother's arms.


Lee stared in wonder as his daughter took her first few steps right into her mother's arms.

His life had changed so much.

He had spent years fighting to get over the guilt of losing his first child without even knowing her… him… her.

That was yet another thing he would never know because he had been too stupid. Gianne had been the best thing to happen to him at the time. She was his only lifeline after Zak died. She helped him work through the pain and listened to him blame his father time and time again.

When he lost her and their unborn child, he swore off ever being a father. The gods had proven that he was unworthy.

He held fast to that belief until the day Kara cornered him in his office. She had been avoiding him for over a month at that point. They had had some ridiculous fight when he was visiting Galactica that somehow ended up with the two of them naked in an empty bunkroom. It was the first moment in years that Lee let himself feel happiness without the guilt. That was why when she shattered around him he let himself tell her how much he loved her. She ran away from him just like he knew she would.

The next time he saw her, Kara asked him out right if he had meant what he said that day. Lee could see the struggle in her eyes, and he didn't have it in his heart to lie to her. He told her he hated the fact that he loved her but he couldn't change it if he tried.

Kara had nodded. Her hand came up to her stomach, and she smiled. Finally, she smiled.

Then she told him that she was keeping the baby and he would just have to get used to the idea.

Two days later, Lee summoned her to his office on Pegasus. She was fresh off CAP and rather irritated at not being able to return home. The irritation faded away as he told her about Gianne. When he was finished, she was silent for a moment. Then she told him that he was wrong. The gods didn't mean for him to be so sad.

Five hours later, the transfer was official and Kara was the new CAG of Pegasus. She started her first briefing with words that would live in infamy, just for their sheer brashness alone. "My name is Captain Kara Thrace. I'm your new CAG and the Fleet's best pilot. On top of that, I'm the woman who is going to have your Commander's child in about seven and a half months. If you don't like that, then tell me right now. I'll kick your ass now before Cottle tells me I can't do strenuous activities."

Lee smiled to himself. It was odd how he could reconcile that brash pilot named Starbuck with Kara Adama, the woman currently tickling his daughter. He guessed it had something to do with the vulnerability he saw in both facets of the woman he loved.

That vulnerability was never more apparent than the day his daughter came into this world.

Throughout her whole pregnancy, Kara had stayed strong in her belief that this was what was meant to happen. She was the voice of reason when he started doubting that they could bring a child into the world and raise her properly. She explained that they both had made mistakes in the past, but that didn't mean they were doomed to repeat them.

The second her water broke, the dynamic shifted as Lee took on the burden of being the strong one. For the first time, Kara admitted how scared she was. Lee knew they should have talked about her mother before she started giving birth, but he honestly thought they would have more time. The baby wasn't supposed to come this early.

They had gotten through it together, though, and months later, they were doing just fine. The proof was right in front of him.

"Tell me what you're thinking."

Kara's voice caused Lee to tear his gaze away from his daughter. Smiling, he replied, "I'm thinking I'm awfully lucky to have the two of you." He stood up and kissed the top of his wife's head before rubbing a hand protectively over the young child in her arms.

His two girls were the most wonderful thing that ever happened to him.