Dinner was pleasant as there seemed to be no squabbles. Jake was a little antsy, and Rene a little quiet, but for the most part the evening was spent the way the Copper Squadron usually spent it, without the commander or guests. There was the usual haggling over chores, getting kids to eat, and making sure homework was completed. They discussed what was needed for the next day to get them all over to the Rising Star for the next two nights, a deal Rene had coerced out of the IFB in exchange for agreeing to the public sealing.
Starbuck had stopped complaining about the sealing after his short conversation with Apollo. Rene had been right, this was about more than themselves. Jason, Cain and Lara were excited about the trip, making it painfully aware to Starbuck that if the fleet had little to offer in the way of entertainment for adults, it offered even less for those in between adulthood and childhood. No wonder Cain had gotten himself into so much trouble, that was all that was available in the way of diversions.
So, Starbuck put aside his own concerns about the IFB and the publicity and focused on what was before him, his family. He played a few hands of pyramid with the older kids before helping wrestle the little ones into bed giving the other parents a well-deserved break. This night, Kiff had no problem drifting off, still tired and cranky from his lack of sleep the night before.
Once the kid was asleep, Starbuck reached for Rene's hand, guiding her to their quarters and into their bed. She had been clearer headed this day, but he'd also seen that she got plenty of sleep and food. Even though they had slept most of the day, he was still troubled by the dark circles under her eyes and the fact that he felt like he could still sleep for centaurs.
"Tomorrow night we sleep in luxury. I've never seen the honeymoon suite," he mused as he as he turned off the lights. He left a lamp on across the room, dim, but still keeping the pitch black of their quarters at bay. It had been an unspoken agreement that neither of them could face the darkness since Caprica.
"You know you won't be sleeping with me tomorrow night, right?" she said
"What? Why?" He slid under the covers.
"Because the rest of the fleet thinks we're not sealed yet. Plus, it's the night before the sealing. We're not supposed to see each other after the rehearsal. Tradition."
"So where am I sleeping?" he asked looking to her wondering how she was going to spend her night. Without him she solved her sleeping problems by not sleeping at all.
"I was just assuming where ever you passed out and we'd collect you right before the sealing."
He chuckled. "That is usually with a pretty girl so I guess I will still be sleeping with you." He reached for her, pulling her into his arms and enjoying her warmth. He'd been cold since the first night on Caprica.
"I'll leave the door unlocked, and we'll see who stumbles in." She grinned at him. "Odds are it will be Jake."
"Very funny," he said as he leaned over her, brushing his lips against hers lightly, teasing her before he pulled back. "Why wait. Should I go get him now?"
"Shut up and kiss me." She cast him her coy smile as she reached out pulling him down to her. He ignored the ache in his back and made sure she remembered why she had chosen him.
It helped him to sleep most of the night, only waking once with a start, his heart pounding to the waning echo of the anguished cry of his name. He drew Rene back into his arms, letting her contented sigh chase away the dreams. He was able to find sleep again, but he woke with a start to a mechanical whirring. He fought the restraints trying to avoid the pain that was sure to follow the ominous sound. He struggled in his dreams and was able to break free, the restraints snapping away and he was running down a corridor pushing at doors searching. He was frantic, unable to find Rene. He came fully conscious reaching for his wife to find he was alone in the bed, fighting against his own blankets.
But the sound was louder, rising in volume as he looked around in a panic. He flinched as a hand touched him, but it was warm and soft.
"You okay, handsome?" Rene stood near the bed, a cup of java in her hands as the metal on metal grinding continued.
"What the frak is that noise?" he nearly shouted trying to get control of his panic and reorient his surroundings.
"Yeah, sorry, we let you sleep as long as we could, but we have to gather it all up." Rene stepped aside so he could see the source of the drilling. Jake and Nik were standing on their table reaching up with drills to unscrew the ceiling panels. Nik removed the last screw that anchored the panel as Jake cautioned him to be careful, still holding the panel in place so the bottles wouldn't come crashing down.
"So that's why you removed the lighting fixtures?" He put the events together in his mind, realizing it was about the same time she had begun her covert trips to Caprica.
"No one ever looks up," she said handing him the Java mug. He took it needing the distraction to chase away the disturbing images popping up in his brain. Rene moved away to help her friends as Starbuck fumbled to check the chrono on the nightstand. He saw that he'd actually slept quite late into the midmorning. The next surprise was the chrono, a newer one, still colonial service issue, but perfectly sized for his wrist.
He looked to Rene, realizing she must have found it for him. Where he had no idea. He saw that she was wearing a dress, more conservative than Rene's usual choice, but it also hid a bit better the growing evidence of her pregnancy. The IFB and the Commander would approve of her choice. Not everyone needed to know what activities he and Rene had been up to before the sealing.
As Nik moved on to the next panel, Starbuck fled to the turbowash where the rushing water drowned out the noise. When he emerged ready for the day, there were at least five crates of very fine ambrosia and a box of fumarellos that would have cost a yahren's wages back in the colonies. Beside the crates was a white bag that took up more room than the crates.
"So how contaminated is all that, or do I want to ask? Misery loves company I know, but I would think we'd want to avoid radion poisoning all our guests," Starbuck said pointing to the crates.
"Not contaminated as you might think," Rene answered.
"Give him a break today, will ya," Nik chided her, "Blue Squadron is going to razz him enough for all of us. We ran it through decon twice, once on the Shiva and once more here."
Starbuck shook his head wondering how they pulled that off without questions, or if they were just flat out lying to him. "And what's that?" he asked pointing to the big white bag.
"My wedding dress," Rene answered.
His blood chilled to think of Rene carrying that bundle that was too large for a viper and had to be a beacon to the enemy in its color, whiter than snow. He shuddered as he saw the image in his mind of his wife trying to slink out of that shopping mall alone, landing and launching in an unarmed shuttle, the dress in her arms. "How in the holy lords did you get that off Caprica?"
"Very carefully," she said elusively.
Her vague answer set the tone for the rest of the day as the Rats gathered up their stash of black-market goods and packed up the children for the trip to the Rising Star. Starbuck tried to pitch in and help, but he was turned away at each task, directed to help someone else, and in the end was left with making breakfast and gathering up Rene's children to keep them out of the way. Rene was all business as she directed the proceedings, putting her friends to work packing everything up. It took all morning to clean out the light fixtures of nearly all the quarters they called their own. The crates piled up and Starbuck was left wondering at Rene's powers of deception. There were enough spirits to get blue squadron sufficiently drunk for at least a secton. How had she snuck it all past him and the rest of the crew of the Galactica? Part of him was dying to know. The side of him that was trying to become a strike wing captain wanted to remain in the dark.
As Boomer showed up with Giles and Jolly to help move the crates of supplies, Starbuck tried grousing to him about being as useful as the third centurion in a raider. Boomer's pronouncement that he had seen the scans of what the Cylons had put in his body made him keep his comments to himself.
"I think you're lucky just to be able to walk down that aisle tomorrow. No way am I letting you lift anything for about a yahren, maybe more."
They headed to the flight deck where there was a shuttle waiting as well as the Commander. Adama beamed at him in pride as he clapped him on the back. Starbuck tried not to wince in pain. He was still sore and he'd have to find a way to avoid most of his friends' congratulatory pats on his back this evening or he wouldn't be able to walk down that aisle and it wouldn't be because of the ambrosia.
"Everything seems to be in order," Adama said indicating the numerous crates of black-market goods waiting to be loaded. "I assume that's all of it, correct?" He addressed his comments to Starbuck while Rene turned away.
"Yes sir." He had no idea if it was the truth, but knew it would be more expedient for the family to agree.
"I suggest we get loaded up then. The IFB wants to do a quick run through before we retire to the dining lounge for an early dinner, then I hear there is a party planned in the Astral Lounge." The commander smiled at him before fixing a serious look upon his features. "The curfew is lifted since rooms are being provided for all the attendees, but that is no excuse to get out of control. You are still warriors of the Colonial Service and will represent the Galactica. See that I do not have to put all of Blue Squadron on report."
Starbuck was about to answer that he had very little control over the proceedings of the day or the evening when they were all distracted by Crius arguing with Lizbet.
"Stop being silly. You're going and that's the end of it. Now come on!" Crius pulled at Lizbet's arm, but the gal had dug in her heels and resisted.
As Rene headed toward them, she looked over to Starbuck, a request for help clear on her features. He didn't hesitate to join her, suspecting what might be the problem. Lizbet rarely wandered far from the Galactica, and was nervous as a felix in a room full of rocking chairs when she did. Rene reached Crius, prying his hand off of his wife's arm, pushing him away.
Crius looked to Starbuck in frustration.
"What's wrong, bovine boy?" Starbuck asked quietly distracting Crius so Rene could reason with her friend.
"I've shown her the long-range scans and everything, but she's convinced that with both Copper and Blue squadron attending the sealing that the Cylons will somehow wipe us all out or something. She's insisting on staying behind."
It was just as he suspected, and Rene's insistence that she needed Lizbet to go to help with the kids and be with her as her second at the sealing was not helping as Lizbet took a few steps back towards the corridor, and then a few more.
Starbuck squeezed Crius's shoulder in reassurance as he put on his most charming smile and took the steps towards Lizbet.
"Hey Lizzie, what's going on?"
Rene's friend looked nearly as panicked as Starbuck had felt when the Cylons were pulling them into their medical torture chamber.
"Why aren't we doing this on the Galactica? You don't need me there and…and I should stay behind. You don't need me."
"Yes, we do," Rene started to insist, but Starbuck held out a hand, silencing her.
"It's okay you know. We are just a ship away with our own shuttle and Red Squadron isn't going, not a one of them. The Rising Star is moving closer to the Galactica for protection and Omega is in charge for the next couple of days. You know what a stickler for safety he is." Starbuck took a step towards her, reaching to wrap an arm around her. She didn't flee. "We aren't going far and it's just a few days. You know I would never have agreed to this if the fleet was in jeopardy."
"You wouldn't?" she said looking up to him before looking to Rene for confirmation.
"He wouldn't. Duty always comes first for him." Rene rolled her eyes like it was the most annoying thing about Starbuck.
"And Apollo will be there. He would never leave the Zakar if there was even a hint of trouble." The panic slowly fled from Lizbet's eyes, but not completely so he played his next high card. "I tell you what. After dinner if you want to come back here you can. It might be better because I'll have Crius occupied in a drinking game all night since he keeps boasting he can out drink me. It will be easier to fleece him at pyramid without you there. And tomorrow you can just fly over for the sealing. You can take your own viper if you want to." He suspected it was the viper than finally won her over as Lizbet nodded in agreement.
"Can I take it now instead of the shuttle?"
"Of course, you can, but you don't need to. We can leave it here all fueled up and ready in a launch tube just in case if it makes you feel better." She gave him a small nod. "You can bring the shuttle back this evening, but then you might miss out on those bathing pools, but that's okay, they're not going anywhere."
"I can?" She looked to Rene again for confirmation.
"You can do whatever you want," Rene answered following his lead. "You can stay behind if you want but then we wouldn't all be together if something happened."
Lizbet looked up to Starbuck and he was struck again just by how young the Rats really were. Lizbet was one of the smallest of them, and her eyes were childlike as she asked, "You promise we'll be okay?"
"Cross my heart. If I'm wrong, I'll take all your chores for a yahren."
That earned him a smile as she pronounced, "You are a lousy cook and the kids would kill you in a secton."
"You understand then my vested interest in keeping you safe. Come on, it will be fun. I promise." He guided Lizbet towards the shuttle, with Rene tagging along. Lizbet almost balked again when she saw the Commander in his blue uniform, but Starbuck didn't give her a chance, keeping his arm around her shoulders as he guided her towards the group of kids starting to buckle into their seats. Lara handed Lizbet baby Zac. Starbuck turned to help Rene's kids buckle in to find Boomer by his side.
"See, you were useful."
Boomer had a point. He didn't have to be a complete equine's astrum about the event. He was getting some benefit out of the IFB and he was looking forward to actually using the honeymoon suite for the next three days as promised. He'd be sleeping there this evening, tradition be damned.
The flight was short and the IFB crew was waiting for them when they landed, pitching in to help with the cases of supplies. Zara, the pretty blonde reporter, handed them all keys to their rooms, saving the large golden key card for last.
"Lt. Starbuck, the honeymoon suite. Go check it out and then meet me in the Cosmos Chapel and we can go through a quick rehearsal. Don't take too long." She winked at Starbuck and even giggled.
He took the key and answered boldly, "See you in a couple of centaurs," as he wrapped an arm around Rene. It just made Zara laugh, reminding him she wasn't a woman he wanted to tangle with.
He didn't get the opportunity to test out the bed in the suite as Lizbet and Crius plus all the kids accompanied them. The rooms were better than he had ever imagined, with plush carpets and viewscreen bordered by gold sheer drapes. There were couches all around the room and double doors leading to the largest bed he had ever seen. Kiff and Calliope raced for the bed, beginning to use it as their own personal jumping gym as Rene admonished them to not mess it up. Lizbet headed straight for the turbo room with Crius whistling.
"You could bathe all the Lords of Kobol in there, at the same time! Dibs!" Crius called out.
"You'll be bathing with me," Starbuck replied as he headed into a room nearly as large as the bedroom with a tub that was indeed large enough for at least 8 people, the water already warm. Lizbet pressed something on the tub and the jets came to life. Crius uttered an "Oh," and was then speechless.
"I'm sure you have one in your suite, just maybe not as big, " Rene said coming in and reaching for a towel that she handed to Starbuck. He wondered why she was giving it to him until he felt it. This was no colonial issue puke green rag. It was fluffier than a newborn felix in a soft gold that felt like warm sunshine.
"I didn't think to raid home goods stores. Top of my list next time," Rene said with a wink.
"That mall is permanently closed," he answered her, but he couldn't seem to set the towel down.
"Other worlds, other malls," she said running a hand along the bathing robe that was hanging on a hook.
"Or crazy idea here, maybe we just steal these?" he said finally able to set it down with the thought it could be his permanently.
Crius found his voice, "Or, hear me out, we have all of blue squadron here tonight. We could just steal the ship and call it our own. I mean, you do own a battlecruiser. Why not a luxury liner?"
Starbuck shook his head. "Ask me again later tonight when I'm drunk. I'm sure I can justify it then. We should get back and get this all over with so we can come back and enjoy all this." He reached for Rene's hand, holding tight. She squeezed back twice with a gleam in her eye.
"You go get drunk, and Jake, the kids and I will draw up the plans tonight while we enjoy that tub." She teased him, but the joke cut a little too close to the truth. While Starbuck could enjoy almost all the pleasures the luxury liner had to offer, booze, smokes, and gambling, Rene was regulated to only a few pleasures that were good for her health. He had no doubt in his mind that Jake would be by her side. He might feel better about that if he thought the young man had her best interest forefront in his mind, but if Rene was up to no good and he benefited, Jake would encourage the behavior. He had other battle plans he needed to draw up and pulled in some help for that.
"Lizbet, I need you to keep an eye on her tonight. No wild parties."
Lizbet laughed. "We are going to take the kids to go see the Squiggles and a puppet show. I'm pretty sure we won't get into too much trouble. My husband on the other hand," she cast her man the evil eye. "I find you with a girl I will shoot you myself."
"You're going to see men!" Crius complained referring to the Squiggles, four grown men who dressed in bright colors and sang children's songs on the IFB, stupid insipid tunes the toddlers would sing incessantly about potar roots and fruit salad.
"I would hardly call them men," Rene said pulling Starbuck from the room. Lara, Jason and Cain had gathered up the kids and Starbuck was struck by another thought. He might be sharing this suite with a lot of other people.
"They have the rooms next door," Rene said reading his mind. "And I won't share that tub with anyone but you."
"Thank you," he whispered before stating that they should get back before the IFB came looking for them.
He was surprised to find the sealing would be in a room he had never seen before on the luxury liner, a large room that was an amphitheater, chairs in a semi-circle around a stage. There was even a curtain that was pulled back to reveal a mural depicting the star map of the twelve worlds as a backdrop.
He wanted to sigh in frustration. They truly would be performing tomorrow for a large crowd. He hadn't even seen the guest list, but by the number of chairs in the room, it was undoubtedly populated by people he didn't know. His friends were few and they were all there waiting on him.
Apollo greeted him with a warrior hand clasp and Starbuck held on, rolling his eyes and nodding his head to all the seats. "I like being the center of attention, but this is ridiculous."
Apollo tossed an arm over his shoulder. "Just all your close friends and everyone you have Starbucked. We actually don't have enough chairs and had to cut some people from the list."
"Ha ha," Starbuck said, "I see you're feeling better."
Boomer came to join them. "You will too once we get a drink or two into you. The party is set up and we are actually dining on bovine steaks tonight."
That cheered him up. He looked to Rene, but she wasn't smiling, looking almost ill as she surveyed the room before meeting his eyes. He thought he saw a touch of fear in them before she took control of her features. Her eyes turned dark as the curtains closed on her feelings. He watched her pull her spine erect, her shoulders back, the warrior stance, before she faced the IFB reporter and Adama.
"I see you kept it sedate, sir," she deadpanned.
"You have a large family," Adama replied. "Plus Blue Squadron and half of the inhabitants of the Eaglebash and the flight deck crew and the child minders from the orphan ship. You had a hand in the guest list."
"I didn't invite the council of twelve and their guests," Rene indicated the groom's side of the room.
It was Zara that interrupted, her voice bubbly and upbeat. "Yes well, it is the event of the yahren. Everyone recognizes Lt. Starbuck's achievements, having been awarded the Gold Cluster more than once, saving us all at Carillon, and then when he and his dashing friend Colonel Apollo took on the base star, just the two of them!"
Rene cast him a suspicious look not having heard the story.
"Uh, that was the Commander's idea and I do believe it was the Galactica that brought the ship down," Starbuck said gesturing to Adama hoping he would gain control of the situation before it spiraled into a nasty fight.
"Oh, let's not diminish your and Apollo's part in that military success," Adama said following up Starbuck's unspoken request to assert his authority. "But yes, the fleet needs something to celebrate, and Starbuck is representative of the warriors who sacrifice their lives daily, and you Rene represent our new additions to the fleet. This is a marriage of our forces into one unified family of Warriors. We are larger now and we needed more room for those who have also contributed to our success."
Starbuck was impressed and wondered if this was the same speech Adama had used on Rene to get her to agree to this as it didn't soften her features. If anything, she appeared warier.
"We will run through a quick rehearsal, then we will dine. Shall we?" Adama gestured to the IFB reporter Zara.
"Yes, shall we? Have you chosen who will walk you down the aisle?" Zara addressed Rene, and Starbuck found he was just as curious to know the answer. He hadn't thought to ask, just assuming she would walk alone.
Without hesitation she pointed to Cain. Shocked the young man looked to Jason who spoke up, "What? Why him? Why not me?"
Rene flashed him a Rat hand sign for silence followed by a sign that indicated danger. Starbuck had no idea what she was communicating, but Jason did as he shut his mouth and looked angrily away. Zara reached for Cain and the kid let her drag him to Rene's side.
"Oh yes, that makes perfect sense, the newest member to your family, an orphan from the Colonies. Brilliant! I don't know why I didn't think of it! An encouragement for others to adopt our orphans. Alright, then you Commander will of course be up at the podium, and then," Zara indicated the aisle as she looked at the children, "Lt. Starbuck, you will then enter with your groomsmen. Then I thought we could have the children go. We can find some flowers for them, and then the bride's maids will enter, then Rene will follow and then…"
"No," Rene interrupted the woman, the single word sounding ominous.
"No?" Zara asked, turning up the intensity of her smile. "No to what?"
"My children won't be involved in this," Rene stated taking a step towards the woman. Starbuck reached out a hand to her afraid that Rene might take a swing at the woman. Rene yanked her arm away from him, flashing him an annoyed glare.
"But they are so lovely and the fleet would love to meet your family and the promise they hold," Zara offered but Rene shook her head. The reporter turned to the commander. "Surely you can help her to understand the importance of including the children."
Adama opened his mouth to speak, but Rene rudely cut him off. "No."
The Commander put on his most patient smile, the one Starbuck recognized he used often with the Council of twelve. "Surely there can be no harm in allowing the children to be included in the service. It is customary and will be a welcome sight for the fleet."
"May I have a word with you, Commander, alone sir." Rene was polite in the choice of her words, but her voice was terse.
"Whatever you have to say I'm sure you can say to everyone," Adama spread his arms and Rene took a threatening step forward into the sweep of them.
Rene at least had the decency to lower her voice as she whispered, "Sir, you will not use my children for your propaganda."
Starbuck winced but instead of taking a step towards Rene to halt her course, he stepped back. It was the first sign of strength he had seen from her since the sewers of Caprica. Ill-timed as always, but thus far she had let the IFB steamroll her into this farce. He wanted someone to put a stop to this and he was more than happy for it to be Rene.
The Commander was shocked, asking, "Excuse me?"
Rene took another step forward, nearly nose to nose with the Commander as she spoke slowly. "You will not use my children for your propaganda. I offered up Cain because he has already agreed to become yours when he joins the academy, but my children are not yours. They are mine." She nearly sneered the last three words.
"Rene," Starbuck said softly.
She seemed to ignore him, but his words had some affect as she softened her tone. "I have agreed to everything else. I could have negotiated for more and just spaced all that ambrosia that you are using to blackmail me, but I didn't, did I? I do not mind being used to further your goals, they are admirable, but I signed up for this. My kids did not. Besides, what about my children indicates that they would be able to perform as you want them too? Even you scare them. What about a room full of uniforms?"
Adama looked to Starbuck for a moment, and he nodded his agreement, at least to Rene's last words. She was right about all of it, especially that she had not asked for much, and most of her demands had been for others, not for herself. Even this request was not because of what she wanted, but what might be best for the children.
Adama nodded and reached out a hand to Rene's shoulder. "Understood. You are right, they are your children and you should have the final say where they are concerned. Will they at least be attending?"
"Yes, sir."
Adama nodded again. "And the IFB may take some photos and video of them?"
Rene nodded. "Yes, but only for a short time and with me or Starbuck in their presence."
"Agreed, shall we proceed?" Adama addressed Zara.
The pretty woman seemed to pout for a moment, but she moved on and the rest of the rehearsal went off without any problems. They ran through it several times, which seemed stupid and pointless to Starbuck. All they had to do was walk down an aisle and stand there. He and Rene had to recite a few vows, which they practiced a few times. He tried to add some humor to them so that Rene would smile, or at least wipe the look off her face like she was participating in a funeral.
Instead of saying, "Love, honor and obey," he changed the last word each time earning him laughter from everyone else.
"I promise to love, honor, and let you cheat at cards while I pretend that you actually beat me at pyramid." That one at least got her to crack a small smile.
"I promise to love, honor, and steal all the covers because they are mine and you know it." That earned him a shake of her head and rolled eyes.
"I promise to love, honor and bail you out of the brig, right after you bail me out." That got a hearty laugh from Crius.
The fourth time he added the final twist. "I promise to love, honor and put an end to these shenanigans. Are we done here? I'm getting hungry and we both have other plans for the evening other than reciting the same boring lines over and over again. I think we should stick to the vows we said the first time."
Adama laughed remembering back to the impulsive sealing a few sectons ago. "As always, you have cut through the felgercarb. Yes, I think we are done. I'm sure the IFB can finish up without us."
"Yes, we do want a holo of you at your send off with all your friends if that will be alright. No worries Lieutenant, we will show up early before the fun really begins," Zara said batting her eyes at him. He groaned realizing that since the party was not on the Galactica, a bit more would be allowed than at a military send off, but far more eyes would be upon him and judging his character. He had changed since meeting Rene, but only his close friends had seen those changes. Many of his other friends still thought he was the freewheeling lady's man out to conquer all the hearts of the fleet. There was only one heart he wanted to hold from now on, well maybe the hearts of the children as well he thought as he remembered back to the moment of the cylon scan, seeing in such clarity the image of his child alive and well inside his wife.
His shoulders shuddered at the sudden image in his mind of Rene strapped down to the table, begging the ILs not to remove their child from her body. Rene noticed the change as she squeezed his hand in reassurance.
"Sir, can we go?" she asked the Commander. "We need some food and a drink I think."
"Yes, of course," Adama answered and as a group they all headed to the dining lounge where a large table awaited them.
Adama insisted that Starbuck sit to his right with Rene, and Apollo and Sheba to his left. Starbuck knew Rene would have preferred sitting farther down the table with her friends, but Adama was the host of this meal. Rene was quiet for most of the dinner, and he kept asking her if she was okay. She just nodded each time, looking more and more tired as Apollo and Boomer kept dropping hints about the send off.
"Jolly found a deck of marked cards, so expect to lose several hands before the night is through," Apollo jibed, "and no, you can't have my secton's pay for the chancery."
"I heard that he will be too drunk to walk to the chancery. Everyone has a drinking game of their own they want to play," Boomer added.
"And which one of you is carrying me down the aisle tomorrow? Have you worked that out?" Starbuck joked. "Make sure I seal with the right gal and not one of you."
"Me, oh seal with me. We make a cute couple," Crius joined in as his wife playfully smacked him.
"You're taken, remember that tonight, but Apollo's single," she gave Starbuck a small smile that left him a little stunned as he'd never heard Lizbet joke before.
Rene spoke up before they had finished dessert that they needed to hurry up, the puppet show would begin filming in a few centons down in the studio the IFB had set up on the Rising Star. Before Starbuck could ask what else they had planned, Rene was placing a kiss on his cheek and telling him to have fun before she turned and left with her children. Jake and Nik had joined her, with Starbuck calling out that they were welcome to come to the party.
"You should show up later, I mean it!"
Both young men ignored him and Sheba excused herself as well. "I was going to help them set up the reception lounge, and they said I could use their bathing tubs." Sheba grinned. "It's been ages since I saw a tub."
Apollo wished her a good evening, and then the dining lounge was down to just Starbuck and those whom were his original family, his fellow warriors.
He pulled out a fumarello and lit it, inhaling the fine tobac that Rene had stolen from Caprica. He enjoyed the moment of peace, one of the few of the day, and probably one of the last before the festivities.
"I still can't believe your sealed," Apollo said. "I mean, I've seen it. Get to see it twice, but it still is unbelievable how you have taken to this."
Starbuck shrugged before looking away from his friend to Boomer. In many ways Boomer understood him better than the friend who was like the other half of his soul, the good half.
"I can believe it," Boomer answered for him. "Why do think he dated your sister? And Aurora? And, what was the name of that girl from the first yahren at the academy?"
Starbuck thought back to the pretty redhead he'd met there. "Be damned if I can remember," he said.
"Yes, you do, don't pretend you don't. She broke your heart, that's what you blubbered to me," Apollo said. "I think that's what made you determined to break everyone else's heart. You've kept yourself distant until now. What changed?"
"Now son," Adama said trying to come to Starbuck's rescue, "we don't want to analyze the transformation that was overdue."
"It's alright Commander. I can answer it." Starbuck took another puff off his fumarello before using it to illustrate his point, blowing a smoke ring. "Zero changes. I always wanted a family, it's just no one else thought I could pull it off, being committed I mean. They gave me zero chances to prove them wrong. I damn near stayed on Atilla with Miri. It was tempting to have someone who believed in me. Maybe," he took another puff and attempted another ring, that never quite formed before it disappeared, "It's that Rene doesn't trust anyone or anything. She begins each day at zero and that leaves a lot of room for improvement. It doesn't take much for her to be impressed. A little kindness, a small modicum of fidelity, and I'm the hero."
"I wouldn't sell yourself short, Starbuck. You've done a lot for the Copper Squadron," Boomer added.
"They've done a lot for me," Starbuck said already missing the cheerful noise of the kids.
"Indeed, they have," Adama added. "They have reminded me of what I lost many yahrens ago, an innocent hope for the future."
"You've never given up hope, father," Apollo argued. "You've always believed we would survive and find earth."
"Yes, but," the commander shook his head, "I don't think I really invested in my own dream until now. I've led with my head and not my heart. You have been an inspiration. Starbuck. Thank you."
"Here here," Boomer seconded raising his glass as did Apollo. The Commander joined in and Starbuck grinned.
"I didn't do anything. I just lived my life," Starbuck said somewhat embarrassed by the praise.
"A lesson for us all," Adama said. "To living our lives to the fullest."
Their glasses met and they all drank. He felt a warmth in his chest begin to grow from more than the ambrosia.