The party seemed to go into full swing as the jokes began to be told, followed by several stories of Starbuck's antics in the past. He had to correct several of the stories as they had obviously grown in their telling over the yahrens.

"I didn't sleep with the Commander of the Academy's daughter, she was just the flight instructor's niece, get it right, guys."

Each correction just brought more laughter and another story that had been blown out of proportion. "I didn't steal his hovermobile, just borrowed it and parked it back in the same spot. Heck, it was even cleaner than when I found it . . . after driving through the river! And they weren't twins, just looked like they were."

It didn't matter how much he protested the stories were falsehoods, his friends had bought into the fairytales and Crius ate them up. It left him thankful that his wife avoided spending time with his Colonial Warrior friends. She would kill him if she knew even half of these fabrications, especially the stories they began to tell of his few times he was able to hit a decent chancery. Apparently, there was nothing funnier than when he won at the tables and chose to share his winnings with any and all pretty ladies he would invite to the party. Bojay recounted the tale at the Piscera chancery that ended with him sucking drinks out the waitress's navels. That one was mostly truthful, only it was just three waitresses, not twenty.

Starbuck began his own tale about the one time he and Apollo had snuck out of the academy, when he realized he might actually be a bit drunk as he forgot some of the details of that escapade, just remembering the twist of the story that had his friend passed out drunk with three ladies, all of them of the larger size that most men preferred. Apollo corrected him on a few details, but Starbuck insisted, "You were naked! I know because I had your wallet and your pants. Don't try to pretend you didn't do the walk of shame."

"Actually Starbuck, those ladies were very pretty despite their size, and they were kind enough to loan me some pants. You were doing the walk of shame that night, only," Apollo almost couldn't get the words out around his laughter, "Only you strutted if I recall, everything out for the guards to see as you came onto the Academy grounds. No shame on your face, oh no."

Crius nearly snorted ambrosia out his nose as Boomer added, "So there he was, naked as the day he was born and he still had his wallet with his ID. Pretended to pull it out of his back pocket, and asked the guards with a straight face, 'What's wrong? Am I out of uniform?' You should have seen their faces as they just shook their heads. So he keeps walking, goes straight to the mess hall like nothing is wrong, gets a tray and proceeds to sit down, like a normal day. Eats and goes to class, still naked. Actually argued with our drill sergeant when questioned that he was wearing his Colonial issue uniform. Fed him some line like, 'I was born to be in the service. I was issued my uniform the day I was born.' And the sergeant just laughed and told him to stop showing off his Colonial issued gun as he was making the other recruits feel inferior. Oh man, I will never forget that day!"

"Well it's true, all of it." Starbuck winked at Crius, "I do make others feel inferior. Especially in my drinking abilities. Come on guys, what kind of sendoff is this, I'm not even drunk yet."

"Alright, pipe down Sire Superior," Apollo said with a smirk as he got up to get the table another round of drinks.

"So Crius, what did Mars mean by that comment that I should ask you about my wife?" Starbuck knew he should have left it alone, but it had not passed his notice and was now simmering on the flame of pride and jealousy.

"Uh, well, I've been meaning to tell you, just never found the right time." Crius looked around the table embarrassed for a moment before meeting his eyes and dropping his country boy twang. "Things were, well, different on the Zakar right after Caprica. You have to understand that. We thought…well we all thought we were going to die any moment so that kind of lowers some inhibitions, you know?"

His words had Starbuck's full attention. "Yeah," he said slowly, "I think I can appreciate that. So his crack was true?"

Crius winced as he reached up and rubbed at the back of his neck. "I've been meaning to tell you, to just you know, get it out there so you don't hear it from somebody else. It's not a big deal really. It's not like I was the only one at the hoedown. I wasn't seeing straight then, blind as a newborn felix and as dumb as one too and…"

Starbuck stared him down, trying to keep the anger contained. "Just spit it out, country boy. You slept with my wife?"

Crius sucked in a deep breath, "Doesn't sound so good when you put it like that. And she wasn't your wife then. She was, well, she was looking to avoid the parties and the passing around. She's pretty and I asked, she offered. Was just a couple of times, and we mostly played cards, I mean after. She moved on as I didn't really have the rank she was looking for, and besides, Lisbet and I..." Crius shrugged and Starbuck looked away trying to hide his disgust. He was sick of the shrug for answers. He didn't blame Rene, nor Crius. The man was right, things were dire and desperate and he had his own mistakes he'd made as Bojay chimed in to remind him.

"Starbuck went nuts after the destruction. He actually asked Athena to seal with him and then jumped naked into a launch tube with Cassiopeia the next day."

Boomer added to the discussion, "He wasn't the only one trying to make sense of it all. Apollo found love with Serina in like a micron. We all dealt with the death of our worlds in our own ways."

"We had it a bit different on the Pegasus," Bojay continued. "Commander Cain had us working out our fear and frustrations in the skies and in the simulators. We went head to head, winner take all and worked on killing as many tin heads as we humanly could. Here on the Galactica I heard they just worked everyone to death trying to get the derelict ships pieced together to hold more survivors."

"It was tough but we survived," Starbuck said, still trying to suck down the burning in his chest. "Yeah, we worked hard and we tried to hang on to each other. I didn't go nuts, I just knew we needed to stick together, you know, find those we could love and hang on. Try to stay human to make it."

Crius chuckled nervously, "All we need is love? I didn't peg you as a counter culture follower Starbuck, but yeah kind of like that. Nights get cold when you realize you're all there is in the black. Like I said, saved her from a few borays. It was over three yahrens ago and on a desperate night or two. I'm not a complete horndaggit, you know that, Buckaroo."

"Yeah, I know," he conceded as Apollo handed him a drink that he downed in one draft hoping it would quench the burn of jealousy and shame. He knew Rene had others before him, knew he'd had more than a few random romps himself, but it was hard to leave things in the past when it was sitting right in front of you sharing a drink, and would be in the viper beside you on the next patrol.

"What has everyone so somber all of a sudden?" Apollo asked having missed the conversation.

"Nothing important," Starbuck answered for all of them, trying to make it true with the words.

"I think now is a good time for Greenbean to spring that surprise," Boomer suggested sending Apollo off again to find their friend.

"I thought we were going to be playing some pyramid, maybe hit the chancery?" Starbuck asked hoping to avoid whatever prank his squadron had planned for him.

"You don't get off that easy, Starbuck. Not after what you pulled at my send-off," Bojay replied. "It took me a secton to get the ink off me."

Starbuck chuckled remembering how they had actually pooled all their drinks so Bojay could get roaring drunk, then stripped him and used glow in the dark paint someone had found to write all kinds of foul messages on his face and body that suddenly appeared in the darkness of the candle lit sealing. Even Adama had cracked a smile in the middle of the ceremony. The best part, Bojay was completely clueless why everyone was laughing. It took well over a sectar for Athena to forgive them. She still gave them icy stares when anyone mentioned their sealing.

"Just try to remember, there are innocent women and children on this ship," Starbuck warned. "You don't want me strutting the corridors naked do you?"

"I hear Siress Belloby is on board. She might like that." Boomer leered at him over his mug.

"You wouldn't!" Starbuck tried to keep his face stern as Boomer related the tale of their visit to Serenity for Crius who got a hoot out of the story of the elderly woman whom Adama was supposed to be wooing hitting on Starbuck.

In the midst of their laughter the lights in the lounge dimmed as Greenbean approached Starbuck, a large handkerchief in his hand.

"Time for a little game. In honor of all the ladies you have liplocked, we call this one 'Kiss the Hero'. Line up guys and you get to kiss the hero of the fleet." Greenbean grinned at him dangling the cloth in front of him. "You get to guess who laid one on you. Guess wrong, and you lose an article of clothing. Get it right and you get to drink."

"Oh no you don't!" Starbuck started to get up from his chair, but Jolly and Giles were ready for him, pushing him down. "I like girls in case anyone was asking," he protested, but to no avail as Greenbean wound the blindfold around his head, tugging it hard to make sure it stayed in place.

"Come on, be a good sport, Starbuck," Jolly said in his ear. "I'll give you some clues. First one is up. He's big and dark and your bunkmate for years."

Starbuck braced himself for whatever surprise they had for him, trying to contain his panic. He tried to remind himself that this was all in good fun, but he had never enjoyed anything that made him blind and contained. It brought back far too many memories of his days in the orphanage when the larger kids preyed on the smaller and weaker. Starbuck had always been a small kid. He thought it was just not enough food or fresh air, but now having met his real father, it was likely just genetics. Small and thin, he'd spent more than his fair share in closets and footlockers, wrestled in against his will. He'd had to learn how to be smart early on. His mouth got him in and out of trouble more times than he could count, his smart remarks giving him at least a fifty fifty toss of the cubit at avoiding abuse. He utilized that skill now in an effort to quiet the terror threatening to come out of its cage.

"This should be easy. He's dreamed of kissing me nearly every night, isn't that right, Boomer?" The crowd laughed and he thought he might get out of this one, when something solid hit him on the cheek. "What the frak?" He reached to yank off the blindfold to see Greenbean grinning at him, a standard issue pair of rolled up socks in his hand.

"No fair cheating! That will cost you a boot."

Giles grabbed his right foot yanking off his boot while Jolly kept him pushed into his chair and another pair of hands pushed the blindfold back in place.

"Next, the one who you spent most of your days of the academy with."

He braced himself for the next blow, at least somewhat relieved it wouldn't be one of his buddies kissing him. Something slimy and wet slapped him on the cheek.

"Okay, I get the game now. That's a mop." The crowd cheered as he guessed correctly. A glass was pressed to his lips and he tried to reach up a hand to hold it, but they were yanked down as the glass tipped. He had no choice but to open his mouth or else wear the alcohol it contained.

"You're cheating again, aren't you?" Greenbean said, checking to see that the blindfold was in place. "Next up, your first girlfriend." Starbuck felt his own hand lifted to slap himself in the face.

"Ha ha, very funny, my hand." His friends cheered as another glass was brought up to his lips.

"Oh you are good at this game. Now for your first love," Greenbean said as Starbuck wondered what in hades they could be suggesting for that one. He had no clue what it was that tapped him on the cheek, but it was solid and at least dry.

"Okay, you got me on that one. No clue." Jolly lifted his blindfold as Greenbean waved in his face an academy issue flight manual.

"Hand over the jacket, Starbuck."

He had to concede that one. It could have been much worse, and he was helped by Giles in stripping off his jacket. Not so bad so far. Two drinks and just a boot and a jacket. His friends weren't clever enough to think up much more. He should be able to keep most of his clothes, or at least his skivvies.

"Next up, your wildest fantasies."

He braced himself again and this time was hit with many things, all light and he would have been clueless, but there was no mistaking the sound of gambling chits hitting the floor.

"Cards and chits!" he called out to his friend's delight. Another glass was put to his lips and he swallowed something foul. "Hey, I won that one!" he groused to laughter.

"Okay, next up, only in your wildest dreams."

He had barely braced himself when he heard his friends oohing and ahhing. This would be a good one and he expected a blow of some kind when he smelled perfume. "What the…" it was as far as he got before lips were pressed to his own, soft and warm. He was hesitant to kiss them back, sure this was one of his buddies who was bolder than the others and willing to take one for the squadron to continue the prank, but the lips were too soft, the kiss tantalizing as a tongue slipped expertly into his mouth. If this was one of the guys, he was one hell of a kisser and did a good imitation of a woman's sigh. "What the frak," he thought, "A good kiss is a good kiss. I'll give them something to laugh about." He gave in to that tongue, adding his own back deepening the kiss before the lips were pulled away to laughter.

He reached up to yank off the blindfold, expecting to see maybe Giles or Greenbean himself. Instead he found in front of him a woman, blonde and scantily clad in sheer scarves, giving him a sweet smile.

"What the frak? I said no girls!" he sputtered as his friends laughed as if it was the funniest joke ever.

The woman smiled at him seductively as she said with a wink, "Let's make the best of a bad situation, flyboy."

The words pierced through his fog as they were an echo of a few nights before in the OC, words of warning from Max. Rene and the Rats had made the most of a bad situation. He was the best of the bad situation, that's all he was. Just an escape, someone to offer security from the borays of the fleet. His mind reeled off on its own inebriated flight as the woman smiled at him coyly. She placed a hand on his chest, leaning forward to kiss him again before pulling back and beginning to lower herself to her knees, her other hand reaching for his belt.

He jolted in shock. He knew that move, and knew where Rene might have learned it. Did all girls learn that move in some secret school of seduction? Did they all learn how to play a man and make the best of a bad situation?

His body took over and he bolted to his feet, kicking back his chair with the one booted foot while he shook off Jolly's hands. He twisted easily away from Giles as he turned for the door.

He wasn't sure where he was headed when he hit the bright lights of the corridor, spinning in circles expecting someone or something to detain him. No, he had to find her. He had to get to her before they did anything else to her. He had to find out, was this real or just…he swallowed back bile as the realization bloomed in his chest like the grenade had in Ari's. She didn't love him, she just used him.

"She doesn't know how to have a relationship," Gage had said right in front of his friends and the Commander one dinner. Gage wouldn't lie. All the signs were there, even Crius and Max had tried to warn him. "Don't get between the two of them, you'll lose that choice," Crius had told him repeatedly. How many nights had Jake spent in their quarters?

The doors to the lounge opened and Apollo was there with his friend Boomer and he didn't want to be dragged back in there to whatever torture they had planned. The joke was over and he didn't find it funny. He took off headed for the private rooms of the ship. He had to find her. He had to know before this went too far. The joke was over.

Apollo caught up to him at the lift, grabbing him by the arm. "Starbuck? What's wrong, buddy?"

He jerked away from his friend, embarrassment making his face burn. "You know what's wrong!"

Boomer came up to his other side and the panic broke free as he pushed his friend back. "Whoa there, Starbuck. I know you said no girls, but it's just one and she can leave if you want."

He breathed hard wishing the lift would hurry the frak up. Apollo reached out for him again, gentler this time, his voice soft and steady. "Starbuck calm down. What's wrong?"

"You know what's wrong. Or you should, I should. What the frak was I thinking? Who was I kidding? She doesn't want me." He looked into his friend's eyes, but he didn't find the pity he was expecting, just confusion. He took a deep breath. Of course his friend wouldn't understand. Apollo was clueless when it came to women. "She doesn't want me. I'm just convenient. I can get her favors. Frak, I'm surprised she didn't go for you."

Apollo shook his head and looked even more lost. "What are you talking about?"

"I think he's had a few too many," Boomer added for reference.

"I'm not that drunk, or maybe just drunk enough to see what's on my scanner. She doesn't want me!" Starbuck shouted, his voice ringing down the corridor.

"The dancing girl?" Boomer asked perplexed.

Starbuck shook his head looking between his friends. "No, Rene! She doesn't want me. I'm just the best of a bad situation. I'm just…I was just. I have to find her. I have to end this."

Apollo finally grasped what he was saying, reaching out a comforting hand to his shoulder. "Starbuck, I think you're misunderstanding the situation. You've had a few too many. How about we go hit the chancery and maybe grab some water or some java."

"NO!" he shouted in exasperation. "No, I have to find her. I have to end this before it goes too far. It's probably not even my kid."

"Okay, okay, let's go find her and clear this up, okay? You're not thinking straight." Apollo gave his shoulder a squeeze and Starbuck winced at the pressure.

"The hades I'm not. I'm thinking right for the first time. I started this. I have to end this."

"Starbuck, that's just the booze talking. I've seen her with you. She loves you."

He snorted in derision. "Does a good job acting doesn't she. Lies all the fraking time."

The lift arrived, but Boomer reached out a hand to pull him back. "She's not in the suite. She and the others were going to set up the reception room. Said something about kicking back with some music. She's down the corridor."

"Boomer," Apollo hissed at him, "that's not a good idea, not in the state he's in."

"I'm pretty sure she's seen worse," Boomer added, but Starbuck ignored both his friends, striding down the corridor in determination. He had to walk nearly the whole ship to get from the astral lounge at the front to the reception hall in the rear and by then, his anger had cooled down to remorse and self-pity. Like usual he'd jumped into this relationship too fast. He'd just given her his heart and let everyone in and they were all probably laughing at him right now, a good joke. They pulled one over on the stupid Colonial Warrior. She'd read him like a data pad and used her whole arsenal against him, seduction and deception, and then using the kids to secure the deal. Had she gotten pregnant on purpose? It was low, but it wasn't the first time he'd heard of a girl doing that to snag a warrior. He'd seen it happen to more than a few of his friends before the destruction, an easy guarantee of a consistent income. The service paid extra to a warrior with kids.

He paused for just a micron outside of the doors to the hall, mostly to let his friends catch up. He wasn't sure he could do this alone, but it had to be done. He entered the hall to find the Rats around a table, cards in their hands. Music was blaring and there were more than a few ambrosia bottles. They were laughing at something as Rene laid down her hand, removing the fumarello from her mouth as she said, "Read 'em and weep, boys."

Starbuck's heart did a somersault diving straight into his gut as he saw the smile on her face as she looked to her friend Jake. No, not a friend, a father to her children and a former lover, who she should really be with. He choked down something resembling a sob as her gaze landed on him and her smile slipped from her face as her lips moved over the words, "Oh frak."

Starbuck shook his head convulsively as he turned to leave the room, but Apollo had a hold of him.

"Starbuck, talk to her."

He shook his head again, unable to form words around the rock sitting cold in his chest. He was suddenly conscious he had only one boot on, his other foot feeling cold and heavy as lead on the smooth tile floor. He couldn't move as he watched her set down the fumarello and get up from her chair to come to him.

"Hey, uh, it was just one fumarello and I wasn't drinking, I swear," she said to him. The lie helped to dislodge the boulder in his chest.

"Do you ever tell the truth?" He hurled the slurred words at her. It had the right effect as she snapped back in confusion and shock before looking to Apollo.

Starbuck didn't wait for Apollo to explain or for Rene to speak. He unloaded the words that had been burning like bile in his stomach. "Was this all just a game to you? You wanted a way off Dilmun, so you just used me and now that you're here, you just deceive me and use me. Just quit lying and tell me the truth. Did you even love me or am I just useful to you and the family? Do you even really want me?"

At first her eyes went wide, then she narrowed them looking at him warily before she directed her words to Apollo. "How many drinks has he had because at three he gets jealous, and by five he's insecure, but by seven or eight he tends to let it go and go back to being happy."

"This isn't the alcohol talking," he slurred as the floor seemed to slip under his barefoot. Boomer caught him, but he shook the hand off, tilting to the other side where Apollo gave him some support. "Just answer me! Do you even want me or would you rather be with Jake or Gage or…or.."

He stopped speaking as Rene shot him an evil look before asking Apollo again. "More than eight? So we are at irrational."

"He's pretty drunk," Boomer supplied the truth.

"You don't know how many drinks I've had and I'm not so drunk I don't know I've been lied to and played like a fool! You just want the rank and what I can do for you. You've slept with half the Zakar, and you don't want me. You don't know how many drinks it takes to make me see the facts in the lies!" he shouted guessing that most of the words were in the right order and made some sense, but all Rene did was shake her head and look him dead in the eye.

"Starbuck, it means I know you. I...KNOW...you, and if you knew me you would know that I never did those things willingly for the bastards on the Zakar. They had to make me, Starbuck, they all did." She stepped towards him, and he met her, glaring down at her.

"Alright, hot shot. Believe it or not, I love you."

"I don't believe you." Apollo gripped his arm hard and started to apologize for him, but he yelled at his friend to shut up. "This is between me and her. Prove that you love me because I know you don't."

She laughed evilly shaking her head. "You want some proof? I've got it for you." She held up her hand in front of his face, the ring glinting in the lights. "You gave this to me. I didn't ask. I told you it was too soon, too much, and you insisted, not me."

"Just proof I was ssstupid," the word slipped from his mouth twisting up his tongue and his guts.

"Oh, I see. You pushed and I just let you?" She sneered the words.

"Yeah, just like you let half of the Zakar frak you. You learned the moves just like that girl and you used them on me. You seduced me like she was doing and…" The words were harsh even to his own ears and he cringed with a premonition that he would regret those in the morning, but it wasn't morning and to hades with the consequences.

"What the frak is he talking about?" she asked Apollo, but it was Boomer that answered.

"Greenbean got a socialator. We pulled a prank on him and the girl, well she…"

Starbuck interrupted, "She did just what you do. She used your tricks the Zakar pilots taught you and you used me, got me to do what you wanted, to give you that ring and to…to…all of it." He threw his hands up in the air and was caught again by Apollo, but he brushed him off, glaring into Rene's eyes.

She looked away for a moment and he knew she was crafting her fairy tales.

"You can keep it!" he shouted, "You can keep everything. I just want the truth for once."

He heard Apollo admonish him. "Starbuck, I think that's enough. You don't mean that."

"Yeah I do," but he choked on the rest of the words as Rene's hand shot forward grabbing onto his belt as she pulled him a little closer to her.

Her voice low and soft. "Yeah, I was forced to sleep with a lot of men on the Zakar, but when it was done, I left, as quickly as I could. When I do those things with you, do you have to fight me or coerce me to do it?

He blinked as he hadn't expected her to be truthful. He was too stunned for a moment to answer, but when he did, his voice low and ominous, "No. I don't do that to women."

"No, you don't. You have never forced me to do anything, have you?"

He was confused for a moment where she was headed, but the words were accurate. "No, I haven't."

She nodded at him. "And when we are…done, who decides we're done?"

"Uh..." he stammered not really sure of the right answer, "I do?"

"When we are in the dome, who has to make me get up and leave?"

He thought for a moment, his own argument unravelling and he couldn't quite grasp the threads of it. "I do."

Rene leaned up on the toes of her boots, coming nose to nose with him. It brought her into focus and he felt himself sway. She reached out a hand to his face steadying him. "In our quarters, who has to make me get out of bed?"

"I do." He swallowed, already beginning to miss the mornings they shared, the quiet moments between the chiming of their alarm and the warmth of their bed where he felt safe and welcomed.

"Who is usually telling me that I need to slow down and maybe we should take a break? Who usually tells me no?"

"I do...but..."

Her eyes were boring into him and her glare that stung like acid had him suddenly questioning why he was here. "When I was on the Zakar, I learned those tricks you accuse me of doing so I could get it over with as fast as I could, and once done, I was out of there before the guy came to his senses. I don't do that with you, do I? A one and done? That sound like you and me?"

He shook his head, "No, but…"

"But what, Starbuck? Who initiates half the time? Who complains about having to leave our bed? Who is the one asking for more?"

"You do but…but you do it to manipulate me." He tossed out the accusation, but it sounded more like a question to his own ears and he found himself looking away, noticing that most of the family was watching the exchange, including the kids who looked up to him, Jason and Cain. Even Lara was listening to them arguing about the intimate details of what they did in their quarters.

Rene patted the side of his face to get his attention and keep his gaze on her. "If I am manipulating you, what am I getting out of it that I couldn't get myself?"

He thought for a moment. The only thing he could think of was the Council Chambers, but when he really thought about it, Crius and Nik's quarters were more spacious and luxurious than his and Rene's and it was the Commander who had technically assigned the large room to the whole family.

"Keep thinking, Bucko," she said, her grin turning soft and sweet.

He knew he was in trouble when she used the nickname many in blue squadron had given him, but he couldn't think of anything he had acquired for her other than the council chambers. He knew sometimes she did...things...to cool his anger, but it didn't really work, just got him to be a bit calmer when talking to her.

"You do things sometimes when I'm mad to distract me."

She nodded looking down for a moment before meeting his eyes. "Okay, right, and why is that?"

She didn't give him time to answer, "It's because I am scared you'll leave me. I love you so damn much that it terrifies me that you may walk out on me, so I do things you like so you'll stay. If that's manipulation, well, I'm going to keep doing it because I don't want to be without you. It's not because you do things for me, except you do, but it's not what you think. And... well frak Starbuck, if I wanted a husband to help me move up in the world, why in frak's sake would I set my sights on a Lieutenant? You don't even outrank me! Believe it or not, I love you and tomorrow I am going to show the whole fleet that I do. And you think I would go through all this to get bigger quarters?"

He hung his head and sighed, "No."

With a soft touch, she to guided his eyes back to her, "I love you because you are the sweetest kindest funniest man I have ever known. I love you despite the fact that you are a pretty boy." The smile she gave him was genuine and true and he wanted to drown in her eyes. She leaned up to kiss him, her lips soft and sweeter than any he had tasted before. She pulled back and he swayed again as his doubts left him.

"And, you can ask me anytime. I will tell you again, and again and again, okay? Proof enough?"

He nodded, feeling the tight bands around his heart loosen and let go. Then she kissed him deeply and he melted into the kiss. When she pulled away she was still smiling.

"Better?"

He nodded several times feeling like his head had come loose from his body.

She laughed shaking her head at him. "Okay, now you need to do something for me, since I'm manipulating you and all."

He growled a little, "I'm going to regret this aren't I?"

"I will only tease you a little, I promise. Now you need to go back and buy that girl a drink. You sit down and ask her about her kids because I'm betting you five cubits she's got some, and she dances so she can make money to buy them what they need and want. You pay her, and then you make sure she gets tipped well. You thank her, tell her she did a great job, and you send her home, you got that, Bucko?"

She jerked him by his belt in warning. "That's all you do. I can get jealous too."

"Yes Ma'am."

She kissed him again and the power of it made his knees weak. He reached to pull her into his arms and stumbled, nearly tumbling the two of them to the floor before Apollo could get a grip on him.

"Sorry," Apollo apologized for him and he echoed the words feeling like a little kid.

"Yeah, uh, sorry. I…you sure you want to seal with me and not Jake?" He had to ask and her laughter sounded so sweet to his ears.

"Yes. I am sure." She turned to Apollo, "You might want to just put him to bed."

"No, he promised me cards. I have to fleece them all," he said, turning away to head out the door.

"Wait for us, Bucko," Boomer said, tossing over his shoulder, "We'll keep him out of trouble. He'll show up on time tomorrow."

"He'd better!" she shouted after them, "Or I'll trade him for a higher rank."

"I'm going to regret that, aren't I?" he turned to ask Apollo who was suddenly there at his side guiding him in the right direction.

"Not as much as you're going to regret the headache you're going to have tomorrow. Come on, let's get you some water to drink."

"Then cards, right?" he said, turning towards the flashing lights of the chancery.

"This way, Bucko," Boomer said turning him back towards the Astral Lounge.

There was a cheering and clapping when he entered the room and he saw they had cleared a ring in the room again, only this time instead of a fight, there was a girl twirling with scarves dancing in her hands. Apollo deposited him on a stool near the bar as he asked the bartender for a glass of water. He downed it and Boomer handed him a mug of grog to sip. Food appeared in front of him, crackers and cheeses that he reached for not really tasting them. He must have lost track of things for a few microns because unexpectedly there was the pretty girl sitting next to him, all her scarves in all the right places. He thanked her for the kiss and found himself flirting with her, no harm in that was there?

Rene was right, the pretty socialator had kids, two of them and she showed him pictures of two adorable little girls. Starbuck dug out the printout of the scan of the baby Cassiopeia had taken for him and he wished he had a picture of Leia, Kalea and Kiff, but he had one of him with Jason and Cain.

The pretty lady kissed him on the cheek and told him he was sweet. He bought her a drink and handed her more than a few cubits he had on him. She thanked him for the tip and gave one of her own, to never agree to be blindfolded again. Well, it hadn't turned out so bad, he reasoned. Only a mop to the face before a decent kiss. Once she left, Crius took up residence at the bar with him before they were both collected for the promised game of pyramid.

He didn't remember much of the game, only that when a hand was lost, so was an article of clothing and he vaguely recalled gambling away his insignia. What he did remember is they were all laughing and having a good time.

And then he was woken by a rattling of buckets as someone shook him awake.

"What are you doing in here?" a custodian asked.

Starbuck groaned at the bright lights that flicked on, gleaming and glittering off the trappings of the Rising Star Chancery.

"Oh lords," he moaned. "Shut those fraking lights off will ya? Oh the son of Sagan, what the hades took up residence in my mouth?"

"Uh sir," the custodian handed him a dirty rag. "You might need this."

"Why in hades would I need that?" He sat up and felt a chill as he shivered. He was in the middle of a seven-eleven table, naked as the day he was born. "On second thought, I'll take that. Thanks."

The rag barely went around his waist, and he had to hold it in place with one hand. He looked around still wincing at the bright lights to see he wasn't alone. Apollo was slumped in a chair shirtless and Boomer was curled up on the floor in just his briefs. His friends hadn't abandoned him. He still had his chrono and he brought it to his face, blinking a few times to clear his vision. It was mid-morning, closer to midday meal than breakfast. The ship's corridors would be full of people. He looked around the chancery for more articles of clothing. There was nothing.

"Oh frak." He tried to recall the quickest route to the honeymoon suite, then it came back to him, all the nasty things he'd accused his wife of doing. "Oh double frak."

He hopped down off the table, groaning at the effort and grabbing his head to make sure it didn't roll off his shoulders. He kicked Apollo lightly with a bare foot. His friend jolted awake reaching for a weapon he didn't have.

"Where in the hades are my clothes?" Starbuck asked.

"Huh? Oh, um," Apollo blearily looked around the room. "Crius has them. Wanted to fight me to see who was the best wingmate. He won I think." Apollo rubbed at his face and Starbuck saw the blooming purple of a bruise on his best friend's cheek.

Starbuck had to kick Boomer twice to get him to wake up. At first he just rolled over and mumbled to leave him alone, but a third kick to his astrum got him to rise to consciousness.

"Come on," Starbuck encouraged, "We have a walk of shame this morning and then I have to go grovel to my wife and see if she's still talking to me. I have a big apology to deliver."

"Already got you covered," Boomer said as he pulled himself up to his feet.

"Say what?" Starbuck asked wondering where his cubits wound up, hopefully still in his pants, although he had a vague recollection of handing them all to some pretty girl.

Apollo put an arm around him. "Took care of it last night before the card game. Sent her flowers in your name."

"Flowers? How the hades did you afford that?" Starbuck asked knowing first hand how rare a commodity flowers were in a fleet that could barely feed itself.

"We all chipped in, well mostly Greenbean. The socialator was his idea." Boomer added.

"Oh," he said, rubbing at his face trying to clear the gunk from his eyes. "Think I still need to see her."

Apollo laughed. "Why don't you clean up first. Not sure she should see you like that."

Starbuck groaned as he looked around the room for a mirror. "Please tell me you didn't shave off an eyebrow." He reached up checking his face, then his hair. All still there, then he looked down at his body, lipstick kisses all over his chest.

"What the frak happened? Rene is going to kill me."

Boomer laughed. "You don't remember?"

"I think I would remember this, at least I would hope so since it's what's going to get me killed." Starbuck looked up to the heavens hoping for a Cylon attack. It would be a quicker death than what Rene might do.

"No worries, Starbuck," Apollo said stripping off his pants to his briefs, handing Starbuck the clothing. "Crius did those. Said something about fraking with you instead of Rene. Not sure what he meant but, it's just lipstick. It will wash off."

"Thanks," he said taking the pants and slipping them on. "Alright, time to strut boys."

Thankfully it was a short walk to the lift, and no one was in the corridors for the private rooms. He headed towards the honeymoon suite, but Boomer reminded him that he might want to get the lipstick kisses off his chest and the ambrosia off his breath before apologizing to his wife, but he could feel the regret of his words beginning to compound by the centon.