Another R rated chapter…don't read if you don't like romance in the extreme.

That satisfied smile was addictive. It spoke of victory and defeating the odds. She admired the sight of Starbuck lounging in the large bed in the soft gold robe with a breakfast fit for a king arranged around him. "Is this what heaven will be like, because this would be what I would wish for," she mused. The only sign that he might be a little hung over was the full mug of java he chugged down, and that he actually left some of the ovums behind once the runny yolks had bled yellow all over the rest of the plate.

Famished from not eating much the day before, she tried to keep up with him, but it didn't take much to fill her up, and the plates had been overflowing. She concentrated on the waffles, wondering when she might be able to have them again. The ingredients were hard to get. The Galactica mess tried to make something that resembled waffles, but the mess was notorious for food that appeared to be real while still tasting like ashes mixed with oil. Ironically, it was representative of most of her life. It looked like something good, but then wasn't real or lasting.

Closing her eyes around a bite of waffle with honey and jam, she prayed, "Please. I know I don't deserve this, but don't take it away so quickly this time. Just a yahren, that's all I'm asking. More would be nice, but I won't be greedy. Just a yahren, please." She blinked back a tear as she tried to let the moment loosen the tightness in her chest.

"You okay?" Starbuck asked. She opened her eyes and tried to nod without looking at him. He was too good at reading her and she wanted him to enjoy his rewards for surviving Caprica.

"Hey, look at me."

She would have fled to the turbo making some excuse if she could, but the plates all around the bed made that next to impossible without breaking something. She didn't want to ruin this for him. He deserved to be the hero today, so she blinked hard trying to clear her eyes. Before she could, his finger was under her chin, lifting her face so he could get a look.

"Good days start with waffles," he said trying to turn up the voltage of his smile.

She nodded and tried to smile back.

"What's wrong? You don't like the ovums? I like mine over hard, but…" He paused, then dropped his attempt at being cheerful. "Talk to me so I don't think you're regretting sealing with a bad bet."

"Oh, no, nothing like that," she said as something cracked inside her chest spilling out its contents and choking her. She shrugged and tried to find the words to tell him she wasn't used to something as simple as happiness. The feeling never stayed long. Any good times were so quickly followed by crisis and heartache. She opened her lips to speak, but she couldn't find her voice, and then he was leaning towards her, softly kissing her, his fingers gently stroking her jawline.

He pulled back and her heart crackled like it was ice breaking.

"No worrying today, okay?" He read her thoughts once again and she marveled at how he did that. "It was a good party and everyone enjoyed themselves. The kids are happy and safe and even Jake had a good time. I think I saw the kid actually smile, and Nik," Starbuck nodded his head as if in wonder. "Nik held a conversation that was about something other than music. Apollo was drunk. Do you have any idea how hard that is to accomplish?"

She shook her head. That had been oddly strange and a bit unnerving to see the serious Colonel, telling stupid jokes, slurring his words and stumbling on the dance floor. He had looked younger than when he was the overly responsible solemn teen she had known on Caprica.

Starbuck continued, his voice tinged with awe. "Damn near impossible. It only happens when I trick him, or everything is going really right, as in duties finished, the populace fed, and the skies clear of the enemy kind of right. If he can give in to a little fun, then you can too."

He was right and she tried to swallow down the relief that instead of making her feel joy, for some reason made her want to cry.

"Hey, come here." He moved the plates that were between them off to the table beside the bed, then reached to pull her into his arms. She laid her head on his chest and tried to let the sense of security envelop her.

"I know," he said stroking her back and resting his chin on her head. "You've carried a lot. You don't have to carry it alone. I'm here."

His chest felt safe and warm, and she tried to speak to make him understand. She looked up to him as the line from an old poem she learned in school came to mind and she quoted, "Nothing gold can stay."

She regretted the words as soon as they left her lips. Starbuck closed his eyes and sighed, his smile fading. He nodded before he looked down on her. "So, we enjoy it while it's here and we try to make it stay for as long as we can, okay? No need to rush into the darkness, it comes for us soon enough. Let's try to stay in the light."

Sighing and trying to let it go, she allowed his golden goodness to surround her, offering up a kiss to seal the deal. He took the agreement and turned it into something more. She let him distract her from her worries as her hands explored his chest, loving the feel of the hard muscles, the defined edges to him, the solidness of his arms and his ribs. This was real and here and now. Then there was the slight shiver that traveled up his chest that was followed by a light gasp of surprise when she touched him. It reminded her to go slow and soft. He wasn't used to being touched and the slight ripple of the hairs on his arms reassured her that he did understand. Like for her, touch had not always been pleasant. He had to let his defenses down before he could give in to the sensation, but when he surrendered to it, it was a complete retreat of his wariness. He gave in to her touch, and soon Starbuck was rolling her to her back and taking over. His kisses deepened, hoping to send them both into a moment of desire when the door chimed.

He groaned as they tried to ignore it. It rang again, but she had no intention of answering the door for fear it might be the IFB. Starbuck was determined not to let it distract him, but then the chime rang in a rhythmic pattern she thought she recognized.

Starbuck pulled back rolling his eyes as he groaned softly, "It's Apollo."

"Better answer it then," she said knowing it was probably the only person that would make Starbuck change his trajectory of the course he was plotting.

"Yeah, might be important." He pulled his robe back closed before he dragged himself from the covers and headed for the door. "Don't go anywhere," he said to her.

She nodded, but at soon as she heard the door open and Apollo's voice as he entered the suite, she headed for the turbo to clean up at least a little and find her own robe. She just couldn't take the idea of being naked in a chamber that held Apollo, even if the sheets covered her up. Even the robe felt too exposed, especially as she took a look at herself and the smeared mascara and tangle of curls telling the tale of how she had spent her night. She washed her face and found a brush to run through her hair, getting the curls in some semblance of order before she came out and headed for the main room as she heard the two talking.

Starbuck held out his arm beckoning her to his side, offering the protection he sensed she needed.

"He brought us the Proteus ambrosia Robber gifted me at my send off."

"And to thank you for a wonderful party. I had a little too much fun," Apollo said, glancing up at the lights of the chamber and wincing. "We're all headed back and I just wanted to let you know that Jason and Cain are coming over to the Zakar with me for a few cycles. Boxey invited them and Lara wanted to come, but I thought the boys needed some time to get settled and be boys. The Zakar has a triad court that needs refurbishing, and I thought they could help to set up some of the chambers for your family."

"I thought we were waiting until after Cain's in the training program. That's about two or three sectons away." She looked up to Starbuck for confirmation.

"No harm in getting things set up before, is there? It would make it easier on the kids if we have it ready for them, right?" He looked excited at the prospect and she nodded, not wanting to take that away from him. She was already dreading being in the smaller corridors and tighter compartments of the battle cruiser, especially that ship. She had seen too many bunks on the Zakar, hid in too many corners and fought in too many corridors. A stray thought ricocheted in her mind, who would take Dante's chambers? She couldn't stand the thought of Apollo in Dante's bed, as if the evil would ooze all over the kind man as he slept. It was the stuff of horror vids. But if anyone could fight off that malicious ghost, it was Apollo.

"My father said to enjoy yourselves, you've earned it. The IFB is still streaming vid of the sealing and the party and he's declared a celebration this evening. Kind of a fleet wide honeymoon. So, if you two could let the IFB get a holo of…"

Starbuck cut him off curtly, "Nope."

"I think they are just looking for a shot of you two at dinner or…"

"Nope. Not going to happen." Starbuck tightened his grip on her as Apollo tried to plead the IFB's case.

"For the fleet, nothing too staged, just you enjoying the chancery or…"

"Nope," Starbuck said again.

"I'm sure you could work out a deal beneficial to you. The IFB has coin and…"

"Not for all the cubits in the fleet," Starbuck stated gruffly before softening, "and besides, I'm not sure it would be wholesome family entertainment to see us enjoying that meal naked in bed. The desert might get us all in trouble, am I right, buddy?"

Apollo sighed. "Starbuck, I swear. I thought marriage might mellow you out a little, but you are as incorrigible as ever."

"And don't you forget it." Starbuck swept his hand to indicate the door. "Unless you would like to see how we eat breakfast in bed, minus our robes, I suggest you go."

Apollo shook his head. "I had to try for my father's sake. Sorry I intruded," he said to Rene, then turned to Starbuck. "Don't break anything and get it out of your system. I don't want to come around corners on my own ship and find you…well…being you. We eat meals on the Zakar fully clothed."

"One of the first things I'll change once I'm Strike Wing Captain."

"Sorry I gave you ideas," Apollo said as he winked at Rene. "Have fun. See you in a few cycles."

Once the door closed behind him, she relaxed and let out the breath she'd been holding. "Thank you."

"No problem. You worked out a deal, and you honored it. I think it's the first time you haven't cheated, am I right?" he teased.

She shook her head. "It doesn't count as cheating if I don't get caught."

"I know a few people who might disagree with you. I'm not one of them, but…" He turned them back taking a few steps towards the bed chamber. "Wow, we made a mess."

"You mean you did. You're the one who was flinging clothes everywhere," she teased back.

"No worries of that today. There won't be any clothes. Strip pyramid will be a short game, just a robe to wager. Shall we finish breakfast? And then we'll move on to lunch, then dinner." He pulled her around in front of him, leaning down to kiss her as his hands deftly slid the robe from her shoulders. "Mmm, delicious."

He dropped his own robe and she couldn't resist sliding her hands up his chest as her eyes traveled down his body. "Damn tasty," she purred and almost yelped as he reached to pick her up in his arms, wrapping her legs around him.

"The bed is that way," she tilted her head towards it but Starbuck just growled as he settled her on him in his arms.

"Who needs a bed," he stated into her neck as she gasped, feeling strangely embarrassed for a moment as she realized just behind his back had been where Apollo stood. It felt oddly wrong, as if Starbuck's friend was watching. She had fracked too many times that way, someone else in the room enjoying the entertainment. The memories threatened to intrude upon what was happening there with Starbuck and she held on, leaning into him, letting his golden goodness chase the evil thoughts away.

"You are so light," he said, as if concern and craving were warring together in his words as he held her there easily while he tried something new. She held on, forcing herself to give in to the carnal desire. He was strong and barely struggled to shift her how he wanted. It didn't take long for him to collapse on to the bed with her, but it barely halted his attempt at finding his gratification. Once she felt the bed safely at her back, she forgot to be shy, lending her support to his aims. She reached the point of pleasure before him, unable to hold back and it drove them both to cry out.

He was panting hard once they were done. "So that was my exercise for the day," he quipped.

It made her laugh. "I thought we were relaxing today?"

"Yeah, so did I."

The door chimed again, and Starbuck groaned loudly before shouting, "Go away!"

"Housekeeping," a voice answered.

"Is there anywhere in this fleet where we won't be interrupted?" he grumbled.

"We should clean up a little. I'm still covered in glitter." Starbuck actually rolled his eyes in exasperation, but she sweetened the pot. "There is that bathing tub you haven't tried out yet."

It was obvious with his grudging acceptance that he intended to be a spoiled child today insisting things go his way. "Fine. They should get the dishes I guess, but if that door chimes again and it's not food or drink, I am going to go ballistic. This is my honeymoon too and I intend to spend it in that bed doing things I have only dreamed of."

He planted a kiss on her cheek before pulling away, getting to his feet, stalking a few steps to find his robe, jabbing his arms into it and angrily tossing his robe closed. Rene was impressed that despite all the alcohol he'd had in the last couple of cycles and the stress of the sealing, he was still thinking they could do more than sleep the day away.

She quickly got up, scrambling for her robe, afraid he'd let the staff in before she'd disappeared into the turbo. She just had time to check the temperature of the tub and get the water jets going before the door opened to Starbuck coming in with clean towels in his hand.

"I gave them fifteen centons and made them show me how to turn off the door chime. I told them to send up some ambrosia and they'd better have more when they knock on the door again," he growled, tossing the towels on the counter before dropping his robe again.

She shook her head at his petulant mood, noting that he and Kiff had a lot in common. They both liked to throw a fit when things didn't go their way. Starbuck turned to get a look at himself in the mirror rubbing at his face, his daily check if he actually needed to shave. There had to be Pisceron in his bloodline somewhere as he wasn't as hairy as the typical Caprican. He seemed to decide against meeting the Colonial requirement today, turning away to look to her.

Her eyes appraised his body, a little on the lean side of Warrior requirements that spoke of yahrens of getting just enough to survive, and not much more. She hoped to change that in the future. With the Galactica's database of planets on their route that had supplies, added with the knowledge that she could now get shuttles and tankers through her rift with enough energy, she should be able to find enough food. They could keep the fleet going for yahrens, or better yet, finish this pointless voyage with a planetary system with enough supplies to make them all fat and happy. She tried to imagine Starbuck with a bit more meat on his bones.

"My eyes are up here, darlin'," he teased with that half smile he got before he did something dangerous.

"Well if you insist on being naked, don't expect me to ignore the view," she joked back.

"And what do I get in return for you taking liberties?"

"A warm bath and a fresh towel. Now let's try to get off those kisses Crius left on your chest."

Starbuck looked down, having forgotten the evidence of his send off shenanigans. Rene had not mentioned them before, so he assumed they had faded, but they were just as bold as before.

"Please tell me they are not permanent. I have a triad competition coming up."

"They'll be there a while I'm afraid, but we can hurry up the process with the right chemicals, but your skin will peel and I'm not sure the viewers on the IFB would like that any better."

"Oh great. I'm going to kill him."

Rene softened the anger that was growing by standing up and dropping her own robe to the floor before stepping into the warm tub. "Joining me?"

"Now how can I turn down such a gorgeous invitation? Just let me enjoy the view for a moment." He leaned back against the counter and his eyes turning dark and deep as his mind seemed to go elsewhere. He'd been doing that a lot lately, ever since Caprica, replaying some horror vid that was only in his head. She knew it had to be more than what had happened to him with the Cylons, or what had happened to her. He'd been avoiding the kids ever since he laid eyes upon that slave camp. She didn't remember going back into the corridors of the torture facility, but Jake had told her she did, that it was her that pulled five other children from the building. Jake was convinced that seeing the kids in that cell had broken something inside Starbuck.

"He just stood there for a centon staring. He was seeing them, but seeing something else too. Then it was like he was hit by a bolt of electricity and he was moving, but his mind wasn't engaged. He was somewhere else," Jake had explained.

She suspected that moment tapped something in his memory from his childhood and the thorn forest of Umbra. He'd not been the same since before that slave camp and she wondered when he would come back to himself. How much ambrosia would it take? Would she be able to slip away so she could go back and get more?

"Starbuck, the water's going to get cold." She prompted him to move with the lie, but she had to say it twice before he pulled himself away from the counter and climbed into the tub, reaching for her. It was his reaction each time his eyes went dark, to need to reach out and hold her to remind himself this wasn't a dream.

He remained quiet and she wished they had brought a bottle with them into the bath to help chase away these new demons with some of his old ones he had wrestled with before. She thought to leave him in his silence, but it was unnatural and unnerving from the normally talkative man she knew. She struggled to think of a topic to discuss that might entice him back to his happy go lucky self. She didn't want to talk about the Zakar or their upcoming move. Maybe triad or maybe the baby?

"So, are you still insisting on the name Adama for the baby?" she asked hoping to break his reverie. "It's going to be a funny name for a girl."

"Is it a girl?" he asked, leaning down to rest his lips on the nape of her neck.

"I'm just saying if it is a girl, you might need another name."

"Addie then, but you know what it is, don't you?" He began to hum into her neck.

Her shoulders relaxed as she sensed he was losing himself back into another one of his other obsessions, lust. It was a demon they were both friends with, not a bad one to have around sometimes.

"No," she lied. "And if I did, I'm not telling. You deserve a surprise."

"Oh, you are full of surprises. I think I have had more than my fair share with you. I think you surprised us all by getting me to seal with you." He continued to give her neck soft little kisses.

"That was all you, handsome. This wasn't my idea." She tilted her head to let him have easier access to her most vulnerable spots, giving in to the gentleness that was so new and intoxicating.

"Oh, and do you want out now?" She knew he was teasing, but it still sent a shiver of dread through her.

"No," she said softly, not sure how much more she could take, but knowing that when Starbuck was intent on a mission of subtle seduction, it was best to let him lead or she might chase him away back into the dark thoughts that haunted him. She reached a hand to lightly stroke the arm that was around her. "Never."

"You sure," he left a tantalizing kiss on her pulse, nipping lightly at it as it jumped.

"Yes," she sighed the word, while telling her brain to go take a smoke break somewhere else.

"For how long?" He laid a hot trail of deep kisses up her neck to her ear.

"As long as you want." She gave the scripted answer before amending it. "I'm not letting you go. Ever."

"What's it going to be like?" he purred and she guessed what he was after. Like the children, he liked to hear the fairy tale of the happily ever after. That was okay because she liked to tell it, hoping like hades she could make it happen for all of them. The dream gave them all something to cling to on the cold nights in space.

"Lazy secton end days laying in the sun. A home by a lake with fish and birds. The mountains in the background and a wide-open sky."

"How many more?" He kissed the spot behind her ear that always made her shiver.

"Lots of days until you die of old age from smoking too many fumarellos on the front porch." She smiled at the image of Starbuck as a crusty old man still chasing after kids and flirting with young women.

"How many more children?" he clarified his statement and she wondered about telling him the truth, that she wanted to be done having kids. She had fulfilled her quota to add to the survival of the human race, but she knew Starbuck wanted to be in the fantasy, not the truth.

"Five or six. Seven maybe. More than you can handle. Girls to drive you crazy when they start to date, and boys to wear you out with all their energy and mischief."

"Mmm," he purred in satisfaction and she told the story of their future home in some far-off mythical place known as Earth. Sometimes she wanted to curse Adama for having created the fable to keep the human race together. He'd sold most of the Galactica warriors on it, but the fantasy didn't work as well on those from Dante's fleet. She had lived the reality for a few yahrens of the tale. No one really talked about the nitty gritty realities of starting over. The story usually just ended with finding Earth, as if everything would be set up ready and waiting for them.

What was left out were the cold nights in tents while they worked from sun up to sun down trying to build homes from raw materials, rough hewn logs and mud for walls, and forays into a dangerous forest to cut firewood to heat those shoddy homes. Then there were the days slogging in the mud to put in crops that often failed as they were unfamiliar with the seasons and not having the time to wait with a populace to feed. On top of that, the endless patrols to keep the Cylons off their backs and their home safe while they were exposed on the ground setting up defenses. Then came the search for more resources, the digging into the ground for ores, the processing that was tedious and terrifying. The days of lounging in the sun were few and far between.

But she would still take all that in trade and give up the cold confines of ships in space, so she told the tale, pretending to buy in to Adama's fable. She gave into it because it worked. It kept away the harsh reality that none of them may ever see Earth. It chased away the darkness in Starbuck's eyes so that a new dawn of hope could rise. That was the fairy tale she could believe in, his eyes.

She had seen them in her dreams. Even when with Keenan, his golden-brown eyes would suddenly turn sparkling blue and she would pull back in surprise only to find them brown again. In her dreams, she'd find herself looking up to someone, and the blue eyes would be there, shining like beacons in the sky guiding her. When she found Kobol, it was his blue eyes that had pointed the way, and when they came upon Dilmun, the blue of the first few planets of the system were his eyes shining. Now they were hers, to gaze upon anytime she wished. She was going to hold onto them and make them shine if she could.

"And we'll make our own ambrosia and grow our own tabbac. You can roll your own fumarellos and feast on fresh fruit every morning. We'll make a tub like this one that we can lounge in every night before going to bed in our own home, with a window in the roof looking up on the stars, and fire in the hearth crackling."

"Mmmm," he murmured into her neck as his hands began to explore the feel of her in the water.

He was unmindful that there were people in the other room as he made love to her, spilling water everywhere. She laughed at each splash and he interpreted her laughter as encouragement to continue.

After, he lingered there in the tub and she wondered if he had fallen asleep as he leaned back with his eyes closed. She tried not to disturb him as she ducked under the water, getting her hair wet and to begin washing away the curls. Her hair had gotten long in the past sectars and she hadn't seen a reason to cut it since the Galactica was lax on the military requirements Dante had demanded, making her wonder if he had crafted those pages of the manual to fit his tastes. She could see where long hair might be a safety hazard, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with a braid. She intended to follow Sheba's example and keep it growing, just to see if she could. She startled when she felt Starbuck's fingers trail down her shoulder, and turned back to him.

"I liked the curls," he said wistfully.

"I can put them in again. They took a while though. Not practical."

He merely grunted at her words while he lazily trailed his fingers on her skin, before he too slid under the water, coming up and flipping his wet hair back. He held out his hand for the soap and she gave it to him, watching him as he washed up his own hair before dipping under again to rinse it, then settling back again and reaching for her to bring her into his arms.

They stayed that way until a knock on the door followed by a soft "We're done," let them know the cleaning staff was leaving. Starbuck shouted, "Thank you. Lock the door on your way out."

"We should get out before you get all wrinkly," she said but made no move to leave his arms.

"Not yet. There's no hurry, and you lied. The water doesn't get cold."

She didn't reply, just let him hold her and tried not to wonder when they might get to experience this again, if ever. It was hers for now and that was enough.