Disclaimer: I do not own Battlestar Galactica, or any of the characters of Galactica. All I own are my ideas and theories.
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6.
"Mommy! Daddy! Look at me!" His hand curled around her shoulder as they walked over to the swing set where their six-year-old daughter was energetically pumping her legs as she flew higher and higher.
"Careful baby. Don't go to high," she warned.
"Daddy! Push me!" He squeezed her shoulder before moving behind their daughter. She leaned against the triangular frame of the swing set and watched father and daughter together. They had stayed behind for a while to help with the training of the new crew, and had only gotten down to Earth a few months ago, but it already felt like they had been there forever. For the first time, she had discovered a life where people didn't give her wary looks when they thought she couldn't see. For the first time, she didn't feel the need to prove that she was human. She was simply accepted as such. Hera had already made friends on their street, and would be starting school in another week. Once Hera started, both she and Karl would also return to school. The military had meant everything to them when the war was on, but now they found that they didn't ever want to leave their daughter wondering whether or not they would come home.
She looked at her watch, and called out to him. He grinned at her, and slowed the swing, kneeling down in front of it.
"I think Mommy's trying to tell us that it's time to go home for dinner Hera," their daughter looked up at him, and her eyes widened.
"Now daddy? Just a few more minutes? I wanna play on the slide!" His resolve crumbled and he looked at his wife guiltily.
"Okay, sweetie. A few more minutes. Go ahead. Your mom and I will catch up." With that, the child was gone, and he straightened up to his full height. She smiled up at him, amusement, and love clear in her eyes.
"Someday you're going to have to learn to say no to her, Karl." He grinned.
"Now why would I do that. I'll just tell her that you'll decide." He sat down on the recently vacated swing, and she sat in his lap as he slowly moved it back and forth as they watched their daughter clamber around the play structure with another little boy.
"I think she's got an admirer, he commented.
"She's six years old."
"Doesn't matter. She's got my looks. Doesn't that make her irresistible?"
She smiled, remembering Kobol.
o0o
"How much further?"
"Farther," she absentmindedly corrected, as she pushed the branches out of their way.
"What?"
"Farther describes an actual distance. Further is more figurative."
"You're a dictionary now?"
"I'm sorry I'm smarter than you," she smiled, and heard him chuckle quietly.
"Well that's okay. The baby can have your brains as long as he gets my looks." She smiled more widely, having missed their normal banter.
"Yeah? That'd be a real blessing for her."
"Her? You know it's a girl?" he asked, clearly surprised.
She looked back at him, and smiled widely. "Yeah."
o0o
"So does that mean she got my brains?" she answered, smiling. His arms encircled her tighter, and she leaned into him. They sat there for a few minutes, just being with each other. Finally, she leaned her head up, and kissed him softly on the lips before getting up.
"We should really get dinner started." She offered him her hand, and he took it as they walked towards the play structure to collect their daughter.
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He looked at the Galactica as the raptor pulled away. The old ship had been through so much since she had been fated to retire. So had he for that matter. But his scars were not immediately apparent. You could only see them if you took the time to look at his eyes. The Galactica, on the other hand, showed her scars proudly. Her sides were blackened from various missile hits over the years, and parts of the ship were only now starting to become accessible again. He was going to miss watching his ship being brought back to life. For the first time in years, the Battlestar Galactica was fully staffed and crewed, though not by Colonials. Helo and Sharon had been among the last to leave, and now it was his turn. Because though it was wonderful to see her as she had been in her glory years, she was no longer his home. She was filled with memories. Memories of dances, of card games, and drunken revels. Memories of returns from successful missions. Of the launching of a new viper, and of old friends. She would be witness to new memories as she orbited the thirteenth colony, but he would not share them. The memories he had of his Galactica were the only ones he would ever have.
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A/N: Huge thanks go out to Mariel3, laloveskt, The Breeze, and BossaNovaBaby24 for reviews. It was so nice to get them. So this is the second last chapter. I will attempt to get the final part up by the end of this week, but not promises. Thanks once again to Alex for being an invaluable sounding board. And to any new readers, welcome. I would be incredibly happy if you would leave a review.