We set out in the Galactica with a skeleton crew. And I got a new job. There was no real need for a civilian computer lab so I was put in charge of the mess hall. (And we had just one mess hall for this trip, given how small our crew was. No more separate Chiefs' or Officers' messes). This trip back to earth would be a much shorter trip. I had been on the Galactica for four months before we found New Caprica, but it would take less than four weeks to get back to earth since we knew exactly where we were going and didn't have to stop to do any searching for a place to live. So if I were to be reunited with the X-men, it would a total of just under a year that had passed since I'd left.

The four weeks of the journey were passing slowly. True, the mess hall required an endless array of tasks to get done - overseeing the feeding of a few dozen people three times a day along with cleaning and meal prep was simply endless, repetitive work. I had to look for diversions to keep from losing it. Just when I was about to scream from the boredom and repetition, Constantine would find me and we'd play Triad, or I'd successfully coax Felix off the CIC for a few hours and I'd read to him to rub his shoulders.

One thing I thought about often during the trip. During my talk with Felix back on New Caprica, I had meant it when I told him that if the X-men didn't want to come with us to New Caprica, I'd go with Felix rather than stay on earth with the X-men. But. I knew the X-men would decide to go to New Caprica. As nice as their current surroundings reportedly were, they wouldn't choose to stay isolated. The X-men were formed because they wanted to make a difference in the world. They wanted people to interact with and help. I was pretty sure that once we made contact with them, they would be getting on the Galactica. I'd walk the hall from the mess to my room to the rec room and wonder what it would be like to see my former team there. Would they talk to me? Would we be friends? Or would they ignore me when we passed in the halls? Would I be an X-man again or just a guy who they once knew and were still kind of embarrassed of? I honestly didn't know, and the uncertainly was rough. I'm sure I went on and on about that with Felix and Constantine.

During one successful attempt to get Felix to take a break, we talked. Meals were not to be eaten on the CIC, and that is a line he never crossed, so we sat together inside the mess.

"You look excited," Felix said. "And we're less than five days from earth now."

"I know. I am," I responded. Then I swallowed. "A little nervous too."

"It's understandable," he said, steadily. "What do you think will happen when you see them?"

"I've played it out in my head a hundred times. I don't know," I admitted.

And although we'd talked about this before, it felt good to go over it again. So I shared with Felix what was on my mind that day. I didn't expect any of the X-men to grovel and ask for my forgiveness – no. I knew that in their eyes, I was still a member of a despised group of people who the entire world disdained. And the X-men weren't excessively demonstrative. There would be no tears during the reunion and no hugs.

The reunion might be a stiff affair involving a bland apology and handshakes. That really might be it. Maybe all the X-men wanted was closure on their end. They might want to just see that I'm fine so their consciences can be wiped clean and they can mentally move on. Put a checkmark by the box.

"I might be totally wrong though," I said to Felix, continuing on. "Maybe there will be hugs and tears. Maybe some of them regretted what happened, and really missed me."

"They damn well should be missing you."

I appreciated Felix's vote of confidence, though I still had no idea what the X-men felt.

As the days drew nearer I got more and more obsessed with it, with wondering what would happen. Because I just didn't know. Maybe the reaction would be totally split with some of the X-men openly happy to see me while others wished I'd go away. Maybe there would be a big split as to whether they wanted to stay on earth or travel to New Caprica.

Felix reached for my hand. "Hey," he said softly. "We haven't discussed logistics yet."

I nearly laughed at the juxtaposition. Felix's sweet voice and the touch of his hand, along with a word like 'logistics'! That's my Felix. He has a mix of left-brain and right-brain. He can command a battleship and sing like an angel, and I love him for it.

"Then thrill me with some logistical stuff so I can stop wondering whether Rogue will want to hug me or not!" I said, grinning.

He smiled and did just that. "When we reach earth, we can approach the X-men's location first, before the other groups of survivors. I was thinking that you and Constantine and Nielsen can shuttle down together." He paused. "I was also thinking that I'd stay here on the CIC. Both because I'm in charge of the Galactica and…." Uncharacteristically, Felix just let his voice trail off.

"….and this is the kind of thing I should do for myself?" I asked, finishing the thought for him.

He nodded. "Maybe it's better if I'm not there. This should be….your thing. Your people, your reunion to handle. Without me."

I was quiet for a bit. He was right. Though Felix's presence always provided me with comfort, I should approach the X-men by myself, without my partner by my side. Felix and I would be together for the rest of our lives, but for this I needed to stand by myself, on my own two feet.

And so that's how it happened on the day we finally reached earth. Felix and I parted with a kiss and an "I love you" on the CIC, and I said to him, "Be back soon!"

It felt surreal as I walked to the shuttle bay and then strapped in behind Constantine and Nielsen. I blinked a few times. I looked out the window. Saw the blue and green globe that is earth and felt a shudder of awe. Reminded myself to breathe in and out. Tried to banter with Constantine and Nielsen who knew what I was going through and were clearly trying to make it all better.

The shuttle ride felt as if it took forever though it could not have been more than 20 minutes. We landed. Unbuckled our safety belts. I reminded myself to breathe again. The shuttle door opened. Constantine went out first just to ensure the place was "secure". Nielsen reached for my hand and squeezed it.

And then suddenly I am standing on the ground and the X-men are here. Hank, Jubilee, Professor X. In the background Rogue and Gambit. They are hugging me. Hank first, then Jubilee. Our eyes are getting teary. I didn't know what exactly would happen next, but I knew everything would be okay.

THE END

Thanks for going on this ride with me!