Sorry, I have been away for so long. Real life just keeps getting in the way. :) I'm still working on this story as well as my other ones. This chapter is short but I am slowly but surely working on the rest. Thanks to everyone that has kept up with this story. You all are the best! Take care.

The feel of Lee's warm hand on her belly was what woke Dee up from her nap. The soft strokes caused her to sigh contently as Lee's hand continued it's lazy journey around her ever growing abdomen. Dee loved the feel of her husbands strong hands against her skin. Those skillful fingers of his danced across her body leaving trails of goosebumps in their wake.

It seemed like forever ago since Lee's hands were roaming her body like this. All his hands did lately was hold her to try and soothe the nightmares way. What he was doing with them now was a far cry from that. It felt good and she was cherishing every minute of it. She had forgotten the pleasure those hands of his could bring her. He was doing a really good job of reminder her and the moan she let out let him know how well he we as doing. She was just about to tell him what direction his hands could head in but, as usual, something broke the mood.

"Lee, honey?" Dee said.

Lee pressed himself closer to his wife and sat up just enough to whisper in her ear.

"Yes, dear?"

Dee felt Lee's breathe across her ear and almost went limp. Which right now for her was not a good thing. She felt so bad for what she was about to do because she knew and felt that Lee was looking for some time special with his wife.

"Lee, I feel so bad for this. Normally, I would never stop what you are doing but..." Dee almost didn't want to say it.

"But what? C'mon Dee, you can tell me." Lee said nuzzling her neck.

"I...I...have to go to the bathroom." Dee said shyly as she tried to sit up.

Lee sat up fully thinking he didn't hear her right. "Wait. What?"

Dee turned around to her husband then rolled her eyes at him. "I have to pee Lee."

Lee cocked his head to the side as Dee's words finally reached his brain. He didn't mean to but he laughed.

"What's so funny?" Dee asked.

"I didn't think it would start this early." Lee said simply.

"What? Me peeing? Lee, I hate to break it to you but this has been going on for a while now and will only get worse." Dee chuckled.

"No, not that." Lee said waving her off.

"What then?" Dee asked.

"The kids interrupting us. I thought we had plenty of time before we actually would have to plan our time together." Lee said then leaned down to Dee's stomach. "Your on my time." He yelled to her belly.

Lee watched as Dee's belly became active with movement.

"I think they heard you and judging from the kicks and punches I'm getting, I think they both disagree with you." Dee said.

"Disagreeing with their dad huh? Their Adama's alright."Lee said.

Now it was Dee's turn to laugh. "And on that note I have to go to the little girls room. That last kick almost made me go." Dee said then walked towards the bathroom.

Feeling much better after going to the bathroom Dee called out to Lee. "You better be ready to pick up where we left off."

Dee waited for Lee's repsonse. When she didn't get one she called out to him again. "Lee? Honey? Hellooo?

Feeling something was not right Dee stepped out of the bathroom and to her surprise she found no one in the room. A panic started to settle in.

"Where the heck could he have gone so fast?" she said to herself.

Dee felt her heart to race. She couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling of dread that started to wash over her.

Taking a deep breath she tried to calm herself down. It's wasn't working.

She wished Lee where here right now so she could hug him then yell at him for making her worry.

Suddenly feeling thirsty, Dee walked over to the little table in their room to grab a glass off the table. As she reached for the glass she notices a small note on the table. Figuring it must be from Lee, Dee chastises herself for being so worried. What she failed to notice was that the note was in the Admiral's handwriting not Lee's.

Dee picks up the note and reads it. Her eyes grow wide and she can feel the tears coming down her face.

"He's with the Gods, Dee. He gave his life to save us all. He is a hero that will be missed and loved by us all. I hope you can take comfort in that and know that Lee loved you and always carried you in his heart."

The words sent Dee's mind spiraling and her heart raced even faster. It felt like it was about to beat right out of her chest.

"This must be some kind of cruel joke." Dee said to herself.

Needing confirmation that what the note said was not true she walked quickly over to Lee's locker still holding the note in her hand. She pulled the locker door open and became even more alarmed when it was empty. The only thing hanging inside was Lee's dog tags and his wedding ring.

"No, this can't be happening! Lee? Lee, where are you? My gods! Please don't take him away from me! Please! Don't take him away from me!" Dee said as she cried.

"Dee! Wake up! Baby, wake up!"

Dee suddenly felt someone shaking her and calling her name. Her eyes shot open and she sat up quickly.

She started to look around frantically for Lee.

As always Lee made sure he was right in Dee's line of sight.

"I'm right here Dee. I'm right here." Lee said.

He pulled her into him so she could feel him and know that it was really him there with her.

"It's ok. Shhhh. No matter what those damn nightmares say, I'm not going anywhere." Lee said caressing Dee's back.

Dee sat there with Lee holding her tight. She listened to his steady heartbeat more than his voice. Hearing his heart beating in her ears was more affirming than Lee's voice. It let her know that he was truly there. Alive and well.

"I thought that having this Shamon here was supposed to help. So far I'm not impressed." Lee said still rubbing Dee's back.

"I need to see her Lee." Dee sniffed out.

"That makes two of us" Lee said.

"Why? You had a nightmare too?" Dee asked trying to be funny.

"No. I just wanna know how is she going to help you? Why are you going through all of this and what happened with you two earlier? Most of all I wanna know how I can help you?" Lee said.

"You're helping right now by just holding me."Dee said.

"Yeah, but I wanna do more than just hold you Dee." Lee said.

"Lee, you have know idea how much being in your arms when I wake up helps me. It grounds me. Keeps from going insane from these frakkin' dreams." Dee said.

Dee pulled out Lee's embrace and placed her hands on his face.

"When I see this face, I know I'm home, that you are live, and with me." Dee said.

"Gods, I love you." Lee said kissing Dee's forehead.

"I love you too, Lee." Dee said.

"How's about we get dressed and go see Ella like you wanted to?" Lee asked.

Dee shook her head yes then started to move over towards the bathroom to take a shower when she turned back towards her husband and saw him take off his shirt.

Lee turned his head slightly when he felt his wife's eyes on him. He shook his head and chuckled slightly.

"You keep looking at me like that and there will more going on in that shower than just getting soapy."

Dee blushed. "Sorry, honey. You're body is just so distracting."

"We'll stop being distracted and get your butt in the shower Adama." Lee said.

"Oooo,I like it when you're all bossy." Dee said.

"Shower, woman!" Lee said pointing to the bathroom.

Dee smiled and gave her husband a mock salute as she entered their bathroom. After getting undressed and turning on the water she was surprised when the door to the shower opened and Lee hopped in behind her.

She turned around to him and gave him a questioning look.

"I thought I wasn't supposed to get distracted?" she asked

"I changed my mind. I think we both deserve a little distraction." Lee said.

Dee moved as close to her husband as her belly would allow then wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him close.

"I may not know much Lee, but the one thing I do know, is that is that your distraction... is far from little."

Lee smiled and pulled his wife in for a long and slow kiss that signaled to let the distraction begin.

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Ella had finally woken up from her nap. She didn't realize how tired she was until they had reached her room. As soon as she laid down her eyes immediately closed and she was asleep before she knew it. It was a restless sleep though. Caused by dreams of the past,dreams of the present, and some dreams that were not her own.

When she finally opened her eyes she was glad to see a friendly face.

"You stayed with me the whole time Sherman?" she asked.

"Of course I did. There was no way I was leaving you alone after I saw how tired you look. How are feeling now?" Cottled saif

Ella sat up slowly then looked at her friend.

"Better, but still tired."

"Bad dreams?" Cottle asked.

"No, not bad. Just not all mine. " Ella said.

"Who's dreams did you see?" Cottle asked.

"Some of the crews. My mind must have reached out with out me knowing it but don't worry, I wasn't in any of them long enough for them to notice me." Ella said.

"See anything good?" Cottle asked.

Ella smirked. "Let's just say, that quite a few young ladies have a crush on our young Mr. Adama."

"I'd like to see them try and take him away from Dee. Even in her condition she would kick their asses." Cottle said,

Ella laughed. Then looked over at her friend and saw that he laughed too but, it looked and sounded almost forced. The laughter never reached his eyes.

"Oh Sherman" she said reaching out a hand to him. "When's the last time you laughed and felt some joy from it my friend?"

Laughter. Years ago it wasn't such a foreign concept for Sherman Cottle. He used to laugh all the time. Especially when he was around his angel. She made everything alright and the universe was a brighter place because of her. When she died so did his most of his joy. It took years for him to find that joy again and just when he thought he was beginning to heal and put the past behind, the Cylons attacked and killed any chance of his reclaiming what was lost. He couldn't even remember the last time he heard a true laugh escaped his lips.

Cottle took Ella's hand and sat next to her on the bed.

Cottle sighed. "Honestly Ella, I don't know."

"Then that's way too long then. Sherman you..."

Cottle cut Ella off. "Don't Ella. Just don't. If you'd seen the things I've seen you'd find it hard to laugh too."

"You're friends have had the same troubles as you, yet they have found a way to find some joy." Ella said

"Well good for them!" he said getting up off the bed.

Ella watched as her friend started to pace back and forth in front of her like a caged animal.

"Good for them that they can laugh and find some joy in their lives. I tried being happy once and look where it got me? All those feeling do is make you soft and during times like these you can't be soft. You need to be tough as nails because nothing out here will show you mercy. Nothing! So no Ella, no. Happiness, joy, laughter, I don't want them. I don't need them. Period."

Cottle finished his tirade then looked over to Ella who now had tears streaming down her face. He rushed over to her and pulled her into his arms.

"Ella, why are you crying?" Cottle asked.

"I'm crying for you my friend." Ella said.

"Ella, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to go off like that. I let my anger get the best of me. Please stop crying. I'm not worth your tears." he said still holding her.

"Of course your worth them. You're worth all of them, and I will continue to cry them until you are able to release the pain in your heart." Ella said.

Cottle was about to tell her again that he was not worth it when she shushed him. "You will not change my mind about this Sherman. Just accept it."

"It's not your burden to bare." he said quietly.

"Yes, it is. Now stop talking and just hold me." Ella said.

Cottle didn't have it in him to argue with her so he did as he told. He sat there with Ella while she shed her tears for him and listened as her soft sobs filled the room.