The air inside the school tent was so tense that you could cut it with a knife. Laura Roslin felt cold, very cold, as Bill Adama looked at her. She could see the anger in his eyes…

"I've been disappointed a lot of times in my life," he started in a sad tone. "But it never hurt me as much as now… Why did you do it, Laura? Stealing a child? I thought you were better than that!"

"I did what I had to do. I had to protect that child!" she declared.

"From what?" Adama asked in disbelief.

"From the cylons… from the humans. Can't you understand that? Hera was safe here. It was for the better good!" Roslin explained.

She had gone too far… "You tell her parents that you made them believe their child was dead for the better good. I don't think they will take it well. I wouldn't, if I were them," Adama told her. He could barely look at her. It was not the first time that someone he loved disappointed him. First Carolanne, now Laura. And he had thought she was better than that…

"Bill…" Laura pleaded.

He turned around ignoring her. "Goodbye, Laura," was the last thing he said before leaving the tent.

All she could think about right now was how alone she had become…

---

Meanwhile, Helo was piloting a raptor back to Pegasus. He couldn't wait to tell Sharon that their little girl was alive.

He looked at his right and saw Kara on the co-pilot's seat with Hera asleep on her lap. Starbuck looked at ease, just looking at the sleeping little girl even though it was so unlike her to be comfortable around kids. Good for her, he though.

"So, how did you find out?" he asked Kara in a low voice, so he wouldn't wake Hera up.

She looked up. "I saw her once and had a feeling, so I investigated," Starbuck said. "I'll give you the detailed version later."

He nodded silently. Gods, he still couldn't believe his daughter was alive… "Hera likes you," he pointed out to his best friend. He doubted Hera would fall asleep in everyone's laps.

"Don't ask me why. I guess I'm very likeable." Kara snorted. Too loud. The kid moved in her lap but didn't wake up. She sighed in relief. "She's kind cute. Clearly doesn't take after you. You she's not the mailman's or something?"

Karl turned to her with an eyebrow raised. "If I didn't know you, I'd be deeply hurt by that question," he told her, returning his attentions to the instruments.

"Relax. I'm just joking around," Kara assured him. She touched one of the little girl's curls. "If her hair was not this dark, it would look just like Leah's."

"My mom's?" Helo asked, taking a look at Hera. She did have his mother's curls. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Mom would like her…"

"Remember when she found you smoking weed in your room?" she asked, reminiscing to the past. "I could hear her yelling at you from two floors above!"

"Yeah, she had quite a voice projection…" he agreed with a laugh. Of course, back in the day he hadn't found that funny at all. He had had his share of embarrassing situations in the Agathon house… "My stupid sister had to tell my mom that it smelled funny when she passed in front of my room."

"Tess was always the sneak…" she pointed out. "Your other sisters were not that bad…" Helo used to have four sisters, now, for all they knew, he had none.

"You say that 'cause you didn't have to share a bathroom with them. And their conversation, gods… By the time I turned fourteen I knew all about tampons and cramps. Ugh!" he said, preparing to land. "I miss them all…" he told her sadly.

"Me too," Kara agreed. Sometimes they were pains in the ass, but the Agathon sisters were the soul of Helo's house. Nikki with her herd of boyfriends, Jenny who was always in a crisis, Tess – the bratty one – and Eva the youngest who had her older brother wrapped around her little finger…

"Hold Hera steady, we're landing now," he warned.

"Don't worry, I won't drop her," she assured him. These moments talking about the past had been nice.

Kara moved Hera, so that she could hold her steady against her chest. Nope, she had never been that close to a kid and it didn't feel half as uncomfortable as she thought. Actually, it was relaxing. And suddenly, everything was clear. She needed to tell Lee that she might be pregnant; she needed him to be by her side. Right after we finish this thing with Hera, she promised herself.

The raptor landed and was taken to the Hangar Bay. She passed Helo his daughter and got up, opening the ship's hatch. And Lee was waiting for her right outside. Only a few steps were necessary to achieve him and he reached out for her hand, pulling her to a hug.

"I'm proud of you," he whispered to her ear. Thanks to her stubbornness, they had brought a family together – was there a better reason to feel proud of?

She was touched by his words. If she wasn't already in love, she would have fallen for him right that moment. Kara stepped back from the hug and joined her husband's side in order to see her best friend exit the raptor with the biggest grin he had ever seen on his face.

---

As it turned out, Hera Agathon was a very friendly girl. While Helo was telling Sharon that their baby was alive, Lee and Kara stood outside of the cell in charge of watching the baby girl. And, of course, in the moment she had been put in Lee's arms, the youngest Agathon had charmed him.

They watched through the one way mirror when Sharon started crying in Helo's arms with a small smile playing on her face. Kara guesses these were happy tears. She was glad wasn't exploding with anger against the former president…yet. Delayed reaction, she assumed. Helo signaled them to enter the cell and bring Hera along.

In the moment Lee stepped in with Hera, followed by Kara, the little girl reached for her mother. It was incredible how she could recognize her parents…

Sharon picked Hera and held her close, like she would never let go. "It's me. It's Mommy," she whispered to her daughter's her. "Oh Hera…"

Both Lee and Kara exited the room, leaving the family to reunite alone. As they watched the scene through the one-way mirror, Kara rested her head on Lee's shoulder. She had seen the look on his face. He wanted that: a family, a child… And surprisingly, she wasn't freaking out, at least for now.

They gave a few more minutes to Helo and Sharon to enjoy, never saying a word to each other. Then, Lee reached for the door and entered the cell. Kara followed.

"Time to go," he announced.

They turned to him sadly and Sharon passed Hera to Helo.

"I don't think you understood," Lee said. "It's time to go to all of you. Sharon included."

"What?" Sharon asked. Than one caught them all by surprise. Not even Kara knew about that.

"The Admiral gave orders for you to be allowed to leave the brig. You can circulate around the Pegasus as long as you always have a marine with you. Corporal Venner will be like your personal bodyguard," Lee explained. "I got you some bigger quarters – perks of having a half-empty battlestar."

"But why?" Sharon asked. She could barely speak with all the happiness. She was free!

"My dad thinks you suffered enough. I agree with him. I know this can't make up for all you suffered…" he told her.

"Thank you," Sharon interrupted him. "We owe you and Kara so much…"

"Just behave and keep the big guy happy. If you do, it is all paid," Kara told her, nodding at Helo. He deserved it…

When they left the cell, Sharon took a deep breath. It was unbelievable. Hera was alive and back with them, she was free… She felt like she could explode right now – all that happiness was overwhealming.

"Venner is waiting to take you to your new cabin," Lee said as they walked out of the brig area.

"I don't like to keep repeating myself but thank you," Helo told them, shifting Hera on his arms.

"And I don't like to repeat myself but you're welcome," Lee replied. "Enjoy your day off. According to the records, you're still in New Caprica."

Helo was about to thank again but Kara interrupted him. "Get out of our view!" He shook his head and turned around. Sharon followed him closely.

From the place where they stood, Starbuck and Apollo could see little Hera smiling at them over her father's shoulder. That was all Kara needed to decide.

"Lee, there's something I need to tell you," she said.

He looked at her with a curious look. "What?"

"Let's talk in our cabin," Kara suggested walking away and pulling him behind her.

---

Kara undressed her coat and threw it to a chair before reaching the bed and sitting in there with her legs crossed.

Lee sat in front of her. According to her expression, whatever she needed to tell him was important. She seemed nervous when she sighed.

"So, about what we talked earlier. You know… kids," she started.

"Kara, I don't want you to worry about that," he interrupted. "I just asked out of curiosity. If you don't want kids…"

"I'm late," she blurted. That was enough to shut him up. He looked confused.

"What do you mean with… 'late'?" he inquired slowly. Lee was already imagining where that chat would lead…

"I mean my period is late, Lee. And I assume you know what that can possibly mean," Kara said. He just stared at her. Could he be that clueless? "Frak, Lee! Did you miss every biology class in High School?"

"I think my brain shut down," he mumbled.

"Then turn it on, damn it!" she commanded in annoyance. She was trying to tell him something important and his brain was broken? Kara huffed. "What I'm trying to say is that I may be pregnant."

He blinked in astonishment. His heart thumped like there was no tomorrow.

"Say something," Kara begged.

He looked up. She was terrified; he could say it by just looking into her eyes. Terrified of the way he would react. He didn't want her to be scared… That was a happy moment. Lee smiled at her and pulled her to him, enveloping in a tight hug, making her sigh against his shoulder. Lee simply held her for a few minutes. That was what she needed at that moment. "It's okay," he assured her. "It's perfect."

"Gods, Lee. I didn't want to believe it. I just refused to," she whispered against his chest. "But then, Hera came around and it just became so real."

The vulnerable Kara was back, Lee noticed. It was always confusing when she made an appearance… If in one hand Lee liked how she always relied on him in those situations, in the other, he hated to see her struggling. He kissed her forehead.

He caressed her cheek. "Let's take you to the sickbay and check, okay?" he suggested.

She nodded and he pulled her closer again, silently telling her that there was nothing they couldn't do together.

And she believed him.

A/N: And things start to get interesting, don't they? I hope you liked this chapter, I tried to do my best. Let me remind you again: 10 reviews and you get a preview of next chapter in my live journal page (link in my profile). Remember the feedback.