Bright, Shiny Futures - Chapter Twelve

His heart raced as the phone rang on the other end. What are you afraid of? he asked himself, embarrassed that he was nervous. It's only Kara. She doesn't bite! But he couldn't help himself. It had been so long since they'd really talked and that brief hug and chat at the compound hadn't really counted for anything. Both of their lives had changed in the years they'd been apart and they had a lot of catching up to do.

"Hello?"

"Kara?"

"Yes?" There was a pause, then recognition. "Karl? Is that you?"

"Frak, you always were good at that."

He could hear her grin at the other end. "Everyone has a skill."

He laughed.

"It's good to hear from you. Where are you?"

"Cuba."

"Still?"

He sighed. "Yeah, they've got me staying here as a liaison between us and them."

She chuckled. "Some things never change. You're always the neutral ground."

Helo laughed dryly. "Just call me Aerilon."

"If only they knew you were married to a Cylon. You are still married, right?" she asked slowly.

" 'Course we are. Have two kids now, both girls."

"Two? You guys had another one?"

"Yeah, it went a little smoother the second time around."

"I know what you mean."

"Oh?"

She cleared her throat. "I've got two kids myself."

"No way."

"Yes way."

"Evidently someone has taken away the real Kara Thrace and replaced her with whoever you are," he teased.

She blew a raspberry at him. "The first one came as a bit of a surprise. I"ll tell you all about it sometime. Are you ever going to come my way and visit?"

"That's what I'm calling about actually. My work with the government here is only temporary till everyone's processed, then Sharon and I would like to get a place near you."

"That would be great Karl." He could hear the warmth in her voice. "I'd love to spend more time with you. I've missed you."

He smiled. "I've missed you too Thrace. Do you think you could do a little preliminary scouting and see what's around?"

"Sure, but I have to warn you - you're going to need to find yourself a good job. Housing around here isn't cheap."

"Tell me you've become a rich snob and I won't believe it," he teased.

She just laughed.

They talked for a few more minutes, Helo giving her a number where he could be reached before they said goodbye.

He smiled widely as he hung up the phone. It was going to be great to be able to hang out with her again. Not like he hadn't had other friends on Galactica, but they'd shared a special friendship - one that he'd missed greatly after her death.

XXXXX

Kara hung up the phone, smiling brightly.

"Who was that so early in the morning?" Michael asked, taking a sip of his juice.

"Karl." At his confused look she explained. "Karl Agathon. One of my friends from Galactica."

"Oh," he nodded, brow clearing. "Right. I remember you talking about him."

"We've known each other forever ... well it seems like forever. We met at the Academy years ago and have been friends ever since. He and his family want to move here so we can see each other more often."

"Do they have kids?"

Kara smiled at Zach's enthusiasm. "Two girls."

"Oh." He frowned, then it turned into a smile. "I guess that's okay. How old are they?"

She thought for a moment. "Well, Hera was about a year old - maybe a year and a half when I left, so she'd be nine or ten now. I don't know how old the other one is."

"What's her name?"

"I don't know. I guess you'll find out when you meet her." Kara ruffled his hair, trying to smooth out the cowlick that always stuck up in the back. "You hurry up and finish your breakfast. You've only ten minutes till you need to leave for school."

"You not coming mommy?" Sara piped up, a frown darkening her normally cheerful face.

"Not today honey. I have to shower and go teach this morning. I'll pick you up from preschool when I'm done though."

"Okay."

Fifteen minutes later the three of them were gone and Kara had the house to herself. She didn't have to leave for work for almost an hour so she intended to relax and take a longer shower than normal. The past couple of days had been hard - Lee had been in her thoughts almost constantly and she'd found it hard to stay focused. A nice long, hot shower would be just the thing to relax her sore neck muscles and get rid of her headache.

Water was one of the things Kara found most comforting in life. Her mother had been terrified of it and so hadn't used it as one of the ways to torture her daughter. In consequence, Kara had embraced it, loving her swimming lessons and enjoying baths and showers as one of the only places she could find respite from her mother's temper. She'd missed it on Galactica where water had been severely rationed.

The hot water cascaded down her back, taking with it the bubbles from her hair. It felt good, like a lover's warm hand stroking her softly, lovingly. The bathroom was jungle-like and the shower door steamy by the time she turned off the water. An unexpected presence made her jump.

"Lee!" She took a step backwards and pulled the towel over her body modestly. "What the frak are you doing here?" she demanded, as much angry as scared.

His hot blue eyes burned. "I needed to see you again."

"You'll see me tomorrow," she argued, feeling her skin flush under his gaze, despite the now cool drops of water dripping down her back.

"Alone."

"You shouldn't be here."

He took three steps forward. "I know."

Their eyes held each other's as he crossed the space between them. "I can't stay away," he whispered, his breath on her face causing massive goosebumps to break out.

"We can't do this."

"Yes we can."

"We shouldn't do this," she protested but her eyes betrayed her and drifted down to focus on his mouth, just as his were doing to hers. "Lee, I ... "

"Kara ..."

His hands were hot on her back as he pulled her against him. Lips begged for her to return his kisses. Her towel was forgotten and it dropped to their feet as her arms slid around his neck, fingers twining in his hair.

Their mouths met, hot and wet, lips caressing and tongues exploring, the fire between them igniting instantly. He moaned out her name and pushed harder against her, walking her backwards till the shower door stopped them.

Kara shivered as her back met the cold glass. Lee's body responded with an involuntary shudder of his own and she could feel his hardness pressing against her lower belly.

Her internal barriers snapped and she knew if she didn't stop herself now there would be no going back. She broke away, panting. "Lee, we can't."

He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him, back to front. "You want this, I know you do," he whispered, nuzzling her behind the ear.

She shivered, body breaking out in fresh bumps all over.

"We belong together, we always have."

"Mmm," she murmured, voice shaky, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He licked the outside of her ear then bit delicately, blowing gently as he did so. "I want you Kara, I love you," he whispered.

She grabbed his forearms and dug her nails in but he noted that she didn't try to push him away.

He began to work his way down the side of her neck, kissing and nibbling till he found her pulse point. He licked it, lingering for a moment to feel her heart pounding through the hot, wet skin. She tasted different than he remembered - of soap and flowers rather than sweat and grease.

She moaned and stabbed deeper with her fingernails.

"It's okay Kara, let it happen," he murmured. "Don't fight it."

"We can't ... " she began weakly but stopped and whimpered as he bit hard.

"Open your eyes," he demanded. "Look in the mirror."

She obeyed.

"Look at yourself. You want this, you want me." He slid a hand up her midriff to the underswell of her breast and caressed it gently. The nipple peaked instantly. He teased it, thumb rolling around till it was rosy.

She cried out involuntarily, body shaking. "Lee stop! We can't ... I can't do this with you. Not now."

A part of him actively wanted her to betray her husband - she'd had no difficulty of conscience about cheating on Sam though he'd had with Dee, and he wanted retribution for that. But he understood somewhere deep inside that this was different. Her relationship with Michael was different. She was different. This was something she both wanted and didn't, and he was forcing her to choose.

"We don't have to go all the way," he breathed in her ear. "Just let me love you. Let me touch you." His other hand slipped slowly down between her legs and began to caress lightly.

She cried out again and went limp in his arms, leaning back against his chest. He worked her slowly, oh-so-slowly, till she thought she was going to burst into a million pieces just from the anticipation alone. The pleasure was there, just out of reach, like a rainbow of colours swirling inside her mind - ribbons of passion spiraling, twisting ... but refusing to be caught.

In the small part of her brain where coherent thought hadn't completely died, she knew he was waiting for her to ask for it. Waiting for her to beg - wanting to give her the opportunity to ask rather than to have it forced upon her.

"Lee" she gasped, biting her lip. "Please Lee ... "

"Anything for you," he whispered, pressing down where he knew it would push her over the edge. He watched in the mirror as her body shook against him. Eyes shut tight, red spots forming on her cheekbones. Her mouth formed a small 'o' as she moaned in pleasure. Her blonde hair framed her face - some strands now dry and fly-away - making her look like an angel.

Her body exploded into millions of pieces, becoming the lights she'd nearly been able to see at the corners of her vision - twisting, dancing, pulsing with life and vitality. His body was rock solid against her and she knew in a blinding moment of clarity that this was what he was meant to be - her rock, her hard place that she could cling to in times of need. He would warm her, hold her close and never let go ... if only she'd let him.

He held her tightly, panting along with her as she came down from her high. It was minutes before she could breathe normally and the ringing in her ears subsided. She reached down and picked up the towel, eyes still shut tight. His hands ghosted along her arms and took the towel from her, fastening it around her chest carefully.

When she finally opened her eyes they were looking straight into his. They were deep, crystal blue as always, but there was something in them - some emotion she couldn't quite name, that felt as though it had wrapped it's arms around her and was drawing her in.

He lifted a hand to her cheek and caressed it lightly. "Kara," he said, and then no more. Nothing else needed to be said aloud. The words were there in the room with them, swirling around like a vortex. They were all the more tangible for their invisibility. Speaking them wasn't necessary.

"Lee, I ... " she began, then stopped, acknowledging for once that the words were better left unsaid.

"I have to get ready for work."

XXXXX

Helo spied the look in his wife's eyes before he saw the book in her hand. He knew the look - it meant she wanted to talk, likely about something he didn't want to hear. There was no escaping Sharon though, she was relentless when she had something on her mind. He said nothing, knowing from experience that it was better to let her begin.

"We need to talk Karl."

"I gathered that," he said lightly.

"I found this in Hera's bed." She held out the small book and Helo took it.

"What is it?" It was obviously home-made, and by Hera herself he guessed. It was rough, had uneven edges and looked well-worn.

"It's a diary."

Helo looked at his wife with a mixture of amazement and irritation. Sharon of all people should understand about privacy. "So what are you doing with it?"

"It's a dream diary."

"You were reading it?"

If Sharon could have blushed, she would have. Her programming didn't work that way though. "It was hidden under the mattress. I found it and wondered what it was. I thought maybe it came with the house - that someone who lived here before left it."

"But you realized it was Hera's and then ... "

"Yes, I read a little bit of it." She pursued her lips. "She's been having a lot of dreams. Disturbing dreams."

Helo's eyes widened. "You mean .."

"Prophetic dreams. I think it's time we told Hera who she is. What she is."

He shook his head emphatically. "No. I don't want her to feel that she's different."

Sharon grabbed the book out of his hand. "She already does. She's had dreams about the Oracle, dreams where she's described herself on a ship that looks exactly like a Basestar ... "

"That's because she has been on a Basestar."

"She was less than two years old. She couldn't possibly remember that."

"Who knows what she can remember?" Helo argued. "She's a Cylon."

"Exactly." Sharon crossed her arms over her chest. "She needs to know why she's remembering things she doesn't consciously remember experiencing. She needs to know why she's having dreams that are actually visions. She needs to understand what is happening to her and why."

"Can't we wait a little longer?" he implored, blue eyes cloudy. "She's just a little girl."

She placed a hand on his arm lovingly. "I know how it feels to have things happen to you that you don't understand. To know that things are changing and you're doing things without knowing why. It's frightening Karl. I was absolutely terrified when it was happening to me ... and I was an adult. Can you imagine how scared she must feel? We need to talk to her so she can understand what's going on. I love her and I know you do too, and I know neither of us wants her to be afraid."

He nodded, not liking it but knowing she was right. That was one thing about machines - they usually were.

TBC