Bright, Shiny Futures - Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Mommy, where's daddy?"

Kara wished for a moment that her son wasn't so observant.

"He's gone out for a little while honey," she answered. "He went to the store to pick up a treat for us since we're stuck here for the night." The lie came far too easily and she felt the back of her neck grow hot.

"Is he going to be back soon?"

"I don't know," she answered, unable to tell him the truth.

"I hope so. It's yucky outside and I don't want him to be out in it."

Her heart literally bled for her son. He'd always been curious about his biological father but that didn't mean he loved his adoptive father any less. Living without their father was going to be hard for the children - more so because they wouldn't understand destiny and how Michael fit into it.

"It's okay, we still have each other," Sara said softly, slipping a hand into each of theirs.

Kara's blood froze - Sara knew. She knew Michael wasn't coming back. It was visible in her large china-blue eyes. She squeezed her daughter's hand. "Yes we do, and we always will," she whispered, voice catching in her throat.

XXXXX

The rain had long since started to fall and the wind was howling as Sam threw down the shovel and scrubbed his hands through his hair.

"There, that should do," he said, glancing over at Lee.

Lee nodded, wiping sweat out of his eyes and leaving dirty streaks across his forehead. "Thanks," he said shortly, not knowing what else to say. "I'll take the shovel back to the hotel. Hopefully no one noticed it was missing."

"I doubt it, it's only been an hour."

"Let's head back and get cleaned up. We need to make sure no one knows we were out here or questions might be asked once Michael's disappearance is discovered."

Sam nodded. "I'd be more worried about yourself and Kara. My wife will understand, and quite frankly no one would suspect me of wanting to do away with Kara's husband since I'm happily remarried."

"And you're saying ... "

"You know the first people who'll be suspected will be you and Kara. The wife always is. And I don't think anyone will be fooled into believing you're not still in love with her."

Lee flushed despite the cold. "I guess I'm going to have to come up with an alibi then." He looked up and met the other man's thoughtful gaze.

"You're on your own pal," Sam said, trying to bring a little levity to the situation. "I came up with this plan. It's your turn now."

"What happened to you protecting Kara at all costs?" Lee's words were serious but the slight upwards pull at the corners of his mouth showed he wasn't completely in earnest.

"I will," Sam answered. "And you too if need be. But this is like a chess game. We all need to play our parts."

Lee nodded. "The question is, are we pawns or major players?"

Sam chuckled. "I don't think we can know that till the game is further underway. It's only just begun."

XXXXX

"They're very sweet children," Laura Roslin said, quietly an hour later, as she lay in Adama's arms. They hadn't talked since leaving Lee's room when Kara had swooped in and taken the children. Only desultory conversation had filled the silence between them.

"Shouldn't come as any surprise," Adama murmured, stroking the thick mane of red-brown hair he'd always adored. When it had fallen out during the second round of cancer treatments, he'd been worried that it would grow back differently as many people's did. Hers had come back just as thick and glossy as it had been before - thankfully.

"I s'pose not," Roslin chuckled. "Zach is just as serious and intelligent as his father."

"But there's definitely a trace of his mother's mischeviousness lurking in the background. I caught some eye twinkles and dimples that are most definitely Kara all over."

"He's got her stubbornness too. Did you notice how determined he was about flying Vipers when he gets older? He really dug in his heels."

"Kara isn't the only one with a stubborn streak. You should know that after all the time you've worked with Lee."

"I guess ... it's just hers has always seemed to be an unreasoning stubbornness - an 'I'm going to get what I want and no one is going to stop me' sort of thing, whereas Lee has always had an agenda, a cause he believes in and will fight to the death for."

"His sense of pride and justice has always been annoying that way. He was like that as a child too - almost as if he was born with it fully developed."

Roslin snuggled up closer. "You may not always agree with the causes he's chosen - Lords know I certainly don't - but you have to admire his determination and dedication. He's a real force to be reckoned with when he sets his mind to something."

"Like father, like son," Adama chuckled.

"That goes both ways sir," she said, poking him in the chest and laughing.

"Yes Madam President," Adama said, pretending humbleness. "I'll try to do better."

"Don't you dare change William Adama!"

He pulled her closer and they snuggled in silence for a while.

"Was it just me or did you get the feeling there's more to Sara than meets the eye?" she asked eventually, bringing the conversation around to where she'd wanted it to end up.

He shook his head. "She just seemed like a shy, quiet little girl. Okay, maybe that's odd for her being Kara's daughter, but we don't really know ... "

"That's not what I meant," Roslin interrupted, sitting up suddenly. "Yes she was quiet, but every time she looked at me I had the feeling she was looking right into my soul." She stopped and pressed her lips together. "The look in her eyes and her mannerisms seemed much older than a girl her age."

"I can't say I noticed," Adama said, seeming a trifle embarrassed. "But I don't really know much about young children."

She blinked, surprised. "You had two of your own."

"That was a long time ago Laura. You can't blame an old man for forgetting events that happened over thirty years ago. Besides, it's not like I was ever around much or took notice of them when I was. I didn't really find children very interesting till they were old enough to do something with."

"How very like a man." She grinned.

He spread his arms wide. "No apologies. It's what I am."

She laughed but her face grew solemn quickly. "Still, I can't shake the feeling that Sara is important somehow."

"Too bad we don't have any chamalla yet. Maybe you'd get some answers from the visions."

"Well actually ... " She rose and unzipped her bag, pulling a small plastic container from it. " ... I slipped up to Lifestation quickly while you were occupied with the Vice President."

"I didn't realize the last of it was there."

"I gave it to Cottle years ago when the cancer went into remission and I stopped taking it. I know how powerful it is and I didn't want it falling into the wrong hands."

"Shall I call room service and have them bring some tea?" he asked.

"Please. The strongest they've got." She sniffed disdainfully at her hands. "The taste of this stuff is absolutely vile."

XXXXX

Kara lay in her bed. The kids were sleeping soundly - it hadn't taken long to get them to sleep after the excitement of the day. They'd both been tired and easily convinced to turn in early. Though Zach had asked where Michael was, he'd seemed content with Kara's answer. Sara had looked at her with eyes far older than her years and it had given her shivers. She loved her daughter - always had and always would, nothing could ever change that - but the fact that she was half-Cylon and apparently destined to be the leader of both the humans and Cylons helped Kara understand why she'd always been different.

She's four going on sixteen, Kara had often told people jokingly when they mentioned her quiet maturity, but though Zach too was mature and acted older than his age (mostly) there was a huge difference between the two. Zach was smart and learned quickly, and being a voracious reader, it had vaulted him ahead of his classmates. Sara had always had a quiet, serene presence about her, as though she were a queen or perhaps even a God, watching her people with benevolence. If you looked closely you could see it all in her eyes - wisdom, sorrow, indulgence, serenity ... her body may have been only four years old but her soul was definitely that of a much older person.

What have you done Kara? she asked herself. Married a Cylon, had a child with him and watched him die. How does that make you feel? Do you even feel anything at all? She flushed. Yes she felt something - fear. Fear that they were going to get caught in the strands of deceit they were wearing this web with, and someone would end up paying the ultimate price. Someone she loved dearly. You're not mourning Michael. Did you ever really love him? She thought for a moment as she took deep breaths, soul searching. I thought I did. I was sure of it. Was it all just programming? Was it destiny at work? Maybe I was right in thinking that I was brought here for a reason.

You were Kara. You know it's true. Your destiny has always been there, waiting for you to embrace it.

She shivered and broke out in a cold sweat at the sound of Leoben's words. Sitting up, she scanned the room nervously. After everything that had happened it would hardly be surprising to find Leoben here, even against all rational sense.

It's just in your head. They frak with your mind, remember? He planted ideas in there long ago and today's revelations have just brought them back up to the forefront. It's not real. He's not here.

She pulled her knees up to her chest and clasped her arms around them, heart beating wildly. Of all the things she feared, having Leoben capture her again was the one thing she feared most. Aside from losing her children. She looked across at them, sleeping innocently as though they didn't have a care in the world.

Her heart ached.

Frakking destiny, she thought bitterly. I don't want to be part of a greater destiny. I don't want to be Aurora. I don't want my daughter to be the leader. I just want us to have a normal happy life. Is that too much to ask? She wasn't aware of the tears till she lay down and they wet her pillow. She wished she could just go to sleep and wake up to find this had all been a nightmare.

XXXXX

Gentle knocking woke Kara just a few minutes into sleep. She leapt out of bed, heart in her throat. Realistically, the person on the other side of the door was someone she knew and trusted, but she couldn't help the instinctive terror that gripped her at the thought that Leoben had found her.

"Who is it?" she said softly, leaning an ear against the door.

"Lee."

She unlatched the door and exhaled forcefully, not even realizing she'd been holding her breath. Her heart was racing; it felt as though it was trying to escape the confines of her chest. As he stepped through the door, she shut it quietly and pulled him close, sobbing against his chest before his arms had even encircled her.

"Kara," he murmured, face burying itself in her hair. "It's okay."

"It's not okay," she said eventually when the sobs subsided somewhat. "Michael's dead. He's dead. Gone. We're going to have to live without him." She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. "What am I going to tell Zach and Sara?"

Lee swallowed hard over the lump in his throat. "I don't know."

She finally raised her head and looked at him. "I don't want to do this Lee. I don't want to have a destiny or follow some predetermined plan. I don't want someone else pulling the strings of my life. I can't do it. I just can't."

He pushed her hair back off her face, tucking a few strands behind her left ear. "Yes you can. You have to Kara. I wish we could just walk away and go and hide and live a quiet life but we can't. I'll be here for you though. You're not alone." He stroked her cheek. "I'll die before I let anyone hurt you or the children."

"Promise?" Her voice cracked as a lump grew in her throat.

"I promise. I won't leave you. Not ever." She clung tightly and they stood together for a long while, unaware of the passing of time.

Lee's muscles were screaming for relief; taking care of the body hadn't been easy. Sweat dripped down his back along with rain droplets and he was dying for a shower. But Kara came first - that he'd sworn to himself when he'd found her on Earth, and he'd reaffirmed that vow once he'd heard what Sam had to say about her destiny.

Eventually she shifted, still not completely letting go but letting him know tacitly that she was okay.

"I need to get showered," he whispered. "I'm filthy and sweaty."

"Just like old times huh?" There was a tiny bit of humour in her voice but her eyes were large and filled with pain.

He smiled sadly and wiped at a dirty streak on her cheek, only making it worse. "You too."

"Should we ... " Kara nodded towards the bathroom.

"I don't know Kara. I'm not sure it's right with Michael barely gone ... " Lee argued, mentally if not physically pulling away.

"I want to," she said, stepping forward and touching his cheek almost hesitantly. "I need this Lee." Her voice caught and broke and she swallowed hard as the tears sprang to the corners of her eyes again. "I need to feel alive. I need you to make me feel alive again."

Lee felt himself go weak in the knees. Their relationship back on Galactica had shown him that he desired a woman with fire and spirit, not one who was weak and needy - his marriage to Dee had only confirmed that. But hearing Kara admit weakness, admit that she needed him snapped all of his inner reserves and restraints. He couldn't not give her what she needed, no matter how wrong it was.

He led her to the bathroom, turned on the water, and undressed her as he would a wounded child. They didn't speak as Lee washed first himself and then her, making sure to erase all the marks he'd made with the dirt that had sealed her husband's fate.

His hands continued to caress with the sponge as he leaned his head against hers, her back to his front.

"I love you Kara but I can't make love to you. Not here, not now. It just isn't right," he whispered in her ear.

She turned her head to face him, forehead pressed to his, eyes dark. "I need to feel ... "

He slid a hand around her hip and began to press lightly between her legs with the sponge. She dropped her head back against his shoulder, moaning with pleasure at his touch.

"I can give you the release you need but we can't ... "

She tiled her head sideways and opened her eyes, meeting his. "I understand. Just ... don't stop."

He caught her lips and kissed her long and deep, pressing harder against the spot that was bringing her towards ecstasy.

Kara felt herself climbing to the edge quickly. Her breath came in short pants and her body began to stiffen as she reached for it ...

Lee held her tightly against his chest as she shook, her release making her body go limp in his arms. He turned the shower off and dried her softly, handing her the bra and underwear when he was done.

She dressed and reached for his hand, drawing him out of the bathroom and to her bed.

"I can't Kara," he protested softly. "We can't. I love you and I want this more than anything but it's too soon. We have to be discreet."

"I need you Lee." Her childlike plea was enough to melt his heart. He climbed into the bed beside her and gathered her into his arms.

"I'll stay with you till you fall asleep but then I have to go back to my own room. If we're caught together we'll be suspected of having gotten rid of Michael and then what would happen to Zach and Sara?" He took a deep breath. "You don't really need a lover right now anyway - what you need is someone to love you and take care of you. I will, I promise. But we have to act like friends for the time being and when this passes we can be together the way we've always wanted to be. It's destiny, right?"

Kara nodded and snuggled up against him, but he could still see doubt and fear in her eyes. He didn't blame her a bit - he knew exactly how that felt. He lay there for an hour with her, making sure she was fully asleep before dressing and slipping out quietly.

TBC

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who's still reading this story! I know it's a long one and there's lots more to come yet. Thanks for sticking with it. And in particular, thank you to rhaddict, 2whimsical, sosayweall, xan-merrick, LeahLooWho, LiastraLee, gatelover, and Elliesmeow for your wonderful comments. They made my day!

Also special thanks to starpollo for posting this chapter for me. Hugs honey!