~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 2~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Athena's POV
When I look into Starbuck's eyes I still see the girl he once knew, that he misses. The naive, overconfident girl who thought the world would be at her feet as soon as she was old enough. Who thought he would be at her feet. When I look in the reflecting glass I see a woman whose world has been slipped out from underneath her. Whose family motto, "live to fight another day" has become a cruel joke. What else is there to do?
Fight or give in? The battle is already lost. Mine is not the only cup that doesn't rise in celebration of the coming nuptials. Across the circle is Captain Biehn looking as bleak and empty as I feel.
"We'd never thought you'd do it Bucko!" Greenbean claps his hero on the back.
A bittersweet smile crosses my face as I watch everyone letting go of their concerns for a while to celebrate a momentous event. It didn't surprise me. I knew since I first met him when Apollo brought him for the holidays during their Academy time that Starbuck craved a family underneath the lothario bravado. I just thought it would be with me, not the woman I spied in Biehn's arms just a few sectars ago. A woman whom, I noticed, carefully avoided now even glancing in the Captain's direction.
A chill ran up my spine and I turned away, consumed with sudden doubts about keeping silent about what I learned a secton ago during my last post‑trauma exam. The one during which I was supposed to be cleared for service with my squadron and patrol with my wingmate. But I hadn't been cleared and I when I left the exam room I wasn't in the mood to deal with Captain Biehn still waiting in the seat he wouldn't budge from even though he insisted he wasn't in the Life Center to see Cassi.
Biehn jumped up when I came down the hall after my exam without a clearance transmitted to my file and I struggle to hide the mix of dread and joy flooding me. I wanted him to go away. I didn't need a friend or anyone right then. I had no idea how to handle the practicalities of what I had just been told, but I did not feel alone. I couldn't help it, my face broke out into a smile so big my cheeks hurt.
"So you got cleared?" Biehn should have been assuming, but there was an obvious lilt of question in his voice. I considered the possibility that he'd had shared my suspicions about the tiredness that dogged my heels much longer than it should have after I was released back to quarters. Maybe I should have lied, but I didn't. Instead I clasped my fingers over his forearm and led him out of the Life Center. Then I told him the truth.
"Seal to me," he insisted after I said that I didn't think I was going to interfere with Starbuck and Cassi's sealing plans. I felt so guilty at his honor. He could have rushed to tell Cassi and break up the plans so he could end up with the woman he really wanted. Instead he grabbed and kissed me when I quickly refused the proposal. Like there had been before there were sparks in our kiss and I ignored the protests in my brain that sounded like Starbuck's voice and let myself believe I could keep the paternity of my baby secret. To shut him out I deepened the kiss.
End Chapter 2