~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 4~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Athena's POV~

It's been three days since I told Starbuck the news. Since then I've been spending too much time in the Children's Classroom. I know it doesn't take centars to hang up decorations or to grade assignments. I still haven't heard that the sealing that is scheduled to occur in a cycle has been cancelled. I was wasting my rest period waiting.

I sigh as I lean back and check and see if the garland is straight.

Starbuck has been back from patrol with his new wingmate Sheba for centars now. I thought that he at least would come speak to me before the ceremony to inform me of his decision to go through with it. To tell me whether or not we were going to announce his paternity and how he planned to be involved in raising this child. Maybe he was still angry with me and had forgiven Cassi? But I had thought for sure that the embrace I had witnessed between Biehn and Cassi hadn't been goodbye. Either way, I'd heard nothing and by now he had to be busy getting ready for the sealing.

As if conjured by my intense thinking, Starbuck's voice interrupted my still undefined disappointment.

"Can we talk?"

"Of course." I turned, but did not rise.

"The room looks pretty, fun. The kids must love you for a teacher," he commented as he came to stand behind the desk next to my chair.

"I hope so," I said and turned the chair to face him.

"I'm sorry it took so long for me to come see you, I've had a lot to do," he began. "A lot to try and figure out." He sat himself down at the edge of the desk.

"My sealing is off."

I bit my lip to prevent my relief from seeping out at the sound of the words I had been waiting to hear.

"As you already knew, there have been feelings between Cassi and Biehn for sectars now. Feelings they no longer can suppress as it happens," he said wryly.

"I'm sorry, I should have told you."

"Cassi should have told me." Starbuck cut me off. "It's not like I didn't stray myself. Look at this situation, if I hadn't been...I can't condemn her when I've done so much worse."

"What now?" I asked.

"I don't have a very good history in asking you this, but will you be sealed to me?" he asked.

"Sealing is a lifetime commitment, Starbuck. At least for me. We've never even dated successfully." Oh, how I wanted to throw caution to the wind and accept, but I couldn't think just for myself and what I was saying was true.

I felt like I loved him and I used to be sure that he loved me. But now, I couldn't say for sure. There was so much history between us and this new obligation that it seemed too easy to delude myself that it was the kind of love that two people would share in life and beyond. All I did know that unless we did love each other like that I couldn't risk him again getting claustrophobic and leaving both of us again.

"I know how much you want to be a part of this child's life, I won't deny you that," I promised.

"But you don't know if you can trust me?" his shoulders drooped.

"We need to take time and make sure this is right," I corrected.

"Then live with me, let's give it a real try." He clasped my hands and gave me his best charming smile.

"We're not even dating, Starbuck,"I laughed.

"You're pregnant with my child. Do you really think we can have casual meals? Live with me."

Lords, this man was hard to resist.

"Live together or just room together," I asked confused.

"Live together. I want you and this child Athena." Starbuck's darkening eyes held a promise.

"I think I still need some courting before we go that far," I said, feeling ridiculously shy all of a sudden.

"You can call the shots, for now. I've asked Apollo to wait for us in Adama's office. I owe it to them to be up front about this." He held out his hand.

I took it.

Father was, well, Father. Surprised, but not angry. I knew he had a soft spot for Starbuck and I suspected he already knew before we told him who the father of this baby was. Whether from Doctor Salik or his own resources I would never ask.

Apollo's reaction was surprising.

"You should be sealed." He crossed his arms and glared at us just as endearingly as an older brother should, though in direct contradiction to his expressed feelings on the matter of Starbuck and I just a yahren ago.

"I asked," Starbuck said.

"And why did you refuse?" Apollo asked of me.

"Apollo, that's not really our business." Father put a restraining hand on my big brother's shoulder.

"She refused because she's smarter than I am." Starbuck put his arm around my waist. "Until a couple of days ago I was going to be sealed to someone else. We need some time to rebuild our relationship so for the next few sectars I'm going to court her and hopefully I'll be able to convince her to seal with me. Either way, we'll raise this child together."

"Well, congratulations are in order," my father broke in, "to the parents!"

"Parents?" Starbuck and I looked at each other in shock.

That got Apollo laughing as my father ordered a bottle of Ambrosa to be delivered.

"We're going to be parents," Starbuck whispered in panic and awe.

I was speechless. I had never looked at it that way. What if things didn't work out between us? How could we raise a child together.

"Wasn't I good?" Starbuck asked.

"You were masterful." I looked over at him and chuckled.

"Deserving of a kiss?" he nudged me with his hip.

"Maybe." I raised my eyebrows at him.

His hand tightened around my waist.

"Not in front of my family." I laughed at his audaciousness.

"You owe me," he said.

"Not so sure about that, Starbuck. Have you figured out how are we going to announce all this? What about the cancellation of the ceremony?" I asked.

"Well, the ceremony isn't exactly canceled, there's just been a bit of a cast change. After that we can announce our news," he said.

Cast change?

End Chapter 4