~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 5~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Starbuck's POV~

I knew he had been putting on an act for the Commander and sister. Apollo was never that agreeable. Especially where his sister was concerned.

"Would you mind telling me what in hades you're doing with my sister, this time?" Apollo demanded furiously as soon as I left Athena's rooms a centar after we had delivered the news.

"Well, I think that should be pretty obvious given her condition." Even I winced as that quip came flying out of my mouth. Then I couldn't wince after Apollo's fist landed on my jaw.

"Frak it, Apollo!" I cursed through my fingers.

"She was, you, you took advantage of her!" he growled, not one iota calmed by his punch.

I wisely backed out of his reach.

"I probably did," I admitted.

"At least you're honest about being a creep! And now she's pregnant and you won't be sealed to her!" his hands were balled into fists again.

"She turned me down, I swear!" I held up my hands. I wasn't going to hit him, though each throb of my jaw tempted me to do just that.

"Probably because she knows you can't stick around and be responsible," Apollo hissed.

That made me mad.

"Do you want me to force her to seal to me? Do you want me to promise you in blood that I won't ran out on her and our kid? I think you know me a little better than that, Apollo," I said.

Apollo's anger faded a little. Instead of punching me, he dragged a hand over his face.

"Did you wonder how she got pregnant?" he asked me in a sudden swerve of conversation.

"What?" I was thrown by the question. Did he think I didn't know the facts of life?

"Did you ever wonder how she could have gotten pregnant with both of you up to date on your control shots? I checked with Doctor Salik, it shouldn't have happened," Apollo told me.

I had wondered, but shrugged it off to the trickery of Lady Luck. Obviously, Apollo had other thoughts.

"Are you thinking this might be Iblis?" I asked, reluctantly seeing where he was going.

"Or the ship of lights. They brought Athena back to us, maybe this was part of their design?"

"Iblis didn't strike me as the fatherly type," I said, though another part of me admitted Iblis might as part of a larger diabolical plan. My panic must have shown on my face.

"If Iblis did this Bojay would be the father, not you. I don't even want to imagine what you're thinking." Apollo shook his head.

Not being one to dwell on those thoughts I let Apollo's logic calm me and moved on.

"Can you forgive me?" I asked.

"Do you love her?" he asked me.

I had been expecting a threat. That I could have handled.

"I care about her, like she was my own sister, she's..." I searched for something to say, and said the first thing that came to my mind.

"Not exactly like a sister," Apollo's nose wrinkled in disgust.

"No, not exactly," I couldn't wipe the grin off my face in time. "She isn't my sister and she is an alluring woman."

"Starbuck," Apollo warned.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I care for her a great deal. She's a good friend. We have fun together. I...I like being around her," I admitted.

"If you hurt her again Starbuck, I swear what I just did to your jaw will feel like a tickle," he warned.

"Duly noted," I said.

"I'm sorry about Cass and Biehn, though given the circumstances..." he said.

"Yeah, well. Guess things just worked themselves out," I said. Lady Luck again.

"Only for you buddy." Apollo snorted. "So how about a toast at the O Club before the ceremony?"

"Sure," I smiled, happy that peace was restored, but disappointed that other plans would have to wait. "Where's Boomer?"

"Waiting for us, with some ice for you," Apollo clapped his arm over my shoulder as we headed for much needed fortification.

It wasn't easy watching Cassi take vows with another man. Even harder than I had imagined. I tried not to let it show, knowing that more eyes were watching my reaction than the surprise couple on the stairs in front of the Commander. As well as the woman I hoped to get up there with me before our child was born.

My heart skipped a beat as it did every time I thought about "little Starbuck."

I was going to be a father.

It wasn't a concept easy to grasp. Especially not with Athena standing there looking as slim and alluring as ever. My fingers itched to feel the changes in her body. But other than the one kiss after we left her father's quarters she hadn't let me close and kept insisting that it was far too soon for her body to have noticeably changed.

Despite her orders, my hand slid of its own accord up her arm and my knuckles rested on her hip. I breathed deep, taking in the scent of her hair. Flowers. I knew it was was synthetic, but it still reminded me of the fields on Caprica. I ached for her and not just physically. I thought back to Apollo's question about how I felt about his sister. It was definitely more than as a sister, maybe more than I had ever been willing to admit.

I bit back a grimace as Athena's elbow jabbed me hard on the waist. "Stop it," she hissed under her breath.

Ornery creature that I was I grinned and slid my hand around her waist. Now she either had to make a scene or let it stay. It wasn't exactly courting, but it did make me forget for a few centons why we were here.

"You'll pay for this," Athena promised under her breath.

I couldn't wait.

"Everyone is going to wonder about us." Athena pulled me aside after the ceremony was over to berate me for my little performance.

"You're so cute when you're flustered." I winked.

"Starbuck!" she scolded, unable to hide her enjoyment of my devilish compliment.

"Well, you are." I shrugged.

"I was all prepared to comfort you, you cad." She put her hands on her hips and absently shook her hair behind her shoulders.

"But this is so much more fun. No one has to be bitter against Cassi for dumping me and they can just be happy for them."

"True," Athena said. "But now people will wonder about us. How long this has been going on. All that."

"Did you think people wouldn't notice us living together? Or you, um, getting as large as a battlestar?" I asked.

"Jerk." Athena pretend glared at me. "We haven't decided anything yet!"

"But you'll still be sexy to me," I swore, putting my hands on her back and pulling her towards me. "And maybe by then you'll let me prove it?"

"You have a one track mind," she rightly accused.

"Two tracks, I'm also thinking about the gambling, which I'll be doing on the Rising Star with Chameleon in about two centars," I teased.

"You're right. A two track mind." She slid her arms around my neck.

"First things first," I said before sliding my lips over hers. "Now, on to that second thing. You sure you don't want to come with us?" I invited, pleased by her bemused expression when I pulled away.

"Watching you and Chameleon gamble is not exactly my idea of a fun time, but thanks. Besides I'm not on furlon," Athena shook her head. "Why don't you invite Apollo or Boomer?"

"My jaw is still sore thanks. Besides your brother has something special planned for Sheba and Boomer has patrol," I said. "Chameleon and I will be fine without you. He's not just a gambling buddy, he's a good friend."

"When are you leaving?" she asked.

"Now."

"You're not going to make an appearance at the celebration?" she asked.

"And what, make a toast to the happy couple? Maybe someone else could be so magnanimous, not my style."

"Then have fun." she kissed my cheek and looked at me for a moment before twirling out of my arms and rushing off with a wave.

I waved back with a laugh, relieved she didn't press the issue. I didn't think she was still in love me, not like she was before everything fell apart between us, but I was willing to bet big that she hadn't been all that eager to wish Cassiopeia and I the best had we been sealed as planned.

As expected, Chameleon was a good companion. He didn't cast any sympathetic glances, he made no comments about Cassiopeia, and he asked no questions about my obvious closeness with Athena during the ceremony.

"Athena's pregnant," I said casually as I threw down another chip.

"Really," Chameleon responded in a similarly casual tone.

"It's mine," I said.

"That's news." Chameleon didn't take his eyes off the spinning wheel, but I could feel his attention on me just the same. "Going to seal with her?"

"Eventually. She turned me down on first pass," I said.

"Smart girl." Chameleon grinned.

"How so?" I was mildly offended by that.

"Not taking a man under duress. You'd do nothing but resent her. She makes you work for it you'll appreciate it more," he said. "Do you love her?"

I pulled my winnings towards me and placed my bet for the next spin before answering.

"She's family and a good friend. Not sure about the rest," I admitted, a little more truthful with him than I had been with Apollo.

"You'll figure it out. Congratulations on your entry into fatherhood." Chameleon clapped me on the back.

I could swear I saw his eyes glisten as he looked at me.

End Chapter 5