Together at Last Disclaimer: Thery're not mine and never will be. So, I'm gonna borrow the characters for a bit, but, as always, I will return them when I'm finished. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Congratulations, Brat!" "Apollo! I wish you'd stop calling me that! But, thanks, big brother." Athena replied as she hugged him. Apollo pulled back and looked at her. "Shall I assume that since you've graduated and been assigned to the Galactica, you'll be joining Blue Squadron?" "Was there ever any doubt?" Athena laughed. "Hey, do you have a hug for an old man?" A deep voice rumbled. Athena spun on her heels. "Of course I do. But, Dad, you aren't old!" She hugged Adama tightly. Adama pulled back and cupped her face in his hand. "I can't believe my baby girl is a Warrior." Adama said with a hint of a tear in his eye. "Dad, I'm not a baby anymore." Athena could feel her tears brimming as well. "I know. I know." Adama gently pulled away from the embrace. "I'm just sorry that we have to leave so soon after your graduation ceremony." "That's alright. I'm used to it by now." Athena sighed. Adama put his hand on her shoulder. "I wish that wasn't so. But, soon you'll be on the Galactica and we can celebrate then." Athena smiled. "That's right. Now, you two better get moving. You don't want to miss your shuttle." Adama hugged Athena once more. "Good-bye Athena. We'll see you in a few days." Apollo hugged Athena. "Take care, Brat!" Athena smacked him lightly on the arm. "Give Zac my love, will you?" "Of course. I'll see you soon…Oh, by the way, you'll keep Starbuck out of trouble while he's on furlon won't you?" "Starbuck is going on furlon soon?" Athena asked. "He'll be arriving on the shuttle we're leaving on," Apollo replied. "Starbuck promised that since Father and I weren't able to take you out to celebrate that he would. Just be sure he doesn't get into *too* much trouble." "Starbuck? Trouble? Whatever are you talking about, big brother?" Athena laughed. "We'd better go, Apollo." Adama said. He turned toward Athena. "We'll see you soon. Good-bye, dear." "Good-bye, Dad." Athena returned. "You be careful, Brat," Apollo warned as he hugged Athena again. "Apollo, I'm a trained Warrior! I'll be fine. Now get out of here!" Athena watched as Adama and Apollo turned and walked away. She fought back the tears that were pricking her eyes. A lump formed in her throat making it hard to swallow. This had happened before, her father not being there for something important. But, this time was different. He took Apollo and Zac out to celebrate after they both graduated from the Academy. And, now that it was her turn, he had to rush back to the Galactica. Adama was the damned commander of the ship! He should have been able to take furlon at least for longer than he did. Athena sighed. She wiped the tears from her eyes. Long ago she learned that crying didn't make her father stay longer, or be there when she needed him. "Are you crying because you're so overcome with happiness to see me?" Starbuck's voice penetrated Athena's thoughts. Athena looked up and saw Starbuck staring at her. "Of course! Why else would I be crying?" "Maybe because you wanted your father to take you out to celebrate rather than just me." Starbuck grabbed her hand. "If it makes you feel better, I asked for this furlon sectars ago when I heard the date you were graduating." Athena threw her arms around Starbuck's neck and kissed him on the cheek. She began to cry again. "Yes, it does. Thank you so much!" *Oh, Lords, she feels good, * thought Starbuck. *Frack! I shouldn't be thinking like that! She's my best friend's little sister for Lords sake! I've known her for yahrens. I know she's had a crush on me for a long time. I think I care about her too, but a crowded shuttle terminal is not where I want to sort out my feelings.* "Let's go drop of my bag at the house, then, I'm taking you out. My treat. And no arguments." Starbuck said, pulling back. Athena moved reluctantly from Starbuck's embrace. "Thank you, Starbuck. I appreciate this." "I just wanted to do something special for you after the dinner you made for Apollo and I when we graduated." Athena blushed and hid her face in her hands. "I can't believe you remember that." "I do remember it. I thought it was sweet." Starbuck pulled Athena's hands from her face. "I didn't care that it was burned and tasted like sludge. It was the love that went into making it that I enjoyed. No one ever did that for me before. And I want to return the favor." "Since when have you eaten sludge?" Athena asked with a laugh. Starbuck flushed slightly. "Never, but it was so horrible, it couldn't have tasted like anything else *but* sludge." "You're terrible, you know that!" "Yeah, but you love me anyway." Starbuck teased. As Athena looked at Starbuck, a sharp retort caught in her throat. He looked down at her the same instant and their eyes locked. They held the gaze for a long time, neither wanting to break free. Starbuck gently caressed Athena's cheek, knowing that all he had to do was say the word and she would be his. The knowledge frightened him and he turned away. Athena sighed. It hit her then that she really did *love* Starbuck. It wasn't just a silly crush anymore. Athena could tell Starbuck was attracted to her, but apparently his feelings for her weren't as strong as hers for him. "So, where are you taking me tonight?" Athena asked. "I thought we'd go to Milliway's if that's alright." Starbuck answered. "Milliway’s? But, that’s the most expensive restaurant on Caprica! Starbuck, I can’t let you…" Athena’s voice trailed off as Starbuck placed a finger on her lips. "I said no arguments, remember?" Athena nodded mutely. "Good, then there should be no problems." Starbuck offered his arm to Athena who looped hers around it. "Shall we go?" Athena smiled. "Yes, let's go." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At Milliway's Athena peered at Starbuck over her open menu and sighed thinking about how handsome he looked in his dress uniform. He told her he wanted the night to be special. And it was, just by his wanting to take her out. He was not the kind of man that normally did things like that and it made Athena love him all the more. Starbuck could have just as easily taken her to a diner for a quick plate of mushies and it still would have been a wonderful evening. Just because he cared. Athena had always had a certain picture of how she expected Starbuck to act on a 'date', especially with all the Hades she had overheard Apollo giving Starbuck, or the questions Zac asked Starbuck when he thought no one else could hear. He had a reputation of legendary proportions, regarding combat abilities at the Academy, one which was only overshadowed by Adama and Apollo. She also heard about the number of women he'd supposedly gone out with, the number constantly increasing as each of her semesters progressed. *And, tonight,* she thought, *I'm one of those 'hundreds of thousands' of women.* Athena smiled at how she remembered that she and Starbuck were shown right to a table without Starbuck having to bribe a waiter, like she knew he usually did. *He really must have planned this sectars ago," she thought, as she felt tears begin to prick her eyes for the second time that day. Starbuck looked up and saw Athena staring at him. Her eyes were shining brightly with unshed tears. "Are you okay, Athena?" Starbuck asked, hoping that *he* wasn't the reason for the tears. *She looks so beautiful in this candle light with her hair pulled up like that. I wish she'd wear it that way more often. Frack! Why do I always think of these things when she needs me for support?* He berated himself for thinking. Athena blinked away the tears. "I'm fine, Starbuck. I think I'm just a bit overwhelmed at everything that happened today, that's all." "We can always have them wrap our order up and take it back to the house." Starbuck suggested. *Frack it to Hades! Why in Hades did I say that! She's going to think I want to take her back to the house to seduce her.* Athena shook her head. "I'll be fine. I want to stay." "If you're sure you're alright." Starbuck hesitated, unsure of Athena's real reasons for wanting to stay. "I am. But, it's sweet of you to be so concerned." Athena smiled, noticing that Starbuck blushed. Before Starbuck could answer, the waiter arrived to take their orders. "We'll have a bottle of Capnios and Milookhiyya to start, Koufte-ouche next and for dessert, Trollkrem." Athena felt herself blushing as she recognized the names of the dishes Starbuck ordered were the same ones she had tried to make for *his* graduation. She watched as the waiter nodded, and turned from their table. "I can't believe you did that!" Athena hid her face in her hands, embarrassed by Starbuck's actions. "What did I do?" Starbuck asked, ginning. "You know! You ordered the same dishes I made for you when you and Apollo graduated!" Athena scolded. Starbuck's grin widened. "Yeah, but, at least this time, dinner won't taste like sludge." "Oh! You!" Athena tossed her napkin on the table. She sat back in her seat and crossed her arms, glaring at Starbuck. She remembered how horrible that dinner came out, no matter how much she had tried to forget. Athena closed her eyes thought of how long she worked on that dinner and how she wanted everything to be perfect. Only things didn't turn out the way she had planned. The Milookhiyya was the color and consistency of pitch, the Koufte-ouche was charred beyond recognition setting off the smoke alarms, and the krem in the Trollkrem had soured and curdled. She thought of how her mother had warned her she was taking on to much, and how she didn't listen, and plowed ahead anyway, doing exactly as she wished, like she always did. A single tear escaped her closed lashes and slid down her cheek. Athena quickly wiped it away, not bothering to open her eyes. Starbuck turned his gaze away, knowing she was embarrassed that he saw her cry. "I'm sorry Athena. I was trying to be funny, and I made you angry." Athena opened her eyes and sighed. "No, I'm sorry…I'm just rather defensive…" She explained. "Don't I know it." Starbuck muttered. "What's that supposed to mean?" Athena accused. She fell silent as the waiter returned to their table with the bottle of Capnios. He uncorked it and poured a small bit for Starbuck. Starbuck smelled the wine, swirled it lightly around in the glass and tasted it. He nodded at the waiter who poured a glass for Athena and then finished pouring Starbuck's glass. As soon as he was finished, the waiter again disappeared without a word. Athena took a sip of the wine and felt it begin to help her relax. "Starbuck, I'm sorry. I'm acting like the 'brat' Apollo says I am. I guess I'm just disappointed that Dad isn't here, and I'm taking it out on you. "That's all right," Starbuck said, gently. "But, *I'm* here. Do you think you can *try* to have fun? For me?" He pouted his lower lip and tried to look sad. Athena laughed. "Oh, what am I going to do with you?" "What would you like to do to me?" Starbuck asked raising his eyebrows and smiling sensuously at Athena.