This story is written for pure pleasure and is not intended to infringe on Any preexisting copyrights that may be violated. Feel free to share with your friends, but not for profit. Your opinions and reviews are highly appreciated. email: rachelroquelaure@hotmail.com There are those who believe that life here began out there, far across the universe, with tribes of humans who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians, or the Toltecs, or the Mayans. That they may have been the architects of the great pyramids, or the lost civilizations of Lemuria or Atlantis. Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man, who even now fight to survive, somewhere beyond the heavens . . . BATTLESTAR GALACTICA starring Richard Hatch Dirk Benedict & Lorne Greene as Adama A FAMILY MAN PART 1/? also starring Herb Jefferson, Jr. John Colicos Maren Jensen Noah Hathaway Laurette Spang Tony Swartz Anne Lockhart & Terry Carter as Colonel Tigh Written by Rachel Roquelaure Based on Battlestar Galactica Created by Glen A. Larson Part I/? "Who would have ever thought that Starbuck would ever try to settle down and raise a family." Boomer said into his viper's unicom as he glanced over towards Apollo's viper. "Yeah, but he's determined . . . To at least make a go of it." Apollo replied with a chuckle. "Where is he anyway?" Boomer asked. "Didn't he tell you?" "Are you kidding, all he did was run into the Officer's Lounge and ask me to take his patrol." "That sounds like Starbuck . . . He went over to the Gemini to speak with the Princess about their son's accommodation's." Apollo said. "The Gemini... You mean that's where they've been living," Boomer exclaimed. "Yeah, and Starbuck ain't none to happy about it." Apollo replied with a slight chuckle. "I bet the Council of Twelve won't be either... I mean a Princess living on that barge of bolts." Boomer said. . . . The corridor of the Gemini freighter was cold and a bit dark as Starbuck headed towards the compartment that he had been told belonged to the Princess and their son. His palms were dripping wet as he reached for the doors buzzer. *Sagan, what am I crazy* Starbuck thought and he quickly pulled his hand from the door. Suddenly the door slid open. "May I help you?" a pretty young girl asked. "Dad," Dillon shouted from behind her as he ran through the door into Starbuck's arms, before Starbuck could reply. "It's all right, Summer... This is Lieutenant Starbuck, Dillon's father." Isis said and Summer quickly stepped back allowing Starbuck in. The compartment was extremely small in comparison to the ones on the Galactica, the walls were bare and the only furnishings was two bunks, a small table, a lone sofa and a dresser. *My god, this is worse than the ophanage on Caprica.* Starbuck thought as he was instantly depressed. "Hey, Dad... What did you come over for?" Dillon asked. "Do I need a reason?" Starbuck replied with a hearty burst of laughter. "No... But no one ever comes to see us." Dillon said. "Well, not anymore." "Dillon, wasn't you and some the other children going to play chase away?" Isis asked. "Aw... I'd rather play with Dad." Dillon replied. "A man's only as good as his word, besides I've got to talk to your Mother for a while, so go ahead and play... I'll be here, when you get back." "Promise?" "A garrison of Cylons won't pull me away." Starbuck replied as he set Dillon down and scrubbed his head. "Ok." Dillon said with a broad smile and rushed off to join his friends. "Well, Starbuck, what did you want to talk to me about?" Isis asked with a coy smile. Starbuck instantly became on edge, he wasn't sure exactly what to say or how to say it. "Starbuck, out with it... Your dancing around like a daggit on a sunspot... So obviously, it's something important and something you don't quite how to say... So just spit it out." Isis said with a hardy burst of laughter. "Isis, I came over to... I won't have... I want us to--" "Summer, Dillon forgot to take Ander's ball back... Would return it?" Isis interrupted him as she pointed out a orange triad ball in the corner. "Yes, Ma'am." Summer replied and getting the ball, she rushed off. "Starbuck, you're not trying to say what I think you are... Are you?" Isis asked as the door swished too. "Isis, you know I was an orphan... I don't want my son to grow up without a Father and a Mother... He should have both." Starbuck stuttered as he walked over to her. "Isis, I think... Well, we should--" "Please, Starbuck, don't ask me that not now." Isis said as she turned her hover-chair away so he wouldn't see the tears welling up in her eyes. "Look, it's for Dillon's good... Believe me I know." Starbuck said as he walked around to see tears streaking down her cheeks and kneeling down in front of her, he grasped her hand. "What's this for?" He added as he wiped her tears away. "You don't know how long I've waited to hear what you're trying to ask... But I don't want to hear them just because you think it's your duty to marry your son's mother." "It's not just that... I've always loved you, you should know that." "I know you loved me, seven yahrens ago... But what about now? I can't expect you to still love me after this long." "Well, expect it or not... I still have feelings for you and Dillon needs his father!" Starbuck exclaimed. "Don't you think I know what Dillon's needs are, but he don't need us to get sealed just because of your sense of duty!" Isis yelled back at him. "That's feldercarb, and you know it!... I've loved you since the day we met." "And what about Cassiopeia and Athena?" Isis asked in a solemn tone. "They have nothing to do with this." Starbuck replied as he stood up. "Oh, I think they do." "Like what?" "How about the fact that you love them both and you're scared to death to loose either one of them... So you hold on to both." Starbuck just turned and stared at her, she knew him to well. "Alright, you win... But will you at least move over to the Galactica?" "What for?" Isis asked. "Isis, look at this place... It's so empty and the ship is a dump." Starbuck replied. "I can't argue with you on that, but it's the best I could do under the situations." "The situation has changed... And while, I can't take care of you and Dillon in the style Geb did... I can-- Isis, let me take care of you and Dillon?" Starbuck said as Summer walked in and immediately turned back around to walk out. "Starbuck, what would people say?" Isis asked with a brief chuckle as she thought about the looks on the councilors faces. "For Sagan's sake, Isis, I'm asking you to let me be a father to my son and a friend to you... Not to sleep me!" Starbuck exclaimed. "Starbuck, please understand... I... *I want to, but I won't be a burden on you too* I can't." Isis mumbled as a single tear touched her cheek. "I'll arrange for Dillon and Summer to move over to the Galactica. Summer's his governess, she'll help you raise him." "Isis, I didn't come over here to take Dillon away from you." Starbuck sighed as he knelt down before her and took her hand. "You're his mother... He needs both of us, Isis, both of us... Not just a father, but father and a mother... You and me, both of us." "Frack, Starbuck, he shouldn't have to watch me die!" Isis sobbed. "Die?" Starbuck moaned as he sunk to the floor. "Why?... Of what?" "Isis has Mycracoxin Disease, her body's natural micro organisms are destroying her central nerve center." Summer explained. "Isis, how... How... How long do you have?" Starbuck stuttered. "Two to three sectars." She replied as she wiped her face with her palms. "Does Dillon know?" Starbuck asked as he knelt up and handed her his handkerchief from the inner pocket of flight jacket. "Yes, and it's tearing him apart... He needs you now... Starbuck, he needs to know that he still has family... That they'll be someone to love and take care of him." Isis replied. "He'll have it, but so we'll you... You're all three moving to the Galactica within this cycle." Starbuck said, firmly as he stood and prepared to leave. "You've never seen Mycracoxin disease, have you?" Isis asked, coldly. "No, but what difference does that make?" He replied. "It's horrible... I watched my mother die of it, it was slow and very painful... I won't have my son seeing that!" She shouted. "Our son... He's our son!" Starbuck yelled back. "Do you think it will be any easier on him to think that his mother gave him away... To a practical stranger?" "No, he knows better than to ever believe something like that... I love him, but he needs to know that life goes on and watching me die isn't going to teach him that!" "We all die, he needs to know that too and he doesn't need to be afraid to love or trust someone... Frack, I grew up in a orphanage we didn't dare to love or trust no one and I wont have any part of teaching my son that." Starbuck exclaimed as Isis burst into tears. "Don't you see I'm at the end of my rope?... I... I don't know what to do anymore?" "Then come back to the Galactica with me, Dillon will have all the love and support he needs, and so will you." He replied as he stared into her beautiful deep brown, almost black eyes. Isis simply nodded. . . . Upon returning to the Galactica, Starbuck arranged for a set of family quarters and then went to the officer's lounge for a good stiff drink. "Starbuck, we need to talk." Cassiopeia said as she walked over to join him at the bar. "Cassie, we've already said it all." Starbuck replied as he ordered a grog and started to walk away. "Hasn't our relationship meant anything to you!" She shouted causing everyone to look. "Yes, but it's over... I have a family now." "That's feldercarb and you know it, just because she says he's your son doesn't mean you are." "What are you crazy, what reason would she have to lie to me!" "Because she's dying you idiot!" Cassiopeia yelled as everyone gasped in complete shock, except Starbuck. Who just stood there glaring into her eyes. "Starbuck, I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to come out that way." "I already knew." Starbuck replied as he walked over and sat down at a nearby table. "How?" "How do you think, she told me." "When?... She told Doctor Salic that she didn't want anybody to know." Cassiopeia said as she sat down across from him. "Well, I would think that didn't include the father of her son." "Starbuck, how can you be so sure he's even yours?" "Because she wouldn't lie, not about this... Not to me." Starbuck replied with his voice filled with the certainty that his heart felt. "Starbuck, she's been alone for many years and now she finds out she's about to die... That's enough to make any woman lie, she needs someone to take care of her son!" Cassiopeia argued. "Cassie, lay off... You're not going to turn this into something ugly, Dillon is my son!" Starbuck said as he stood up and started to walk away. "Starbuck... All I'm saying is take some test, before changing your life completely for a kid that might not be yours." Cassiopeia replied as she jumped up and grabbed his arm. "Cassie, grow up... Dillon's was raised Gemon, Gemon's don't consent to test like that and I wouldn't ever dream of questioning Isis's word... She's a princess, one of the descendants of the Lord's of Kobol." "That doesn't mean she wouldn't lie!" "She wouldn't." Starbuck said and pulling his arm away, he walked out. "For Sagan's sake, Starbuck, would you just listen to me." "Cassie, you're not going to ruin this... I won't let you turn this into something ugly, he's my son." Starbuck said and quickly left her standing alone. THE END