Title: A Yule Story or An OAD Holiday
Author: By the Twin Goddess
Classification: A, R
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A time for reflection and rebirth

Disclaimer: These works are fiction stories based on the series 
Battlestar Galactica and its characters created and owned by Glen A. 
Larson. These stories are not being sold for profit and no infringement 
of any copyright rights are intended. All unrecognized characters and 
plot lines are mine and copyright protection is claimed. Any 
resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental.

Dedication: To 1999 and the Year of the OAD!

~~~~~~~~~~

Athena closed her eyes.

Behind her eyelids she sees the countryside blanketed in fresh, 
white snow. Snowflakes are gently clinging to her dark brown hair. The 
Caprica Lake covered in ice so thick the children play on it, against 
the advice of their parents and other adults. A pair of blades law 
lonely on the powdery shore where Zac has lazily left them. She feels 
the crisp chill of the season of Vernal nibbling on her skin and making 
her feel so alive. 

Amidst all the white, she can see the outside of their family home 
ablaze with color welcoming spectators and guests from all over. 
Miniature lights adorn the house, twinkling in the dark in bright hues 
of yellow, blue and green. Colorful figurines representing the sacred 
Caprican symbols of Yule reflected in their light.

She passes the stack of firewood, a foreshadowing to the warmth she 
is about to feel. She enters the house and is welcomed by the smell of 
fresh baked gingerbread and a crackling fire. The Yule Log sits by the 
side and waits patiently to bring forth the newborn Sol. The Log was 
adorned with both bright and dark fir needles and trailing vines of 
ivy.  Sprigs of holly berries and helped to bind some of the unburned 
portion of  the previous yahren's log with the new.

`As the Yule Log is kindled, so is the New Year begun, as it has 
been down throughout the ages, an unending cycle of birth, death, and 
rebirth. Every ending is a new beginning.'

"Athena?" she heard her mother calling, "Athena?"

Athena opened her eyes to see her mother Ila's face on the com-unit. 
"Are you okay honey, looks like I lost you there for a moment?"

"No, actually Mom I had found you.  I was just pretending I was back 
home for the holiday.  I miss you," Athena smiled sadly at her mother, 
bemused by the illusion the comm created that they were so close, when 
in fact they were thousands of parsecs apart.

"Darling, I wish you were here to.  It's not the same, having all of 
you away at the same time. But I won't be alone, my sisters and some 
neighbors will be joining me shortly.  I just wanted to send you all my 
love.  Where is Adama, Apollo and Zac? I thought they would be there by 
now?"

Athena sighed.  "No Mom, Dad and Apollo are still at some Council 
function.  Zac went off with his latest girlfriend.  They'll all be 
here, but not for several centars.  I just thought I would wait here at 
Dad's for your call," Athena explained sadly.

"I know that we will all have a lovely Yule.  You're here in my 
heart honey," Ila told her daughter tenderly.  "Give your Father and 
brothers my love, I will try to call again tomorrow."

"Thanks Mom, I will.  Send my love to the Aunts.  Thank you for the 
holopics of the first snowfall and the Yule log," Athena told her 
mother before signing off.

Athena touched the comm-screen as it went black. "Bye Mom," she 
whispered, her voice breaking. Tears began to run down her cheeks. She 
was thankful that she had been able to hold them back while speaking to 
her mother, not wanting to show how sad she really was.

It was her first Yule away from home and while she had her father, 
her brothers, and Starbuck here with her, she couldn't help but feel 
that she would gladly spend the holiday with her mother alone if she 
could be at home. 

Athena had tried to create a festive setting for her family by 
hanging garlands of pine, sent by her mother, and placing dozens of lit 
candles around her father's quarters. But now it appeared as it her 
efforts had been in vain. By now her father and Apollo would be caught 
up at the Council Yule Lighting Ceremony for centars and Zac had chosen 
to spend the holiday with his latest conquest. 

Growing up under the influence of Apollo and Starbuck, Zac had 
acquired skills from both men. From Apollo, Zac had learned integrity 
and honor. From Starbuck, he had learned how to make the ladies swoon, 
take chances, and survive under any circumstance with a goofy grin and 
a quip. She figured that meant he would be here, eventually.

Athena walked over to the mantle to light a few more candles and 
looked at the series of holopics her father had placed there. There was 
Zac graduating from the Academy. Apollo being promoted to Captain. Her 
mother and father at the surprise sealing commemoration that she, 
Apollo and Zac had thrown for them. And there were holopics of 
Starbuck.  
										
One holopic featuring Starbuck was especially meaningful as it was 
of him, her father and her brothers coming home with the Yule tree a 
few yahrens ago. That was the last Yule that all of them spent together 
at home. It had been a particularly special holiday as it was rare that 
her father had even been allowed to come home. Then, over the next few 
yahren, Apollo and Starbuck graduated and were assigned to the 
Galactica. Then Zac. And now her. Looking at the Yule holopic before 
her and realizing that they may never spend another holiday together 
like that again made her start to sob again. She didn't notice anyone 
had entering the room.

"Athena?" Starbuck said softly, placing a hand on his friend's 
shoulder.

Athena heard Starbuck's whisper and felt his hand on her shoulder.  
She couldn't help herself, she had to pull away.  She was her Father's 
daughter, no one was allowed to see her exhibiting weakness.  'Not even 
Starbuck.'  Her last thought echoed in her mind as she turned to face 
her guest.  Not even Starbuck.  Not even the boy she had adored even as 
a young girl.  The person she had come to know and befriend since 
arriving on the Galactica.  The man she had come to love.  She blushed 
and looked away as her last thought flitted across her mind.

She knew that there was no way Starbuck would be remotely interested 
in her.  He had tons of women chasing after him.  Women who were older, 
more experienced and more beautiful than she.  She was just some 
charity project that he had taken on at the behest of her eldest 
brother.  

"Be friends with her, babysit her," she imagined her brother asking 
and then pleading with the gorgeous warrior.  The same warrior who was 
standing there trying to figure out what to say to the bawling child in 
front of him.

Athena turned away and brushed the tears off her face.  'My 
mortification is complete. First he finds a sobbing homesick baby, now 
a blushing school girl.  Wonderful,' Athena castigated herself.

"Athena," Starbuck walked behind her again.  "What's wrong?"  
Starbuck put a restraining hand on her arm.  He knew her well enough by 
now to recognize when she was about to avoid explaining and pretend 
that nothing was wrong.  She was a lot like her brother that way.

Athena put her head down in defeat.  When Starbuck continued to push 
the envelope for an explanation of emotions, she knew she had better 
'fess up.  "I just talked to Mother.  I guess I'm a bit homesick.  And 
with everyone off doing something else tonight I was feeling sorry for 
myself," Athena turned around and looked Starbuck in the eye.  "What 
are you doing here? I thought you would be off like Zac and with some 
women by now."

Starbuck shook his head and smiled.  "When I knew you would be 
waiting here all alone for everyone to show up later?  When I knew that 
you would have the Commander's quarters decorated like this?  When I 
knew I could look at you in the muted and flickering candlelight? Not a 
chance," Starbuck said in an almost whisper as he placed a gentle hand 
on her cheek, wiping the tears away.

Athena tried to act coy but couldn't help but flash a curious glance 
at her friend. They had always been openly affectionate towards one 
another in a sibling sort of way. But the way he was touching her face 
now...it was different, almost sensual. She decided she must be wishful 
thinking and turned back to the mantle to finish lighting the candles.

Starbuck's heart leapt into his throat as she turned away. 'Nice 
goin' Bucko... you're gonna scare her away if you're not careful.' But 
he couldn't help it. He had found her crying all alone in the 
candlelight and it melted all his carefully constructed defenses. While 
it always made him feel helpless whenever she was upset, he especially 
hated to see her so sad on what should be a joyous holiday. 

He, for one, was terribly excited. Being an orphan, he had always 
looked forward to holidays with Apollo and his family, especially Yule. 
All the lights and the singing made Starbuck truly feel a part of their 
family. And yet this holiday was different. Everyone was scattered. It 
seemed that everyone was taking family for granted, something that 
Starbuck just couldn't understand. It felt like no one cared.

Except for Athena. She cared. She always cared. She had called her 
mother a few sectons earlier and had her send some of the pine garlands 
and cones that were so plentiful around their home during this season. 
She had also found a varied mix of candles to light, a fine 
substitution for the blazing fireplace that they would all sit and sing 
around. Starbuck had to admit that he was homesick for Caprica as well, 
but all the efforts that Athena had made in making the evening festive 
were not going to go unnoticed. Adama's quarters looked fantastic! And 
Starbuck was very appreciative. 

"The place looks great Athena! You've really outdone yourself!" he 
exclaimed, looking around the room.  "Well since it's your first Yule 
on board I guess you've actually outdone Apollo.  He's not the 
decorator he likes to think he is," Starbuck smirked.

"Thanks," she replied, walking to the other side of the room to 
light a few more candles.  "Too bad the rest of the family doesn't 
care."

While her statement was one of remorse, Starbuck felt a sense of 
warmth that she had implicitly included him as a member of the family.

"Well it's their loss," he declared, moving towards her. "One day 
they're gonna wish they had spent more holidays together instead of 
with overblown politicians and occasional girlfriends."

Athena turned and smiled. "Coming from you, that's kind of funny."

He placed his hands on his hips in a teasing gesture and pretended 
to be affronted. "And how is that funny?"

"You use 'occasional girlfriend' as if it were an undesirable term," 
Athena answered, giggling, "I thought you were the President of that 
club."

"Ha ha... very funny, " Starbuck responded, somewhat nervously. His 
reputation with the ladies was not a topic he wanted to discuss with 
Athena.  He wished she had never heard about that, but then again she 
always seemed to accept him no matter what.  `I guess that's what 
family is all about.  Or love.'  

At his last thought Starbuck felt his heart clench.  Loving Athena 
as more than a sister was something he had consciously considered 
before.  But right then he couldn't think of a single fact to refute 
the feeling beating in his chest.  Or the butterflies in his stomach. 
Or the pulsing in his nether regions.  When had this happened?

When Apollo has first asked him to keep the other pilots away from 
Athena, Starbuck did it out of brotherly protection. Now, finally, he 
had to admit he was doing it for purely selfish reasons. While he knew 
that Apollo would kill him if he ever made a move on his "baby sister," 
each passing day Starbuck had found his thoughts about Athena 
increasing in frequency.  As were his dreams about her. No, those 
definitely couldn't be terms as "brotherly."  He just hoped he wasn't 
calling her name out loud in his sleep.  

Starbuck finally realized he had been fighting an internal battle 
for and was losing.  Had, in fact, already lost. Looking at her now, it 
felt like he had won.

Starbuck valued Athena's friendship, but as he saw her now in the 
soft glow of candlelight, a hint of her sensuous frame showing beneath 
the violet blue off-the-shoulder dress she wore, he knew that he 
couldn't hide his feelings from her much longer.  Even at the risk of 
ruining their friendship.

"Starbuck!" his name broke the hypnotic trance her appeared to have 
fallen into.

"Yeah... I'm sorry... what?" he inquired, hoping to gloss over his 
preoccupation.

"I was asking you if you thought maybe Zac wouldn't come at all 
tonight. Then I turned around and you were just staring at me. What 
were you thinking about?"

Starbuck blushed and looked away, his earlier resolve fleeing as he 
looked into her eyes. "Um nothing, just some battle techniques Apollo 
and I were working on earlier today," Starbuck mumbled as he 
practically dashed to the other side of the room.  `Oh Lords, what this 
woman does to me, I'm *blushing*!'

Athena stood stunned.  She just saw Starbuck blush!  Even in the dim 
lights of the candles the change in his pallor was obvious.  The 
connection with her earlier condition wasn't lost on her.  `What if he 
has feelings for me too?' Athena sat down on the couch behind her with 
a thud. `What if he wants me as much as I want him?  How can that be 
possible?  Maybe he's guessed my feelings and I've embarrassed him?  
Only one way to find out!'  

"Starbuck?" Athena called him back to her.

Starbuck took a deep breath and reluctantly turned around.  He knew 
what she would see, if she cared to look.  And then she would know. He 
looked at her from across the room, barely able to breath.  

Athena's breath caught in her throat as she watched him.  Gone was 
the happy-go-lucky mask he presented to the rest of the world.  
Standing before her was the serious and intelligent man that his close 
friends and family knew existed beneath the surface.  Yet, there was 
something more.  Something she had never seen in him before.

Athena allowed her gaze to caress him from head to toe as she tried 
to identify the changed aura around him. It didn't take long for her to 
figure it out. `Oh Lords of Kobol, he's aroused.' She immediately felt 
an answering wetness between her legs.

Starbuck watched Athena's gaze traveled up and down his body.  He 
felt himself harden even more than he had when he walked in and found 
her in the candlelight. 'There's no way she's not going to notice now,' 
he felt his breath hitch.

Then her gaze stopped on his face and he saw the answering desire in 
her eyes.  And in the increased tempo of her breathing. And in the 
subtle movements of her body, as if she too were struggling to hide her 
body's reactions.  He thought he was going to melt on the spot.  He 
captured her eyes with his own and strode towards her purposefully.

`Should I say anything?' Athena wondered as she breathlessly watched 
his approach.  The determination in his stride and the desire in his 
eyes no longer at muted levels.  There was no mistaking that these 
feelings were indeed directed at her.  And only her.

Starbuck reached Athena and got down on one knee.  The sight broke 
Athena's haze and she laughed quietly.  He looked like he was about to 
propose.  The absurdity of the situation suddenly struck her.  This was 
her friend, one of the most wanted men in the Colonies and he was 
kneeling before her.  She knew she had to be dreaming.  She must have 
fallen asleep after talking to her mother.

Starbuck saw her laughter and abruptly stood up. `How could I have 
been so wrong,' he thought.  'She must just be scared of me.  Oh 
Lords.'

"No," Athena called out and grabbed his hand, not letting him get 
away. "I thought I must have been dreaming," she explained.

"So you do," Starbuck trailed off, still hesitant.

"Oh yes," Athena answered huskily and put her hand behind his neck, 
drawing him into their first kiss.

And oh...what a first kiss it was. 

Starbuck and Athena melted into each other's arms as their lips and 
tongues met in a deep, slow, passionate kiss.  One that Athena had 
dreamed about since she was a little girl and one that Starbuck began 
to crave as a man.

Athena felt her knees buckle as Starbuck pulled her even closer to 
him. She could feel his desire throbbing against her and she 
instinctively moved even closer. As if in response to her tacit 
permission, their kiss became more intense.  Their tongues dueling in 
the dance of ages.  Their hands carnally caressing every inch of the 
other they could reach. 

If either of them had the mental cognizance, they would probably 
have realized that their secret dreams were finally coming true.

Starbuck began to lead Athena to the couch behind her, his instincts 
kicking in.  Athena wasn't fighting.  As they settled on the couch they 
pulled apart to catch their breath.  They gazed at each other for a 
moment as they came back to their senses.  Within microns they were 
grinning idiotically at each other.

Starbuck pulled back and let Athena sit up.  He placed his hand on 
her cheek.  "Hey," he said stupidly.

Athena smiled wider and began to laugh.  There was no mistaking this 
laugh, it was one of pure happiness.  "Hey yourself.  I guess this 
means you like me too?"  Athena was confident that Starbuck wouldn't 
have let this happen unless he was serious.  Their friendship, and his 
friendship with her family was too deep for him to take advantage or 
treat her lightly.

"Yeah, you could say I like you like you," Starbuck said, still 
grinning.

"Yeah, I like you too," Athena reached over and grabbed the hand on 
her cheek and held it tightly.  "So what now?"

Starbuck sat back and laughed.  "Well," he looked at his lap.  "I 
know what my body would like to do, but there really isn't a rush is 
there?"  He looked back at her for confirmation.

Athena sighed.  Her body was going to hate her.  "No.  We don't have 
to rush.  You do know how much I care about you?" she asked him in a 
serious tone.

Starbuck ducked his head and nodded.  "Same here."

"You know?" Athena said in a lighter tone.  "This Yule might not be 
so bad after all."

"You don't think so?" Starbuck smiled back at her.  "Think there are 
some good presents in store for you?"

"I already got what I wanted," She caressed his cheek.  

"Everything?" Starbuck asked with a leer.

"Well," Athena paused dramatically.  "Not everything, yet," Athena 
leaned over and grabbed his lips with her own.

"Yeah, I think I agree," Starbuck said between kisses.

THE END
For now...<wink>