BY YOUR COMMAND - Static ARCHIVE

Starbuck hated going out on long range patrols. Oh he didn't mind leaving the Galactica once in a while, and he loved flying his viper, but being stuck in that viper for two or three days at a time was not his idea of a good time. And shutting down and drifting in sleep mode was even worse. Not being able to lay down to sleep made your back stiff and your butt sore. This must have been the tenth time in the last six centars that he had woken up trying to shift positions. Suddenly there was a blip on his scanner showing that there was a planet dead ahead. Time to wake Apollo.

"Apollo." No answer.

"Aaapooolooo, planet dead ahead, wake up sleepyhead, or you will crash."

"Oh, Starrrbuuuk." Apollo murmered/purred.

Rolling his eyes Starbuck said, "Apollo, your dreams of me will have to wait, there is a planet dead ahead of us. NOW WAKE UP CAPTAIN!"

"I'm awake"

"OK, CAPTAIN SIR, so what do you want to do, should we check it out? The scanner says it has a breathable atmosphere and also shows signs of human life."

"Yes Lieutenant, we should check it out. But no one from the planet has tried to contact us and there doesn't seem to be any satellites in orbit or any other signs of advanced technology, so we should try to find a place away from any settlements."

Their scanners showed a place to land not to far away from what appeared to be a small city. They landed and quickly climbed down from their vipers, embracing each other when they met on the ground.

"Thats what I like about long range patrols," Starbuck said when they came up for air.

"What?"

"Your kisses when we land. I couldn't live without them or you Apollo."

Giggling Apollo replied, "Lets look around Starbuck, this planet is full of vegetation and has a good water supply, we may be able to find food for the fleet, and some fuel as well."

"Well those forests are beautiful Apollo, I wonder what the people on this planet are like?"

"I didn't see any signs of technology, but the city we flew over looked really nice. Maybe we can help these people as well."

"Oh, we don't need your help, but we may be able to help you."

Turning around Apollo and Starbuck saw an older man of about eighty yahrens smiling at them from the edge of the forest. Behind him was a group of men of various ages ranging from the late teens to middle age, all smiling at the two warriors.

The older man came forward and said, "Welcome to Olympus, we hope you enjoy your visit to our beautiful planet. My name is Zeus, I am the leader of my people." He extended his hand in greeting and Apollo grasped it and introduced himself, "I am Captain Apollo from the Battlestar Galactica, and this is my wingman Lt. Starbuck."

"Aaa hi there." Starbuck waved nervously.

"Hello and welcome to both of you, come with us to the city, you look hungry and tired, we will feed you and bathe you and then you two young lovers can get some rest."

'"What, how did you know we were lovers?" Starbuck asked.

"We saw you two kissing after you climbed down from your flying vehicles, only lovers would kiss with that much passion. Come now we will talk in the city after your needs have been taken of."

They followed the men through the forest and into another clearing, where they found a roadway, and a waiting ground vehicle. They climbed aboard in the back.

"What do you call this vehicle?" Apollo asked.

"It is called a bus, it is our only means of transportation, unless of course, you walk."

Looking around at the others on the bus Starbuck noticed they were all holding hands, some were hugging and kissing. "Apollo these people obviously don't have a problem with same sex relationships."

"No, we won't have to worry about showing how we feel about each other while we are here, will we?" Apollo said, as he put his arm around Starbuck.

The drive to the city only took ten centons, too soon for Starbuck who was enjoying the ride. The countryside was beautiful, and bird song filled the air. And he liked having Apollo's arm around him. The city was beautiful as well. The buildings were tall and covered with glass of all colors. The streets were clean with no sign of litter, flower and vegetable gardens could be seen everywhere. The grass was green and neatly cut, with fruit trees growing in neat rows. No where did they see anything that seemed out of place. The citizens they saw all seemed happy and content. It was picture perfect. 'Too perfect,' Apollo thought to himself, 'something has got to be wrong, no planet is perfect, but what is it, what's missing that I just can't put my finger on?'

 

The bus stopped in front of the building in the exact center of the city. The sight the sun made reflecting off the golden glass covering it was amazing. This building was the only one that was golden, and it was shorter than the others, only four levels high compared to ten levels of the others, but it was longer and wider than the others. In front of it was a sign that read:

BUILDING OF LIFE

'Whats that mean?' Starbuck wondered.

"Come inside and we will share refreshments with you and then you may bath and rest." Zeus told them as he led them into the building, the other men falling in behind the two warriors. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside. Large water fountains, planters holding flowering and noon flowering plants. Benches, where again they saw couples sitting and talking. Everyone appeared happy and content.

They were led into a large dining hall with low tables and cushions on the floor for sitting upon and laying on. The tables were covered with trays full of fresh fruits and vegetables, wine and juice. Zeus took them to an unoccupied table and motioned for them all to sit, with Apollo and Starbuck next to him. "Now eat gentlemen, enjoy our hospitality. If there is anything you need simply ask and we will be glad to provide it for you."

Both men picked a fruit from the tray in front of them. Apollo asked what they were called.

"You Captain have what we call a peach and the Lt. has a strawberry, they are both very sweet fruits ,we all enjoy eating them."

Starbuck popped the strawberry into his mouth and agreed it was quite good. Apollo's peach was so juicy that the juice drippeled down his chin, causing Starbuck to giggle. They tried other fruits as well apples, pears, mangos. Apollo enjoyed laying back on the cushions while Starbuck fed him grapes one at a time, Starbuck loved it when Apollo pulled him down and kissed him pushing a half eaten grape into his mouth, so erotic. Both of them agreed that the fruit called lemon was just to sour and they could not eat them. A man named Hercules told them that lemons are squeezed for their juice and then the juice is mixed with sugar and water, making lemonade. A refreshing drink on a hot day. He poured them each a glass and they found it was good, and took more.

"It must be mixed with sugar for even though the lemon is a very pretty fruit and it's flower smells sweet the lemon itself is impossible to eat," another man told them. The men sitting around the table smiled to each other, for they had not mentioned the secret ingredient in the lemonade passed down from their ancestors, they were not ready to share that just yet.

Zeus turned to Apollo and asked, "How long have you two been together?"

"Starbuck and I have known each other for fifteen yahrens but have been lovers for only two now."

"You seem to be very devoted to each other, and very much in love."

"Yes we are, there is no one else I rather be with." Apollo told him.

"So tell me Captain, would you do anything for him?"

"Yes, anything, and he would do the same for me, wouldn't you Starbuck?"

"Apollo's every wish is my command." Starbuck smiled.

"Good, I am glad to hear that," Zeus replied, "Everyone should have someone to love them that deeply."

Zeus sat back thinking to himself, 'These men are so beautiful, we can indeed help them. Our medical scanners showed us they cannot do that one thing, but we will soon remedy that. Yes our knowledge can help these people greatly. Our people would have died out without the secret ingredient our ancestors gave us for the lemonade. The knowledge of life, performed here in The building of life. Yes gentlemen, drink the lemonade, the more you drink, the faster you can do anything for each other.'

As the meal was winding down, Starbuck took a good look around the room. Everyone he saw was either eating or feeding their lovers, or cuddling. Everyone was showing love to each other, but something was missing. No one was fighting, no harsh words, no arguments, but that wasn't it. Then it came to him. He looked at Apollo, then at the men at their table. He leaned over to Zeus and said, "Excuse me Zeus, your people all seem happy and content, you have good food and plenty of it, your city is beautiful, it's perfect here except for one thing. Where are all your women?"

"Women?" Zeus replied confused, "What are women?"

"You don't have any women?" Starbuck was astonished. "How can your society survive; how can you have children?"

"Oh, we can have children, we can all have children." Starbuck stared at Zeus, his mouth dragging on the floor.

Apollo reached up and, pushing Starbuck's mouth closed, said, "They must be hermaphrodites, Starbuck. You know, people who are both male and female. I noticed the lack of women here as well and was also about to question Zeus about it. I thought at first this building was for male lovers, but I guess the entire population shares it."

"Oh, OK, then." Poor Starbuck was still very confused.

Zeus clapped his hands and the men all rose. "Time to bathe our visitors," he told his people.

The men all escorted the warriors out of the dining hall and up to the building's second level. Here is where the baths were located. There were huge baths, the size of swimming pools from one end to the other, twelve in all. Slowly the people of Olympus started to undress Apollo and Starbuck, who protested that it was unnecessary, they could undress themselves.

"It is our duty to make sure all visitors to Olympus are made comfortable; undressing and bathing you is our pleasure," Zeus told them.

Once they were undressed , two of the strongest men in the group picked them up and lowered them into the warm water. Immediately two bathing boys came and started washing them from head to toe.

"I could get used to this," Starbuck said.

"Yeah, well just don't forget who you belong to Bucko."

"Oh, I won't, Apollo, I was thinking when we get back to the Galactica we could do this for each other. I bet we could get real turned on in the turbo wash."

Apollo just smiled, thinking, 'That's my Starbuck.'

After they were washed, two lounging chairs were floated over and the two were placed in them to float around the pool. Each was given a big glass of lemonade and told to drink up. "They really like this lemonade stuff, Apollo; they all drink a lot of it." Starbuck was looking around at the other men in the pool, all drinking lemonade.

"Yes, I've noticed, but it's OK, I've grown to like it myself. Maybe we can take a few gallons of the stuff back to the Galactica with us," Apollo answered.

"Yes, our own private stock; think it would go good with ambrosia?"

"We can always find out," Apollo grinned.

After a centar of floating around the pool, and five more big glasses of lemonade each, the men were lifted out and dried off. Nice big, thick robes were wrapped around them. They felt more relaxed than ever before, but Starbuck's bladder felt like it was going to burst and Apollo was sure his teeth were floating. "I think we drank too much lemonade," he told Zeus.

"Oh, nonsense, you can never drink to much lemonade," Zeus scoffed.

After they had taken care of their hurting bladders, they were led up to the third level. Here they found private rooms, and they were given the biggest room on the floor. They were told to rest, or enjoy each other, whichever they preferred, and left alone. Starbuck couldn't believe the room. A golden canopy bed, covered in soft comforters, and big fluffy pillows. Trays of fresh fruit. A private wet bar, stocked full of.....lemonade. 'What is it with these people and lemonade?' Starbuck thought.

He was about to mention it to Apollo, but before he could Apollo had grabbed him and pulled him into a passionate embrace. All thoughts of lemonade left his head as Apollo pushed him towards the bed. Slowly they removed each other's robes and started caressing each other, luxuriating in the feel of each other's body. Starbuck slowly kissed his way from Apollo's mouth, up those lovely high cheek bones, to his ear, biting gently on the lobe, causing Apollo to gasp and moan with desire. From there he slowly moved down Apollo's neck, kissing, nibbling and licking his way over the collarbone and down his chest, stopping to suck on Apollo's left nipple while squeezing the right. Then he switched and sucked on the right nipple and squeezed the left. He now had Apollo moaning constantly, so he gently laid him down onto the soft pillows. Apollo spread his legs wide, so Starbuck could kneel between them and be able to give Apollo's body his undivided attention. Slowly Starbuck licked and kissed his way down Apollo's abdomen stopping to gently nibble at his navel. He slowly moved down further, but only licked around Apollo's erect and very hard penis, teasing him even more. Down he moved to Apollo's thighs and slowly licked the inside of one and then the other, over and over again, never touching Apollo's cock or balls, driving Apollo crazy with desire. He rose up onto his hands and knees and stared down at Apollo, who was now quivering with desire and moaning "Please, Starbuck. Please don't stop, I want more."

Smiling Starbuck reached for the lube on the shelf at the head of the bed. Making sure Apollo had a clear view of what he was doing, he spread a huge amount over his fingers, then bent down and took Apollo's entire length into his mouth. Apollo emitted a very long, loud moan of pleasure. As Starbuck slowly sucked on Apollo's cock ,he gently pushed one finger up inside the man he loved; slowly he added a second, and then a third, massaging Apollo's prostate. He now had Apollo moaning and whimpering louder than ever before, "Oh, please, Starbuck, more; I want you to make love to me; please come inside me," he begged.

Removing his fingers from inside Apollo, causing him to moan from the loss, Starbuck spread lots of lube over his own erection. He then spread Apollo's legs as wide as they would go and raising them up ,slowly pushed himself inside. The moan Apollo gave out was the most beautiful sound Starbuck had ever heard. Slowly he thrust into Apollo, in and out, speeding up just a little with each thrust. He gently took Apollo's hand, placed it on his rock hard cock and told him, "Masturbate for me, Apollo."

Doing as he was told, Apollo pumped his own cock with the same rhythm Starbuck was thrusting into him. His moans became louder and louder and he started whimpering "Faster, faster, harder, harder, oh, Starbuck, I love you."

"I love you, too, Apollo, more than words could ever say, more than my actions could ever show."

Those words made Apollo come good and hard, shooting sperm high into the air and hitting Starbuck's chin, dribbling down onto his chest. His anal contractions caused Starbuck to come, shooting his sperm deep into Apollo. Each man moaned the other's name as he came, mixed with words of love. Starbuck collapsed onto Apollo, kissing him deeply, more deeply than he had ever kissed anyone else before; not even Cassi received kisses like this from him. For even though he enjoyed the time he had spent with her and liked having sex with her, it was just sex. Apollo was the only one he had ever made love to.

Apollo felt the same way. Not even Serina had gotten emotions like this out of him, and he certainly hadn't moaned like this for her; in fact, he never made any sound at all when he came inside her. As for Sheba, well he wasn't even interested in having a relationship with her; he had the person he wanted right here in this bed. Why wouldn't Sheba just leave him alone and go out with Bojay? He wanted her.

The two lovers caressed each other until their heartbeats slowed down and their breathing returned to normal. Then Apollo suggested they have more lemonade. Starbuck was starting to think they were becoming addicted to it. Sitting on the bed cuddling and kissing, they each drank two more glasses of lemonade and then Apollo made love to Starbuck before they fell asleep in each other's arms.

As the two warriors slept neither one was aware of the change the lemonade was causing in their bodies. Slowly something was growing. Soon they would become different, they wouldn't even notice it. It wouldn't cause them to look any different than before. They were unaware, and would remain unaware until it was too late, that slowly the lemonade was turning them into HERMAPHRODITES!

*****

Starbuck and Apollo awoke the next morning feeling rested, refreshed and very satisfied. The night before had been wonderful, and the big bed had added to their pleasure. They quickly put on their robes and headed for the baths. After being washed and again floating around the pool and drinking more lemonade, they went back to their room where they found their uniforms freshly washed and folded on the now made bed. They dressed and went down for breakfast. In the dining hall they met up with Zeus.

"Good morning, gentlemen. I trust that you found your room satisfactory?"

"Oh, yes, we were quite pleased with the bed...er...room," the tw o men said at the same time.

Zeus just smiled at their mix up in words and invited them in for breakfast, which consisted of a type of flaked cereal covered in sliced bananas. They asked what the cereal was made from and was told it was corn. "We call them corn flakes, and they go very well with sliced bananas."

Starbuck liked them so much that he had two bowls of them and was going to have a third until Apollo started to tease him that he was going to get fat eating so much food. So instead he had another glass of lemonade. 'I don't think these people drink anything else here,' he thought as he drank down his fifth glass of the stuff that morning. He was starting to get sick of the stuff.

As the meal drew to a close Zeus asked Apollo how they had come upon his people's planet. Apollo told him about how the Cylons had destroyed the colonies, how his father had gathered the survivors and about their quest for Earth. He also told him they must send out patrols to scout out planets for sources of food, water and fuel.

"Our planet has a rich supply of food, as you can see. We would be honored to help your people in any way we can."

"Thank you very much, we can trade anything with you for the food if you wish."

"No need, there is nothing we need. We can defend ourselves against these Cylons should they come here, if that is what you fear. We may appear primitive but we are not. We will start to gather food for your people immediately."

Zeus then gathered his people together and sent them out to harvest the food the Galactica fleet would need. Apollo went to his viper to contact the Galactica and give them the good news. Because they were visitors, the people of Olympus would not allow Starbuck or Apollo to help in the harvesting, Instead, they were told to go and enjoy themselves and relax while they had the chance, and to drink as much lemonade as they wanted.

"Apollo what is it with these people and lemonade? They want us to drink it and drink a lot of it."

"I don't know, but I'm getting suspicious about it. Have you noticed it's the only thing they have offered us to drink, even though they have wine and other juices?"

"Yeah, well, maybe we should ask this Zeus about it."

"We don't want to appear rude, Starbuck. They are offering our fleet food that is greatly needed. We must be careful about how we approach this."

"Well, maybe we can slip it in at lunch time."

"Yes...well...that...sounds...good," Apollo said slowly. "Now...about ...slipping...it...in, come here...under...these...bushes...and you...can slip...it in."

"I don't have any lube on me, Apollo."

"Well, we can always test out some of the local fruit, like maybe those bananas hanging above you."

Starbuck quickly grabbed a big bunch of bananas and followed Apollo under the bushes.

*****

At the same time the two warriors were enjoying the bananas, Zeus was talking to his son about the two. "Hercules, have our two visitors drunk enough of the lemonade yet?"

"Oh yes, father, at breakfast this morning they both drank enough to ensure that the change would be complete. Nothing can be done now to stop it. By lunch time today they will both be like us."

"Good, good. At lunch today we must offer them wine to drink; that way they will not become suspicious that we have done something to the lemonade'

"But why, father, why keep it secret from them. If they love each other I would think they would be happy to go through the change, just as our people are."

"I have found that people from other planets do not like to go through the change. It seems that on some planets they have what is called females, and that these females can have children, and that they don't need the lemonade to do it, they are born being able to do it; it is most strange."

"That must be what Starbuck was talking about last night; women must be females, I wonder what they look like?"

"I don't know, son, I have never seen one."

*****

About two centars later Starbuck and Apollo were relaxing under the bushes. Starbuck was almost asleep. He had made love to Apollo twice and Apollo had made love to him three times. The poor guy was worn out, and Apollo wanted more. Just as Apollo started nibbling on Starbucks nipple they heard a high pitched musical sound similar to a flute.

"What's that sound, Apollo?"

"I don't know; sounds nice though."

Then all of a sudden this funny looking animal/creature/thing burst into the bushes, and stopped and grinned down at the two warriors. Both Starbuck and Apollo screamed, "Aaaahhhh," and Starbuck peed (you don't want to know what Apollo did). Then this thing reached down and grabbed both men's uniforms, minus boots and ran away, causing both of them to scream, "That thing stole our clothes!" and, pulling on their boots, run after the thing. While they were running through the orchard the first man to see them yelled out, "Oh look, our visitors were making love under the bushes and the Satyr caught them." All the other men pointed and laughed at them. But the Galactica boys just kept running. Starbuck thought the thing looked half human /half goat. Apollo didn't care what it looked like, all he could think was, 'This is nuts, first we land on a planet populated by hermaphrodites, who make us drink lemonade, then this half human animal thing steals our clothes and now I'm running naked through the woods!!!! What's going to happen to us next?'

The men of Olympus quickly tackled the Satyr and made it give back Starbuck's and Apollo's clothes. Then they told the two that no one makes love under bushes because if you do the Satyr will come and steal your clothes. For some reason it likes to play tricks on people.

"Well, why didn't someone warn us about this Satyr before this happened?" Starbuck hissed bitterly.

The men just shrugged at them, until the leader of this group ,a man named Aeolus {pronounced EE-oh-lus

Lunch consisted of different types of bread, cheese, soups and fruit. AND WINE!!!! Starbuck's and Apollo's mouths both dropped open. They were getting wine! No more lemonade this time.

"I guess we were wrong to be suspicious about the lemonade, Apollo."

"Must have been, I don't understand it though, so I'm going to ask," Apollo said then, turning to Zeus, asked, "Zeus, how come last night at supper and again this morning we had lemonade, but now we have wine?"

Zeus replied with a speech that was prepared yahrens before. "It is our custom to offer any new visitors to our planet only lemonade to drink at the first and second meals that they enjoy on our planet. We are not permitted to offer wine until they have been here long enough to enjoy a third meal, unless that meal is breakfast. Your third meal is lunch so we are permitted to now offer you wine. We could not do this before because it is forbidden."

Apollo was satisfied with this answer, though he thought it was strange, and he was a little ashamed of himself for being suspicious about the lemonade. Zeus was satisfied with himself, knowing he had steered Apollo's thoughts away from the lemonade. He didn't want these two being suspicious.

Apollo forgot about the lemonade, and told Zeus that he had contacted the Galactica and that the fleet would arrive sometime in the early morning. Zeus was happy to hear this, and told Apollo not to worry ,they would work late into the night to make sure that enough food was harvested for the entire fleet.

Apollo sat back and thought to himself, 'Maybe they will make a trade after all; maybe they will trade the food for Sheba.' Apollo grinned at himself for having such evil thoughts. 'And they call me Mr. Goodie Two Shoes!'

*****

Apollo was slowly getting himself ready for a family breakfast. This was a first, usually the had family dinners, but because everyone was on duty at dinner time this secton, they decided to get together for breakfast instead. Boxey and Starbuck were out in the other room waiting for him. 'Probably getting inpatient with me,' he thought. Apollo had been wondering why his nipples were so tender lately. He had noticed it a few days ago. He couldn't even stand for Starbuck to kiss them. Starbuck had been very concerned about it and was about to drag him to see the doctor, but Apollo had convinced him that they had just been over stimulated and maybe if he left them alone and concentrated on another location for a few days they would get better. Starbuck didn't mind doing that, or Apollo for that matter. But they hadn't gotten any better, in fact they had gotten worse.

In the other room Starbuck was pacing the floor waiting. He had already sent Boxey on ahead to his grandfather's since Apollo was taking so long dressing. Slowly Starbuck moved his hand down inside his jackets pocket. Yes his stash of chocolate bars and ice cream toppings was still there. For the last secton he couldn't get enough chocolate. He craved the stuff morning and night, even waking up in the middle of the night craving it and having to go out to the other room and eat chocolate bar after chocolate bar until his craving was satisfied. He wanted one now. Did he dare eat one? Oh, he had to have one, he NEEDED one. He quickly removed one from his pocket and ripped off the wrapper and bit into it. Oh, that tasted so good.

"What are you eating?" he heard Apollo said behind him.

"Nothing."

"Turn around and face me then."

Slowly Starbuck turned and faced Apollo, swallowing the chocolate and trying to hide the rest of it. Apollo was too quick for him and grabbed the rest. "CHOCOLATE! You're eating chocolate before breakfast!!!!" Apollo said angrily.

"I can't help it, Apollo. I've been craving it for the last secton."

"CRAVING IT, that doesn't make any sense. Why would someone crave chocolate?" Apollo had heard a lot of excuses but this one was the worst one yet.

"I don't want to talk about it now Apollo, we are late for breakfast, we can talk about it later." Starbuck sniffed.

"Fine , we'll talk later, but you're going to get fat eating chocolate all the time. And I better not catch you feeding it to Boxey in the morning. Speaking of Boxey, where is he?"

"I sent him on ahead of us, he was getting restless waiting for you."

"Well, OK, put the chocolate away, Starbuck, I don't want to see it until AFTER lunch, let's go."

They were the last ones to arrive at the Commander's quarters, and so Adama took great joy in teasing them about not being able to keep their hands off each other long enough to make breakfast on time. Starbuck told him he was ready on time , but was waiting for Apollo, and Boxey even backed him up by telling his Grandfather that Starbuck had told him to go ahead without them because his father wasn't dressed yet. By this time poor Apollo's face was beet red.

The other guests enjoyed the teasing the two were getting as well. Athena was there with Boomer, Cassi was there with Giles, and Colonel Tigh was there as well, with Adama, and of course Boxey and Muffy. There was a notable absence, Sheba. She had not been seen or heard from since the fleet had left Olympus. It was strange really. Everyone knew she had gone down in the shuttle with Giles, Greenbean and Jolly, but no one noticed that she had not been on board on the way back. And no one reported her missing until the next day. When it was too late to return to Olympus to find her. Then Apollo found a note on the shuttle floor, he guessed it had just been overlooked somehow when they were unloading. The note said that Sheba had decided to stay on Olympus, and it was in her handwriting, so there was nothing they could do about it. If she wanted to stay, she had that right. But Adama would always wonder why Apollo would turn away grinning whenever the subject came up. He claimed he never saw Sheba on the planet.

 

Shortly it was time to sit down to their meal. Each person was served a plate of sausages, hash browns and two eggs, sunny side up, and two slices of toast. Adama said the blessing and everyone started to dig in. Starbuck, however, took out his squeeze bottle of chocolate fudge ice cream topping and covered his entire meal with it. Then he started eating, claiming it was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted. The others just stared at him, mouths wide open. Everyone but Apollo that is. Apollo was staring at his plate, and slowly turning green. Finally he let out a groan and pushed his plate away, holding his stomach.

"What's the matter, Apollo?" Adama asked

"My eggs are staring at me," he whimpered back, and then dove for the turbo flush and threw up.

"What's wrong with my dad, and why did Starbuck pour chocolate all over his food?" Boxey asked; he was really worried about these two.

Being a med tech Cassi knew what their symptoms were, and also what they were symptoms of. But because they were men there was no way that was what was wrong with them. But she couldn't help herself, she started to laugh, and laugh hard. Athena asked her what she was laughing at and Cassi said, "One's craving strange food and the other one's having morning sickness, what do you think I'm laughing at?"

Adama was not amused. He ignored what Starbuck was doing, he just couldn't watch anyone eat that, and went to check on his son. He grabbed Apollo under his arms, and locking his hands together at Apollo's chest, lifted his son up and carried him out to the table.

All the way Apollo was crying out, "Ouch, ouch, my nipples, my nipples they hurt, don't touch my nipples."

Everyone looked at Apollo and Starbuck said, "It's true, he's been complaining for three days now that his nipples hurt. I can't even kiss them, they're that tender," and with that the girls laughed even harder, and Athena fell over backwards and was lying on the floor.

"THAT'S IT THEN, I want both of you to go down to the Life Center and have complete physicals, TODAY," Adama ordered.

"But I'm not sick, Apollo is," Starbuck protested.

Adama bent down and looked Starbuck straight in the eye and said, "Anyone who puts chocolate ice-cream sauce on his eggs cannot tell me they are not sick. You have both been given an order. I want it carried out now!"

Both men ran out, well Apollo tried, and went to the Life Center. Today was also the day civilians had appointments to see the Galactica doctors, there were a few civilians on board, so Apollo and Starbuck had to wait until Dr. Salik double checked on Adama's orders.

While they were waiting Starbuck asked Apollo, "You didn't get sick because I put chocolate on my eggs did you?"

"No, I never saw you do that. I was feeling fine until I saw those two eggs staring at me, like two great big eyes on my plate, staring at me."

The two men did not see the two pregnant women staring at them until they heard the giggling. Then a thought occurred to Apollo. LEMONADE. There WAS something in that lemonade. Apollo fainted.

"Aaaahhhh, Apollo, DOCTOR, DOCTOR, Apollo's fainted out here!!!!!" Starbuck was screaming in the doorway.

"Calm down, Starbuck, let's see what's wrong, get this man onto an examine table," Dr. Salik ordered his med techs.

They took Apollo inside and placed him on the bed. Dr. Salik handed Starbuck an exam gown and told him to change into it." Commander's orders have been confirmed, hurry up and change, while I see to Apollo."

While Starbuck changed the doctor. ran a med scanner over Apollo. He looked at what it said, shook his head, and ran it again. Same results. He then threw the med scanner and grabbed another one. The new scanner said the same thing. Dr. Salik scratched his head, looked at Starbuck and ordered, "Lay down," and scanned Starbuck with the same scanner. "What the frak is wrong with all these scanners?" He then went over to a male med tech, scanned him with still another scanner ." OK, this one's working." By this time Apollo had come around and was starting to sit up. Dr. Salik pushed him back down, scanned him again and got the same results. He scanned Starbuck again, and got the same results.

"Congratulations, gentlemen. Three different scanners have just confirmed that you are both one and a half sectars pregnant."

And Apollo fainted again.

*****

Dr. Salik was on his way to see Commander Adama. It had been a full sectar since they had found out that Starbuck and Apollo were both pregnant. Now it was time to give his report to Adama on how it had happened. He chimed the door and heard Adama's "Enter."

"Well, Doctor. I trust you have found the answer to this mystery."

"Yes, Adama," Salik answered "It appears there is an additive in the lemonade the Olympians sent us that causes female reproductive systems to grow from a man's colon. Everything is there, a uterus, fallopian tubes, an ovary on each side and even a small vagina, which is attached to the colon. That is why pregnancy occurs during anal intercourse. That's also why the men had no idea they could even get pregnant. It seems the people of Olympus failed to tell them, or us, this would happen.

"Apollo told me they just insisted that he and Starbuck drink it, and drink a lot of it. Then gave him some story about custom and being forbidden to offer them anything else for a certain time period. Well, now we know it was to ensure that this would happen. Tell me, Doctor, will this do any harm to any women who drank it?" Adama asked.

"No. I have tested several women who all consumed a great deal of this lemonade and they all checked out fine, with no effects at all. However, every man I've checked so far has changed. Every one of them is now able to bear children, and able to get pregnant two sectons after the growth of their new organs is complete."

"All of them?"

"Yes, Adama, all of them. And it's a sure bet that all over this fleet there are more men who are pregnant. I'm sure we will learn how many once they start going to their ship's life centers. Already every ship's Doctor has reported to me of men coming in to get checked out for bleeding...."

"BLEEDING!" Adama interrupted. "What do you mean bleeding?"

The doctor looked shocked as he said, "Come now, Adama, surely you know what women go through once a sectar."

"GOOD LORD!" Adama said as he sank back in his chair.

"Oh yes, there are quite few frightened men in this fleet. Frightened and angry. As for the gay community, well I'm sure some of them will be happy, like Starbuck is. Others will faint, like Apollo did, but he is coming to terms with his condition. But then there are the ones who will be angry about it. Those are the ones we should worry about.

"Tell me Doctor Salik, this couldn't happen to an older man could it? I mean a man over a certain age, he couldn't get pregnant, could he?"

"No I don't think so. I myself can't, even though I did consume quite a bit of this lemonade. The organs don't grow in any man over 50 yahrens. So there is nothing for you to worry about; you and the Colonel are safe."

"Thank the Lords for that. The last thing I need is another baby at my age, what with my son acting like one just because he is having one. You know, Doctor, I never thought I would say this, but why can't Apollo be more like Starbuck. Starbuck is overjoyed about being pregnant. I don't think my wife was even that happy about being pregnant. Not to mention me. I am going to have two more grandchildren." Adama's face was beaming with pride.

"Well, Commander. I can see you're happy. You're almost dancing the way Starbuck was when I told him; of course Apollo didn't see that. He was too busy passing out. Then when he woke up he started crying."

"Yes, well, he does a lot of crying. He cries if he drops something. He cries if someone looks at him. He cries if someone doesn't look at him. Oh hell, he cries at everything. The boy is driving me crazy, I don't know how Starbuck can live with him."

"Well, remind the two of them to come and see me for their check up next secton. We have to set a date for their c-sections."

"C-sections, do they have to give birth that way."

With a sigh Salik replied, "There is no way an anus can stretch wide enough for a baby to pass through. Think about it Commander. Imagine going to the turbo flush and trying to pass a triad ball."

Adama didn't have to say anything to that. Just the thought was enough.

*****

One secton later, Apollo and Starbuck went for their checkups. Both of them were fine and the babies were growing normally. Apollo was still suffering from morning sickness, and crying about everything, but Starbuck's craving had changed from chocolate to potatoes, cut up and deep fried in oil and then covered in gravy. Apollo could live with that and no one gave Starbuck strange looks for eating them. They had to pick a date for their c-sections. Dr. Salik told them they were both twelve sectons along, and a full pregnancy was forty sectons "FORTY SECTONS!" Apollo started crying.

Salik ignored him and went on to say that they would have the babies in twenty eight sectons. He then suggested that they go to the textile ship and purchase some new clothes. Their uniforms were already starting to get too tight. After all, they were starting to show. Apollo started crying about this. Salik then told Starbuck the name of a good maternity store.

"I am sure they sell pants the two of you can wear. Anyway you boys are not alone, you know. There are other men in the fleet in the same condition as you are." Salik said this while looking straight at Apollo.

"Come on, Apollo, shopping can be fun," Starbuck said softly as he rubbed Apollo's back, "Look on the bright side. We are going to get new clothes."

"I like my uniform," Apollo sobbed.

"Our uniforms won't fit us much longer, Apollo, unless you plan on borrowing Jolly's."

That brought a smile to Apollo's face, "OK, think we can go in our vipers?"

"NO VIPERS!" Salik yelled at them. "You go in a shuttle. And as soon as you're thirty sectons along you will not fly at all. Then you will stay put on the Galactica."

Apollo started crying again as Starbuck led him out the door. Salik sat down at his desk and looked at their charts again, saying to himself, 'Salik you are a coward. How could you not tell him. You're going to have to tell him next time, you know that. Yes, Doctor. You are going to have to tell Apollo that he is going to have twins.'

*****

"Twins." Apollo was shaken. "I am going to have twins."

"Yes, Apollo. I can tell you the gender of the babies if you like," Salik said gently.

"No, Starbuck and I both decided we wanted to wait until they were born."

"That's the same thing Starbuck told me, but I had to ask you as well. You seem to be taking this all right. You are all right, Apollo?"

"Yes, the morning sickness has stopped, but now I'm having back aches and heart burn, and it seems the only problem Starbuck is having is strange cravings and swollen ankles."

"I know, Apollo, but it will be worth it in the end."

"Oh I know. I can't wait to parade this baby, oh, excuse me BABIES, in front of my sister. She wanted to be the one having Starbuck's baby, but I'm the lucky one and it's driving her mad with jealousy," Apollo laughed.

"Your sister's not giving you too much trouble?"

"No, she tries, but I can handle Athena."

"I'm glad to hear that. I will see both of you again next sectar."

Apollo went out to the waiting room to tell Starbuck about the twins. No, he would wait. Tonight would be better. At the family dinner. Everyone would be there. He wanted to see the look on Athena's face when he told them all that he was having Starbuck's twins. This really was an amazing thing happening. In another twenty-four sectons both Starbuck and himself were going to be both a mother and a father.

*****

Athena was green with envy about the whole thing. Apollo could not believe the look on her face when she found out he was pregnant. Served her right for the way she had laughed at him and Starbuck that morning. She had been insanely jealous of him when he and Starbuck and first gotten together. She wanted Starbuck for herself, and since he and Cassie had broken it off she thought he would go back to her. When she walked in on them that day she had run straight to their father telling him what she saw in the hope he would get angry. All she got from him though was a "Well it's about time those two got together, they have only been in love with each other since the day they met." Well, did she ever fume about that comment.

Then she started dating Boomer. Now Boomer had broken things off. The other night he told Apollo why. Seems she was going around telling everyone that men should not be having babies, and that her brother was a fool, and that Starbuck should be with her and Starbuck this and Starbuck that and "She is just obsessed with Starbuck." Well, Apollo could understand why someone would be obsessed with Starbuck; he was obsessed himself. But he had Starbuck, not Athena, and soon he would have Starbuck's babies.

'Oh, I hope I have a boy and a girl, that would be perfect. A little girl with my mother's eyes and a little boy with Zac's sense of humor'. Yes he was enjoying being pregnant as much as Starbuck, who always had a smile and just seemed to glow. The clothes they had to wear were not that bad. They had found some pants and tops, sure they were a bit feminine, but then they didn't make maternity clothes for men, at least not yet.

"I'm going to have to return to the textile ship for some bigger ones, and soon. I'm almost twice the size of Starbuck, but then I am having two babies.

He entered the waiting room and said "Come on, barefoot and pregnant, time to go."

"Hey, you're pregnant as well, remember?"

"How can I forget? But I am not the one walking around the ship in bare feet."

"That's only because you can still put your boots on."

"Not for long," Apollo said, looking down and rubbing his bulging abdomen. "Pretty soon I won't be able to see my feet in order to put my boots on. Oh, mine just moved again."

Starbuck got up and, placing his hand on Apollo's growing belly asked, "How come you have more movement than me?"

Smiling, Apollo answered, "Tell you later, at dinner tonight. I want to tease the frak out of my sister." Starbuck had been the first one to feel movement inside him, and woke Apollo up when it happened. They both celebrated with some of those fried potatoes Starbuck had been craving. Now Apollo was craving the things as well.

As they walked hand in hand back to their quarters Starbuck said, "Don't you just love the feeling of the baby moving inside you?"

"Yes, it's just little stuff right now, but this one lady told me as they get bigger you can feel more and more and sometimes the baby kicks so hard it hurts."

"No way, Apollo, she was just trying to scare you."

"I don't think so, Starbuck. I remember when my mother had Zac. Sometimes he kicked so hard she almost doubled over."

Starbuck had to think a while on that. Then he just shrugged it off. What happens, happens. He loved being pregnant. Soon he would have something he never had before: another person who was part of him, his own flesh and blood. And not one but two. After all he was having Apollo's baby and Apollo was having his. Soon he would not be an orphan anymore, well, to his thinking he would not be.

A few centars later they were walking arm in arm to Commander Adama's for dinner; Boxey and Muffy were running on ahead. As soon as they entered the dinning room they heard Athena's sarcastic, "Well now, how are the little mothers." Starbuck sweetly answered, "Oh, we are fine thank you. In fact, we can now feel the babies moving inside us."

Athena's nostrils flared at this, and her face turned red. She hated it when they didn't get upset at her teasing. "OH, AND I SUPPOSE YOU LIKE THAT DON`T YOU, APOLLO?"

"Yes, I do," Apollo answered sweetly, as he kissed Starbuck.

"What is going on in here?" Adama asked sternly. "ATHENA, are you bothering your brother again?! STOP IT AT ONCE! Can't you see the man is with child?"

"Children father, "Apollo had decided to drop the bombshell. "I am having not one, but two," and looking straight at Athena he added, "of STARBUCK`S BABIES."

"Aaaaahhhhh!" Athena ran screaming from the room.

"Apollo, so that's the secret you have been keeping all day?" Starbuck almost sang.

"Well then," Adama interrupted. "That calls for a toast. I am going to have three new grandchildren, err, it is three, unless you're having twins as well, Starbuck?"

"No, Sir only one," Starbuck said as he pulled Apollo in for an embrace and added, "This time."

"THIS TIME?" Cassie asked. "You're planning on having more?"

"Now Cassie, don't you go getting jealous like Athena," Adama scolded.

"Oh no, Sir. Giles and I are happy for both Apollo and Starbuck, and with each other."

Then Giles gave them their good news. "Cassie and I are getting sealed."

"Well, another reason for a toast."

Boxey could not hold his tongue any longer and asked "Am I going to have little brothers or little sisters?"

Apollo decided he'd better tell everyone what they had decided to do. "We talked about that and we want to wait until the babies are born to find out if they're girls or boys. In another twenty four sectons."

"Oh listen, the little mothers have started a count down," Athena's sarcastic mouth was heard again.

"ATHENA SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!" Adama ordered.

Athena stomped to her chair and sat down with a thud. Boxey innocently looked up at her and said, "It's OK, Aunt Athena, and you can have my baby."

*****

Apollo was bored and going crazy. Just because he was having twins he had to spend the last part of his pregnancy in bed. Doc Salik didn't want the babies coming early. Since twins liked to do that, he had been stuck in this bed as soon as he was thirty sectons along. 'Well,' he thought, 'It's only ten more sectons. I just hope they go fast.'

The only time he was allowed out of bed was to use the turbo flush, which was every fifteen centons lately, or to have a turbo wash. He also had to have another adult, besides Starbuck, present at all times in case he went into labor early. That he didn't mind. He knew Starbuck would completely freak out on him if that happened. But oh it was uncomfortable sitting in this bed. Uncomfortable and boring, and this was just the first day. At least they had given him a hospital bed so he could sit up properly to eat or read. Plus Starbuck had them move the vid screen into the room so they could watch it together.

"Lunch time!" he heard Cassi say as she carried in a tray of food and placed it on the table. "Now I want both of you to eat everything on your plates and drink your milk."

"Do I have to drink the milk?" Starbuck asked as he waddled into the bedroom holding his hands on his aching back.

"Yes Starbuck, it's good for the baby," Cassi told him. "Look, I'm having milk as well. You two are the first to know, besides Giles, that I am eight sectons pregnant."

"Oh, lucky you," Apollo said sarcastically. "Now you get to have morning sickness and heartburn."

"Don't forget the cravings Apollo. And the backaches and the swollen ankles, and not being able to get out of a chair properly."

"You forgot about having to go to the turbo flush every fifteen centons or the baby kicking you in the bladder so you pee your pants, and your belly growing so big you're the size of a Battlestar."

"You may be the size of a Battlestar, Apollo, but I'm only the size of a shuttle"

"Your not having twins, I AM."

"Okay you two, that's enough," Cassi scolded them. "You both forgot to mention the mood swings. And Apollo, what about your crying fits?"

"I DO NOT DO THAT ANYMORE," Apollo yelled at her, and started sobbing.

"What do you think you're doing now?" Cassi laughed at him.

"What....sob....are you....sniff.....laughing at?" Apollo cried.

"You. Look, Apollo, you will not be in that bed for long. Only for six to eight sectons. Doctor Salik is going to take the babies out early. He wants to wait until thirty eight sectons if he can, but it will most likely be thirty six. Does that make you feel better?"

"Yes," Apollo sniffed.

"Whaaaaaaaaaa," Starbuck wailed.

"NOW WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?"

"That's not fair. Just because he has twins he gets them out early, but because I only have one, I have to go full term."

"Oh, Starbuck, you're impossible," Cassi said, throwing her hands up in the air. "Just eat your lunch."

"I can't I'm too upset," Starbuck sobbed. "And I'm growing breasts. Whaaaaaaaaaa."

"That's it. I give up. I hope Boomer gets here soon to relieve me," she said as she went to the kitchen to have her lunch in peace, away from the crying men.

Apollo looked over at the sobbing Starbuck and, holding out his hand, whispered, "Come here, baby."

Starbuck looked up at Apollo, tears flowing down his cheeks and asked, "Do you still love me?"

"Of course I do. Now come here, I think we both need a hug."

Starbuck slowly climbed onto the bed, and the two of them snuggled as close as their bellies would allow. "Are you really growing breasts?" Apollo asked him.

"Yes, and my nipples are getting bigger as well."

"Well, don't worry about it. The same thing's happening to me."

They both laughed at how silly they were acting and about crying over nothing. Even though they could not have wild sex like they used to, they could still kiss, if they held their heads the right way. That's what they were doing when Boomer walked in.

"Hey, now stop that. That's what got you two into this mess in the first place."

"Boomer, what are you up to?" Apollo asked.

"Oh, nothing, just cramps and bloating,"

"What are you talking about BoomBoom? "Starbuck was confused.

"I got my period, okay? You two wait until those babies are born and you have to shove one of these up your ass." Boomer said as he held up a tampon. "The damn things feel like a little butt plug up there."

"Butt plugs can be fun," Starbuck added timidly.

Apollo and Boomer said nothing.

Later that night, well two in the morning really. Apollo was wide awake. He wanted some ice cream. Chocolate ice cream. He looked over at Starbuck sleeping in the other bed. 'We can't even share the same bed,' Apollo lamented. Slowly Apollo got out of the bed, even though he wasn't supposed to, and went to the kitchen. He had to sneak past Boomer, who was asleep on the chesterfield [Canadian word, okay]. Slowly he waddled into the kitchen, and soon had all his fixings on the counter and made his ice cream sundae.

As he started to eat it he heard Starbuck say, "Hey, where's mine?"

"Pull up a chair and you can share mine," Apollo said as he held up a spoonful of ice cream, topped with sprinkles, chocolate sauce, peanuts and lots of pickles. Starbuck grabbed another spoon and the two fed each other the ice cream.

Their giggles soon woke up Boomer who came over, took one look at what they were eating and said, "YUCK, I'm getting something else." So he grabbed a bagel with cream cheese. "Apollo I thought you were suppose to stay in bed?"

"I am, but I needed this ice cream."

"How can you two eat that?" he asked, wrinkling his nose.

Starbuck told him, "You don't notice how bad it is when your pregnant. It tastes good"

"YUCK. Glad I'm not pregnant."

"OUCH, OUCH!" Apollo cried out, holding his stomach.

"What, you're not having pains are you?" Starbuck was getting worried.

"No. But there is a triad game going on inside me."

"Well, I think Starbuck and I better get you back in bed, little momma."

"LITTLE!" Apollo shouted. "Why does everyone call us little. Look at the size of us."

"Yeah, well, it's all baby," Boomer laughed.

After they were back in bed Boomer told them what was going on around the ship. He was now dating Bree, who showed him how to use tampons instead of pads. "Don't use those pads after you have the babies, they suck and tend to get stuck on your balls."

They already knew about Cassi and Giles, who were waiting for them to have their babies before getting sealed. Bojay was dating Athena, but she got mad at him and started ranting that there was no way she was going to bed with a man who menstruated out his asshole. "Like she never menstruated." And besides she was still obsessed with Starbuck. Greenbean and Jolly had gotten together. They didn't want to think about that vision, but they were happy for them. Adama was going around on every ship telling everyone he was about to have three more grandchildren, and that his son was having twins. Tigh was still upset about not being able to get pregnant, because he was over fifty yahrens old, and it just wasn't going to happen, but Adama told him he could share in grandparenting, so that was okay now.

Then he started laughing. "Oh, and you will not believe what happened to Reese. The big jerk went over to the Rising Star and got involved in this great big orgy over there. Now the guy's pregnant and has no idea who the father is."

*****

Six Sectons Later

Adama was cleaning up the breakfast dishes in Apollo and Starbuck's quarters. He had sent Boxey off to learning period, and when he was done with these dishes he planned on relaxing with his son and Starbuck in the other room.

Suddenly he heard Apollo screaming from the bedroom. "SOMETHING'S WRONG, SOMETHING'S WRONG, DADDY, DADDY, HELP ME! SOMETHING'S WRONG!!!!"

Adama ran into the other room to see an hysterical Apollo on the bed, and a very scared Starbuck standing beside him.

"Calm down, Apollo, tell me what's wrong."

"DADDY, DADDY, SOMETHING'S WRONG, THE BED IS ALL WET. SOMETHING'S LEAKING FROM ME!!!!!"

"CALM DOWN, APOLLO. I`LL CALL THE DOCTOR."

Adama ran to the com unit and talked, yelled really, with doctor Salik. "I want both you and Apollo to calm down. Apollo's water has just broken, that's all. I'm coming up with a team and we'll get him down here and do his c-section now."

Five centons later, five centars according to Adama, the med team arrived and Apollo was on his way to the Life Center, with Adama yelling at them "HURRY UP, HURRY UP, CAN'T YOU SEE THE MAN IS ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY. IN FACT HE`S HAVING TWO BABIES. CAN'T YOU PEOPLE MOVE FASTER? WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU? GET THIS THING MOVING OR I WILL HAVE YOU ALL ON REPORT!" as they were waiting for the elevator. Poor Starbuck was slowly waddling up behind, rolling his eyes and thinking 'Lords I hope he's not in our quarters when it's my turn.'

When they arrived at the Life Center, which according to Adama took all day, they wheeled Apollo into the operating room for his c-section. Starbuck sat down in the waiting room, while Adama paced the floor. "What is taking so long?" he fumed.

"We just got here, Sir, give them time," Starbuck calmly said.

"GIVE THEM TIME? HOW MUCH TIME DO THEY NEED?"

Boomer came running in, followed by Jolly and Greenbean. "Well, anything yet," they all asked at once.

"NO!" Adama yelled at them. "AND THEY HAVE HAD HIM IN THERE FOREVER."

"We just got here, it's only been a few centons," Starbuck told them.

Boomer sat down beside Starbuck and the other two took chairs as well. They all sat there staring at the Commander. The man was pacing back and forth, wringing his hands and complaining about it "taking too long."

About a centar later, Dr. Salik came into the waiting room. Before he could say anything, Adama was on top of him. "IT'S ABOUT TIME,WHAT TOOK SO LONG? HOW IS MY SON? ARE THE BABIES ALL RIGHT? ARE THEY BOYS OR GIRLS? ANSWER ME, WHY WON'T YOU? ANSWER ME!" Adama yelled in one breath.

"Calm down, Adama." Dr. Salik slowly said. "Now Apollo is fine. The babies are fine. Starbuck you are the father of a beautiful baby girl, and a healthy baby boy. It didn't take too long, Adama. We had to give Apollo a local in order to make the incision, and then we had to remove the babies, close Apollo up, check the babies, wash the babies, weigh the babies, and also wrap the babies in blankets. Then of course Apollo wanted to hold them. We have now moved them into a private room and you may go and see Apollo and the babies.

In the room Apollo was beaming with joy, as he held a baby each arm. When Starbuck walked in and looked at him, he fell in love all over again. He sat down beside the bed and asked, "Can I hold one?"

"Of course, you are their daddy after all."

Starbuck took the boy and gently held him in his arms. He had never seen anything so beautiful, except of course his daughter. Adama came in and quickly relieved Apollo of the little girl.

"Well now, and what have your mommy and daddy decided to name you two. I hope they have picked a name befitting a beautiful little girl like you, and I hope your brother is getting a proper name as well."

Rolling his eyes, Apollo said, "Yes, Father, we have decided on proper names for them."

"Well, then, what are they?"

"When we first found out we were pregnant, we decided that the first boy would be named Zac, and the first girl would be Ila."

"Those names are perfect," Adama whispered.

Adama had tears in his eyes as he looked down at the little girl who was named in memory of his late wife. As the little girl opened her eyes and looked at her grandfather for the first time, Adama gasped, for her eyes were the same color as her mother's and grandmother's.

*****

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

Capt. Apollo and Lt. Starbuck would like to announce the birth of their three children: Zac and Ila, born five sectons ago. Mother Capt. Apollo, Father Lt. Starbuck, and Perseus, born one secton ago, Mother Lt. Starbuck, Father Capt. Apollo.

Spoiling privileges go to proud Grandpa Commander Adama, Colonel Tigh and big brother Boxey. Baby sitting rights go to Aunties Athena and Cassiopeia and Uncles Boomer, Greenbean and Jolly.

*****

Apollo and Starbuck were on their way to this sectons family dinner. This was the first one they would attend with all three of their new children. For a present, all the warriors had chipped in and bought them an extra wide baby carriage, so they could put all three babies in at once and push them around the ship together.

Once inside the Commander's quarters, Adama took over the care of his new grandchildren so the new parents could enjoy their meal. Hey, he even changed diapers so they didn't mind. Athena had settled down a bit in her jealousy of Apollo, she wanted to be able to baby sit so she had no choice but to accept it. The men of the fleet were still a little leery about dating her. She had made fun of them all when they started menstruating and they were not quite ready to forgive her just yet.

When it came time to feed the babies, Athena could not believe what she was seeing. "You're kidding! You two are able to breast feed?"

"Yep," Apollo smiled. "Another gift from our friends the Olympians."

"That's it. I can't take anymore of this. First men are having babies, and now men breast feeding babies. And how can you breast feed twins anyway?"

"Apollo has them on rotation." Starbuck told her. "First Ila gets the breast and Zac gets a bottle. The next time they switch and Zac gets the breast and Ila a bottle."

"Yes, that way Grandpa can give his little angel a bottle, isn't that right, sweetheart?" Adama said to Ila in one of those silly little voices some people use with babies.

'Why do old people become idiots around babies?' Athena thought as she rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to teach the boys how to play triad," Boxey proudly told everyone. "That is after my dads teach me."

"Don't worry Boxey. After Starbuck and I have recuperated from our childbirth, we will teach you how to play triad."

"Well, I hope you two will wait a few sectars first," Cassi said. "You're going to have to get those bodies back into shape before you can even think about playing triad."

"Our tummies have to finish going back down as well, Apollo. I still look kind of pregnant."

"Not to mention the stretch marks that will show above those skimpy little uniforms." Athena just had to get that in.

"Oh, we won't let those bother us." Apollo was not going to let her get to him.

The meal went on for a few more centars, with everyone discussing their plans for the sectons ahead. Cassi and Giles were planning their sealing for next secton, and everything was in order for that. Apollo and Starbuck had to plan the official naming day for the babies, now that all three were born, and it would be one secton after Cassi and Giles'` sealing. Boxey was starring in a class play for next sectar, and he wanted everyone there. Tigh was still upset about not being able to get pregnant. Adama again told him he could share in the grandparenting. "And besides we are both too old to have a new baby of our own, let the young people do it."

Athena was being allowed to pilot a viper, because neither Apollo or Starbuck could anymore. Seems there is a rule that no mothers may pilot vipers, and the rule book says mothers not women with children so there was no way the boys could get around it. Apollo was stuck on the bridge and Starbuck was going to teach the new cadets. There was no way Starbuck wanted to be stuck on the bridge.

*****

Later that night, after they had tucked all four kids into bed, Apollo and Starbuck lay in their own bed. Now they could get nice and close again, and Apollo wanted to get frisky.

"Hey, what are you doing, Apollo? The Doc said no sex for at least six sectons."

"Yeah, well, I had the twins five sectons ago remember?"

"I only had mine one secton ago, I don't think we can do too much just yet."

"No, but we can still cuddle, and kiss, and we do have a part that women don't have that we could pay attention to."

"You are an evil man, Captain Apollo. An evil man who is getting MILK ALL OVER ME."

"Mmmm, that sounds good," and Apollo bent down and started sucking on Starbuck's nipple, tasting his milk.

"APOLLO, that's bad, besides it's for Perseus."

"I just wanted a little taste. Why is he the only one who can enjoy those lovely little breasts of yours?"

"Well, you have nice little ones as well." And Starbuck reached up and tasted Apollo's milk "Mmmm, sweet. But we can't do much, Apollo - Doctor's orders, remember? Don't tell me, now that we can have children, you're going to obsessed with sex."

"No. But I am obsessed with you."

"As I am with you. How about when these three are about two yahrens old you let me have another one?"

"Would you be willing to do that for me?"

And as the two fell asleep in each other's arms, Starbuck replied, "Apollo, I would anything for you."

The End