Apollo's viper pulled into the landing bay. The Captain sat back in the cockpit and sighed with relief. The viper had been badly damaged in a fight with the Cylons, and they had pursued him for so long he'd thought he would never make it back to the Galactica. His fuel tanks were almost completely empty and he'd made it back on fumes and prayer. Starbuck was standing in the bay watching him. Apollo could see the worry on his face. He wondered how long his wingman had spent looking for him before he'd been forced back by his own lack of fuel. He knew Starbuck wouldn't have given up looking for him if he'd had a choice. Sometimes, Apollo realized, he took Starbuck's presence for granted. His friend was always there, whether it was as his wingman, his Triad partner, his sounding board, or just his best buddy. He hadn't really noticed it until Starbuck was gone, when they had all thought he was dead. The pain he'd felt then was comparable only to the time of the Destruction when he'd lost his mother and brother. When Serena had died, it had hurt, and he'd grieved, but he couldn't help thinking /at least I didn't lose Starbuck/. When he'd been out there, pursued by the Cylons, and had thought he wouldn't make it back to the Galactica alive, he'd thought about his life up until this point - his achievments and his regrets. And his biggest regret was that he'd never told Starbuck how he felt. Never told Starbuck that he loved him. He had that chance now. It frightened him a bit. As he climbed out of his viper, he wondered how he could broach the subject, and how Starbuck would react. As Starbuck approached him Apollo could see the relief on his face, and also see traces of the pain and worry he'd felt. He found himself grabbed in a tight hug, one he was happy to return. "You scared me, buddy," Starbuck told him. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming back." "I scared myself," Apollo answered. "I really didn't think I was going to make it." He saw what looked like dried tears on Starbuck's face. He reached out and traced one with a finger. "What's this for?" he asked, though he had a feeling he knew. Starbuck backed away. "It's nothing," he muttered. Not accepting that answer, Apollo persisted. "Starbuck, those were tears. That's not 'nothing.' You were crying - because of me?" He turned it into a question. "I thought you were dead!" the Lieutenant blurted. Apollo could feel the hurt behind those words. He looked into the other man's eyes. He could see the love that Starbuck had for him. Why had he never seen it before? /Because you were always too afraid to look/ was the answer that came to him. "Starbuck, do you love me?" he asked. He held his breath, waiting for the answer. The blond man looked surprised. "You're my best friend, Apollo," he replied. "Of course I love you." Apollo shook his head. "That's not what I mean. I'm not talking about friendship. I want to know if you're in love with me." /The way I am with you/ he added silently. His wingman looked stricken. A look of fear crossed his face, and he ran. With a curse, Apollo took off after him, but Starbuck beat him to the lift and was gone. Apollo had no idea where. He sighed. His family would be waiting for him. Boxey was bound to be worried. Apollo headed for his father's office, but he intended to find Starbuck later. It turned out he didn't need to find Starbuck. Starbuck found him. The Lieutenant was waiting for him outside his quarters when he went to put Boxey to bed. "Can we talk?" he asked. Apollo nodded, placing a finger to his lips so that Starbuck wouldn't disturb the sleeping boy. When Boxey was asleep in his room, Apollo returned to face his friend. "I'd like to explain what happened today," Starbuck began. "You don't need to," Apollo told him. His friend looked hurt. Apollo cursed himself for saying the wrong thing. Obviously Starbuck was scared. Apollo was scared too. He had to reassure Starbuck that he wasn't angry. "It's okay," he said, "you don't have to explain if you don't want to." "No, really, I should tell you..." Apollo shut him up with a kiss. When his Captain released him, Starbuck said, "Okay, now *you* owe *me* an explanation." "I love you, Starbuck," Apollo said simply. He'd finally said the words. "Really?" "Yes, really." Starbuck was stunned. "Wow," he said. "I guess that wasn't what you were expecting," Apollo noted. "Not really," Starbuck replied. Then he grinned. "But it was what I've dreamed of for a very long time." "You've dreamed ... about me?" "Every night for the past few yahrens," Starbuck informed him. Apollo noticed that Starbuck hadn't said the words yet. "Do you love me?" he asked again. "Yes, Apollo, I love you. And not just as a friend, but as a lover. Is that the way you love me?" "Yes," Apollo answered in relief. "Can I kiss you again?" In reponse, Starbuck stepped forward and took Apollo into his arms. Their lips met and they kissed. They eventually sank on to the couch, continuing to explore each others' mouths, their hands roaming over each others' bodies. A small voice came from the bedroom. "Dad?" The two men broke apart. "I should go," Starbuck said. Apollo didn't want him to leave, but it was probably a good idea with Boxey so close. "Will you come back tomorrow? I think we still need to talk." Starbuck kissed him again. "Wild daggits couldn't keep me away," he said with a smile. "I love you," Apollo told him. "I love you too," Starbuck replied, giving him another kiss before he left. Apollo leaned against the door for a moment before he went in to see his son. He and Starbuck had finally said the words. And he knew they would keep saying them for a long time to come. END