Starbuck climbed through the hatch into the observation dome, where he
found Apollo, as he'd expected. This was the Captain's favourite spot, his
personal hideaway from the day to day responsibilities of being Strike
Captain and third in command of the last battlestar. 

"There's a party going on down there," Starbuck informed his friend. "A
party at which we are supposed to be the guests of honour." The two
warriors had successfully destroyed a Cylon base star, seriously crippling
their enemies. The fleet was celebrating the victory. 

Apollo shrugged. "Guess I don't feel much like partying."

"Why not? Gods know we haven't had many reasons to celebrate lately. We
should take advantage of them when they come along." 

"I don't know. I just feel kind of ... let down."

"Let down?" Starbuck asked.

"It's sort of like there was all this anticipation around destroying the
base star.  And now it's done, and there's nothing left but to keep
plodding along until we find Earth. It's not that I want to keep engaging
the Cylons, but at least it gave us a purpose." 

Starbuck moved closer and loosely draped an arm around the back of
Apollo's chair. "So, you feel like you don't have a purpose?" 

"I guess."

"I never figured you for an adrenalin junkie, Pol. Thought that was my
reputation, not yours." 

Apollo gave him a slight smile. "Who would have guessed it, eh?"

"Believe me, Pol, I understand. We've done nothing but fight Cylons since
we were cadets, barely more than kids. The war's been going on for the
last thousand yahrens - longer than anyone can remember. " 

"I suppose what I'm really feeling is, well, bored. Without an enemy
engaging my attention, I'm sort of at loose ends here." 

Starbuck reached around behind Apollo and placed a hand on the back of his
neck. He pulled his friend's head close to his own and gently, carefully,
kissed him. He could feel Apollo's surprise but the other man didn't pull
away or object. He used his tongue to part Apollo's lips, pushing inside
and exploring the unfamiliar mouth. Finally, reluctantly, he pulled away. 

"Apollo, if you don't want this to continue, say something now. If this
goes much further I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself and I don't
want to wind up hurting you." 

Apollo's response was to pull Starbuck close and kiss him hard. At the
same time he slipped his hands inside the other man's jacket and ran them
up and down his body. Encouraged, Starbuck did the same to him. They
remained like that for some time, kissing, exploring each other. 

When they broke for air, Apollo asked, "Do you want more?"

"Gods, yes," Starbuck panted.

"Shall we go to my quarters?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

They had barely made it through the door when they were on each other
again, kissing hungrily, pulling at each others' uniforms. 

Suddenly Starbuck gasped out, "Stop!"

Apollo immediately stopped what he was doing and looked at his friend in
concern. "What's wrong?" 

"Apollo, I don't want to do this if it's just a one-time thing. I don't
want to be a diversion, an amusement for you. I may not have the best
reputation in the fleet, but believe it or not, it's just a reputation -
it's not real. I encouraged it because I didn't want to get too close to
anyone. Anyone but you that is." 

"What are you saying?"

"Pol, I love you. I want to be with you for the long haul, not just one
night." 

Apollo smiled. "Star, don't you know that you're the most important person
in my life? We're already together. The only thing we *haven't* done is
make love. Going to bed is just another way of affirming our relationship.
You might say we're already lovers." 

"Apollo, have I ever told you that you use too many words?"

His friend kissed him. "I love you."

Starbuck grinned. "That's more like it. Shall we continue this in your
bedroom?" 

And they did.

END