K/L ZONE

What Happens Now?

Sequel to What If?-Also it would help you to understand this story to read ' What If? ' if you haven't, that is.

This begins with Kara and Lee's first year apart and away from their daughter ( Starlight ).

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A.N.***As always all mistakes are mine.***Just a heads up, Admiral Cain will not be like Cain was in the show. Also my characters are totally different simply caused by the fact that Kara literally ran into Caroline Adama which changed her life and theirs. In this story it will be sort of like the Galaxy versus the Adama's.

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I hope you will enjoy the read because there is a whole lot more to this story.

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Chapter==1

Lee lay in his rack aboard the Atlantia after coming off cap and taking a shower.

When he first arrived a month ago he was excited about being able to launch from a battlestar and fly in space. He had only seen Admiral Nagalia once in private after first arriving and had only saw him in passing a couple of times after that. They had of course talked about his father and Admiral Nagalia had made a point of telling him how much he respected his father.

The cag was Captain Stevens whom Lee came to respect over the course of his first two weeks. He was a strict cag, but he also had been patient with the new pilots, giving them pointers without making them feel inadequate as pilots. He also made sure to not make a big difference between raptor and viper pilots, which Lee knew some cags did.

During that same two weeks Lee knew he was the best viper pilot aboard the Atlantia, but instead of showing off as he knew Kara probably would he slowly inserted his flying capabilities into his cap rotations.

Lee remembered back to two weeks ago when the cag called him into his office calling him out on it. " Apollo would you care to tell me why you are holding back every time you are in the air?"

Lee didn't flinch " I'm not sure what you mean Captain "

Captain Stevens sighed, he had read Lee Adama's file and he knew how good Apollo was when it came to flying. He watched him for a moment before finally deciding he would have to push Apollo to make him fly like he knew he was capable of. " Apollo except for your wife Starbuck, I know you are one of the best pilots the academy has trained, so I am scheduling a drill for tomorrow. I will be dividing the viper pilots evenly into two groups. One of them will act as the cylons and the other as an attack viper squadron "

Lee was trying not to be singled out, but it looked like the cag had other plans " May I ask which group I will fly in?"

Captain Stevens smiled " You will be with the cylons and I don't want you to hold back, I need my other pilots to know what you are capable of, so they might learn something from you and strive to be better " the cag paused before adding " You should also know this is coming straight from Admiral Nagalia "

Lee sighed as he laid there remembering how his group had beat the viper attack squadron, as he let go and finally flew all out. As a result of that he was now singled out like he hadn't wanted to be and found himself suddenly set apart from the other pilots. Only a handful didn't hold it against him, mostly the new arrivals like himself, but the veterans now tended to ignore him.

Lee had wrote Kara and his mom a week ago, but so far he hadn't heard back from either of them, and it would be another month before he would be allowed to call anyone. He knew that with the Atlantia being so far out in the solar system it would take time before any letters could reach him. With that thought in mind he raised up and reached for the photo album Kara had made for him from under his cot. He didn't dare keep it in his locker because he didn't trust that someone might go through his things. As he lay back down he pulled his curtain shut and turned on his bunk light and looked at the pictures, even though it made his heart ache for Star and Kara every time.

Lee woke two hours later with the album laying open on his chest, he had apparently dozed off while looking at pictures of his family. He looked once more at the picture he had taken of Star and Kara as she was showing Star his goldfish pond, it was one of his favorite memories. Lee sat up and put the album away before dressing in his gym kit.

He was on his way to the gym to spar with Crashdown whom he had made friends with and who was ironically a raptor pilot. He also knew Kara from flight school which made Lee like him even more, he was like a link to Kara, so they had became good friends.

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Caroline woke up one morning and realized it had been a month to the day that Kara and Lee had left. She sat up and looked over at the crib where Starlight was and knew she was still sleeping, so she let the tears fall that she had been holding in. She also hadn't heard anything from Bill either which made it even worse. After a few more minutes of letting their absences surround her she wiped the tears from her cheeks and got out of bed and grabbed her robe from the bathroom before going over to check on Star who was now six months old.

Caroline was surprised when she looked into the crib and saw Starlight on her back wide awake holding her feet in each hand making Caroline smile. Starlight had managed two weeks ago to finally grab her feet and Caroline had took a picture and placed it in Star's scrapbook and wrote the date, so Lee and Kara could one day look at it.

She reached down and picked her up and hugged her tightly for a moment knowing that Starlight was the reason she looked forward to each day. " Good morning angel, are you ready to get dressed and eat with Grammy?" Caroline laughed as Star cocked her head to the side and just looked at her as she had seen Kara do so often. Caroline knew she should place the crib in another room, but she couldn't do it just yet.

After they were both dressed they went downstairs and Caroline placed her in the bouncy seat she kept in the center of the island counter top. After making Star some oatmeal and herself a cup of coffee she sat down and pulled the seat in front of her. Caroline was feeding her at least twice a day plus two or more bottles of formula a day now.

As she was feeding her Caroline heard the front door open and called out " We are in the kitchen " she knew it was Zak because he came every Saturday to spend time with Starlight, so she could run her errands.

As usual Zak kissed his mom on the cheek and went to pick Starlight up " Wait Zak she hasn't finished eating "

Zak grinned at his mom " She can finish in a bit, I haven't seen her in a week " Zak picked her up and held her away from him, noticing that her loose curly blonde hair now reached just below her ears " Good morning little lady, what do you want to do today?"

In response Starlight cocked her head and looked at him with blue eyes just like Lee's, then grinned like she understood " My gods she looks just like Kara when she does that, but with Lee's blue eyes "

Caroline chuckled " I know, it is kind of eerie sometimes, have you ate this morning?"

Zak shook his head " No, but I wouldn't object if you feel like fixing me some pancakes "

Caroline smiled and stood up " Fine, but you need to finish feeding Starlight, then I need to go into town for a little while "

The only noise for a while was Caroline making pancakes and Zak coaxing Starlight to eat. Starlight finally finished eating all of her oatmeal just as Caroline placed a plate of pancakes on the counter for Zak. Caroline picked Starlight up and sat her in her lap as she sat down by Zak " How are things at the academy going?"

Zak looked at his mom " Boring, I don't know how Kara and Lee stood it, we haven't even seen a viper yet. Our instructor who is tough by the way said we had to know everything about a viper and how it works before we even get into a simulator "

Caroline remembered Lee telling her that he didn't think Zak would ever be able to fly vipers because he wasn't disciplined enough and was definitely not a natural like Kara was. Caroline knew that Lee was not a natural either, but if he wanted to do something bad enough he would work his butt off to achieve it. " Your instructor knows what she is doing Zak and besides everyone should know everything about a viper if they are going to fly them, so be patient "

Zak nodded and changed the subject " Have you heard from any of them?"

Caroline shook her head as she reached to take Starlight's bib off " No, not yet "

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When Adama left the CIC walking to his office/quarters he couldn't help but remember it had been a month since he had seen or talked his family and even longer since he had seen his youngest son Zak.

The one thing that he looked forward to at the beginning and end of each shift were the photos Caroline had sent him before the Galactica had jumped away with a small note attached ' We miss you '.

When he reached his office and sat at his desk he looked at each photo. There was one of him and Starlight, one of Caroline and Starlight and one of just Starlight laying on a blanket with Caroline's flowers in the background.

Then he looked at the one of Lee and Zak when they were younger standing in their backyard with the lake behind them. Then he realized he didn't have one of Kara and somehow that felt wrong and he meant to get one the first chance he got. He knew without a doubt if Kara Thrace had not shown up in their lives his family would still not be together, they all owed her for that.

Then his eyes drifted back to Caroline and he knew it was going to be a long eleven months before he could be with her again, this time for good.

He leaned back and chuckled remembering when he told Saul Tigh his XO that he was retiring and that him and Caroline were going to give their marriage another chance. " Are you fraking kidding me Bill?"

Adama remembered chuckling " No Saul, I'm dead serious " then he surprised him again " We also have a granddaughter and I am going to help Caroline take care of her while her parents finish their battlestar postings "

That led to Saul outright laughing " Now I know your fraking with me, Zak is to young to have a child and I know he isn't on a battlestar "

Adama wondered if he had forgot about Lee " It is Lee's daughter "

That stunned Tigh to the point he stopped laughing because he knew Bill would never joke about Lee " Who in the frak did Apollo knock up?"

Adama frowned " Lee is married to a very lovely woman who also happens to be a viper pilot and is also better at flying than Lee is "

Saul's mind started going back over past conservations and there was only one female pilot who could beat Apollo and at that thought Tigh's mouth fell open " Please tell me he didn't marry fraking Starbuck "

Adama had read her file after learning about Caroline's interest in her and he knew she had been in trouble a few times and was said to be harsh and crass, but she wasn't like that anymore " Lee married Kara Thrace and yes I know about her past, but she is different now and a part of my family, in fact I wouldn't have my family if not for her. Caroline met her first and loved her before any of us, so I won't have you speak about my daughter-in-law like that ever again, understood?"

Saul had never heard Bill stand up for anybody so vehemently before not even his own sons " Fine, but I still can't believe she married Lee and has a child, that is not the Starbuck I have heard people talk about before "

Bill smiled " Well she has changed and she has also made Lee a better man and happier than I have ever seen him "

Saul sighed and decided to let it go " Where is she posted?"

Bill grinned " The Pegasus "

Saul snorted " I don't know who to feel more sorry for, her or the Pegasus "

At that point Adama changed the subject.

Adama sighed bringing himself back to the present. He had found out earlier that he would be back in range of the twelve colonies in a month and he was going to request leave as soon as he could. He knew he could contact Fleet Headquarters now, but that was only in an emergency.

For now he would just have to keep busy.

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Kara woke up to her alarm blaring reminding her that she had cap in thirty minutes, she reached behind her and shut it off.

She stretched before sitting up and just like before every cap she pulled her photo album out from under her mattress.

As she looked at pictures of her family she smiled, then as always when she saw Lee or Starlight she would feel a sadness deep in her soul. She only looked at the photos behind her closed bunk, because once she left her bunk she had to be Starbuck. She was only Kara for her family. Kara looked at her two favorite pictures one more time, the one of Lee and Starlight in the chaise lounger and the one of her and Lee before they went out dancing that one night before she put the album back under her mattress.

As Kara put her flight suit on she knew that she would have to find out if Mike was free tonight. It was exactly one month today since she saw her baby girl and Lee and she knew she would need Mike to keep her company and from doing something stupid.

Kara waited until she settled in for cap then she thought back to the day she first stepped foot on the Pegasus.

She had got off the shuttle with Mike and Showboat and the three of them had stood together taking in the size of the Pegasus. Kara looked around and saw the other new recruits doing the same as it was everyone's first time aboard a battlestar, until someone shouted " Commander on deck! "

They all came to attention as they looked at the man who had to be the XO of the ship. " At ease everyone, my name is Commander Parker, I am the the XO in case anyone hasn't figured that out yet, the Admiral asked me to tell you all welcome to the Pegasus " he paused looking at each of the fifteen people that stood before him before continuing " Captain Marcus is here to escort the marines among you to your quarters, Chief Laird is here to show the deck crew to their quarters and Narcho is here for the pilots, except for Lt. Thrace I am here to escort you to the Admiral, that is it, fallout "

Showboat couldn't help but snort as she got ready to walk away " Starbuck only you could get in trouble just by stepping off a shuttle "

Kara rolled her eyes " Frak you Showboat " she said with a grin

Mike waited a beat before leaving " You gonna be alright Kara? " he whispered

Kara nodded " Yep, but if you don't see me after twenty-four hours you might need to find me and hang onto my rifle until I can clear it with the Admiral "

Kara knew her time was up when she looked back to find the XO waiting for her. He was a tall man about six feet with brown hair and eyes and looked to be about thirty-five years old, or at least that is what she thought. She walked over to him " Sorry sir, just saying so long to a friend "

He nodded " Follow me "

Kara thought ' like I have a choice ', but she fell in beside him and wondered what the Admiral could want with her. They walked for a while down several corridors and Kara wondered why so many people they passed stopped to look at them. It apparently didn't bother the commander, so she ignored them.

They finally came to a hatch guarded by a marine who knocked before opening the door " Admiral, the commander is here with a Lt. "

Kara heard her " Let them in, Major "

Kara followed the commander in before moving to his side and coming to attention as did the commander " Sir, this is Lt. Thrace "

Admiral Cain stood up " You are dismissed commander, return to the CIC. "

Kara still stood at attention while the commander saluted and left.

Admiral Cain walked from behind her desk " At ease Lt. Thrace "

Kara relaxed, but maintained her stance as she waited to find out what the Admiral wanted with her. She watched as the Admiral walked over to a mini-bar " Would you care for a drink Lt. Thrace?"

Kara thought ' Frak yeah ' " No thank you Admiral "

Kara watched as the Admiral shrugged before pouring herself one then returned to her desk and picked up a folder " Do you know why I asked you here Lt.?"

Kara had to stop herself from rolling her eyes " No sir I do not "

Admiral Cain looked her over " First I would like to say I recruited you because you are one of the best viper pilots the Colonial Forces has ever seen and I wanted you on my ship. Second I wanted to let you know that I know all about you " Kara waited as she took a swallow of her drink " I know you are married to Lee Adama and that you have a child and also that your mother-in-law is my cousin.

Kara felt she should say something " That is all true Admiral, although I just recently found out your relation to Caroline "

Admiral Cain caught a small smile at the mention of her cousin " If I may, how is Caroline doing?"

Kara grinned at that " Caroline is doing great Sir, Lee says she is happier than she has ever been "

Admiral Cain knew she was getting off track, but that intrigued her " Really, what is making her so happy?"

This time the Admiral saw her grin even larger " Our daughter Starlight who she is taking care of while Lee and I serve our two years and maybe because she has all of her family back, and me "

The Admiral knew she needed to get off this personal road they had gone down except she had to know " Are you implying that she has Bill back also and why we are on this topic what did you mean by ' and me '?"

Kara had no idea if she should even be sharing family things, but the Admiral was family to Caroline and she seriously didn't think the Admiral would go shout it to the twelve worlds " Yes, Bill and Caroline are together again and he is retiring along with his ship in one year and then together they are going to take care of their granddaughter " Kara paused " And by me, I meant I met Caroline first and she changed my life and in turn I changed hers, I love her and she loves me like a daughter " Kara paused again, but barreled on " If I may Sir, Caroline said to tell you she said hello if I got the chance "

Kara had a sudden thought flash by ' Does that mean I am related to the Admiral, Frak. Kara needed to fix this now. " Admiral Cain I can assure you that while I am serving on the Pegasus I will be Starbuck and nothing more, as a matter of fact I don't want to expose my family to the rest of this ship, there are only two people on board who know and one of them is my spotter, he is a marine and the other is a pilot and she will not talk about it either "

Admiral Cain was fascinated by how quick she changed " Alright Starbuck it is and I also don't want the Adama's talked about on my ship, but you can tell Caroline I said hello and congratulations on..everything I guess " she paused briefly " As for the marine, I knew you were a sniper although it isn't known by a lot of people, but since you are on my ship your Captain Davis called to tell me about you and your spotter. Although I don't think we will ever need a sniper it could be useful someday, where is your rifle?"

Kara sighed " Mike has it, I wanted to see if there was somewhere safe I could keep it?"

Kara saw the Admiral nod to her left and Kara turned to see a display of handguns in a glass case, how did I miss that she wondered " Wow "

The Admiral nodded " If you want I will hang onto it for you, no one gets in here without me "

Kara could only nod " Thank you Sir "

Admiral Cain knew she needed to end this " Just because you are somewhat family I want you to understand you will not get special treatment, is that understood Starbuck "

Kara literally sighed with relief " Understood Sir and thank you, I wouldn't want it any other way "

The Admiral wasn't expecting her to be that relieved " I guess what OCS wrote about you is true "

Kara shrugged " I wouldn't know Sir "

Admiral Cain snorted " Let me sum it up for you, you are the best viper pilot they have ever seen, you are the best shot in or out of the cockpit and you are a colonial officer down to your bones "

Starbuck snorted " All true Sir "

Admiral Cain rolled her eyes " Dismissed Starbuck "

Starbuck stood to attention and saluted " Yes Sir "

Kara was almost out the door when Cain asked her something else " Where is Apollo stationed?"

Kara grinned " The Atlantia "

Cain actually chuckled " Admiral Nagalia must have snatched him up pretty fast "

Starbuck threw back " Well he is the second best viper pilot sir "

Cain couldn't resist " Does he know that "

Starbuck took a step " Yes sir " and she quickly got out into the hatchway.

Admiral Cain put her file away, wondering exactly how this woman became such a huge part of the Adama family. In any case she was now more glad than ever that she had recruited Starbuck just to see how much she was capable of.

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