Title: First Yahren Anniversary
      Author: Betty

      Rating: NC-17
      Category: Slash
      Pairing: Apollo/Starbuck
      Disclaimer: I don't own them.
      Distribution: Please let me know where.
      Feedback: er.br@sympatico.ca

      Summary: What special gift does Apollo have in mind for Starbuck on their 
      first Anniversary?



      Apollo hated doing inspections on the other ships in the fleet. Today he 
      was stuck inspecting the Poseidon for any fuel or solium leaks. He was 
      planning on doing the inspection with Starbuck, but Colonel Tigh had sent 
      him to another ship with Boomer, so he was stuck with Bojay, the nerd.

      He hated Bojay more than he hated inspections. Why, you ask? Well, Bojay 
      was a hypocrite. He had publicly insulted and run down both Starbuck and 
      Apollo because of their relationship, only to turn around and have a 
      relationship with Reese. What made that worse was the fact that Bojay and 
      Reese were not even in love with each other, whereas he and Starbuck were 
      deeply in love, had been for yahrens. They just hadn't admitted their 
      feelings for each other until almost a yahren ago, both afraid he would 
      lose the other's friendship if he did.

      'Almost a yahren,' Apollo thought. In fact their first anniversary, was in 
      two sectons. He knew Starbuck had something planned, but he didn't know 
      what. Starbuck was good at keeping secrets. But what could he give 
      Starbuck that was special, something he could treasure, and that told 
      Starbuck how much Apollo cared? "Oh I'll think of something," he said to 
      himself as he climbed down the ladder.

      Bojay was inspecting for leaks in an unused area. It pissed him off that 
      Apollo had sent him to this empty, dirty area of the ship. The Captain 
      always got the best jobs, and the best seat, and the best everything. 
      Climbing down and leaving the area, he ran into the Captain. "You done in 
      that area yet, Lieutenant?"

      "Oh, yes, Captain," Bojay answered sarcastically.

      "Why don't you just catch the next shuttle to the Galactica and let me do 
      the last area Bojay. I'm sure I can handle it on my own," Apollo told him 
      with narrowed eyes.

      "Fine with me. Bye."

      Apollo was never happier to see anyone go in his life.

      Two centars later Apollo had finished up the inspection in the living area 
      of the Poseidon and was packing up his gear. As he turned to go he 
      accidentally knocked down a young lady walking towards her quarters. "I'm 
      sorry miss; here, let me help you up."

      Once the girl was on her feet, Apollo got a good look at her. 'My god,' he 
      thought to himself, 'She's the spitting image of Starbuck. And the same 
      age.'

      Apollo helped the young woman pick up the packages she had dropped and 
      carried them to her quarters. He had to find out more about her. Could she 
      be related to Starbuck in some way? He knew of one person who could 
      possibly answer that question. Chameleon, he would know. Apollo knew the 
      old man really was Starbuck's father, even if he did deny it. 

      Reaching the girl's quarters, he again apologized for knocking her down, 
      and asked her name, and which Colony she had from. 

      "My name is Aphrodite, I was born on Caprica, but when my parents adopted 
      me we moved to Gemini." 

      Born on Caprica and adopted, just the information Apollo needed. He 
      decided to ask one more question. "You're adopted, so that means you must 
      have been orphaned at a young age. Do you know where on Caprica you 
      originally came from?" 

      "Yes. My natural parents came from an agro community called Umbra." 

      Apollo raced to his viper. After launching he flew to the senior ship. He 
      had to talk with Chameleon. 

      *****

      When Chameleon heard the knock on his door he thought for sure it would be 
      Starbuck. He always enjoyed Starbuck's visits. His son looked so much like 
      his mother. His son. Oh how Chameleon wished he could tell Starbuck he 
      really was his father. But he couldn't; he still feared that Starbuck 
      would quit the warrior service if he knew the truth, no matter what Cassie 
      said. So engrossed was he in thoughts of Starbuck that it came as a 
      surprise to him when he saw Captain Apollo standing there. "Captain, to 
      what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" 

      "I need some information from you, Chameleon. About your family. I need to 
      know if Starbuck was your only child, or if you had any more. And don't go 
      saying you have idea what I'm talking about. Cassie told me the truth; she 
      felt I should know, especially now that Starbuck and I are lovers." 

      "Yes, well. I know about your relationship with Starbuck, he told me. He 
      visits quiet often." 

      Apollo could tell Chameleon was stalling, and wasn't going to let him get 
      away with it. "Chameleon, I need to know. Now." 

      "But why, Apollo? Why would you need to know that?" 

      "Would you stop stalling and just tell me?" 

      "Alright. The answer is yes, my wife and I had another child. A little 
      girl. She was Starbuck's twin sister."  

      Apollo had to take a centon for the information to sink in. Starbuck had a 
      twin sister. "Chameleon, why didn't you say something about this before?"

      "I didn't see the point, Apollo. I couldn't tell Starbuck the truth. If he 
      learned he was my son, he would quit the service. Give up everything he 
      has to spend more time with me. I can't let him do that. And even if I did 
      tell him the truth, what good would talking about his twin sister do? 
      She's dead, I'm sure of it. She died along with their mother."

      "I don't think so, Chameleon. I was just over on the Poseidon. I met a 
      girl over there. She's the same age as Starbuck, born on Caprica, orphaned 
      at Umbra, and she's the spitting image of Starbuck. Chameleon, I think, no 
      I KNOW, that girl is Starbuck's twin sister."

      *****

      Aphrodite sat on the long couch staring at the locket, the only link she 
      had with who she really was. She had been wearing it the day the Cylons 
      attacked Umbra. Inside were pictures of those she believed were her 
      biological family: Mother and Father on one side and on other side a 
      picture of two children, a girl, herself she believed, and a boy. They 
      looked alike: the same blond hair, the same blue eyes. They even appeared 
      to be the same age. She was a twin, she was sure of that. The man who 
      knocked her over today seemed a little too interested in her past. The 
      look on his face and the way he had taken off when she told him she was 
      orphaned at Umbra! Could he know something? Was it possible that one of 
      the people in the photographs was still alive? Her brother maybe, or one 
      of her parents? She could only hope. There was one way to find out. She 
      was a good shuttle pilot, one of the best. Her boss, Helios, kept telling 
      her to go for warrior training, she was that good. The man who bumped into 
      her was a warrior, so maybe she could find her answers on the Galactica. 
      Yes, that was it. Tomorrow she would sign up as a viper cadet, become a 
      warrior, and find out just what that man knew.

      *****

      Starbuck wondered were Apollo had gotten to. His shift was over almost two 
      centars ago. Starbuck paced the landing bay, getting more nervous by the 
      centon. Where could he be? Finally he saw Apollo's viper land and ran to 
      him as he jumped down. Throwing his arms around Apollo and kissing him ,he 
      quickly asked, "What took you so long to get back? You're two centars 
      late, I was getting worried."

      Apollo just grinned, happy to hear Starbuck loved him enough to worry 
      about the slight lateness of his homecoming. "I was busy trying to find a 
      surprise for you for our first anniversary, it is in two sectons you know, 
      or have you forgotten?"

      "How could I forget the happiest day in my life? The day you told me you 
      loved me is imprinted on my brain, I will never forget it. Now what's my 
      surprise?" Starbuck always acted like a kid in a candy store when it came 
      to surprises.

      "No, I won't tell you yet. I still have to work out the details." Apollo 
      teased. To himself he said, 'Plus find out a little more information. I 
      don't want Starbuck getting his hopes up, just to have them knocked down 
      if it turns out this Aphrodite is not his sister. That would kill him.'

      Starbuck pouted at being denied his surprise, but the kiss Apollo gave him 
      more than made up for it. Smiling he told Apollo of his plans for the 
      evening "Athena's taking care of Boxey overnight, so we can have our 
      evening meal by ourselves, all alone. I was thinking we could take a long 
      hot bath together while it was cooking, and then feed each other, and then 
      retire to the bedroom, where I can make mad, passionate love to you all 
      night long."

      Apollo pulled  Starbuck into his arms and gave him a big hungry kiss, 
      while running his hands over Starbuck's firm butt. "That sounds like an 
      incredible, sexy idea. You go start the dinner. I have one more stop to 
      make before I can return to our quarters. Then I'll be up for that bath. I 
      am going to enjoy washing that lovely cock of yours."

      Starbuck wondered what his lover was up to, but knew better than to ask. 
      He would find out eventually.

      *****

      Ten centons later Apollo was at the Life Center, talking with Cassie. He 
      told her about the girl on the Poseidon and what he had gotten out of 
      Chameleon. "Do you think you can run the same test on this girl that you 
      ran on Chameleon?"

      "Yes. If we can get her in here. But how do we do it without Starbuck 
      finding out?"

      "That I haven't worked out yet. But I will. Just give a few days. Boomer 
      and I have to interview all new recruits tomorrow, so I can't do it then. 
      But hopefully the next day."

      *****

      Boomer hated doing these stupid interviews. All these young kids, dreaming 
      of being warriors, when they should be dreaming of their first date. Hell, 
      he bet some of them were still too young to date. But this girl in front 
      of him now wasn't. This was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Long 
      blond hair, slender waist, and breasts not too big, not too small. And 
      those eyes, so blue, so bright, with a sparkle of mischief in them. So 
      what if she was a female version of Starbuck? He could handle that. He 
      could date a girl that looked like Starbuck. Sure the other guys would 
      tease him for a while, but he could do it.

      'WAIT A CENTON BOOM-BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!' he thought to himself. 'A girl that 
      looks like STARBUCK!!' His brain was about to explode. He took a second 
      look at her application. Born on Caprica, orphaned at Umbra. He had to get 
      Apollo. NOW!!!!!

      Aphrodite thought the dark-skinned Lieutenant interviewing her was so 
      sweet. He seemed a bit nervous. Now why would a Colonial warrior be 
      nervous around a recruit? 'Hmmm, maybe training to be a viper pilot really 
      was a good idea. I could easily go for this guy,' she thought.

      Then when the Lieutenant jumped up and said "I gotta go get the Captain, 
      be right back," she knew she had done the right thing. She knew something 
      was up, that just maybe they knew something she needed to know.

      "Apollo.....the girl..........you gotta see the girl...........she's 
      Starbuck....." Boomer had trouble getting it out.

      "Calm down, Boomer. Now what is this all about?"

      "I'm interviewing a girl that is Starbuck. The same color hair, the same 
      eyes. She even has his face, only on her it works."

      Apollo glared at Boomer for that last statement. Boomer knew full well 
      what Apollo thought of Starbuck's face.

      "Well, you know what I mean, Apollo. As far as I'm concerned it works. I'm 
      not the one in love with Starbuck. YOU ARE."

      "I'll forgive you for that comment about Starbuck's face, Boomer, THIS 
      TIME. Now let's go see this young lady. I think I know who you're talking 
      about."

      Walking into the other office, Apollo was again amazed at how much 
      Aphrodite looked like Starbuck. Apollo greeted her, "Hello, remember me? 
      I'm Captain Apollo."

      She shook his hand and replied, "You never told me your name yesterday. 
      You left too fast."

      Now it was Boomer's turn to glare. With hands on hips and nodding his head 
      the way he did when Starbuck was being impossible, he said to his Captain, 
      "Oh, I see. You knew about this girl that looks like Starbuck and you 
      didn't say anything. What's going on in that head of yours Apollo?"

      "Starbuck? Who is Starbuck?" Aphrodite asked. She knew something was up.

      Apollo bit his lip. Boomer and his big mouth. "Starbuck is one of our 
      Lieutenants. Like you, he was orphaned at Umbra. And the two of you look 
      almost identical."

      Boomer quickly added, "Only you're prettier."

      Aphrodite sat stunned. Could this Starbuck be the little boy in the 
      photograph. She took the locket from her pocket. Holding it up to show the 
      two warriors, she said, "I was wearing this the day the Cylons attacked 
      Umbra." Opening it, she went on, "Inside are photos of my biological 
      family. Could this little boy be Starbuck?"

      With a shaking hand, Apollo took the locket. Looking at the photos he 
      could tell the father was a young Chameleon. This girl was the spitting 
      image of the mother, and so was Starbuck. The children were about two 
      yahrens old. Twins, just like Chameleon had told him. Tears filled 
      Apollo's eyes. He was right. This girl was Starbuck's sister. What better 
      gift could he give his lover, but his own long lost sister.  "I have to 
      call Cassie. She can do the test to confirm it. The image of Starbuck's 
      brain cell is still on record from Chameleon, so we don't have to do his 
      again. Let's keep this among ourselves until we know for sure. A negative 
      result would devastate Starbuck. Someone is going to have to tell 
      Chameleon he has to tell Starbuck the truth. I think this picture proves 
      it."

      "Wait, who is this....Chameleon?" Aphrodite asked.

      Taking a deep breath, Apollo answered, "Chameleon is Starbuck's father. 
      He's also the man in this picture."

      "What? "Boomer was confused "I thought those test results were negative."

      "No. They were positive."

      *****

      The next day Cassie had Aphrodite in the life center for the genetic 
      tests. She had done the blood and iris tests, both showed that Aphrodite 
      was indeed related to Starbuck. Now they had to do final test that was 
      more accurate. As she sat Aphrodite in the chair, the girl looked up at 
      the equipment Cassie would use. Old memories returned as Cassie heard the 
      girl use the same words Starbuck had when he went through this. "This 
      isn't going to hurt is it?"

      Chuckling Cassie responded, "I thought you wanted to be a brave warrior?"

      "Yeah well, I just want to know what's going to happen. What are you going 
      to do?"

      Cassie explained the procedure the same way she had with Starbuck "I am 
      going to extract the image of a single neuron-cell from you, and then 
      compare it with the one we have of Starbuck, that's all."

      "FROM MY HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!" she yelled, just like Starbuck, "and it isn't 
      going to hurt?"

      Leaving the room to go out and begin the test, Cassie thought to herself, 
      'I don't know why Apollo wants me to do this test. I already know the 
      answer. Only Starbuck's sister would whine about the same things and use 
      the exact same words. Those two are identical in more than just looks. I'd 
      bet a secton's pay she plays cards and breaks hearts as well.'

      *****

      Aphrodite was getting impatient. It was taking too long for the test 
      results to come. She wanted to know the results. But Captain Apollo didn't 
      want her running into Starbuck, so she was stuck in her quarters during 
      the evenings. During the day it was OK. She had her classes to keep her 
      busy. her instructors told her she was one of the best cadets they had 
      since leaving the Colonies, and already she was in the simulator room. 
      After only a little over a secton. Lieutenant Boomer was instructing her 
      in there, and she found herself falling for the sexy dark warrior. The 
      bonus there though was the fact that he was one of Starbuck's best 
      friends, so she could learn everything possible about her brother, and she 
      knew this Starbuck was her brother.

      "You know, Aphrodite, you keep getting scores in here like this and your 
      gonna be soloing within the sectar. Must have been that shuttle training 
      you had," Boomer was thrilled to tell her.

      "Really? I'm that good?"

      "Oh yeah, you're good," Boomer replied, thinking of his dream last night.

      *****

      Cassie was running to Apollo's quarters. The test results were in. When 
      she reached the door, she was so excited she forgot to knock, and barged 
      right in, yelling, "Apollo, Apollo they're positive, the test results are 
      positive."

      "What test results?" Starbuck asked from the couch. Startled Cassie 
      realized they had been making love on the couch when she barged in. Both 
      men were naked, Apollo on top of Starbuck, no blanket covering them. 
      Cassie turned around, very red in the face.

      Calmly, trying not to notice Cassie, or how embarrassed she was, and 
      himself for that matter, Apollo said, "You'll find out tonight. At dinner. 
      On the Rising Star. I'm taking you there for our anniversary dinner, and I 
      have a very special surprise for you. That's what Cassie is talking 
      about."

      "Am I going to like this?" Starbuck asked, apprehensively.

      "YES!" Apollo and Cassie announced together.

      *****

      While Starbuck and Apollo were getting ready for their big date, Cassie 
      went over to the senior ship to tell Chameleon what they had found out. He 
      had agreed that he would tell Starbuck the truth, and he wanted to met his 
      daughter as well. There was only one person missing, his wife. But he knew 
      she was not alive. Her body had been found. He would go to the party 
      tonight with Siress Blassie. He would tell Starbuck tonight.

      *****

      Aphrodite was ecstatic. Not only was she about to meet her brother, but 
      she was also going to this party with the sexiest man in the fleet, 
      Lieutenant Boomer. She put on her best dress, the long lacy one. It showed 
      off her figure, yet left just enough for the imagination. Captain Apollo 
      had explained to her that he was her brother's lover, well that was fine, 
      she had friends on the Poseidon that were in same sex relationships, 
      although they were all women. The knock at the door told her it was time 
      to go.

      *****

      Arriving on the Rising Star, Boomer led his very sexy date to the dining 
      lounge where the host of the evening led them to the private dinning room 
      Apollo had rented for the evening. Entering she saw Cassie, with her date 
      for the evening, Athena, who she found out was Apollo's sister. And the 
      there was an older gentleman, sitting with his date. He stood and 
      introduced himself, "Hello, I'm Chameleon, your father."

      Aphrodite felt her tears flow, and threw her arms around his neck, giving 
      him a bear hug.

      "Starbuck and Apollo will be here any time now, let's get you in the 
      corner where Starbuck can't see you till we want him to," Boomer 
      suggested.

      *****

      Five centons later they walked in the door. Chameleon was the first one 
      Starbuck saw. He smiled brightly at the old man. Then he saw Cassie, 
      Athena, and Boomer. Apollo moved quickly so he wouldn't see who Boomer's 
      date was and, for some reason, Apollo wouldn't let him turn to see her. In 
      fact he held on tight to Starbuck's arms making it impossible for him to 
      get a look at her. "What's the matter with you, Apollo? I don't flirt with 
      women anymore now that I have you. Besides, she's Boomer's date."

      Standing, Chameleon said, "Starbuck, I have something I have to tell you. 
      I have to tell you the truth."

      Smiling, Starbuck shocked everyone. "I know. You're here to finally 
      confess that you're my father, right? I already knew. I think I know why 
      you didn't say anything, too. Something about all that felgercarb I said 
      in the launch bay that day. It's OK, I understand. I knew you would come 
      around some day."

      Apollo's mouth dropped open. "Starbuck! How did you know?"

      Shuffling his feet, Starbuck confessed, "Well I kind of hacked into the 
      computers for the Life Center. I wanted to see the test results for 
      myself." From the corner Starbuck could hear Boomer's date giggling. 
      "Apollo, who is that girl? Can I please meet her?"

      Boomer took Aphrodite's hand and brought her to Starbuck. Apollo came to 
      stand in front of Starbuck and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Starbuck, 
      and I believe I found the best gift possible to give to you." Turning 
      Starbuck around, he said, "Starbuck, this is Aphrodite. She's your twin 
      sister."

      Starbuck just stared at the girl. He turned to look at Chameleon, who 
      nodded his head.

      "How...how did you find... " Starbuck couldn't get the words out, his 
      thoughts were all a jumble.

      Apollo told him what happened. About knocking her down while doing 
      inspections, the conversation that followed, and about what Chameleon told 
      him. "Then when she showed up as a recruit, we had the perfect opportunity 
      to do the tests."

      Aphrodite added, "I knew I was a twin because of the locket, I just didn't 
      think you were still alive."

      Chameleon couldn't believe it. "Locket, what locket?"

      Removing the locket from her hand bag, she showed it to Chameleon. "I was 
      wearing it the day the Cylons attacked. That's how I knew. By the pictures 
      inside."

      Still stunned, Starbuck asked, "Pictures? You have pictures of us?"

      Chameleon took the locket. "This was Gabriella's. Your mother, she always 
      wore this. She must have put it on you when the attack started."

      "So we could find each other again." Starbuck added, as he gathered his 
      sister in his arms, and kissed her. "Well ,I guess we have more than one 
      thing to celebrate tonight. Thanks, Apollo, this is the best gift I've 
      ever gotten."

      Chuckling, Boomer cut in, "You won't think so when you see her simm 
      scores. She's gonna be a better pilot than you, Bucko."

      "No way," Aphrodite responded. "Those vipers scare me, I'll stick to 
      shuttles, thank you very much."

      The group sat down to enjoy their meal, and Starbuck started to get to 
      know his long lost sister, and gaze at his mother's image for the first 
      time since that fateful Cylon attack all those yahrens ago.

      The End