Hi Betty! Sorry I'm late with your birthday fic, but RL intervened bigtime! Hope you'll accept this somewhat long one as an apology and best birthday wishes! I'm Sorry I'm Late by Rita (mommacita1@juno.com) Rating: NC-17 Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, I just like to play with them. Summary: A Belated Birthday Fic for Betty. Apollo smelled him before he saw him. Stale sex - stale male sex - and cheap liquor. Frak him anyway. "Starbuck, you promised!" he snarled from the bunk. He looked at the chrono at his head. "And do you know what time it is?" he continued. "You have early class tomorrow." "Never had a mother and don't need one now," came the muffled response. It was followed by a smothered cry of pain. "You're hurt!" Apollo was out of the lower bunk in a micron. Starbuck was tangled in his tunic, his head hidden. Carefully Apollo unwound the rolled-up tunic and got it off. "Sagan!" he gasped. "You should be in Life Center." Starbuck had stood rigidly still while Apollo had gotten the tunic off. Now he pulled away. "I'll live. And I'll get to class on time, too, Mother." He started to pull his pants down, winced, then changed his mind and tugged them back up gingerly. "Need a turbo wash," he mumbled. "Go back to bed." "You'll only wake me when you climb up," Apollo said. "Let me see what I can do." "No!" Starbuck almost shouted. "No, thank you," he said in a more subdued voice. "I broke my vow to you, you don't have to help me. Anyway, I'm not coming to bed; got to stay up and finish the last of my astrogation cases." Apollo bit back several responses and by the time he found one that was acceptable, Starbuck had gone into the turbo wash and locked the door. Apollo sighed and shook his head, wishing he were more spontaneous and less by the book. Starbuck clearly needed help, but he certainly wouldn't let Apollo near him now. He lay back down on his bunk and turned to the wall, giving his roommate as much privacy as he could in the small student quarters. *** Starbuck could hear the party from the gates, half a metron away. He had no cubits left for a hovercraft after buying Apollo's present, so he walked the five metrons from the Academy dormitory to the Adama estate. Normally, he would have made it on time, as a Cadet Warrior he was in excellent physical condition, but he had to stop to pick up the present, thoughtfully wrapped by the Siress who ran the rare bookshop, which took him two metrons further out of his way. And he was still sore and bruised from earning the cubits for the present. He paused as a stitch in his side elicited a whimper. If the invitation from Siress Ila had come sooner, he wouldn't have had to break his vow to Apollo. He surely didn't like selling his body to earn cubits, but he was equally sure Apollo didn't believe that. If the invitation had come earlier, he could have wagered his way into some cubits, but he understood why the Siress had to wait until the last minute - if she had sent the invitations out earlier, news of the surprise natal party would have gotten back to Apollo and it wouldn't have been a surprise. The pain in his side had ebbed and he had caught his breath, so he started walking again. *** Apollo kept glancing around the room, frowning when he didn't find what - or rather who - he was looking for. Adama beckoned to Zac. "Son," he whispered when the gangly boy got close, "would you mind watching out the front window for Starbuck and letting me know as soon as he comes into sight?" "Sure, Dad, no problem," Zac agreed cheerfully. "Boy, Apollo's sure anxious about him, isn't he?" Adama chuckled. "Yes, and trying hard to hide it. Go on now, son." *** Starbuck stood at the door listening to the music and laughter that wafted through the open windows. He didn't notice the curtain in one of the front windows move as he touched his neck. The bruises that ringed it no longer hurt, but he had no decent civilian clothes, so he'd worn his dress uniform and the neckline didn't come high enough to cover them. He'd brushed his hair to cover the yellowing lump on his forehead and his long sleeves covered the rope burns on his wrists, but there was no hiding the black and blue mark on his cheek. He'd really wanted to attend this party, but he reached the only possible decision: he couldn't embarrass Apollo with his appearance. 'You don't belong at a high-class party anyway, Bucko,' he told himself as he bent and put the clearly marked package on the doorstep. 'An orphaned prostitute has no business in a place like this.' He blinked back tears, grimaced as he straightened up, and walked away as quickly as he could. Zac opened the front door and picked up the package. Taking it inside he placed it with the others that Apollo would open after the meal. Adama hurried around the house as Starbuck walked back to the road. "Cadet?" Adama called. Starbuck stopped and turned, giving a respectful salute to the Colonel who was approaching. "Sir. I didn't mean to intrude. I've got an invitation." He fished the invitation out of his pocket and held it out. "I wasn't chasing you away ... Starbuck, isn't it?" Adama replied, although he knew very well who the blond was. "Yes, Sir," Starbuck replied, still standing at attention. "I'm your son's roommate at the Academy." "Of course. Well, where are you rushing off to?" "I'm sorry I'm late, Sir. Siress Ila's invitation said to be exactly on time, so I just left ... a little something for Apollo." "Nonsense. The party's just getting started. Come along; we haven't even sat down to eat yet." Adama put an arm around the boy to lead him back to the house. He frowned when the boy flinched. "Something wrong, Cadet?" "No, Sir, just a little bruise." "Hmm." Adama looked more closely at his son's paramour. "Looks like you've got more than one 'little bruise'" *** Starbuck had done his best to remain invisible. Although most of his fellow cadets wouldn't have believed it possible of the gregarious and voluble young man, he had honed that skill early. He managed to avoid Apollo's gaze almost entirely, especially after the first withering glare he received. But whenever he headed for a door, Colonel Adama, Siress Ila, Zac, or Athena intercepted him. Now the house supervisor was signaling that the meal was ready. Apollo had been led to his place by his sister and brother and, as host and hostess, the Colonel and the Siress stood at the entry to the dining area greeting their guests. Starbuck thought this would be the perfect time to slip away. He bowed politely to an older couple, Apollo's maternal aunt and her mate, he thought, gesturing that they precede him, then backed silently into the draperies that hid the garden doors. "There you are!" Siress Ila's cheerful voice made Starbuck whirl around. "I thought you might have trouble eating with those bruises." She gently touched his cheek and he winced. "Now you just come with me. I have just the thing in my upstairs bath." "I'm fine." Starbuck demurred, stepping back. "Nonsense. If you were fine you'd be filling your plate along with the other cadets. Why Adama didn't bring you right to me, I really don't understand." "Siress, you needn't bother with me; and your guests will be missing you," Starbuck protested as she put a firm hand on his elbow. "No, they won't. The food will distract any who might for a good quarter centar at the least. Now come along and don't make me go get the Colonel to order you." "No, ma'am, you don't have to do that!" Starbuck replied anxiously, allowing her to guide him back into the house. *** Starbuck had to admit that whatever she had put on his cheek made chewing a lot less painful. The food, of course, was delicious and he was glad he could enjoy it. He snuck a glance at her as she picked something off Colonel Adama's dish and playfully fed it to him, laughing at his weak protests that a Colonial Warrior could feed himself by the time he reached the rank of Colonel. 'What an amazing woman,' Starbuck thought. She hadn't even raised an eyebrow at the bite marks on his shoulders or the hot, red area just above his belt. She just reached behind her for a potion and had him swallow it while she swabbed the bites clean and bandaged them. 'Do they realize how lucky they are to have her for mother and mate.' The thought gave him pause. What did he know? Maybe all mothers were like Ila. 'Was my mother like her?' he wondered. His reverie was interrupted by a deep voice keyed to reach even the farthest tables of the immense dining area. "Young man." Adama had risen and was addressing Apollo. "This is probably the last time he'll let me get away with calling him that," he told the assembled guests. Laughter greeted his aside and Apollo turned a deep red, but grinned gamely. "Young man, I believe it is time for you to receive the tribute due you for attaining the status and rank of full adult." "Yes, Father," Apollo replied, standing and leading the way to the reception area where the gifts were piled. Over his shoulder he asked, "Does this mean I don't have to obey you and Mother after all the gifts are opened?" Adama fixed him with his best mock-glare, and Apollo sighed dramatically. "Didn't think so." "When do I get to be a full adult?" Zac piped up as the guests gathered around the table in a semicircle. Starbuck artlessly slipped into a dim corner where he had a clear view but was out of Apollo's line of sight. "Not until I say so," Adama replied sternly. "I'll let you know when he actually lets me be an adult, Zac," Apollo promised, ruffling his brother's unruly hair. "Oh, boy!" he exclaimed turning to the pile of gaudily wrapped presents. "Can we do this every day?" Apollo had enough mementos 'to remind you of Caprica when you're out in deep space for sectares' to fully decorate a Commander's quarters with some to spare. He was running out of unique ways to say thank you and sound sincere when he spotted the plainly wrapped box halfway down the pile. He raised an eyebrow at his father and received a barely perceptible negative headshake and nod in the direction of a shadowy corner. Starbuck tried to press back even further into the shadows as his roommate's eyes tracked to him. Keeping his eyes on Starbuck with a mixture of bemusement and suspicion, Apollo picked up the plain package and unwrapped it. He glanced down when his fingertips encountered the fastener bearing the bookshop logo and his eyebrows went up in surprise as he read the source and the familiar script addressing it to "Apollo, who brings out the best in me, even when he thinks I'm at my worst." With more care then, he finished unwrapping and opened the box. Murmurs of appreciation went through the assembly as he lifted out a carefully polished hidebound book with a metal clasp. The writing burned into the cover was in the Old Tongue. Apollo brushed his hand over the etched title then opened the clasp, which had obviously been recently oiled. He carefully skimmed through the fragile pages. Looking up, he caught Starbuck's eyes with a look of apologetic understanding. "Everyone," he said raising his voice to be heard. "This is a gift from my roommate at the Academy. Thank you, Starbuck." Ila materialized at his side and Apollo reluctantly parted with the book. Ila replaced it in the box, with the wrapping neatly folded beneath, and removed it to a place of safety, while Apollo resumed unwrapping presents. The party was finally winding down. Most of the other cadets had taken their leave, returning to their homes, since they were on furlong. Starbuck had looked for someone who would be passing near the Academy, but realized that all of those present would be headed in other directions. He wouldn't ask them to go out of their way, so he resigned himself to walking back in the dark. He glanced at his chrono and sighed. He'd never make it by curfew and he had no one to sign him out. "Bucko, thank you. How did you know..." Apollo finally cornered his roommate, who had been avoiding him for the whole party. "Ah, well, Apollo, you didn't exactly make it a secret that you hated using the public Book, with its missing pages and scribbling. And, you know, I didn't really know what was appropriate - didn't want to embarrass you by bringing the wrong thing - but I - I've never been invited to an important natal day party. But I thought this couldn't be wrong..." Starbuck trailed off, realizing he was babbling. "Nothing you brought would have been wrong, Bucko," Apollo said for his ears only, his heart hurting at the revelations in Starbuck's embarrassed rambling. He gently touched Starbuck's bruised forehead. "But what it cost you!" Starbuck shrugged. "Didn't mean for you to find that out. Got a little rougher than I thought it would. Guess I should have realized for the price." Starbuck reddened and looked at his feet. 'Can't keep your mouth closed, can you Bucko?' he chided himself. "Look, I've got to get going. I'm going to have to sneak in as it is or spend the whole furlong on punishment detail." He clapped Apollo on the shoulder. "Happy Natal Day, Apollo. Please thank your folks for their generosity." He turned and walked to the door as quickly as his strained muscles would allow. Adama met him there. 'The man must have psi abilities,' Starbuck thought. "I've just called the Academy and signed you out in my name, Cadet," Adama said as though this were something that happened every cycle. "You can stay here tonight and we'll take you back in the morning to pack up for our trip." "Trip?" Starbuck managed faintly. "We're going to the western isles for furlong," Apollo explained. "I asked my folks if you could come along and they said yes. I was going to come back tomorrow and kidnap you if necessary." "Wouldn't have been necessary," Starbuck declared. "The Academy gets awfully close during furlongs." The rest of the Adama family had now gathered around the three men. "But where can Starbuck sleep tonight?" Ila asked. "With all the relatives, the house is so full! He'll have to share a room." Starbuck thought she didn't sound at all upset or even surprised that he had been asked to stay. Apollo hastily put a hand over Zac's opening mouth. "He can sleep with me," Apollo said. "I'm used to the ... noises he makes." Zac broke free of his older brother and glared in annoyance. "But you only have one bed," he protested. "I have two in my room. He can sleep there." "I'm sure Apollo and Starbuck can make do with one bed," Adama said firmly. "They're almost Warriors, they have to know how to rough it." A smile played over his lips and his eyes twinkled despite his serious tone. "In fact," Ila put in, "I think you'd keep Starbuck up all night with your questions. Now off to bed with you, Zac. You, too, Athena." She waited while the youngest members of the family said their good nights, then continued, "I'd guess that Apollo even has some sleep wear he could share with you, Starbuck. Oh, and," she handed Apollo a package, "Here's a first aid kit. I suspect Starbuck has more ... bruises lower down than he wanted me to look." Apollo and Starbuck both looked at Ila in amazement. Adama just chuckled. "Go on, you two. Try not to stay up all night apologizing to each other." The two younger men turned their eyes towards the Colonel. "Upstairs," he ordered, making shooing motions with his hands. The last words Apollo's parents heard were: "What did you tell them about me ... us, 'Pol?" "Nothing, I swear, Bucko. They just know these things somehow."