November 29, 1999
Title:  Changes
Author:  Katrina
Rating:  G
Feedback: ruschkejc@worldnet.att.net
Disclaimer:  This story is for fan enjoyment only.  It in no way is
trying to infringe on the rights of Universal Studios or "Others".  No
profits are being made of any kind.  

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     Sheba sat quietly on the ledge of the Celestial Dome.  The faint
humming of the thruster engines soothing her into a tranquil spell.  She
looked up at the stars marveling at their brilliant light, knowing that
she would never fly through them again.  'I guess this is going to be the
closest that I will get to you from this moment on,' she thought.
     Since Sheba was five yahrens old, she had dreamed of nothing but
flying through space with her father, exploring all the mysteries that it
held.  She fought for this dream and achieved it.  She graduated from the
academy in the top one percent of her class.  Sheba was then assigned to
the Pegasus, her father's Battlestar and there they were flying together,
although they fought the Cylons instead of exploring the vast regions in
space.
     Now, her life was changing.  Sheba's priorities were changing also. 
No longer did she have only herself to think about.  
     So many changes since her father disappeared at Gomoray two yahrens
ago.  Sheba was now on the Galactica, a part of Adama's family.  She
embraced the belief and search for Earth in the hopes that one day they
would have a base to finally strike back against the Cylons.  Sheba's
faith, which took a great hit when her father disappeared, was solid once
again and source of great comfort for her whenever she thought of her
father.
     As Sheba leaned her head back against the cool bubble of the dome,
she wondered what the best way was to tell Apollo her news.
     Just then, the hatch to the dome opened and Apollo climbed through
the opening.  Sheba covered her ears with her hands to drown out the
thrusters below.  Apollo quickly closed the hatch and turned towards
Sheba.  He took off his ear protectors, laying them down on the platform
of the control station, and walked over to where Sheba was sitting.  He
noticed immediately that her face was pale and she looked extremely
tired.
     "I see it didn't take Starbuck and Boomer long to find you.  Did
they catch you as you came out of your meeting with Colonel Tigh?" Sheba
asked as Apollo sat down beside her on the ledge.
     "Yes, they were waiting out in the corridor when we came out of our
meeting.  They are worried about you and so am I."  Apollo continued to
study his wife's pale face.  "Boomer said that you got sick on patrol
this morning.  What happened?"  Apollo's voice was laced with the worry
he was feeling ever since he had talked to Starbuck and Boomer.
     "I'm fine and there is nothing to worry about Apollo.  I just got a
little queasy for only a centon and then it passed.  Before you say
anything, yes I went to see Cassie in the Life Center when we landed and
I'm fine," Sheba said looking tenderly at Apollo, seeing the concern in
his expressive green eyes. 
     Apollo studied Sheba's face.  His wife was not one to get sick. 
There was something Sheba hadn't told him yet and he wanted to know now. 
     Sheba knew what was coming next from her husband and decided to just
plow on ahead.  
     With tears of happiness misting her eyes, Sheba said, "Apollo, I'm
pregnant.  We're going to have a baby."
     Apollo's eyes widen and his hand went to Sheba's still flat stomach. 
A smile the width of the universe crossed Apollo's face.  With shire joy
and tender love for his wife, he asked, "Are you sure?"
     "Yes, I'm sure.  Cassie told me a centar ago.  I'm six sectons
along.  That's why I got sick on patrol this morning," Sheba told Apollo
quietly, her eyes shining brightly.
     "Sheba, you can't fly in your condition.  You know that don't you?"
Apollo asked.  There was no way in hades he was going to let her fly. 
And if she thought she could, they were going to have one hades of a
fight.
     Sheba smiled and nodded her head, "No, I can't fly.  There is no way
I would risk anything happening to our child."  With her brown hair
falling over her shoulder, Apollo reached up and pushed it back behind
her ear.  He cupped her cheek in his hand and said, "I love you.  More
than I ever imagined loving another person."  Apollo then kissed Sheba,
tenderly and with great emotion.
     "Apollo, I have something more to tell you," Sheba said when Apollo
stopped kissing her two centons later.
     "What is it?" Apollo asked, holding her tightly against him.
     "Apollo, I am going to take myself off of the flight schedule
permanently and request a transfer to bridge duty.  I'm putting you and
Boxey and our unborn child first," Sheba stated, pulling away to look at
Apollo, and seeing awe and barely concealed hope.
     "Are you sure Sheba?" Apollo asked.  He could not believe his ears. 
Sheba was willing to give up being a pilot for their family.  Something
she dreamed about since she was 5 yahrens old.  Apollo would never ask
her to do that, but it meant the universe to him.
     "Yes Apollo I'm sure.  It's time.  Our family has to come first.  I
love you and I want this.  Besides, it's not like I'm resigning totally. 
I'm just asking to transfer to the bridge," Sheba said with conviction
and total honestly.  Her brown eyes looking into Apollo's green ones and
seeing the depth of the love that Apollo had for her.  Yes, she was
certain.
     Apollo closed his eyes and said a quiet prayer of thanks to the
lords.  God how he loved her.  Loved her more than he ever thought it was
possible to love another person.  He loved Sheba with his whole heart and
to the bottom of his very soul.
     "Thank you Sheba.  I would never ask you to give up being a pilot,
but I'm happy that you're going to ask to transfer to the bridge.  I can
just about guarantee that Colonel Tigh will be thrilled to get you for
Bridge duty.  He can't find a good replacement for Athena since she
transferred to Blue Squadron last secton." Apollo smiled.  He took Sheba
in his arms and kissed her.
     "Come on, let's go find Boxey and tell him he's going to be a big
brother."  Apollo went over to the control station and closed the dome. 
He handed Sheba her ear protectors and opened the hatch door.  He paused
to look at his wife and smiled.  Maybe he should think about changing his
flight status also, cutting back on the number of flight and missions he
took.  It was definitely something he was going to have to think about.

The End.