Apollo and Starbuck walked rapidly down a corridor in the Galactica' s living quarters, heading for Cassiopea's cabin.

"What are you going to do?" Apollo asked his friend.

"Find some way to let him down easy," said Starbuck.  "You don't just dump on a national hero."

"You're assuming Cassiopea isn't going to be as excited as everyone else in the fleet that he's back.  Perhaps she knows already - it's all over the ship."

They stopped at her door.

"Apollo," Starbuck said.

"Oh, yes, that's right," said Apollo, looking at his friend with a perfectly straight face.  "I forgot. Once they've experienced Starbuck's famous charm..."

"Come on, stow it, will you?  That wasn't what I meant and you know it.  But let s face it, he is an older man.  And whatever it was they had between them was a long time ago.''

Starbuck buzzed to announce his arrival.

"You're on your own," said Apollo.  "Good luck."

Starbuck entered.

Cassiopea was not alone.  She was spending some time with Boxey and his mechanized daggit.  It was hard for children aboard the Galactica.  There were not many of them in the rag-tag fleet, and all the adults were very aware of the fact that it was crucial in their development for them to have some time in which to be children.  So they all made time for the little ones whenever they could.  Their chances for survival were not great, but still, they were humanity's hope for the future.

"Starbuck!"

She jumped up and hugged him, giving him a friendly kiss.  Starbuck had a feeling that it would have been considerably more friendly were it not for Boxey's presence.

"Hi, Starbuck!"  Boxey jumped up and ran to his side.  "Is my father back?"

Suddenly, Starbuck did not feel quite so self-confident as he did moments ago."

"Yeah, kid.  He is."

Something in his tone alerted the sensitive Boxey to the fact that something was amiss.

"What's the matter?" cried the boy, suddenly anxious.  "He's not hurt, is he?"

"No, no, nothing like that," said Starbuck.

"Come on, Muffey," Boxey said to his daggit droid.  "We're going to find Dad."