THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FINDING KOBOL

          Roark was in the kitchen of their quarters pulling open the oven door to the cooking range.  Pulling out the baking dish containing a steaming lasagne, he set it on the hot plate, then slide the garlic cheese bread in.  

          In the living area, Rodolphus was on the carpeted floor playing with their son, who was, even now, trying to pull himself up into a standing position.  Hearing the sound of bare feet on the tile, he began to turn, only to feel a pair of arms slip around his waist, lips nuzzling to this spot just behind his ear, making him shiver.

          He leaned back into the strong chest, head tilting, murmuring, "Evan."

          "It smells wonderful in here," he said, turning him in his arms to look down into silver eyes.  "Seal with me, Roark.  Now."

          "I think that's a good idea," Rodolphus spoke up as he appeared in the kitchen with Hunter, the dark head nestled against his chest, sherry eyes sleepy, half-closed.

          "I wanted Harry to be by my side," he murmured, looking between the two, reaching out to take Hunter.  "I'll just go put him to bed," he said, leaving the kitchen.

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          The Grand Meeting Hall was filled to capacity as from the top step of the dais, Roark Sr smiled as he recited the final Blessing of the Words of Sealing, Evan having placed a gorgeous band of platinum filigree with a single, oval cut ruby in the center, onto Roark's finger, resting against the other two already there.

          Evan was just bending to take Roark's lips when a cry went up.  "A star!"  

           Heads jerked up, around to look out the wall-size star-view window.  There, in the distance, a lone star was shining.  Roark drew in a deep breath and looked up at his father.  "Do you think...?" he began.

          "Let's find out.  Omega, take these coordinates..." he held out a slip of paper he had kept in his pocket the moment they had first entered the void, "give them to our pilot and helmsman.  There should be a planet...Kobol..."

          Omega immediately nodded, took the paper, and all but ran from the room.

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          The sand kept shifting beneath their feet as they climbed the hill, the hot sun beating down on them, but none of them cared about that, having placed cooling charms on themselves.  Finally reaching the crest of the hill, they froze, staring at the ruins spread out before them.

          "By Kobol!" Serina gasped as her eyes swept the scene before them.  "It's HUGE!" she turned to look at Admiral Roark.  "There are still some buildings standing...and the layout..."

          "Eden," Roark breathed as his silver eyes moved over the area before them, a huge pyramid taking prime spot at the center of what had once been Kobol's largest, and grandest city.  "It was Kobol's Capitol, where the Royal family, the twelve Lords of Kobol, lived.  The Palace SHOULD be before the Pyramid."

          "Captain Deedra, take the squadron," Rodolphus' sherry eyes swept the area, "set up base camp on that plateau there," he raised his hand to point.

           Following his pointed finger, she nodded.  "Looks to be an excellent spot, Lt. Colonel.  We'll be able to see any trouble should it come our way.  Come on, ladies, let's go set up camp."

          After the ladies had walked away with the crew that had come down with them the help set up the Base Camp, Roark Sr. turned to his bother, his son, and his husband's, and finally to Adama, a look of excitement in his forest green eyes.

          "Well, gentlemen, shall we go take a look?"