Rumor's Confirmed

          "No one needs to know that you are cousins, and even SHOULD they find out, the relation is twice removed," Gabriel said from where he had taken a seat.  "There are, I'm sure, a few who would say that relation is still too close...and perhaps it is, but it is not for them, or us to tell you how you feel about him, or him you.  Your medical records containing that information are sealed within your Counter-Intelligence files, seen only by us and Colonial High Command."

          "Any pertinent information, such as the fact that you are a bleeder, as well as a male carrier, need to be known by all medical personnel," Severus spoke up, "should, that is, your personal Healer...that would be me, and you doctor's, that would be Sebastien and Robin, not be available.  The rest--"

          "You CANNOT be SERIOUS!!" Adama suddenly exploded in disbelief at what he was hearing from them, looking around the room, seeing that, from their expressions, they WERE serious.  "This relationship cannot be allowed to continue!  They are blood-related cousins, and it does not matter that the relation is twice removed.  They can't deny that they are so closely related."

          "And here is a prime example of what SOME people may say," Aiden growled with a glare at Adama.

          "And why can't we?" Rodolphus asked, feeling Roark tense.

          "Excuse me?" Adama demanded

          Rodolphus met his eyes.  "It's really very simple, Commander.  Until very recently, neither of us knew the other existed, and when we DID meet, I admit there was a definite feeling of recognition--"

          "Um..." came from Roark.

          "Deep within us both," Rodolphus went on after giving Roark a small smile.  "However, that feeling of recognition wouldn't have necessarily told us we were related.  Now...?" he stopped and gave a shrug.  "Now, it just doesn't matter.  Not to us.  Why, you are wondering?  Easy.  There is now a much deeper, much stronger bond in place--"

          "And it's a bond," Harry spoke up suddenly, interrupting Rodolphus, "that will not go away simply because they happen to be related."

          "No, it won't.  In fact, the longer we tried to deny it was even there, the stronger...more powerful it became until we COULDN'T ignore it, and trust me when I tell you, we tried."

           "Bright Kobol, did we try," Roark said, his head lifting to look at the man he loved, then over to his grandfather, "but as Alexei, Tyler, and Jordan told me, the kind of passion Rodolphus and I had between us would never be denied, or ignored for very long.  It wouldn't LET us deny, let alone ignore that it was there.  The longer we tried, the deeper, the stronger it got until it was impossible for us to ignore it."

          "GODS, it sure as hell was!" Rodolphus agreed as he brushed his lips to Roark's.

          "All anyone has to do is LOOK at you," Adama snapped out harshly, saw his grandson flinch and saw the hurt that had appeared in his eyes before they dropped to his hands, which were now clenched in his lap.  "Roark," he suddenly gave a deep sigh.  "Look, I'm sorry, but you need to face the facts.  He is still your cousin.  What if the two of you were to have children?"

          "Anyone who looked at us on Aquaria never thought, let ALONE said we were cousins," Rodolphus said.  "I won't deny there were a few comments made about how much alike we looked, but that was all.  And it really isn't that big a deal as the Lestranges were known to intermarry as close as first cousins, keeping the bloodline as pure as it was possible too.  Admittedly, there have been a few genetic problems, but nothing serious.  

          "Look, Commander, plain and simple.  I am deeply in love with Roark, and as far as I am concerned that is all that matters.  That I cannot, nor will not ignore.  As for any children we may have...should we be so lucky as to conceive, they will be very loved and well taken care of."

          "We so very nearly did," came Roark's murmur, shocking his lover and his grandfather, as well as a few of the Durin's.

          Rodolphus' head turned, "WHAT?" he gasped as silver and sherry eyes met.