Title: Ghosts from the past

Chapter: ONE

Spoiler: there might be some mention of episodes of S3

Authors Note: BIG thanks to ANGI my beta-reader Huggles

Bill heard Lauras voice even before he stepped into the waiting room of the colonial one. She was talking in a louder voice then usual. She must be really upset at someone- he thought, and sat down at one of the chairs. He didn't wanted to hark, but even without intention he was forced, and when he recognized the mans voice his attention was fully on their words.

"I'm not allowing you to accuse me, Colonel Tigh!" she said punctuating his name.

"I'm not accusing you! I'm only pointing the things out! Leave the admiral alone! Stop flirting with him!"

"Even if I WAS flirting with him! It's NONE of your business COLONEL!"

Bills eyes widened. He would've never thought of a discussion like this between his two best friends. He already wanted to step into the room to stop this mess, when Saul continued.

"Ohhhhhhh YES it IS! He's acting strange, he's moody, changing from melancholic to too happy, to angry. His mood changes after every time he sees you! Of course it's MY business!"

"I won't discuss this with you any longer!"

"Ohhhh yes you WILL!"

"You think only because I spent one night in your bed it gives you the right?"

"You didn't only just SPEND the night in my bed Laura! Additionally you were betraying that boyfriend of yours who was a married man with children, additionally your boss and additionally the president of the twelve colonies! You're a promiscous women and I won't let Bill come near you!"

That left Laura speachless. She sank back in her chair and burried her head into her palm.

FLASHBACK – 5 years ago

Laura was exhausted. Exhausted from everything in her whole life. She never wanted to go into politics, all she wanted was having children around her. Helping them to grow up, find their place in the world. After a car accident where her parents and her brother died when she was 18, she suffered heavy injuries wich involved her not being able to get pregnant. That's why she decided to become a school teacher. She loved children and it nearly broke her heart that she'd never be able to feel motherhood - as a teacher it was bearable.

But she haven't planned that a certain Richard Adar would cross her way only a few years later. He had charisma, was a real gentleman, was doing everything to get her attention...but he also was a married man. At the beginning she did mind that fact very much, but with time she learned that with a married man, who already had children at least she wouldn't disappoint any other man, because she wasn't able to have them. He was a safe-match. Richard was the one who saw the skill in her to step into politics as well, although she was a calm person he always told her that he knew she had the guts to be in the business. All went very fast, Richard became President a decade later and before she realised she was "secretary of education". With Richards presidency also came the problems. He was standing in the public more and they had to be more careful. Not only that, but the President also hardened during this time. He was fixed on his work and success and lost everything Laura used to love about him. One day they went into a big fight over a few days off they planned, after two years they finally wanted to spend more then 10 hours in a row together. Of course Richard called it off because he told her they couldn't have this luxus anymore.

Laura was so angry that she went out into the night and dropped by the first bar she could find and ordered one drink after the other.

After a while a man sat down beside her and started doing exactly the same.

"Lady, you shouldn't drink so much!"

"You know, that's none of your business mister!" He shrugged and poured down his drink.

A few minutes passed. She was the total oppsite of his wife. Dark hair, green eyes and a whole different charisma. That's exactly what he needed. He knew he was drunk and that he maybe even would regret it on the other morning but his wife was frakking around in whole caprica city, he wanted to hurt her the same way she did.

"What's your name?"

"L" She wasn't drunk enough yet to risk her political career to get to any sign of who she was."...Leticia"

"Niiiiiiiiceeee" he chuckled "So what's your reason for drinking?"

"As I said, none of your business"

"Youuuu knowww, it helps to talk!" she could hear he was already pretty drunk at his way of speaking.

She threw down an other drink. After the 5th she stopped counting.

"My married boooyy...boyfriend made clear I'm not more then a usual whore to him anymore!"

"Ohhhhkaaayyy, thaaat's hard"

An other while before Laura started to speak again.

"And what's your story...uh"

"...Saul" he completed.

"What's your ssshtory Saul?"

Major Saul Tigh decided not to tell her that he was a married man as well and searching for a target to betray his wife as a revenge. He knew he wouldn't reach his goal then.

"I've got fired at work!"

"I see" Laura stared bored at her glass.

He had to be more offensive.

"You know, this boyfriend of yours must be a real moron! A beautiful women like you should be only the bed-companion. You should be the prinssssseessss of a man!" The alcohol left it's marks he was exagerating without even noticing.

But it didn't play a role, because Laura didn't recognize that fact anymore as well. The alcohol was sending a warm feeling through her body. So the only thing she said was.

"Would you make me your prisshhhess????"

With that she stood, and stumbled as soon as her feet reached the floor. Saul who was much more trained on walking straight with this amount of drinks he was on his feet as well, just to feel her fall directly into his arms. They exchanged long gazes before he leaned down to kiss her.

"Of coursssssse I would!"

With that the two of them left the bar.

The next morning the first thing Laura noticed was her head. She couldn't remember ever having such a headache. Her mind became clearer and she noticed something warm lying beside her. Abruptly she opened her eyes and found herself lying nakedly curled up to a total stranger.

"Please, noooo" She sat up as fast as her headaches allowed and pulled up the sheet in front of her. To her movement the stranger opened his eyes as well.

"Good morning princess!" He said sleepy but with a sarcastic undertone.

"Princess???? Who the frak are you!"

As soon as she pronounced the word "princess" she remembered everything that happened. It was all cloudy, but she remembered the bar, and also what happened afterward. Laura Roslin the "secretary of education" got drunk in a small dark bar and had a one-night-stand with a total stranger who additionally called her princess.

She got up taking the cover with her trying to collect her clothes in the hotel room.

"Let's just forget about all of this!"

"Well it will be hard to forget. My wife would be all jealous if she knew your certain skills, babe!"

WIFE??? he was married. Laura was close to a total breakdown. She carefully tried to put on her political mask as usual. But deep down she was cursing herself. She was the "other women" again. She closed her eyes let out a heavy sigh and started to dress as fast as she could. When she collected everything she had to fight the urge to run to the door, flee from the situation.

"Have a nice life Saul" She managed to say before the door slammed shut behind her.

END OF FLASHBACK – Colonial One

Bill first wasn't sure if he really heard correctly. 'It can't be!'- he thought. He was so shocked he barely noticed that he rose from the seat and stepped through the courtain into the office. Saul was standing with the back to him and Laura was still staring at her desk.

"It was a terrible mistake, I was desperate that day, and you didn't tell me you were married either...BILL!" while speaking she rose her head.

Saul didn't realised that Bill had shown up behind him.

"Yeah, I know I didn't tell you, but that makes no difference! And leave Bill out of this story! I thought we agreed silently not to bring it up EVER, especially not in front of him!"

"SAUL!" this time it was Bill calling his name. The XO jerked at his voice and then slowly turned around.

"Bill...I'm...I don't know...How...where...!"

The Admiral still couldn't believe what he had just experienced. He had to get out of the whole situation. He turned on his heels and left the room. Without any further thinking Saul followed him, leaving Laura back alone in the room. And that's exactly how she felt now. ALONE, same way she felt the other night 5 years ago. She burried her face on her limp hands on her desk and closed her eyes, letting out a heavy sigh.

TBC if you like