Title: Serenity

Author: GEM

Date written: 12/19/07

Rated: T

Word count: 3261

Story Timeline: Season 2-3

Category: Drama/Romance

Characters: Roslin/Adama

Summary: A flashback to season 2 and a look at Laura and Bill's relationship and the role the Bill plays in Laura's life.

Spoiler: LDYB I, II Exodus and a DITL

A/N: This is an answer to the LJ A/R Alaphbet Challenge

Chapter 1

Laura Roslin rarely got an opportunity to have moment to herself. She was always expected somewhere in some capacity as President of the Twelve Colonies. It seemed that today the fates would change that.

She sat in William Adama's quarters listening to the post-debate coverage. Many of her aides were talking around her. Baltar had gotten the upper hand this evening. In order to win the election Laura knew they would have to do some fancy footwork and praying to the gods. Baltar played on every emotion in the fleet.

She shared a silent conversation with the man seated across from her. No words were necessary. Laura could see it all in his eyes and he could see it all in hers. I've lost…help me move on.

Election day was extremely stressful. All Laura wanted to do was go back the Galactica and hide in Bill's quarters. She enjoyed the serenity of the space. It was so warm and inviting. It smelled like him and she was calm when she was there. She closed her eyes and drifted back in her memories to last night. She was sitting on the overstuffed leather sofa in his strong, warm arms; Laura's head was resting against his chest. The only thing she could feel was his strong teddy bears arms around her and the only things could her was the sound of his beating heart.

Laura was brought out of her musing by the sound of Tory. The exit polls were coming in and with every report her future seemed more certain. She was about to become a member of the civilian fleet and Baltar was about to hold the office of President. Tory was saying something as Laura read the latest report but Laura didn't know what Tory was saying. She was to caught up in her new reality. Former President Laura Roslin. She would accept it if it was the people's will but it still made her sick inside.

Laura could faintly hear her campaign staff in the other room. Tory was saying something to someone she couldn't make out. It really didn't make any difference now. If the wireless reports were right, and they were rarely wrong it was over.

She removed her glasses and threw them on the desk, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes. Once again she was transported to her place of serenity. This time she focused on Bill's voice and the ways in which he always made her laugh. He always had a way of making his quarters her home as well. The first thing she would do when she went there on an unofficial visit was to kick off her high heels and walk across the carpet in her stocking feet. She always enjoyed browsing Bill's collection of book and when she had time she would select one and read it.

Laura closed her eyes the tension of the day was beginning to take its toll on her. What she would give for Bill to come walking through the curtain right now and crack a joke. He would come in and tell her how stressed out she look and then walk over and stand behind her. He gentle hands would find their way to her shoulders and her neck and begin to work the knots out.

Bill gave the very best massages while he was working out the kinks he would whisper sweet nothings in her ear and then kiss her neck. If only this were reality and not a fantasy.

"Madame President"

"Yes, Tory." Laura opened her eyes.

"I have the Admiral for you."

"Thank You, Tory. If you will please excuse me."

"Yes Ma'am." Tory walked out and as Laura picked up the receiver she heard a triumphant scream come from the adjacent room. Laura knew in her heart that Tory did something but she didn't know what she was relieved it was over and she would be staying right where she was.

She brought the phone to her ear and greeted Bill on the other end of the line.

"Congratulations, Madam President." The sound of his voice had a calming affect on her but she still felt sick inside.

"Oh, thank you." Laura said taking a silent breath and hoping he would buy what she was selling.

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but are you as shocked as I am?"

Laura collected herself and then spoke. "I'm relieved."

"Well, you don't sound it."

She was caught and she knew it. She had to find some way out of this conversation. "I'm just tired. It's been a long campaign." She prayed he would buy it.

"Madam President, you should celebrate. It's a great victory and you've earned it."

The beeping phone interrupted their conversation. "Excuse me."

Laura breathed a sigh of relief and waited for Bill to come back on the line. A few moments later a stoic voice came over the phone.

"I need to see you. I'm coming over and I won't take no for an answer."

Laura didn't have time to speak before the other end of the line went dead.

When Bill arrived on Colonial One Laura's heart was in her throat she knew why he was there and yet she wasn't ready to face it. She did the right thing. The people made the wrong choice but she didn't want to lose Bill. She wasn't ready to be alone. She needed him with her. They were a team. He was her serenity and she was his.

He didn't say a word as he sat across from her he didn't have to his eyes did all the speaking that was necessary. He finally spoke after a time. "When I confronted the colonel, he admitted his guilt. He said he acted in collusion with your campaign manager, Tory Foster. Saul said Tory contacted him a few days ago. He did it because he felt that…"

Laura cut him off. "Stop. I gave Tory the go-ahead. I didn't know exactly what she was planning. I certainly did not know about Colonel Tigh."

Bill's heart stopped. Laura his Laura had just admitted to his worst fear. "Laura... I don't want him as President either, but…"

"He's working with the cylons. I saw him just before the attack in…"

"What the hell are you saying? Why didn't you say something before this?" Bill wanted to believe what she was saying. He cared for her and he didn't like seeing her like this.

Laura took a breath. "Because I didn't remember seeing him with that woman until I remembered it when I was dying. I know how that sounds, but it's real. The same way Kobol is real, and the Tomb of Athena is real, and the map to earth is real."

Bill knew how much this fleet meant to her but there was no way to stop the inevitable from happening. "Even if that's true, you have no proof."

"No, I don't."

Bill leaned forward in his chair and looked Laura in the eye. "Do we steal the results of a democratic election or not? That's the decision. Because if we do this we're criminals. Unedited, maybe, but criminals just the same."

Laura understood where he was coming from. She wanted to do what was best for the fleet and what was best was making her sick inside the only solstice she had was the vision of Bill in her mind. She knew that if she left they would be heading to 'New Caprica' She knew that it would be possible for them to explore their feelings and friendship for each other, but Bill was right, if they did this they would be no better then Baltar. She had no other choice but to agree with Bill Adama. "Yes, we are."

"You won't do it. We've gone this far, but that's it."

"Excuse me?" She knew he was right but a part of her still wanted to disagree and put up a fight.

Adama's voice was cool and even. The voice of reason one could say, " You try to steal this election, and you'll die inside likely move your cancer right to your heart. The people made their choice. We're going to have to live with it."

Laura felt sick thinking about what he just said. " It's the wrong choice."

"Yes, it is." Bill extended his hand to Laura and she took it.

"All right. All right. All right. So that's it. We just give it up, just like that."

Bill squeezed her hand and gave her a smile. "The battle, perhaps. But not the war. "