Chapter one - Sticks and Stones.

Most of those on the planet surface sat, quietly huddled together for warmth, in front of the various fires that had been lit around the small, basic camp they had quickly and despondently set up upon arrival. The light from the flames lit those numb, saddened faces as the light descended all around them; the ruins across the choppy waters took on - an even more menacing look in the eerie silent shadows and the wind had picked up to bite into the skin of those sat exposed.

The leaders of the humans were no different to those surrounding them, they had settled themselves close to the fire trying to gain what little comfort they could from the warm waves that hit them. They watched on, without comment, as the Cylon named D'Anna paced relentlessly along the shoreline. All perceptions of Cylons being emotionless beings could be thrown out the window, as the blonde model ranted and raved to herself. Her face was occasionally illuminated in red as she passed the centurion standing silently; whether by plan or accident it stood like a body guard or bouncer, ready to repel anyone that dared move in on the fretting female. It was a somewhat futile gesture though, as the difference between human and Cylon seemed marked out starkly by the present situation. The humans had grouped together in their disappointment, they had found each other, to comfort, console, soothe and reassure. Herding themselves round small open fires, little being said but united in their grief. The Cylons by contrast sat alone, each content with their own company, isolated from each other and watched dispassionately as their colleague blustered. None made any move to stem her tirade or provide solace.

To be fair Leoban had tried to make contact with Kara but it was difficult to tell whether the glare from Sam, Lee or Kara herself stopped him and he retreated back to where he had come from.

There were exceptions to the rules of course - there always is. Sharon sat wrapped in the arms of her husband, exactly where all the humans and Cylons expected her to be. The odder thing to witness was the vision of Saul Tigh, Colonel, XO, well probably former XO, although it hadn't actually been discussed, and the Cylon model numbered Six not wrapped together as Sharon and Helo but sat close to each other, her hand resting lightly on his arm.

It was akin to the way, Laura Roslin sat her hand emerging from the confines of the blanket she was tightly swaddled in, to grip the upper arm of the Admiral huddled next to her.

He turned to face her and smiled before reaching forward and tucking the blanket up round her exposed hand. "You warm enough?" he enquired gently.

Laura smiled back, he was such a gentle man at times and yet she had witnessed his raw power when unleashed, could take your breath away. It was a testament to his character, she thought, that he keep that side of himself so tightly corked up with only the occasional glimpse. She'd had her fair share of arguments with him, honestly they still did, but no matter how stubborn or down right angry he got with her, she never once felt any threat from him.

"Laura?"

"Hmn," she said with no real focus. It was happening a lot lately, these little trips into Bill world as she liked to call it. Their new relationship was still at the early stages but their friendship wasn't and it provided a solid foundation for them to build their life together on. It had started with looks, phone calls and in private moments, actions too - books offered in friendship, then a steady calming voice in her most painful moments, providing the strength she so badly needed. Right now, at this point in time, she considered it one of the most important things in her life. It sounded like such a cliché but once she had opened herself to the idea it had literally flooded all her senses, she was in love, and relishing every second. Even sat here on this planet called Earth, which, she frowned, would probably go down as one of the most disappointing let downs of her life, still, sat next to him, she felt a peace and contentment that had been missing from her life for so long. Longer than the destruction of their home worlds, much longer, long before Richard, perhaps as far back as when she sat holding her dying mother's hand.

Soft fingers touched her face bringing her back to the present and as she looked at the face next to her, now frowning with concern, she smiled again, "Sorry, day dreaming, I'm fine, the fire is good."

"What were you thinking about?" Bill asked.

You! Her voice whispered but instead another vision popped into her head and she said with fondness, "The fire reminds me of a holiday I had just after I left college, we camped out on a beach. Their was a whole group of us and we were carefree and probably a little high," she smiled, "I remember each night they would light this big old fire, play music and we would dance all night."

Laura was a little surprised by the distinct growling sound that came from her partner and giggled, "What are you thinking Bill Adama?"

His head moved close enough for her to feel the heat of his breath on her ear as he huskily said, "About you," he pulled away again, and said in a slightly louder voice, "I have this vision of you dancing round the fire completely and utterly stark nak…."

Laura's fingers pressed over his lips as she looked round to see if he had been overheard. More likely to cause attention though was a giggle that burst out of her before she could prevent it; really she needed her fingers over her own mouth.

"Bill!"

"I see you're not denying it though," he said with amusement.

"Well no." she stated cheekily.

Another growl similar to the first was the final straw as Laura's giggles would no longer be reined in. The sound reverberated round the camp, sending heads up and peering in their direction, probably the first laughter to have sounded on this desolate planet for a long time, and to Bill it sounded wonderful. Some of those around them looked at one another and smiled knowingly; others just ignored it and went back to staring aimlessly at their fires.

It had one desirable effect though, as D'Anna stopped dead in her tracks for the first time since they had all settled down for the evening. She turned quickly her hair whipping around in the breeze to partially cover her face.

The sudden move went unnoticed by the pair until the distinct sound of a moving centurion was heard. They both turned to see D'Anna and her guard dog moving quickly towards them. A collective sigh went round the camp when the huge shiny figure in the twilight came to a halt a good distance away from their leaders, the reaction of the Cylon woman and the machine had been so swift as to catch everyone out and no one had even managed to get to their feet before the human model stood looking down at the now more sober pair.

"Are you just going to sit here?" She spat.

"What do you suggest we do, Ms Biers," Laura Roslin said with more patience than she felt, what the Cylon thought she could do in the middle of the night was bewildering.

Moving closer to stand over the President of the Fleet in an aggressive manner, she sneered, "It's a wasteland, no good to anyone."

Adama rose rapidly and stood eye to eye with the Cylon, bringing an instant reaction from the centurion as it took a step closer, the flashing red light standing out starkly in the night.

"Bill," Roslin's voice sounded in caution, as she too got to her feet a little more slowly to stand just behind the Admiral, her hand touched his arm in concern as he matched D'Anna's threatening behaviour. It was clear to see that this fine line of a truce was going to be difficult to maintain.

"D'Anna," Laura tried to placate her, "Obviously this isn't what any of us hoped for, but…"

The Cylon interrupted angrily, "The pair of you sit here like you are on some kind of holiday, you all do," she gestured with her arms wildly, at everybody watching anxiously, "Look around you it's nothing more than a nuclear sandpit."

Adama's voice was low and quiet when it came, "Well I hope you brought your bucket and spade then, because there is nothing that any of us can do until we have investigated this planet more fully and we can't even begin that until the morning. So I suggest you and your friend, "he pointed out the centurion, "go sit down and relax for the evening, because tomorrow will be a hard enough day with a good night's rest."

The two stood face to face for a few seconds as Colonials and Cylons alike watched the interaction going on, with their breath held. A collective sigh went up when the blonde Cylon gradually backed up before turning away from the pair, but everyone knew it didn't bode well for the tender alliance, Adama and D'Anna would clearly lock horns at every opportunity.

Glances of worry were shared amongst the fleet members, as the woman stormed away from the tense pair to the outer reaches of the camp, the centurion stood for a few more telling moments before retreating also. The stunned onlookers took a few moments before seeming to relax but all felt the spark of tension in the air, looking around them suspiciously.

Laura pulled back on Bill's arms to get his attention as he continued to stare blatantly at the woman across the camp. As he turned toward her she indicated they should sit back down. He complied pulling the blanket back round her shoulders bringing a tight smile to Laura's face.

"Bill, you need to be careful, she is unpredictable."

"Laura, if we back down at this stage they will run roughshod over us, we have to stay strong, show them that they can't rule over us," he responded quietly to her.

She took his hand in hers and smiled sadly, "I know but… I don't want anything to happen to you, promise you will be careful - around her especially?"

"I was," he whispered, joking, "I nearly suggested she should get her tin machine out of the salty breeze or it might rust up."

Laura laughed quietly, this time not wanting to draw any attention to them, she rocked forward to place a gentle kiss on his lips before pulling back to see him smile broadly.

As they settled once more in front of the fire, arm in arm she reiterated something he had said, smiling broadly, "Bucket and spade hey, perhaps we should have a sandcastle building competition tomorrow."

Bill smiled and said conspiratorially, "Human verses Cylon."

"I was thinking we should try and be more inclusive - boys against girls?"

"Oh, that works for me too," Bill laughed, not caring as D'Anna looked across at them darkly.

As the evening went on, the temperature became colder and there was a feel of rain in the air. Lee came over to enquire if they would be more comfortable in a tent or on one of the ships that they had come down on. Bill left the decision to Laura, who pointed out that being uncomfortable lying down was probably better than being uncomfortable propped up in a seat aboard one of the ships. Even if it would be warmer, to which Bill piped up, "that he would keep her warm", which sent his blushing son scuttling away quickly, to sort out the other sleeping arrangements, after he had pointed out the tent they could use.

As everyone started to head off to find a bed to sleep in, so did Bill and Laura, their tent was small and basic just like all the others. It didn't worry them though and Bill made quick work of making the area as comfortable as possible. As expected of a man with years of military experience he made a hasty work of getting ready for bed also. Although there had been no time for them to take their new relationship to the next level, after sharing Bill's quarters with him for the last few months there was no embarrassment about getting ready for bed but there was a new tension not unpleasant as they both watched the other with a new confidence. Nothing was going to happen tonight, though, in this cold damp tent that was for certain, to start with there was the thin canvas walls, not to mention the fact that Laura had no intention of taking a scrap of clothing off in this chilly temperature. Besides old fashioned as it seemed and she found herself getting more and more so these days, but she wanted it to be special and this really hadn't turned out to be the time or the place. Maybe if it had all turned out to be a wonderful tropical island with the waves lapping on the golden sands but reality was a cold decimated landscape. So this place just didn't qualify as the number one spot to have sex with Bill Adama for the first time! She had to admit the sound of it wasn't such a bad thing though as she watched him make house.

As Laura started to rummage though the overnight bag she had got with her, she felt Bills arms go round her from behind, and a gentle kiss touch her ear.

"Say it again," Bill asked while placing small kisses on her neck.

"No," she laughed knowing full well what he wanted to hear, and pulled out of his grasp to finish getting ready for bed.

"Hmn," Bill grumbled as he went over to the sleeping area and slipped into the sleeping bag, sitting up he continued to watch Laura's every move before she made her way over to him and he held out his hand to help her down.

"Go on," he tried again, in a very deep gravelly voice.

She looked round with a half smile, and questioned, "Is it true that you told Lee that you couldn't live without me?"

Adama muttered under his breath and turned away slightly as he balked, "He must have misheard me."

This only got Laura laughing again before she said quipped, "Oh, well you can't expect me to say it then can you," at that she lay down and turned her back to him.

She smiled to herself as she listened to him huff and punch his pillow before noisily laying down on his back.

It was a few minutes before he moved again and as she expected he spooned up behind her and his hot breath whispered, "Laura?"

"Hmn," she responded.

"I can't live without you."

She turned to face him smiling, "Good," and brought a smile to his face as she said the words he wanted to hear again and again, "because, I love you."