A/N This whole 'story' is a series of unrelated untitled oneshot ficlets I've decided to archive here. The prompt for each ficlet will be at the top.

"I'd like to think you have a choice," Bill growled, bringing up his favorite argument.

"This is a choice," she tried to keep her voice level, not wanting things to escalate again.

"A choice to have no will."

Despite Laura's best intentions her tone turned sharp, exasperated. "To fulfill an important role, a choice to make a difference."

"You can make a difference, have. That doesn't mean you have to-"

"Die?" She snapped, feeling angry, wanting to end their exchange by beating him down quickly, and that was easiest done by bringing up her mortality. "Everybody dies Bill."

He clenched his fists and didn't back down. "You don't have to die on someone else's terms!"

"Just yours?" Laura taunted.

He didn't respond, turning his eyes away.

She softened her tone, hoping to move on quickly."Bill, I've accepted this-"

"No.. not your death," he took a moment after the word left his lips, steadying himself. The fact that he managed to say it kept her from interrupting. "Yes, everybody dies Laura, but don't let some dead prophet's words dictate to you when to lie down and let it happen. You've kept fighting all this time, now that we're nearing Earth, I wont let you give up."

"I'm not giving up," she protested.

"You are. Backing away from me, us. Thinking it will make it easier." Bill sounded frustrated, finally bringing his gaze back to her. "I want you holding onto everything until the end because no one knows when that is. I don't want you setting any dates because you think you're supposed to die."

Laura pursed her lips, giving herself the time to hear his words before responding. "I am going to die, soon," she chose not to notice his frown. "Wouldn't ignoring that be a lie?"

"I just want you to have hope for the future," his voice nearly cracked as he continued. "No matter how short."

"That's what Earth was."

Bill dared for a tentative smile, "look how that turned out."

A tiny giggle escaped her, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, feeling tears prick her eyes. "We can't outrun fate."

"We don't have to," he conceded. "We just have to enjoy what we have."

"And not set death dates?"

"Exactly."