Title: Good-bye My Lover, Good-bye My Friend
Date written: 8/31/06
Rated: M
Word count: 9,242
Story Timeline: Season 2
Category: Drama
Warnings: Tissues may be needed
Characters: Roslin/Adama
Summary: Bill and Laura learn to love, life and how to let go.
Spoiler: season 2
Author's note: This is my A/R fic exchange piece. I hope you enjoy. I don't do angst well. I think it is important for me to point out that this is an AU piece. A million thank yous go to my wonderful beta Amanda. The story was written for nnaylime
Chapter 1
How do you know if you truly love someone? Bill Adama had been faced with that question many times in his life. When he tried to answer it he always failed miserably. Today standing in front of her he knew he wouldn't fail again. No this time, he was going to be honest, this time he was going to pay attention to every detail. This time it was going to be different because he knew he was truly in love. He was in love with Laura Roslin.
---
She knew she was dying. She couldn't stop it sometimes the Gods can be so cruel. She stands in front of him weeping in happiness because he's alive. She's been trying to find happiness all of her life. It's taken her mother's own battle with cancer, a semi-failed political career, a definitely failed affair a military coup, and an assassination attempt but she knows she finally found it. She found it only to have it taken away from her again.
---
They had worked together the last few weeks to repair the rift their actions caused within the fleet and they had been successful but the work wasn't done yet.
Laura was simply a beautiful woman; there was no other way to describe it. She was sitting on his couch with her feet propped up on the coffee table reading some report that Billy left for her. Bill just sat in the chair across from her doing the same, sneaking glances over at her whenever he could she was breath taking and he had to wonder what he did to deserve her. Conversely he wondered what he did to have to Gods take her away from him.
"William Adama, what are you staring at?" She smiled seductively at him. She knew full well what he was staring at but if he wanted anything he would have to make the first move tonight.
Busted he rose from his chair, smile across his face and slid on the couch next to her. He turned her around in his arms he could look deep into her sea foam eyes. "I'm staring at the most beautiful person in the universe." He tilted her chin up and kissed her lovingly.
Mmmmh, Bill." Laura broke the kiss breathless. "I have to finish this for the Quorum meeting tomorrow, gesturing to the report resting on her lap."
"Really, that's a shame. I had this whole big plan about how I was going to seduce you and take to my bed." Bill smiled wide. "But if you rather, I guess I can…"
Laura tossed the report to the floor and wrapped her arms around Bill, drawing him into another passionate kiss. They broke apart breathless yet again but this time it was Laura's turn to smile. "That can definitely wait." She said nodded her head towards the file. "Now, Commander show me just how much you really love me."
---
Laura woke up later that evening, in Bill's arms. Their clothes had been haphazardly discarded in a trail from the sofa to his rack but as she lay in his warm embrace she couldn't stop the tears from sneaking to her eyes- betraying her. This was all so cruel. She finally found her true love and her body was giving up on her. Bill and her had taken their relationship slow at first. Now they were spending every possible moment together. They truly had become one person she had never experienced this until she met Bill. She rolled into her pillow to muffle her cries but she was unsuccessful. The moment she began to weep. She felt his strong arms pull her back to him and his husky voice whispering soothing comments into her ears. Laura calmed almost immediately hearing the sound of his voice and feeling his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, Bill, so sorry."
Bill tilted her head so he could look in her eyes, "You don't have to apologize. Are you in pain? Do you want me to get your pills?" Bill moved to get up but Laura held on to him. He turned to face her.
"No." She answered while he brushed her tears away. "Just hold me, please. I need to know you're here."
"When do you see Doc Cottle?"
"Tomorrow."
Do you want me to come with you?"
"No Bill. I have to do this alone. I don't expect you to understand it's just something I have to do." Laura slid down and learned against his chest.
Bill kissed her on the top of the head "Okay."
She fell asleep listening to the sound of his heartbeat. Praying to whatever Gods would listen to give her more time."
