16 months previously

Bill arrived back from his shift at CIC to find the president sitting on his couch. The former president, he reminded himself. Laura raised her head from the book in front of her, a small smile adorning her face. His eyes travelled her from head to toe. Her hair was pulled back for the first time since he met her and a figure hugging green shirt was un-tucked from her skirt, which was pulled tight as her legs curled up under her and her shoes were abandoned by the chair. That's when Bill noticed the bag.

"I didn't know where else to go" Laura said, the smile that greeted him now replaced by a worried grimace.

"You're always welcome here Laura. Please don't forget that." Bill began to undo the buttons on his tunic as he sat beside her. "I forgot that the election result meant a change of address for you." He regretted saying it the minute he saw the frown flutter across her face. "At least now I get to spend more time with my friend. I won't have the quorum stealing you away every few minutes."He hoped he successfully managed a change in the atmosphere, but noticed her eyes had glassed over with unshed tears and she bit back a sob. He pulled her to him and held her as she silently shook. When she began to relax he drew back slightly and brushed his thumb over the damp cheek.

"Thank you Bill. I'll find suitable quarters soon, but Baltar decided to move in a little early." Her declaration was no more than a breathy whisper, her voice lost after crying so much.

"You'll stay here as long as you need or want Laura, is that understood?" Bill tried to keep his voice as calm as possible, this was after all partly his fault. He could have let her steal that election and she wouldn't be this emotional wreck now, however that decision itself would have consequences on Laura's emotions. But she was here now and he would do his best to make her feel at home and forget the mess that the last of humanity had gotten them into.

New Caprica: a barely habitable planet everyone was dying to settle on not knowing how the terrain would provide for them and who knew what kind of weather was to be expected when living there. Bill released a sigh at the thought of the people who voted for the mad scientist instead of the beautiful and capable red head that was sitting beside him.

At his sigh Laura reached up and ran a hand from his brow to his cheek and Bill's eyes closed involuntarily. They sat like that for a while, her stroking his cheek with her thumb and his arm around her resting on the small of her back from their earlier embrace. Laura was the one to finally break the comfortable silence.

"I'm rather tired after the move and you had a long shift in CIC so we should call it a night. And before you argue I'll sleep on the couch, I already found a spare blanket and you will probably need a good night's sleep." She punctuated her statement by running her hand back up through his hair and let it slide along his shoulder finally patting his bicep and moving away.

Bill felt every nerve ending alight after her small touches as he remained motionless, watching her unfold the blanket she would be using and adjusting herself to lay down on the other side of the couch. Without thinking he stood up and crossed the small distance from one end of the couch to the other. Gazing down into her emerald eyes he lent forward and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight Laura." he murmured and as quickly as he had moved in, he had walked away and began to climb into his rack. Just as sleep seemed to take over he heard her faint reply.

"Goodnight Bill."