"FRAK!"

"FRAK!"

"OH MY GODS!"

Richard's jaw dropped open. Laura, his Laura, the love of his life, lying naked on the floor in the arms of another man.

Bill pulled the blanket tighter around Laura. Frak! Laura was right. I should have locked the hatch.

Laura almost stopped breathing. Was that…Richard? Oh my gods, it is! He isn't dead! And I'm lying here naked with Bill. This isn't the least bit awkward.

"Laura?"

"Richard?"

"Yeah."

"What are you doing here? I thought you were dead!" Laura exclaimed.

"I guess not." Bill said.

Richard glared at Bill. "Who asked you?"

"This is my ship, my quarters. I can talk if I want to." Bill said nastily.

"Hey, hey, hey. No need to get nasty, here." Laura said. "Richard, can you please step out for a moment?" She asked.

"Gladly." Richard said, closing the hatch behind him.

"What is he doing here?" Bill asked. "And why is he so upset to see you with me. Like this."

Laura looked down guiltily. "Richard and I…me and him…well…"

"Oh." Bill said. "I get it."

"That doesn't change anything between us!" Laura said quickly, looking up at Bill. "Richard and I were over before the attack on the colonies. I still love you." She said.

"And I still love you." Bill said, pulling her closer to him and kissing her.

A knock on the hatch interrupted them. "I'm still out here!" Richard called.

"Hold your frakkin horses!" Bill yelled.

"Bill." Laura warned. "We'll be ready in a moment." She called, putting on her bra.

Bill and Laura dressed quickly, Laura got rid of the sheets and blanket, and Bill brought out a bottle of Caprican Brandy and three glasses. When they were finished, Laura walked over to the hatch and opened it. "Come in." She said to Richard, stepping aside so that he could walk past. "Please, sit down." She said, pointing to the couch.

Bill filled the three glasses and handed two of them to Laura. She handed one to Richard and downed the other in one sip. Bill followed suit and took her glass from her, setting them on the table. Laura sat down opposite Richard, and Bill took sat next to her.

There was a moment of silence. "How did you survive the attacks? Where have you been all this time? What are you doing here now?" Laura blurted out in a rush.

Richard smiled. "Which one do you want me to answer?" He teased.

"All of them!" Bill said gruffly.

Richard glared at Bill. "Fine. One, the cylons took me. Two, I've obviously been with them. Three, I'm telling you that I'm alive."

"But…how did you get to be on Galactica?" Laura asked.

"The cylons let me go on New Caprica. I joined a group heading for a raptor that brought us to Galactica…" He trailed off, distracted by the sight of Bill's hand on Laura's leg.

Bill smirked, knowing from the look on Richard's face that this was getting to him. He squeezed, making Laura shudder. She turned and gave him a look, prompting him to remove his hand. He winked at her and pulled his hand back. She gave him one last look before turning to Adar.

"Laura, what do you want to know?" Richard asked.

"Huh?"

"What do you want me to tell you. I know you." He smirked at Bill. "You want to know more. What exactly do you want to know?" He asked.

"Uh…everything, I guess." Laura said hesitantly.

So Richard told her the story of everything that had happened to him, drawing the story out so that he could spend more time with her. He could tell that he was irritating Bill with the way that he was staring at Laura, and he enjoyed that fact thoroughly.

When he was finished telling his story, Laura wasn't sure what to say. "Um…" She said.

"So how did you become President?" Richard asked quickly.

"Well, everyone that was in line before me was killed on the attacks. Well, except for you, I guess. So I was sworn in and served out the remainder of your term. I ran for reelection, but Baltar beat me because of my view on settling on New Caprica. I believed that it wasn't a good choice, and he disagreed with me. In the end that was what won him the election. I guess people were tired of being on the run, and since we had found a habitable planet, they thought it was right to stay. Baltar went missing when we stormed New Caprica, so Tom Zarek was president, because he had been vice president."

"Tom Zarek! The terrorist!?" Richard shouted, outraged.

"Hey! Knock of the frakking yelling!" Bill yelled.

"You're on to talk." Richard said nastily.

Laura gave an exasperated sigh. "Knock it off, you two." She said. "Yes, the terrorist."

Richard gave Bill one last nasty look before looking at Laura.

She continued. "Tom appointed me vice president, and then resigned, making me president. So here we are."

"Here we are." Richard repeated.

There was a moment of awkward silence before Richard cleared his throat. "Laura, may I have a word with you?" He asked cautiously.

"What you have to say to her, you can say in front of me." Bill said protectively.

"Bill, will you go get my overnight bag from the head?" Laura asked pointedly.

"Of course." Bill said, standing up. He brushed the back of his hand across her face as he walked past.

When he was out of earshot (or so Richard thought), Richard cleared his throat again.

"Yes?" Laura asked.

"Do you love him?" Richard asked.

"What?"

"Do you love him?"

"Why is it any of your business?" Laura asked.

"I love you, Laura. And you love me. Or, you used to. I think it's my business." Richard said.

"I don't know, Richard."

"It's a simple yes or no answer, Laura. Do you love him?"

"Well, yeah." Laura said.

"Do you still love me?" Richard asked quietly.

"I'll always love you…" Laura started.

"Then be with me." Richard interrupted.

"Richard…"

"No, listen to me. If you love with me, then you should be with me. That's the way it should be. I love you Laura, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Richard said, dropping down on one knee.

"Richard…"

"Please say yes, Laura." Richard pleaded.

"Laura." Bill said softly, coming up behind her. "Before you say anything…"

"Bill…"

"No. Listen. All I want is for you to be happy. That's all that matters to me. Whether you choose me or Richard, I want you to do what's best for you."

Laura held back tears. "Bill…"

"Laura." Richard said. "Who do you choose?"

"You know what?" Laura turned towards Richard.

"Yes?"

"Frak off."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. You have no right to barge in here and make me choose between you and Bill."

"I have every right. I love you, and I know you love me. We should be together." Richard said defensively.

"No, we shouldn't." Laura said.

"Laura, please. I want you. I've always wanted you. And you've always wanted me. This is our chance to finally be together." Richard pleaded.

"You had a chance, Richard. And you blew it. You married Samantha!"

"I only married Samantha to improve my chances of becoming President. Besides, you didn't want to marry me anyway. So really, it's your own fault!"

"Don't you dare tell me that it's my fault you married someone else!" Laura yelled.

"I never would have married her if you had said yes to my proposal!" Richard yelled back.

"You never really asked me to marry you!" Laura said. "You demanded me!"

"Marry me, Laura."

"What?"

"Marry me." Richard repeated.

Laura spun around. Richard was casually leaning against the kitchen counter. "Did I hear you correctly? Did you just demand me to marry you?" She asked.

"Yes, yes I did. And you'll say yes."

"Like hell." Laura said angrily.

"Laura, why won't you marry me?" Richard asked.

"Because I don't want to." Laura said.

"Fine." Richard stomped out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Laura called after him.

"To find someone who will marry me." Richard yelled.

Richard cringed at this memory. Laura was right. He had come back a week later with news of his engagement. He hadn't even given her a chance to consider marrying him. And now he was too late.

"Laura, please." He pleaded again.

"Richard, I loved you. And a part of me will always love you. But that part isn't big enough. The part of me that loves Bill, that part's enormous." She said, looking at the admiral. "I love him, and he's what I want. I choose Bill."

Richard nodded. "If he's what you really want, then I won't stand in the way." He said, standing up. "I think I'll go now." He walked towards the hatch, then turned around. "I'm happy for you." He said. "I really am. Good luck." And with that he opened the hatch and left.

Laura turned to Bill. "Um…"

Bill put his finger to his lips, shushing her. He leaned down and kissed her gently. "I love you, Laura." He said.

THE END!