Chapter 3

Bill Adama was alone. He sat on his couch with a glass of ambrosia in hand. He had been nursing it since she left. Weeks, maybe a month, that was what they had left. He honestly wasn't sure if it was possible for him to go on without her. Oh, he knew he would have to for her but he wouldn't be the same man. He knew that part of him would die with her. She was the reason he was alive to begin with. It was her and her alone. She had given him a reason to live the day the cylons attacked. She had added to that list of reasons since. She had a sense of humor like no other woman he had ever known; she was one hell of a card player and companion. She had led such a sad life losing her father and sisters, having to raise herself, she began as teacher, then a politician and watched her mother die. She deserved better than this. Bill downed the glass and poured another. Laura alone had shown him how to live again, how to love again and he wasn't going to give her up without a fight.

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Laura was speechless; she stepped away from the crowd. The crew had given her a memorial to her life.

"They wanted to do that for you?"

His voice was so soothing.

"It's very nice. Bill could we get out of here."

"Sure."

He put a hand on the small of her back and led her out of the hanger deck. The walk back to his quarters was silent. Once they were inside and out of view Laura took off her jacket and shoes and sat on the couch. Bill followed suit.

"Did you want something to eat?"

"No, thank you. How are you holding up Bill?"

Bill took her hand and brought it up to his lips "I'm fine."

"Lair." Laura offered softly. If she had learned one thing about Bill Adama it was when he was silent he was in pain and he had hardly said a word since they left the hanger deck. "You know we still have time Bill."

"Not enough my love, not nearly enough." There was the break she was expecting. He sounded as if he were half of himself. Laura stood up and moved to sit on his lap. She held him close as he cried and she cried with him. "I've been through this once…I never thought I would have to go through it again." He confessed wiping his eyes.

Bill confession peaked Laura's curiosity. She thought she knew most everything about William Adama but apparently she didn't. Before she could ask him about it he went on. Laura listened intently. She would bring up the subject later.

"I don't know if I can bear watching you leave me. I'm sorry Laura. I'm the one who's supposed to be strong for you."

"You have been." Laura replied wiping fresh tears away from his eyes and hers. She kissed him and held him tight. "We just have to make the most of the time we have left. I expect you to take care of the fleet so don't just sit at my bedside and wallow in sorrow when my time comes."

Bill always knew that when the time came there would be a lot that would have to be done. He would be the leader that the fleet looked to for strength and direction. The Vice President was weak at best and the transition would be rocky, there was also the ever-present threat of the cylons to deal with but when the time came, some how and some way he would be there by her side. She wouldn't die alone.

"Laura." Adama looked down into her eyes. "I will be there. You will not be alone do you understand me. I will be with you. I love you and you will not be alone. I will find away that I promise you."

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Over the next few weeks Laura and Bill did everything together. Her workload was scaled back to allow for enough time for rest. They two of them used this time to embrace life. When she had meetings on the Cloud Nine. He would meet her there and walk in the arboretum. It wasn't quite the river walk in Caprica City but it was close enough. These times allowed the two of them to relax and escape the reality of the situation.

The romantic moments were bittersweet at times especially the breaks during the last Quorum session. Bill had been watching the session and noticed that she looked fatigued today, more than usual, her hands and legs were shaky and she was pale. They hadn't seen each other the pervious night so he didn't have a chance to talk with her. When the meeting finally recessed, he exited the hall and went to their meeting place.

"Billy, I have to meet a friend?"

"Yes, ma'am." Billy responded with a knowing smile as he helped her out of the Quorum chamber. "Are you sure you're up for this." Billy asked concern in his voice.

"Yes." Laura winced as another wave of pain overtook her. The pain had been getting worse. She had done well hiding it from Bill so far but knew it would be impossible today.

Bill rushed over to Laura when he saw her approaching with Billy. "Laura, my gods, are you sure you want to do this." She sat down at the small open-air café overlooking the arboretum. Billy nodded to the two leaders and took his post a discreet distance from Laura, with her security detail

Bill sat across from her at the small table covering her hands with his. "How long has it been like this?"

Laura did her best to smile but Bill could tell she was in pain. "Since last night although I have my good days and my bad days. I do think this will be our last one of these though I don't think I have the strength anymore."

That's all right my love. We can find other things."

"Do a dying woman a favor. Walk with me I want to walk in the sunlight one last time."

Bill looked up into the fake sky in an attempt to control his emotions. He then got up and walked over next to her chair and helped her to stand. She reminded him of Anne. She was light, frail, weak and slipping away and there was nothing he could do. He placed an arm around her waist and she leaned into him for support. As they walked along the path she laid her head against his strong body able to ignore the pain for a little while as she took her last walk in the sunlight.