They sat drinking cups of tea until the full moon was high in the sky illuminating the hill, casting gentle light everywhere. A local dog type animal that Bill had recently identified cackled and growled in the distance sending shivers down his spine. He didn't want anyone in his cabin let alone another woman even though it had been 4 years. It didn't feel right, he'd feel like he'd be betraying Laura's memory to have another woman intrude. However he couldn't allow it to overcome his desire to always help others left over from his days in the military.
"I can uh...make you a pallet by the fire in the living room you will be warm...and safe".
"Thank you..."
She follows him inside admiring the sparsely furnished cabin, it smelt of what she believes is pine. There is a small metal stove that opens up in the front as soon as you walk in. Beside it is an open space with couch with animal hides thrown on top of it. He had a small table not far from the living room with two wooden chairs that matched. She turned back to the living room with a frown, he had no one to share the table with. He had lived here alone for 4 years, despite being a mortal enemy for years it made her feel bad. Shaking her head she turned to him and smiled thanking him, watching as he slowly walks away.
She reclines back on the couch snuggling under a heavy animal skin, listening to the sounds of bugs and animals outside. She hears his shuffling around the small bedroom before hearing the creaking of the bed as he lays down. With a sigh she turns on her side and gazes out the window until she finally is claimed by sleep.
The Admiral's quarters are quiet despite the bustling around the Battlestar as they all prepare to depart down to Earth. His quarters had been packed away by him personally 2 hours ago, his books on their way to the Baseship. The only sounds are the sounds of the O2 scrubbers and the rattling of her labored breathing as she lays next to him in their rack. It hadn't been just his for a while, it had been theirs since she had first moved in even after their fight and she left it was theirs. They lay tangled up on his rack, fingers intertwined as they lay facing each other. She gently ran her hand down his cheek, he pressed into her caress in response.
"When...i'm...gone please promise me you won't shut people out".
"Shh...no we don't need to talk right now..."
"No...no...we do...I don't want you to be alone...I want you to move on. Open your heart to someone el..."
He silenced her by pressing his lips to hers, pressing his free hand into her cheek.
The next morning he woke up to the smell of cooked food, his meager "supper" of green tea had left a gnawing in the pit of his stomach last night. He smiled and walked out calling out to Laura, only to be greeted by an empty house. He frowned and shook his head, tears pricking at his eyes she wasn't here. When he came home late from CIC he would sometimes find that Laura had organized his quarters: his clothing, or his books to keep herself busy. The food on the stove was warm, the plate was piled full of meat and a type of fruit. He also noticed that his clothing and animal hides were folded neatly upon the couch. He remembered his Cylon houseguest from last night...Ariana she had cleaned up the house while he slept.
