Chapter 5: The Simple Things in Life

The thick gold band glinted in the early morning light pouring into Bill's office as he held his wedding ring between thumb and forefinger for inspection. It had been almost a week since Zak's funeral and the day he left the ring here. Bill had come in just before the celebration of Zak's life and put this piece of jewelry in his top left desk drawer. He couldn't pinpoint an exact reason at the time. But after spending the week at Nathalia's it made sense. They hadn't planned it that way. In some strange way however, Bill had taken the worst day of his life and began to take steps to move on with his love life. Staying with Nathalia seemed like the most natural course of action. He had never been much attached to his apartment here at home so not being there didn't bother him. And although he hadn't admitted it out loud, he appreciated having someone to come home to. Having that support after being self reliant for so long was a relief particularly because Nathalia needed him too in her own way.

Her public life converged on them forcefully in the early morning hours of his third day at her apartment. A series of phone calls prompted Nathalia to resume her duties in her father's administration much as she didn't want to. It was for the best considering how many things Bill needed to take care of himself. But he saw that agreeing to her offer to stay made returning to work a little easier and that was an unexpected pleasure for Bill.

Now though he found himself at a crossroads. So much had happened in the past few weeks and yet there was still one more decision he had to make. Could he commit to Nathalia? The choice seemed like an obvious one given that he seemed to be leaning in that direction. But so far he had remained out of the spotlight. Save for a few functions where Bill could use official duty as his reason for attending, he had never had a public date with Nathalia. Every move she made was documented. Going public would mean the same for him. Having made a career out of being a public servant, the idea didn't bother him. Everything that came with being Nathalia's boyfriend however was another story. Boyfriend. Even saying the word in his head it seemed ridiculous. It had been many years since he had even remotely considered himself someone's boyfriend. Bill made a mental note to change that when the time seemed right. A soft knock on the door interrupted his train of thought.

"Come in," he called while slipping his wedding band back on.

Kara Thrace opened the door, "Hello sir," she said sounding a bit subdued.

Bill looked up, "Hello Kara."

"I heard you were here," she said stepping into the room and closing the door behind her.

"I was just checking up on a few things," Bill replied. He wasn't naive enough to think he was ready to return to duty yet. But it wasn't in his nature to sit around and finding a few things to do on the base unofficially seemed like a good use of his time. "What can I do for you?" He asked looking at his would be daughter.

"I'm here to clean out Zak's locker. Lee-he was supposed to help me. But he conveniently got assigned a mission. I've been steeling myself for this and for some reason I can't bring myself to to go in the locker room. Will you come with me?"

A short but sharp stab of grief hit Bill as he stood up. "Of course I will."

A few minutes later Bill found himself in front of Zak's locker as Kara opened the lock. She placed it on the wooden slat bench behind them and took a deep breath before opening it. One of Zak's uniform hung on a hanger just inside the locker. Bill could see his shoes at the bottom on the floor. The blue and black sneakers were unlaced and looked as if he had just placed them there. Bill looked away from them determined to keep his composure and then his eyes fell on a photo. In it stood Zak holding up a paper to the camera. Only a few words were visible but Bill could tell that it was his flight school acceptance letter.

"He told me he was so happy that day," Kara said quietly watching her would-be father in-law. "It was one of the few times he said he felt he could do anything. And he wanted more than anything to be a pilot."

Bill nodded, "Do you have a copy of this?"

"Yeah, at the apartment. Go ahead and take it. Zak used it to motivate himself," she said as he carefully removed the photo.

"I'll bet he did," He mused gazing at the photograph.

"So what have you been up to all morning?" Saul asked his best friend over lunch a couple of hours later.

"I cleaned out Zak's locker today," he replied taking a sip of beer Saul had passed to him. The two of them were sitting on the back steps leading into the old cadets barracks. They hadn't been fully operational for 20 years ever since new ones were built just across the street. But they were used for training purposes occasionally and the steps were the perfect place to have a bit of lunch and bend the rules regarding drinking while on duty.

"How did it go?"

"It went," Bill said gruffly as he set the bottle down and reached for one half of the ham sandwich sitting wrapped in white butcher paper beside him. He unwrapped it and took a bite.

"Lee was supposed to do it, wasn't he," Saul said more as a statement than a question. He could hear the trace of anger and sadness in his friend's voice.

"Yeah he was. But he was assigned to a mission so Kara asked if I would help. I couldn't say no and I didn't mind doing it. I needed to do it. It's just-"

"That it never gets easier," Saul finished knowingly. Neither of them were immune to death. They had each lost their fair share of friends, colleagues, and soldiers under their command in their lives.

"No. But I did learn something that was oddly...comforting."

"What's that?"

"Zak genuinely wanted to become a pilot. A small part of me started to believe that maybe I somehow talked him into it or encouraged him too much."

"Bill, you were trying to be supportive of your kid. That's all. Lee can try to say whatever he wants. But no one caused Zak's death. It was a terrible accident and no amount of anger or blame will change what happened."

Bill nodded, "You're right, I know that. It just seems like everything comes back to my being gone most of the time. I was a shitty parent."

"Yeah well from where I stand, you were in a shitty situation with Carol Anne. You did the best that you could under the circumstances. From what I saw it looks like she's moved on with someone else and so are you."

"Maybe," Bill clarified, the logical part of his brain telling him this was a fling.

Saul let out a derisive snort and looked at his friend, "You do realize that you've utilized every official excuse to see Nathalia Adar."

"I have not!"

"Protest all you want Bill. But I'm not the one who's been living at her place for the last week."

This observation earned a small smile from Bill, "True. It's still new though and with everything that's happened I'm play it by ear."

"I can understand that. But how is everything so far?"

"It's good. Nathalia likes having someone with her at her place and it's nice not going home to my apartment alone. And I've been taking advantage of the tunnel under her building to come and go as I please to avoid idiots with cameras."

"What does Nathalia think about that?"

"She's relieved I think. Almost everyone she has dated is already well known or becomes more recognizable because they've dated her. Her mother expects her to marry someone politically ambitious and be his steadfast support for his career. I don't see Nathalia wanting her own political career after Adar's term is done. But she wants more than that."

Saul nodded, "Is Nathalia telling you that?"

"Some of it yes. The rest is pure observation. I actually remember Mrs. Adar from the parties I was dragged to by Carol Anne. I don't remember much but I remember her because she was such an uptight busy body."

At this characterization Saul smirked, "That does explain it all. So it sounds like the decision is actually yours to make. Nathalia has a future mapped out for her already. It depends whether you are willing to change it."

At the President's residence, Nathalia used her lunch hour for final dress fittings. The following evening was the State of the Colonies dinner and the most important political event of the year. It brought together all of the 12 colonies on one night including both the presidentially appointed colonial representatives and a delegation voted on by the people of each colony. The night would be devoted improving life colony wide. The event in itself was generally a positive one which was partly why Nathalia found herself seriously considering a pink cocktail length dress overlaid with butterflies and feathers. It embodied the spirit of the event and was easy to move around in. But it wasn't formal length which explained her second choice; a custom made halter gown made from the material of all 12 colonial flags. It was very patriotic and most likely would be the best for the event. But it grabbed attention and Nathalia wanted attention to be paid to the dinner, not her dress.

"Nathalia," her mother said striding into the room and breaking her train of thought. "Why isn't the name of your date on the guest list?"

"Hello to you too mother," Nathalia said as she stepped out of the pink pumps she wore in favor of a version in white. "I chose not to bring a date this year seeing as how I'm not in a relationship."

"Why don't I invite Travis?" Mira Adar suggested as she sat in the winged chair on the other side of Nathalia's desk and smoothed out a non-existent wrinkle in her black skirt. She shared her daughter's chestnut brown hair and similar facial features.

"That would be fine if we weren't broken up," Nathalia replied. Travis had been her boyfriend for 2 years up until 6 months ago. He was a nice guy but his eyes wandered to other women and he had political ambitions that she couldn't see herself supporting after her father's term en

"It could be easily fixed."

"Mother," Nathalia said calmly, "We are not reconciling and I will be at the event alone. I'm sorry if it doesn't fit your perfect vision, but it is the best I can do at the moment."

"Protocol dictates that you have an escort and you will have one, regardless of how Commander Adama feels."

Nathalia whirled around so fast to face her mother that her seamstress pricked her finger on a needle she was trying to put into the bottom of the dress. "Leave Bill out of this."

"You are the one who chose to enter into a relationship with him, Nathalia," Mira pointed out. "I still don't know why you did it considering what an inappropriate match you are for one another. But you did it and eventually it will end. Until it does, you still have to keep up appearances. So that means you will either choose an appropriate escort or I will choose for you."

A little while later at Nathalia's apartment, Bill gathered up his belongings for the weekend. Given that she was booked this weekend with an event, Nathalia had suggested he do something with Saul. The two had decided on fishing. They'd done it only a few times before. But this was a perfect opportunity for a guys' weekend. Just as Bill finished packing though, Nathalia's tablet chirped with a text message notification for the umpteenth time in 10 minutes. Out of both curiosity and annoyance, he picked it up and read. It was from Mira Adar and going to Nathalia's phone which explained why a copy was also sent here to her tablet. "Travis is free to attend the State of the Colonies tomorrow night. You just need to confirm with him so that I can list him as your date," it read.

Bill felt his annoyance increase after reading the message. It was a major mistake. But at least now he knew why Nathalia had tried to send him off. The State of the Colonies was the event of the year politically. She had told him that she planned to attend the event solo by preference. Clearly Mira Adar had something else in mind and Bill didn't like it one bit. For all of the consideration he had put into having a relationship with Nathalia Adar, this is what it came down to. He had to be Nathalia's date tomorrow night. There was no question anymore.

The dinner didn't even cross him mind with everything that had been going on. And Nathalia never mentioned it out of consideration for him. But the thought of that arrogant little bastard getting his hands on Nathalia didn't sit well with Bill. He had seen Nathalia's ex out once a couple of months ago. He was well known because of his family connections and Bill could tell just by observation that Travis was not Nathalia's type. She liked a man who could lead others, show compassion, and was well read amongst other things. He would never say that to her. But it was true.

Bill set the tablet down and left the room to store his bag in the guest room next to Nathalia's room. Just as he came out, he saw Nathalia's assistant Bree coming down the hall.

"Hello Bree," he said with a warm smile. "I was wondering if you could help me with something."

"Of course," Bree replied. She was a petite little blonde woman in her early 30's. According to Nathalia she was also the best assistant in the world being able to walk the thin line balancing Nathalia's official obligations in her father's administration against those as first daughter.

"Have you heard anything about Nathalia's date for tomorrow night?"

"There has been discussion about her escort yes. But Nathalia is-hesitant to choose someone to say the least."

"I see. Would you be willing to add me to the guest list? I think it might be best if I were Nathalia's date tomorrow night."

At this, Bree smiled, "I'll take care of it."

"I appreciate it."

When Bill left the apartment a few minutes later, it occurred to him that fishing would have to wait. He'd tell Saul that later. But he knew his friend would understand. As the elevator took him down towards the garage level and the tunnels, Bill realized that he wouldn't be going this route as much after today. Funny how things happen. This morning, he was waging an inner debate within himself about entering into a relationship with Nathalia and now none of that mattered anymore. She needed him in a way that she would never admit to because it was asking a lot of anyone. But he would be there. It was that simple.