Colonial Day 0111
Day 48
"This place is amazing!" Emma exclaimed as she, Kara and Lee stepped out on to the open garden on Cloud 9. "Why can't we live here?"
"It's frakkin awesome." Kara agreed basking in the imitation daylight.
"Kara!" Lee scolded shaking his head.
"What? Come on Lee, she's not a baby." Kara countered playfully nudging Emma and rolling her eyes.
"No but she is the President's daughter, show respect."
"She's my pal, right kiddo?"
"Right." Emma agreed, thrilled that the popular pilot considered her a friend.
"I know it's fake but compared to the tin can that is Galactica, this place is paradise. I never understood why people spent good money for simulated reality in space. Now I'm so glad they did."
"My friend Kate and her family went every year. They said it was the best of both worlds." Emma recalled laying down on the grass and watching the clouds. "There was a huge splash park too and ziplines."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up. Splash parks and ziplines? Why am I just hearing about this?"
"No. We're here to work - not play games." Lee reminded, glaring at Kara.
"Check the schedule Captain. Log says AM post is to President Roslin's daughter." Kara gleefully reminded. "We go where she goes and I think she's going to the splash park. Right Em?"
"Right."
"So unless you're ignoring orders, you better suit up Captain."
"I heard you were on the ship." Bill greeted as he entered his quarters and found Emma studying his bookshelf.
"Commander." Emma replied instinctively going to attention. "I was just grabbing a couple books-"
"It's fine." Bill assured guarding a smile at her military response. "How was Cloud 9 - aside from the sniper?"
"Paradise." Emma dragged out her words and her body to join Bill on the couch. "Can't we relocate? Cloud 9 One? Mom won't have any trouble keeping me on that ship."
"I bet. Sorry to disappoint you but you're stuck on Colonial One. It's the safer ship." Bill disliked being the bearer of bad news and decided to redirect the conversation. "What did you grab this time?"
"Herodotus, Pliny and Lucin." Emma reported holding up her finds.
"Military science?" Bill noted with surprise.
"I figure it's appropriate for Colonial day." Emma shrugged. "Not to mention our general circumstances. Plus you like it."
"Pliny and Lucin are okay. Herodotus was required reading." Bill warned, taking the book and flipping through its pages. "It's good to keep well rounded but I thought you preferred the liberal arts."
"I figure it will be useful for officer training school one day." Emma cautiously revealed, keeping her eyes on the books in her hand.
"Officer training school?"
"Yeah. I want to be a pilot like Kara, Boomer and Lee."
"You don't want to be a pilot Emma." Bill replied with a deep sigh, all too familiar with the fleeting desires of youth.
"I can do it. I can take orders and learn to fly a viper. Kara already told me about the glitches. You guys are heroes and family. I could finally belong somewhere." Emma stopped at the last words and realized that her impassioned speech may have gone too far.
"You don't have to be a pilot to belong on Galactica Emma. You're welcome here anytime." Bill said resting his hand on her knee as quiet reassurance. "There's a party tonight."
"I know. Mom's doing campaign stuff." Emma muttered quietly, disappointed by the Commander's response to her news.
"I know it's late notice but I don't have anyone to go with and I don't care to attend these types of things alone. I like to have a partner to use as a distraction if needed…" Bill paused and turned to face Emma. "Would you be interested in going with me?"
Emma's drawn face lit up at the invitation. "I'd love to."
"She's a little young for you don't you think?" Laura teased as she watched Emma run over to meet Kara at the bar. Laura had notice Bill and Emma together when she entered the party but decided to let them have their time together.
"Thank you Bill." Laura said turning to face the Commander. "It means a lot to her."
"She's a good kid." Bill replied, glancing to check on Emma. "She'd make a great pilot."
"A what!" Laura gasped, shaken by the unexpected statement.
"I'm not serious." Bill said, masking his amusement at her panic. "Although she did bring it up today. I think I talked her out of it, I just wanted you to know."
"When does this get easier?" Laura wondered aloud, resting her hand on her racing heart.
"It doesn't." Bill warned as he watched the men and women on the dance floor. "Dr. Baltar… interesting choice."
"I figured, the devil you know." Laura reasoned with a helpless shrug.
"Politics. As exciting as war, definitely as dangerous." Bill conceded turning towards Laura and pausing to take in her beauty.
"Though in war, you only get killed once. In politics, it can happen over and over."
"You're still standing."
"So are you." Laura replied with a smile.
"And I can dance." Bill said swaying gently to the music.
"I remember." Laura replied with a knowing smile. "You sure your date won't mind?"
"I think she found a younger man." Bill reasoned pointing out Emma and Lee dancing on the other side of the room.
"In that case..."
16 Years Ago
"I love this song." Laura moaned sensually swaying to the music. "There is something about jazz music that speaks to me."
"What does it say?" Bill pressed, enjoying the view from his side of the table.
"It tells me to live. Enjoy what you have. Don't worry about tomorrow because you might not have one."
"Want to dance?" Bill asked standing up and extending his hand.
"Always." Laura agreed, placing her hand in his and letting him pull her up from her chair.
Bill pulled so hard Laura was propelled into his body. Her drinks were quickly felt and she rested her head on his shoulder to keep the room from spinning.
"This is nice." Laura said, drowsily nestling her head in Bill's neck.
"It is nice." Bill agreed running his hands along her body, the sheer dress revealing her curves.
Sensing his interest Laura slowly traced her fingers up his neck and ran them carefully threw his hair. Bill's hot breath burned her shoulder as she felt his rough lips on her milky skin. Soft accidental kisses gave way to a trail of desperate passionate kisses up her neck, to her chin, before stopping at her lips.
Bill Adama's bright blue eyes searched her cool emerald ones. Laura drank too much to tell what they were looking for: consent, approval or something else entirely. Whatever it was he found it before she could ask questions of her own and hungrily reached out for her lips, biting them slighting before taking her tongue into his mouth.
