Title: Ghost from the Past 7?

Author: GEM

Date written: 1/23/06

Rated: T

Word count:

Story Timeline: pre-mini, season 1

Category: Dradis Challenge

Warnings: None I can think of

Characters: Roslin/Adama

Summary: Dradis Contest: Secrets Revealed Week #7 Adama/Roslin

Spoiler: Slight mini season 1 and 2

"Jump complete, all ships are accounted for sir." Gaeta reported.

"Raptor 121 is aboard sir." Dee offered after Gaeta's report

"Thank you Mr. Gaeta. Thank you Dee. Mr. Gaeta you have the deck."

Adama left CIC heading for his quarters. He knew that Lee and Lauren had landed and that they would be bring Anika by soon. He needed a few minutes with Laura before they came.

---

The raptor came to a complete stop on the hanger deck. "Well, that trip was a little more than I bargained for. Wildcard said pushing the navigation console into the upright position and producing a clipboard to begin the post flight checklist.

"Yeah" Lee agreed as he too ran through his own post flight list before he undid Anika's belts and picked up her bag. "Ready to go little one?"

"Yes"

"Hey you talk Lee teased Anika smiled. "Lauren, find Starbuck when you're done and fill her in then meet me at dad's."

"Will do Apollo, I'm almost done here. "

Anika smiled as Lee picked her up and carried her out of the Raptor and onto the flight deck. "Hey, little one let's go find your mom." He whispered to her as he walked off the flight deck. The deckhands were busy and if they noticed the normally tight-ass CAG carrying the little girl off the deck, no one dared say a thing about it.

Lauren finished her post flight and then joined Chief Tyrol for a quick debrief.

"How'd she fly Sir?"

"Like a Jewel Chief. Keep it up." Lauren stepped off the wing and onto the deck.

"Yes Sir."

Lauren turned to face the Chief "Hey have you seen Starbuck?"

Before he could answer a blond haired pilot came up behind her. "Right here."

Lauren jump. HOLY FRAK, Kara you scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry. What's up?"

Lauren stepped closer to whisper something to Starbuck. "Not here. Follow me." Both women quickly left the hanger deck and walked down the corridor.

---

When Bill Adama entered his quarters he found Laura patiently waiting for him. He sat down next to her on the couch and motioned her to come closer.

"How did it go?"

"Fine, Madame President."

"Don't Madame President me William Adama." She chided.

Bill couldn't help but smile and pull her closer. " And why not?"

"You're avoiding the issue."

"Am I? We didn't loose anyone so it's a good day."

"And our special mission?"

Laura noticed Bill tense at the mention of the mission. Had something gone wrong? "What is it?"

----

"We found her on the Freedom. Lauren said as the walked down the corridor from the hanger deck. "Lee is taking her to his father's quarters right now. I have to meet him there."

"That great news." Kara said. "Maybe I should wait. She's apt to be overwhelmed. I mean she hasn't seen her mother in weeks." They stopped in the corridor to consider it for a moment.

"I hope your not doing this because you don't feel you helped because you did. There will be plenty more to do too."

"No, I know that."

"I'm not going to arguer with your logic. It makes sense."

Kara patted Lauren on the shoulder "Go on catch up with Lee before your late for the reunion. Tell the Commander and the President I'll stop by later on."

"Kara are you Okay?"

"I'm fine. Go."

Lauren didn't buy that Starbuck was fine but she followed her request and broke into a jog to catch up with Lee." See you Later, Kara."

---

Lauren caught up with Lee and Anika just outside the Commander's quarters. Lee was talking to Anika about the Galactica. She seemed very fascinated with the hustle and bustle of the ship's activities. Anika seemed to be getting along with him very well.

Lee stopped in front of his father's quarters and adjusted Anika who he was holding against his hip. "Okay, little one." Lee whispered.

"ee, mommy." Anika asked pointing to the door.

Lee couldn't help but laugh at his baby sister's pronunciation of his name. Lauren did as well. "Yes, Mommy." Lee motioned for Lauren to go first.

She stepped up to the hatch and knocked.

---

Bill broke eye contact with Laura when there was a knock on the hatch. He took Laura's hand and then called for the person to come in.

"Bill what's going on?"

Lauren Myers stepped through the door. "Commander, Madame President" She saluted.

"At ease, Lauren."

"Yes Sir. We have…"

Lee stepped through the door and Laura quickly ran to him when she saw the little girl in his arms. Lee put Anika on the ground when he came through the hatch and let her meet her mother half way. "Mommy!" The little girl ran to her mother. Laura was consumed in tears as she scooped up her little girl "Oh, munchkin!" Laura knew she shouldn't cry but she could hold it back Her little girl was home. Bill came up behind Laura he put a hand on the small of her back and guided her safely back to the couch where she sat holding tightly onto her daughter and kissing her.

It was clear to him that Laura was overcome, rightfully so, she held her daughter in her arms and they both cried happy tears. Bill couldn't help to shed a tear of happiness himself.

"Oh munchkin I missed you so much." Laura brushed the tears out of her eyes and held Anika away from her to look at her. "I'm so happy I found you, baby." She brushed tears from Anika's eyes as well.

Lauren and Lee looked on with the Commander at the reunion they too were have a difficult time hold back happy tears. "We all make a wonderful group don't we." Lauren offered as she leaned back into Lee comforting embrace.

"I miss you, Mommy." Anika said as she looked into her mother's eyes. "I want to play."

Everyone in the room laughed. Laura smiled at her little girl. "In a little bit munchkin. Right now I just want to hold you."

"Why?"

"Because, I missed you and I love you."

"Love Mommy too. I cuddle with Mommy."

Bill couldn't help but smile at the sight of Laura and his little angel. Lauren and Lee went to take their leave but were stopped by the sound of Laura's voice. "Please stay."

"We don't want to intrude. " Lee said.

"ee, stay." Ankia spoke for her mother's arms in her cute voice.

Lee looked at Ankia, Laura, and his Dad and then to Lauren. "Well, now that I can't refuse." He took Lauren by the hand and led her to the leather chairs next to the couch where Laura and Anika now sat.

Laura looked over to see what Bill was doing. He seemed surprised? "What?" She asked quietly.

Bill knelt down next to Laura "You're prefect She prefect." He brought a hand up to caress Laura's cheek. Anika looked on, she seemed confused by this. Lee noticed her change in attitude. She seemed to shot her father a glare as to say Why are you touching my mother? She held tighter to Laura as her mother and his father had a silent conversation. A conversation that didn't require words just their eyes.

Laura finally turned her attention back to Anika and noticed her little girl's change in demeanor. "What's wrong, honey?"

Anika looked over at Bill and pointed "Who he? Why he touching Mommy?"

Laura smiled at her and Bill put a hand on Laura's knee as a sign of comfort. Anika was getting fidgety. Anika, This is Commander Adama. He's my friend." Laura paused wondering if she should go on. "He's also your, Daddy." Laura finished quietly. Laura turned Anika around to face him and started to hand her to her father. Anika fought her. She held on to her mother tightly and retreated farther into her embrace and began to cry.

Lee and Lauren watched helplessly as Anika threw a fit. She was rejecting her father and Lee's heart broke for his father. Lauren watched as the express on her Commander's face changed from joy to disappointment. Ankia was afraid of him.

"Anika, it's alright." Laura rubbed her back and looked up at Bill she was beside herself. Anika began to cry, scream really. She had never expected Anika to act this way toward him.

Lee walked over and sat next to Laura and tried to help by making eye contact with Anika. Lee saw more pain and aguish on his father's face as he tried to calm her down. Laura looked her over to make sue she wasn't hurt. She found nothing. "Anika please calm down. Tell Mommy what's wrong?"

Lauren saw Bill Adama heading for the hatch. He walked silently across the room and out the door. Laura heard the hatch close. She looked around the room and noticed Bill was gone. Her heart broke. Why would Anika do this? She noticed that Lauren got up and was heading out to go after him. "No, Lauren."

"But…"

Lee looked at the President. "Someone should go."

Laura looked at him and smiled. "Yes, and that someone should be me." She handed Anika to Lee, she had calmed down a bit but was still quite upset. "I'll be right back." Laura stood up and walked out of the room in search of Bill Adama.

--

Lauren took a seat next to Lee and did her best to help him calm Anika. She seemed better now that Lee had a hold of her. He was bouncing her on his knee. When she was calm enough to talk he stopped and turned her around to face him. "Little one, why did you cry like that?"

"Daddy bad. Hurt Mommy."

Lee heart broke more. He had to do something to help Anika get to trust his father, her father. He did the only thing I can think of he got up and pulled a picture off his father's desk and sat down next to her again. "Anika, I want to show you something. See this picture." Lee put the picture in front of her so she could see it. "That's me." He said as he pointed to the taller of the two redheaded boys and that's my…"

"Daddy." Anika finished.

"Yes, he's my Daddy and Anika he's not bad."

Anika smiled. " Me Daddy, is ee Daddy too."

Lee and Lauren laughed. "That's right."

Lauren spoke up. "Hey if he's Lee's Daddy he can't be that bad. What do you say you give him a chance?"

"He's been wait a long time to meet you little one." Lee said as he kissed her on the head.

----

Laura found Bill about an hour later standing on the observation deck. "Billy told me about this place. I thought he was kidding."

Bill stood with his back to her staring out the window. "He wasn't."

Laura slowly descended the steps and stepped around the cushions on the deck. She came up behind him and put her arms around his waist. "You're a hard person to find on this ship."

"When I want to be." He said putting his hand over hers.

"I'm sorry Bill. I don't know what got into her."

"It's okay, Laura. Really."

"No it's not." Laura tightened her hold on his waist and put her head against his back.

Bill turned her around to face him. He was now holding her around the waist. He looked her in the eyes. His pain was evident to her. "I've never been a good father. She hates me. It's okay."

"William Adama, don't EVER let me hear again! She doesn't hate you. I won't let her. You are a good man and a good father."

"I was never there for my boys. They were all their mother's doing. I was too busy doing my job" He smiled at Laura and held her tight. "Then I met you."

"And I fraked up by not telling you about her in the first place so you could be there." Laura could see tears well up in his crystal blue eyes and then they began to spill out.

"I was ready, Laura. I was really looking forward to being her father.

Laura heart broke as she held him while he cried. She knew this was one of those times were they were no longer Commander and President but Laura and Bill. "You are still her father. You will get your chance."

Bill wiped the tears away and held her as she continued, "She's scared, Bill. She's been alone all these weeks. She meets new people today that tell her they know her mother and will take her to me. We're reunited after a cylon attack that she's in the middle of and that would scare the hell out of anyone. Then I go and tell her hey this person that you've never meant is your father. I mean the poor thing, Bill." Laura began to cry herself "what was I thinking? I should have waited a couple of days she's overwhelmed.

Bill held her in his embrace "So, are you Laura. I know we will get through this. I'm sorry I was being selfish. I wasn't thinking about how this would effect you."

"No, you weren't selfish. You want to be the best father you can be to her. I understand that."

Bill lifted her chin so he could look her in the eye. "You know I still love you. I love you so very much, Laura." Their lips meant and he kissed her softly. She needed more from him so she deepened the kiss and he went right along. Each of them taking refuge in the others love.

When they finally broke the kiss Laura looked at him. "I love you too."

Bill smiled and kissed her again lightly. "What do you say we get back to our girl?" Laura smiled and broke the embrace. Bill put an arm around her and they walked off the observation deck.