A/N: After a big delay, here's the latest peek at the family!
CHAPTER 7
"You look beautiful, Mrs. Adama."
"And you look mighty spiffy, yourself- Mr. Roslyn."
The couple hummed, as their lips came together. The night ahead, was all about them, and they were anxious to get it started.
And maybe, just a little bit anxious in general...
Bill stood behind Laura, as she admired and scrutinized her look in the antique-looking full length mirror, in the corner of their bedroom. Her dress- an exact copy of her famous New Caprican stunner, was as eye catching as ever, as was her flowing hair. Dressed in a nice charcoal grey jacket and slacks, paired with a navy blue sweater, Bill complemented her perfectly, and he loved the way she eyed him appreciatively.
"What do you say we just take all of this off, and get into that big comfy bed of ours, and see what happens?"
Laura's proposal gave Bill pause. It certainly had its merits, however they had a mission to complete, and there was more than time for such activities- later.
"We need to go, and while we still can."
Laura frowned as Bill kissed her quickly, and then dragged her out of their bedroom.
###
The Thrace-Anders were waiting for them in the main living area of the cabin.
Kara and Sam both looked like they were a couple of hard-ass CAGs, ready to give the couple jazz for going out on their first Date Night since Jude's arrival.
"Now there's no coming home for either one of you, unless you're either bombed- or stoned out of your mind!"
Sam Anders grinned at his wife's order, and followed it up, with one of his own.
"And looking as hot as both of you are, you gotta frak at least once, somewhere in public... I'm thinkin' in a restroom, or an alley... somewhere kinda sexy, but still kinda dirty... you know?"
Kara elbowed Sam. "There are no dirty places in Elysian, Babe. Remember? Cuz we've looked all over."
The former jock Pyramid player, turned freedom fighter/Viper pilot, frowned.
"Oh yeah..."
"So, you guys go have fun- we've got this sitch' under control," Kara declared to the Parents. "The little nugget's asleep, and we'll be here if she needs anything. You know, Sam's great with kids, and so am I-"
"Babe, didn't the last time you looked after a kid, result in Kacey Brynn falling and hitting her head on some stairs?"
Kara chewed her bottom lip, and elbowed her husband again.
Bill and Laura stared on, in growing unease.
"You guys should go. Now."
Kara's suggestion was a good one, and Bill & Laura took it- before they changed their minds altogether.
The walk into town was quite romantic, as the couple traveled hand-in-hand. The moment reminded them of their days on the Galactica, and on New Caprica, when their love was new and blossoming into fruition.
As they passed an overhanging tree, Bill reached up and plucked a night blooming flower off of one its branches. With a smile, he tucked it into Laura's red waves, behind her left ear.
She, in turn, smiled back at Bill, and thanked him with a kiss.
"I thought Taurons didn't care for flowers."
Bill chuckled warmly, at his wife's teasing. She knew better of him, and the same of his father. Joseph Adama had been dazzled by roadside wildflowers, upon immigrating to Caprica with his brother, during the Tauron Liberation. Both generations of Adama men openly loved flowers of all kinds... the brighter and sweeter smelling, the better!
"You, Laura Roslin, are still the most beautiful woman, in all of the Worlds. Past, Present, and Future."
She hummed at her husband's use of her maiden name. Many in Elysian still referred to her by it, and he never cared. Though he was honored that she took his name when they married, Bill fully celebrated her heritage, and Laura's family, and that filled her soul with joy.
It was the reason that their daughter carried both of her parents' names, with her own. Jude Persephone Roslin-Adama, came from two families, full of love and tradition, and she was the perfect blend of them.
Bill and Laura had waited so long, to be able to enjoy her..
And now they were leaving their little angel...
Even for a short while, it seemed like an eternity.
The little angel, was in fact, a demon...
Kara Thrace and Samuel T. Anders, were sure of it...
"Why won't she stop crying?"
Kara shrugged at her husband's rhetorical statement, uttered in complete frustration.
"Don't look at me- I'm not her mother!"
Sam gently bounced the baby in his arms, as he eyed his wife's form. "Yeah, well your boobs are every bit as delicious as Laura's- if you know what I mean..."
Kara rolled her eyes. "Give me the kid. I'll hold her, while you go get her a bottle."
"Cool," Sam agreed in relief, as he passed off the wailing Jude to his wife.
"And while you're in the fridge, get me a bottle, too!" Kara shot over her shoulder.
"Of breast milk?"
"No- of beer!"
Jude paused in her crying to make eye contact with Kara, who winked back at her.
"Men are idiots, Nugget. Even on the Shore, they're still single-celled amoebas."
The baby screwed her face up, in disagreement.
"The Old Man is pretty cool, I'll give you that... but he's still a dude."
When Sam returned with the milk and beer bottles, Jude pooped her diaper, causing Kara to sigh.
It was going to be a long night...
The cafe, owned and operateted by the former Raptor team of Racetrack & Skulls, was small and intimate, with low lighting, and soft music in which to fall deeper in love to. The food, was of Virgon style, and delicious to a fault, as was the selection of wines.
But Bill and Laura hardly noticed...
They were too focused on each other...
And their missing of Jude.
They talked non-stop of her.
How perfect she was... the adorable things she did... when she might start crawling- and talking...
"But this is really lovely," Laura stated with actual honesty.
Bill sipped his wine, as he admired his wife from across the candlelit table. "Yes, it is. We came here a lot, before our girl was born, and it's nice to do so again."
Laura hummed in agreement, as she picked at her food. The risotto melted in her mouth, and was extremely flavorful. "Do you remember that awful attempt I made at coq au vin, on New Caprica?"
Her husband chuckled. "It was a good effort."
"Are you kidding, me, Husker? The chicken was dry, and the vegetables melted!"
"A culinary feat, on your part, Teach."
"But I wanted things to be so special that night..."
"They were, anyway..."
"True."
Bill reached across the table, and took Laura's hand in his. "That was the night we made Jude, wasn't it?"
Laura smiled. "It was, indeed."
"I should have been there, the first time our girl was born," Bill declared.
"No."
Before things between the couple could get too weepy, a woman approached their table, and caused Bill and Laura to pause.
"Carolanne..."
Back at the cabin, Jude continued to wail.
Zak Adama and Louanne 'Kat' Katraine had been called in, as reinforcements, in soothing the fretting child.
"What do you want me to do?" Zak asked his ex, who thrust the normally tan, but currently bright pink baby, into his arms.
Kara shrugged. "I dunno. You're her brother by blood. Maybe she'll like you better!"
Jude paused in her crying, just long enough to regard Zak with a tiny smile, and then continued her protest.
"Hey, Cutie!" Kat greeted the baby in an uncharacteristically sweet voice. "You miss your mommy and daddy, huh?"
Jude hiccuped, and drooled on Zak's shoulder, as she eyed her big brother's wife, with her wide dark blue orbs.
"Damn, but you're pretty. You know that?" Kat continued. "Yeah, of course you do. Your mommy was the best president we ever had, and your daddy was our admiral. We all thought of them as our Parents, but you're such a lucky girl, that you get to have them all to yourself..."
"With the exception of now."
Kara, Zak, Kat, and even Jude, all stared at Sam Anders, who'd uttered that last statement.
And then Jude, who'd momentarily paused in her crying, thanks to Kat's flattering babytalk, began to wail again.
Kara shot daggers, at her husband. "Thanks, Sammy- way to go!"
"Sorry."
"It's good to see you, Bill... Laura..."
When the couple continued to stare up at the attractive blond woman at their tableside, the first Mrs. William Adama continued.
"I just want to personally extend my belated congratulations on your daughter... I saw you with her in the park the other day, and she is absolutely beautiful, Laura."
"Thank you."
The two women exchanged genuine smiles, and then Carolanne regarded her ex..
"I'm glad you finally got the daughter that you always wanted, Bill. I was a terrible mother, and wife, and I hope someday, to earn your forgiveness. You deserve Jude, and Laura, and all the happiness that the Shore has to offer."
Bill stood, and embraced his first wife. They had not spoken since he arrived in Elysian, but the time spent there had softened the edges of his contempt.
"Thank you, Anne," Bill replied thickly. He pulled back, and regarded her. Carolanne was still a pretty woman, and there was finally an air of peace about her. "I was no picture, back then. But these days- are you are happy?"
"Yes, very. James, and I died together, when the Colonies fell. We married soon after we arrived on the Shore, and are still very happy. He has no children, but we foster orphaned dogs here- until they can be reunited with their people who are still living. Currently we're caring for a lovely girl named Sofie, and we get to spoil her rotten."
Bill couldn't help but smile. "Zak has mentioned her, on a number of occasions, and that he and Kat, foster pets as well."
"They do," Carolanne confirmed.
Mention of her youngest son, made the woman touch her chest. She swallowed, then patted Laura's shoulder. "I love my sons, truly, and I'm grateful that Lee got to know and have a person such as you in Life- just as Zak has a relationship with you now."
Laura nodded, as her own tears threatened.
"I love your boys as much as I love Jude. Zak is a constant joy, and he has such a good soul. He was so good to me when I first got here, and has been every day, since. Lee was, and still is, very special to me, as well. He and I didn't always agree on matters, but I was always extremely proud of him."
"There were also times when Lee was more Laura's son, than mine," Bill added with a husky chuckle. "It pissed me off, greatly, but it was also very good for them both."
Carolanne embraced Bill and Laura, then quickly took her leave. A few tables over, her new husband- a former pediatrician from Delphi, waved happily, and awaited Carolanne's return.
Alone again, the Roslin-Adamas took a collective breath.
"You think she's drunk?' Bill asked of his ex.
Laura hummed. "On booze- no. On life, and turning a new page- yes."
Her husband grinned. "Speaking of pages, did you see the dessert menu?"
"How are you so good with kids, when you were such a little shit in Life?"
Kat shrugged at Kara's back handed complement. "What can I say- it's a gift!"
Both women silently crept out of the baby's room, with crossed fingers. Jude was finally asleep, and her elders were able to catch a break...
Until they closed the door, that is!
They shared a chocolate lava cake, and a sniffer of aged port. Both tasted like the most delicious sex, ever- and capped their meal perfectly.
"This has been a wonderful night."
"Even if it was interrupted by Carolanne?"
Laura rolled her eyes. "Even so..."
"It wasn't easy, leaving the house tonight, but I'm glad that we did."
"I've enjoyed every minute."
The former admiral could not have agreed more, and said so, in fact. "But you know what will be the best part of the night?"
Laura hummed in reply, then joined voices with her husband-
"Coming home to Jude!"
They felt like little kids on the morning of Saturnalia...
Once in the homestretch to their cabin, Bill and Laura both broke into a run. Holding hands, they made it there in record time, and found the place aglow in welcoming light.
And once inside, the couple found four very exhausted adults- sprawled on the sofa, chairs, and rugged floor of the great room.
The Anders-Thrace duo was together, on the sofa, with Sam's head in Kara's lap. Zak was laying, for the most part, on the floor, but his legs were hooked on one of the side chairs, where Kat was curled up in a tight ball.
All four were snoring loudly...
Wide awake, and in her bassinet, was Baby Jude- dressed in her fifth outfit change of the night! She wore a tie-dyed onesie in shades of pink and blue, and one tiny purple sock. God only knew where the other one was, but her parents had to admit that it was an adorable look on her.
Laura scooped her daughter up in her arms, and inhaled the baby's naturally sweet scent, while Bill gently held her bare foot.
Jude cooed and bubbled with joy, as her mommy and daddy each took turns kissing her fuzzy red head.
She'd missed them, every bit as much as they missed her, and had refused to go to sleep until they returned home- where they belonged.
"There's our girl..."
"There's our Jude..."
The Love Sammie they formed was better than all the food and wine and oohy-gooey chocolate dessert that was consumed earlier. It was better than slow dancing, getting high, or even having wild sex in a public place- because it meant that they were all together, as they'd dreamed of for so very long.
"You two go get settled in the other room, while I take care of the older kids and send them on their way."
Laura nodded at Bill's plan, then kissed him softly. "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"
"Yeah, but I never get tired of hearing you say so."
Jude didn't either, but she was quite sleepy, after all...
###
So when they were finally together, in her mommy and daddy's great big bed, the First Daughter made her way to dreaming.
Bill and Laura followed suit, soon after, but not before exchanging quiet and tender words, as their daughter snoozed between them.
"I know you always say that books are a gift- and they are," Laura stated reverently. "But this little one, is the most wondrous gift of all."
Bill smiled in the moonlight that streamed in through the window overlooking their lake. "Es verdad. With the exception of you, Jude certainly trumps all others that I've ever received- in Life and Now."
The best part of all, was the fact that they each were responsible for giving her to the other...
And, unlike even the greatest of all books to be read, savored, and enjoyed, their life with Jude Persephone Roslin-Adama had no end!
#TO BE CONTINUED#
