I made a slight change to the end of Chapter 9. It's not really important, but if you're a big fan of Gaeta you might want to go back and read it.

The next day, Dee had insisted that she and Lee host an engagement party for the Admiral and the President in their private quarters. Lee had told her that they were probably trying to keep their engagement a secret for now, so they decided to make the party a small gathering of close friends. They had invited Tigh, he was Bill's best friend after all, and Kara and Sam. Dee hated the thought of having Kara in her quarters, but she knew how much it would mean to the old man to have her there. So there they all were, all seven of them, cramped around Lee and Dee's small table and eating algae lasagna.

"So when's the big day? When are you two kids going to tie the knot?" Kara smiled, looking back and forth from the Admiral to the President, who were sitting across from her at the dinner table.

"We haven't really talked about that yet." Laura looked at Bill, wondering if he had any suggestions on the matter.

"Well, if everything goes according to plan and we end up on Earth in a few weeks, maybe we'll get married there, maybe on a beach with sun and wind and the smell of salt water." Bill looked back to Laura to see if she approved of the plan.

"That's very romantic of you Bill, but I think we should get married on Galactica." This was certainly not the response Bill had been anticipating and looked at her for further explanation. "It's been our home for the past few years. This is where we met, this is what brought us together, this is where our family is. We wouldn't be able to ensure that everyone would be able to be at our wedding if it were on Earth. And this is your ship, Bill, it just feels right to get married here."

Bill laughed, "And where do you propose we have the ceremony? In the hangar bay?"

Laura's eyes lit up and she held Bill's hand, "Yes! The hangar bay would be perfect. I know we agreed not to talk business tonight, but Lee, when are you and Kara leaving for the recon mission?"

"In four days."

"Then let's have the wedding in three days, Bill. I know it's short notice, but we both want Lee and Kara there, and everything's liable to get chaotic after the recon team returns and with the plans for settlement on Earth, who knows how the civilians and media will react. What do you think?" Laura also wanted to make sure that if something were to happen to Lee or Kara while on the mission, that they had been at the wedding, she knew that it would be important to Bill.

"It's going to be a media frenzy either way, Laura. And there are so many plans to make. It will obviously have to be a large state wedding, decorum demands it." Bill had said that just to get a rise out of Laura, he knew how much she hated decorum. He did too for that matter, but she knew he was right, the wedding of the Admiral and the President would have to be a big one. "And we have to get the hangar bay, if that's really where you want to get married, ready for the ceremony. We have to make security plans for the entire government and most of the military being in one place at the same time, I don't even know where to start with that . . ."

Laura smiled and cut him off, "And I have to get a dress, try to dig up some rings, find someone to bake a large algae cake. I know it's a lot of work, Bill, but I think we can do it. Please?" She squeezed his hand and smiled at him, a smile she knew he couldn't say 'no' to.

"To answer your question, Kara, we're getting married in three days. Which means that you," Bill squeezed Laura's hand and looked her directly in the eyes because he knew she wouldn't like what he had to say, "you have to tell Tory about us, about the wedding, about everything. Tonight."

Laura grimaced at the thought of telling her aid, she knew Tory would be furious that she had kept the relationship a secret from her and would be even more furious at the obscene amount of work that she would have to do in the next three days. "Do I have to? She's going to kill me."

"She's not going to kill you, you're engaged to the Admiral of the Fleet. She'll probably yell at you for a few minutes, but then she'll arrange a press conference for you to confess all to the public and everything will be fine." Laura smiled, hoping Bill was right and that the next three days would go smoothly.