The last stone was dropped into place. Adama stood upright and looked over the outline of cabin. Lines of stone marked where walls would stand. He pictured those walls being built, then the roof. In his mind, books filled shelves, and herbs from the garden were hung to dry. In this vision he wasn't alone; he saw Laura holding her hand out to him, inviting him to join her to watch the sunrise.

Laura and the cabin faded. In it's place was his grief which left him feeling tired and sick. That grief would stay with him forever. He would never be the same, nor did he want to be. She would always be in his thoughts filling them because he'd never stop loving her or wanting to share the world with her.

He sat down by her grave and looked up into the sky telling her about the view. A lump formed in his throat as he choked on his grief. His chest felt hollow.

"I laid out the cabin today. It's gonna have an easterly view. You should see the light we get here. When the sun comes up from behind those mountains its almost heavenly. It reminds me of you..."

...

Bill Adama woke in his bunk to the feeling of his heart still aching at the memory. Instead of green earth and birdsong, the stale air of a Battlestar surrounded him as did the snores of his comrades. Pushing himself upright, he rubbed a hand over his face and felt the wetness of tears on his skin. Without hesitation, he flung the blankets off and climbed to his feet, shoving his boots on. He moved quickly through the hallways to one of the communication stations. It was deserted at this time of night. He grabbed a phone and dialed.

"Hello?" A deep raspy voice answered.

"Laura!"

"Bill?" She sounded exhausted but happy to hear his voice. He smiled at that. "It's late hon. What's wrong?"

"I just…I needed to hear your voice," he explained. After his dream he relished hearing the deep cadence of her sleepy voice; it always sounded especially sexy when she first woke up.

"Oh Bill," she breathed compassion laced through her tone. He sighed. She understood. Of course she did. The damn woman always had an intuitive sense of what he thought, felt, and needed. "I'm here. I'm alive. I'm alright and so is the baby."

"I know. I just…"

"We can't help what we fear and dream." She filled in for him.

"Have you always been able to read me so well?"

"Yes. What did you dream?"

"Laura…"

"It's not good to keep it to yourself. Let me be there for you." One of the things he love about her was her huge capacity to care for others.

"It was a memory of Earth. I'd just laid out the cabin, and was sitting by your grave. Not having you there was..."

"One day I will die Bill, that's part of living. Right now, we are both alive and together for years to come."

"I like the idea of years with you," he said and heard her chuckle over the phone.

"I think I like it when you flirt with me." She admitted. "Remember when we talked about the Shore? If we didn't end up back in time, I'd have waited for you there forever. I want you to know that. We'll always have each other." He frowned and reflected on her talk of the Shore. He'd placed his faith in her before, she'd made him believe.

"Well, if you weren't there I wouldn't have stopped searching until I found you." He heard her gasp over the phone. "Laura?"

"The baby is moving!" Bill's anxiety over his dream faded as listened to Laura's delight at their child's movements.

They spent almost an hour just talking, and she felt a pang in her heart when they hung up.

She missed him. It wasn't easy being so in love with someone she couldn't see everyday. She couldn't help it; when two souls connected and fell as in love as theirs had there was an unending longing to be together. She'd once told herself she didn't want to be in love. Love was uncontrollable. Besides she knew how she would love; deeply, completely, and with her whole self. Such a love left her open and vulnerable. Now she found herself lying alone in bed missing the man she loved.

Like Bill, she had her own nightmares, and when she woke up panting and shaking at night she wanted nothing more than her beloved's warmth beside her. She'd rather wake up in the morning to his breath on her neck, lips on her cheek, and fingers on her skin. Laura sighed as she pulled the the covers up around her.

…

Life was stressful, chaotic, and crazy. Bill was in space. Laura was eight months pregnant. Lee and Zak were staying at her house because Carolanne was missing. Her vanishing act had been discovered when the schools hadn't been able to contact her after the boys had gotten sick during class. So, the nurses reached out the boy's stepmother, and Laura had dropped everything she was doing at work to pick them up from school.

Her body protested with cramps and fatigue at the stress from being pregnant and having two sick boys under her roof. They'd stayed with her over a day now and Laura was constantly checking on them, almost as if to prove she was ready to be a mother. She made chicken noodle soup, fetched water and soda, gave them medicine, and keep them entertained.

After dinner Laura sent the boys upstairs to rest or read in their beds. They'd watched enough TV for a month. Despite the weariness pressing down on her body, Laura couldn't stand still. The inevitable confrontation with Bill's ex hung over her head like a guillotine blade, only made worse by the fact she'd never had to interact with the woman on her own. She paced the kitchen wondering if she should call the police. She'd called Carolanne a few times over the past 48 hours, but Lee said it was normal for her to leave like this sometimes.

With a sigh Laura crumpled down at the kitchen table and dropped her head onto the wooden surface. A jab from her stomach caused her to groan, and suddenly she was both laughing and crying at the whole situation. She was reliving her lief. She was married to Bill Adama and carrying his child. She was taking care of Captain Apollo and his little brother while they were sick. What the actual frakkin' frak, she thought as a strangled hiccup came from her throat. She stayed collapsed at the table completely drained until a hard knock banged at the door. Laura groaned. Carolanne, she thought and stood up from the table, taking a moment to stretch some of her knots away.

"Coming!" She called out walking to the door. Laura would rather have high tea with Leoben than deal with the woman. She suppressed the hot flash of anger that surged through her as she closed her hand around the cold metal door nob. How irresponsible could the boys mother be? What if the boys had really been in trouble?

Squaring her shoulders and resting a protective hand on her belly, she opened the door. She nearly jumped in shock.

"Richard?! Wally?!" She exclaimed looking between the two men in front of her. Her mouth hung open in surprise. She motioned them inside and closed the door. They wore well tailored suits, and Laura could smell hints of wood, vanilla, and a tiny trace of smoke from cologne. It was intoxicating - raw and polished at the same time. Unlike Laura who felt like a mess. She took in their raised eyebrows and curious smirks. Then it hit her. Frak, she thought; she'd forgotten about the charity dinner tonight for the Museum of Science; museums were under her jurisdiction.

"Interesting choice of attire for tonight Laura. You always stand out in a crowd, but I think you'll make even more of a statement tonight," Richard said playfully. Laura rolled her eyes.

"We were supposed to pick you up right?" Wally asked taking in her attire of jeans and a sweatshirt. Richard folded his arms and smirked; he decided he liked Laura in a pair of dark jeans. Her hair pulled back was nice too.

"Are you OK? What's going on?" He asked sympathetically at her stressed look. Laura sighed and rubbed her throbbing head which felt like someone had it in a vice.

"The condensed version? My stepsons Zak and Lee have been home sick. Their mother is missing, and I need to stay home with them." She looked apologetically at the two men. Richard was nodding slowly and Wally was frowning. It took a moment for them to process.

"Their mother is missing?"

"Haven't been able to get a hold of her at all." Laura gave an exasperated shrug.

"It's good of you to do this for them." Richard said kindly. "As long as you and junior are holding up alright." His concern was evident in his tone. Laura gave him a small smile. He was in a wonderfully agreeable mood - caring and considerate.

"Tired," she admitted. "I'm sorry about this." Richard shrugged her apology off, playing it cool. He knew when it was advantageous to simply be flexible. Telling Laura to abandon children would not earn him her favor.

"What about the speech you were going to give?" Wally asked.

"I'll give it. I don't think people will mind." Laura smiled gratefully at Richard; this was the nice and thoughtful Richard Adar that she was once good friends with. It was nice to see this side of him again. It hadn't been as apparent since she'd rebuffed his affections.

"Give me a minute. I'll find what I wrote up," she replied before heading to her office. The men were waiting by the door when another knock pounded against the door.

"I'll get it," Richard called. He'd only opened the door only a few inches when a very agitated blond woman pushed in. Richard recoiled from her.

"Where are they?" She demanded without preamble.

"Excuse us miss…?" Richard began. The woman threw him a glare, and stepped around him to march up to Laura who had just come back into the room. "Where are they?" She snapped and everyone heard the ice in her tone. Richard and Wally tensed. Laura froze for a second, but recovered quickly. She'd faced Cylons before after all.

"They're resting in bed upstairs, Carolanne," Laura explained as calmly as possible. Both Richard and Wally had similar 'ah ha" moments. Without warning Carolanne shoved past Laura and marched up the stairs. As Laura moved off to follow her Richard caught her arm.

"I smelled alcohol on her breath," he mumbled in her ear. "Do you want me to come up too?" Laura closed her eyes and sighed but shook her head. If she could handle Baltar she could deal with Carolanne. She squared her shoulders, and followed after Bill's ex up the stairs. She had to take a deep breath at the top; it was irritating how easily winded she was nowadays. Your fault, she thought to the baby. As she approached Lee's room she could hear his voice.

"Can we stay here mom? Dad will be here in a few days anyway." Laura's heart skipped at Bill's children wanting to stay with her.

"You'd rather stay here than come home?"

"This is home too."

"We should talk downstairs," she said in her most presidential tone to Carolanne. The woman slowly stood from Lee's bed and turned to look at Laura. Her eyes narrowed, and her hands formed into fists. A few second passed before Carolanne nodded and followed Laura out of the room. As soon as Lee's door was closed Carolanne was hissing at Laura.

"They shouldn't even be here."

"They were sick and you were missing," Laura snapped back walking toward the stairs. They'd reached the top of the flight of stairs when Carolanne grabbed Laura's wrist and whirled the woman around. Laura braced a hand on the wall as she felt a momentary bit of dizziness.

"I'm taking them home now." Wally and Richard were both downstairs listening hard to the woman's conversation. Both men were ready to spring into action if Laura needed help.

"Not while you are drunk." Laura wrenched her arm away. She could now smell the alcohol.

"Not your concern really, and you don't have the legal right to stop me." Damn, Laura thought. She's right. She crossed her arms and raised her chin anyway.

"It's my job as Bill's wife to make sure his children are safe." The woman took a step closer to Laura whose heels were now at the edge of the first step.

"Your pathetic marriage doesn't make you their mother." Carolanne snapped.

"They want to stay," Laura tried to reason while keeping her gaze steady.

"Are you going to listen to everything your brat says?" She asked snidely indicating Laura's belly. Laura wrapped both hands around her stomach. "No? My sons come home now."

"When you are sober."

"I don't want my sons around either you or Bill any more than I'm forced to endure. Bill was enough of a frak up as a husband and father when we were married. They shouldn't be forced to see him now."

"Forced? Are you really that shallow?"

"Frak you." Carolanne retaliated, and Laura was just not in the mood to deal with her anymore. She snapped.

"Get out of my house!" It was one of the few times in her life she'd raised her voice, and even the men downstairs jumped in shock.

Laura didn't quite see what happened next, but she felt herself falling through the air. Something hit her back. She felt her head slam against something. Then nothing.

Wally and Richard both heard a scream and then the horrible thuds of a body falling down stairs. For a moment time froze. Suddenly both of them were rushing toward the staircase. The sight that met them caused nausea to well up in their stomachs. Richard's face contorted in fear and agony at the sight of Laura lying in a crumpled heap on the floor at the foot of the stairs. A gash on her forehead let out a small steam of blood which ran down her face. Her eyes were closed.

"Laura!" Richard was instantly at her side, and he quickly confirmed she had a pulse. "Wally call the paramedics. Now!" The Mayor looked over the woman he secretly loved and his heart raced. He dragged his eyes away and up the staircase where Carolanne stood with her mouth hanging open. He glared daggers at her, and his mouth twitched with expletives and insults right at the tip of his tongue. His wrath was reigned in when two boys appeared next to her.

"Laura!" Lee yelled as they both bolted down the stairs.

"Mom!" Zak screamed falling down at Laura's side. He moved to try to shake her awake. Wally, having finished talking with paramedics, wrapped him in his arms around the boy and pulled him him back along with Lee.

"We need to wait for the doctors to get here, they'll know how to help her ok? Go sit and wait for us on the couch." The boys stood there looking scared. "Now!"

"I want to stay with her," Zak pleaded.

"I know, I know, but we can't have the doctor worrying about squishing you if you are in the way. Go." Wally ushered the boys over to the couch while Richard knelt over Laura. She looked deathly pale. A chill ran up his spine.

"Richard…" He said in a low shaky voice. "Call whoever you need to and get Adama home." Richard, even though he hated the man Laura had chosen instead of him, immediately pulled out his phone and made the call.

…..

Laura was in the hospital. Carolanne had vanished. Wally was staying at Laura's with the boys. The charity dinner was informed that the three of them had an unforeseen emergency and would not be in attendance. Richard had spent hours pacing the hospital lobby until, and now paced in the spaceport where Adama's transport had arrived five minutes ago. He was ready to explode.

Richard felt his jaw clench, and his blood ran hot in his veins. The love of his life was lying in a hospital, and the doctors wouldn't tell him her condition. He knew she was in pain. Her scream played over and over again in his mind. His fury caused him to trace all her problems back to one person; if Bill Adama hadn't come into her life she'd be fine right now. He nearly growled in frustration. If Laura had chosen him she wouldn't be lying in the hospital. Richard knew he was going to have words with Adama.

The Fleet allowed for humanitarian recall for medical emergencies. Richard had friends he'd been able to contact to help speed up the process to get Adama home. He did it for Laura, but Richard also had a desperate need to yell at someone soon.

"What happened? Is Laura alright?" A deep voice came from behind Richard Adar, and he turned to face the newly arrived and very frantic Major. Bill's eyes bore into the Adars's with an almost overwhelming intensity.

"Let's go" Adar said gruffly turning on his heels. He was the Governor of Caprica and Governors did not have public confrontations. Bill followed the man into the waiting car, where Adar ordered the driver to take them to the hospital as quick as possible.

"My wife? Laura?" Bill immediately pushed for information. His heart felt like it might explode in his chest. "Is she OK?" Each word was delivered with a power and force that made men instantly obey.

"No!" Adar snapped now that they were in private. "Clearly. She's in a hospital!"

"What happened?" Bill demanded. A cold sweat break out over his skin. Fear tortured his stomach and engulfed every corner of his mind, tossing all other concerns aside.

"She was pushed down the frakking stairs by YOUR ex wife." Richard seethed at him.

"No…" what the hell happened? Bill tried wrapping his mind around what Adar was telling him. The other man was glaring daggers at him.

"She's in a frakkin' hospital in pain," Adar's words sliced through the air.

"She's going to be alright though? She and the baby?" Bill croaked. Images flashed through his mind of all the times he'd nearly lost his wife. His head spun. This couldn't be happening.

"I don't know. The Doctor couldn't tell me any details." Adar snapped.

"What?"

"Couldn't break damn confidentiality. He can only tell you, as her husband." He practically spat the word out. "Even though you're the one that landed her in the middle of a domestic dispute."

"I'd never do anything to harm her!"

"Yea? You couldn't seem to leave her alone?" Adar was furious and words poured out of his mouth. He kept heaping on the guilt and insults. But, Bill was too busy thinking about Laura lying in the hospital.

"She has to be alright," Bill muttered holding his head in his hands, as if saying it meant it was true.

"You've only known her less than a year," Adar spat. "There are a lot of people who have loved her a lot longer than you, so if she's not alright, they're coming for you," Adar threatened. Bill didn't even react to the threat. He didn't need to. Instead, he turned to stare out the window, looking for the hospital to come into view. He took a shaky breath when he saw it, and as soon as the car pulled up to the hospital he bolted out of the car.

A few helpful nurses later, and he found himself facing a doctor outside Laura's room. Gone was the cool levelheaded commander; that man didn't exist while his pregnant wife was in a hospital.

"My wife, Laura Roslin, How is she?" He asked the doctor.

"She suffered some bruised ribs, bruising to the spine, and a concussion from the fall." Bill's stomach clenched. "She's regained consciousness a few hours ago, and has been in labor." Bill's eyes widened. "You came just in time though. She's been asking for you." The doctor motioned for him to go ahead in.

"Will she be alright?" Bill asked with a hand on the door handle. We've been through too much.

"She should recover fully. Yes. She is in pain, and labor is proving to be difficult. She'll be alright. Just be there for her." Bill took a deep breath and entered the room. The sight of her in the hospital bed he felt his throat constrict. Monitors beeped around her. His gaze immediately focused on her; her head was thrown back on the pillows and her chest heaved as she gasped for air. He was immediately at her side reaching for one of her hands. She turned her head and smiled when she saw him.

"Bill!" She exclaimed in a weak voice. She grasped his hand back. Her eyes lit up at his presence.

"Laura," He pressed a kiss to her hand. "I'm here my love I'm here." He stared at her transfixed; a thin sheen of sweat covered her skin and her hair was a tangled mess.

"Missed you," She told him, before a moaning in pain. "Oh frak," she hissed at the contraction.

"Missed you too. Everything will be OK," Bill promised. She tried to smile but instead gritted her teeth at the pain of another contraction, instinctively tightening her grip on the hands she was holding. They were so close together it felt almost constant.

"I'm glad you're here." She groaned taking a shaky breath. Bill reached over and brushed her sweat matted hair out of her face.

"Me too."

"Oh Gods." She whimpered before whimpering as another wave of pain hit her. She was not going to scream. "I want this baby out of me!"

"Soon honey, soon. Keep breathing." Her face contorted in pain again. He felt useless as he watched Laura brace herself against the pain before collapsing on the pillow. "Squeeze my hand if you need." Her breathing was ragged. He mumbled soothing words to her as best he could.

"It's been kinda crazy here recently." She whispered suddenly.

"I heard. I'm sorry," he felt horrible about everything she'd been through. Adar's words thundered in his mind. Why couldn't you just leave her alone?

"I'm worried about the boys."

"I'll take care of it. Don't worry about that now." he assured her. She moaned and gripped his hand hard at the pain.

"I think this is when I make a cliched joke about you never touching me again." Bill chuckled slightly which made Laura smile a bit. "Oh Gods!"

"You're almost ready," the Doctor reported after checking her over.

"Bill, I'm scared," Adama's eyes flew down to the woman on the bed; she'd never admitted to being afraid so openly. "What if… we can't keep the baby safe?" She groaned out, still suppressing the urge to scream against the pain. She had his hand him a vice like grip instead. "What…what if…what if something happens to you or me?" Tears slipped out of her eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey" Bill urged. He reached over and cupped her cheek in his free hand and wiped the tears away with his thumb. She looked up into his eyes, and he saw her fear and panic. "I'll protect you both. Don't worry," he urged. He bent over and kissed her forehead. "Don't worry."

"Don't ever leave me," she begged.

"Never," he promised her. She sniffed back her tears.

"Not too much longer," the doctor assured her. Bill kept his gaze on her face. She looked exhausted; her eyes were shut against he pain and her skin shone with sweat. Bill's heart ached for the woman in front of him, but he knew there was nothing he could do.

"I can't wait to meet our baby," she whispered as another contraction ebbed away.

"Me too Laura. Me too." He felt tears welling in his eyes. It wouldn't be long now. He saw her struggling. "Breathe Laura. Deep breaths," he ordered gently. She obeyed.

"Bill? If…if it's a boy." She took a breath. "I'd like to call him Liam."

"Short for…"

"William Joseph Adama…just like his father...the best man I've ever known." Her voice hitched with emotion as she spoke. Tears now fell from Adama's eyes as well.

"Ok," he sniffed.

"Evelyn…Evelyn Judith…Adama for a girl," she gasped out. Their mothers.

"Time to push." The Doctor ordered. Laura groaned but nodded and looked over at her husband.

"I love you," she whispered.

"And I love you," he croaked out. "So much." He pressed another kiss to her hand. "So, so frakkin' much."

Laura moaned at the pain that erupted as she pushed. She felt her bruised ribs and spine protesting against the further strain her body was enduring. She pushed again and again. Time passed. Finally she collapsed against the pillows. Tears flowed down her face mixing with sweat. Bill gently wiped it away with a cool damp washcloth. It felt like an eternity had passed to Laura.

"I'm so tired," her voice was raw and strained.

"You can do this Laura. You're the strongest woman I know," he encouraged. She meet his gaze and saw all the love and support he had for her. She summoned what little strength and energy she had left and pushed. A scream finally was torn from her throat. It was enough though.

Soon the cries of a newborn child filled the room, and Laura collapsed on the pillows completely spent. She craned her neck as much as she could toward the sounds of her child. The nurses were cleaning the baby up. Bill stayed with Laura, holding his exhausted wife while the doctor continued his work. Laura's focus was on the little bundle being placed in her eager arms.

"It's a boy," the nurse said. Bill took in the sight of Laura holding the newborn. It was the most perfect sight he'd ever seen his whole life.

"Our son," he marveled reaching out to wrap an arm around his family.

"Liam," she whispered reverently as she traced his features with a finger. She smiled down at him, before looking over at Bill who had the happiest grin on his face she'd ever seen. She leaned over and kissed him before resting against him. She was drained and elated all at once; she and Bill had a son.

Author's note: it took a little longer to update because I kept rewriting these scenes. Thoughts and reviews are loved and appreciated. Pretty please.