Her last moments were quiet and peaceful, the room was quiet and everything was still. It was just him and her in their room, the lights dimmed low so it would not hurt her eyes. As she laid on the bed, he held her hand in his, making small talk with her, reassuring her that everything would be okay and that he would see her soon. Watching her take her last breath of life was probably the hardest thing he had to do in his lifetime, not only had he lost a son, but now lost the woman he had fallen madly in love with. And there was no getting them back, they were in the Gods hands now, both the deceased and living. Before letting Doctor Cottle take her away, he pressed a kiss to her lips, and slowly slid the ring off her finger and placed it back on his.
The funeral was the hardest thing for him to do, for him to stand in front of all the people of the fleet, who were depending on him to take them to Earth, and be completely broken was not easy. He watched the coffin be placed into Airlock with a flowers and the colony flag draped nicely across and the doors close. He smiled a little and stepped back as he watched through the window as the casket flew out into space and closed his eyes. That was it. President Laura Roslin was gone. He stood at the window, staring at the ground as he waited for everyone to exit.
Saul watched as everyone shuffled out. Tears did not begin to explain the level of anguish shown from the fleet. He stood in the back of the room, closing the door behind them. He looked to his friend, slowly walking closer to him, "Bill?" He swallowed, his own level of grief at it's peak, "We should uh...I should get you back to your room." He hated the woman at first, having thrown her in the brig and nearly shooting down her raptor when she made an escape those few years before, but he had come to understand her while on New Caprica, came to trust and respect her even, "Come on."
Bill looked at the window once more before nodding his head and turning around, letting out a sigh. It was obvious the man had been crying, tears were still forming in his eyes. "Let's get a drink..." He spoke as he walked out of the room slowly, making his way down to the room that him and Laura had shared for a few years. The room where they escaped when things were stressful, where they were able to be themselves and not have to worry about the positions they upheld. He had been up twenty four hours, not even wanting to go near the bed that they had shared.
"You going to be alright here?" Saul looked around, it still had her touches in it. Little things that others may not notice, but he did. He picked up her violet scarf resting next to the bed and smiled sadly, "She was a beautiful woman, Bill. It was a great service. It's what she would have wanted, you know."
Nodding his head, he glanced at the scarf that the man was holding up as he grabbed the bottle of scotch he had not touched since his meltdown last time and brought glasses over to the table. "I got that for her.." He mumbled as he poured himself a drink and sighed. "She wanted a lot of things. Big pain in the ass, that woman was." He said laughing as he thought of all the times Laura wanted things that seemed inevitable to even achieve, but in the end always got her way. Sitting down, he sipped the liquid slowly and a little at a time.
"Yeah." Saul swirled the liquid in the glass a couple times before nodding, "Yeah she was." He slowly sits, "I know this isn't...this isn't the best of times to tell you, but I thought you should hear it from me and not by rumor...Caprica lost the baby this morning." He had tears in his eyes, but he was able to keep them at bay for the most part. He takes a sip of the amber colored fluid and smirked, "It's been months...this tastes damn good."
Bill shook his head and stared at the man, "Saul, I am so sorry.." He said feeling absolutely terrible for his oldest pal, knowing how badly he had wanted to have a child. First Ellen not being able to physically, he could only relate with the death of his own son. "You would have been an amazing father." He said as he took off his glasses and placed them on the table. "If there is anything I can do, please let me know. You are my best friend, I'm always here for you." He nodded his head up and down to the drink comment he made.
Saul shook his head slowly, finally letting a tear fall, "We were going to name him Liam...I wanted him to...to have a strong name." He smiled a little, "It was never meant to be, I guess." He adjusted himself in the seat and swallowed, "She uh...she went to Gaius Baltar already, so..." Saul didn't know if he should have followed her or fought for her or just let her go. He did know, however, this is where he belonged right now. "Roslin was a hardass. I was shocked as hell when the two of you shacked up." Change the subject, always a good tactic.
Bill listened as tears continued to roll out of his own eyes and nodded his head, "Liam is a perfect name." He said nodding his head up and down. "She loves you Saul, there is no doubt about that. Gaius is her friend though, and right now I just think she needs someone to talk to, like you with me vice versa." He spoke as he finished his drink and poured more into the cup. Hearing about Laura, he smirked and sighed, "Yeah, you and the entire fleet." He said smirking. "She acted like a hardass." He said in a teasing tone, knowing the woman was a true hardass fighter with every bone in her body.
"I don't think so. I don't even know if I want her to come back." Saul shook his head slowly, watching his friend and letting his own tear fall before quickly wiping it, "You know what this means though. If all that bullshit she talked about with the scrolls and Pythia is right, we aren't far from Earth. We...the fleet needs a day, after today, we'll...we'll get back to it, alright? That's all Roslin wanted was to see us get to Earth. A real Earth not a Kara Thrace bullshit Earth." He swallowed, taking another sip of the amber liquid.
Bill listened and nodded his head slowly, leaning over he refilled Saul's glass of scotch and then sat back in his chair. "I know what she wanted." He spoke quietly, "We will get to Earth with the help of everything we have, Scrolls, and Kara." He said looking at the man. "I believe in her just like I believe in you. We need to work together as a team. I know it sounds crazy, but what the frak has been normal lately." He spoke as he took another drink. "We will get there soon."
"The uh...the other Cylons were there. Did you see em? Lee made a great speech. Who knew your boy had it in him." Saul shook his head, smiling slightly, "Tory was...just sobbing. I didn't think she would. I heard her badmouth Laura left and right when we would meet. She always took Baltar's side after she found out, but...I guess it finally got to her."
"I saw them," He said nodding his head up and down, "I thanked all of them for coming." He said as he swirled the scotch around in his glass. He smirked when he heard Saul mention his son and shrugged his shoulders, "He is very talented." He said knowing Lee was going to be taking on the presidency. Hearing about Tory, he sighed and took a drink. He never communicated with the woman really, but he did know how upset Laura was after finding out she was sleeping with Baltar. "Laura meant a lot to many people."
"I think now more than ever. Ten ships were ready to stick with her during the mutiny, Bill. Ten. Just because she asked them to. That's...crazy as hell." Saul shook his head, "It was because of her that you all went to Kobol. Because of her, we were able to get out of New Caprica. Sam, Tyrol, and myself would all like to take credit for it, but she was the ringleader. We would have blown one another's heads off if it weren't for her. She kept Hera Agathon safe too. Both there and during the mutiny." Saul chuckled, almost bitterly, but in his mind it wasn't, "I've never met a woman like her and I doubt I ever will again." He leaned forward, "Did you know she slapped me down on New Caprica? Without hesitation...I didn't think she had an angry bone in her body."
Bill listened as the man in front of him praised the woman he loved with all of his heart and smiled, nodding his head up and down. Drinking a little of his scotch, he looked up at the man and shook his head as he began to laugh hard. "No, I didn't." He said as he rubbed his eyes, "Without hesitation, huh?" He said as he continued to laugh just trying to picture the scenario in his head. He had seen Laura get angry but never resolve to physical abuse.
"I don't even remember what I said now, but yeah." He grinned, finishing his glass, "Do you want something to eat? Did you want to sleep or something." Saul shrugged, "I don't know how to deal with this. I've gotten so used to...used to death." His mind quickly returned to Caprica and their lost son before he shook it and looked back to his friend.
Bill let out a sighed and finished off the rest of his drink, "No, I think I might just need to get some rest." He spoke nodding his head up and down, knowing he needed to get some sleep or his schedule would be entirely off for a long period of time. "It's a numb feeling.." He spoke as he placed the cup down on the table and folded his glasses.
Saul nodded, then reached out and took his friend into a hug. He had never done it before, but it seemed as if he needed to right now, "I'm sorry, Bill. I really am. I thought she'd pull through again." He replied hoarsely into the other man's ear. He was always devoted to Bill Adama and probably always would be.
Bill hugged the man tightly, patting his back and nodded his head. "Thank you, Saul. I am sorry about the baby too. I meant what I said, you would have been a great father." He said blinking back some tears before pulling away and looking at him. "I'm here if you need me, but let's ease off the booze again." He said knowing that Laura would not want him drinking again, nor did he want Saul getting back on the habit as well.
"Yeah, alright." He nodded, walking to the door. Saul looked at his hand, the violet silk scarf he had forgotten to put down. He gently places it on a nearby table before glancing to his friend once more and walking through the hatch after he opens it. Saul quickly realized that he was just as broken and upset as his friend was. They each had different situations, but he would figure this all out. He would get them to Earth for Bill. He walked to CIC and looked around at the empty chairs, but gazed to the DRADIS for anything to help him find what he was searching for.
After the door closed behind the man, Bill put the bottle of scotch away and walked slowly over to the table, picking up the scarf. Looking down at the material he had given Laura, he closed his eyes, images of her wearing it flooded into his mind, it was the woman's favorite color. Hell, it even smelled like her and the perfume she always wore. Moving back throughout the room, he sat on his side of the bed and unbuttoned his jacket, taking it off he placed it on the chair beside the bed and then laid down, looking at her pillow and sighed. "Oh, Laura.." He whispered before turning around to face the wall and closed his eyes.
Kara Trace took a break from sitting with her husband in sickbay. She climbed up to the viper she had returned from the dead in and began to play with the knobs of her DRADIS. The service was too hard for her, but Laura Roslin had been there for her many times and Kara knew she had to be there for her. She tilted her head to the side and watched the small screen as it blipped, narrowing her eyes, "The frak?" She mumbled, doing it again. Slowly, Kara began to widen her eyes, "Oh my gods." She leaves it on as she quickly climbed from the bird, jogging to the Admiral's quarters, but noticing someone in the CIC first. She paused, knowing Adama was going through enough for the dar. She opened the door, looking to her bald superior officer, "Colonel Tigh...I think I have something."
Tigh was quick to follow the young woman, anything to make his friend believe that the President's death wasn't all for nothing. He stood with the young woman, chuckling when he realized what was on her screen with her. "I'll be damned. You want to tell the old man?"
Kara glanced to Tigh and shook her head slowly, "I can't...I can't do that right now. I'm going to go back to Sam, I just..."
"It's alright." Saul gave her a pat on the back and watched as she walked away. He couldn't help but grin, knowing he'd make Bill's day. He knocked on the hatched to the old man's door before opening it, "Bill." He called.
Bill sat up from the bed slowly as he heard Saul's voice from the door and rubbed his eyes, "Yeah?" His voice was groggy.
"Starbuck found something strange on the DRADIS video from her bird. I think we found it, Bill. I think she was right. I think she was on Earth." He smirked.
Bill stood up from the bed and grabbed his jacket, buttoning it up quickly and slipped on his glasses. "Show me." He said as he quickly walked out the door and down to the hangar deck. "Where is Starbuck?"
"She went back to Anders." Saul walked him to the large Viper, "I left it on so you could see the spot. If you watch closely..." He gently turns the dial, "See? Right there. See that?" He grinned, he couldn't help it.
Bill climbed into the bird and looked at the DRADIS screen closely and carefully. "Get the coordinates and take them to CIC," He spoke as he climbed back down and looked at Saul smiling a little. "I'm going to send Kara to double check." He said nodding his head up and down as he made his way to sickbay. I the screen was correct, they had finally made it. They had found Earth, they had found their home. Walking to Sam's bed, he looked at the blond with her back turned to him and sighed, he walked slowly over and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Starbuck.." He said quietly.
Kara jumped ever so slightly, "Sir." She couldn't bring herself to look at him. She knew she'd be able to see the sorrow in his eyes and she just couldn't take it at that moment.
Bill watched the girl in front of him and sighed, "Starbuck, I need you to go check out those coordinates." He said looking at her and leaning down to make eye contact. "I think you found Earth." He said smiling a little.
"I told you I was there and you didn't believe me the first time. Why would you start now?" Her voice was quiet and hurt, "You had the last days with your girlfriend, why can't I have mine with my husband." Kara bit her lip, turning her head sideways, but not able to fully look at the man, "I'm not leaving him alone."
"Given the situation at hand, Kara, it was hard. But I did, so did Laura. Who do you think gave you Demetrius?" He asked as he looked at Sam and nodded his head. "I'll let you know what we find." He spoke as he turned and walked out of the sickbay, looking at the walls on the cracking ship, knowing Galactica was falling apart. Walking into the CIC, he looked at the logs and sighed, "Send Hotdog out to check these coordinates." He spoke as he looked at Saul and then back at the DRADIS.
Saul grinned, nodding, "Yes, Sir." He spoke on the intercom in the pilots room. Sending the young pilot off when he arrived to the CIC. He pat his friend on the arm when they were alone again, "Earth, Bill."
He took in a deep breath and nodded his head, "I hope so." He said as he watched the map as the viper went out of the hangar deck. They were all tired, tired of searching, he was ready to get everyone off these ships and give them what he had been promising for years. The CIC was quiet, everyone was waiting for the report back from Hotdog. Bill prayed to the Gods that this was the place they had been looking for.
Hotdog made another pass and couldn't help laughing to himself, "Sir, It's...There's animals and green grass and...and an ocean." He grins, being sure to capture video of it all, "We've found Earth."
Tigh claps his hands together, laughing as he looked to his friend, "Thank you, Laura Roslin." He cheers, looking to his best friend. This had been a long time coming. Ellen always thought of it as a pipe dream, but Caprica thought it would be real. There were many discussions that occurred with both the women in his life, "We found it, Bill."
Bill smiled when seeing the video footage through the screen and closed his eyes, feeling overwhelmed with joy and happiness. "Return to Galactica, Hotdog." He said as he grabbed the receiver and came over the intercom. "People of the fleet, this is the Admiral. It's been a very long journey, we have lost and gained many loved ones throughout this fight. But this is the moment we have all been praying for to come, I am happy to announce that we have found Earth. We are going home." Hanging up the receiver, he listened to the many cheers throughout the ship and smiled a little to himself. "Thank you, Laura." He mumbled as he patted Saul on the back and smiled.
Hotdog jogged to the CIC, having noticed something odd on his passings by, "Sir, I noticed something." He tries to say over everyone cheering, looking unsure how to say anything.
Bill arched his eyebrow and moved over to an empty corner of the room, "What is it, Hotdog?" He asked looking at the young man.
Brandon Constanza looked at the Admiral and swallowed, "There were lifeforms down there, but I think I might have seen a house or something. Some kind of shelter...It's on minute seventeen of the video." He nodded, "I'm almost sure of it, Sir."
Bill listened and looked at the boy before going over to the screen slowly and tracking back on the small monitor, "It looks like a cabin or something.." He said arching his eyebrows as he motioned over Saul. "Brandon, get Lee and go get a team ready at the hangar deck. We need to go check this out before we allow anyone from the fleet on there."
"Sir, I don't think that's necessary. The rest of the planet is safe, aside from the animals of course, but...it's safe." He nods, "Of course, I'll do whatever your orders are, but I don't believe much should be done about this one thing."
"I'm not taking any chances." He said, knowing how long it took them, he was not just going to let the fleet go off until he was one hundred percent sure. He looked over at Saul and nodded his head, "We have come to far to get careless."
"Sir, what could it be?" He shook his head, not understanding the man's apprehension.
Bill stopped and looked at it, going over all the video footage a couple of more times, "Fine. Starting separating the fleet on ships and taking them down." He said as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
"Yes, Sir." Hotdog nodded to him, jogging from the room.
Saul smirked to his friend, "We have some packing to do."
"I guess so." He said looking around at the now empty CIC and sighed, moving out of the room slowly. Looking around the halls at all the people crying, cheering and enjoying the moment. He smiled as he walked into his quarters and sighed. Not only did he have to pack his things, but also Laura's.
Tigh walked with him, shaking hands and nodding to onlookers, "Do you need some help? I'm sure you have more than I do."
"That would be great, thanks." He said as he began to pull out boxes, "Just.. be careful with her stuff, alright?" He said as he gave his friend a sad look and then nodded his head as he went to the cabinets and began to get clothes.
Saul sighed, "She got us here, Bill. She fulfilled the prophecy like she said would happen." He slowly packed the woman's suits, exercise clothing, and shoes. "You're taking this all with you? I mean...you didn't want to give it away or something?"
"Her stuff goes in her- our cabin." He said looking over at the man, "It would not be right." He said quietly as he continued to fold things and put them away in the boxes.
He knew the wounds were still fresh and his friend was still grieving. Saul continued to pack her things, "No one has a lot of things. She told me once that Cottle was the one to get her some things while on New Caprica because all she had were three suits for the rest of her life. Can you believe that?" He chuckled to himself.
He smirked and nodded his head, "She loved those suits." He said quietly, "I just want to get her scarves and books." He said pointing over to the shelf they had as the Library. Luckily, Bill and Laura had the same taste in literature.
Saul nodded, doing as asked, he slowly folds the boxes up, stacking them together, "I'll see you down there." He smirked to him, heading out.
Bill looked around the now empty room and sighed, it took so long to fill it up and in under a few minutes everything was packed up. He sighed and turned off the light, closing the door behind him and heading down to the hangar deck. He looked around the ship, saying his goodbyes. Galactica was falling apart minute by minute, it was a good thing they found Earth when they did because it couldn't survive another jump. Getting in his own viper, he put on his helmet and flew out of the deck, taking a trip around the ship, watching as the rest of the fleet went down in trips to drop people off. He smiled and headed down to earth slowly, ready for whatever was coming.