Fic: Jennifer Evans

Spoilers- Speculation on some storyline rumors for 2nd half S2

Disclaimers-I don't own these characters, Ron Moore does

Chapter 10

A gentle knock on his hatch, causes William Adama to abandon his introspection and look toward the door. He's shocked, if not a little pleased to see Laura Roslin taking a tentative step over the threshold.

"May I come in?" she asks warmly.

"Afraid I'm not great company at the moment." None-the-less, he nods toward her and motions to the opposing chair.

"That's understandable given the shock you received today." She gives him a moment to comment on that…he doesn't. Laura isn't one to normally pry, but this child is a force that will change the lives of three members of the upper military stratum. She decides it's best to approach this from the pragmatic angle first; the family history will no doubt follow. "Have you made any decisions about what's to be done with the child? Hannah?"

"Not yet. Doc Cottle just reran the paternity test against a new sample…it came back a perfect genetic match."

Laura is surprised by the tone of his voice. It sounds distant, almost as though he were lost. It's a frightening concept considering his normally unflappable demeanor. "From Lee?"

"From Zak" he replies. He looks at her for the first time since they've begun speaking and he see concern in her eyes. He basks in that and allows himself a moment to become human, to shed the pomp and status and be, Bill. Only Laura can fully appreciate the burden of leadership and the constant front of stoicism that position requires. Saul got a taste of that, and crumbled beneath the pressure. He's not sure if he wants to discuss such an intimate family affair with her, but she seemed the least judgmental of the group earlier today. He begins slowly, "It seems a lot happened that week that I never knew about."

She nods with a light smile, reassuring, and intent that she's listening.

"Kara and Zak had a falling out the day before he died and it appears that in that brief window of time, he had an affair with this Jennifer Evans."

"But she said that Lee Adama was the father?" It seems like a simple question, but it earns her a fiery glare that quickly flickers into something wholly different. It is only when Bill tears his eyes away from her that she realizes he's ashamed.

"Apparently, Zak lied about his identity."

"Did you ever consider that it was Ms. Evans who lied?" His blank stare is all the answer she needs, "Everyone in the fleet saw that special on the Galactica crew, it's possible that she wrote Lee's name, instead of Zach's, because he was an Adama and obviously alive."

"She could have just as easily written my name; surely it didn't escape her attention all this time that the Commander of the fleet was also an Adama."

Laura quirks one eyebrow, "Maybe she wanted to keep the scandal to a minimum."

"If her intent was to limit the chaos, I'd say her efforts failed miserably."

"From the reports I've read, Jennifer Evans was dying a slow painful death, and I'm fairly certain that her primary concern was finding a family who could love and care for her daughter…your granddaughter. Bill, have you stopped for a moment to consider, how fortunate you are?"

"I've had so many curve balls thrown at me today, I'm not sure what I feel, let alone what I think."

"You already have your son and Kara, a woman you love like a daughter; most members of this fleet aren't half so lucky. Today, you've discovered that you have a granddaughter as well. Now I'll grant that you're entitled to a moment of astonishment, considering the circumstances." The diplomacy drops from her voice and she levels him with a calculating stare, "However, that being said," she leans in closer, "Bill Adama, I am tempted to slap you for being anything less than grateful for this turn of events."

Bill's mouth falls open in shock, but he doesn't get a single word out before she cuts him off.

"I've dreamed of waking up one day to find that someone, anyone, from my family was still alive. Does it really matter how she came to be here? What good does it do, to wallow in the sordid details of past mistakes? Will you honestly feel better placing blame or taking it on yourself?" She reaches out to him, taking his hand, "Isn't it enough to know that infinite possibilities aligned to bring Hannah back to your family?"

"I always dreamed of having grandchildren one day," a whimsical smile ghosts his features and dissolves away as he continues, "but not like this."

"Not Zach's?" She can tell that she's crossed the line by the coldness in his eyes, but there's no way to come out of this conversation unscathed. "Judging by that look & your body language I'd say that's not your objection." She sighs deeply, "Sometimes, in honoring and remembering the dead we idolize them and forget that they were human…that they had frailties and vices." She kneels beside him, gently cupping his hand between hers, "Remembering that they weren't perfect doesn't mean we love them less, it acknowledges that we love all that they tried to be…regardless of whether or not they succeeded."

He almost chokes on the words, "Zach made a mistake."

"Yes, but I doubt you'll be able to see it that way once you meet her. From where I'm sitting, Hannah is not a mistake…she's a miracle."

"A miracle?"

"With all the guilt, responsibility, and miscommunication between them…what else but a miracle could bring Apollo and Starbuck together?" Breaching this subject is a gamble and Laura prepares herself for a taste of his earlier fury, but instead his response comes even and smooth.

"After Ragnor, you said that we needed to start having babies."

"I did" she affirms slowly, not sure where he's headed.

"Every once in a while, when I let my mind wander down the path toward grandchildren, I'd envision a little girl with blonde pigtails and blue eyes…a mischievous imp that would have me wrapped around her finger. Maybe I never wanted to consciously entertain the idea of Lee and Kara together, but on some level, I knew."

"Bill…everyone knew…except maybe the two of them."

A hearty laugh erupts before he can stop it, and decorum be damned, it feels too good to stop. Before he knows it Laura's gentle laughter has joined with his and there's tears threatening against his eyes before he regains his composure. He takes a cleansing breathe, "My only real concern is how they're going to manage this new relationship and Hannah?"

"I don't think that much is going to change about the way your son and Lt. Thrace interact," Laura winks, "except the increased possibility of getting a miniature blonde hellion."

"Let's take it one step at a time. They'll have their hands full raising Hannah; a toddler is a lot of work and they're getting thrown into the deep end of parenting."

"From what I've seen and heard, the only thing that could rival the love I see between those two is what they felt for Zach. I have no doubt that bond will serve them well in creating a loving and nurturing family environment for Hannah. And when they need help, you'll be there for them."

The conviction in her tone steels his resolve and it reverberates in every syllable of his response, "Yes I will."

"Good." She stands and he mirrors her action, "Then let me be the first to say, Congratulations Commander." She extends her hand and offers him a warm smile.

He accepts and returns both, "Thank you Laura."

"You're welcome Bill."

Author's Note: Can't even begin to apologize about the delay in posting, but if you'd like the short version...writer's block. If you're new to this story...Hello and thanks for reading. Reviews are sincerely appreciated...even if it's a rant...I think you're entitled. I'm looking to finish this up before the end of the month, not sure if they'll be one or two more chapters.