When Laura arrived on Colonial One the next morning, she found Tory eagerly waiting to get started on the massive agenda she had compiled for the President, and as she handed it to her, Laura became convinced it was the longest agenda any President of the Twelve Colonies had ever seen. While Laura sipped on her second cup of coffee that morning, Tory sat down across from her and took it upon herself to introduce her to the schedule for the day.

"The first thing on the agenda this morning is a press conference in 20 minutes during which you will inform them that you are marrying the Admiral. I don't know what you plan on telling them, but whatever you say, please don't tell them that it's none of their business, the public doesn't respond well to that. Immediately after that you're meeting Lieutenant Dualla to search for a wedding dress on the Rising Star, she claims that she heard they have an extensive collection of rentable clothing there." Tory was practically out of breath and took a brief moment to breathe and then began to talk faster, obviously anxious about the immense amount of work to be done. "After that you're coming back to Colonial One to meet with each Quorum member individually. Remember, you have requested these meetings, so please be patient with them, they'll undoubtedly have many reservations about a literal union between the military and civilian government." Tory paused for another moment and before she could start again she felt Laura's hand lightly pat her own.

"Breathe Tory, calm down, it's just a wedding. We're just going to slow down and do this one thing at a time." Laura was saying that as much for her own benefit as for Tory's. She knew that her work load would be doubled over the next few days and she was starting to get just as anxious as Tory, but she didn't let her face or demeanor show any of her anxiety. "Is that all I have scheduled for today?"

"Um, no, Madame President, that's all before 12:00. After your meetings with the Quorum members, you're going to be shuttled over to Galactica where you will attend the final pre-flight briefing for the confidential mission that you won't even tell me about." Tory sounded especially upset that the President was still keeping secrets from her and couldn't imagine what could possibly be more secretive than the relationship between the President and the Admiral. "After that you are going to the galley to talk with the chefs about designing a cake for the wedding reception, and if you're lucky they'll give you something to eat during the meeting. Then you're meeting with the priest and the Admiral in his quarters for pre-marriage counseling . . ."

"Pre-marriage counseling? Surely we can take that out of the agenda, it's not necessary."

"The priest said that he wouldn't perform the ceremony without it, I'm afraid it's not an option. After that you'll come back to Colonial One for a meeting with the Quorum regarding the progress in Baltar's trial . . ."

"That meeting will have to be cancelled, Tory. I'll talk to the Quorum members individually about it, but that meeting is no longer needed." After all, Laura thought, Baltar was either dead or stranded in some faraway star system, either way he wasn't going to have a trial.

"With all due respect, even though you now have a wedding to prepare for, you can't neglect your duties as President."

"Tory, I am not, nor will I ever neglect my duties to the people of this fleet, but you'll have to trust me, that meeting is not necessary. Cancel it." Laura was very firm in her response and Tory knew that it was useless to try to persuade her otherwise.

"Yes, Madame President." Tory scrawled something on her small notebook and then looked up at the President as Laura spoke.

"I suppose I would be naïve to assume that that is all you have scheduled for me today?"

"I was hoping you would consent to an interview with The Colonial Gang for tonight's show. I think it would be beneficial for the public to hear you speak candidly about your relationship with the Admiral."

Laura didn't really like the idea of discussing her personal relationship with three nosy reporters, but she had to agree that the public would probably be more accepting of it if she would talk to them about it. "Yes, that's fine Tory."

"Then you have a meeting with Tom Zarek, he was rather adamant about talking to you personally, I told him this wasn't a good day, but he said something about it never being a good day for prisoners on the Astral Queen." Tory was obviously irritated by Zarek's demand to see Laura, but after all, he is the Vice President. "And Captain Karl Agathon has requested an audience with you. He said that he wanted to discuss something about his wife's death? I told him I didn't think you were the appropriate person to talk to about it . . ."

"Of course I'll see Mr. Agathon. That is, if you can fit him into my schedule."

"I'll see what I can do, Madame President." Tory continued, her business voice unwavering, as she asked a question that would have made Billy blush from head to toe. "Will you be having a bachelorette party before the wedding?"

Laura looked startled and surprised by this question. "Absolutely not, Tory. I don't feel that it would be appropriate."

Tory just nodded, making another note in her notebook. "Do you intend to move to Galactica?"

"Yes, I do. But I want to keep my offices here on Colonial One. The morning commute will be tough, but I think I can handle it." Laura's playful smile and mild attempt at lightening the conversation fell on deaf ears as Tory proceeded.

"In that case I will try to have most of your personal items packed and delivered to Galactica this evening, but you should do a final check when you're over here tonight anyway. And I've made a list of decisions that need to be made regarding the wedding reception so if you and the Admiral can find time to go over it and send it back to me by the end of the day I can start working on it." Laura took the piece of paper her aid handed her and slipped it onto the pile of files in front of her.

"Of course. Thank you, Tory. I really appreciate your help with all of this, I know it's not your job to arrange a wedding, but it means a lot to me, thank you."

"You're welcome, Madame President." Tory left the office and although Laura should have been preparing what she was going to say at the press conference, all she could think about was that Bill made much better coffee than Tory.