Okay guys, here it is. This is my personal favorite, and has a very special place in my heart. Hope you like it! Don't forget to review!
The walk back to Adama's quarters was taken in silence. They strode closely together but didn't dare to touch. It had never mattered before whether they walked arm in arm, or he guided her with a hand at the small of her back. But now they were husband and wife. They were in love. Now they had something to hide. The irony was that they always had been hiding it, just from themselves. Nothing had changed really, just the people they were trying to hide it all from.
Luckily few people were wandering the path that led between the mess hall and the Admiral's quarters. Nonetheless they were cautious, and they were each enraptured by their own thoughts.
The ceremony had gone by in a whirlwind, Helo's warm words, and a few 'I do's' had gone by in the blink of an eye. The resulting celebration, however, and dragged on second by second in both of their eyes. Chief Tyrol broke out the ambrosia and toast after toast had ensued.
The Chief started with a warm and sweet prayer. "Here's to the Admiral and the President, may the gods bless them and may they continue to keep us safe and to guide us on our way. May their happiness together be a beacon and an example for the rest of the fleet to follow."
"So say we all," came the crowd, holding their glasses high and then sipping from them.
"To Bill and Laura," Tigh's gruff voice rang out. "To the best friend I've ever known, and the only woman I've ever met who could fall in love with a face like that." Laugher burst out from every one. "You two are good for fleet, and good for each other. May the Gods bless you both."
"So say we all."
"To Adama and Roslin," Kara yelled out loudly, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "May their glasses be full; May their worries be few; and may their rack time be plentiful." Cheers and whistles broke out throughout the group, before their mantra continued.
"So say we all."
"To my father," Lee began with a warm smile. "I wish you all the happiness and luck in the universe. And to you Madam President; thank you for making my old man smile. For his happiness, I am forever indebted to you."
"So say we all."
The words and the wishes of their friends, their colleagues and their loved ones, were followed by more drinking, more laughing and more time spent reveling in the feel of sharing in their union, between themselves, and with the wonderful people accompanying them.
It was surreal to think that the crew members of Galactica, Tory and even Doctor Cottle, loved and respected them enough to look past whatever protocol's they were breaking, and whatever questions might arise about the integrity of their positions, and to encourage them. They had each, in their own way, made a vow to keep the secret of the powerful couple, offering them alibis, tips, and even good hiding places. The ceremony might have made official the union between Bill and Laura, but the celebration thereafter solidified the bonds between each individual and the leaders they loved so deeply. What they shared in the mess hall that evening left each a little changed, a little more hopeful, a little more ready to give and receive love, and a little more confident of their own humanity.
As the newly married couple approached the hatch to the Admiral's quarters both looked around awkwardly to make sure they weren't seen. Bill opened the door and Laura slipped inside. They had never before felt so clandestine and so legitimate at the same time. Once inside Laura turned to Bill and smiled. They had barely spoken since the moment Helo had pronounced them official, and they had barely touched since they had shared their sealing kiss.
Bill stepped forward with a broad and tired smile and pulled Laura tightly against him, tangling his fingers in her hair and reveling the fact that he could hold her now without any fear of rejection.
Laura closed her eyes and buried her face against his neck. The collar of his uniform was rough against her cheek and she loved it. She sighed with contentment, she was tired and she had never been more grateful for her exhaustion.
She yawned, and laughed at herself.
"I think it's time for bed," Bill said softly, kissing the top of her head. Laura slowly released him and stared at him for a long moment. She suddenly realized that she hadn't planned for this part of the occasion. She had Tory bring her heels, and her make up and her nicest outfit, but she'd completely overlooked the necessity of something wear to bed.
"What is it?" Bill asked, seeing her pause.
"There are a few everyday issues that we're going to have to iron out." She said with a girlish smile. "I don't have anything here to sleep in." She added, beginning to laugh.
Bill stared at her for a moment, confused. Then he realized what she was talking about. They did have some 'everyday' things to think about now. Like toothbrushes, and towels. And the fact that if she was going to stay aboard Galactica with him they were going to need a good cover story. Just in case the press started asking questions.
Without a word Bill walked past Laura and through the living area to his locker. She followed a few steps behind him and watched as he opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a set of light blue striped pajamas that he had never actually worn.
"Consider it a wedding gift," He said with a smile as he handed them to her.
She looked back at him with a look of wonderment in her eyes. She shook her head, disbelieving he could make her feel so incredibly light, even with the smallest gesture, and walked past him into the head.
Bill laughed as she went, realizing how the little things were truly some of life's greatest gifts.
A few minutes later Laura returned from changing and set her neatly folded clothes on the couch. The pajamas were quite large on her small frame and the sleeves fell well past her fingertips. She rolled them slowly as she caught Bill's eye. He sat on his rack, divested of his uniform. He smiled at her contentedly. She was beautiful in the enormous button up top and long pants. She rolled up her sleeves as she slowly walked back toward him, and she realized that she'd never seen Bill in just his boxer shorts, and his black and grey fleet shirts.
After a moment of awkward maneuvering, Bill lifted the covers and scooted over as best he could, making room for her next to him. She laid down next to him gratefully, but nervously. As they settled in both Laura and Bill sighed; They were tired, but they were also wired from the day's events, and all that they'd meant.
Bill shifted his weight and propped his head on his elbow to look down at her. She looked into his bright blue eyes and felt a shiver run down her spine. He was her husband now. They belonged to each other. She was having trouble wrapping her mind around all of that.
"I've been thinking," Laura said, breaking their strange silence. She was nervous and unsure, and she found herself wanting to talk. "Our vice presidential search is not going well, and maybe Zareck…" Bill smiled down at her but put a finger to his lips to quiet her.
"Laura, it's our wedding night. Politics isn't on the agenda tonight," he said quietly. Laura smiled back sheepishly. It wasn't exactly as if she wanted to be talking about it either, but she was overwhelmed and anxious. Bill moved his hand to her cheek, letting it find its newly familiar spot and rest there.
The feel of his skin against hers quelled her nerves a great deal. This was still Bill. He may have been her husband now, but he was still the man she loved.
Feeling herself calm, she found her confidence again, and even a little of her stubborn and playful self.
"I see," she said feeling herself blush slightly. "What is on the agenda tonight?" She said, arching an eyebrow, the way that drove him insane.
"Well," he said with a smirk. "First, there's this," he breathed softly, leaning down and kissing her gently on the lips. He let the kiss end teasingly, before diving for another deeper melding of their lips, Laura snaking a hand behind his neck, finding a great need to pull him closer. Bill couldn't keep his own hands from their desires, and one gently lifted her head closer to him, while the other found its way along her stomach, to her hip and journeyed along her side.
Bill let the passion of their kisses grow steadily, but set a limit, and then pulled back from her reluctantly.
"And second," he said with a soft sigh. "We have this," he dipped his head again, but this time instead of his lips finding hers, the sought the warm soft skin of her jaw line, causing Laura to shiver with delight. He trailed kisses slowly from her strong jaw down to where her neck and shoulder so beautifully joined. Laura's breath caught, and she sighed heavily with a content pleasure. She felt as though she'd been waiting for this her entire life.
When Bill finished exploring the intricacies of the soft skin of her neck he kissed her again lightly and teasingly on the lips before resting his head on his hand again and looking down at her. She waited impatiently for him to continue, trying to control herself, feeling the battle of wills and passion begin.
"And third?" She prompted, unable to be patient for a moment longer.
"And third," he said softly, his baritone ragged with his own desire. "Thirdly, I'm going to hold like this, all night." He said pulling her just a little closer to him. "And I'm going to watch you fall asleep, and I'm going to watch you wake up." His voice expressed the restrained intent of his words, but his eyes shone with a deep desire for something far less reserved.
"Oh," Laura said, her eyes scrutinizing is expression. She was a little shocked by his swift change in attitude, and also by the way her anxiety took no time at all to evolve into an overwhelming yearning. She laughed, at him, but mostly at herself. "You're not even going to try?" She asked, her expression becoming more serious.
Bill stared down at her evenly. He wasn't quite sure what she meant, but it took everything he had not to break down and resume the path that his passion had so barely breeched.
"It is, after all, our wedding night." Laura said, her arched eyebrow teasing him relentlessly.
Bill laughed, realizing the bluntness of her remark. He smiled down at her genuinely, taking in the deep pools of green that pulled at his soul.
"Trust me, that is the first thing on the agenda, for when we find you another miracle," He replied slowly, a rush of sorrow causing his voice to shake just slightly.
Laura just stared back at him, his blue eyes shining brightly into hers. She took in the implication of his words, the thought behind them, and the sadness that accompanied them. She found herself at realizing that his restraint stemmed from his caring for her, of concern for her physical health. She wanted to laugh and to tell him that she was fine, her health wasn't a part of the question; but instead a deep feeling of gratitude overwhelmed her, bringing tears to her eyes. He thought she needed a miracle; he was willing to sacrifice his desires to the mercy of her illness. She, however, knew better.
"Bill," she whispered softly, "I don't need another miracle, not today, and not ever." She sighed, feeling tears stinging at her eyes but refusing to let them fall. "Don't you see," she said a little more strongly. "You're my miracle. The chance to love you is a miracle, and what you did for me today was something well beyond miraculous."
Bill watched in awe as she spoke. Her voice was purposeful and her words were steeped in such emotion that he could feel each one like a bullet through his heart. He found himself almost shaking as he let himself take in, to believe, and to become immersed in the effects of her statement. If it hadn't been Laura who said it, if it hadn't been today that she'd spoken it, and if he hadn't been falling more in love with her with each passing moment, he wouldn't have let himself believe what she'd said. For how could Bill Adama ever consider himself worthy of the status she had just bestowed upon him?
But because he loved her, and because he trusted in her love for him, he allowed himself to take her spoken sentiments and to trust in them. She considered him her very own miracle, how could he argue with that?
"Alright," he said softly, fighting to control the emotion in his voice. His eyes pouring into hers with a gentle fire. "Laura, would you like me to make love to you?" He asked delicately, reveling in the opportunity to even just ask.
Laura felt her lip quiver as she went to respond, her heart remained motionless after her confession of gratitude toward him. But as he took in her words, and chose to believe in them so completely, he proved to her once again why exactly she loved him so deeply and so fiercely.
"Yes, I would, very much," she said, her voice breaking, as tears fell from her eyes.
Bill couldn't stand to see her cry and pulled her tightly against him, kissing her lips and her cheeks and her forehead, willing his lips to battle back her tears.
They made love tenderly but passionately. They reveled in each other's skin. They took pleasure in one another's desire. And in a way that no marriage ceremony ever could, they celebrated in the union of their souls.