With a soft sigh, Laura rolled over and gazed through her lashes at the light flickering on Bill's skin. Shifting closer to him, she nestled her head into the crook of his neck as his arms tightened around her. "Sorry." She murmured against him.

"S'alright." He kissed the top of her head. "Warm enough?"

"Mmm hmm." She lifted her head to find his lips, pushing him slightly so he was on his back as he pulled her with him, her knees sliding to straddle his thighs as she pressed against him. "Morning."

"Morning." Running his hands along her body, he gently pushed the blanket down as she sat up, her hands braced on his chest. "I wish I could paint you like this." Her head tilted slightly as she blinked down at him. "You've no idea, do you."

"'Bout what?" A lazy smile crossing her lips, she shifted higher along his body, letting out a soft sigh as he slid into her.

"Gods, Laura." Bill slid his feet up so she could lean slightly back against his raised thighs, her hands drifting along his torso. "You've really no idea what an amazingly sexy woman you are, do you."

"You make me feel sexy." She countered, moving slightly against him. "More than any of the silk and satin I wear does."

"Right now." He eyed her as her hands moved from exploring his body to her own, cupping her breasts as she arched slightly, her eyes fluttering shut as he thrust upward in a small movement, her own movement of riding him causing her head to drop back, her hair falling back against his legs. "Gods Laura…" He groaned as her eyes opened, a sly smile crossing her lips.

"This good?" Lifting herself up again, she twisted slightly as she dropped back onto him, her body shifting once again over his, her hands now braced on either side of his head as his moved to her breasts, caressing them and eliciting a soft moan, her tangled auburn curls swinging free around their faces, highlights shimmering in the firelight that glistened on her skin.

"Yeah." Raising his head, he caught her mouth. "Do what you want to…"

"This." Her hands moving to grip his shoulders, she sat up again, this time moving aggressively against him, her sudden urgency catching them both unaware. "Yes…there…" His hands had automatically moved to grasp her hips, holding them firmly as their bodies moved together, the pace increasing until she let out a low keening cry, her thighs clamping against his hips as her back arched, her cry pulling his body upward even further into hers as she shuddered, the erratic movements forcing a matching cry from him until she collapsed onto him, her hair covering his sweat dampened torso as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Gods…" Bill panted softly into her ear, tracing it with his tongue, "had I known what firelight did to you, I would have found a way to put a fireplace in my quarters."

Laura giggled softly, the movement traveling through both their bodies and eliciting another gasp of pleasure from both of them. "Think it's more a fireplace here…not just anywhere."

"Whatever." He traced a line up her spine with a finger. "So, this silk and satin…"

"I have drawers full." She smiled against his neck. "You know that."

"I do." Bill nodded slightly. "Warm enough?"

"Yes." Laura bit down on his neck gently, sucking at the salty tang of his sweat and eliciting another groan from him.

"Gods, Laura…" As she rubbed a leg against his, he bit her earlobe, her mouth separating from his neck as she giggled softly and lifted her head to squint across the room.

"Time to get up, Admiral." She slowly sat back up, her legs sliding to either side of his again as he sat up to face her. "Morning."

"Morning." Bill echoed softly, his hands resting on her waist. "Why do we have to get up again?"

"Because." Her lips ran along his jaw toward his ear as her hands lifted to run through his hair. "You're the one who said that my father and yours were going to be here, along with Zak, Billy, and probably Kara to go looking for that animal at…" She moved her mouth to his other ear. "A frakkingly early hour. At least I think that's what you said."

"Unfortunately, yes." With a groan, he bent and caught her mouth, the kiss deepening lazily until they broke apart. "What time is it?"

"They'll be here in about forty five minutes." Laura slowly untangled herself from both Bill and the blanket that was tangled between their legs, taking her time as she slid her body against his. "Which means we need to take a shower now." Using his shoulder, she slowly stood, her other hand absently tracing through his hair before bending to kiss him, her lips parting under his. "If we wait any longer, we won't have time to take one together."

"Ah." He stood and faced her, one arm sliding around her bare waist. "Wise woman."

"I try." She smiled up at him. "Forty minutes."

"They can wait." Bill lifted an eyebrow.

"Once again. My father and yours. And our kids, and whomever else." Laura kissed him gently. "You want to explain to them that we're late because we've been frakking in the shower?"

"They know we're on our honeymoon." He began waking her backwards toward the bathroom. "They'd understand."

"Don't even think about it." Twisting, she ran the last few steps into the bathroom, pausing only to turn the shower on before continuing to the counter and grabbing a hair tie. Twisting her hair up, she turned and smiled at him. "In the water, Admiral."

"Yes Ma'am, Madame President." Bill lifted an eyebrow and held out a hand as they stepped into the shower. Turning and moving her so her back was to the tile, he lifted an eyebrow. "Forty minutes, you said?"

"Thirty eight or so by now." Laura leaned over and picked up the soap, lathering it in her hands before reaching out and spreading the bubbles across his chest, her fingers gently caressing the skin.

"Or so." With a chuckle, he took the soap from her and lathered his own hands. "We'll make do."

Some time later, Bill paused as Cottle crunched through the leaves to join him. "Natalie settled back all right?"

"Yeah. Laura and Boomer are fussing over her, making sure she stays off the leg another day." He shook his head. "And Laura's taking her father's car back to the house to meet us. Promised to not head through the woods by herself."

"Good." Bill turned to watch his father and Laura's stride down the path toward them, Zak and Billy following.

"Laura said Zak designed their cabin?" Cottle raised an eyebrow at Bill's proud grin. "Have to keep that in mind."

"He did the stable for us, and some others have started talking to him about doing some building." Bill shrugged. "He seems to like it."

"Good." Cottle nodded at the others as they joined them. "Any signs?"

"A couple of tracks going on and off the trail." Joe gestured back toward the woods. "We found the area Boomer described as where the girl got attacked. Looks like it's headed toward Bill and Laura's place though."

"Let's go then." Cottle nodded in the direction they'd come from. "Lead on."

Laura closed the door behind her and leaned against it for just a minute, closing her eyes and reveling in the silence. It felt almost strange to be alone in the house, in fact…it was the first time she'd been alone there since several weeks before the wedding. Pushing away from the wall, she wandered back through the house, glancing into the downstairs bedroom, which Boomer had insisted on straightening up and cleaning before they'd left. She'd replaced the linens and Laura could hear the hum of the washing machine from the back of the house where Boomer had put the used sheets. Cylons or not, they were excellent house guests.

With another soft sigh, she continued into the kitchen and fixed herself a cup of tea, cradling it in her hands as she gazed out the window toward the woods. Hopefully, they'd find whatever creature it was that had attacked Natalie…blinking, she focused on a small black spot moving across the grass toward the house. What in the…setting the cup down carefully, she opened the door and stepped out on the landing. "Oh my Gods…" As the small creature spotted her, it stopped and stared, trembling.

Going down the steps slowly, she smiled reassuringly. "It's all right…" A kitten? Where had it…as a sharp squealing sounded from the woods, Laura jumped slightly, the noise galvanizing the kitten back into movement, apparently deciding that the strange being in front of it was definitely more appealing than what was behind it. "Come here…" Kneeling down, Laura had extended her hand to the kitten, letting out a soft laugh as it practically barreled into her, its tiny body trembling as she scooped it up.

"You're just soaked through aren't you." With another glance toward the woods, where she could hear something crashing through the underbrush, Laura stood and quickly stepped back inside, hoping the men would be able to track and take care of whatever it was out there. "Shh…" Bending her head to nuzzle the rain drenched fur, she reached for a dish towel as she passed the sink, wrapping the kitten in it as she sank into a chair. "It's all right." A set of plaintive green eyes looked up at her, and it was still trembling, but at least the soft cries had stopped. "That thing out there scared you didn't it." The eyes blinked. "And I wonder what happened to your family?" No answer but another blink. "Let's see here…" Carefully balancing the towel wrapped kitten in her arm, she stood and crossed to the cooler and opened it, shifting some things around until she could grab the bottle she wanted.

"Poor little thing." As it craned its neck, looking around the kitchen, she carried the bottle over to the counter and opened another cabinet, this time grabbing a saucer. Pouring a small amount of the milk onto it, she carried it back to the table and sat again, this time maneuvering so she was able to hold the saucer under the kitten's nose. A moment later, she was rewarded by a tiny pink tongue delicately lapping up the liquid. "There you go. That's better isn't it. You're inside now, we'll get you dry, and you have something in your stomach. That boar, or whatever it is isn't going to get you in here, is it?" When it glanced up at her for a moment, she giggled as it blinked again and let out a soft 'mew' before returning its attention to the remaining milk on the saucer.

"Well you are a precious one aren't you." Tilting her head, she smiled as it finished the milk and let out a small hiccup. "Better?" The kitten matched her head tilt and blinked at her. "And where I wonder is your mother…" Laura glanced out the window and winced. "Or maybe not. I hope not. We do need barn cats, but you're just a tiny little thing, aren't you." It opened its mouth and let out a silent meow that ended in a yawn. With another sigh, it settled against Laura and curled up in the towel, falling asleep as she absently stroked it, the gentle movement soothing her as she gazed out the window, her mind wandering back to the previous evening and her conversation with Boomer about New Caprica…and what had happened to her...