A viper cockpit would always be a second home to Bill Adama. His hands worked the controls like a pro, and he held his craft steady to watch the spectacle. The engines roared behind him, but they didn't muffle Saul Tigh's gruff voice from growling over the comms.

"Well nugget, that was some sweet flying. 'Specially liked the part where you got yourself killed," he yelped at the group of rook pilots training in front of him and Bill.

"Do it again," their CAG, Bill Adama, sighed. "This time try not to fly in a straight line after you've been targeted," he advised with just enough levity to counterbalance the barrage of cutting remarks from Tigh. Bill and Saul watched their group of nuggets take position for a second run through.

"No Starbuck in this group," Bill muttered.

"What's a Starbuck?" Saul asked, and Bill frowned. For all he'd gained in this life, there were still things he'd lost. People. Kara. The man Lee had become. He watched the vipers execute a flight pattern in front of him while the sun began peeking out from behind Picon in the distance.

For a moment, he remembered the first sunrise he'd experienced on Earth and a sharp pain pierced his heart. He could still picture the first daybreak at the ridge. He'd imagined the cabin he wanted to build. In his vision of the cabin, Laura was smiling and holding her hand out, inviting him to join her on their porch to watch the sunrise. But she'd faded, and he'd planned out the cabin knowing he'd be alone until he joined her in death. A lump formed in his throat as he remembered talking to her grave. I laid out the cabin today. It's gonna have an easterly view. You should see the light we get here. When the sun comes up from behind those mountains its almost heavenly. It reminds me of you...

"No points for second place, Jumpy!" Saul's snarled, and his voice broke Bill out of his reverie.

"Ease your thumb up off the turbo engine and work using your maneuvering thrusters," Bill advised, glancing at Saul out the side of his cockpit window. He found himself missing Saul Tigh too; his executive officer had shaped up into a respectable man. This man still had a lot of growing and learning to do.

Adama tried not to consider it a personal failing that he hadn't remembered all the names of his pilots when he'd awoken. It had been well over a decade since he'd been a CAG and lead these pilots personally. They'd all died or been dead by the time of the attacks. It was a sad realization.

"Your name is now Dizzy. I'd hope you're just dizzy since you can't seem to figure which way to go!" Saul groused at a nugget who was practically spinning around as he tried to find his wing-man.

"Don't worry Dizzy, at least you didn't end up with a name like Vice," Bill chimed in, and Saul's huff could clearly be heard along with the other pilots snickers. Bill chuckled too as he kept watch over the nuggets; the pilot family. It was a powerful bond those who braved the void of space together forged.

He'd save them. Their plan was solid. Richard Adar, once he was president, would be told his and Laura's whole story. He had the power to protect his people, more power than he and Laura would ever have on their own. Until then, they'd keep safe, and he'd prove to Laura and himself that he could be a good husband and a good father.

.…

After running the training exercises, Bill strode through the hallways toward one of the communication stations. It was late and the corridors were deserted. His mind whirled with sad thoughts of Earth, as he grabbed a phone and dialed.

"Hello?" A deep raspy voice answered his call.

"Laura!"

"Bill? What's wrong?" He relished hearing the rough, deep cadence of her sleepy voice. He must have woken her.

"I just wanted to call," he deflected. The roughness in her tone helped banish the uneasy feeling still lingering in his stomach after he'd been reminded of her grave.

"Oh, Bill," she breathed, and he heard the compassion laced through her tone. She understood. Of course. The woman always had an intuitive sense of what he thought, felt, and needed. "I'm here. I'm alive. I'm alright, and so is the baby."

"I know. I just…"

"We can't help what we fear and dream," she filled in for him.

"Have you always been able to read me so well?"

"Yes. You know one day I will die, Bill. That's part of living. We still have many years to come."

"I like the idea of years with you," he said and heard her chuckle over the phone.

"I think I like it when you flirt with me," she admitted, remembering the times he'd teased her during the journey. Once Colonial One had been damaged he'd shamelessly pointed out that she was welcome in one of his beds, and it was clear enough which bed he'd prefer her in. Without warning her laughter turned into a startled gasp.

"Laura?"

"The baby, I finally feel the baby moving!"

…

Life was stressful, chaotic, and crazy.

First, Bill was in space. Second, Laura was eight months pregnant. Third, Lee and Zak were staying at her house because Bill's ex, Carolanne, was missing. Her vanishing act had been discovered when the schools hadn't been able to contact her after the boys were sick during class. So, the nurses reached out to their stepmother, and Laura had dropped everything she was doing at work to rescue them.

Her body protested with cramps and fatigue at the stress of being pregnant and having two sick boys under her roof. They'd stayed with her over a day now. Laura was constantly checking on them, almost as if to prove she was ready to be a mother. She made chicken noodle soup, fetched water and soda, gave them medicine, and keep them entertained.

After dinner, Laura sent the boys upstairs to rest or read in their beds. They'd watched enough TV for a month. Laura was exhausted. The inevitable confrontation with Bill's ex hung over her head like a guillotine blade, only made worse by the fact she'd never had to interact with Carolanne on her own. She paced the kitchen, wondering if she should call the police. She'd called Carolanne's number a few times over the past 48 hours to no avail, but Lee said it was normal for her to disappear like this sometimes.

Laura felt a pang in her heart. She missed her husband, even though she knew they couldn't be together every day. She'd always known she was the kind of person who would love deeply, completely, and with her whole self. Their connection meant there was an unending longing to be together. Whatever they might want, they also had jobs to do and a future to consider.

Sighing, Laura crumpled down at the kitchen table and dropped her head onto the wooden surface. The baby kicking her stomach caused her to groan, and suddenly she was both laughing and crying at the whole situation. She was married to Bill Adama and carrying his child. She was taking care of Captain Apollo and his little brother while they were sick. They were actively trying to prevent Armageddon. What the actual frakkin' frak, she thought as a strangled hiccup at her tears and laughter. It felt like her body was being hit by a hurricane as she was wracked with sobs and laughter. She stayed collapsed at the table even after the hysterics passed. Her body was completely drained, but a hard knock rang through the house. Laura groaned. Carolanne, she thought and stood up from the table, taking a moment to stretch some of her knots away. She smoothed a hand over her sweatshirt and jeans, trying to look moderately put together.

"Coming!" she called out walking to the door. Laura would rather have high tea with Leoben than deal with the woman but felt remarkably levelheaded after her slight meltdown. She was able to suppress the hot flash of anger that wanted to surge through her and rip into Carolanne as she closed her hand around the cold metal doorknob. How irresponsible could she be? What if Zak and Lee had really been in trouble?

Squaring her shoulders and resting a protective hand on her belly, she opened the door. She nearly jumped in shock.

"Richard?! Wally?!" she exclaimed, looking between the two men in front of her. Her mouth hung open in surprise. She motioned them inside and closed the door. They wore well-tailored suits, and Laura could smell hints of wood, vanilla, and a tiny trace of smoke from cologne. It was intoxicating - raw and polished at the same time. In comparison to them, Laura was a mess. She took in their raised eyebrows and curious smirks. Then it hit her; she'd forgotten about the charity dinner tonight for the Museum of Science, and museums were under her jurisdiction as Director of Education. She was expected to attend and give a speech.

"Interesting choice of attire for tonight, Laura. You always stand out in a crowd, but I think you'll make quite a statement tonight," Richard teased. Laura rolled her eyes.

"We were supposed to pick you up, right?" Wally asked taking in her attire of jeans and a sweatshirt. Richard folded his arms and smirked; he decided he liked Laura in casual clothes. Her hair pulled back was nice too.

"Are you OK? What's going on?" he asked sympathetically at her stressed look. Laura sighed and rubbed her throbbing head which felt like someone had it in a vice.

"The condensed version? My stepsons have been home sick. Their mother is missing, and I need to stay home with them," she explained, looking apologetically at the two men. Richard nodded slowly, and Wally frowned. It took a moment for them to process.

"Their mother is missing?"

"I haven't been able to contact her," Laura growled and gave an exasperated shrug.

"Are you and junior are holding up?" Richard asked, and his concern was evident in his tone. Laura gave him a small smile. He was in an agreeable and considerate mood.

"Tired," she admitted. "I'm sorry about this."

"What about the speech you were going to give?" Wally asked.

"I'll give it. I don't think people will mind," Richard offered. Laura smiled gratefully at him. This was the kind and thoughtful Richard Adar who she was once good friends with, and it was nice to see this side of him again. It hadn't been as apparent since she'd rebuffed his affections.

"Give me a minute, and I'll find what I already wrote up," she said before heading to her office. The men nodded and waited by the door. They jumped when someone new pounded against the door.

"I'll get it," Richard called. He'd only opened the door only a few inches when an agitated blond woman pushed in. Richard recoiled from her.

"Where are they?" she demanded without preamble.

"Excuse us miss…?" Richard began. The blonde threw him a glare and stepped around him to march up to Laura who had just come back into the room. "Where are they?" she snapped with ice in her tone. Richard and Wally tensed. Laura froze but recovered quickly. She'd faced Cylons before after all.

"They're resting in bed upstairs, Carolanne," Laura explained calmly. Without warning, Carolanne shoved her way past Laura and marched up the stairs. Laura stumbled and was caught by Richard.

"I smelled alcohol on her breath," he mumbled in her ear. "Do you want me to come up too?" Laura closed her eyes and sighed but shook her head. If she could handle Baltar she could deal with Carolanne. Feeling the heat of irritation rise in her, she raised and followed Bill's ex. She had to take a deep breath at the top of the stairs; she didn't enjoy how easily winded she got nowadays. Your fault, she thought to the baby. As she approached Lee's room, she could hear his voice.

"Can we stay here mom? Dad will be here in a few days anyway." Laura's heart skipped at Bill's children wanting to stay with her. She slipped into the room.

"You'd rather stay here than come home?"

"This is home too."

"We should talk downstairs," Laura said in her most presidential tone to Carolanne. The woman slowly stood from Lee's bed and turned to look at Laura. Her eyes narrowed, and her hands formed into fists. A few seconds passed before Carolanne nodded and followed Laura out of the room. As soon as Lee's door was closed Carolanne turned her full wrath on Laura.

"They shouldn't even be here."

"They were sick, and you were missing," Laura snapped, walking toward the stairs. They'd reached the top of the flight of stairs when Carolanne grabbed Laura's wrist and yanked the woman back to face her. Laura braced a hand on the wall as she felt a momentary bit of dizziness.

"I'm taking them home, now," she commanded. Wally and Richard were both downstairs listening hard to the conversation. The men were ready to spring into action if Laura needed help.

"Not while you are drunk," Laura retorted, wrenching her arm away. She could now smell the alcohol herself. There was no way she'd let her stepsons, both of whom she'd come to love dearly, leave with their drunk mother. She stood firm and stared down the blonde woman.

"It's not your concern, and you don't have the legal right to stop me," Carolanne hissed and Laura recoiled. Damn, Laura thought. She's right. It didn't matter, Laura crossed her arms and raised her chin anyway.

"It's my job to keep children safe, especially Bill's," Laura pushed back. The offensive woman took a step closer to Laura whose heels were now at the edge of the stairs.

"You aren't their mother," Carolanne snapped, and Laura's heart ached. She'd always treated them as if they were her sons, but reality had just given her a firm slap to the face. "My sons come home now."

"When you are sober."

"I don't want my sons around either you or Bill any more than I'm forced to endure. Bill was enough of a frak-up as a husband and father when we were married. They shouldn't be forced to be here now."

"Forced? Are you really that shallow?" she hissed, knowing that the boys loved coming here.

"Frak you," Carolanne retaliated. Maybe it was the stress or the hormones, but Laura was not in the mood to deal with the woman anymore. She snapped.

"Get out of my house!" It was one of the few times in her life Laura had raised her voice. It cracked through the air leaving a dangerous silence in its wake. The men downstairs jumped in shock at Laura's yelling and looked at each other wide-eyed.

Laura didn't quite see what happened next, but she felt herself falling through the air. Something hit her back. She felt her head slam against something. Then nothing.

Wally and Richard were both edging toward the staircase already, curious, intrigued, and a bit intimidated at the fierce Laura Roslin they'd heard. The scared scream that pierced the air caused them both to bolt towards the sound. The sight that met them froze their blood. Richard's face contorted in fear and agony at the sight of Laura lying in a crumpled heap at the foot of the staircase. Her eyes were closed. A gash on her forehead let out a small crimson river of blood which ran down her face.

"Laura!" Richard was instantly at her side, confirming she had a pulse. "Wally, call the paramedics. Now!" he commanded in his Governor's voice while examining the woman he secretly loved. His heart raced. He dragged his eyes away and up the staircase to where Carolanne stood with her mouth hanging open. He glared daggers at her. His mouth twitched as expletives and insults barreled to the tip of his tongue, but his wrath was reigned in when two boys appeared.

"Laura!" Lee yelled as they both bolted down the stairs.

"Mom!" Zak screamed, falling at Laura's side. He moved to try to shake her awake, but Wally, having finished talking with paramedics, pulled him back along with Lee. They struggled against the unknown man who held them firm.

"We need to wait for the doctors to get here, they'll know how to help her OK? Go sit and wait for us on the couch." The boys stood there looking scared. "Now!" Wally ordered roughly.

"I want to stay with her," Zak pleaded and crocodile tears rolled down his cheeks.

"We can't have the doctor worrying about squishing you if you are in the way," Wally explained more gently as he ushered the boys over to the couch while Richard knelt over Laura. She looked deathly pale. A chill ran up his spine.

"Richard, call whoever you can to get Adama home fast," Wally ordered in a shaky voice. He knew his friend had no fondness for Bill Adama, but Laura was his friend too. He could tell she'd want, even need, her husband when she woke. Richard, although he hated the man Laura had chosen instead of him, immediately pulled out his phone and made the call.

...