The Battlestar Valkyrie lingered to survey the wreckage of the Tauron ship, but the destruction was near absolute. There was no information, no proof, nothing to be gleaned from the wreckage. The warship cruised back toward Caprica alongside Colonial One. As they traveled the ship quietly entered night mode; shifts ended, the lights dimmed, and crewmen slipped into their bunks after finishing their games of triad.

Sickbay was calm. Quiet. The atmosphere was like someone had let out a sigh of relief after holding their breath for too long. The blue curtains closed around each patient in a quiet embrace offering reassurance and privacy. No specter of death lingered in the air that night - all of sickbay's patients were out of danger and recovering well; a knuckledragger with a broken bone recently set, an overly intoxicated rookie pilot hooked up to fluids (Adama would have words with him later), and Laura. For a moment, they were safe.

In darkened sickbay, Bill's chin slowly dropped down to his chest, until he jerked awake when his head completely fell forward. Each time this happened, he straightened in his chair, rubbed a hand over his tired face, and checked sleeping Laura. Then he'd look down at the book in his lap, flip a page, and the cycle started over again. After this process was repeated several times, Bill caught a pair of loving green eyes watching him.

"Bill, you should get some real sleep in a bed," Laura urged, and her voice was rough from sleep. Her tone was filled with concern but laced with compassion and understanding. Her heart warmed at his clear devotion and love that wouldn't let him leave her side, his actions saying what he didn't always have the words to. It still humbled her that she'd won his heart. "You need rest too," she pushed gently.

"I'm fine," he grumbled. Laura arched an eyebrow, observing the dark circles under his eyes, the weary stoop of his shoulders, and the deep lines of concern on his face. They really needed to work on their definition of 'fine'.

"Not leaving," he pushed back firmly, seeing her about to protest again. He pulled himself to a standing position and stepped over. There was the distinct pop of several protesting bones. He ignored them and leaned against the edge of Laura's bed to be closer, tucking the blankets around her body.

"You're going to hover no matter what, aren't you?" she asked, sounding resigned. Bill frowned; he knew Laura didn't always respond well to being smothered. But he couldn't bring himself to leave her just yet. She needed to understand.

"Laura, I just spent days afraid that I'd lost you again. And damn it!" Laura's eyes widened at his fierce change in tone. "Life without you… I experienced that agony once. And I can still remember it so clearly; feeling like someone had ripped my heart out; knowing I'd have given anything to hear your voice again; waking up alone after dreaming of you…" Bill growled, stopping when he saw Laura's eyes widening at his uncharacteristic display. He sighed, seeing the guilty tears welling up in Laura's eyes. She nodded slowly and then moved over on the hospital bed.

"Ok... Ok. I get it. I do," she conceded. "At least try and sleep too," she compromised, motioning for him to join her in the spot she had made. He opened his mouth to protest but saw her eyes narrow. He knew that expression. He pitied the fools who'd tried to tell her 'no' when she got that look in her eyes. Besides, Cottle would tear him to shreds if he irritated her.

He watched the corner of her lips quirk into the smile that he loved when he began unbuttoning the wool jacket of his uniform. He slipped it off and rested it on the back of the chair before climbing into the narrow bed behind his wife. She breathed a contented sigh when he wrapped an arm around her.

"Laura?" he asked and heard her hum in response. "Why didn't you ever tell me about what you went through on New Caprica. You said they wanted to talk. You never mentioned..." his voice trailed off, unwilling to voice the horrors he was imagining she'd lived through. There were things Saul had alluded to that troubled him.

"Well... they did want to talk. It's just that… I didn't. The Cylons don't like not getting what they want." Despite her attempt at levity, Laura shuddered at the memories she'd tried to bury. "You never actually asked about New Caprica," she pointed out, and it had always hurt her that he hadn't. But she knew how guilty he felt, so she never volunteered information. They moved on, or, tried to. "Then, you voted to acquit Baltar after you knew he signed a death warrant with my name on it and over 200 other people. Did you think a Cylon firing squad was the worst thing to happen down there? The only bad thing? That only military people like Saul and Kara suffered?" The words tumbled out of her mouth like sand through an hourglass; there was no stopping it once the glass was tipped. She pushed her face into the pillow willing the memories away.

"Sorry," Bill murmured, hugging her close. He kicked himself for bringing that cursed planet up while she was recovering, but Saul's words caused the planet to fill his mind, making him dwell on New Caprica. "I should have asked these questions years…"

"I didn't want you to feel guilty Bill," Laura cut him off.

"I did though. Still do." He sighed. "You're still mad at me about the acquittal vote?"

"I... I don't know. Yes and no. I just try and put it all behind us."

"I never, never, wanted you to be hurt," he promised fiercely, pressing a loving kiss to her shoulder. "It all spun out of control."

"I know."

"You still have nightmares about New Caprica don't you. Those nightmares you try and brush off without telling me?"

"Yes," Laura sighed. They had agreed after that first fight of their marriage - no lies between them in this timeline. No secrets. Bill had fumbled when he'd hidden the letter, but she'd forgiven him. One mistake in years of honesty. The vulnerability that real honesty required had given them an intimacy neither had ever known before.

"I want to know, Laura," he said.

The silence stretched for a moment between them. Laura tensed at his request. There were unspeakable horrors New Caprica had wrought on her, her friends, and her people. It had been easier to try and put a lid on those memories and move on, but those months lingered in her unconscious mind. Maybe it would actually be easier to share the burden.

"I'll tell you, someday," she conceded before yawning. She burrowed deeper under the blankets and closer to Bill. Her body was still stiff and sore from her ordeal, but there was comfort and contentment to be found in her husband's embrace. Pressed together she felt warm and loved. She yawned again.

"Sleep," Bill ordered in his husky voice. "The Valkyrie will reach Caprica tomorrow, and I'll take you home. To our family."

….

The house held no trace of an attack. Bloodstains were gone. The jagged shards of broken glass were swept away. Furniture had been put back in place. The rooms were once again a shelter from the outside world, and a place that held happy memories. Despite the attack, this was where Laura felt safe; this was home. Although, her heart also knew her home was ultimately a person - Bill Adama. It was possibly the most valuable lesson she'd learned at the end of the worlds. But this house was where her family gathered; the rag-tag group of people who shared and understood each other. The people filling it were loving, supportive, imperfect, and deeply connected. And they were overjoyed at her return.

All three Adama boys practically threw themselves at Laura the second she came home. The warmth of several hugs surrounded her. At her surprised grunt, they pulled back, making sure they hadn't hurt her. Their father had warned them to be gentle with their recovering but sore mother. Liam only gave her a second of breathing room before he couldn't bear to be apart. His little arms wrapped around his mother and refused to let go despite the soothing words she whispered into his ear.

None of the boys let her out of their sight for too long, and Laura was doing her best to tolerate their smothering until they were ready to ease up. They'd been rattled, especially Liam whose nightmares had him shuffling into his parent's room at night. Eventually, things returned to normal, although Laura's poor son ended up crying giant crocodile tears when he was told it was time for him to go back to school. Lee and Kara returned to War College, but only after both were satisfied with the new and larger security detail provided to Laura. Zak returned to high school; he didn't enjoy the celebrity status gained from having his stepmother in the news.

Saul Tigh spent a few days with the Adama family, adjusting to having regained his memories. After he spent enough time alternating between teasing and strategizing with his best friend (having been brought up to speed on their efforts to avert the attacks), he reported back to the Valkyrie.

Granted leave by the Fleet, Bill Adama, much to his displeasure, also had to report back when his time was up. He spent his last night home gently and tenderly loving his wife. Her own love was reflected in every gesture, every touch, and every caress. In the early morning they held each other tight, feeling each other's breath and heartbeat, both eternally grateful they held the love of their life safely in their arms again.

….

Somehow peace could never be maintained between the Adama males. Usually it was minor scuffles, easily talked out after their Tauron tempers cooled. They were all infuriatingly opinionated, proud, stubborn and angry.

Even Liam had started showing these particular Adama traits. One time he had emphatically decided vegetables were a curse upon the Twelve Colonies and wanted only Tauron noodles for every meal. Bill was pleased that another son enjoyed his favorite food, but Laura was less than thrilled. She nearly erupted after coming home one day to find Zak and Liam in tears; they'd tried to figure out who could endure the spiciest of Tauron noodles.

Adamas; proud, stubborn, bullheaded, and opinionated. And they certainly didn't like being wrong.

It started with a weekend. In general, weekends were something to look forward to in the Roslin-Adama household. Weekends meant Kara or Lee might slip away from War College to come home. Weekend liberty meant that Bill was usually able to return. Liam and Zak didn't have to go to school. Saul (and maybe Ellen) or Cottle might stop by for dinner. Weekends meant time with family; smiles, laughter, relaxation, and happiness.

There was nothing remarkable about that Saturday afternoon. Cloudy. Mild. There was homework for Zak and Liam, and Laura was stuck with some education paperwork. Kara hadn't been allowed to leave War College; apparently verbal sparring with instructors during class, and calling them a frakwit, was a good way to get confined to campus. Lee was home. So was Bill.

There was a book. Lee was sitting on the couch bent over his tome in concentration. The book itself was almost unremarkable. A simple paperback with not even an image on the front, just a cover of deep maroon. The only noteworthy aspect someone might note was the lack of a title or author to distinguish it. But it had clearly captured Lee's attention, he barely observed anything going on around him. He didn't notice when his father sat down next to him. Lee's eyes stayed fixed on the pages, enraptured by the material.

"What's the book?" Bill asked, surreptitiously looking at the cover and not receiving any answers. He narrowed his eyes when he saw Lee jump at his presence, and a crimson blush creeped up the young man's face. Lee glanced up and met his father's curious gaze, shifted uncomfortably, and looked away. Red flag. Bill knew Lee's tells for when he was doing something his father would not approve of. "Leeland Adama. What's the book?" Bill pushed.

Lee recognized his father's tone and grew irritated with his persistence. So, he decided to hand the book to his father and damn the consequences. Lee was proud and refused to be ashamed of what he found fascinating. Crossing his arms, the younger Adama watched his father put on his new glasses and thumb through the first pages. Lee fidgeted again but remained silent, clenching his teeth together.

Once Bill's eyes fell on the title page, he felt a heat flush through his body, and his hands turned into fists while still holding the book. Beside him Lee tensed further as well, readying for the now inevitable fight.

"How dare you bring a book by that…terrorist into this house," Bill Adama growled in a low voice. Lee felt a chill run up his spine; this was his father's dangerous voice. Bill's eyes turned and fixed on him, and Lee saw their angry glint.

"He's a freedom fighter," Lee immediately countered.

"He's a godsdamn frakkin' terrorist, and I will not have it in this house!" Bill said, his voice raised. Lee jumped to his feet and stood with his hands on his hips. Both heard a pounding in their ears and felt the blood rushing through their veins.

"This is just like you dad. You always hate every opinion that goes against yours!" Lee shouted back. He glared at his father. Distantly both men heard a woman's voice telling someone to go upstairs. Bill rose and squared off against his eldest son.

"Tom Zarek's opinion has no place in civilized society! There's a reason the book is banned," the older man snarled.

"He's got good ideas on politics and law. And he should be allowed to express them! The law gives us freedom of expression! Or is that only for people who have thoughts that you like?'' Lee taunted his father. Proud, stubborn, and angry.

"Out," Bill hissed, turning away. He heard Lee scoff and storm away. Taking deep breaths, Adama paced the living room fuming. His hands twitched wanting to lash out and hit something. Tom Zarek – the man who'd lead a mutiny on his ship. His stomach churned at those memories. His own men and women turning on each other, betraying him. That day left its scar on Bill's heart and mind. If he ever saw Zarek again…

Bill caught sight of the woman lurking in the doorway watching him. Her eyes were wide as they observed, as if not quite sure what to make of what she was seeing. To be fair, Bill hadn't exploded like this in a long time. His wife's concerned expression caused some of the fight to melt away. He collapsed on the couch, running a hand through his hair. A few moments later, he felt the couch dip down beside him and one of Laura's palms rest on his back. Her other hand grasped his, and their fingers laced together. Bill's body still thrummed with anger, but he took deep breaths to try and calm down. Beside him Laura was quiet; memories of a man named Tom Zarek plaguing them both.

"You know he only gets more determined the more you two fight," she said and kept her tone soft and gentle. It washed over her husband like a soothing wave, and she heard his resigned sigh. Her hand ran over his back in a comforting caress.

"I can't believe he was reading frakkin' Zarek. That man is full of crap. Always was," he growled. He felt Laura's grip tense, and her head rested against his shoulder. He leaned into her and felt the shudder go through her body. Memories.

"Do we judge people based on the choices they made in the future we experienced? Part of me wants to. If I ever see Zarek again... he told me, you were dead. When he said that...it felt like my world shattered." Bill felt her tremble again, and he murmured soft reassurances to her until she was ready to speak again. She swallowed hard and continued. "In this time, he hasn't made those choices, yet," she said. Despite the softness of her voice, Bill could hear the tension. The conflict between what was right and smart.

"He's still a terrorist."

"Yea, he is."

They sat in silence for a moment, deep in thought.

"What if Zarek remembers? What if the next people who get their memories back are people like Zarek, or Gaeta, or Baltar? Adar? Dee? Bill? Would it be better or worse for some of them to remember?" she asked, remembering her latest dream. Elosha had told her Athena was awake. There was just no way to know who else had awoken and who would awake.

"At least we remember," he said, squeezing her hand. They sat together in companionable silence on the couch, supporting each other.

"Bill, go and patch things up with Lee. Even if you don't agree with him, he's your son," Laura said, giving him a look, which might have said, I'm not impressed with you right now.

Lee was in his room, angrily throwing his old pyramid ball in the air while lying on his bed, when he heard his father's knock on the door. Lee was sorely tempted to tell his father to go away but settled for glaring at the Old Man when he entered. The glare melted away when the younger Adama saw the lack of anger on his father's face. Bill hadn't come to finish the fight; it looked like he'd actually come to talk. Lee watched his father clasp his hands in front of him and adopt his typical neutral stance. Predictable Bill Adama. It was almost formulaic.

"I don't have the right to tell you what to read," Bill said in the calmest voice he could manage. "However." His voice took on a hard edge. "I don't want the book in the house. Read it if you want. But not here."

Lee eyed his father. He'd known reading Tom Zarek's book wouldn't earn him any Pyramid points with his father, but the sheer contempt that he pronounced Zarek's name with resonated with Lee.

"You knew Zarek didn't you? In that other time?" Lee asked.

Bill considered his son for a moment. He and Laura hadn't told Lee many of the finer details of the future. With all the work they were doing, they hoped it was averted now. There was also lot they didn't want to talk about; this was one such topic. Lee wasn't going to let it drop though, so Bill took a deep breath and replied.

"Yes. He… hurt Laura and me. Caused a lot of pain," Bill explained vaguely, but Lee could sense a dark story behind the words.

"That hasn't happened yet though. Things change. He could be different"

"Not that different," Bill scoffed.

"Why not? You're different," Lee argued, frowning and looking away from his father.

"Not that much."

"I know to you it may not seem like you have. But you have. And, I'm happy about it. But...it's like suddenly one day you became the dad I had wanted you to be for years. You started coming home for shore leave. Instead of working in your study all the time, you and Laura took us places. Museums, beaches, pyramid games. And... you started laughing. After you married Laura, everything changed. It was so sudden, but I get it now after you explained everything. Still, one day you were different," Lee said.

Bill hadn't realized how radical the shift had been to his son. He also hadn't realized how changed he was; how much his failures had forced him to reevaluate his life and who he was.

"After that timeline, I wanted to be a better father. The father you and Zak deserved," Bill said simply.

"It's been great dad. Really. But you aren't the man you remember," Lee argued and paused, letting his words sink in. "You used to say, 'a man is not a man until he wears the wings of a viper pilot' remember?" Lee asked, and Bill nodded. It was distant memory now. "You stopped saying that nine years ago. Things can be different. People can change."

…

The Cylons huddled around their meeting table. All models were represented. The Ones sat scowling but quiet, backs bent in shame. The Threes talked in overly animated gestures. The Sixes spoke louder and louder to be heard over their Cylons sisters. The Fours observed with an almost detached curiosity. The other models had a range of reactions. Together they made an impressive display, a mix of outrage and disbelief. However, unity prevailed when they sat down and cast their vote. It was unanimous.

They decision was passed down. The Cavil who claimed knowledge of the future would be boxed. The other One models had avoided this fate by disavowing their brother. It would just be the memories of that One, Future Cavil, boxed. One strand of memories sealed away. He'd proven to be too dangerous. He'd risked detection.

The Eight who'd witnessed the events recounted it to the Cylon council. The facts were laid out; the kidnapping of a member of the government in the middle of the night, allowing Centurions to walk along Colonial streets, and torture. Her story made it clear: Future Cavil was out of control.

When they came to box him, Future Cavil raged and yelled against his brothers and sisters. Most of what he said made little sense to the others. As his eyes began to close during the boxing procedure, he looked to the other brother Cavils and uttered one final sentence.

"You'll know I was telling the truth when the First Hybrid is found. He has it!"

After his eyes closed, the Cylon Council convened again to discuss their plan; the destruction of the Colonies.

….

Author's note: Review away! It makes my day!