Note: Some dialogue is taken directly from the mini-series and its deleted scenes.

...

Red conveyed power, passion, and danger, so it was the perfect color for Laura Roslin. Scorching auburn curls tumbled down her back, and a dark wine-red skirt suit made her look sleek, polished, and just fierce enough. No subdued hairstyle or soft purple lilac suit this time; Laura wasn't going to look the part of naïve schoolteacher or reserved cabinet member - that wouldn't fit who she was anymore. She'd come alive long ago, leaving the quiet, demure Roslin behind. And, perhaps, her subconscious was also readying her to become a fiery leader again – just in case. It was better to be prepared.

Her heels clicked on the marble floor as she strode into the President's office directly behind Richard Adar. Both breathed heavily as they continued the argument which they'd started in the lobby of the government building. Hushed whispers were abandoned as they marched into the private office.

"Bringing a Cylon to Galactica is a security risk," Laura continued with her objections, stopping in front of his desk. Richard strode around it, tossing his folders on the surface. "You see the risk, right?"

"Being allowed to witness the decommissioning of Galactica in person is a sign of good faith between the Cylons and our people. They asked, and I agreed," Richard replied, putting the full authority of his office into his tone. Most people would consider that the end of the discussion, but Laura wasn't fazed.

"I heard the words 'good faith' from them before. Then I was hauled off, tortured, and experimented on," Laura said, pleased when Richard visibly flinched at her words. He didn't look up to meet her gaze but instead began pulling papers out of their folders, spreading them out over his desk.

"This timeline is different."

"Not that different," Laura scoffed; Richard Adar had certainly changed very little.

He sat down and leaned back in his chair. Pretending to be interested in the reports, Richard knew the divided attention would irritate Laura as they argued about Cylons and politics. He did enjoy her intensity when they clashed, and they continued going back and forth for several minutes. He flicked another piece of paper away before gracing Laura with his full attention again.

"You're always so sure you're right about everything," he sighed, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. His whole demeanor conveyed a president who was deigning to give an errant secretary his attention, and he grinned as Laura folded her arms. He liked reminding her that he was the most powerful person in the room. "Laura, I've worked hard for this. History will remember this as the time when the Colonies were made safe," he proclaimed, standing up and walking around his desk.

Watching Laura shake her head at him, Richard felt his blood boil. Seizing her chin, he halted the movement and forced her to look at him. Her eyes sparkled with defiance; she was the only one who dared look at him that way. He felt a thrill run up his spine as he held her firmly while giving his order.

"Doral will be attending the decommissioning ceremony as an envoy of his people. Understood?"

"Timelines may change, but no matter what, you're always certain you'll get what you want," she mocked in a low voice, turning to leave. An iron grip on her wrist whirled her back around and pressed Laura against the President's desk. Gasping in surprise, she felt the edge of the desk pressing against her.

"I usually get what I want, because I'm the gods-damn president," he growled. Seeing the retort on the tip of her tongue, he silenced it by pressing his mouth to hers. Years of her sass, lack of deference, and tension; Richard erupted. A muffled squeak of surprise escaped her, but he could barely hear it over the blood pounding in his ears.

"What the hell?" she asked, shoving him away. She stared at him wide eyed and felt her lips swelling from his bruising kiss. If her husband walked in at that moment, Richard would be dead in a minute. But Bill was millions of miles away on Galactica. She eyed the President warily.

"I've spent years watching you testify in front of the cabinet, unable to get through a session without wanting to frak you. You wanted me too, once. We were together in that other timeline after all, and you say things aren't that different," Richard pointed out, shoving her back against the desk again. Grabbing her wrists in his hands, he pinned them behind her after she made to push him away. Their gazes locked. I'm in control here, his eyes said. How could she even want to tell him no? Besides, she was the one who made him feel this way.

"Get off me," Laura grunted, struggling against him.

"I've believed you. Kept you safe. Even after you teased and flirted with me before running off with someone else, I still loved you!" Richard kissed along her jaw before biting her neck. Glancing at the red skin, he smiled knowing it would leave a mark. He pulled away to look her in the eye again. "After today, we can both be free. I'll be making Colonial history. The future will be what we make of it."

"I'll gladly be free of you," Laura growled, her voice dangerous and low. "You, the Cylons, and this whole mess." His cologne was overpowering from being so close to him, and she tried to control her breathing and racing heart. He had her pinned well.

"I'm not going to lose you, Laura," Richard promised. "You just need to remember what we had," he said, crushing his lips to her again, while his hands released her wrists and moved to her blouse. A sharp pain tore at him, and Richard yelped, jumping back. She had bitten down hard against his lower lip.

"I'm not yours to lose!" Laura exclaimed, putting every ounce of conviction in her voice while shoving him away as hard as possible. He staggered back. "I never was and never will be."

"Frak, Laura," Richard hissed, touching his lips with his fingers. When he looked down, he saw red blood. His lip throbbed from her attack, and he glared at the red stain. "This is Adama's fault," he spat, moving toward her again. Somehow, the stoic soldier had made his schoolteacher forget him, but he was sure he could remind her of what they could be, what they could have. A loud crack rang out, and he stumbled back.

"I am sick of you not taking no for an answer," Laura said, panting. She watched Richard wobble, dazed from the force of her blow. "And you are nothing compared to him. Did you think you'd ever come between us? That there was anything we'd ever let come between us?" she asked, pushing herself away from the desk. She glared at Richard Adar. "You couldn't take someone telling you no in the other timeline, but this time I'm never giving you anything but a NO!" she spat. In fact, it felt good telling him 'no' as forcefully and explicitly as she could. Finally.

"Get out," Richard hissed.

"Mr. President," she nodded, striding past with her head held high. She wasn't a naïve, depressed schoolteacher anymore who couldn't resist a president on a power-trip. Richard needed to feel the control he had over people, but she could be done with his games now.

"But if you walk through that door, you won't be welcome back in this government again. You're right. I don't take 'no' well."

"You're asking me to resign?" she asked with her hand on the door handle.

"Your usefulness has diminished. I can't have someone with Cylon prejudices serving in this administration as we begin this new era of peace with them," he replied, trying to make it sound less like the overt blackmail that it was.

Laura laughed. It was so clear now. Richard Adar was a sick, abusive, and manipulative prick, and he'd always been one. She'd been a president herself and had used her power to serve her people, not to herself be served like him.

"You're a bully, Richard. Always have been," she opened the door and looked at him over her shoulder. "I'll be retiring when I get back," she said, turning on her heels and striding through the door without a backward glance.

If I get back, she thought, walking through the building. Once more she was forced out of a job. Once more her life was on the line. She was amazed at how the timeline was so like the previous one. She frowned and tried not to let the line from Pythia taunt her.

…

Bill Adama walked through the Battlestar Galactica, rehearsing a speech he really didn't want to give. Again. In fact, he really didn't want to talk about "the Cylon war being long over" when the toasters walked too freely on the Colonies. Adar, their moron of a president, had allowed the enemy to continue observing humanity. The Cylons claimed they just wanted to learn what humans were like, but every time Bill saw those familiar Cylon faces, he recited the list of things he and the others had done to avoid the attacks and prepare for them if they happened anyway. Shaking his head, he dutifully kept his attention on the paper in his hand, reading the lines to himself with furrowed brows.

"Admiral Adama, if I may?" Captain Kelly said, coming up from behind him.

"Captain?" Bill glanced at his Landing Signal Officer.

"I just wanted to say what a pleasure it's been, serving under your command," Kelly said. The sentiment rang similar to many others his fellow crewmen had already wished their commanding officer.

"It's been my honor," Bill said, forcing himself to ignore the eerie feeling of deja-vu he felt tingling in the back of his mind. He suppressed shuddering and spoke in a level voice. "Good luck in your next assignment." He nodded at his officer who moved off down a well-lit corridor. Galactica still practically glowed from her overhaul; life pulsed through circuits and bulkheads. No flickering lights. No creaking, fracturing metal. Still, his eyes swept over the crisp lines and clean metal. Checking. Reassuring.

Returning his attention to the speech in his hand, Bill avoided looking up and meeting people's eyes. Every time crewmen caught his gaze, they wished him congratulations or tried to talk, and he really did need to look over the speech. Their reactions were natural, and he liked hearing his crewmen moving through the ship excited and happy. There was an electricity in the air as a million possibilities swirled around the crew. Chatter filled the air as his crew talked about their next challenges and adventures; they were giddy with excitement at the Peace Accords. To them it felt like the dawning of a new era - a brave new world.

Pounding footsteps of runners thumped along the corridor, slowing as two people maneuvered alongside him.

"Morning, sir!" called a familiar voice. Exactly like last time, Bill thought, quelling his unease and opening his mouth to reply. Unexpectedly, another voice joined in before he could get the words out. Not like last time, Bill realized, feeling his muscles physically relax.

"Morning, dad," panted a familiar voice, breathless and tired.

"Morning, Liam, Kara. What do you hear, Starbuck?" Bill couldn't stop the small grin which twitched onto his face when he looked over and saw his children.

"Nothin' but the rain," she chanted back, laughing.

"Grab your gun and bring in the cat," Bill answered, completing their now very old ritual.

"Boom, boom, boom," Liam gasped after Kara nudged him, bringing her adoptive little brother into the ritual. Liam had come with Zak early to Galactica to spend time on the Battlestar. Starbuck looked like she was putting Liam through his paces; he wanted to spend time in the viper simulators later, but she'd told him he had to act like a real viper pilot and work out first.

"C'mon hot-shot. We're completing this lap," Starbuck said, moving onward while Liam kept up behind her. Bill chuckled, watching his son and daughter disappear around the corner. Welcome changes, he thought.

…

Bill strode into the Combat Information Center after having an eerie but entertaining enough encounter with three of his deck crewmen. Walking to his post, he took a long look at the familiar consoles, monitors, the overhead DRADIS screens, and the faces of dozens of crewmen. This time, they were running a full crew compliment despite the impending decommissioning - he'd insisted. He felt a knot in the pit of his stomach as he came to his usual spot in CIC. This was the long-awaited day.

His Officer of the Watch, Lieutenant Felix Gaeta, handed him a stack of papers from the watch.

"Anything interesting?" Bill asked, looking Gaeta in the eye. He no longer stiffened reflexively anytime he saw the young lieutenant. This Felix was all idealism and happiness, and the cold rage Bill had felt towards him for his part in the mutiny had thawed. A trace of ice might have remained, but one day Bill walked into CIC and saw Gaeta and Dualla laughing together, and he was reminded of how very young they were and how very unfair their lives had been in the other timeline. So far, Gaeta had only ever been an efficient and detail-oriented officer, so that's how Bill decided to treat him. He tried to anyway.

"No, sir. Fleet Battlestars are reporting to their positions along the armistice line. The President is due to arrive at Armistice Station at 1800 hours onboard Colonial One," Gaeta reported while his CO looked through the reports.

This was different. Battlestars and Baseships would meet by armistice station as the President and Cylon representative came to the Armistice Station for the Peace Accords. The President would give a speech, the Cylon Six would give a speech, Galactica would be decommissioned, the Cylon's oldest Basestar would be decommissioned, and then the treaty would be signed. Bill sighed; he hated pomp and ceremony.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Bill said, and Gaeta heard the dismissal in the tone.

"Yes, sir," Gaeta said. He made to walk away before turning back to his commanding officer. "May I take this opportunity to say what a pleasure and honor it's been to serve under you these past three years?" he said, looking like a little boy who wanted approval from his father. Bill felt his stomach drop; the eerie deja-vu feeling was back.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," he replied, giving him a polite nod.

…

She hadn't changed much over the years, Doral thought. He knew the Secretary of Education clearly didn't like him. The calculated looks they threw unreservedly at one another, and the ever so slightly narrowed eyes, helped make both their feelings clear. They made their way through the spaceport with other members of the party heading to Galactica. He watched her, observing the woman who'd once piqued Cavil's interest.

Confident and graceful for sure, Doral was intrigued by the moments when a shadow seemed to cross over her. She'd frozen for a few moments as they boarded Colonial 798. He was sure he'd seen her shudder and heard her gasp before she'd continued moving. He followed her through the compartments, watching her wandering gaze. She'd constantly paused and pursed her lips as they made their way to their seats. He rolled his eyes; humans were such strange beings. All he needed to do was get to Galactica, contact the Eight stationed there, and then he'd be done babysitting Laura Roslin.

...

Out the window of the starliner, Laura saw the Caprican ocean. It was calm on the surface today, but under that almost glassy surface, deep in those blue depths were currents which swirled and churned with energy. She felt a bit like that ocean right now while waiting; calm on the outside, but a storm raged inside her.

So many thoughts raced through her mind, not letting her rest long on any one subject. The doctor's words echoed in her ears. Her fist still hurt from hitting Adar. She'd soon see Galactica again. It felt like her heart rate was trying to keep up with the pace of her thoughts. Laura alternated between twisting the wedding band she wore and fiddling with the onyx necklace she rarely took off. Little anchors. She curled her fingers hard around the pendant when footsteps drew near, but they passed by and Laura breathed again. Her senses were on overdrive with anticipation.

She sighed and rested her head back against the leather of her chair, trying not to look around again at Colonial One…Colonial Transport 798, she corrected herself, closing her eyes.

Her old ship looked so…new. It was a state-of-the-art luxury liner that now once more resembled the passenger vehicle it was designed to be and not the state ship it had become. A lump had formed in her throat when she'd come to one compartment. She'd crossed through the space in a complete trance while staring at the floor - the blood of her gunned down Quorum delegates no longer stained it. She couldn't stop noticing the changes; there was no desk where she'd labored over reports and ration distributions, no picture on the wall, and no erase board with a number that never seemed to go up.

"Secretary Roslin?" a voice asked. Oh Gods, Laura thought, feeling a tightness in her chest. She pursed her lips to keep from crying out. Slowly, deliberately, she opened her eyes and shifted in her seat, looking up. There he was. A young man with curly hair and a briefcase who smiled at her. Instantly, she felt a warmth behind her eyes which she pushed away.

"Yes?" she asked with a smile.

"I'm Bill Keikeya. Your new assistant," he said, introducing himself. She nodded and gestured for him to sit beside her. It was him. Young, earnest Billy looking as innocent and sweet as she remembered.

"Hello, Billy," she said warmly and watched as Billy's eyes flicked between her and the Cylon seated opposite her.

"Aaron Doral," the Cylon greeted. Laura felt her eye twitch.

"Ummm, I was asked to give this briefing book to you," Billy said, pulling a three-ring binder from his briefcase and handing it to his new boss. Laura couldn't help the slight chuckle that escaped her lips. She wouldn't need it; it had information on Galactica, her commanding officer, and the museum, and Laura liked to think she knew a fair bit about all three of those now. Her department liked being prepared though.

"Thank you," she whispered, setting it down and studying Billy. Their eyes met and a look passed between them. Laura heard his sharp intake of breath.

"Billy?" she whispered, a question there.

"You remember me?" he asked, not bothering with any veiled probing for information. It was so like Billy to blurt questions out, Laura thought while she nodded. Billy laughed with relief. "I thought I was losing my mind this morning!" Poor kid; Laura realized he had only just regained his memories. What a day he must be having. Laura felt a tear escape her eyes as she smiled at Billy.

"I missed you," she admitted. Billy nodded and frowned, rubbing where the bullet that killed him had pierced his skin. He was about to ask what happened when the announcement system cracked to life.

"We are preparing for departure to Galactica, with an expected flight time of five and a half hours…" the captain announced.

"Galactica," Billy murmured almost reverently. Laura nodded. Her old home. She felt an ache in her heart at the thought of seeing it again. The transport lifted away from Caprica and roared skyward. They looked out the window again as their home planet faded away and became one of a million dots in the heavens. Would they ever see it again?

"I have so many questions," Billy said, wanting to know what had become of the rag-tag fleet. "What happened? And, why are things different?" he asked, his gaze flicking to Doral who watched them with interest.

"In time," Laura said, her gaze darting over to Doral as well in a subtle warning. Billy nodded in understanding. "It really is so very good to see you again, Billy," Laura smiled patting his arm affectionately.

"You too, Madame… Secretary," Billy said, making a face.

…

Billy Keikeya realized he was never going to live this down. He'd gone and gotten himself separated from the Secretary of Education *again* despite knowing the layout of the ship and where Roslin was going. Why? A woman. Her. He'd seen Anastasia Dualla again, and she'd looked at him with those teasing, warm brown eyes. Billy's stomach felt like he'd been knocked clean off the tallest Caprica City skyscraper. For a moment, he stood rooted to the deckplates while his mouth ran dry. Was that him swaying back and forth? He looked around, realizing Roslin was very much gone, and he was acting exactly like he had the first time he'd come to Galactica.

Without him consciously telling his feet to move, they started trailing after Dee.

He trailed after her straight into a unisex head. His stomach dropped again. Billy had tried to block this bit of embarrassment from his mind. If he weren't an atheist, he'd say the Gods hated him. He gulped.

"In … or out!" Dee snapped at Billy as she washed an arm in the wash basin. He was staring stupidly, wasn't he? He swallowed hard.

"Huh?" Billy asked, feeling his head spin as he looked at her. She was the same as she'd been when they first met. Same fire. Same grace.

"Get in or get out. Shut the hatch."

"Sorry!" he muttered, reaching to pull the hatch closed behind him. He tried to open his mouth to say more, but the words weren't coming. She looked at him with amused exasperation, and Billy felt his knees wobble.

"Where are you trying to be?" she asked, as if he were a dolt and she was trying not to mock him too much.

"Uh—visitors' quarters," he mumbled, being nudged to the side while other Galactica personnel pushed into the head. "I'm a visitor," he said, wondering if his voice had come out too pitchy sounding. She was laughing at him. Was that a good or bad sign?

"Never would have guessed!" Billy's face burned red as a thousand emotions crashed through him. Dee mistook it as embarrassment. "Never been in a unisex head before?"

"Uhm," Billy wasn't sure how to answer. I used them in the future, he thought but thankfully his mouth still wasn't working. She was laughing at him still, and it sounded sweet to his ears.

"Well, there's not much privacy on a warship. So, the first rule is, don't get your panties in a bunch at being seen. Second rule is," she said, stopping to give him a pointed look. "Don't stare." That was exactly what he'd been doing. He couldn't help it.

"Sorry," he said, trying to look away from her as she dressed.

"C'mon," she said, zipping up her sweatshirt. "Let's return you," she sighed, as if he were an errant child on a fieldtrip. He nodded and followed her out the head and down a corridor. "What's your name?"

He swallowed, trying not to be overwhelmed by her smile. She had always had the prettiest smile.

"Billy."

"Hi, Billy. I'm Petty Officer Dualla, Crew Specialist," she watched his mouth try and repeat the words back and smiled at him again. She took pity on him. "Call me Dee."

"Hi, Dee," he said, feeling his heart skip a beat when he said her name. His heart skipped another beat when he heard two familiar voices growing louder.

"...integrated computer network, and I will not have it on this ship," a deep gravelly voice stated. Billy looked ahead and saw Laura Roslin and Bill Adama walking side by side.

"I heard you're one of those people. You're actually afraid of computers." Billy cringed at the tone of Roslin's voice. It was teasing and almost mocking; hadn't she learned how to get along with the military? He thought she had, and suddenly there was a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"No, there are many computers on this ship. But they're not networked, Fleet policy for Battlestars," Adama said, stopping to face Roslin. Billy watched her smile at Adama, as if indulging him. Frak, Billy thought, hoping Roslin wasn't going to be unbearable with memories of the future. He loved her like a mother, but he really didn't want to get caught in the crossfire between the two titans ever again. "...not allow a networked computerized system to be placed upon this ship while I'm in command. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir, whatever you say, sir." Roslin was trying hard not to giggle now as Billy and Dee approached.

Billy could see it all happening again. She was going to get herself thrown in the brig. He was going to get caught in the middle of their argument. He watched their attention turn to him.

"There you are, Billy!" Laura said, and now looked as if she were trying not to laugh at him while Adama thanked Dee for returning the errant assistant. Billy looked between Dee as she walked off, to Roslin and Adama.

"Oh dear, I think we have Billy worried," Roslin said, tilting her head to the side. Billy tried to reply, but words didn't seem to be his forte that day. To be fair, there was a lot going on in his mind.

"Mr. Keikeya?" Adama asked, his hands on his hips.

"He probably remembers what you do to people who disagree with you," Roslin teased.

"Listen and act accordingly?" Adama retorted. Billy looked at Adama as the wheels in his mind turned. Did he?

"We were just… remembering how we first met," Laura laughed. Billy let out and audible sigh of relief; Adama remembered too. "Billy, I'd like to introduce you to Admiral Adama. My husband," Laura said, smiling. Billy's eyes widened.

"It's good to see you, Billy," Adama said, nodding at him.

"C'mon, lets finish bringing you up to speed now that Doral's not around," Laura said, watching her assistant standing there gawking at them. He nodded mutely.

"Wardroom, we have to be there in half an hour anyway," Bill muttered.

"You married him?!" Billy squeaked after they started off down the corridor.

…

Billy got the abridged version of events, learning as much as possible within the time permitted. He leaned against a wall in the wardroom, needing the support as he listened to everything. Laura spared some of the details, things he didn't need to know, but by the end her assistant was nodding. They continued talking in a corner quietly, but their privacy was interrupted by the arrival of newcomers.

Media crews entered the room, cameras held in their hands as they talked among themselves. Bill tried to remember the name of the PR representative. Not Doral, thank the Gods, although, it had unsettled him to see the man following Laura around Galactica. He'd been shown to his quarters, and a marine had been assigned to follow him.

Watching the media camera crews set up, Bill could hear the echo of a distant conversation ringing against the walls. 'Why don't you talk to me, Lee?' his gravelly voice had once asked. 'I don't have anything to say' came Lee's angry reply. Looking toward the door, his oldest son was now maneuvering past the press and walking toward him.

"Dad," Lee said, a touch of formality in his tone while they were in dress greys. Even so, he grinned at his Old Man. "Big day."

Bill looked at his son, and for a moment the emotions welled up in him. This time his oldest son wasn't bursting with anger. In fact, he looked at his father with affection and respect.

"Big day," Bill agreed, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Where are…" he trailed off for a moment. How long had it been, and the memories could still come back clear as if they'd happened moments ago? A flag-draped coffin. Lee bitter and angry while trying to grieve his dead brother. 'You're not even listening to me! Why can't you get this through your head? Zak did not belong in that plane!' Lee had yelled at him with so much bitter anger in this very room. For a moment, the words Bill remembered hit him like a physical blow.

"Zak and Liam will be here in a minute," Lee said, anticipating the question Bill had been asking. Lee looked at his father, who was giving him a strange look. "Kara let them have a few rounds in the simulator. Liam is a natural, but Zak kept crashing at every landing," Lee laughed. Bill felt his chest tense and remembered the final verbal gunshot his oldest son had once fired; 'face it. You killed him.'

"Oh, my Gods, dad, I'm sorry, I forgot," Lee said, seeing his father's pained expression. He'd learned what had happened from Kara and saw a shadow at the memory of the tragedy pass over his father.

Zak and Liam burst into the wardroom. Zak fidgeted with his sash; the feeling of the starched, stiff dress uniform still new to him. Liam grinned like the kid he still was, exhilarated from his time in the viper simulator.

"We're all here dad," Lee assured Bill quietly as they both watched the youngest Adamas join them. A moment later the PR representative was calling for the Adama family to come pose for the demanded photos.

Laura glanced back at Billy, who had a small grin on his face, before looking at her husband. A look of understanding passed between them; our sons are back. The PR person yelped at them to get into position.

Bill felt light as he put an arm around his wife while their boys crowded around them. A happy family. This time it wasn't a fake tableau, staged by a demanding undercover Cylon. This time, the photographers captured three mischievous boys smiling into the camera, one Secretary of Education trying not to giggle, and a retiring Admiral who was failing at keeping his face stoic.

…

Laura couldn't open the hatch – her hands wouldn't stretch out to touch the metal. Her body was frozen, completely rooted to the spot while her gaze locked onto the word 'Commander' stenciled onto the hatch. She was back. A gentle touch on her back felt reassuring, and Bill reached over to twist the handle for her. The hatch swung open and, after a moment's hesitation, they entered Bill's quarters.

Sixteen years. It had been sixteen years since she'd stood in these rooms.

Two very unsteady legs carried her forward, and she took his quarters in, slowly turning and absorbing every detail. The smell of leather and books greeted Laura, welcoming her back. She gasped and brought her hand to her mouth. Despite how long she'd been away, an echo of home was still there. Her heart rose and sank; she used to know every detail of this space, but it was still a place of warmth for her. Bill's arms snaked around her, embracing her from behind.

"It's a lot, being back," he agreed, sensing how overwhelmed she felt.

"How much time did we spend here together?" she asked in a breathy rasp, looking around. Here they'd flirted and argued. Here they'd disliked, cared, and, finally, loved.

"I've missed your heels lying on the floor. It always felt like something was missing without you here," Bill said, nuzzling his wife's hair as memories pushed through their minds. Torn cards on the floor, arguments, giggles, reports scattered over every surface, and two people learning how to be one half of a whole.

His quarters looked much the same to Laura. Leather books, warm tones, and plush carpets. It was inviting. She shuddered, taking in the paintings, statues, and couch.

"I learned how to love here," Laura breathed, tears sliding down her cheeks.

"And I learned what home really meant when you lived here," Bill replied. He heard Laura's sniffles that she tried to cover.

"Laura?"

"I'm in the photos this time," she realized, looking at the different images captured of their family which her husband had scattered around his space. She turned in his arms and looked up at him.

"We've made good changes," Bill murmured. "Gods, Laura, the last time you were here," he said, trailing off. Laura looked up at him, seeing the haunted look in his eyes.

"Bill, look at me," she urged, holding up her hands between them. "No shaking, no trembling, I'm right here. I'm ok," Laura reassured, placing her hands on his chest, her fingers tracing the line where his scar had once been. "And so are you."

"The doctor? You said there would be a follow up…"

"This morning. But," Laura took a deep breath and looked into her husband's worried blue eyes. "Everything is fine," she heard herself saying before her thoughts could catch up. She saw the relief wash over his features, and his forehead rested against hers.

"I still want more time with you, Laura," he murmured.

"I know. I love you, Bill Adama," Laura said, pulling him down to kiss her, trying not to think of test results and worried doctors. Her blouse shifted, and he noticed the angry red mark on her neck when they pulled apart. Laura sighed and explained what happened with Adar. Bill was impressed that his wife had decked the Adar, but he made several vows of bodily harm and, technically treasonous, threats of death toward the current president.

"You're ok?" he asked, calming down.

"Everything is fine," she assured him, leaning into his embrace and letting the turbulent feelings of being back settle in her. They'd need to get ready for the ceremony soon, but they could have a few minutes to themselves.

Hearing her assurances, Bill relaxed. For that moment, he enjoyed the feeling of holding his whole world in his arms. Whatever happened, she knew how much he loved her, and he'd enjoyed a life where she'd loved him back.

…

Author's note: I loved writing this chapter. Billy! It was a bit intense though! I'd love to hear what ya'll thought! Review away!

Thanks to PythianProphecy (the double whammy would be fun to write admittedly), luawalshie, Anastasia1224 (I'm sorry), SchaMG, Kleam, and guests for your reviews. Ya'll are great!