The end of another fic! I'll see what I can post next! LOL Thanks for all the guest reviews which I can't reply to.

"You'd better have good news," Laura said to Billy as he walked into their new field office.

"No, Ms Roslin. They're saying another week."

"Another week? You have to be kidding me. These people are worse than the Teachers' Union. I thought once we were here on site, we'd resolve some of these issues. We've been here for almost two weeks and I feel like we've made no progress whatsoever."

"Well, I've got more bad news. The interpreter has disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

"I have a feeling he might be dependent on drugs."

"We had a drug addict for an interpreter? No wonder these people don't trust us."

"I called the agency, and they're trying to find a replacement."

"Trying to find a replacement? How difficult can it be? Everyone here is bilingual. I was in charge of their curriculum long enough to know both languages are taught in school. The language barrier is a crock. "

"Agreed. But if we call them on it, they are bound to be even more insulted. Going along with the farce of an interpreter is the only thing to do."

Laura sighed and flung her glasses off. "No," she said.

"Sorry?"

"No. I'm not going to sit here and let them dictate to me. We're paying them for a job and it's about time they kept their side of the bargain. I have people offering us gratis services and the ones we are actually paying are letting us down. I'm going to talk to the foreman."

"Um, Ms Roslin, that may not be the best idea."

"On the contrary, Billy, I think it's the best idea I've had in two weeks." Laura stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

0.0.0

Bill had never seen a more amusing sight than the one that greeted him that morning – Laura Roslin standing on a building site, wearing a short skirt, high heels and a hard hat. With one hand on her hip, the other gestured wildly at a big, burly man with a dark, bushy beard who towered over her. Laura looked like a tiny terrier snapping at a Rottweiler's heels.

As Bill moved closer to them, he could see the man was covered with traditional Tauron tattoos. He was a sinister sight looming over the petite immaculate lady from upper class Caprica, yet she did not seem one bit intimidated. His heart swelled with pride that she was the woman he had chosen to love.

0.0.0

Laura was frustrated as hell. She knew, without a doubt, the foreman understood every word she said.

"Where do your children go to school?" she asked.

He frowned down at her and shook his head slightly, once again pretending not to comprehend.

"Do you think they'll complete school? Or will they drop out? Live on unemployment benefits?"

The man growled a Tauron curse.

Another voice, speaking Tauron also, came from behind her. Its familiar gravelly timbre, even when speaking a language foreign to her, calmed her and filled her with optimism.

She watched as Bill shook hands with the foreman and then listened intently to his grievances. Occasionally he nodded encouragingly. When the man paused, Bill spoke briefly, then turned to her.

"Maybe you could show me the site plans," he said.

She was momentarily dazed, but gathered herself together. "Of course, they're in the office."

"Lead the way."

Bill stood in between her and the foreman at a desk in the small demountable shed that served as her field office, studying the building plans. It seemed extremely crowded in the small room. Laura concentrated on keeping her mannerisms business-like. Bill Adama's proximity was making her body tingle with anticipation. She was sure he brushed against her deliberately a few times.

"Which buildings do you need finished first, Laura?" Bill asked.

"This main one. It will be the administration, staff rooms, storage and the library. These two building are general learning areas." She pointed out the relevant buildings as she spoke. "They all need to be ready before we can enrol any students. This one will have a kitchen area for cooking classes at one end and a science lab at the other. I'd like that one done as soon as possible, too. Tauron chefs are in great demand on the other colonies. This building is the toilet block. Obviously, it will need to be completed as well. These four extra buildings are music, drama, woodwork, mechanics and more general classrooms. They can wait."

Bill turned back to the contractor and spoke in his native tongue again.

He then turned to Billy. "Billy, do you have any contacts over at the Justice Department?"

"Um, Justice?" Billy looked as confused as Laura was by his question. "I think I went to college with a girl who works in their finance department."

"Perfect." Bill looked at Laura. "The company you hired finished building the four new Tauron Court House buildings over six months ago. They've only received ten percent of their payment from the Justice Department. Their employees are refusing to work for any government departments until they get their money."

"But I'm not a government department. Did you tell him that?"

"I told him that if you said you'd pay him, you would. I said you were an honourable person." He turned back to Billy. "Billy, would you try and contact the Justice Department – find out what the hold up is."

"Yes, sir," Billy said.

"He says you've insisted no overtime will be paid."

"I can't afford it. I'll pay them to work a 40 hour week, but I can't be responsible for their tardiness," Laura said firmly. "Can you try and explain that this will be a privately managed school? We're going to accept all Tauron children who want to learn - at no cost. The school will be administered using charitable funds. I have wealthy patrons and corporate sponsors eager to donate enough to fund these initial building costs, employ the teachers and cover all other expenses involved in running a school for two years. I've taken into account we may need contingencies after the buildings are completed, but I can't promise extravagances like overtime when they haven't even swung a hammer yet."

Bill spoke to the contractor at length before turning back to her.

"They'll be pouring the concrete for the slab of the Administration building first thing in the morning if you agree to advance them 30% of the total project cost," he said.

"Advance?"

"His crew have had to resort to working on the wharves for cash-in-hand just to feed their families. He will need to give them some incentive if he's going to convince them to return to site."

"How will I know that they won't just pocket the advance and still not start with the construction?"

"Because he said they will, and a Tauron is always true to his word." Bill tilted his chin slightly higher with pride.

"Tauron's are honourable people too," she said, giving him a faint smile.

He smiled back. "Yes."

"Okay." Laura turned to Billy. "Can you arrange for the payment to go through this afternoon, Billy?"

"Yes, ma'am."

After Bill shook hands and bid the Tauron contractor goodbye, he turned back to Laura with a frown.

"Why don't you have a project manager sorting this type of thing out, Laura?"

"I did, for one week, until a Libran mining company offered him twice the amount of money I was paying him. That pile of papers over there are the new applicants." She sighed and ran her hands through her hair. "Everything was going smoothly until then. I should have known it couldn't last."

"This is quite an ambitious project."

"Yes."

Bill studied her for a moment before turning to Billy. "Billy, did you have a contract with the project manager?"

"Yes, sir."

"Have you a new blank version? May I look at it?"

"Yes, sir."

Billy shuffled on his desk and handed Bill the document.

Bill flicked through the pages of the contract.

"What's wrong?" Laura asked.

"Who said anything's wrong?" Bill motioned for Billy to hand him a pen, and signed the bottom of the contract. "I'll start tomorrow, if that's okay. I was planning on playing hooky with the boss this afternoon."

"Bill, you can't do the job."

"Why not? I speak Tauron fluently. I am Tauron. I was, until recently, in charge of a crew of approximately 4000 on a Battlestar so I'm sure I can handle the few construction workers you need wrangled. I'm willing to accept the salary you've listed here. In fact, you can probably lower it if you like. I even have experience with fundraisers – my ex-wife's specialty – so I can also offer you a plethora of contacts. And I won't leave you in the lurch for a Libran mining company."

Laura stared at Bill. She had missed him so much over the last few weeks. It had been different than when he was on Galactica. She knew where he was then. This time it had been a mystery and she only now admitted she had been worried.

Now he was here, offering to stay, to help her with the one job that she was determined to be successful at. The entire project had been falling apart over the last few days, and he'd swept in and sorted things out in a matter of minutes.

How did that make her feel? Inadequate? Too dependent? Or relieved that she had someone to lean on and discuss problems with?

"Billy, why don't you take an early lunch break? Come back in an hour and arrange the payments to the contracting company."

Her lips curled into a small smile when Billy almost ran out of the office.

"Bill, we can't work together."

"Why not?"

"Because, because-" Bill seized the opportunity when she started stammering. He began rubbing his hands up and down her bare arms.

Suddenly she was once again all too aware of his proximity in the small office. "Because we will argue," she finally managed.

"Yeah," he agreed. "So?"

His mouth lowered and he kissed the hollow of her neck. Desire washed through her instantly.

"I've missed you," he said.

She whimpered as their lips met. Staying in his arms, letting him go on kissing her for days, was an attractive prospect. Using every ounce of resistance she could muster, she pulled away from him. "We can't," she whispered. "We'll be in each other's pockets day and night. What if familiarity leads to contempt?"

He grinned at her. "You do realise what you've just suggested, don't you?"

She frowned at him. Confused, she shook her head.

"Each other's pockets. Day and night," he repeated her words. "I don't remember seeing that clause in the contract, Ms Roslin. Where the project manager has to be with the CEO during the night as well as the day. However, if you're inviting me to live with you, the answer's 'yes'."

"Bill—," she started, only to have him cut her off with one of his gentle kisses. She lost her train of thought. Eventually their lips broke apart, but he immediately pulled her into his embrace. "I missed you," he whispered into her hair.

"I hadn't heard from you for so long," she said, concentrating on keeping her voice even.

"I know. I'm sorry. My kids had some issues I needed to sort out."

"Kids?"

"Yeah, I'll explain later. First we should tidy up everything that needs doing here so we can lock up for the afternoon. I think some sort of reunion is in order."

Somehow she found herself doing just what he suggested.

0.0.0

Bill looked down at Laura as she snuggled against his side. He'd loved Jaycie; he'd loved Carolanne; what he felt for Laura was on an entirely different level. If she held firm on not wanting him to take the project manager's position, he wasn't sure how his heart would take it.

"If I hire you as a Tauron expert, the first thing I'd want you to do is find me somewhere to live. Some nice area where I'd feel safe, but nothing too ostentatious. Wouldn't look good if I was begging for money to build a school, but living in a palatial mansion by the sea."

"I can think of a couple of suitable places. How many bedrooms?"

"Two. A master suite and a spare for guests. My partner has children, apparently. They may visit."

He concentrated on keeping his face impassive even though a grin was ready to break out at any moment.

"Bill," she whispered.

"Yeah?"

She moved and positioned herself so they were face to face. "I can't guarantee I'll be easy to live with. I've never lived with anyone before. Except my parents."

"If you're looking for good references, I may be in trouble, too," he said.

"I'm a workaholic. I'll probably talk about the school at home. I won't be able to switch off just because I'm out of the office."

"I'll understand. And we will fight, Laura. We're both stubborn and opinionated. But I'm not going to run out the door the first time we don't agree on something. In fact, I'll never run out the door. If you want me gone, you're gonna have to physically push me out."

She laughed. "I'm not sure I'd have the strength."

"Good."

He knocked her arms out from under her so she fell down onto his chest. She giggled and their mouths found each other for another kiss.

"We'll need a bookcase," she murmured against his skin.

"Definitely."

"And you have to do the cooking," she teased, playfully moving down to indulgently kiss and caress his chest.

"Tauron chefs are in great demand."

She snorted before her face suddenly turned serious. "I love you," she said. "I'm not sure how or when it happened, but I do."

Bill held her gaze.

"I know."

THE END