A/N: The mystery boy is revealed, and yes he is related to another BSG character. Thankyou so much for the reviews.

--

Fixing her dress, Laura glanced at herself in the mirror one last time as she passed the Fun House. It was the only mirror she knew of that wouldn't horribly distort her figure, and it left her feeling satisfied with her appearance. "Laura!" She turned back to find her mother waving her back to the tent. With a quick glance at her watch, she ran back towards her mother. "Did you tell Olivia I would help her out?"

"Yes Mom," Laura sighed, twisting her boot in the mud. "I ran straight over there and told her when you told me yesterday."

"Don't sass me, Laura." Evangeline Roslin warned as she noticed two teenage girls considering whether to have their fortunes told.

"I'm not!" She cried out, wishing she could just be left alone to go to her date. Was it even a date? Her stomach flipped and she wasn't sure what her mother was talking about any more. "Pardon?"

"Are you meeting Peter?"

"No," She groaned. "Could you please stop encouraging him? He's driving me crazy."

"He loves you Laura," Evangeline reasoned, sitting down outside her tent with a smile. "I know you have a life, but he just wants to take care of you. Run along, I'll see you at dinner."

"I'll come back and tell you if my plans have changed." Laura promised as she began to walk slowly backwards.

"Sounds like you're hoping they will." A sly smile graced Evangeline's face, and she couldn't help but laugh as her daughter almost tripped over her own feet.

"Of course not, I'm just saying…" Laura steadied herself, and ducked her head in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. "I've got to go." She turned and ran as fast as she could towards the gate. The crowds were thinning as people began to start hunting down places to eat. But the second week of the Carnival generally died down a bit during the day anyway, and for once Laura was grateful for that fact. She managed to avoid any muddy patches as she made a mad dash for her destination. As she neared the gates she slowed down, once again fixing her dress and tucking her hair behind her ear. She checked her watch to find she was fifteen minutes late. But hopefully, being a guy he would be too. Taking a deep breath she walked out the gates to find him sitting on a swing, waiting for her. "Not wearing your uniform I see." She smiled as she sat on the swing next to him.

"I'm not flying today," He admitted, he'd seen her walk through the gate and taken the time to admire her outfit. A dark purple dress hung loosely to her body, but wrapped nicely against her waist before dropping to her knee. A pair of leather ankle boots, slightly smothered in mud, finished off the outfit. "Which means I don't have to run off anywhere in the afternoon." He watched with a smile and she swung back and forth. There was something about her that just seemed to attract his attention. She was beautiful, he'd have to be blind not to notice, but there was something more. Something seemed to just draw him in, and it intrigued him.

"I take it that's your way of saying you'd like to spend the afternoon with me," Laura laughed, crossing her ankles as she slowed the swing to a complete stop. "Or you're trying to make a subtle comment in order to find out why I left you alone in an open field."

"I think it was a little of both," He chuckled, leaning back. "I thought you said you didn't have a boyfriend."

"I don't." She told him simply, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"I see," Bill couldn't help but smile, she enjoyed being in control and not letting anything slip. For reasons he was unaware of, she had to be perfect on the outside. She had to have that air of mystery about her, and keep newcomers out. "You're not going to tell me who he is, are you?" He attracted her attention and she grinned.

"I assure you he's not my boyfriend and never was," Laura sighed, jumping as she swung forward and landing in a puddle of mud. She cringed, but smiled when she noticed him laughing at her. "An afternoon to enjoy and you're worrying about nothing." She held out her hand and he took it, relishing the feel of her soft skin.

"You know this place better than I do," They walked into the Carnival hand in hand. "What should we do?"

"Anything and everything," She shrugged. It occurred to her that she'd never held someone's hand before, with the exception of her parents and her sisters. It felt so comfortable and easy. "I think the general consensus is that as long as you end up throwing up near a garbage disposal, you're having fun."

"You've never 'had fun' before?"

"Not since I was eight," She admitted. "I know the Carnival from the inside, why bother enjoying it when, two weeks out of every year, I live it?"

"Maybe you've just never had the right person to enjoy it with." He offered as they walked down the muddy path towards the rides.

"Maybe," Laura muttered. She wasn't sure what it was about Bill that made her feel safe, but it was a feeling she didn't want to lose any time soon. "Let's go in the Haunted Battlestar, I'm sure that would interest you." She grinned mischievously as she dragged him towards the large tent. Even in daylight it looked spooky on the outside, who knew what it would be like on the inside.

--

"What's your favourite color?" Bill asked as they found themselves back on the swings eating ice-cream. The sun was setting, and with a smile she pointed towards the horizon.

"That dark pink," She licked at the small stream of ice-cream trickling down the cone. "It's almost purple but not quite. That's my favourite."

"What do you want to do with your life?"

"Good one," Laura rocked slightly in the swing, and stared off into the distance for a moment. The answer was on the tip of her tongue, but she wasn't quite sure what it was. "I suppose I'd like to get married and have kids. As long as I'm happy I don't care what happens."

"Good answer, those were my five by the way." He took a bite out of his ice-cream and cringed at the pain that shot through his head.

"Ha, you've got to be careful of that," Laura began to giggle uncontrollably. "Okay, okay… where do you see yourself in, let's say, forty years time?"

"Forty years time I'll be…" He did the math in his head. "Fifty-nine, so I'd probably be retiring. Find a nice country house on Caprica with lots of space for grandchildren to run around." He felt like he could tell her anything, even if he'd committed the worst possible crimes. Everything just seemed to come together easier in his mind around her, and he loved it. He craved the clarity she seemed to give him.

"Why did you want to see me again?" She asked quietly after a short silence.

"Because I can't stop thinking about you," He answered without hesitation and without thought. The words seemed to tumble from his mouth the instant they formed in his mind. "I saw you when I arrived at the Carnival last week, and I've been searching for you since that moment. I didn't know what name to call you, but I knew it had to be something angelic…"

"You know Laura comes from the word 'laurel' which is a type of flowering plant, there's nothing really angelic about it."

"I know what a laurel is," He moved so that his swing was closer to hers, pressure building in his legs as he tried to hold it there. "They produce oils that make some of the finest spices and perfumes across the galaxy."

"Someone payed attention in Biology…" She stopped as she felt his hand brush against her cheek. Her dark green eyes seemed to light up as she watched him move to stand before her. Suddenly she found herself wondering what else he'd learnt in school, and she felt her cheeks burn a bright red. His fingers danced along her jaw, resting beneath her chin as he took a step closer to her. Her mind was going crazy with thoughts that just wouldn't stay silent.

…was she doing the right thing, about to kiss a boy she'd only just met?

…what if she screwed it up? Was there some sort of special manoeuvre when it came to kissing that she hadn't been taught?

…why do birds fly in a 'v' shape?

She bit back the laughter that threatened to erupt as the last thought crossed her mind, unsure exactly where it came from. Bill's thumb brushed against her cheek and she smiled. There was movement nearby, but she was too absorbed in his light blue eyes to notice it.

"Laura!" She had to stop herself from cursing as the moment was torn apart by a familiar voice. He moved away from her, as a gangly figure walked towards them. "You're mother's looking for you."

"Thankyou Peter, I'll be home soon." Laura waved it off, hoping he'd just turn around and leave them alone. But it seemed Peter wasn't that good at taking a hint. He was quite stubborn, and when he wanted to be involved in something he would be. When it appeared he wasn't going to leave, Bill decided to go instead.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Laura." He promised as he began to walk away.

"Wait," She called after him. "How will you know where to find me?"

"I'll know." He shrugged, as if her whereabouts were all too predictable. She watched him go before turning on her friend. He stood there grinning like an idiot. When he finally glanced at her, he began to back away slowly.

"Oh you better run," She warned him, as she got up and started towards him.

"Laura, I'm just looking out for your well being…"

"You meant to drive him off?" Laura's voice hit a high pitch and Peter flinched at the sound. "What is so wrong with me having a boyfriend?"

"Nothing," He laughed, although still slightly afraid of the death glare she shot him. "But couldn't you hold out until, I don't know, you turn fifty?" The fire in her eyes flared and there was nothing he could do but run.

"Peter August Thrace, I'm going to kill you!" Laura yelled as she ran after the older boy.