Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica belongs to Ronald D. Moore and the Sci-Fi channel. "The Way You Look Tonight" is by Frank Sinatra. Song lyrics are in italics. Flashbacks are in brackets.
Chapter 16: The way we danced 'till three
Bill went back to the dining area after chatting with Ezri. It's times like these when I miss Saul. I wish he was here to talk to. Right now he's got his own problems with that blonde Cylon. I wonder what he'd tell me to do, Bill mused. Stepping up to the bar, he caught the large-eared bald alien bartender's attention. "Admiral Adama, a little early for a drink, but I'm not here to judge. What'll it be?"
"Actually I'd like a glass of water. The replicator keeps asking me too many questions. All I want is water," Bill explained.
"Hold on, I'll be right back," the bartender stated, disappearing behind a partition. He returned with a glass of water, ice cubes floating in it. "Much as I hate to admit this, water's free too."
Bill took the glass. "Thank you. I don't quite remember your name."
"Quark. I'm a Ferengi," he explained. Bill nodded, taking a gulp of water. Quark was not one to let a conversation slip by though. "Woman troubles?"
It was all Bill could do not to spit the water out. "What makes you say that?"
Quark rolled his eyes. "I'm a bartender. I know these things."
"Why is it that everyone on this station wants to give me advice? Are all of you guidance councilors?" Bill questioned.
"No, but when you're stuck on a space station, you get caught up in other people's lives because it's easy to get bored here," Quark paused, leaning closer. "Ever since the Dominion left, I've been bored stiff."
"My personal problems shouldn't serve as somebody else's entertainment," Bill retorted.
Quark stepped back, nodding. "Fair enough. Hypothetically though, say you weren't getting along for some reason…"
Bill sighed, deciding to humor the Ferengi. "Alright, hypothetically speaking, let's say she and I are having trouble. I don't know what to do about it. I've never been good at relationships."
"When was the last time you took her out on a date?" Quark asked innocently.
The admiral fumbled for a response. "It's been quite a while."
"I thought so. There's a holosuite program that includes dinner. It's quite popular, really. The host is a lounge singer named Vic Fontaine," Quark mentioned, holding an empty glass in one hand as he cleaned it with a rag.
"How does the holosuite work anyway? Aren't the holograms like ghosts?" Bill asked.
Quark stared at him for a moment, then spoke. "I forgot you've spent most of your time on your ship since coming here. With what we call photons and force-fields, holo-emitters can make characters sound and feel like real people. The rooms they create are images, but it's as realistic as we can get without using the real thing."
Bill thought for a moment. "It's an interesting idea. Why are you helping me?"
"Because I'm bored," Quark reiterated. "I know not to expect anything financially, since you and the wife are on Colonel Kira's tab for now."
"Thanks," Bill responded, leaving his empty glass at the bar. He headed back to his quarters to finish looking at the fleet reports.
He found Hannah reading a book when he returned. She glanced up at him from Dark Day. "You look like you've got something on your mind."
Raising an eyebrow, he looked back at her. Why is it that she can read me so well? "I'm thinking about taking your mother to dinner. This bartender… Quark, he told me about some holosuite program-"
"You mean Vic's? Great idea! Jake's told me about it. Vic knows he's a hologram, and he's friends with a bunch of people on the station. I'm sure Zack and Kara could be persuaded to let me and Charlotte spend the night with them," Hannah interjected.
Bill shook his head and smirked. "Something tells me you've been making plans too."
She laughed. "Every girl needs a hobby."
Zack and Kara agreed to take Hannah and Charlotte for the evening. When Laura returned to the quarters later that afternoon, Bill was the only one there. "Bill, what's going on? Where are the girls?"
"They're spending the night with Zack and Kara. Kara said she wanted the practice. You and I are going to dinner at a place called Vic's," he explained. "If it's alright with you."
Laura smirked. "I had heard of it, but I haven't found the time to investigate it myself." Then she noticed what he was wearing: a black tuxedo. "You don't look have bad in a tux. I take it that means dinner will be formal?"
"Exactly. Apparently you can give the replicator specifics and it makes clothes too," he responded.
She shook her head. "Wait right there. I won't need a replicator," she told him before disappearing into the bedroom.
He waited on the couch. When she emerged from the bedroom, he almost forgot how to breathe. "Where in the world did you get that?"
The emerald-green dress she wore had a V-neck, strap-sleeves, and a flowing skirt that passed the knees. "It was a gift from Ezri. We went shopping on the Promenade after I had arrived here. How do I look?"
I can't just say she looks hot. I've got to be tactful about this. "You look beautiful," he relayed.
"Thank you," she stated, looping her arm through his when he offered it. "You are going to let me order my own food this time, right?"
I'm lucky she's decided to humor me so far with this plan. "Yes. I'm really sorry about this morning," he replied as they exited the room.
To his surprise, she knew which holosuite was running the program. He raised an eyebrow as they stopped at the door. "I've been told where it is, but I've never been inside this program," she explained.
As they stepped inside, they noticed Bashir and Ezri directly in front of them. Ezri turned and grinned. "I didn't expect to see you two here, but I'm glad. Laura, that dress looks fantastic. Let us introduce you to Vic," the Trill stated.
Laura glanced back at Bill. "This will be an added bonus. I've heard interesting things about this particular hologram."
"So have I," Bill added.
Vic walked up to shake hands with Bashir and Ezri. Then the trill looked back at the other couple. "Vic, I want you to meet Admiral Bill Adama and his wife, President Laura Adama."
The hologram extended a hand. "It's good to finally meet you two. I've been hearing all kinds of things about Colonials for the past couple of weeks."
"We've all been busy," Bill mentioned. As he shook hands with Vic, his eyes widened. "Quark was right. You feel solid."
Vic chuckled. "Technology is great, isn't it?"
Laura nodded as she noticed the stage and tables behind him. "Yes. It's incredible that this whole thing isn't really here."
As Vic shook her hand, he looked between her and Bill. "It's okay to remember the past, but don't live in it. You two have a future if you live in the present. It was nice meeting you. I've gotta go. The show doesn't run itself."
Though they all chuckled at the irony as he left, Bill's brow furrowed over the words. Bashir noticed and spoke. "He'll do that with people. Giving advice is what he does. I'm surprised he said that, but for a hologram, he does possess a great deal of insight."
Laura looked back to Bill, slightly unsettled herself. "Let's find a table."
They sat off to the left as the lounge singer sang Earth songs they had never heard before. Bill let Laura order first, then he ordered. Their dinner arrived shortly. "This food tastes pretty real," Bill commented as he took a bite of his steak.
Laura twirled her spaghetti around the fork. "Yes, it's all very intriguing. I spoke with the Quorum today. The buildings are almost completed-"
"Later. No business tonight," he interrupted.
She grinned. "Maybe you've learned something after all."
He chuckled lightly. "Maybe I have."
They had almost finished their dinners when they heard the voice of the lounge singer as he began the next song. "This one's called, 'The Way You Look Tonight' and it goes out to our new Colonial guests."
Bill smiled over at Laura. "I guess that means us. Would you like to dance?"
She returned his smile. "Yes, I would like that, thank you."
He took her hand and guided her out of the way of their table so that they were part of those who were dancing, but not the center of attention. As the song began, Bill and Laura both closed their eyes as she thought of her Bill, and he thought of his Laura.
/"I'm sorry that I'm inconveniencing you or the teachers but I will not allow a network computerized system to be placed on this ship while I'm in command. Do I make myself clear?"/
/"Yes, sir."/
Some day, when I'm awfully low,
/"I didn't expect to see you here."/
/"I'm a patriot."/
/"Yes, you are."/
/"I can dance too."/
When the world is cold,
/"You broke your word to the fleet, and you broke your word to me."/
/"It's that last part that really bothers you."/
I will feel a glow just thinking of you...
/"I forgive you, Laura."/
/"I didn't ask for your forgiveness, Bill."/
/"You have it just the same."/
And the way you look tonight.
/"It just goes to show you, Bill, never give up hope."/
/"Same goes for you, Laura."/
Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm
/"Let me pin a frakking medal to your chest."/
And your cheeks so soft,
/"Is this really it, Bill? Is this how we're gonna spend the rest of our days?"/
/"Maybe we should just enjoy this."/
/"I am."/
There is nothing for me but to love you,
/"And if the Cylons hadn't come back?"/
/"It's pretty hypothetical."/
/"It is until it isn't. Did I just say that?"/
/"Worth just seeing you laugh like that."/
And the way you look tonight.
/"If your quarters become too cramped, there's always room for you in one of my beds."/
With each word your tenderness grows,
/"Get your fat lazy ass out of that bed, Roslin."/
/"Yes, sir. Okay, sir. Anything you say, sir."/
/"Don't let 'em see you sweat, Laura."/
Tearing my fear apart...
/"You're afraid to live alone."/
/"And you're afraid to die that way."/
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
/"Earth was a pipedream, a carrot."/
/"What made you believe?"/
/"You."/
It touches my foolish heart.
/"Why are you doing this?"/
/"Because I can't live without her."/
Lovely ... Never, ever change.
/"Missed you."/
/"Me too."/
/"I love you."/
/"About time."/
Keep that breathless charm.
/"What don't you know about?"/
Won't you please arrange it?
/"I wanna see you pick up that first fist full of Earth."/
'Cause I love you ... Just the way you look tonight.
/"I love you."/
/"I know that."/
/"I just want to make sure you remember."/
/"I'm dying, not dumb. If I don't know that by now-"/
/"I like telling you."/
Mm, Mm, Mm, Mm,
Just the way you look to-night.
Within the song and the dance, his heart was able to say goodbye to her, to Laura Roslin. As the dance ended, Bill took Laura Adama back to the table. As Vic Fontain announced another song, Laura studied her hands. Bill leaned toward her and whispered, "Is something wrong?"
She looked up at him pensively. "We should- I need to talk to you."
He nodded and stood, offering her a hand. "No one will miss us if we just slip out."
Taking his hand, she led him out to the second level of the Promenade. Everything around them seemed quiet as the people who would have been moving about had already reached their destinations. She stopped in front of a large window, crossing her arms as she looked out at the stars.
"It's funny how much I like just looking at the stars. I'm so used to seeing them out of the window that the thought of moving planet-side actually bothers me," she admitted, her gaze on the glittering scene in front of her.
He stepped closer to her. "Understandable. I've been in space so long that for me planet-side life seems awkward. I'm a fish out of water. When you're out in space, you feel like you're not tied down to anything, like you can move around at your leisure. Planet-side life means you're restricted to a particular piece of land."
She faced him, giving him a small smile. "At least there's one thing we agree on. The problem is that I don't know if it's best for Hannah."
"Does she have friends on the station?" he inquired.
"Yes, but if we move planet-side, she'll be in a real school. The school here is so small that I worry she's not getting enough of the real world. It's not that I don't want her protected from some things, but I feel like her social interactions are limited here," Laura remarked.
"It's up to you, I suppose. But you didn't bring me here for parental advice," he observed.
She let out a long sigh. "We need to talk about 'us.' You look at me and see her, I know you do. In the same turn, I admit that I look at you and I still see my husband. I can't keep going like this. Both of us are still hurting from who we've lost, but we keep pushing each other away."
She's right, like Hannah was right, and like Ezri was right. I still miss my Laura. There has to be a way to fix this. "Laura, I'm so sorry. You're right, but not completely. What I see is what she and I could've had if our lives had permitted it," he explained.
Laura sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Oh that makes me feel much better," she spat sarcastically.
Bill immediately stepped over to her, framing her face with his hands, trying to brush away her tears. "I'm sorry, Laura. Please don't cry. I want to fix this."
She took a deep breath, collecting herself. "The problem as that we are each the surviving half. And because of that, both of us are incomplete."
He nodded ruefully. "Two halves."
"Yes, two broken halves," she expressed. Then she surprised him by taking one of his hands in hers. "But maybe, together, we can make something whole again."
Enveloping her into a warm hug, he held her close. "I promise we'll make it work."
"Okay," she whispered as they parted.
The two walked to her quarters, pausing at the door. Hannah and Charlotte were spending the night with Kara and Zack. Laura smiled shyly at Bill. "You know, if we want this to work, we'd better start with your sleeping arrangement."
"In that case I'll be right back. I need to get some clothes together," he stated.
Later the door swished open after he had pressed the chime. I don't know if I'll ever get used to automatic doors, he thought to himself. Laura stood in front of him wearing a cream bathrobe over what looked like an aqua nightgown. He stepped in, still holding his duffle bag. "Are you sure about this?"
She smirked. "I didn't say it was anything other than sleeping now, did I?"
He rolled his eyes at her and changed into pajamas in the bathroom. When he emerged, she had seated herself on a queen-sized gray bed. "I've been meaning to ask, these standard issue around here?"
"Apparently. I'll say it's much more comfortable than my cot, or even your rack. A person could actually get a good night's sleep in these," she said with a wry smile.
Is that your way of offering me 'one of your beds?' He chuckled and she eyed him curiously. "What's so funny?"
"It's a story involving the other Laura, if you don't mind," he mentioned.
She put a hand up dismissively. "Go ahead. If it's that funny, I'm dying to know."
He sat down on the other side of the bed. "A Raptor had malfunctioned and bounced off Colonial One. When I got over there, she was moving boxes of files because the area she usually slept in and worked in had suffered a hull breach. I told her 'if your quarters become too cramped, there's always room for you in one of my beds.'"
Laura laughed heartily. "And how did she take that?"
"She glared at me, but then she shook her head and smirked," he relayed.
The other woman crossed her arms, still smiling at him. "No matter what universe you're in you, Bill Adama, are a flirt."
He snorted and looked over at her with a wry grin. "And you, Laura Roslin, are a tease." Though her first reaction was to smirk, her expression faded into a frown. What did I do wrong this- Frak, that was bad. "I'm sorry. I'm so used to placing 'Roslin' at the end of the name. It's what I've been doing for the last four years."
She nodded. "It's okay. This is just going to take us a while to get used to. I'm Laura Adama."
This could get unpleasant fast. But I've got an idea that might work. "Yes, ma'am. Right away, ma'am. Anything you say, ma'am," he teased, hoping to diffuse the situation.
At first she stared at him incredulously and he worried that she might just throw him out. But then she laughed. "Well played, sir."
(My thanks to Idellis65, Ceridwyn2, Mamabella, and McGonagallFan for reviewing :D)