In The Distant Future

By caramelapples

Chapter 6

Bill walked into the kitchen to see Laura leaning against the counter, holding a glass of water. Beads of sweat were visible on her forehead. "What's wrong?" he asked her, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He noticed that she was paler than normal. Gods Laura, why are you doing this?

"It was just a little pain," she assured him, not wanting to delve deeper into the subject. "I just needed a few moments…" She inhaled deeply and to Bill's relief, colour was starting to return to her cheeks. "Are you going to tell them about-" she cut herself off, not wanting to think about it.

"Do you want me to?" he asked gently and brought his hand to rest supportively o her shoulder.

She shook her head. "Not yet. I don't want to think about it…"

"All right," he said.

"We better go back out. They might get wrong ideas about what we're doing in here for so long."

"Oh I think they already have ideas…" Bill said, smirking. He wrapped his arm around her back and guided her outside to join the younger couple.

The soft light of the candles threw a calming shade of brilliance around the dining room. Bill smiled as Laura laughed throatily and tried to commit to memory every single feature of hers, how she moved-the sway of her hips as she walked, how she chewed her food, how she spoke-her voice soft and musical, how she cocked her head when she was confused and how she always smiled shyly at him when he complimented her.

Laura welcomed the laughter that came so freely every dinner. And she was very surprised that Kara Thrace could cook. She said something about taking cooking classes somewhere sometime ago. Their dinners were something that took Laura's mind off everything unpleasant.

"We have something for you," Kara announced, sticking a forkful of mashed potato into her mouth.

"Really?" Laura looked up from her food, eyes sparkling. Bill felt a surge of pride as he watched her glow in the candlelight. This beautiful woman is my carrying my child and she is mine.

Two weeks since Lee and Kara made their appearance, Laura had been happier and Bill thrived to see her free from the depressing reality that would soon overwhelm her body.

Lee got up from his seat and disappeared from the dining room.

"What is it?" Laura asked.

"Just wait and see." Kara grinned in a self-satisfied manner that she always carried around with her. "It's something that you'll love."

Lee came in and brought a wrapped parcel with him. He sat down and looked at Bill before looking at Laura. "This is when we think you started to… well, you know what I mean."

Laura took the parcel and unwrapped it, occasionally glancing at Lee or Kara who seemed to be as excited in curiosity as she was. They were gazing intently at her, awaiting her response. Bill leaned over to see what was unravelling as Laura took off the brown paper.

Laura gasped in surprise as she saw what she was holding in her hands. There she was, in the arms of Bill-who was in his uniform then, looking smart as ever. And she was smiling almost shyly as they were in motion on the dance floor. "Bill look!" she exclaimed. Bill felt a wide smile slowly take over his lips as he saw the joy that radiated from Laura's body. "We were dancing when that Baltar idiot was elected Vice-President."

"We found this amongst some old files. I don't know how it got there but we were glad we found it. Kara thought you looked cute together and-"

"Yeah!" Kara's loud voice exploded. "Sort of like it's your first dance at high school and you're dancing with your date… Wonder where you went after that…"

Laura blushed. Was it really that obvious? So obvious until it could even be seen in a photograph? She thought she had managed to hide the whirlpool of feelings that suddenly reared it's ugly head just as she felt Bill's hand on her body on that fateful Colonial Day. They didn't have Colonial day on Earth, she thought.

"Kara…" It was Lee. His voice had a warning tone in it.

Again Laura thanked the Gods. Lee was such a gentleman. From the start.

"Thank you," Laura said, fighting to control the tears that stung her eyes. She wouldn't break down now. She licked her lips and tried to fight the frustration that rose inside of her. Why can't I be happy?! Why do I have to die?? I don't want to die! "This means a lot to me," she said. "To us."

"You're welcome," both Kara and Lee said in unison.

Laura felt as though the sky was falling around her and constricting her chest. She looked at Bill who was beaming with happiness. I don't want to die! Why?! She felt her masquerade breaking away and she choked, bolting from her seat and rushing from the dining room. She heard voices shouting after her but she couldn't listen. All she could hear was her own angry sobs, her tears falling as though they had not been shed in years. It only made her more frustrated with herself. Why can't I have a healthy body?!

"Laura!" Bill shouted, rushing after her. Gods… something was wrong. Please let her be all right…

Lee and Kara followed behind, surprised at the usually calm woman's outburst-worry etched onto their faces. Had they upset her?

Laura rushed into the bedroom slamming the door shut and leaned on the door. She was tired… So very tired of fighting.

"Laura!" she heard Bill call, followed by Kara. All of them were worried. But she couldn't bring herself to be strong. She didn't want to die. She wanted to live and watch her precious baby grow up. Without thinking, she went to the dresser and knocked over her perfume bottle. It crashed onto the floor, causing Bill to rush in.

She felt her legs give way and she dropped onto the floor as though she had lost all her energy and ability to keep upright. Bill was immediately by her side, fearing she had collapsed. To his relief, she hadn't.

"Gods… What's happening?" Lee asked from the doorway as he watched the scene in front of him. Kara put her hand on his shoulder, staring at them.

Laura clung onto him and cried into his shoulder, sobbing something unintelligible. "I don't want to die," she whispered, her voice thick with emotions. "I'm scared," she said, holding tighter onto Bill's arm as he stroked her hair.

"Shhh.." he said, soothing her. "I'm here," he said, gentle as though he was talking to a frightened child.

Kara sensing that it was better for them to be left alone, motioned for Lee to go and she shut the door, leaving Laura and Bill on the floor. There were a million questions that she wanted to ask but not now.

Not now…

Bill lifted Laura up into his arms and carried her to the bed. "You should rest," he said. Her crying had subsided and was replaced by sharp intakes of breath. He lowered her onto the bed and pulled the blanket over her body. She looked up at him as he stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was small.

"Shhh…it's all right." He sat on the bed beside her. "Do you want me to stay?"

"Please."

He laid down beside her and she turned, facing her back to him so that he could hold her. He placed an arm over her, his hand resting on the swell of her belly. It wasn't long until she had fallen asleep and Bill slowly removed his arm, careful not to wake her.

She needed to rest, he thought and placed a kiss on her forehead, at the same time, saying a prayer to the Gods to protect her.

To be continued…

A/N-Please leave reviews after reading! I love reviews. If you don't like it, please tell me as well. Thanks.