A/N:

I'd like to thank Magges, bwie66, KyloEn AdamaGirl and the guest for reviewing, as well as Ilovetoship, AdamaGirl and bwie66 for following, helped motivate me a lot!

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

8th June

Just before lunch on a bright and sunny June Sunday, Laura and Billy were behind the counter sorting through the latest order of books, when the door chimed indicating a customer had arrived.

"Hello Miss Laura!" Laura heard as she turned around to find Bill, Lee and Zak standing in front of the counter, carrying a picnic basket, blanket and pyramid ball respectively.

"Hello Zak" she replied smiling before looking up to Bill with a quirk of her eyebrow.

"The boys heard that I saw you on Friday, and they wanted to take you to on a picnic, at the park a few blocks away, to say sorry for knocking over your display" Bill supplied.

"Ummm" Laura replied looking around at the books that needed to be sorted and put away.

"You should go ma'am" Billy told her "it's been slow today and this is the last box, I can handle things for a couple hours".

Laura gave Billy a kind smile before turning back to the trio and announcing "okay then, I guess we're going on a picnic".

"Yay!" Zak said before running towards the door, motioning for everyone to follow him.

They walked side by side towards the park, as the boys chatted away in front of them about whether the C-Bucks or Panthers would win the upcoming game.

"I'm sorry" Bill said "I couldn't dissuade Zak once he had his heart set out doing something for you".

"That's okay. I'm glad he did, it's good to see you Bill," she said smiling at him.

Bill smiled and looked at her noticing how the sunlight brought out the red in her hair before replying "you too Laura, I'm glad I get to spend some more time with you before I head back on to the Atlantia".

When they arrived at the park entrance the boys ran ahead to their favorite spot and Bill laid down the blanket, setting out the food he had prepared earlier.

"Come on Miss Laura" Zak said as he grabbed her handed "you sit next to me". Lee however not yet comfortable around Laura, sat as far away as he could.

With their meal complete the boys ran over to the pyramid courts to join the other children playing, while Laura and Bill kept an eye on them from the blanket.

"Don't take Lee's aversion to you personally, his nature is to be cautious and he remembers a lot more about the relationship Carolanne and I had before the divorce than Zak does" Bill told her placing his hand on her thigh.

"Don't worry about it, based on my experience teaching children whose parents are divorced, I'd be surprised if he took to me straight away" Laura replied placing her hand atop of his.

"So my commander called me yesterday and told me that as part of my duties as the Major of the Atlantia, I am required to attend Colonial Day ball being held by the president. I don't really like all the pomp and ceremony, but I was wondering if you would accompany me?" Bill asked hopefully.

"I would love to" Laura replied her face lighting up.

"Great" Bill said smiling "I get back on shore leave the day of the ball and my parents haven't seen the boys in a while, so they are going to watch them that night".

They both turned as the heard a scream and then Lee shout "Dad!" as he ran towards them, "Zak got pushed over and hurt his knee"

Bill quickly leapt up, Laura following close behind, and ran towards the pyramid courts where Zak was sitting clutching his left leg and crying.

"Daddy" Zak sobbed when the trio reached him.

"It's alright buddy" Bill told his son trying to reassure him as he unpacked the first aid kit he had brought along. Bill examined Zak's leg, noting that although the scrape wasn't too deep, it covered a large portion of his shin and blood was trickling down his leg from the wound.

"I don't think I have enough to clean it properly" Bill told Laura searching through the first aid kit.

"The bookstore isn't too far away, I have a full medical aid kit there" Laura offered.

"Thanks" Bill replied scooping up his youngest son.

"Lee I need you to hold Laura's hand on the walk back" Bill instructed, and although Lee didn't particularly like the idea, he could tell that this was not a time to argue with his father, so he reached up and loosely held onto Laura's hand.

Once they reached the bookstore Laura showed them to the back area, where an office and a small break room were located.

"Just place him on top of the desk" Laura instructed Bill as she went to the cupboard where the medical kit was located.

Laura motioned Billy in upon seeing him standing in the doorway, and gratefully took the clean cloths he offered.

"Now this is going to hurt a little sweetie" Laura told Zak as she poured a bit of antiseptic onto one of the cloths Billy had handed her.

Zak looked up to his Dad scared, but Bill smiled at him reassuringly and put his arm around Zak's shoulders.

Hiccup-sniff "thank you" hiccup-sniff "for fixing me" Zak told Laura when the wound had been cleaned and bandaged.

"That's quite alright, and if you and your brother go with Billy,? he might have a treat in the break room for you two".

"Follow me" Billy instructed the boys.

"You did a pretty good job there" Bill commented appreciatively.

"Well being a former primary school teacher I have a great deal of experience in patching up scrapes" Laura replied with a grin.

Bill grinned at her too, but then his face fell. "What's the matter?" Laura asked running her hand down Bill's arm.

"I'm just annoyed at myself for letting him get hurt, I know I am never going to hear the end of this from Carolanne, when I take the boys back over to her place tonight" Bill replied.

"All kids get scrapes Bill, you're a good father, I saw you with them today; those boys adore you".

Bill made sure the kids were occupied in the break room before leaning down to kiss Laura sweetly, "thank you, I needed to hear that".

"Your welcome" Laura replied before leaning up to kiss him again. Bill wrapped his arms around her waist and her hands moved into his hair as the kiss grew deeper, their tongues intertwining.

They broke apart, brought back to reality by the sound of the boys bickering over whose Popsicle was the best flavor. Bill let out a small laugh and rested his forehead against Laura's, "I'd better go brake them up".

"Come on boys, we'd better head off if we are going to get your things packed up in time to get over to your mothers" Bill told the boys once the pair walked the short distance to the break room.

"Bye Billy and Laura" the boys chorused together as they hurried to their father's side.

Zak then stood in front of Laura expectantly and she crouched down to receive his hug goodbye. Lee however still cautious remained by his father's side.

"He'll come round" Bill whispered in her ear.

"I'm sure he will, I'm looking forward to getting to know him" she whispered back with a grin before she led the trio back towards the front door of the bookstore.

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