Thank you to Ilovetoship, AdamaGirl and the guest for reviewing, I'm glad you're liking the story!
Chapter rating: T
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.
All mistakes are my own. I hope you enjoy!
26th December
"Hi sweetheart" Bill said wrapping his arms around Laura and lifting her off the ground as he hugged her tightly.
"Hey honey" she replied wrapping her arms around his neck, smiling brightly at him, before she brought their lips together in a heated kiss.
"Gods, it's good to have you in my arms again" Bill commented once the parted, drinking in the sight of her and bringing a hand up to cup her face.
They were so lost in each other, neither one heard Ellen and Saul approaching, until Ellen yelled "Boo" causing them to jump apart startled.
"Gods you two are like love sick puppies" Ellen commented, as she and Saul laughed at the pair.
"Aw don't be too hard on them Ellen, she and the boys are all I've heard about for the last three weeks" Saul commented patting his friend on the back.
"Make the most of the time off Bill" Ellen said, before adding "I know I will" and grabbing Saul's hand to drag him away.
Shaking her head at the couple who were fast becoming her friends, Laura said "do you want to grab some lunch before we head back to your place?"
"Sounds good, I'm starving" he replied kissing her one more time before grabbing his bags.
"Great, I parked just off the base, so we don't have to walk too far" she said clasping his hand in hers.
"It's good to have you back in town" Laura said holding Bill's hand with hers, when they were seated opposite each other at a small café in the centre of Caprica city.
"I'm glad to be back, I missed you and the boys a lot, especially yesterday" he replied running his thumb over the back of her hand.
"It's good I get two weeks off, I just wish Carolanne would have compromised and let me have the boys a bit longer and earlier since I didn't get to spend Christmas with them" Bill said disappointed.
"Yeah I know, but that's Carolanne, she loves being difficult. On the bright side though we get a week all to ourselves without any kids in the house" she replied her eyes gleaming.
"I do like the sound of that" Bill replied grinning and waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"I'm sure you do" Laura said leaning over and kissing him lightly, before adding "oh also Marcy invited us to her annual New Year's Eve party that she's holding at one of the hotels down near the waterfront, and I thought it might be a fun night out for us".
"Sounds good, I wouldn't pass up a chance to see you dressed up, plus hopefully I can get Elosha to finish that story you conveniently made her stop telling at the barbeque a few months ago" Bill replied grinning wickedly.
"I don't know what you're talking about, I think she had me confused with another Laura" she said before bursting into giggles.
31st December
"Can you zip me up?" Laura asked turning to Bill in her deep v neck, long sleeve black chiffon mermaid style dress.
"I could, but I think the dress would look so much better thrown over the chair, while you and I resume our earlier activities on the bed" he said eyeing her.
"If you're a good boy, there will be something special for you later" she replied grinning at him, as his eyes lit up and he quickly zipped the dress up for her.
"What do you think?" she asked doing a little twirl for him.
"That I am the luckiest guy in the world" he replied genuinely, his eyes shining.
Laura smiled, kissing him softly and slipping on her black stilettos, before straightening his bow tie and saying "you look spiffy".
"I had to try and scrub up and bit with you on my arm tonight" Bill replied only half joking, always having felt self-conscious, particularly about his face.
"You are the most kind, loving, generous and handsome man I have ever met, who I absolutely adore and am lucky to have accompanying me tonight" Laura replied sincerely, pressing another kiss to his lip.
"I love you" Bill said before hearing a horn beep outside, "come on let's get going, sounds like the taxi is waiting".
"Laura" a blonde woman, who Bill recognized as Marcy, shouted when the pair entered the hotel's ballroom. Laura squealed in delight and quickly walked over to where her friends were seated, enveloping each one in a hug.
Bill followed close behind her recognizing Cheryl and her husband David as the tall brunette woman and sandy blonde gentleman, Elosha as the petite brunette woman, and Abigail and her partner Larry as the redheaded couple. He shook the two men's hand and placed a kiss on each woman's cheek before moving back to stand beside Laura, as she wrapped her hands around his bicep and said "I missed you guys".
"It's good to see you two, it's been a while, although I can't say I blame you. If I was in your position I'd probably never leave the bedroom" Marcy said looking Bill up and down with a smirk.
Bill blushed feeling slightly uncomfortable at the brashness of Laura's friend, although he had quickly learnt a few months ago how blunt she could be, when upon meeting him for the first time she offered to let him help her change into her swimsuit.
Marcy called a waiter over with a tray of champagne and said "grab a glass everybody, I want to make a toast...to a new year with wonderful friends".
"Cheers" the group said clinking their glass before taking a sip.
The group mingled for a few minutes, catching up on what had been happening in everyone's lives, before Marcy grabbed Laura's hand and said "come on let's dance".
"But what about Bill?" She asked looking to where he was already making his way towards Elosha.
"That's the whole point" Marcy replied with a wicked grin, before pulling on Laura's hand and adding "come on" at her friends unsure look.
"Fine" Laura said finishing off the rest of her champagne "I don't really have a choice anyway do I?"
"You never did honey" Marcy told her as she pulled her towards the dance floor.
"What's the damage?" Laura asked Bill sitting down with another glass of champagne when Marcy finally allowed them to return to where the group was seated.
"Well I finally got the ending to that story about one drunken, naked incident during college" Bill replied his eyes gleaming.
"It was one time" Laura groaned taking a large sip "and they've never let me forget it".
"Of course we couldn't" Elosha replied topping Laura's glass up.
"I just want to know how you managed to get out of the pool naked, when the dean was three feet away and your clothes were half a mile away, where you left them before streaking" Bill replied grinning as she blushed.
"Let's just say I wasn't the only person extremely drunk that night" Laura answered cryptically.
"I'm sure you weren't, come on, I haven't had the chance yet to dance with the most beautiful girl in the room" Bill said standing up and holding out his hand. Laura smiled and finished her champagne placing it on a nearby table, before taking his arm and letting him lead her towards the dance floor.
"You look absolutely stunning sweetheart" Bill told Laura wrapping his arms around her waist as the couple swayed gently to the music.
Placing one hand on his shoulder and caressing the short hairs at the back of his neck with the other, she smiled and replied "thank you, you look very handsome…Bill?"
"Yes sweetheart".
"I'm really happy we met each other".
"Me too, apart from my kids, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me" he replied pulling her closer to him, and bringing their mouths together in a heated kiss. The couple only bracking apart when Marcy started wolf whistling, bringing more attention to them. Laura glared at her friend before blushing and hiding her face in Bill's neck.
"Okay everyone as entertaining as these two have been, it's nearly midnight, so let's head out to the balcony to watch the fireworks" Marcy told her guests.
Bill wrapped his arms around Laura's waist, and she leaned back into him, enjoying the solid warmth of his body behind her.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one" the group chanted together.
"Happy New Year" Laura and Bill whispered to each other before their lips connected in a sweet kiss, as Auld lang syne began to play in the background.
"I love you" Laura told Bill when they parted turning around in his arms.
"I love you too" he replied cupping her cheek and kissing her softly.
Laura looked at him her eyes shining and whispered in a breathy moan "take me home Bill". He didn't need any further encouragement, making sure they quickly made their goodbyes before dragging her out the door.
A/N: if anyone wants to read the bit (well really it's the length of a normal chapter ;P) following this chapter I've posted it separately.
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