Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica belongs to Ronald D. Moore and the Sci-Fi channel.

Epilogue

It was Commemoration Day in the settlement of New Kobol, a day to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Colonials' arrival on Terra Prime. Bill and Laura were hosting a barbeque with their family and friends. Lily Adama and Mina Tigh volunteered to be the welcoming committee. Both age nine and in the same grade, they talked about their up-coming class field trip.

"Isn't it gonna be weird with your dad giving the tour?" Mina asked, playing with her two blonde braids.

Lily shook her head, her auburn hair flying loosely in the breeze. "Nobody's better at telling stories about when everybody was in space than my dad."

Mina frowned. "Nu-uh, my dad tells stories better."

"Nope, my dad's better because he teaches modern history for high school," Lily objected.

"Girls, I can hear you from the kitchen. Be nice or nobody's going on the tour to see Galactica," Laura called out, working with Caprica to make dinner. Instead of being dismantled for parts like most of the fleet, Galactica, as well as Colonial One had been grounded and turned into museums so that the people would always remember the journey that brought them to their new home.

Lily turned toward the kitchen. "Sorry, Mom."

"Sorry, Aunt Laura," Mina added.

The girls went back to watching the window quietly, but silence can only last so long. "Hey Lily, what's scarier, being sent to your room by your mom, or being sent to the principal's office when the principal is your mom?" Mina whispered, smirking.

Lily rolled her eyes. "That's not funny. I hope she didn't hear you."

Mina giggled. "You're my best friend. I won't get you in trouble."

"This time," Lily added.

Hearing a knock at the door, they moved to answer it. Kara and Sam had arrived with their six-year-old son Zack. He had inherited his father's brown hair and his mother's attitude. "Ma, I got fans," he said, looking at Mina and Lily.

Kara ruffled her son's hair. "Very funny. They're probably here to greet everyone."

The next to arrive were Lee, Dee, and their two children, eight-year-old Joey and four-year-old Tamara. Having inherited Dee's features, they also had matching blue eyes. Hera arrived shortly after with Athena and Helo. Not long after Lily's birth they had forgiven Laura and had been joining the Adamas for Commemoration Day over the last four years.

All six children planted themselves by the front door to wait for the last guests. Tamara pressed her nose against the front window. "I see them!" she exclaimed after a few minutes.

Cottle and Morgana arrived, bringing the dessert, as they had in years past. Morgana had used an old family recipe and made peach cobbler. "It's always interesting to see who greets us," she told her husband with a smirk.

He snorted. "They're just lucky I'm in a good mood."

She giggled. "Yes, heaven forbid they find out that you actually like children."

Bill and Saul had been in the backyard barbequing the Terran foods of hotdogs for the children and Colonial steaks for the adults. Soon everyone was seated around the picnic table outside as Bill brought the steak platter to the table. Laura stood, lightly tapping her glass of sparkling apple cider with her fork. It had been Caprica's suggestion to keep the drinks non-alcoholic 'in case the children get too curious.'

All eyes turned to Laura. Bill smiled at her, knowing that a speech was coming. Not even time could remove that presidential trait from her. "Friends and family, we gather once again to celebrate our arrival here. I just want to say how blessed I am to have met so many good people. We've all come a long way in our separate journeys. We've also come a long way across the universe. Our beginnings were rough, and our alliances were shaky at best. We are here today because it's not enough to simply survive. Through friendship, camaraderie, and love," she paused to meet Bill's gaze, "we are living. We've proven that what truly makes us people is a set of common goals and a need to preserve our society above vengeance and mistrust. A toast, to family, friends, and many more Commemoration Days."

Everyone lifted their glasses with hers, the children lifting plastic cups. Laura suddenly felt a pair of hands on her hips. "So say we all," Bill said from behind her.

Setting her glass down, she turned to face him with a warm smile. "So say we all." Then she kissed him soundly, ignorning the groans of some guests and the whistles of others.

"You two have been married nearly ten years and you're still at the mushy stage," Cottle teased.

Morgana rolled her eyes. "Oh shut up. So are you," she responded, kissing Jack.

Bill and Laura laughed, adding "So say we all," just before the children collectively said "Ew."

Fin………………………………..

(My thanks to McGonagallFan and carolann for reviewing :D)