I know that I didn't update it as I normally do but I've just been so swamped with schoolwork and re-watching the episodes and other stuff so yeah… Really sorry about that! Hope you forgive me! Also, I did use the script from "Unfinished Business" for this chapter. Just thought you ought to know. So yeah. I DO NOT OWN BSG OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS USED IN THIS

Chapter 6:

^On New Caprica; Day of Breaking New Ground^

It's been at least a month since I last saw Bill. The ceremony was supposed to take place a month ago but for some reason the president wasn't able to make it down to New Caprica.

I heard the raptors landing. I didn't run up to greet them. Thought I would sneak up on them. I went back to my tent where I was living and put on a red skirt and red sweater to go with it. The festivities were being setup. Just the final touch ups. I know we were all just getting settled on the new planet. So as soon as I finished setting up my tent, I took Tory, Maya and Hera with me on a little hiking excursion. We found a lake up in the mountains. The water was so clear it was like glass. It was so beautiful. It reminded me of a lake I used to visit on Caprica before the cylon attack. I spent so much time there with President Adar, and… Oh gods… I guess I took all of my lovers there… oh jeez… I guess it was just because I loved it so much. I think I want to build a cabin there, by the lake in the mountains. And if I do…

I saw Bill sit down on a platform that had been set up for the festivities, like a mini-stage. It wasn't that high off the ground.

"I didn't expect to find you playing in the sand," I said playfully. He looked up at me and dropped the sand that was in his hand slowly. I sat down next to him.

"It's not sand. It's alluvial deposit. This used to be the river mouth."

"And you just decided to take off your shoes and play in the alluvial deposit." I looked at him. "How romantic." I turned away and looked at all the festivities that were going to take place later that day. I saw him in the corner of my turn away from me and look in the same direction as I was.

"That's a nice color on you."

"Thank you." Awkward silence.

"It's good to see you, Laura."

"You too, Bill", I whispered.

After we saw President Baltar "break ground, for our new tomorrow", Mr. Gaeta met up with Bill and I and just started talking about things that I don't even remember thinking about as president. He finally left after seeing the finance minister. After he excused himself and was a ways away, Bill and I jus started cracking up in giggles.

"Oh my gods! I didn't think he would leave…"

"He's a good kid."

"Mmmmm. Indeed." I smoked my cigar a little. Then we both took a sip of our drinks. This was the first time I had drank and smoked in front of people other than Bill and my former cabinet.

"You say this stuff grows around here?" he asked in his husky voice for which he got his call sign.

"Mmmmm. In the mountains north of here, there's this stream that runs into this lake. The water is so clear; it's like looking through glass. I'm thinking about building a cabin." I took another sip and giggled a little. Bill took a gulp of it, which I would not recommend since it's very strong.

"Whew. That's good."

"It is good."

The festivities carried on as people started dancing on the stage. It was well lit into the night as drank, smoked, and had a wonderful time. I think it was the first time we had all had a really good time since the cylon attack on the colonies.

Bill and I found a pile of blankets laid out on a bed-like stand. It was actually really comfortable to lie on.

"Is this really it, Bill? Is this how we're going to spend our lives?" We laid on that stand for a really long time, just staring at the stars. Into the universe and it's vast beauty. I curled up into "Maybe we should just enjoy this."

"I am."

"No, no, I mean enjoy being on this planet as long as it lasts. Maybe the cylons come back, maybe they don't, but now right now. We got a break."

"I got people, who want to get off the ship, and move down here."

"I can't say as I'd blame them. I mean what are you going to do." We both continued to look at the sky. I cuddled in even closer to him under his arm. I closed my eyes imagining the future we would live if we could settle on this planet and live here forever, and fell asleep.

The next morning, I found myself still wrapped in Bill's arms. I looked up at him and smiled. He was still sleeping. I gently woke him up.

"Mm…"

"Good morning sleepy head."

"Uhghh, good morning. Gods, I need to find Chief and tell him the news."

"What news?"

"That I'm letting him off the ship." He untangled himself from me and stood up slowly. He turned around, offered me his hand and smiled. I smiled back and took his hand as he helped me up.

We looked around for Chief and Kali. Once we did, Admiral Adama told them they were off duty and could live here on the planet. He joked around with them a little, but the look in their eyes was incredible and ever grateful. I have never seen a couple as young as them look so happy for their future.

As we walked around in the still early morning, we found Kara, Sam and a priest by the river. It looked like they were getting married. From a ways away, we stood there and watched them become wed in the eye of the gods. I remember seeing Kara running towards the river, dragging Sam and laughing. When I saw her this morning, it looked like she was desperate. Not for like we were as a civilization, but rather freedom from something that was haunting her. To most, the scene looked like playful young love, but to me who has seen the death and despair of losing love, it looked like jailbreak. It looked as if Zeus was cooking a big meal and she jumped out of the frying pan into the sautéed vegetables. Gods, it was weird. I truly hope she's making the right choice…

We saw Lee on his way back from gods know where. He looked like he was suffering from a hangover, a lay, or both. Hard to tell… We greeted him and told him the news about Kara. He looked incredulous and unbelieving. We couldn't believe it either but this was different. Who knows what was going between them. When he left us with a bit of a limp, Bill started walking towards his raptor and motioned for me to follow him. This was going to be the last time I would see him for a while. I walked up on the platform into the raptor. I hadn't been on a raptor since I left Galactica, and thinking about that brought tears to my eyes. Bill turned around in the small quarters we were in and, as I got firmly planted on the floor, he put his hand around my waist pulling me right in front of him. He didn't kiss me, just looked into my eyes with a smile on his face. I could feel the tears edging on the brink of falling out of my eyes.

"What are you doing?" I asked shaking my head slowly.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked me still smiling.

"How I won't see you in a long time, maybe forever." The tears were just about to fall.

"Don't think about that. I don't want to remember you in tears."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm studying your face so I will remember it forever. This way I will never forget you. You will always be on my mind from now on."

"Bill… Stop that… Stop it right now!" I pulled away violently, wiping the tears from my face. Gods, I didn't think saying goodbye would be that difficult. I turned away hiding my shame and tears. I didn't want him to see me cry, not after everything.

"Weren't you the one who said that we should enjoy this? What we have right now. I'm enjoying this break I have with the one person who makes me happy and every memory of you makes me hopeful that we might be able to have a cylon free world. Please. Don't take that away from me."

"I'm trying to make this ok and be happy but I don't want to lose you. I really don't." He walked towards me in the small space that we have and pulled me close to him once more and wiped my tears from my face.

"Can't you smile for me?"

"I'm trying but…"

"Shhh… it's ok…" He hugged me tight. "We'll always be together, even if we are separated. You will always be in my heart. Let me just remember you with a smile."

"Ok." I pulled my head away from his shoulder and tried hard to smile even though it hurt. I saw him look at my face in its entirety. He smiled and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes while he left his lips there. When he pulled away, we just stared into each other's eyes longingly. At that moment, I wanted everything to stop existing except for Bill and I. I just wanted us together, able to survive on our love alone.

"Sir." His pilot said skittishly, breaking the moment. Embarrassing. Oh well. I guess that was my cue to leave. "The rest of the Galactica raptors are waiting to leave on your command."

We looked into each other's eyes one last time. I left that raptor with no regret except the guilt that I hadn't said, "I love you" to Bill. I hope Bill said something about keeping this a secret.