Remember what I said about the last chapter being the longest so far? Well, forget about that. This is almost two thousand words longer at over 8,000 words. The main plot-twist of the fanfiction is in this chapter and from here on out, be prepared for long 6,000 words plus chapters as we get into the depths of the plot. I appreciate and read each and every review, and they really make my day so thank you so much for your continued support! I reply to each and every single registered review and I cherish all the guest ones as well.

Crossroads Part 1

Her pulse quickened as she slowly walked down the crimson carpet of the top balcony, each step feeling like a mile.

It was then that she heard it.

Laughter.

Children's laughter.

Her steps quickened in a desperate bid to find the source of the noise. It sounded like...it couldn't be, surely? As she turned the corner, she spotted the pair.

Hera. Pandora.

Her heart skipped a beat then. "Pandora!" She cried, watching as the girl disappeared hand in hand with Hera down the hallway. A sense of dread and fear filled her veins.

It was then that she felt the presence of someone else in the room. Glancing up from her spot on the balcony, she noticed Athena standing in a similar position to herself, fearfully watching her daughter as she called out her name in a desperate bid to grasp her attention.

When her eyes met the cylon's, Laura knew something wasn't right.

Her first instinct was to get to Pandora. No matter what, she had to get Pandora.

Setting off down the staircase in time with Athena, Laura almost tripped off the last step as she quickened her pace, desperate to get to the children in front of her. "Pandora!" She cried once more, though the children acted as though the sound simply floated around them, both ignorant to the pleas of their mother.

Laura stopped in her tracks suddenly when two familiar figures appeared in front of the children.

The Six and Baltar.

A shiver ran down her spine. Call it mother's instinct, but Laura knew something was wrong.

"Pandora!" One last desperate cry escaped Laura's lips as she darted towards the two small children, Athena quick on her heels as they both attempted to rescue their children from the claws of the beasts.

As though they were unaware of the President and Pilot, the Six bent down to pick up Hera, placing the half cylon, half human hybrid on her hip while Baltar moved to clasp Pandora's small hand in his own.

Before either of the mothers could react, the couple and children disappeared through the golden double doors and into the near blinding light.

Laura's heart seemed to stop, as though her life had no meaning...then everything went pitched black.

It was just a dream. A nightmare that was fabricated from her greatest fear; losing Pandora.

The sweat was clinging to her skin. The fear was rushing through her veins. Her sharp intake of breath was enough to wake the man beside her.

"Laura?" Bill mumbled in his sleep, his grip of the woman tightening as he held her close. "Go back to sleep, Bill, it's nothing" She assured him, keeping her back pressed against his chest while her eyes squinted in the dim light.

Pandora was safely asleep in her cot, her chest rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern. Pandora was safe; it was just a horrible nightmare, nothing more. Laura allowed sleep to claim her as its willing victim once more.

Pandora stumbled into the living area of the Admiral's quarters, hearing three voices in the air. Laura, Bill and Lee. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, the child helped herself onto the chair nearest her mother.

It took all of Laura's self control to stop her from reaching out and taking Pandora in her arms, covering her with affectionate kisses while promising to always keep her safe. She couldn't though. Doing so would be an acceptance of her apparent vision. Pandora was not going to fall into the hands of cylons and certainly not into the hands of Gaius frakking Baltar. It was not a vision. It was a nightmare. It had to be.

"Good morning, Pandy" Lee spoke, looking across the table at his side with an unguarded smile. Pandora was a second chance for them all. A second chance for Bill to be a father. A second chance for him to be a proper, protective brother. A second chance for Laura to have a family.

"I have a gift for you" He revealed, lifting up the brown paper package that was tied up with white string. "You had no need to get her anything" Bill reminded his son, but sensed that the young man had an alternative motive for his affectionate act.

With the help of Laura, Pandora managed to rip away the paper, reaching inside the small white box to retrieve her gift. "Really?" Pandora asked, a look of shock masked her face, her eyes widening as she looked down at the viper pilot suit in her hands, an exact replica of the one worn by Kara, Lee and the other pilots. "Every Adama needs their own pilot suit" Lee explained, watching with amusement as Pandora and Laura examined the costume with delicate hands and trained eyes.

"Can the CAG please report to the hanger deck?" The voice over the intercom announced, bringing the man's visit to a premature end. Lee waited until his father nodded his head in acceptance before he ruffle his sister's hair. "I'll see you on the wings, Kid" Lee said before making his exit from the quarters.

Pandora was content to gaze in disbelief at her gift. She was a true viper pilot now. "We'll have to get you on a viper soon" Bill confessed, lifting his mug of steaming hot coffee, taking a long sip.

Laura pressed her lips together as she raised her eyebrow. Pandora's eyes widened with excitement, a giggle escaping her lips. Was Bill being serious?

"Really, papa?" Pandora asked, her small fingers clutched onto the material of her viper suit - her most cherished possession. "When you're sixteen" Bill concluded, earning a loud sigh from the child who looked away from her father in annoyance.

Bill watched as a mournful expression fell onto his wife's face. Would Laura see Pandora's sixteenth birthday or even her fifth? Emptying his mid of his darkening thoughts, he reached out to take a hold of the woman's smaller hand across the table. "Are you okay? You're a little jumpy today" He observed, remembering how her supposed nightmare had woken both of them in the small hours of the morning. "I'm fine, it's nothing" She lied, brushing his concern away, even if she could still see the haunting images of the opera house replaying over and over again in her head - each time more vividly than the last

It was just a dream. It was not a vision. Pandora would not fall into the hands of the cylons.

As Pandora disappeared through the quarters in search of her backpack for daycare. Laura tried to calm her nerves as she focused on the days events.

It was beginning today. Baltar's trial. It would no doubt open another can of worms.

She was a key witness. Her husband was a judge. Her stepson was assisting the defence attorney. Her daughter was a possible victim. It was all one great mess. Throwing Baltar out of an airlock seemed a more simple, painless and appealing idea.

"Are you starting the Chamalla today?" Bill asked, standing from his seat, rounding the table to take the seat beside his wife, his arm wrapped around her hunched shoulders as Laura wrapped her arms around herself. Laura nodded her head, reflecting on her current situation. She was the President of the Twelve Colonies; in charge with the remaining survivors of the genocide of Caprica. She was the adoptive mother of a four year old girl with a mysterious past. She was the newly married wife of the Admiral of the Colonial Fleet. Finally, she was the dying prophet who was destined to guide the people to Earth.

A President. A Prophet. A Parent. A Wife.

Now her cancer was back, bringing her short lived happiness to a sudden end.

"Tori's collecting the first dosage from Cottle today. I'm going to try and add it to my tea, see if I can mask the taste a little" Laura explained, praying to the Lords of Kobol that their plan would work. She had no other choice than to fight her cancer. Both she and Bill were making a habit of defeating the odds; couldn't they do it again?

"My diloxan treatment will start a day or two after" She announced, her voice filled with hesitation at the idea. Laura had been forced to endure watching her mother suffer under the medication, which ultimately led her to fighting with Cottle over her refusal to use the drug last time.

Though last time, she didn't have a husband and a daughter depending on her.

Bill's finger traced over the cold metal of his wife's wedding band. "You're not going to go through this alone, Laura" He reminded her, positive that this time he would be at every doctor's appointment and would stay with her during each diloxan treatment. No doubt Pandora would bring them both some light during the coming days of darkness.

"I know" Laura replied, though she knew all to well how painful of an experience it was to watch a loved one slipping away from this life while trying to keep a strong and supportive facade, willing them to fight for their life.

Pandora stopped in her tracks when she entered the living room, her backpack and elephant clutched in her hands. "Mama, are you okay?" She asked curiously, stepping towards the woman with a worried expression. Her mother - the strong, infamous President - looked fearful, something that terrified Pandora.

Laura's eyes glanced between her husband and daughter. Pandora needed to be told. One way or another. How do you tell an innocent and pure hearted child that their mother might die? Pandora had already lost Kara; she didn't need to lose Laura too. The trial would be traumatic for them all, Laura hoped they could postpone their walk with Pandora until afterwards, then she and Bill would sit their daughter down and explain everything in the best way possible - in a way that an overprotected four year old could understand. For now, they needed to keep a straight face and act as though everything was perfectly fine.

"Of course I'm okay. Come on, we need to take you to daycare" Laura reminded her, throwing on her blazer while Bill adjusted the military medals on his uniform, mentally preparing himself for the role of 'judge' in Baltar's trial. The Lords of Kobol continued to try them all - especially Laura and himself. How much more sadness, difficulty and turmoil could they survive? He didn't know the answer.

"I'll see you in court" Bill said, dropping a kiss on Laura's cheek before bending down in front of Pandora, who stood looking up with widened eyes, her innocent smile lighting up the room.

"What do you hear?" He asked, though the familiar words came with a heavy heart. "Nothing but the rain, papa" The young girl gave the expected reply, having heard the expression exchanged between Bill and Kara before. "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat" Bill concluded, his hand coming to rest on the girl's loose shoulder before he affectionately kissed her cheek.

Laura remained silent throughout the exchange, content to watch the father and daughter duo interact. Their heartwarming exchange had brought a gentle smile to her lips. It was moments like this that she cherished and held close to her heart. It was moments like this that made her feel that Pandora truly was their daughter, not a child that had stumbled into their lives by accident.

"Aye, aye, sir!" Pandora joked, her teasing laughter lightened the heavy atmosphere in the room, pushing away the darkness for a short moment. Laura reached out and took the girl's hand, leading her towards the door. "I'll see you in a minute, Bill" She called over her shoulder as they left their private quarters and started their journey towards the daycare.

She couldn't hide her discomfort at the idea that her husband was one of the five captains charged with deciding the faith of Gaius Baltar. She trusted Bill to make the right decision. The only decision.

Laura was still fuming.

Baltar's trial was the last thing she needed. Yet, she had to put on a perfect poker face. The press and the fleet had no idea of her cancer and for now she would like to keep both that and their marriage as private as possible.

It didn't help that Baltar's defense had tried to turn the table on her in their opening statement. Sometimes, Laura regretted allowing Baltar to win the election, but what Bill said still stood true. Without New Caprica; they wouldn't have Pandora and they most likely wouldn't have their marriage either.

Sipping her tea from its steaming metal flask, she allowed the bitter taste of Chamalla to fill her mouth. While the tea masked the smell, the bitter after taste remained - just like last time.

It didn't help that the Camalla was making the memories of her nightmare - she refused to call it a vision - more and more vivid.

"I think we should ask the Six, she may be willing to help" Laura announced to the small group that was gathered around the island at the heart of the CIC. "Baltar's girlfriend - why would she do that?" Saul challenged her, speaking her predecessor's name with anger and annoyance "She does not want Hera to go back to the cylons" Laura explained, knowing that her dream - calling it a vision would be acceptance of the idea that Pandora would fall into the hands of the cylons - was proof of her dedication to protect Hera, she could understand that, but what was her connection with Pandora?

"Do you really think she'll stick her neck out for some human cylon hybrid?" Saul asked, showing his lack of confidence in the blonde cylon currently being held on board Galactic. "I have a feeling she would lay her life down for it" Laura admitted truthfully, recognising the fact that both she and the Six had tried to protect the hybrid child - even if it had been for different reasons.

"A feeling?" Bill questioned, thinking that the chamalla was already effecting his wife's start of mind if she was considering collaborating with a cylon for information.

If it wasn't for the fact that she didn't want him to worry anymore than he already was, then perhaps Laura would have told him about her dream - her apparent vision of the opera house - but not today. If he sensed at all that their daughter was in danger, he would become even more hostile to the cylons, place Pandora on around the clock protection and would no doubt kill Baltar himself; not that she wouldn't mind the last scenario.

"It's more than a feeling alright" Laura stated, her voice pleading with him to trust her, just like she had done with him on countless occasions. "Just do it!' She snapped, her chamalla heightening her senses and adding to her stress as her eyes darted between her husband and his life long friend.

"It doesn't hurt to ask" Laura left them with her parting words before she walked away, shaking her head as she walked up the steps towards the privacy of the damage control room of the CIC. Bill waited, instructing his XO to fulfill the President's wishes and speak to the cylon prisoner, before he followed his wife towards the back of the CIC.

"Hey" Bill said, announcing his arrival as he walked into the control room. Laura nodded her head and humed in acknowledgment while lowering herself down onto the leather armchair. Stopping in front of the woman, he took a hold of his wife's small hands in his own bigger ones. "We'll ask the six, before for now, you need to relax" He tried to comfort her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as he tried to ease her fears and worries.

"It all seems real now" She whispered, her eyes trained on the spot of ground between their feet; anything to distract her from her pain. It wasn't a physical pain, more a mental one. "You have to stay strong, Laura. You're going to fight this" He said, hoping to motivate her. She couldn't lose her faith in herself his early in the game.

"How about we get Pandora and call it an early night?" Bill suggested, knowing that being tucked away with Pandora in the privacy of their quarters, away from the press, the chaos of the trial and their respective duties as Admiral and President, was the only thing that would lift Laura's spirits.

"That sounds nice" She admitted, her eyes remaining heavy, her skin as pale as the first drops of winter's snow as she took a hold of her husband's arm, allowing him to guide her away from the hustle and bustle of the CIC and towards the privacy of their quarters. It seemed like heaven there, which was exactly what she needed.

After a night spent wrapped up in the comfort of their private quarters, simply enjoying each other's presence, Laura forgot all about her worries - her role as President, her role as an apparent Prophet, her dream which could possibly be another vision and her cancer.

"How are you feeling?" Bill asked as he placed their breakfast down onto the table, taking his usual seat across from the woman. "I'm fine - I just... I just want this all to be done with" She confessed, knowing it couldn't be easy for Bill to sit in the judge's seat, his wife on the witness stand and his son assisting the betrayer of the human race. "I know the feeling" Bill added, wanting nothing more than to be relieved of his role as judge but he had a duty to fulfill.

"I was looking to discuss something with you" Laura said, her eyes casting over to where Pandora sat onto he couch, playing with her doll's hair while finishing her drink. "You want to take Pandora into court, don't you?" Bill asked, knowing he could read his wife like an open book. Though he himself had also been thinking of bringing the girl along with them.

"I want her to be able to say that she was there when they found Gaius Baltar as being guilty for his crimes against our people" Laura admitted, she had a feeling that Pandora would turn out to be as stubborn and justice seeking as both Bill and herself. "It might help her unlock some of those missing memories" Bill thought aloud, knowing that they would eventually have to piece together Pandora's past; while they were confident that Pandora had no family, it was unusual for a child to forget almost everything about their life, which increased the likelihood that Pandora had suffered some form of trauma during New Caprica.

Laura nodded her head, complimenting the situation in her head. It would involve Pandora being in front of the press, without Bill and without her there to protect the girl. However, Tori would be there and Pandora would be kept in the front row, away from the preying eyes of the press and where both Bill and herself could keep an eye on her from their respective locations.

"Baltar's lawyer will hardly try to pull me apart on the stand" Laura added to her argument before she nodded her head. "It's agreed, we'll take Pandora with us" She decided, finishing off her breakfast before she stood from the table to walk over to her daughter. "Come on, Pandora" Laura led the girl over to the chest of drawers in search of something appropriate for them both to wear.

As they arrived in the make shift courtroom, Laura escorted Pandora over to her usual seat in the front row. "Now, do you remember what I said?" Laura asked, sitting herself down in Tori's seat for a moment. "Don't speak to press and if anyone says anything bad about you or Papa, they don't mean it" Pandora repeated her mother's earlier words. Resting her backpack on her lap, she looked up at the seats where her mother and father would sit. "Good" Laura said, offering a comforting smile to her daughter before looking up at the witness box as Baltar and his attorney arrived in the room, Tori appearing a moment later.

Squeezing her daughter's shoulder, Laura stood up from the seat and readjusted her blazer. The prosecution had already questioned her, now the sly defense council had earned their turn to cross-examine her. As Laura sat herself down in the witness box, she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Readjusting the cuff of her ivory blouse, she settled herself in her seat.

As Lee stood from his seat, heading towards the witness stand, she titled her head towards her husband. Was this really happening? Was Lee about to stab them both in the back? Metaphorically and literally.

"Madame President, aren't you alive today because of Gaius Baltar?" Lee began, starting his argument to free the cylon collaborator. Ever word that left her stepson's lips felt like a knife being twisted in Laura's heart. What game was he playing? "I'm alive today because the insurgents managed to stop the execution" She reminded him, reflecting on her time trapped in the back of a truck with Tom Zarek, the way her life had once again flashed before her eyes when the cylon centurions appeared before them. For a split second she had believed it was game over for her.

"They saved you from a cylon firing squad but wasn't it Baltar who saved your life when you were dying from cancer?" Lee questioned, holding his arm out to signal to his 'client'. Laura felt her stomach begin to turn, as though she knew exactly what path Lee was choosing to follow. He didn't know about her cancer. Only Bill and Cottle knew; not even Tigh knew.

"Relevance?" The prosecution demanded, her eyes trailing up to the judge's stand, specifically Admiral Adama. Everyone knew of the closeness between the Admiral and the President, you had to be blind not to see it and deaf not to have heard the rumors. Adama and Roslin were the worst kept secret in the fleet.

"You...Your Honors..." Lee stumbled over his words, his confidence taking a knock at the woman's questioning. "Hostile witness, Your Honor. If the court would grant us just a little attitude" Baltar's attorney spoke, glaring at Lee with a sideward glance and narrow eyes. He could blow this all with one badly timed move. "We'll allow it" The senior judge, a blonde haired Captain, announced with a slow, steady nod of her head.

"Did Gaius Baltar save your life when you were dying from cancer?" Lee reworded his question, clutching his pen between his hands as he pushed himself forward. If they broke Laura, then Baltar would walk.

With her hands on the end of the table, Laura cleared her throat before speaking clearly. "Doctor Baltar scientific knowledge did save my life indeed" She gave the politcally correct answer, aware of the fact that the cross examination was turning into a chess game. Each move needed to be well thought out and work for her advantage. "Can you be more specific? How did he save your life on that occasion?" Lee asked, his confidence once again returning to him as he watched a sudden look of discomfort mask Laura's face before her Presidential Persona returned.

"He injected me with the blood of a half human, half cylon baby" She revealed, her dream once again played out before her. Hera. It made sense as to why the cylons would be interested in her, but casting her eyes over to the child in the front row, she still couldn't piece together why the Six and Baltar would want Pandora. Perhaps that's why she couldn't look the man in the face.

As whispers and soft mutters began to fill the room, Lee took one step forward before speaking again. "And your cancer vanished?" He asked for clarification, earning a nod from his stepmother. "Completely" She confirmed, praying that it would be the end of that sensitive topic.

"During your illness what sort of medication were you on?" Lee inquired, his voice had a stronger tone to it, and Laura was surprised at just how much he could pass off for being a real attorney. Sensing that the conversation was about to take a sudden turn, Laura picked up her glasses and perched them on the bridge of her nose. "You know, I was taking a lot of medications at the time and I don't remember all their names" She replied, hoping the half truth of an answer would satisfy the man as she lightly shrugged her shoulder.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the anger beginning to slip through the professional mask Bill had put on as Lee let out a huff of disbelief, shaking his head.

"Did you take something called Chamalla extract?" Lee asked, confirming Laura's earlier fears as he raised his head. Laura froze, staring at her stepson with a raised eyebrow, sitting a little straight in her seat.

Let out a small hum, the woman felt the side of her lip pull up in an uncomfortable smile before dropping just as quickly. "Yes" She confirmed, her eyes once again slipping over to the front row where Tori looked torn as to wither or not to escort Pandora out of the room, though the child - as though sensing her mother's discomfort - was sitting on the edge of her sit, her arms wrapped around herself, listening intensively to the conversation between Lee and mother.

"Isn't it true that one of the side affects of taking Chamalla...is the experience of hallucinations?" Lee's voice was louder now as he turned himself to face the audience and press, as though teasing them with information before he turned to face the witness once more.

"Yes, that is one of the possible side affects" Laura confirmed, forcing herself to keep a civil voice as she sat up straight, refusing to believe that Lee could do it to her. He wouldn't tell everyone. "Isn't it also true that the visions that you once described as messages from the gods were actually the result of a pharmacological reaction from taking Chamalla?" Lee once again turned himself to the waiting press, moving his hands in front of him with every word.

Pandora looked between her mother, father and Lee, her eyes beginning to fill with tears as she listened to the harsh tone in Lee's voice. "The Chamalla did enable me to see certain things that were foretold by the scriptures, things that will help this fleet find its way to Earth, you of all people should know that, Major" Laura replied, like a teacher telling of a student as she attempted to turn the conversation on its head.

"Your Honors!" The prosecution exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. "Mr. Adama, where are you going with this?" The blonde woman asked, even her patiences were beginning to run thin.

"Just one more question" Lee stated, taking a step towards the judges before turning on his heel to walk up to the witness box.

Looking into the man's eyes, Laura could see how torn he was, but that didn't make the pain she was feeling any less. Blinking away the tears that were forming in the corner of her eyes, she let out a low whisper. "Please don't do this" She begged, her face turning to one of desperation as she pleaded with her stepson. He had no idea the damage he was about to inflict. Bill remained silent as he glanced between his wife and son; Lee couldn't hurt Laura or Pandora, no matter how much of a vendetta Lee might have against him.

Lee took a deep breath, his voice hoarse as he began to speak. "Madame President, are you taking Chamalla at this time?" He questioned, knowing he would regret his words, but he couldn't stop what he had already started.

It took all of Laura's self control not to lash out at the man. Her eyes became glazed with tears as she sat in silence for a moment "Captain Apollo, do you remember that?" She refused to answer his earlier questions, recalling the time when they were on better terms. Oh, how times had changed "I always thought it had such a nice ring to it" She deflected the conversation, her eyes trained on her stepson. "I am so, so sorry for you now" She concluded, unable to believe that the heartless man in front of her was the same person who had gifted Pandora the viper suit the day before.

"Think of Pandy" Laura pleaded, clasping her hands under the table, her eyes widening as her voice dropped.

At the mention of the girl, Lee was unable to look his stepmother in the eyes, turning his head away from her, trying to forget about his personal connections to her. The pair stood in silence for a moment before he spoke. "Chamalla, Madame President" He repeated "Perhaps dissolved in your tea to mask the bitterness" His voice felt like a ton of bricks pressing down against her chest.

"Don't answer that" Bill demanded, unable to sit silently at the sidelines as he was forced to watch his son tear his wife apart on the witness stand before his very eyes. "I'm putting a stop to this right now" He assured his wife, no longer caring about official procedure. This was his wife. His duty to protect her was greater than his duty as an officer.

"Your Honors, if she is on drugs it goes to her credibility as a witness" Lee argued, walking purposefully towards the judges with quick strides, glaring at his father with furious eyes, his anger at his father now boiling up inside of him. "Witness is dismissed" Bill announced, folding his hand on the table in front of him, his eyes fixed on his wife as he forced himself to remain calm. Laura wouldn't appreciate him making a scene.

"Your Honors, I have to strongly object! He's obviously trying to cover something up here" Baltar's attorney stated, standing from his seat as he gestured between the President and Admiral. "One more word for you and you'll both be hold in contempt" Bill argued, deciding that preventing Lee from further questioning Laura was the only way he could protect her.

"Admiral!" The blonde woman on his right protested, turning her head to look at the man. "I would like to hear the witness answer the question" The judge next to her announced, speaking for the first time during the trial. "As would I" The woman said, preventing Bill from continuing his own argument.

"Madame President, are you taking Chamalla again?" She asked, looking at the President as Bill sat himself back on his chair, his eyes fixed on the child directly in front of him. Pandora was clutching her elephant close to her chest, her eyes rimmed with tears as she touched the strands of her hair that were sealed in her ponytail; a tell tale sign that she was becoming distressed.

Laura twisted her wedding ring around her finger, hoping to gather some courage for what was to come. This was not how it was meant to happen. A silence fell across the courtroom as those present waited anxiously to hear the President's response. Tori moved to take Pandora's hand but the girl flinched away from the woman, focusing only on her mother.

Laura nodded her head, taking a deep breath before she spoke, unable to look at anyone except the blonde woman. "Yes, I am" She confessed, her revelation filled the courtroom with whispers, mutters and conversation.

Lee tried to stand his ground, continuing to glare at his father, only breaking his eye contact as he walked away "No further question" He announced, making his way back to his seat.

"Mr Adama, aren't you going to ask me why?" Laura questioned, her words caused the young man to stop mid-step. Everyone would put two and two together eventually and realise why she was taking chamalla; they may as well know sooner rather than later.

"I'm sorry" Lee asked, confusion laced his voice, this was the one thing he hadn't thought of. Bill was surprised at how calm his wife was, but he put her professional facade down to the presence of the press and Pandora. "Why am I taking Chamalla again?" Laura repeated, moving her hands out in a gesturing motion as she forced a fake smile which only furthered Lee's confusion. He had to finish what he had started.

"That's not strictly relevant" Lee thought aloud, he shrugged his shoulders as his furrowed brow moved inwards. "Well, perhaps it's not relevant to you but it is to me" Her voice was beginning to break slightly, dropping in tone and pitch as she explained herself to her stepson.

Lee felt as though he was being hit by a ton of bricks. Laura wasn't taking Chamalla for the fun of it, was she? "Go ahead, ask me why" Laura dared him, in that moment she refused to think of the man as Bill's son, for he had just committed treason against their entire family, without even knowing it. "Finish what you started" She encourage him, wanting him to feel just a little of the pain that she was going through.

"Why are you taking Chamalla again, Madame President?" He asked, fearful of the answer he would receive. Lee the lawyer was long gone, replaced by the former C.A.G who stood with a mournful look framing his face.

Taking her glasses from the bridge of her nose, the woman dropped them down against the armrest of the witness stand, folding her hands out in front of her, trying to stop the shaking motion that had overcome them.

"I am taking Chamalla again because my cancer has returned" Laura announced, dropping a bombshell on the audience of the courtroom. The collective gasps echoed around the room, until one by one each person recovered and the noise grew as people began to speak in whispered words of shock.

Laura kept her gaze of Lee, watching his squirm under the pressure as Bill shut his eyes, unable to accept what his son had just done.

As the cries of the journalists began to echo around the room, the blank look on Lee's face turned to a look of realisation. What exactly had he hoped to learn from his questioning? Why hadn't he put two and two together? Why else would she ever be using Chamalla. How had he been so stupid!

The members of the public and press stood from their seats, an array of shouting filled the room, with journalist pointing their microphones outstretched for a comment from the President. Even though she knew that she shouldn't have, Laura turned her head to look at her husband over her right shoulder. As he reluctantly nodded his head at her, she stood up from her seat in the suddenly claustrophobic witness stand, signaling a sudden and swift end to the court proceedings.

Walking away from the stand, Laura tried her best to block out the growing noise, although she was aware of the guards trying to control the audience who were pushing closer and closer towards them.

Her sights were set on Pandora. The child, who sat with a blank expression on her face, held her arms outstretched as her mother reached her. Scooping the child up in her arms, Laura turned on her heel and made her way towards the door, yearning for the comfort and silence of their private quarters, needing to shut the rest of the world - and specifically Lee - out of her head.

As the other judges exchanged confused looks, many aimed at himself, Bill shook his head silently. Lee really had no idea of what he had just done. As he stood from his seat, he knew exactly where Laura was heading.

The quickest way to the pair was through the main exit.

Aware that their chances of getting a comment from the President were slim, the press turned their attention to the Admiral. Heading down the steps at the side of the courtroom, Bill held his arms out in front of him, the palms of his hands out as he tried to push his way through the crowd. "Get out of my way" He growled, his lips tightening as he curled his fists inwards.

"I need to get my wife and daughter. Get out of my way!" Bill barked, pushing his way through the crowds of press and photographers, all of them pushing their blinding cameras into his face, like a pack of animals after their prey, while his eyes searched around the chaotic room for his wife and child. He desire to get to the pair made him throw all caution out of the room, stopping him from letting out yet another bombshell. The shock of hearing the President referred to as the Admiral's wife was enough of a distraction for Bill to force his way through the crowd and towards the door.

Pandora clutched onto her mother's blouse for dear life, she shut her fearful eyes and buried her nose into her mother's neck, seeking comfort in the woman's arms. Adjusting her hold of Pandora, Laura cradled the girl's head in her left hand while her right hand was wrapped around the girl's side. This was not how she wanted Pandora to find out.

What had he done? Lee dropped himself down, burying his face in his hands as he rested his elbows on the desk. The look of devastation and disbelief on his father's face would haunt him for life. The adrenaline rush has pushed him to it. The idea of actually being right about something for the first time in his life.

If only he could take it back.

Now everyone knew.

Laura silently cursed the black patent heels she had chosen to wear for the day, kicking them off at the door as soon as she arrived in their private quarters. As if her constant repeating nightmare wasn't enough; her stepson had just told the entire fleet that her cancer had returned.

As Bill walked down the deserted cold, grey hallways of Galactica, he spotted Tori and two of the guards standing outside the hatch door. "Admiral..." Tori began, stepping forward with cautious step towards the man, but Bill was ignorant to her presence as he opened the hatch door, slamming it behind him as he entered the privacy of their makeshift home.

Leaning against the hatch door, Bill took a deep breath in a bid to calm down his anger. He couldn't take his frustration out on either Laura or Pandora, if anyone deserved to feel his wrath then it was Lee. Turning around, Bill came face to face with his wife, who had dropped herself down on the couch, Pandora curled up on her knee, the President rocking both herself and the girl from side to side.

"Oh, Laura" Bill breathed, heading across the room to sit down beside the pair. As he wrapped his arm around Laura's shoulder, she moved to rest her head down against his arm, remaining silent as she reflected on their situation. Laura had to feel in control of everything; even more so now with her cancer, and Lee had taken the situation out of her hands and let out her secret to the entire fleet.

The trio stayed in a pleasant silence, each lost in their own thoughts until Pandora raised her head, sniffling as she rubbed her eyes. "Mama, Papa," She spoke, waiting until she had their attention before she continued. "What's cancer?" She asked fearfully, having guessed that it was something bad, something she should fear, something her mother had but she wasn't sure what it was.

Bill locked eyes with his wife for a moment, watching as her eyes were again glazed with tears as she rested her cheek against Pandora's hair, dropping an affectionate kiss on the crown of her head. Laura had told Pandora about Kara, now it was his turn to break the news to Pandora. "You see..." The man began, attempting to keep a straight face, willing his emotions to stay at bay as he spoke, explaining to his daughter what cancer was, but how Laura was going to fight it - and win.

When Bill was finished, a knock sounded from the hatch door, followed by Tori's arrival in the room. "I'm sorry Madame President, but the press and the Quorum are demanding a comment" She announced with hesitation, knowing that she had walked in on a private moment for the family. Laura reluctantly nodded her head. "Arrange a raptor for Colonial One, we'll do a press conference once we arrive there" Laura said, though she could sense that Tori was holding something back. Using her free hand, she fixed her hair as she sat up in her seat.

"What else is there, Tori?" The woman asked her assistant, watching as the woman tugged at the bottom of her blazer before speaking. "The press are asking if you and the Admiral are married, apparently the Admiral called you his 'wife' when he was leaving the courtroom" Tori explained, reaching up to touch the back of her neck as she looked away from the married couple, Laura had told her about the marriage when she questioned her about the ring, but it had went unnoticed by the press.

Bill lowered his head into his hands, remembering how he had lashed out at the press when they stopped him from getting to Laura and Pandora. "They had to find out eventually, may as well find out now" Laura thought aloud, her voice low as she ran her fingers through the gentle curls of Pandora's hair, having taken it out of its ponytail. "I'm sorry, Laura" Bill apologised, knowing that this was the last thing that Laura needed on top of everything else. Laura stood up from the couch, putting Pandora down onto the ground, taking the girl's hand before looking at her husband, forcing a reassuring smile.

As they arrived on Colonial One, Laura looked through the mirror in her office, fixing her hair and making herself presentable once more. Bill sat Pandora down on the sofa, letting her play with her crayons and book until they waited for the press conference to start. As Tori stepped inside, Laura headed through the curtain between her office and the area for the press conference.

Stopping at the podium, Laura glanced behind her at Bill as he stood beside Tori. While he usually didn't escort her to press conferences unless it was a matter of fleet security, he had insisted on coming along this time. Laura looked through the assembly of waiting press before selecting the man nearest her

"How long have you known about the cancer?" The man asked, leaning forward so that his microphone could catch her response. Laura folded her arms in front of her chest, turning at an angle to the press before she answer. "About a week" She replied, though it had felt like a lifetime. "And how advanced is the disease?" Karen asked, jumping in to ask the President a question. Before she could reply, the earlier journalist raised his hand, grabbing her attention as he spoke. "Will you be getting any more transfusions from the half cylon donor?" He asked, cautious about his choice of words. "You know, this is the type of detail that I'm not going to go into, we're looking at a game plan and I'll let you know when we have one" She replied, shrugging her shoulders and shaking her head.

"Well, how will your treatment for your illness impact your duties as President, or when you're caring for the girl, will she be going to someone else?" Karen asked, her cool demeanor didn't win any favors with the Admiral, who raised his eyebrow when she mentioned Pandora. "So far it hasn't at all, and I can assure you that Pandora isn't going anywhere" She replied, attempting to keep some form of an upbeat manner as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Is it true that you and the Admiral have gotten married?" The blonde journalist behind Karen spoke, standing from her seat to hold her microphone out. Laura took a glance down at the gold band on her finger, its shine in the light of the room gave her some hope that her constant ordeals would come to an end. "Yes, three days ago" She confessed, unable to disguise the unguarded smile that slipped onto her face.

Perhaps this press conference wouldn't be too bad.

"Are you still taking chamalla extract?" Another journalist asked, but before Laura could speak, Tori spoke. "Don't answer that!" The black haired woman ordered, glaring at the journalist who had spoke. So much for wishful thinking. Laura turned her head slowly to look at the younger woman; had she lost her mind? Ignoring the woman, she turned around to face the press, once again bombarded with questions.

"Has the Admiral officially adopted the child?"

"How often do you hallucinate?"

"Are the rumors true that Pandora is your biological child?"

Before Laura or Bill could utter another word, Tori stepped forward, her voice traveling across the room. "Alright, enough of this crap. We're done here!" She announced, coming to step beside the podium where the President stood. Laura reached out to grasp the two sides of the podium, hoping to gather some strength from it. "Tori.." She warned, but the woman continued to speak. "You vaulters can go and pick over another carcass" Tori said, letting her emotions get the better of her as she felt the President take a hold of her arm.

Out of the corner of his eye, Bill spotted the curtain move, Pandora head appearing at the side. No doubt she had heard her name and came to investigation. Just as curious as Laura. Silently taking his leave from the conference, he stepped through the curtain, taking his daughter's hand and escorting her back over to the couch in Laura's office, away from the press and the scene that Tori was causing.

"Tori!" Laura demanded, nodding her head to signal the woman to step to the side. "Come here" She said, moving them away from the microphones and the watching press. "I'll see you inside" She ordered, grinding her teeth as she folded her arms. Tori's misbehavior was the last thing she needed.

"I'm sorry, temperatures are running a little high in the fleet these days" Laura announced, faking a wide smile as she leaned forward on the podium, looking down at the press as she tried to excuse Tori's behavior. "Who's next?" She asked, her eyes scanning on the room before they once again fell on Karen.

"Madame President, how long do you have to live?" Karen asked, dropping her hands down into her lap as she looked for a frank answer from the woman. It seemed to hit a nerve with Laura, who moved off the podium and folded her arms tight against her chest. If looks could kill, Karen would be out an airlock. "How do you have to live, Karen?" Laura asked, her voice emotionless as she glared at the woman.

Death was the last thing she needed to think about after the roller coaster ride of the day.

Death would come eventually, but not today or tomorrow.

If Laura had anything to say about it, death would not come until she was an old lady, grey and in a rocking chair, with Bill by her side and Pandora grown.

Death would not come until long after they had found Earth.