The children are happy to see Laura again after their two-week fall break. They work on memorizing her new name, addressing her as Mrs. Roslin-Adama, and learning how to spell it. Many are eager to meet her new husband, who has yet to visit her at the school.
"I bet he's really cute," one of her kindergarteners says, a little brown-haired girl with big brown eyes.
It's all the children can talk and speculate about for the first three weeks back at school. Bill visits the fourth week, bringing Laura a bouquet of fall flowers for her desk, standing awkwardly outside the door of the classroom waiting for class to be dismissed for lunch.
"Is that him?" the little girl asks when she sees him poke his head around the corner.
Every child in the room turns their head to the door, many leaning forward in their seats hoping to catch a glimpse of the man that married their teacher and put a permanent smile on her face.
"Children, please focus. Eyes on the marker board," she says. "Let's get through the next two vocabulary words, then I will introduce my husband."
It isn't easy for them, but they manage to make it through the rest of the lesson. Laura then introduces Bill, guiding him into the classroom by his hand.
The children titter and whisper at their desks, eyeing him in his military uniform, all with big smiles on their faces. A boy raises his hand.
"Yes, Michael?"
"My dad was in the military," he announces proudly. "But he died in the war. My mom says he was a hero and we should never forget. Did you fight in the war?"
"I did. I was a viper pilot."
"My dad was an officer on Galactica. The cylons got him when they boarded the ship. When I grow up, I want to join the military, too."
The lunch bell rings before Bill can respond, but he stops Michael as he walks past him. "I'm sorry for your loss, Michael. Everyone on Galactica was a hero."
"Thank you, sir," he replies before running to catch up with his friends.
"I wasn't expecting that," Bill tells Laura after all the children have left the room.
"I can tell by the expression on your face. There are a fair number of children in this school that lost a parent or an older sibling during the war. Most of them seem to be coping, but their lives are changed forever. We have counselors here to help them. Are those flowers for me, or are you seeing some other kindergarten teacher on the side?" she asks, trying to lighten his mood.
"The other one likes candy. I already stopped by her room and delivered some chocolates. These are for you," he teases.
"Thank you, Bill. Now, let me kiss you and make you forget about that other teacher."
She starts with a gentle brush to his lips, then pulls back and smiles as she gazes into his eyes. "Still thinking about her?"
"You probably better do that again just to make sure I forget about her."
After glancing around the room to make sure it's empty, she pulls him into a very deep, passionate kiss, swirling her tongue around his, then sucking on his lower lip as she pulls away. "Better?"
"Much," he replies, pulling her into his own passionate kiss.
"Mmmm, we better stop," Laura says patting his shoulders as she suddenly breaks the kiss. "We both still have to work this afternoon."
"We'll continue this when I get home tonight," he replies with a heated look.
"Count on it. I'm assuming there's a reason you stopped by with flowers. Can't get out of the deep space mission?"
"Saul and I need to leave in a few days, and we'll be gone for almost two weeks, mostly training. No communication most of the time. But the good news is I'll get my flight hours in to maintain pilot status, and then I won't need to be gone for so long again, at least not for a while," he explains, expecting her to protest this unplanned lengthy absence.
"Okay."
"Okay? You're not upset that I have to leave?"
"I'm getting used to it. I'm thinking about having Sandra stay with me part of the time. Maybe Cheryl a few nights, too. Daddy could use a break, and I'd like to have some sister bonding time. It's easier to do when it's just the three of us."
"I like that idea. I don't have to worry about you being alone the whole time. I should be getting back to work. Walk you to your office?"
Their first time apart as a married couple begins smoothly for Laura. She's busy with lesson plans, grading, and curriculum development, and finds that it makes the time pass quickly.
Sandra stays with her a few nights, spending most of their time talking about her college classes and the possible direction she wants to take for a career. Art is what interests her, and she can't imagine not having it in her life. They discuss the possibility of her becoming an elementary or high school art teacher, but Sandra is more interested in becoming a full-fledged artist. Realizing that this is a very difficult dream to achieve, she shares her ideas about starting a small company specializing in producing virtual scrapbooks, creating work much like she did for the recorded memory collection of her mother that she gifted to Cheryl. Many people have the intention to do this type of virtual scrapbooking themselves, but they rarely achieve the end product, never finding the time to finish because of the overwhelming amount of photos and videos that need to be pieced together. She would offer that service for a reasonable price, and still be able to do her own artwork on the side. There's plenty of time to decide how to best tackle her dream, but Laura likes that Sandra is focusing on what's important to her, and staying out of trouble.
Cheryl joins both of them for the next two nights. Laura is exhausted after the first twenty-four hours, forgetting how much energy her littlest sister has and having to come up with answers to the many questions her large brain conjures. The second night she decides to take them both to a pyramid game, hoping that will keep Cheryl entertained. It does, except that afterwards, she wants ice cream and a walk by the lake, then peppers her with dozens of questions about science, history, mathematics, and what exactly those two people were doing behind the bushes in the park near the loft.
"I think one of them dropped something and was looking for it in the grass," Sandra replies not missing a beat.
"But only one of them was on their knees," Cheryl points out.
"How about we have some popcorn and watch a movie when we get back to Laurie's place?" Sandra asks.
"Yeah! I wanna watch Viper Squadron II!" she exclaims, running ahead of them with her arms out.
"Haven't you seen that twice already?" Laura calls after her, nauseated at the thought of having to watch the movie again. It was bad enough the first time, glorifying war and relying way too heavily on special effects instead of telling a solid story.
"It's either that or you can explain to her what those people were doing in the park, sis," Sandra mumbles to her.
"Let's watch it again!" Laura shouts enthusiastically.
"Will you take me to see Viper Squadron III when it comes out, Laurie?"
"They made a third one? How wonderful! You know, I bet Bill would like to see that. Maybe he can take you!"
"That would be awesome!" Cheryl shouts zooming away with her arms out again.
"You're getting the hang of this," Sandra commends her.
Forty-five minutes into the movie, Cheryl is asleep on the sectional, her head on the far corner away from where Laura and Sandra sit, who are both eating popcorn watching the movie.
"Do you suppose it's anything like this?" Laura asks in a hushed tone so that she doesn't wake Cheryl. "Do you really think they all drink that much, then get in their vipers and kill a bunch of cylons, then go back to drinking again?"
"I don't know. Ask Bill. I'm just watching it for the hot guys."
Laura nods her head in agreement. "That's the only good thing about the movie. The actor that plays Thorn is really good-looking."
"I like Rebound. He can rebound into a relationship with me any day," she sighs.
"Okay, that scene right there. Is that true? Do men shower with women in locker rooms like that?"
"Mmm, probably. I remember learning in school that battlestars have to make efficient use of space, so I doubt there're separate bath facilities. And I think they sleep in bunk rooms like that, too. Ask Bill when he gets home."
"Hmmpf," Laura grunts. Bill could be showering with women right now and she wouldn't even know it.
"Laurie, you have nothing to worry about," Sandra says, noticing the unhappy expression on her sister's face. "Bill won't cheat on you."
"I know. But the idea that other women are looking at him in the shower sort of makes my blood boil."
"Then I suggest you never visit a battlestar with him."
"Or maybe I should visit a battlestar with him and let those women know he's taken."
"Pretty sure they can tell that by his wedding ring and the fact that he won't look twice at them."
They continue to watch the movie, Cheryl snoring occasionally from the end of the sectional. Laura's eyes glance around the room as she sniffs the air. "Was that you?" she asks Sandra in an accusatory tone.
"Huh?" she replies. The putrid odor suddenly hits her nose, lighting her olfactory nerves on fire, causing her to slap her hand over both her nose and mouth. She vigorously shakes her head 'no', pointing toward Cheryl with her other hand.
"Gods, that's terrible!" Laura exclaims, facing away from Cheryl.
"Daddy?" Cheryl mumbles, pushing herself up from the sofa pillow and looking around confused. "My tummy hurts."
"Sweetie, you probably had too much junk foo-" Laura says, not finishing the sentence when Cheryl leans over and vomits on the floor.
The highly contagious stomach virus sweeps through schools, colleges, and workplaces over the next week. Cheryl comes down with it first, then spreads it to Sandra and Dave. Half of Laura's kindergarten class is out sick - vomiting, diarrhea, and fever the main symptoms. People flood the emergency departments at hospitals to receive fluids because of the dehydration they suffer after forty-eight hours. It takes four to five days for the ill-stricken to get back on their feet, slowly returning to school and work. Laura spends much of her free time helping to sanitize classrooms and bathrooms at school, trying to halt the spread. Somehow, she avoids catching the virus, crediting her robust immune system due to working with young children over the past several months.
A few days before Bill is to arrive home from his mission, she decides to treat herself to a new dress. Preferably something sexy so that she can feel his eyes wander over her, which they're sure to do since it has been two long weeks since they've seen each other. He was able to send her a transmission from space letting her know he will be home for dinner on Friday evening.
She places an order for carryout from JJ's, picking it up after leaving the school, then placing it in the warming oven upon returning home. After a quick shower, she dries and styles her hair, making sure to leave it loose and untamed, a look that Bill has stated is her sexiest on several occasions. She reapplies eye makeup, going for a smokey bedroom look, and adds in some darker red lipstick. Her dress is dark blue with elbow length sleeves and open in the back. It accentuates her figure and shows just enough skin that she knows he'll find it irresistible.
Checking the time, she lights the candles a few minutes before she expects him home, then dims the lights to set the mood for a romantic dinner for two. A knock at the door startles her and she assumes it must be Bill, probably with his hands full of flowers for her.
Her face goes blank when she slides the door open to find Bill's father standing outside, along with two military police officers.
"Laura, there's been an accident," Joe says in a grim tone. "All family members are being escorted to the military hospital on Picon."
"Is Bill hurt?" she asks, feeling a panic deep inside of her.
"They won't give out any information until we get there. I'll put the food in the refrigerator if you would like to grab your purse and blow out the candles."
Her feet are frozen to the floor as she takes in what Joe told her. Her mind flashes back to the dream she had when they came back from their honeymoon.
"Is he…Joe…Is Bill…ummmm," she mumbles absentmindedly.
"Laura, we don't know anything yet," Joe reminds her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Look at me," he says staring into her eyes. "Can you get your purse and a coat? We need to leave. The sooner we leave the sooner we can find out what happened."
"Okay. The candles….and food…."
"I think she's in a little bit of shock," Joe tells the MPs. "Can you help her find her purse and coat? I'll take care of the rest."
"Mrs. Adama, where is your purse?" one of the MPs asks. "Tell me where it is, and I'll get it for you."
"Bedroom," she murmurs pointing down the hallway.
The other MP sees a coat hanging on a hook in the entryway, so he places it around her shoulders.
Once Joe extinguishes the candles and puts the food in the refrigerator, he hands Laura the purse that the other MP fetched. "Hold onto me, Laura. We'll get through this together," Joe says, guiding her out of the loft to the elevator.
"Joe, what if he…"
"We don't know anything. Right now, no news is good news. That's what we must remind ourselves," he says holding her hands as they are driven to the shipyards and taken to a raptor. Once they board, the hatch shuts and they are ordered to take a seat. The raptor has priority to depart immediately and once they reach altitude, they spin up the FTL and jump into orbit above Picon. They are cleared for landing at a pad near the hospital where a military vehicle waits to transport them to the hospital.
They're taken to a large conference room that has forty or fifty people in it already, all looking very confused and upset.
"Joe!" Evelyn shouts, approaching him from across the room.
"Do we know anything yet?" he asks.
"No. They're still waiting for a few others to arrive. Laura, how are you holding up? You look really pale."
"I think I need to go to the bathroom," she replies.
"I can take you."
"No, stay here, in case there's some news. You can come get me if you need to," she says.
"It's around the corner."
Laura wanders into the hallway, spots the sign marking the restroom, and quickly walks to the door. There's a woman inside weeping, trying to remove mascara that has run down her cheeks from her tears.
"I'm sorry, I must look a mess."
"You're fine," Laura says with a weak smile.
"I'll give you some privacy."
"Thank you."
"Don't cry. You don't know anything yet," she thinks to herself.
"I prayed to the Gods to identify your roles in this life, and they have declared both of you leaders and protectors of all humanity, a very high honor indeed."
"The dying leader knows one true love."
"Dying leader. Dying leader. Dead leader."
Her eyes close trying to push those thoughts out of her head. The image of Bill from her nightmare, lying on the floor of the raptor with a broken visor and lifeless eyes, flashes before her.
"No!" she sobs running into the nearest stall and vomiting in the toilet. "No. Stop it! I don't know anything yet," she says aloud. "I have to go back."
She exits the bathroom and finds a water fountain, stopping long enough to rinse the foul taste from her mouth. When she walks back towards the conference room, a doctor is speaking to a nurse in low tones.
"His viper was completely destroyed. Are all of his next of kin here?"
Laura steps around the corner into the conference room, gasping for air as the doctor's words echo in her mind.
"Laura?" Joe says seeing her legs wobble. "Laura!"
Her whole world turns black.