Thank you so much for all the wonderful feedback I got. I am so greatful to all of you because your lovely support keeps me going!
Now this chapter has a certain date to it, it is a Friday the 13th. By the way, I looked it up and the calender I found online showed me that in 1803 the 13th of May was indeed a Friday. :)

Disclaimer: I only own my storyline and my OC's

13th of May 1803

Apprehension

Laura Roslin

When she smoothed down her dress for what must be the 10th time in 10 minutes, Laura finally admitted it to herself- she was nervous. Even though she actually should not be, after all it was just a get-together with people she basically considered family. Only of course it wasn't. Not today. Today there wouldn't be just one but three unknown variables in the equation and even for the one and only Laura Roslin this was a bit much. At least if those variables mattered to her. And they did.

She was sitting in the back of her coach, tapping her foot, shaking her head, fiddling with her hands, all because they weren't moving forward. Traffic was hell at that time and even though she wanted to be there considerably before Adama and his family, she could be happy now if she was at least on time. When they finally arrived, she exhaled and entered the house quickly with a beating heart.

Isabelle met her with a small smile that got a bit more mischievous when she saw the state her friend was currently in. Sometimes, Laura mused, her friend just loved to see her suffer.

"They are not here yet, you may calm down ", the blonde answered the unspoken question, "deep breaths."

In the drawing room, the father and the three children living in the house were all assembled. Of course there were bows and curtsies, but nobody took it really seriously.

"Aunt Laura, for whom is the big box your servant has been carrying?", Robert, the second Agathon son asked.

"Not for you!", the woman just answered, smiling when the young man pouted.

"Robert, stop talking nonsense!", his little sister sighed, "we all know that it is for Lila!"

Suddenly, Isabelle made herself heard.

"It is Ms Roslin, not Aunt Laura tonight, do you understand me? it's not just our family but we will have more guests so we will need to be more formal!"

The three younger adults nodded even though they did not seem particularly pleased. It was wonderful to know that the young ones did not really like to deny the familiar relationship they had with her, on the other hand Laura knew what was expected. Even though Karolina was far from perfect herself, the woman wanted to make the evening as proper as possible. A bit more distance might help to keep a cool head. Still there was a little part of her that wanted nothing more but get closer to William Adama, to get to know the man that so few people seemed to be aware of.

After a couple more minutes of pleasant small talk, Isabelle ushered he friend into another little parlour.

"You look amazing. I would be surprised if the Commander will be able to focus on anything else but you tonight. I always told you that midnight blue is the perfect colour for you", she stated, "but Laura, you are like sculptured. From your shoes to the tip of your perfectly done hair. Are you trying to impress him with perfection or hide behind it? Because if it is the first, I don't think it will work that well. To me he seems to be the kind of man that likes real people with a mind on their own, that is something that you absolutely have. You can be charming in a social, nearly professional way, that usually gets you everything you want, or you can be charming by just being you. The 'you' who all my children adore, god Laurie, you are their hero!"

There was a deep silence between the two women and Laura was looking closer and closer to tears.

"Maybe I am scared and want to impress at the same time. Izzy this is unknown territory for me, I think I don't know anymore how to be really me around a man I like."

Disheartened she shrugged her shoulders, getting confused when her friend started to smile.

"What is it?"

"That Laura I am just seeing, I think that is the Laura a man like Adama wants to see too. I can't be certain, after all you are far more experienced on this topic, but if he wanted someone to decorate his arm he would be at every social gathering, courting. So I am sure you will be absolutely fine as long as you give him at least two of your wonderful spontaneous smiles."

The dark haired woman still didn't look fully convinced but nodded.

"Okay, I will try. After all, I don't have much to loose, do I?"

'Only my heart', she thought, 'but even then... maybe it will be worth it.'

Suddenly, they were interrupted by a servant who was knocking at the door of the parlour.

"Mrs Agathon, Ms Roslin, the Ditton family has arrived!"

Both women rose and went back to the drawing room, just before tiny feet could be heard on the marble floor. Laura stood a bit in the shadows while the rest of the family stayed in the middle of the room.

"You are all here! Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Karl, Uncle Rob and Aunt Violet!", a high voice exclaimed excitedly.

It belonged to a girl about 5 years old who was now standing in the door, smiling from one ear to the others. She had not yet discovered Laura who was watching the whole scene from her place on the side.

"Mama and Papa are still coming", the girl called out, "but I just HAD to see you all right away!"

When I wrote this chapter, it took me quite some time to figure out what Robert would be like. I imagine him now as somebody you like, but always want to kind of smack on the back of the head for some stupid joke he just made.
What do you think about an insecure Laura?

Random Regency Fact:
Laura is actually far too intimate with the Agathons for the standard of those times but I did this on purpose, after all she is an unusual woman!

And that's it for today! The next 2 chapters are already planed, but I still have to write them.

As always, leave a review please!

Up next: Lila