Welcome back! I wish you a wonderful merry Christmas wherever you are and whether you celebrate in the 24th, the 25th or the 6th of January. If you dont celebrate it, I wish you some lovely days anyway!

Disclaimer: I don't own BSG, only my OC's and the storyline

October 1803

A Visitor in Kensington

William Adama

Monday was calm, as most days in Kensington were, especially with Kara being away at the Agathon place. Bill enjoyed it, he could do whatever he pleased, read, ride or go for a walk. Then he heard something unexpected - the sound of a carriage coming up towards the house. Why was Kara already back? Had something happened? Quite alert, the father jumped up, making his way to the front parlour to look out of the window. When he saw the horses in front of the vehicle, he frowned. Those were definitely not his, but two beautiful silver-grey ones, trotting in unisone. Who could own that kind of animals? Well, it definitely wasn't Saul Tigh and he doubted that it was the Agathon family either. When Miss Agathon had visited them before, she had never come in a carriage that expensive. It was made out of dark wood and had small golden inlays, but that was all he could see from where he was standing.

Maybe it was one of Kara's new acquaintances, but why should they visit him out in Kensington? That left one other possibility, a possibility that let his treacherous heart beat faster - Laura Roslin, the woman he had come to think of as a friend, even as a kind of confidant.

The strange carriage made a turn so he now could see the side of it, too. It was also dark wood with inlays, though quite minimalistic, nothing too bragging. It screamed understatement and the hand of a woman of style. It definitely screamed Laura Roslin.

Not really bothering whether it was appropriate or not, he went through the entrance hall and out of the house, towards the strange carriage. The coachmen, a South-European looking man around Lee's age, jumped down and opened the door of the coach.

When Laura stepped out, Bill really had to stop himself from grinning too broadly. Still, she was a vision to him. She was wearing a navy

woollen coat over a dress that was probably blue, judging by the hem. Her hat fitted the colour of the coat perfectly, it was only decorated with one simple brooche. For some reason she seemed to search for something in his face and apparently she found it, as her slightly apprehensive expression relaxed. The small smile that had been playing around her lips bloomed and she stepped closer towards him.

After a court, formal greeting, he boldly held out his hand. Raising an eyebrow but still smiling she took it, letting herself be led inside. Bill innerly thanked one of his servants for his perfect timing, the man appeared perfectly on time, taking Laura's coat. The woman unfastened her hat which he took as a good sign, apparently she intended to stay for a bit longer.

"If you would follow me please", he said, leading her to the back drawing room.

He could see how she scanned her new surroundings, probably not even consciously, but it made him weirdly self-aware. Then she sat down on one of the couches, looking at him expectantly.

"Thank you for inviting me in Commander", she said friendly, sounding oddly relieved, "after all I came quite unexpected. My apologies for this."

"Well, why wouldn't I invite you in? Especially as I do enjoy your company, if I may be so frank."

She laughed a little at that but didn't seem to mind.

"So tell me Ms Roslin, how does it feel to be back?"

"It is definitely nice to meet some people again who I have missed very much, but there are a couple I really am not longing to see again. But this is just the way it is I guess. I am happy to see more performances and such here, especially before Christmas."

"I think I can relate to the feeling even though, you might remember, I don't really go to performances", he added.

"I do recall that, yes", Laura answered, "but I guess for someone who liked the outsid there is plenty to do around here at the moment. It is really pretty out here in Kensington in autumn I have to say, I didn't remember it that way I have to admit."

It made Adama chuckle.

"Not exactly the place a Ms Roslin uses to go?", he dared to tease her lightly.

She smiled.

"Not exactly. Also before getting to know you I had no reason to be out here, only for picnics in summer. And as you know, I was hardly here in summer anyway."

It pleased Adama immensely to hear that he was the reason for Laura to break her habits.

"Kensington is beautiful for riding at this time of year", he remarked after a moment, but she shook her head.

"I guess that is right, but riding is not for me", she stated matter of factly.

Bill raised an eyebrow.

"So finally I found something you do not excel at! I am relieved. I already feared that you were absolutely perfect at everything ", he said smiling gently.

It made her smirk a bit cynically.

"I said I don't ride, not that I can't Commander. But I can tell you, I am as flawed as everybody else. I simply have mastered hiding them."

"You are indeed a master at it from what I have heard", he granted her, " but I think I'd like to get to know the woman behind the perfection and the edges that everyone sees."

Like a rock it hit him what he had just said, what he had asked from her. It was an impossible demand. 1803 was not a time for authencity, it was a fair of vanity, a show, a masquerade. He saw her bite her lip.

"Then you are the first man to say that."

I had the chapter planned a bit differently but this is how it turned out and I liked it that way so here we are ;)