Dear Inkdrops, I am so glad you liked the last chapter :) Now Laura's reaction to Bill's...interesting choice of words ;) Enjoy!

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

October 1803

How to talk to a Woman

Laura Roslin

Jesus Laura - Fucking heart attack... The words were rattling in her mind. Had he actually just said that? Talked to her like that? Slowly her expression changed, she was unable to keep her face blank any longer. This situation was just too absurd! Firstly the corners of her mouth started to twitch until she finally threw her head back in real laughter. When she had called down again, she saw the look of pure relief on Adama's face.

"William, you really thought something like that would have me running?", she teased him,."I have heard way worse, so you dont need to worry!"

"Well, one can never be too sure about the consequences of one's actions", he answered slightly wistfully, "and please, would you use Bill instead of William? Only if you don't mind of course."

She smiled, that was a leap forward in their relationship, of which kind it might be. She had never called a man who was not part of her family by his first name, and especially not by a nickname! Not even her lovers had been that close to her, even though they had been physically intimate. It was a bit unsettling. But maybe it could also be the start of something good.

"Okay then, Bill", she answered, "as you are obviously still alive and didn't perish because of a heart attack, you can tell me where to put the blanket."

Smiling he took the quilt out off her hand and spread it over the grassy floor. Then he carried over his saddle bags, setting them down beside it. He sat down, patting on the spot next to him. With a light laugh, she gracefully sat down, incredibly thankful about the fashion of their time. 1803 the dresses actually made it possible for a woman to sit on the ground, even her ankles were covered.

"Are you thirsty?", her friend wanted to know, "I have some water or even wine here."

"Water would be great, thank you", she replied.

Out of the packs he got two wodden cups, filling them with water from a bottle. Gratefully she took it, then gently bumped it against his.

"Cheers!"

He laughed at her informal antics, the last bit of tension leaving his shoulders. They both drank from their cups with the silence wrapped around them like a soft blanket.

"Lee wrote back to me ", Bill finally said, "nothing deeply personal, bit at least he didn't ignore me . I think that is one step into the right direction. They are keeping up the sea blockade, but hardly catch any French ship."

"I think so too. Take it as a good sign", his friend confirmed, "and you know how he is doing. How is your daughter keeping up with her new group of acquaintances?"

"Well, she pretends everything to be fine, but I think she is under enormous pressure. Those people, as you told me, they are from a totally different background. I'd hate her to become like them!"

Soothingly, Laura put a hand on Bill's arm.

"I don't think that you should worry too much. She will loose interest in them eventually or they in her, that is even more likely. I have seen it before, it is nothing new. Just make sure she doesn't marry Connoy, then you are stuck with them", she said with a slightly cynical smile.

"Oh he won't have my little girl anyway, Laura. In comparison to them she doesn't have a penny. You know, I knew her father. Military man, though not very successful. Drank too much. Her mother died early, so I think Kara was on her own a lot. She doesn't really talk about it though. Her father died when she was 15, so six years ago. Left her with no family. So me and my late wife, we took her in. Carolanne and her never got along that well, both too headstrong I think, but my boys adored her both. So do I. I think that strained the relationship with my wife even further."

He smiled a bit regretfully.

"My apologies Laura, I don't want to bore you with that family story."

The woman shook her head so vigorously that her hat even bobbed around a bit.

"You don't bore me Bill, not at all. Please, go on!"

She smiled sincerely, trying to make him talk again.

"When they met, Zak was one year older than Kara and Lee about 5, already at university. Back then that was what he wanted to do. I should have supported him more I guess, but out of resentment against my father I didn't. Stupid, I know. So he joined the military after all. A natural. Zak followed two years later, not a natural. But I wouldn't see it. I wasn't home a lot and me and my wife were not really speaking anymore, especially not listening to each other. I wish we had. He died in a training accident. Since then things have been so hard with Lee. Carolanne died one year later. It was a fever, short and heavy. So that's been around two and a half years ago now."

"I am sorry", Laura answered sincerely.

Adama definitely had made mistakes, put his job about personal relationships. Still, Laura was quite sure that his wife had had a fair share in the trouble.

"The only thing you can do now is trying to mend things with Lee. You can't take back what happened, but you can build a better future."

Finally Bill looked at her again, a look that went deep, making her heart thump faster. Then he took her hand, simply holding it while his expression softened.

"I am trying Laura."

I had actually a really hard time writing this but I am glad it is done now. Let me know what you think!