Okay, I know this chapter took far too long again. Work and beta-reading for other authors keeps me pretty busy, so thank you all for you patience!

Still, I think that you have definitely been waiting for what comes now. So without further ado, Bill and Laura.

Disclaimer: I don't own BSG

November 1803

Mayfair

William Adama

Being here, in this posh area, Bill felt like an intruder. While the Agathons' house near Picadilly was fancy, Roslin House in Mayfair was boardering on regal. It was beautiful though, he had no problem in admitting that. Still, it made him painfully aware of how out of his league Laura was, with her beauty, her connections and her very obvious wealth. He was also tremendously grateful that he hadn't brought his daughter who would have had a hard time keeping her emotions in check.

Wasn't it ironic, though? He had seen battle, survived storms, and still the prospect of knocking on this beautiful dark door with the golden knob did funny things to his insides. Before he could get even more wound up, he crossed the little front garden with some eager steps. Finally announcing himself, the "bang" of the golden-plaited brass was loud on the wood, making him cringe internally. Just a couple of moments later, a servant was opening the door, letting him step into the hallway.

"Good afternoon, Sir," he greeted politely after a deep bow, "may I ask whether my lady is expecting you?"

"I am afraid not," Bill admitted.

"Very well, I shall bring her your card," the other man replied, recieving the crucial small piece of paper with the visitor's name and own address written on it.

Carrying it on a fancy silver tray, he walked off, leaving the Commander alone in the empty room. While he was waiting, the man let his eyes wander over what little furniture and decoration there was - some side tables and some expensive-looking china, nothing as golden and flashy as he ahd seen at Lord and Lady Adar's house. Then he could see the servant coming back, setting the tray he was still carrying down on a sideboard.

"If you would follow me, please," he asked politely, very obviously wondering what business a Commander had with his employer.

The thick, expensive carpet swallowed all of his steps while they walked down the corridor and up a very impressive staircase. He could only see part of the room they were heading to through the open door and definitely no Laura in it, but nevertheless his guide walked in and announced him as "Commander Adama, for you Ma'am." Bill walked past him, his eyes captured straight away by the the woman who obviously had been sitting on the cushioned window sill and was now gracefully standing up, walking towards him. She curtsied in front of him but even as he bowed, he couldn't help but notice that she wasn't looking at the floor as expected from a woman. No, instead she was glancing up at him through her lashes and blushed a bit when she realized that he had noticed.

"And I thought you wouldn't come at all," she scolded him, but there was only gentle teasing, no real blaming.

"You know better than that," Bill answered in kind, delighted by the charming little smile which was playing around her lips.

"Maybe," she admitted, "would you like some tea?"

"Yes, I would like that," he answered. He saw her ringing the little silver bell and just a few moments later, a maid came rushing in, some strands of hair even falling out of her bun.

Laura didn't seem to be fazed by that though, she simply ordered tea and some baking. The woman was already at the door when the lady of the house called out, "Maya!"

Seemingly shocked, the servant truned around, obviously very well aware of her physical appearance.

"Yes Ma'am?" she asked shyly.

"Don't forget to breathe!" the older woman answered smilingly, making the Commander chuckle. Maya nodded with relief and hurried off, leaving the couple alone in the room.

"Tell me, how have you been?" the man asked his friend while they were sitting down on the couches.

"I have been well, thank you. A lot of calls to make and things to organize, what about you?"

"I've probably not been not that busy, but there have been matters of business that I have been sorting out. My son is writing more frequently now, which gives me hope. Kara on the other hand seems to become more and more involved with her new group of friends. Unfortunately, manners don't exactly seem to rub off. I would wish so though, then at least the company would have some benefit. But alas, that is not the case and it only makes her wish for new dresses. I really would prefer her being in the company of Violet Agathon, but what can I do? I don't want to force her either."

Laura nodded thoughtfully. "I think you are right. Our society doesn't encourage it, but I think a young woman also has to find her own way and develop her personality."

The statement made the Commander laugh. "Oh Laura, personality is not something she is lacking! But on this topic, my daughter met Miss Caprice Six a couple of days ago when she visited Mrs Biers. She has been invited. What do you make of her? I am sure you know them?"

"Of course I do," the friend confirmed, "actually I visited Miss Caprice Six's oldest sister not long ago. The family is new money, all made in trade. No nobility. The father is alright, Mr Six did business with Mr Agathon for a time. That's how I met the family in the first place. Unfortunately the mother died two years ago. But I have always preferred the company of the daughters. You probably know, there are four of them, all of blonde in different shades. Mrs Faust, Natalie, is the oldest one, very reasonable and great to talk to. You would like her, I wager. Then comes Miss Six, Sonja. Witty and funny, and according to her sister very interested in your son."

Bill was taken by surprise, he hadn't expected a statement about his son's lovelife. A lot of things, but not that. The lady seemed to interpret his silence correctly, as she started to smirk.

"Why are you so surprised Bill? Your son is a catch and the women do realize that!"

When his eyes widened even further in disbelief, she even started to laugh.

"Goodness, you really didn't! Mind you, you really have no idea how the mind of a woman works!"

What could have been patronizing only sounded gleeful out of her mouth and he didn't fight his amusement.

"Well then, enlighten me!"

They were interrupted by Maya bringing in tea and biscuits, artfully arranged onto a plate. His host waited until the woman was out of earshot again before she started.

"So, for the most obvious point, your son is very handsome. He is tall, trained and those sharp cheekbones really add to it. Also he has your eyes - I mean he has very blue eyes."

Was Laura Roslin really complimenting his eyes? And stumbling over her words? Now, that was curious! Bill tried to school his features into something akin to polite interest instead of blushing.

"Leopold is in the best age for getting married and I think they will speculate that he will court and marry when the war is over. That brings me to the last point - he is a soldier. And not only a simple one, but an officer. An uniforme can do very interesting things to a girl's imagination!"

The halfway ironic and halfway suggestive look made him wonder whether that was also true for her, but he decided better not to ask.

"Well, back to the women," Laura continued, "then there is Gina Inviere. There are a lot of rumours about her, I don't know whether they are true, I doubt it. The youngest one is Caprice Six and I think you can believe most things they say about her. Especially about her and Gaius Baltar."

Her disgusted face made him think that she didn't approve of that.

"You don't like him, do you?"

Thank you for reading!