I know it has been ages, but now finally - a new chapter.

A mess-up somewhere earlier in the order of the chapters s been fixed in the meantime though and I hope you all still enjoy this story. As Christmas season is getting closer, I will try and keep updating this in time so the time-frame will sort of match. There for some of the chapters will be shorter so that there are enough until Christmas. They will be mostly fluffy though.

Disclaimer: I don't own BSG.

December 1803

Open up

Laura Roslin

Christmas time was always busy, she had places to be and people to charm. As every year she embraced it, tried to get lost in it - but failed. The memories came crashing back in full force, memories about the people who wouldn't celebrate with her. Her parents. Jamie. Her sisters.

The girls would have loved to deck the halls. Jamie would have teased her about kissing some man under the mistletoe. Her mother would have chastised him for it. In remembrance, Laura would but up a beautiful mistletoe in front of the door leading to the kitchen every year now. She had never kissed anyone under it, she was pretty sure some of her maids and servants had used it to their advantage. Not that Laura minded terribly, as long as they did their jobs.

She was acutely aware that had not heard from Bill or his daughter for quite some time - it concerned her a little bit and she couldn't quite make sense of it. There had been no discord between the two of them during their last meeting, on the contrary. Which led to two possible explanations: Either she wasn't the only one feeling a certain pull towards the other that might very well go beyond friendship and he had decided to stiffle it by keeping his distance. Or he was too busy with preparations for Christmas festivities. Laura wasn't sure what she was hoping for - this scared her. Nevertheless she decided to make a visit, to get at least some clarity about where they stood at the moment.

A day later, her carriage held in front of the Adama house. The morning was cold, winter was here and with it the pale sun in a clear blue sky. It had been quite some time since she had last been of of London, they had only met once or twice for playing cards at Bill's place after their first riding out. When she stepped out of the vehicle, Laura noticed again how calm and quiet it was here, all without the city buzzling in the background. Dee opened the door with a smile and didn't even take her card, just stepped aside to let her in.

"Mr Adama is waiting for you in his study," she announced while leading her through the house down to a half-closed door. Then she curtsied and disappeared.

The woman followed the servant curiously for she had never been in the room, they had always stuck to the drawing room during their last meetings. She knocked on the door, but when there was no answer, she decided to simply enter. The room was flooded by the light of the late morning, the sun was painting speckles on the high shelves full of books. Situated dominatly in the middle was a huge desk with papers all over it. She must have disturbed Bill in his reading, or at least in his supposed reading, as he had his head pillowed on his arms and his eyes closed, dozing. A tender smile tugged at Laura's lips as she regarded him, looking so much younger and still so troubled in his sleep.

Something, probably just her presence standing in front of the desk, must have alerted the soldier in him as he suddenly sat up, looking around him. When he caught sight of her, he frowned.

"Laura?"

"Yes?" She could have hit herself for sounding so unsure but judging by his smile, he didn't seem to mind.

"I am sorry, I didn't know you were coming here today."

"Neither was I until this morning. I missed you though."

She wouldn't quite look at him saying it and instead stared out of the window when she suddenly heard him standing up and taking some steps behind her. Then she felt him lacing the finger of his right hand with her left one and hoped he didn't notice the goosebumps that went from her arms up to her neck. Her hands felt small in his, still cold from being outside in the coach. Laura was just too aware of the heat radiating off him, she prayed her face wouldn't turn all read and give away her thoughts. A calculated tug on her hand turned the woman towards her friend and suddenly she was leaning against him, head against his chest. She felt his other arm going around her waist, as if he was afraid she would run away. On the contrary, Laura had no intention of moving any time soon. She melted further into him, like warm chocolate, hugging him back. The only thing that kept annoying her was her hat that made being really comfortable in this position difficult. Just when she was wondering what to do about it, she felt Bill shift again slowly, as if not to spook her, he raised his left hand to her hat and pulled it to the side. Unfortunately, he had not thought about the way it had been clipped into the hairstyle, resulting in him messing up her hairdo and still not getting out the hat. He stepped away, not meeting her eyes when she burst out laughing

"Laura, I am so sorry. I didn't think it was fastened in any way!"

Actually, she found it quite endearing, the way he was flustered. Also she didn't mind that he didn't have much practice in unclothing women - on the contrary.

"Nothing I can't solve," she replied almost tenderly.

Laura let go of his hand and with nimble fingers, she pulled out the needle. Together with the hat, she placed it on the table, her back to him. She knew she must look utterly unpresentable and there was only one way to fix it, so she took out the golden clips that had been supposed to keep her curls in place. One after the other tumbled down over her back, still a bit tangled but at least better than before.

Of course she was aware of the gesture, of what this meant for her. He would see her barer than any man had seen her in a long time, without the façade of elegance and extravagance to shield her. Maybe, if she kept her back to him, she would be able to pull her hair up again before he noticed too much. That sounded like a plan. But just when she wanted to start again, his voice made her pause.

"Look at me."

It was barely above a whisper. Laura turned around, nothing of her usual suave demeanour left. The way Bill was looking at her punched the rest of the air out of her lungs - it was a mixture between awe and the same fear she felt herself.

"So this is you."

"I suppose so."

"You look even more amazing than on the picture."

"Picture?" Laura asked confused, "what picture?"

"The one at the Agathons' house. Your hair is open on it, too. Since I first saw it it made me wish I could see it in reality."

"Oh," she didn't know what to answer to that. It was flattering, for sure, but not the empty flattery she was so used to.

Then he was in front of her again pulling her against him. She followed willingly, relishing in the feeling how one of his hand strocked her hair right from her scalp down to the ends. His heartbeat was as erratic as hers, she could feel it under her cheek and smiled against his chest. For the first time in a long time she felt home again.

I know it was not the kiss you were waiting for, but at least cuddly :)

The kiss will come before Chrismas though, promise!