I had a bit of a writer's block concerning this story and couldn't quite figure this chapter out. But now that it's done I am actually fairly happy with it. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own BSG
Warning: Rating might be a stronger T in the second half but nothing too graphic.

31st of December 1803 - 1st of January 1804

Against any Common Sense

Bill Adama

Laura had disappeared some time ago with a young man Bill didn't know, a handsome fellow maybe some years older than Lee. They seemed to be closely aquainted in a way, at least they somehow gave the impression to share a joke that nobody else was privy too. The Commander felt a surge of jealousy when he rememberred what Ellen had suggested, that Laura had been, he didn't even want to think the words "sleeping around". He couldn't quite picture why a woman like her would do such a thing. On the other hand, he also did not understand why men cheated on their wives with some common prostitute, so there was that. Maybe he had simply long forgotton what passion felt like.

Until he had kissed Laura. That woman who was currently vanished. People were still dancing, but the man didn't feel like joining, actually he only wanted to go home. But there would be fireworks, or so he had heard, and he wouldn't spoil Kara the fun. So he decided to find the library and maybe get some calm and peace there. A very helpful servant directed him to the heavy wooden door, but when he opened it he found that his hope for solitude was disappointed. The disappointment melted as ice in the sun when the person in front of the window turned around.

"Stop standing at the door like that and come in," she said and Bill followed her command, not the least bit bothered by her decisive tone, if anything it made his blood feel a lot hotter in an instant. The door fell closed and the two looked at each other in the dark room, no one making a move.

"Why are you not at the party?" he ventured.

"I needed some respose from certain people," she replied, "what about you?"

"The same thing as you. But it is too dark to read here," he commented.

"I didn't come here to read."

"What did you come for then?" Bill wasn't even quite sure what he was asking. Was this a neutral question? Or was he actually inquiring about an affair? And would she tell him? And did he actually want to know?

The woman hesitated. "I didn't come here to read, but also not for a man."

"I never said anything about a man!" he defended himself.

He saw her shrugging her shoulders, even in the moonlight. "You implied it. Which is not surprising since my alleged affairs seem to be some of people's favourite pieces of gossip. You are friends with Ellen Tigh, I would have exptected you to ask me a lot sooner about it."

He was taken aback by the coldness and casualness she displayed, none of the shame or secrecy usually connected to the topic.

"Are the rumors true then?" he heard himself ask.

Laura didn't come closer but also didn't turn away.

"Some are, some aren't. And the most scandalous ones are still a secret."

It took him a while to find his voice again. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I know you are not a gossip and I want you to know me, with everything there is to know, the pretty and the things I'd rather hide away." She shook her head before walking past him to the door, but before she could reach it, he grabbed her hand.

"Don't go!"

She spun around. "Darling, I am not planning to. But I am also not planning to let someone walk into here."

When Bill let go of her hand, the woman took a key out of a little hole in a bookshelf, locking the door from the inside before turning around again. He raised an eyebrow.

"Adar too?"

Laura nooded but he could have bet she also scrunched her nose. "An immense dissappointment, in more than one way."

She flopped down in one of the armchairs closer to the window, motioning for Bill to join her. Maybe it was curiousity that made him do so, or something else, maybe he had fallen under the same spell that apparently countless mighty men had before him.

"Let me explain first, okay?" she asked, "well, there were less men than you might think, but more than society deems appropriate, which would be one. The length of these ... aquaintances differed, the longest one was three years if I recall correctly. It wasn't often only for my personal enjoyment, but mostly political scheming. As a woman, I have very little opportunitites to influence what is happening in this country, especially without a husband. Sure, I could marry a weak husband and shape to my liking, but I am too selfish for that, I don't want to tie myself to someone I will eventully come to resent. Therefore, I chose this way to have both - influence and flexibility." She scoffed. "You men call women unable to do politics because we are "too emotional", but in the end it is men that are brought to their knees by the simply promise of a woman's special favour."

Bill looked at her dumbstrucked, it was a totally different explanation that he had expected but, from the things he knew about her, it was absolutely logical.

"So what about me? Where do I fit into your plans? I don't offer you any advantage," he remarked. He knew he sounded accusing but at least he tried to keep his voice low. No need to throw a tantrum, they could talk about this like the adults they were.

"No you don't," she confirmed, "I don't have and never had any intentions to charm you for a certain purpose. Instead, it seems that you unknowingly charmed me instead." The woman rubbed her face, for the first time he saw her calm mask slip. "I like you and I want you simply because you are you and that scares me," she admitted quitely.

"I want you too, Laura, but I won't be your plaything, another notch in your bedpost or another heart in your selection," he replied with agitation.

He saw her nod, looking somehow defeated. "I understand, you don't deserve this. But -" she hesitated, seemingly trying to find the words, "can we.. can I still be your friend?"

Bill found that he had totally failed to consider that fact before, what they would be if the romantic tension led to nothing. He knew in that moment she would never be "nothing" to him again. Maybe he would come to hate her in time for hurting him, but he would always feel something in regard to her, may it be positive or negative. Friendship? He so desperatedly wanted to keep her in his life, he found, despite what she had just told him. He knew he would have no problems accepting her choices regarding men if he didn't want her as his.

"Laura, I don't know whether this is possible. I think... I think you feel the tension between us the same as I do. But I also can't be your lover. How is friendship supposed to work then?"

She seemed to consider this for a moment. "Call me a fool, but I have heard of what the French call 'amant-amis', lovers and friends as one. This would imply us being friends just as we were but with...more if we want to. I know it is not what you want from me, but it is all I am able to give."

This was probably the most unusual concept of love the commander had ever heard about and he had heard about more than he cared to admit during his times in active service. It was very likely a stupid idea that could ruin them both in every way possible and he was probably already in too deep. He should really run as quickly as possible and try to forget the whole thing (and preferably the woman in question as well), but looking over at her, he knew this was not an option. At that moment, he understood any poor sod addicted to gambling, knowing it would ruin him but still willing to bet every last bit he had on the tiny chance it might work out.

"Alright, let us try," he answered slowly.

Before he could say anything more she was in his lap, hands buried in his hair and effectively shutting him up with her lips on his. He felt his pulse quicken at the feel of her breasts pushed against his chest and started to kiss her back. While he wrapped one arm around her waist to keep her steady, the other one wandered up her arm and past her shoulder to tenderly carress the side of her neck. He felt her sigh as one of her hands started to mirror the movement. Bill's fingers were itching to ruin her hairdo, but he knew this would be too obvious a tell of what the lady had been up to, so instead he traced the sides of her ribcage where he could feel the stays underneath. He thanked heavens that the tight corsets weren't in fashion anymore, but also couldn't help wondering what she would feel like without any artificial support under the dress. When she started to squirm against him, it took Bill a moment to figure she was silently giggling, apparently he had found a tender spot there.

"Who would have thought Laura Roslin was that ticklish," he remarked lowly, his mouth close to hear ear. There was definitely a shiver in her body now.

"There are a lot of things you don't know yet," she remarked suggestively, but before she could continue, the sound of an explosion rang through the room.

While Bill was fully alert in a second, Laura laughed again, pointing outside.

"It's fireworks!"

She pecked him on the lips. "That means happy new year!"

He held her close while she leaned her head on his shoulder, both silently watching the colourful lights exploding outside.

"Happy new year indeed," he wispered into her hair.

"Friends with benefits", maybe not what you expected, but there is still a long way to go for the two of them!
I have no idea whether this existed in Regency times, I doubt it, but I take the liberty.

Stay safe and thank you for reading!