Hi, everyone!! I'm back at writing some A-R fanfic again. I just can't help myself. Must do something to fill the void until the new episodes come around again.

This story is set after the events of the finale of Season 3. It's just meant to be a cute little story. There will be some plot but I don't know how in depth I'll go. It's mostly just A-R fluff. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: As always, I am not the genius that created these characters (Ron Moore) or brings them to life (EJO, MM) so please don't sue me…

Holding a Flame

Kara was alive, they were on the road to earth, Tigh had been acting strangely and in spite of it all Admiral William Adama could only think about one thing. Laura Roslin.

The Admiral gently swirled the ambrosia in the glass, as he skimmed the report in front of him. The brown light in his quarters at this time of the night almost felt like home. Granted, in space it was dark no matter what the time. The sound of his old clock, the one Carolann had given him for their third anniversary, ticked away steadily from the bookshelf across the room. Echoes from the corridors of the Galactica rumbled softly through the space of his quarters. From his desk, young Lee and Zak stared up at him from a picture, as if reminding him what was really important in the world.

Laura. He wished his thoughts would have stopped there. Such a simple name for such a complex woman. Bill had yet to make sense of her complexity. She was an infuriating, head strong, stubborn, unrelenting, unforgiving, selfish, compassionate, kind, brilliant, dangerous, captivating, double edged sword. Interacting with her was like trying to catch a flame and hold its beauty in your hand without getting burned.

At times, he thought such a feat was impossible, and this was one of those times. Her cancer was back. Time was fleeting. He felt himself drawn to her more so than he had ever been…and she was burning like black inferno with anger toward him. After all, he had almost promised her she would see Baltar hang and then completely changed his vote.

In Bill's mind, however, he saw the error of her logic and of his own. He hated Baltar, hated him with the same passion Laura did a poor job of hiding. The difference was, Apollo had slapped Bill in the face. It didn't matter his son was sitting on the other side of the courtroom. Bill had felt the physical sting of that slap. Justice had to carry beyond personal vendetta. He hated to admit it but ever since the election Laura's actions all lead up to her vendetta against Baltar.

Perhaps, her pride was injured by Baltar's sexist remarks, over large ego, and his favoritism with the people.…or maybe it went deeper than that. Laura rarely talked in specific terms about what happened on New Caprica. Whatever the reason, her personal rage against Baltar was now being channeled against Bill.

Bill downed the last of the drink and took of his glasses, setting them on top of the paperwork he had been unsuccessfully trying to read. It had been three weeks since he had talked to her. This afternoon he talked to President Roslin, but President Roslin seemed to be all he was getting. Laura refused to talk to him. There was no more giggling childlike sprit asking Bill to tell her to get her fat ass out of bed. A smile twitched at Bill's lips with the memory of her unexpected yet welcome call.

Before the trail they had been growing closer but now…now what? Was he just supposed to turn off his heart and pretend like he didn't notice his best friend and comrade hated his guts? Tigh's unusual behavior wasn't helping to ease the void left in the wake of Laura's withdrawal.

Bill opened the brown oak drawer of his desk. He pulled out a tiny black date book and flipped open the pages. Tomorrow was Laura's next Diloxin treatment. Laura had given permission to Dr. Cottle to release the schedule of her treatments to Bill and he was thankful that happened before the events of the trail. Unbeknownst to the President, Bill had pumped Cottle for more information. How long before she would get really sick? How long before she needed help to get to and from the life station? How long before the effects of each treatment would wear off?

In his own handwriting Bill read the words nausea and vomiting. He flinched to as his mind involuntary pictured Laura, a woman of such power, reduced to her knees by the betrayal of her body.

But, it's a damn fine body, Bill found himself thinking. He slapped the book shut as if his thoughts where a fly on the page and if he closed it fast and hard enough they would be squished. Of all the strange coincidences in the world it seemed to Bill that with Laura's anger came an increase in the tension between them. By tension he wasn't thinking about the obvious stress of having someone mad at you. No, he was thinking of a kind of tension very different…but he refused to let his mind put a name to it. Lately, there had been times when he thought he could physically grab whatever was in the air between them and he wanted to bring it down for a closer look.

Before the trail he had planned on going to see her. Dr. Cottle said she would have to stay in the life station for most of the day, until she felt well enough to return to Colonial One.

With a heavy sigh Bill stood up and walked over to the mirror above his bathroom sink. He took a good long look at himself. He was old. The title "old man" had come about for obvious reasons. Who was he fooling? What did it matter if he went to see her? In her state of mind and body she would probably hurl all over him just to get even.

Bill narrowed his eyes as he felt a slight twinge from somewhere he thought had died long ago. A part of him that was lost in the wake of nuclear destruction, cylon Basestars, political elections and space explosions had been reawakened by Laura. Even the slightest twinge, though small, tender, barely more than a seed, made Bill's stomach tighten up into knots.

He would go to see her tomorrow. Maybe she could turn off her heart, but he couldn't. Not only that, he didn't want to. In the back of his mind he had already decided a relationship, a real relationship, between them very, very impossible but he didn't see any harm and skating dangerously close to the line. He was in control of the situation and he was curious. Besides, Laura was mad at him so flirting would be kept to a minimum, and she would be sick so she probably wouldn't want him to stay long. At least, that is what he rationalized.

"You're too old for this," he scolded himself loudly as he stared into the mirror. He was more right than he knew, because he tossed and turned all night with fear and excitement at the thought of seeing Laura again.

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

When the dry heaves stopped Laura Roslin was finally able to focus on the book she brought over from Colonial One at Dr. Cottle's suggestion. He was right when he said it would help take her mind off the ache, though, at times she could barely see the words through the pain induced tears in her eyes. Somewhere along the way she drifted out of conciseness grateful the pain she felt seemed to be a little further removed when she was sleeping.

Her sleep, however, was not deep and when she felt the shadow of someone hovering over her she jerked awake. The book lying on her stomach tumbled down the bed and onto the floor.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." She heard that familiar rumbling voice before her eyes registered his image. Laura thanked Kobol her book had fallen, so Bill couldn't see the blatant pleasure on her face as he bent down to pick it up. He probably came on business, not to see me, she thought to herself and quickly her joy melted her expression into stone.

She was, after all, still absolutely ridged with disappointment in Bill's actions. Every time she thought about it she felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. Suddenly, her stomach quivered as it had earlier but she forced the sickness into submission.

"The Courting of Charlotte Astor?" Bill asked her with a lifted eyebrow. Laura quickly snatched the book out of his hands and then silently cursed herself for moving to fast for her throbbing head.

"I like other books, besides mysteries. Can't I read something else?" she snapped, sounding harsh given her voice was dry from heaving earlier. Laura leaned back on the bed and closed her eyes, hoping the room would stop spinning. She hated that she wasn't in top form for this sparring session with Adama.

"I just didn't take you for the romance novel type," Bill said. She opened her eyes and looked up into his. There was a smile behind them, as if he was daring her to take the bait. She did, but, she did so carefully.

"It's not a romance novel. It's a classic. When the Caprican public school system wanted it booted from the curriculum I stood behind it," Laura explained, trying to keep the conversation professional.

"And lost," Bill added.

"Frakking politicians," Laura replied, closing her eyes again and rubbing her forehead.

"How are you feeling?" Bill asked.

Laura took a moment to answer. She drew in a slow breath. The other meanings hidden in that simple question caused a great swell of emotion in her heart. She was glad her eyes were closed, glad her hand was half covering her face, so Bill couldn't see how his simple inquiry made her feel.

"Before or after yesterday's lunch made a star spangled reappearance?" she deadpanned, hoping to defuse some of the emotion she felt with humor. The unfortunate thing was, if she joked with Bill he would think she forgave him, which she was far from doing. She felt Bill's smile and chuckle rather than seeing it.

"Is that any good?" Bill asked, gesturing to the book Laura was now clutching to her chest.

"You wouldn't like it, there's no mystery to unravel," Laura replied, flippantly.

"Romance is the biggest mystery of all," Bill quickly responded. If his earlier statement had multiple meanings, then his words now were nearly exploding with innuendo.

Laura knew her eyes widened as she suddenly became fully aware of his gaze down on her. Their eyes locked for so long Laura didn't know how much more she could take before her entire body would shatter like glass or self combust.

What was he thinking? What was he trying to say? It was just like the day he brought up New Caprica. Was he trying to tell her something…about romance? If so why didn't the man just come out and say it? He dropped these subtle hints and she didn't know how to read them. Really, this was the most frustrating relationship she had ever been involved in. It was becoming more complicated by the second. She wanted to run out of the life station screaming curses at his unreadable stone wall of a face.

"Admiral, I'm really not feeling well, is there something you needed?" She asked, hoisting up her Presidential wall. She saw his face drop slightly at the use of his formal title and part of her reviled in his hurt feelings. The other part, however, waited with baited breath to for his answer.

"To see you," he said softly.

Laura nearly did a double take and curse her Presidential mask from falling away as her smile took over. Generally she was a smiley person and right now she hated herself for it. The warmth of his words seemed to encircle her entire body. She couldn't have been more embarrassed or touch if he had physically put his arms around her.

Just as she was about to respond the curtain separating her bed from the rest of the life station swished open. From behind the curtain, Tom Zarek appeared with Dr. Cottle by his side. Laura and Bill both lowered their heads and averted their gazes at the same time. The president smirked at the reaction. It probably looked like they were doing something they shouldn't be, though she forced her mind not to put a name to what that might be.

"A Raptor is waiting to take you back to Colonial One," Dr. Cottle informed.

"Do you feel up to it, Laura," Zarek…er…Tom questioned. Laura struggled daily with what to call him. Ironically, she now almost trusted her vice-president and calling him Zarek just seemed too cold and impersonal after all they had been through. On the other hand, Zarek had a reputation for being charming and seductive, and he seemed to get an unnatural thrill every time she called him 'Tom.'

Laura was suddenly irritated at every single man standing around her bed. How dare Tom use her first name? How dare Dr. Cottle let Adama and Zarek in to see her? How dare Bill let Tom call her Laura? 'Laura' was her name, true, but, as silly as it sounded, it was Bill's name for her and his alone. With that thought Laura sighed heavily and started to get down from the bed. If she thought she was losing her before now she was almost sure of it.

Much as she tired to ignore it, the room was still spinning. A gentleman on each side took one arm. Bill ended up with the arm that still held her book and he removed it form her in order to take her by the hand. On the other arm, Tom steadied her, though his touch was much more ridged and careful than Bill's. Once Laura was on her feet she looked up to see Dr. Cottle standing in front of her. It took her a moment to realize he wasn't looking at her but at the silent exchange going on between the two men on each side.

Laura fought with all she had in her not to roll her eyes. Though no words were spoken the jealousy erupting between them was quite clear, even to Dr. Cottle. What did either of them have to be jealous about? She herself hadn't spent much time thinking about how she felt about either of them in a non-professional way (though in her heart of hearts she knew that was a lie).

"I can take her from here, Admiral. I'm sure you're needed else where," Tom politely said. For the longest time Bill didn't move and Laura's heart suddenly began racing in fear he would make a scene.

"Of course," Bill finally replied, narrowing his eyes at Tom. Watching his expression Laura worried that something was happening that was beyond her control, beyond the control of Adama too. Something that neither of them planned or wanted. But, wanted or not, there seemed to be no stopping it. For the time being, in her mind, she was content to call it…well, 'it.'

"Madame President," Bill said. The words fell cold on her ears.

"Dr. Cottle," Bill nodded toward the doctor and then with reluctance released Laura's fingers. Once he was out of ear shot Tom said:

"I'm not sure how but I think Adama won that battle."

Laura smiled widely, triumphantly.

"Yes, sir, I think he did…" She looked up at Tom with sparkling eyes and her Vice President smiled charmingly down at her. At least Tom was a good sport, she had to give him credit for that.

"Frakking soap opera," Dr. Cottle mumbled and lit a cigarette. He took a swig and then turned to Laura, "Take it easy for the rest of the day, young lady, and I expect to see you back in her a few weeks."

Laura nodded and, like a gentleman, Tom Zarek escorted her to the waiting Raptor.