Future

"Sir, Pegasus has jumped and Raptor 21 has docked."

"Recall the Vipers, and initiate jump sequence."

Helo's voice echoed across the CIC. "Three, two, one."

The battered Battlestar winked out of existence, forever leaving the haven that became their hell - New Caprica. "Jump complete, we have dradis contact, Colonial transponders. All accounted for."

Adama nodded his head, "Good work people. Coordinate with the Pegasus and have the CAG set up a CAP around the fleet." He stepped through the CIC door and mentally felt the weight from the past 3 weeks begin to wane. Planning the attack on the Cylon basestars, mounting a rescue mission and evacuation party, and now they were going to have to re-establish the civilian government among the stars and in close quarters. He stepped onto the hanger deck as Colonial Tigh was stepping off the Raptor. Tigh immediately headed toward Adama.

"We are going to have to…" Adama held up his hand, halting Tigh's gusto as a tired smile played over his face. "We will put out a message to the fleet for those persons wishing to re-enlist in the morning. Get some rest Saul; you are going to be busy assigning personnel for the next few days. Did Ms. Roslin accompany you or is she on another envoy?"

"Roslin was aboard the Raptor."

Adama saw a flash of red hair moving across the hanger deck. "In the morning, please have the Quorum convene at 0900 in the ward room."

"Sir?"

Adama returned his full attention to Tigh, "Roslin and I are meeting this evening to put the systems back in place for the Colonial Government."

"Yes, Sir."

Bill clasped his friend's shoulder and smiled, "It's good to have you back Saul."

Tigh felt his lips curl into a rare smile, "Good to be back, Sir."
Adama nodded and headed toward Roslin, knowing their night was only beginning.

Roslin stepped into Adama's quarters and as he closed the hatch behind them, she felt the pressure from the past three weeks begin to release. Tears were filling her eyes faster than she could blink them back.

"Laura?" He stepped toward her.

She shook her head, "Please, just give me a moment." She took a few deep, calming breaths as she sat on his couch. "Long couple weeks." Her voice still had a slight quiver, and her face was drawn, punctuated by the dark circles resting under her eyes.

Adama nodded, disappeared for a few moments and returned with two glasses and a molten gold bottle. He paused at the desk, only long enough to dwindle the contents of the bottle into their respective glasses. Handing her a glass, he sat down on the couch next to her.

Adama paused for a moment as he gazed at Roslin. Less than one week ago, they were living on the verge of extinction. Now, 41,537 souls were crammed into their space faring fleet heading toward Astral Body….the first stop to Earth.

"Perseverance." He felt himself say as he wondered what he would have done had she died last week.

"Luck." She felt herself respond thanking the Gods that he lived through last week's gauntlet. Their toast was simple, yet potent. The moment hung for a brief second, the creamy gold liquid inches from their lips, Gods they were lucky to be alive. With that thought, Laura downed the glass, feeling the warm liquid spreading like fire throughout her body, and easing another layer of knots out of her system. "Molten Ambrosia?" She asked, eyeing him through half closed eyes.

"Close cousin. Ambrosia Spice."

"Hmm." She savored the flavor a moment longer before sitting up and meeting his blue eyes, "Private stash?"

His lips curled into a rare smile, "There are a few perks to being Admiral."

A chuckled slipped across her lips, "Just a few?"

The smile began slipping off of Adama's face as his thoughts began to return to their present predicament, the men and women who they lost in the last week alone.
Laura watched his face begin to slide back behind his professional demeanor, "Bill?"

Bill pulled his eyes back up to meet Roslin's, "You were right, it has been a long couple of weeks." He picked the Ambrosia Spice up, "One more?"

Laura's head began telling her immediately that she shouldn't. She was tired, still had to set up quarters, and had to determine Colonial necessities with Adama prior to the Quorum meeting in the morning. "Why not." She felt herself answer. He refilled her glass and returned the bottle prior to sitting next to her on the couch.

"How many Quorum members survived?" Bill absently asked as his hands deftly twirled the small glass, keeping the precious liquid from spilling.

"In a few weeks, I'll be saying too many." Her lighthearted answer was lost as soon as it was spoken, "Eight." Gods, they had lost too many people. She felt his warm hand slowly lifting her chin until their eyes were level.

"Let's focus on who we have left." His voice was soft, bordering on gravelly. He looked into her face, an angel's face. Without thinking his thumb gently brushed along her cheek, her eyes registering surprise and then…something else. From the depths of his subconscious, he knew what the 'something else' was and he definitely wanted to see more of it. However, he found the willpower to pull his hand away, silently wondering where this 'something else' came from and why he could still feel her soft skin against his hand. Knowing it would be better to let it drop, he stood up, downed his drink and walked over to his desk.

Laura's skin was still tingling from the trail his thumb had blazed across her skin, maybe it's the Ambrosia? Rationalism, she thought wryly, even at the end of the world. "Perhaps we should talk in the morning." She stated clearing her throat before standing up. She finished her Ambrosia as she stepped next to the desk, next to him.

He smiled softly, "That might be a wise course of action." He turned slightly to face her, "0600?"

Without thinking, for if she were thinking she never would have let herself, she reached up and began to run her hand over his arm. He felt a shudder travel through him, and as her hand began to head back up his arm, his other hand lightly caught it.

"0600?" He reiterated, trying to swallow the large lump down his throat. Bill could feel his body wanting him to move just a little closer; of course it was so he could hear her over his pounding heart when she spoke. Rationalism, he almost smiled at the thought, but his mind began wondering. My hands running through her silken hair…

Laura gently pulled her hand back, wanting nothing more than to let it wonder across his body. My hands running down his broad chest…

Blue and grey eyes pleading with one another, wanting to plunge across the invisible line between Admiral and soon to be President and the man and woman who lived those lives. Personal versus Professional. Duty versus Desire.

"Admiral," Laura was desperately trying to find the line, "We need to…"

His lips brushed against hers, fleeting and yet full of promise. He stepped back, "Laura," his husky voice causing her hair to stand on end, "I believe we will need to reconvene in the morning."

Roslin closed her eyes, hoping to find a pillar of strength. When she opened them, she was staring into crystal blue eyes hazed with desire. So much for strength. "0600?" She asked trying to steady her voice.

He nodded, "Coffee will be waiting."

She took another step back, hoping the physical space would begin to diminish the burning desire that was coursing through her. It didn't. "Till morning."

Bill didn't take his eyes off of her, not that he could if he wanted to. Gods was she beautiful. He could have sworn he heard her mumble something about a cold shower and he doubted she would sleep much until their meeting in the morning either. As the hatch closed, he breathed aloud, "You aren't the only one who needs a cold shower."

...tbc...

Hope you are enjoying this small start as the journey is just beginning!