Chapter 29 - For the Stars

Laura used to hate mornings. There was a time when every new day started with a foul mood and terrible hair.

That was then.

As Laura wiped away the steam from the mirror she conceded that perhaps the 'terrible hair' part of her mornings still existed. But since she'd officially settled into her new home, she always woke in a good mood. She smiled as she listened to Bill in the shower, singing a song about a drunken sailor. The sound of him trying to mimic the accent of the natives from a region on Tauron they affectionately called 'The rock' made her laugh out loud.

Poking his head out from behind the curtain he asked "What's so funny?"

"Nothing." She said, still laughing.

Strong arms moved swiftly as he wrapped one around her waist pulling

her into the shower. Laura shrieked in shock as the water seeped into her bathrobe, soaking her from head to toe. "Bill Adama!" she scolded. "You're going to regre…."

Bill's mouth swallowed the rest of her threat as he gently held her against his slick body. His hands stroked her face and cupped her chin as he deepened the kiss further. Laura moaned as his tongue sensually caressed her mouth, sending waves of warmth and pleasure pulsing through her. She wondered if he knew what it did to her when he kissed her like that. She was quite certain he did. Ignoring the weight of the saturated terry cloth that clung to her arms she ran her fingers through his hair as she returned his kisses.

She trembled ever so slightly as his lips roamed from her mouth to map the edges of her jaw line. His hands slid the robe from her shoulders as his mouth made its slow progression down her neck to settle in the beautiful valley between her breasts.

Laura exhaled in a slow hiss as she buried her face in his hair. The passion slowly building within her burned like a molten river… starting deep in her loins, seeping out of her in a milky flow of want and need. In a husky moan she whispered his name somehow turning a one-syllable word into two.

Bill pulled away long enough to work the waterlogged knot of her robe. Laura dropped her arms to her sides letting it fall in a heavy slosh at her feet. Grabbing the metal chain that hung around his neck she pulled him to her. Her mouth laid claim to his as she pushed him back against the wall.

The feel of the tremors running through his body… the intensity of his erection against her thigh... the greedy wanton look in his eyes was more than she could stand as she slid her hands down his chest, snaking them around his waist and down to cup his ass.

Keeping one hand on his ass she brought the other around to caress his sac as she slid her tongue across his chest. She nipped playfully at his nipples as she slowly began to work his girth in her palm.

Bills breath caught in his throat as she worked him, slowly, from base to tip and back again. As the pearly beads of his desire began to seep from his throbbing head she slowly sank to her knees to taste his want before the water could steal it away.

"Frak Laura" he groaned as she took him in her mouth. Bills head fell back and his hips nudge forward as she sucked gently while working him with her tongue. He emitted a low growl as she swallowed him whole and then slowly released him. Bill thought he couldn't possibly love her more than he did in that moment, as he watched her slowly Frak him with her mouth.

Feeling that slow build begin to intensify he groaned her name with a hint of warning. Ignoring him she intensified her ministrations until he could feel the control slowly slipping away.

Pulling her back up he quickly spun her around and roughly pinned her to the cold metal behind her. In a fluid motion he lifted her leg up and around his hip as he plunged into her. Laura dug her heel into his ass as she struggled to gain traction on the ball of her other foot. She looped her arms under his and held onto to his shoulders as he worked her hard against the shower wall.

Gentle and tender were long forgotten. He took her roughly as she begged him to go harder… deeper. Bill thighs were burning, his arms aching from bearing most of her weight. Laura cried out as he slammed into her again and again. She gasped with each thrust so intense he nearly lifted her off the shower floor.

Her head was spinning in the cloud of steam that rose and danced around them. She cried out as their bodies exploded in a rush of blissful passion teetering between rapture and agony that nearly brought the both to their knees. In a final push Bill roared her name into her hair as he spilled himself into her, leaving them both breathless and trembling in euphoric exhaustion.

Bill slowly set her back on the floor as his cock slid from her and slapped lifelessly against his thigh. Unable to trust her legs Laura held onto his arms as they stood forehead to forehead, both fighting for air.

There was no need for words. The only sounds to be heard was the water falling around them and the shallow sounds of their breathing.

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Laura loved morning sex. She hadn't always felt that way, but with Bill it was something she almost craved. She loved the way it left her in a mild state of arousal for the rest of the morning. Loved how her body seemed to rev on high, how she seemed to have a heightened awareness, how her senses seemed sharper.

She loved how her body tingled when she thought of him. How she could almost feel his touch, taste the salt on his skin, smell the musk and spice that was his alone. All of this only magnified tenfold by the fact that he sat across the table from her in a room full of people.

As they sat listening to reports on everything from food consumption to what they would do when they ran out of toilette paper her thoughts began to wander. She closed her eyes for a moment and could feel the water running down her body as he slid into her. She could feel him pulsating in the very depth of her core… could hear the sounds of their mating… her whimpering sighs… his long drawn out raspy moans…. their heavy breathing… the water falling around them.

She could feel the color rising in her cheeks as she opened her eyes and gave her head a subtle shake in an effort to regain focus. When she looked across the table she knew it was hopeless. Their eyes met briefly, his mouth curled ever so slightly… just enough for her to see… "Gods!" she thought. "He's there too". She raised her eyes to meet his once more. The intensity in the gaze looking back at her nearly stole her breath away. It screamed I want you. It screamed I'll never get enough. "Oh Help Me…. It's going to be one very long day". she thought.

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Laura couldn't walk any faster if she tried. As she rounded the last corner on her way to their quarters her guards were struggling to keep up with her. She'd waited for this all day, ever since he gave her that little smile and impish look in their morning meeting… she wanted him up against the bulkhead, on the couch, over the desk… it really didn't matter. "You better be home Adama." she thought, as she pulled the hatch open.

She was already working the buttons of her blouse before the wheel had completely spun and locked into place. As she made her way across the room she left her shoes in her wake. "Bill!" she called out.

No response.

"Bill?..."

Nothing.

"Dammit! Where are you?" She said with frustration sharp in her voice.

Resigning to the fact that she wasn't getting laid in the immediate future she made her way to the study. She figured she'd get some work done while she waited for her lover to arrive. At first she didn't see it, then her eyes fell on a note laying on the desk.

A small smile came across her face as she read the words inscribed on the paper.

Laura,

Sorry I missed you sweetheart. I couldn't wait for you as I had some pressing issues to tend to. When you get home, slip on something comfortable and meet me on Observation Deck.

Love,

Bill

"What is he up to?" she wondered.

She quickly changed into a pair of slacks and made her way back out of their quarters.

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The observation deck was closed. Closed to the crew, closed to all civilians, closed to all officers. The observation deck was closed to everyone but two.

Leaving her security detail outside Laura quickly closed the hatched behind her. She hummed in amusement as she took in the delightful display before her. The blanket was laid out beneath the stars. A basket, wine glasses, candles… he'd thought of everything.

"A picnic beneath the stars" she whispered.

"I take it you approve." said the voice behind her.

Laura spun around to find the most handsome sight she'd ever seen. He was so gods damn sexy it stole the breath from her lungs. For there before her stood Bill Adama, in a pair of faded jeans that fit him just right. The way the denim clung snugly to his perfect ass made her ache to touch him. The shirt, while just a simple crew cut, fit snugly across his chest. Her mouth began to water as she took in the way it fell across his well-defined pectorals and hugged his upper body. There were many younger men on Galactica that couldn't wear such a form-fitting item. Bill Adama however, did not have that problem.

"Gods". she thought. "I think I need to outlaw those awful uniforms"

Clearing her throat loudly she finally found her voice, "No uniform?" She asked.

"Not tonight" he said as he came to her, taking both her hands in his. "Tonight is just you and I, Bill and Laura. No titles, no positions…. Just us."

Laura smiled warmly. "Just us." She echoed.

He leaned in and planted a soft, almost chaste, kiss to her lips. She hummed in contentment in response.

He then extended a bent arm to her, an invitation she took eagerly, as she allowed him to lead her to their perfectly set picnic blanket. With a gentle hand he assisted her as she settled down on the blanket. He then settle behind her. Leaning up against the wall he bent his knees and pulled her in to nestle between them, her back up against his chest. Laura leaned her head back so it rested on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her.

"Are you comfortable?" he asked.

She hummed an affirmative.

Silence enveloped them as they sat in their embrace and simply stared at the stars, nothing but soft music playing from the portable stereo he'd brought. It amazed her that they had found this together. In the midst of the horror, the pain, and the suffering of humanity they had found it. Despite the battles, the power struggle, the mistrust, the distain they'd had for each other in the beginning they had found it. They had found true happiness and no matter what happened nothing would change that. They had found true love and no matter what the future held nothing would change that.

Laura closed her eyes and lost herself in her reverie. For a short while the worlds had not come to an end. For a short while their loved ones were not lost to them. For a short while life was perfect.

"Where are you?" he asked softly.

Laura smiled. "In the Heavens" she replied.

Bill Chuckled. "Are you hungry?" he asked.

"A little." She said as she nuzzled her face beneath his chin.

Bill reached into the basket and pulled out some crackers and a form of soft cheese the galley had managed to make out of Algae.

"This is most definitely not smoked Gouda, but it isn't half bad." He said with a smile as he spread some across a cracker. Laura giggled as he fed it to her, the cracker breaking… sending crumbs everywhere.

"Sorry." She said as she brushed the crumbs from his leg.

"No worries. You can get crumbs on me anytime you like." He said teasingly, as he bit into his own cracker sending crumbs tumbling down the front of her blouse. "Oooops" he said.

Laura looked up at him in astonishment. "Bill Adama. You did that on purpose." She accused.

"Did not." He said with a sly smile. "Maybe I should help you brush them off…." He suggested, as he thumbed the top button of her blouse.

"Maybe you should mind your manners." She replied, as she playfully slapped his hand away.

Bill have her a quizzical look. "Laura…. Do crumbs bother you?... Do they drive you nuts and make you itch?" he asked.

"No." she responded… her hand flinched as she desperately fought the urge to scratch the spot where the crumbs were nestled.

"You sure?" he asked. "They don't drive you nuts? Scratching against your skin… burrowing into your clothes?... are you sure they don't make you itchy?"

"Stop it!" she whined, as she finally surrendered to the urge to scratch.

"I'm sorry babe. I just couldn't resist." He said. "Plus!" he added. "I've discovered something new about you!"

"Really? And what's that exactly?" she questioned.

"Well." He said. "For one thing, I am most certainly guaranteed to find myself on the couch for eating crackers in bed."

Laura shook her head. "No way." She said. "William Adama, the only reason I would kick you out of bed…. would be to Frak you on the floor."

"hunh" he replied. "Note to self: Find more crackers…."

Laura giggled as he slowly stuffed another cracker into his mouth in an exaggerated manner intended to drive home a point.

As they dined on their crackers and "Cheese" they chatted about small insignificant things. Small pockets of silence were a welcome opportunity to just sit and enjoy the stars.

As Bill wrapped his arms around her once again she snuggled her back to his chest. She ran her hands downs his arms, grasping his wrists in a gentle squeeze. She then traced a finger over his thigh. "I could sit here for the rest of my life and just touch him all over" she thought.

"Thank You for this." she said. "I've always wanted to spend an evening in here, never thought I'd actually get the chance."

"What? You've never been in here?" he asked in astonishment.

"Nope."

"How come?"

"I didn't want to make everyone uncomfortable. People come in here to get away from it for a while… to relax, enjoy the stars… maybe make out a little… They don't want the President in here with them."

"I do." He whispered.

With a humm she hugged both his arms around her. "You don't know how many times a day I thank the Gods for you Bill… I Love you."

A brief silence fell upon them once again before he leaned in as though he had a secret to share "I have something for you." he said softly.

"You do?" Laura sat up at attention. She had the look of a little girl on her face. "For me?" she asked.

"Just for you." he confirmed.

Bill reached into the basket and pulled out a small velvet box. Laura's heart skipped a beat as he slowly opened it, revealing a simply gold band with a tiny diamond nestled in a delicate bridge with three claws.

"Ohhhhh" she said in a slow whisper. "Bill." Laura extended a shaky hand, her trembling fingers hovering over the ring but not touching it. "It's beautiful!" she said.

Taking her shaking hand in his he looked in her eyes. "Laura Roslin. Will you marry me?"

She couldn't stop the tears that slipped free and fell to the blanket between them. "Oh Bill. Yes! Yes! I will marry you!" she said through a sniffle.

He then carefully took the ring from its pillow and placed on her trembling finger. "Someday, I'll get you a bigger diamond…. I promise."

"No." she said through her tears. "No ring in the universe could be more perfect than this. It's beautiful! It's ours!"

"I'm glad you like it." He said with a smile.

"I more than like it Bill. I LOVE it…. It's perfect" she said as she rested her ring finger in the palm of her right hand so she could admire it. "Where did you get this?"

"I had it made a while back. Been waiting for the right time to give it to you."

"A while back? How long have you had this?" she asked.

Bill gave her a shy smile. The uneasy look on his face said he wasn't sure he wanted to answer the question.

"Laura. I had that ring made for you… about a year and a half ago."

"A year and a half ago? Oh my Gods Bill."

He laughed at the astonished look on her face. "Back then we were just friends. But even then I knew. I knew someday I would ask you to be my wife. Wanted to make sure I had a ring to give you when the time came, so I had it made when I had the chance."

When she looked up at him the love in her eyes nearly shattered him. She took his face in her hands and kissed him tenderly. "I Love you" she said tearfully. "I Love you so much Bill."

They sat facing each other, foreheads touching, for the longest time.

Laura finally broke the silence in a giddy tone. "When do you want to do it?"

"Well, that's entirely up to you." he said.

"No. It's both our wedding…. Not just mine." She replied.

"I was always told that weddings are for the Bride. In fact, other than picking the date I wasn't allowed any say in my wedding to Lee's mother."

"Well I never thought that was right. Our marriage is something this is to be shared between us. So we both should have input on how the wedding takes place." She said.

"If I had my say Laura, I'd marry you right here… right now…. With nobody but the two of us. As far as I'm concerned I don't need 200 of our closest friends and family to confirm what's intimately shared between just us… what's etched in our hearts."

"Just the two of us?" she asked.

"Just the two of us. That's all I need." As he held her hand he rubbed his thumb over the inside of her wrist. "But if you want to have a big wedding with lots of people, then that's fine too. I'm OK with whatever you want."

For a brief moment she just smiled at him. She then took his hand in hers and gently kissed his ring finger. "I wish I had something to put on your finger too." She said shyly.

She then looked deep into his eyes. "William Adama, I never knew what love was until I met you. I was always afraid. Afraid to love, afraid to need, afraid it would make me weak. I didn't know what it was until you taught me. You taught me how to feel, how to care, how to want. You taught me how to love. You took a broken-down damaged heart and polished it until it shined... " she choked back her tears as she struggled to go on. "… your love makes me strong, your love gives me courage I never thought I had, your love makes me who I am. "

She ran her thumb over his ring finger before continuing. "On this night I take you, William Adama, as my partner, my friend, my lover…. my husband … forever."

Bill cradled her cheek in his palm as he gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. Through tears of his own he smiled. "I love you Laura. Our journey has been a long one… and there is still more to come. We've been through some difficult times…." He chuckled softly "… it's hard to believe, sitting here with you now, that we started out as adversaries. Somewhere along the road you went from being someone I figured I'd have to learn to live with to someone I could never live without. You are the reason I rise in the morning, you are what brings me home at night. You are my heart, and you are my soul. Without you I am nothing. "

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the ring he'd just placed on her finger. "With this ring I take you, Laura Roslin, as my confident, my anchor, my lover… my wife…."

He swallowed back his tears as he pulled her face to his. "…. forever." He rasped, before claiming her mouth with his own.

Their kiss was mind-blowing. Never had she felt something so tender and gentle while so very powerful at the same time. Laura couldn't and didn't try to withhold the tears that flowed freely as she melted into his embrace. She surrendered willingly… eagerly… as he gently laid her on the blanket.

As Bill slowly worked the buttons of her blouse she trembled with anticipation as though it were the first time. In a way she supposed it was. Her eyes never left her husband's face as he bent to kiss her… his lips barely touching hers before retreating once again to remove the remaining barriers that lay between them.

Bill reached into the basket and pulled out another blanket. Laura hummed her approval as he draped it over them. She reveled in the softness of the fleece on her skin, smiled at the warmth coming from the man who lay beside her, melted at the feel of his hands on her body.

Laura could feel the blood rushing though her veins, could hear her pulse as it held rhythm with his heartbeat. She shuttered in pleasure as his fingers roamed her flesh, her breath caught in her throat each time his mouth found her skin. She opened herself to him as his hands roamed her inner thighs, emitting a whimpering sigh as he slowly slid a finger into her milky core. She moaned his name on a husky whisper as he slowly began to stoke her.

She had been to this place many times with this man, but never like this. For this moment found a depth and intensity between them that held more power than all of the Gods combined. She felt her body rise in response to his shifting above her, felt her soul lifting as he slowly entered her, effortlessly found his rhythm as he began to move inside her.

The mysteries of the universe were solved one-by-one as her soul rose to the heavens and ascended back again. For it all made sense now. It all happened for a reason… it all led up to this one pinnacle moment when his eyes locked with hers. He was the reason she was spared on that day, he was the reason she was cured of her cancer… he was the reason for her very existence.

As her pleasure intensified she clung to his arms, her nails digging into his flesh.

She cried out his name as she gave in to her climax, pulling him over the edge with her.

His release was beyond intense. He lifted her off the floor … moaning her name with each pulsating thrust. He was certain he'd break her into two as he emptied his seed with a final push that blurred his vision and clouded his mind.

Sated and exhausted they collapsed in each other arms. With his back resting on wall he pulled her into him so she was nestled with her back against his chest. He pulled the blanket tight as he wrapped his arms around her. For the longest time they simply sat staring at the stars.

Prompted by an old familiar tune that was playing bill leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Can I have this dance… Mrs. Adama?"

Laura hummed in amusement as she got to her feet. "Mrs. Adama" she echoed jokingly.

Bill pulled her close and wrapped the blanket back around their naked bodies. As they began to sway to the melody he replied "I thought you'd get a kick out of that one." He planted a gentle kiss to her forehead before continuing "Don't worry my love, I don't expect you to take my name."

Laura pulled away slightly so she could have full eye contact with her husband. "I think I like Roslin-Adama. It has a nice ring to it."

"Laura Roslin-Adama" he repeated slowly. "Yeah, that works."

"It most certainly does" she agreed.

THE END.