44 – Girls on the Shore

“You sure?” Bill paused in tying his boot and glanced up at Laura, who was perched in the window seat, watching him.

“Bill, I’m positive. And you know the girls are all coming over.” She smiled as he tucked in his laces and stood. “We’ve had each other to ourselves for four days now, not counting lunch with Cheryl and Zak that first day, so now…” One shoulder lifted. “It’s fine. And we have one more day before I go back to the school, and you start at the base, so you’ll have time to recover.”

“We’ll have time to recover.” He grinned. “I’ve heard about your girl’s nights.”

“You only think you have.” With a giggle, she stood and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Go, have fun, and cheer for the Panthers if you must.”

“I must.” Bill kissed her gently. “Still can’t believe…”

“It just goes to show people that we still have differences.” Tracing his cheek with the back of one hand, Laura smiled up at him. “You planning on staying at the apartment tonight? Or going to try to make it back out here?”

“I’ll stay at my father’s place, he offered for both Zak and myself. Arranged transport to and from the game as well.” One eyebrow lifted. “Which says a lot about how he believes the night will go.”

“It’ll be fun.” Dropping her hand, she laced her fingers through his as they moved toward the door. “They just want to get to know you better…and you’ll have a good time.”

“Sure you…” As they approached the stairs, he broke off as she laughed softly.

“Bill. Honey.” Laura wrapped her arms around his waist again. “Have a good time. I will be fine, and we’ll see each other tomorrow morning. All right?”

“Fine.” He grumbled as the doorbell rang. “Hold on.” Pulling her against him, he kissed her again, this time waiting until her lips parted with a soft sigh.

“Door…” She mumbled around his mouth when the doorbell rang again then relented with a soft whimper.

“Anyone home?” Kara yelled as she opened the door and grinned. “Sorry.”

Laura burst out laughing, dropping her head against Bill’s shoulder. “No you’re not.”

“Starbuck.” Bill sighed.

“Hey. No answer, I rang twice.” She edged through the door, bags in her arms. “And these are heavy.”

“Here.” Laura ran down the stairs to take one of the bags. “He was just leaving.”

“Yeah, that was the other thing I was supposed to do,” Kara jerked her head toward the door. “Zak’s waiting for you in the car.”

“Zak’s driving?” Bill raised an eyebrow.

“For now.” Kara shrugged and passed Laura, “I’m putting the beer in the cooler.”

“Fine. Just find room for it.” Laura called after her, rising on her toes to kiss Bill one final time. “Go. Have fun.”

“Yes dear.” He kissed her nose, ignoring her exasperated snort. “And yes, I know if your hands weren’t full, you’d hit me.”

“Like this?” Sandra’s voice registered just before a hand hit him lightly on the shoulder. “Sister in law prerogative, Laura started it.”

“What?” Blinking, he stepped back as Sandra and Cheryl strode through the door, followed by his sister.

“Yep. Ask Joey when you see him tonight.” Laura smiled. “Night, honey. Go C Bucs!”

“Picon Panthers!” With a final grin, he stepped through the door and closed it.

“Knew he couldn’t be perfect.” Sandra hung her coat in the small closet next to the door and took Cheryl’s and Tamara’s.

“He used to be a Bucs fan.” Tamara frowned.

“He became a Panther’s fan later.” Laura waved her hand as Kara returned and grabbed the bag from her. “Something about a bad coaching decision?”

“They switched coaches…” Kara began then shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter, does it.”

“Got the men out of the house.” Laura laughed as they moved back to the kitchen. “They really had no idea, did they.”

“That we’re going to stay here and watch it?” Cheryl giggled. “Not a clue.”

“Who else is coming.” Laura gestured toward the stools around the center block, continuing toward the cabinet and pulling glasses out.

“Shannon is over with mom. Something about the two of them scrapbooking more things from your wedding.” Sandra sighed. “It may top my four volume set.”

“Wow.” Tamara blinked. “And I thought my mom liked that kind of stuff.”

“Mama was a kindergarten teacher.” Cheryl sighed. “No one can craft like a teacher.”

“Except Laura.” Sandra added. “Never did get the hang of it, did you.”

“Didn’t need to.” She grabbed a bottle of wine and carried it over to them. “So, no mothers tonight? Well, except Sandra.”

“They have a grandchild to fawn over. My husband is male bonding with the fathers and his new male inlaws.” Sandra held her glass up. “To girls night.”

“And Sierra had to get back home, otherwise she’d be here as well. Said we’re all invited to go visit, and to keep an eye on Cammie.” Cheryl announced. “Cammie would be here, but had to work, something about Bucs Panthers games being big business at the bar.”

“Indeed they were.” Laura grinned. “Good money for her tonight.”

“So just us.” Kara frowned. “Hope I brought enough.”

“Laura has plenty of food.” Sandra began then grinned. “Oh. Indeed.”
“So.” Cheryl held up her glass. “Let’s get started. What do we need to do?”

Laura looked around the kitchen. “Kara, go arrange the room, you know where everything is, Cheryl, there’s a few things in the cooler that aren’t drinks, grab them. Sandy, the hot stuff…” as a timer went off, she smiled, “grab them. Tamara, feed Lucky if you don’t mind…” at her name, the kitten that had been winding around their feet let out a soft meow. “And I’ll help Kara.”

“When do we get to change?” Cheryl called after her.

“Not until after we eat the messy things.” Laura yelled back, laughing. “If then!”

“I love this couch.” Kara glanced up from where she was arranging the sectional pieces into a large U shape.

“It’s convenient.” Laura agreed, pushing a table into the middle and setting two others on either side. “Hey, you going to be okay with watching Pyramid?”

“Yeah.” Kara paused and looked up at Laura. “I’ve watched a few matches…it’s strange, because I keep looking for him, but I’ve seen a few of his team mates play, and managed to get by it.”

“You’ll let me know if…” Laura reached up and touched Kara’s cheek. “Okay?”

“I will.” Her lips curved slightly. “Thanks.”

“Just checking.” At the voices approaching, Laura straightened. “And in honor, I’ll even break out the good stuff. Later.”

“Yeah, no use wasting good ambrosia when there’s food to be washed down.” Kara teased. “Hey, really. Thanks.”

“Any time.” With a final squeeze of Kara’s hand, Laura stepped back and faced the others as Lucky bounded past them and onto the sofa. “Lucky…”

“Good luck with that.” Sandra sighed. “You know cats will go where they want to.”

Two hours later, they were all sprawled on the couch, Laura physically holding Kara’s arm down. “Don’t do it!”

“It’s tradition.” Kara squirmed underneath her. “When there’s bad call, you throw stuff…”

“At the frakking stadium, not at the house.” Laura managed to get out just as a handful of something sailed past her head. “Cheryl!”

“Hey, how come she gets to…” Laura’s attention diverted, Kara gave a last shove, and when Laura fell back with a surprised squeak, threw the handful of popcorn toward the large screen against the wall. “Frakking refs!”

“Blind!” Cheryl high fived Kara, both of them oblivious to Laura, picking herself up from the floor where she’d slid down to. “How’d they get…hey!” She slid off the couch next to Laura, who was using Cheryl’s leg as a brace to push herself back up onto the cushions.

“Kara Thrace! Cheryl Roslin!” Kneeling on the sofa, Laura glared down at them. “You will both pick up every single frakking piece of…” her eyes narrowed at Kara’s muffled laugh.

“Um,” Tamara braved Laura’s wrath, Sandra curled into the far corner of the couch, also attempting to muffle her laughter. “You have…”

“What?” Laura turned her head to glare at the younger woman and realized there was something in her hair. “Oh…frak…” Reaching up, she pulled several pieces of popcorn out of her hair as Kara and Cheryl burst out laughing, Lucky eyeing them all in confusion before jumping over the back of the couch. “That. Is. So. Not. Funny.”

“Yeah,” Cheryl grinned from her position on the floor, “it is. You look like…” Her eyes widened as Laura scooped up a handful of popcorn and dropped it on her head. “Hey!”

“And as for you…” Laura grabbed another handful of popcorn and launched herself at Kara, managing to somehow dump the entire handful down Kara’s shirt before she realized what was happening.

“Hey!” Kara sat up as Laura retreated to the other side of the couch. “Not fair! You said…”

“My house, my rules.” Laura grinned.

“Sandy?” Cheryl pulled herself up onto the couch next to Kara, “Tam, pick sides…”

“Oh, frak…” Laura breathed out as Kara and Cheryl grabbed one of the two bowls.

“Impartial!” Sandra yelled, following Lucky over the back of the couch.

“Tam get over here!” Laura grabbed the other bowl and Tamara’s hand with the other.

“What happened to…” she managed to get out just before a handful of popcorn hit her.

“We have vacuums.” Laura yelled, “just throw!” With a shriek, Tamara obeyed, all four women managing to empty both bowls in a matter of seconds before grabbing what was thrown at them and throwing it back.

“Games back on!” Sandra yelled. “Time out!”

“What?” Laura turned her head to see the game back in play on the screen, just as Cheryl and Kara lunged at her, all three of them falling to the ground in a shower of popcorn.

Sandra sighed as she stood up and surveyed the popcorn strewn couch and floor. “And this is why we weren’t allowed to have popcorn at home.”

“I see why.” Tamara whispered.

“Or pudding.” Sandra grinned. “But, that was for a completely different reason.”

“I hope so.” Tamara blinked as the other three managed to get back onto the couch, all laughing in each others arms. “You all right?”

“Yeah.” Laura shook her head, dislodging the kernels from her hair.

“I’m not.” Kara wriggled, pulling popcorn out of her shirt. “I am so borrowing something from you to make up for this.”

“Like you weren’t all planning on it anyway.” Laura retorted, “game’s almost over, we’ll clean up and change after, then do movies.”

“Change?” Tamara looked confused again.

“Or as we call it, dress up with Laura.” Sandra slid back onto the couch and patted Tamara’s arm. “You’ll see. Kind of like last week at her shower?”

“Okay….” She broke off as Kara and Cheryl let out another yell as the Bucs scored again.

“Don’t worry.” Laura reached past her and grabbed a bottle from the table next to the couch. “I prepared for it. Basically, it means my baby sisters, and Kara, and you, will go shopping in my closet.”

“She has the best stuff.” Sandra explained, taking the bottle from Laura and drinking out of it. “That’s what sisters are for. And you, like Kara, are one of us now.”

“The Roslin Adama girls.” Kara called, lifting her bottle. “Go Bucs!”

“Cool.” Tamara settled against Laura. “My baby brother did good.”

“Yeah.” Cheryl, “our big sister did too.”

“And…that’s game.” Laura sighed. “Bill won’t be happy.” She shrugged and tipped her bottle back, finishing it. “Too bad. Go Bucs!”

“Been better with Sam.” Kara sighed. “Still, they won.”

“Despite the idiot refs.” Cheryl tapped her bottle against Kara’s. “Hungry?”

“We had popcorn.” Laura stated dryly, carefully pushing herself to her feet. “Lucky, don’t eat that…”

“Won’t hurt her.” Sandra grinned.

“Hairball.” Laura shuddered. “Just saying.”

“Lucky, don’t eat that.” Sandra leaned over and grabbed the kitten.

“Kay. Here’s what happens.” Laura managed to stand, her hands on her hips as she gazed down at them. “Kara and Cheryl, every piece of this gets vacuumed up. Now. Sandy, you’re supervising, after you finish picking up all the bottles and bowls. Tamara, you’re with me, we’ll start more food. Sandy, find a movie. We’ll meet upstairs in fifteen minutes.”

“Bossy.” Sandra grinned and handed Lucky to Tamara. “Let’s go girls, big sister has ordered…I mean, spoken.”

“This is fun.” Tamara, carrying the empty popcorn bowls followed Laura into the kitchen. “More fun than being there.”

“No traffic, funny smells,” Laura shuddered, “public bathrooms. Gotta say, that was one benefit of being a member of the Political cabinet, we did get private seating at the games. Downside being you had to behave.”

“Did you? Behave I mean?” Tamara washed out the bowls and dried them.

“Usually.” Laura smiled faintly. “More fun to go blend in though. Didn’t have a whole lot of time to go to matches though. Went to quite a few school ones though, part of my job back then. All in all, I would sneak off to the boxing matches once in a while. My father taught me the basics…and no one ever would have expected me to be there. So, I could just be an anonymous fan there. After I was in politics for a while, couldn’t even do that.” She set two pizzas into the oven and turned it on before turning back to Tamara. “I enjoy a good match, at home or in the arena. Both have their positives and negatives.”

“Does Bill like…” Tamara sighed. “I don’t even know…I know what he liked when he was young, but now…”

“He likes the Panthers.” Laura giggled, “too bad for him tonight. He boxes, loves that, but you knew that.”

“Yeah.” Tamara absently trailed a finger along the counter top. “Hey, I wanted to tell you…I got a job.”

“Really?” Laura glanced over her shoulder. “Do I want to know about this?”

“Well…I just sort of thought if mom and dad had any questions, they could talk to you about it.” She crossed to the cabinet and pulled out several glasses, setting them on the tray in front of Laura. “Since, I mean, you know, you sort of…”

“You want me to explain to your parents about working at Caprica Nights?” Laura set the bottle of ambrosia on the tray and sighed.

“Only if they ask.” Tamara grinned. “You mind?”

“I suppose not. If they ask.” Laura glanced at the timer as Kara and Cheryl entered. “All cleaned up?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Kara used her foot to open the disposal unit, dropping the bottles in as Cheryl set the few glasses they’d already used into the sink. “We set out the extra blankets and pillows too. Sandra headed upstairs.”

“She would.” Laura sighed and waved. “I’ll finish up down here. You all go on, Tamara, take the tray out with you and put it in the other room. We have about ten minutes before food’s ready.”

Twenty minutes later, they were all settled on the couch again, this time with glasses of ambrosia and plates of pizza as Lucky padded around them, trying to find a place to settle. “So.” Sandra took a sip of her drink and smiled. “How’s it feel to be married?”

Laura glanced at her sister, her eyes narrowing. “Lovely. And no, you’re not getting details.”

“They have made it out of the house.” Cheryl volunteered. “Zak and I saw them up on the bluff.”

“Which brings me to my question of what the two of you were doing up there?” Laura took a bite of her pizza.

“Hiking.” Cheryl shrugged. “Like we told you.”

“You were hiking?” Sandra looked dubious. “With Zak?”

“Hey, he said it was a great view, I wanted to see.” Cheryl defended, her lips curving into a frown. “It was. Wasn’t it Laura. I mean, if you two saw anything.”

“We did.” Her eyebrow lifted. “We watched the sun rise, and we had breakfast up there. Then we talked.”

“That’s what you’re calling it these days?” Cheryl giggled.

“Fine.” Laura sighed. “But, we talked too.”

“Outside?” Tamara blinked.

“In a supposedly deserted area, perfectly safe and isolated.” Laura sighed. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Please.” Kara shuddered. “I really don’t need to hear this. I mean it was bad enough, just imagining where and when the two of you could manage to, um, have some privacy on Galactica. I really don’t need that to continue into this part of my life, or whatever.”

“I thought it was a really big ship?” Cheryl asked as Laura groaned.

“Yeah.” Sandra leaned forward and took another slice of pizza.

“A big, populated ship.” Laura grabbed the remote and turned the unit back on. “You put a movie in?”

“It was a big ship, but lots of out of way places. I mean, Sam and I were able to find…” at Laura’s exasperated sigh, Kara broke off. “Well, I guess we had a bit more freedom, and no guards…I mean security escort.”

“Movie.” Laura stated firmly, pressing a button.

“Hey.” Kara protested. “I didn’t start it.”

“I know.” Laura tossed her the remote. “Movie.”

“Fine.” With a grumble, Kara settled down, Cheryl grabbing the remote from her and pressing another button.

A few minutes later, the others engrossed in the movie, Sandra leaned toward Laura, her voice low. “Nice isn’t it. Marriage, that is.”

Laura took a swallow of her ambrosia and nodded slightly, settling so that her head was close to Sandra’s. “It is. I understand what you couldn’t tell us now.”

“About?” Sandra absently picked a piece of cheese of her pizza and popped it into her mouth.

“Hmm.” With a sigh, she ran a finger along the top of her glass before answering. “The absolute sense of togetherness? The finding of another half you didn’t realize you were missing?”

“Yeah. Kind of nice, isn’t it.” Sandra smiled at her. “Among other benefits.”

“Like having someone there?” Laura nodded. “It is. I can’t believe…it’s just so different that what I had before. With Richard.”

“Laurie, you were having an affair with a married man.” Sandra sighed. “And, there wasn’t love involved anywhere. Just convenience, release, and…”

“And sex.” Laura winced, her mind wandering. “And honestly, not even great sex. It was convenient, like you said, and once it happened, I really didn’t know how to get out of it…it wasn’t a good situation, I knew that, but…frak it all, I don’t know Sandy. I don’t even recognize who I was back then. Don’t even know who I was back then.”

“Yeah. But now, you have a man who loves you, appreciates you, is a partner to you.” Sandra brushed Laura’s hair back. “It’s all different. I never would have seen you with a military…well, let me rephrase that. You dated one or two other military men, all tall, handsome, office based military men. Or, you dated men that were college professors…but, Bill, he’s everything none of them were. And I don’t mean physically. He’s…he challenges you, Laurie, he’ll stand up to you, and he’ll turn around and carry you through hell and high water and never let you go.”

“He already proved that.” Laura let her head fall back, a smile on her lips. “Gods, I can’t imagine not knowing him, not being with him. He knows me so well, I know him so well, and yet we’re always learning something new about the other.”

“Like I said.” Sandra rested her head against Laura’s. “Nice isn’t it.”

“Yeah.” She giggled as Kara nudged her leg.

“Keep it down back there.” Kara looked back at them, a slightly wistful look on her face.

“Sorry.” Laura smiled at her. “Go back to the movie.”

“We’ll behave.” Sandra nodded solemnly, ignoring Cheryl’s snort.

“We will.” Laura added defensively, waiting until the other three were absorbed in the movie again, some sort of action film that Kara had picked out, to drop her head back over toward Sandra’s. “Hey.”

“Yeah?” Sandra raised an eyebrow.

“You were right too…about being able to open up…and knowing when you could…and that being the best.” She giggled. “Well, almost the best.”

“Yeah.” Sandra wrinkled her nose back at her and sobered. “I just wish…”

“What?” Laura tilted her head, gazing at her sister as they both took another swallow of ambrosia.

“It was so amazing…I just wish…” Sandra sighed. “Never mind.”

“No.” Serious now, Laura frowned slightly. “What?”

“Nothing.” She met Laura’s eyes and shook her head. “Really.”

“Sandy.” She shifted closer to her sister, the other three women adjusting themselves into the space she’d left. “What?”

“Really, Laurie.” Sandra closed her eyes for a moment. “It was the ambrosia talking. That’s all.”

Laura stared at her for a moment, thinking. Suddenly, her eyes widened and she reached up to touch Sandra’s cheek. “It’s okay sweetie. Really.”

“No. I didn’t think first.” Sandra’s hand moved to rest on Laura’s stomach. “I’m sorry. It’s just, you’re so amazing with us, and with the kids in the school, Elizabeth adores you, you’re already her favorite Aunt…I just wish.”

“Me too.” Closing her eyes, Laura let her hand rest on top of Sandra’s. “The timing was off. Is off. You know I’d love to, but, it’s not going to happen, not even here. As it is, there are so many children that need love, and need someone. I think Bill and I will have plenty of children that we’re part of their lives as they grow, and we have each other…”

“I’m sorry.” Sandra whispered, a tear running down her cheek. “It’s just, I want everything for you. We all do.”

“Hey, I have everything.” Laura shifted again so that she and Sandra were curled together, faces only inches apart as the other three women shrieked at something that happened on the screen. “Everything I ever imagined…and some I didn’t. I have you guys back, and Joey and Elizabeth with you, Mama and Daddy, and Bill…his family, I have Kara…an amazing home, friends who finding, both from before and after, I’m teaching again, I adore the children I’m working with there, and…I have Bill…”

“You said him already.” Sandra let out a soft giggle through her tears.

“I know.” Reaching up, Laura used her thumb to wipe the tears off of Sandra’s cheek, a contented smile on her face. “And, he’s my everything.”