misscam: (Reading is the language of our love)
[personal profile] misscam
All Care and Have None
by Camilla Sandman

Summary: Bill is all care. Laura is trying not to have one. [Adama/Roslin]

Rating: Teen. Non-explicit sex.

Disclaimer: Not my characters, just my words.

Author's Note: Set during 'A Disquiet Follows My Soul', hence spoilers for that episode. Many thanks to [livejournal.com profile] miri_d, [livejournal.com profile] siraj and [livejournal.com profile] lotus79 for input and beta.

II

William Adama and Laura Roslin love each other, but they're not always of like mind.

Bill always reads a book in the morning; letting the words of others be his for a little while to find some meaning in them for him.

After Earth, he still does, his own feelings lost somewhere along the journey.

Laura used to read the propechies of Pythia every night to find what a woman a long time ago dictated Laura Roslin to be; the pages are ashes now.

After Earth, everything is.

II

There is freedom in running, Laura thinks.

Run, and everything is behind her. Earth. Prophecies. Dying leader. All gone to frak. It can't catch her. Run, and all that matters is the pace, the feet, the pounding of her heart, the movement and the now. Run, and the path ahead will be what it is, abysses and all. She isn't afraid. She can't lose more than she already has.

Everyone thinks her a little mad, she knows. She thinks herself a little mad, at least in the part of her that have become the observer, honed by years of politics and needing to watch every word. But everything is greatly mad now and she isn't even sure what sane is anymore.

Earth, home of the Cylons, where is the sanity in that? Taking treatments to prolong a life miserably when there is no longer anything to live for, where is the sanity in that?

It's strange, but she never realised how tired of standing still against all the waves crashing on them she was until she started running.

There is freedom in running. At least until you run straight into the immovable force of the Admiral.

Can't run from everything when you don't want to, Laura does know, and there is something she still hasn't lost.

II

The Admiral would like the President to step up again, share the burden and be the partner of the leadership agreement they made so long ago.

Bill is just tired, and when Laura kisses him, he thinks of rest and silence.

II

"Now get out of my way," Laura says, and doesn't look back when she runs even while she feels his eyes on her, following.

II

Hold on to your family, Bill has always thought. This family. He's made it that, bit by bit.

Part of it has always been there – Lee, son by birth and blood, but so often a stranger in relations. Lee is his son, but also his own man, and Bill doesn't always understand that man. Doesn't always try to. He doesn't need to. He can still love.

Part of it he picked. Saul Tigh, the brother most would disown and Bill just chose. Not for the mistakes. But for carrying on after them, living with them and because everyone needs someone willing to stand up for them and to them in equal measure.

Part of it he's had built for a while. Kara, daughter by mind and military, and something like a second chance. She knows those, after all. He thinks sometimes her life is a string of them, and that includes her death.

Part of it he took in by default, but with no less pleasure. Dee. Lee's wife for a while, and thus his daughter-in-law, and that didn't have to end because the marriage did. The end was her choice – by her own hand.

Part of it is new in admission, if not in fact. Laura, wife by heart, and thus it doesn't matter if it's not by law. Not a woman he expected or even wanted to fall in love with, and all the more profound to him for it.

Bill's family. It is about as rag-tag as his Fleet, and it works about just as well, falling apart around him with no clear fixes.

Bill always holds on anyway.

He's never learned to let go.

II

"I'll be with the President," Bill says, and Saul never blinks, only acknowledges.

It doesn't take a genuis to get the implication, which is good since Saul has never thought himself one.

There are too many expectations of great things with it, and he wonders fleetingly if for all the differences in them, that's what the Old Man and the President mirror in each other: the expectations and always being looked to and not at.

Maybe they can see each other.

II

Laura is waiting in the dark for him when Bill enters her quarters, only a few candles scattered like stars in space to give light. It reminds him strangely of youth, when romance was all notions and not yet experience, but they are not teenagers and he loves the lines on her skin for what they make her.

There isn't much else on a battlestar to set the mood, he reflects, and forgets the thought when she tiptoes to kiss him, her hands already working the buttons on his uniform.

He isn't sure if she's still running and he is just matching her speed, or if he has put himself in her way and paused her for a moment, but here they are.

"Are you sure you feel...?" he whispers against her lips, thinking of her draining treatments and the fatigue he's seen in her and he still wishes selfishly she would take - for him, to postpone the loss he'll suffer.

"Yes," she simply says, her breath warm as she parts her lips and the taste of her not sweetly medicinal at all.

II

Bill is all care and she is trying not to have one (refuses to have one any more). He is gentle in his caresses, she is lost in them. She closes her eyes to his mouth across her skin, he is always looking at her when she opens them again. He is trying to forget the troubles of the day with her, she is trying not to remember all that is outside the room. She laces her fingers in his hair and loves the grey in it, he kisses the bare skin of her scalp almost reverently. He holds still, she flexes. She bucks, he thrusts, he waits, she moves, she breathes, he murmurs words she can't catch against her shoulder.

She knows what he is saying anyway. He loves her. She loves him.

Here too, in the dark, and she holds on to it.

II

When they sleep, Bill snores a little and Laura moves restlessly from dreams she'll forget in the morning, and both could use more rest than they're getting.

Love doesn't stop who they are. William Adama who wanted to stay and fight the Cylons, and Laura Roslin who wanted to run from them.

Love doesn't stop who they are, but it can slowly adjust them.

II

In the morning, Laura picks a book and reads for him to start the day, bodies entwined with his arms around her and his leg across hers, and lets them be her words to him, as he once did.

II

FIN

Date: 2009-01-27 10:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pennyfeline.livejournal.com
WOW! You have a way with words, lady! That was a truly beautiful read. Like that little snippet for instance:

He isn't sure if she's still running and he is just matching her speed,

You portrayed the situation the characters find themselves in and related feelings really really well. And so thoughtfully worded.

Loved how you called Laura his "wife by heart", so well put. I want to icon it. *lol*

Date: 2009-01-27 10:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you!

And if you icon that, I would totally use it and be flattered :)

Date: 2009-01-27 10:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sleepismyfriend.livejournal.com
God, this was so beautiful. It filled in so many gaps very nicely!

Date: 2009-01-27 10:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you :)

Date: 2009-01-27 10:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cutemaggie.livejournal.com
so so beautiful :) lovely and sweet 8) thank You very much :*

Date: 2009-01-27 10:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
I'm glad you liked :)

Date: 2009-01-27 10:40 pm (UTC)
falena: illustration of a blue and grey moth against a white background (Default)
From: [personal profile] falena
*happy sigh*

This is just lovely. Quite predictably, the family section is my favourite, I have a thing about families.

I loved the image of Laura reading for him to start the day too. Those last three lines seemed particularly vivid to me, it was just so easy to visualise the scene.

Love doesn't stop who they are, but it can slowly adjust them.


That's so lovely. You have such insights and you put them down so succinctly ad beautifully. I want to see you writing original fiction quite a lot. (I need to tell you, once in a while. Just a friendly poke. :P )

Date: 2009-01-27 10:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Probably easy to visualise because books and them are so interlinked on the show. Was even a book in that last scene of the episode.

Yeah, yeah, poke away, but you do realise if I did actually write something original, it would probably in Norwegian? You'd have to learn it to read :P

Thank you :)

Date: 2009-01-27 11:04 pm (UTC)
falena: illustration of a blue and grey moth against a white background (Default)
From: [personal profile] falena
you do realise if I did actually write something original, it would probably in Norwegian? You'd have to learn it to read :P

Nah, you'd just be giving a good Norwegian>English translator an awesome work opportunity. :D

Date: 2009-01-27 10:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] missbevcrusher.livejournal.com
Wow, such beautiful words and soft expressions. I loved the tone in this story. Thank you for sharing this wonderful fic. :-)

Date: 2009-01-27 10:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you :)

Date: 2009-01-27 10:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wickdstarcrunch.livejournal.com
Wow that was so gorgeous!

Date: 2009-01-27 11:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wickdstarcrunch.livejournal.com
You are very welcome!!! :D

Date: 2009-01-27 11:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] i-am-davnee.livejournal.com
Laura is waiting in the dark for him when Bill enters her quarters, only a few candles scattered like stars in space to give light. It reminds him strangely of youth, when romance was all notions and not yet experience, but they are not teenagers and he loves the lines on her skin for what they make her.

Really loved this passage. Thanks for sharing!

Date: 2009-01-28 10:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you :)

Date: 2009-01-27 11:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] damaged-hearts.livejournal.com
lets out a deep breath

Wow oh Wow, that was just beautiful....

Date: 2009-01-28 10:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thanks :)

Date: 2009-01-28 12:06 am (UTC)
ext_100881: Laura Roslin and Bill Adama, cartoon style. (Default)
From: [identity profile] lily-winterwood.livejournal.com
Omg. Another luverly ficcie. *hugs* Luverly as usual!

Date: 2009-01-28 10:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you very much :)

Date: 2009-01-28 02:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meredithanne42.livejournal.com
That was lovely! Really enjoyed the imagery, the flow -- everything! Thanks! :)

Date: 2009-01-28 10:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you :)

And I just noticed you friended me, so have friended you back.

Date: 2009-01-28 04:35 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lyricalviolet.livejournal.com
Well done, my dear!

Date: 2009-01-28 10:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you - so you did see the last episode, then? I was unsure if you had and didn't want to spoil you.

Date: 2009-01-28 03:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lyricalviolet.livejournal.com
I did indeed see it...Ron Moore wrote what he wanted to direct, but the end was fab :-)

Date: 2009-01-28 04:56 am (UTC)
captaintish: (Default)
From: [personal profile] captaintish
This is absolutely lovely!

Date: 2009-01-28 10:35 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you :)

Date: 2009-01-28 06:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] obsessive-a101.livejournal.com
*squeezes you tight* Thank you for sharing this. There's such a deep calming flow to your writing that I enjoy so much. (^_^) And this, this is just so beautiful. I love the way you captured the push-pull/run-still aspect of their relationship, and the ending, I just love the ending. I love the symbolism presented: their love adjusting them flowing into that act of her reading to him.

Date: 2009-01-28 10:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you - and yes, that was what i was going for, so I'm so glad it came across to you. A relationship isn't necessarily a perfect union right away, and I find the slow act of adjusting to each other something very touching in a relationship, actually.

Anyway, before I go on a ramble, thanks so much!

Date: 2009-01-28 12:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angiescully.livejournal.com
Really, really lovely. Thank you. ♥

Date: 2009-01-28 04:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you :)

Date: 2009-01-28 03:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] maudvandutch.livejournal.com
Aww, this was really beautiful. For some reason, I especially how you described the morning after; that just seems so them.

Date: 2009-01-28 04:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thanks - it was actually the first thing I wrote on it, the end bit. It was an image I could very clearly see in my head.

Date: 2009-01-28 04:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayfortinafey.livejournal.com
That was absolutely beautiful! <3 I absolutely loved it.

WIFE BY HEART should be WIFE BY HEART AND LAW. Y/Y? We need marriage!! XD

This filled all of the gaps from the episode, of which I'm more than one person will agree there were many. Thank you! :)

Date: 2009-01-28 04:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Heh, marriage would be sweet, but not sure we'll get to see that, with all that seems to be happening on the show. Still, never know and there's always fanfic, right? ;)

Thank you and very glad you liked as much :)

Date: 2009-01-28 06:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayfortinafey.livejournal.com
Heh. It would be so super sweet! XD LMAO. There's always, always fic! XD :P

:)

Date: 2009-01-28 06:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oszras.livejournal.com
Lovely. Just lovely.

I love this:

Love doesn't stop who they are. William Adama who wanted to stay and fight the Cylons, and Laura Roslin who wanted to run from them.

It made me start thinking. Has she always been running and has he always stood still? [/crazy random thought]

Anyway, I loved it, love the way the word flow and how it just feels...right.

*Adds to memories.*

Date: 2009-01-28 07:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you!

And not sure I'd say she's always the one running and he standing still, but it struck me as repeating itself a few times - he is often a bit more slow and steady, she can take some serious leaps at times.

Now you made me think about this, heh.

Anyway, very glad you enjoyed it this much :)

Date: 2009-01-28 09:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] padawanpooh.livejournal.com
AWWWWWWWWWW!!! Absolutely beautiful.

Date: 2009-01-29 06:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] misscam.livejournal.com
Thank you :)

Date: 2009-02-08 02:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laurandbillever.livejournal.com
*speechless* I just love you! (^_^)

fantastic work!

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