Then will come soft rains
For ar_drabbles no 56: family gathering
These were the final jumps before Earth, and everyone wanted to be in on the planning. Around the map table the group had gathered -- Lee, Starbuck, Saul, Dee, Gaeta. Even the Agathons and Baltar. And, of course, Laura.
Lee said something. Kara contradicted him. Tigh stepped in to settle the argument. They ignored him. Gaeta, Sharon, and Helo each took a swift look at the admiral, waiting for his nod before joining the debate. Dee stood off to the side, watching her husband and her rival. Baltar kept a steady eye on Laura and babbled to himself. Laura kept her eyes on the maps.
In other circumstances this could be a family dinner. The son he was just learning to get along with, the daughter-in-law who loved the idea of family more than her husband loved her. The almost-daughter, not-quite-daughter-in-law. His brother-in-arms. The neighborhood kids, starved for affection, aching for the loving sprawl of attention available here. Laura, his new woman, uncertain in the boisterous crowd, sure to give him an earful as soon as they were alone. And Baltar, the crazy step-son she was saddled with after some long-past relationship ended.
Sometimes he thought Laura was so parched for affection that if he let loose the flood of his feelings he would drown her, like the arroyos back on Tauron. He had so much, and she had so little. All she had was the fleet and the dream of Earth. And him.
He wanted to give her all he had, all he was, let the mess of his love and desire rain on her, flood her to overflowing. He wanted to bathe in their excess, float on the torrents he'd unleash.
Soon.
A few more jumps and they would walk on Earth.
And then the floods would come.
These were the final jumps before Earth, and everyone wanted to be in on the planning. Around the map table the group had gathered -- Lee, Starbuck, Saul, Dee, Gaeta. Even the Agathons and Baltar. And, of course, Laura.
Lee said something. Kara contradicted him. Tigh stepped in to settle the argument. They ignored him. Gaeta, Sharon, and Helo each took a swift look at the admiral, waiting for his nod before joining the debate. Dee stood off to the side, watching her husband and her rival. Baltar kept a steady eye on Laura and babbled to himself. Laura kept her eyes on the maps.
In other circumstances this could be a family dinner. The son he was just learning to get along with, the daughter-in-law who loved the idea of family more than her husband loved her. The almost-daughter, not-quite-daughter-in-law. His brother-in-arms. The neighborhood kids, starved for affection, aching for the loving sprawl of attention available here. Laura, his new woman, uncertain in the boisterous crowd, sure to give him an earful as soon as they were alone. And Baltar, the crazy step-son she was saddled with after some long-past relationship ended.
Sometimes he thought Laura was so parched for affection that if he let loose the flood of his feelings he would drown her, like the arroyos back on Tauron. He had so much, and she had so little. All she had was the fleet and the dream of Earth. And him.
He wanted to give her all he had, all he was, let the mess of his love and desire rain on her, flood her to overflowing. He wanted to bathe in their excess, float on the torrents he'd unleash.
Soon.
A few more jumps and they would walk on Earth.
And then the floods would come.