Fic: Ceremonial Reunion: An Ikeaverse Installment
Title: Ceremonial Reunion
Rating: T
Word Count: ~1700
Pairing: A/R
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Summary: It's the first end-of-year NJROTC ceremony and the beginning of several changes for the Adama family...
A/N: Thanks to lanalucy for the beta. *hugs*
A/N2: This is part of an open 'verse, which begins with " Normaling"
Laura sat next to Vice Principal Romo Lampkin in the front row of the auditorium. Billy and Sam sat on her other side. It was the first Awards Ceremony for the school’s NJROTC program. Bill was standing at the podium, looking very spiffy in his Dress Whites. He was the MC, getting over his apparent fear of public speaking, (a major inconsistency in his character that she found completely adorable) addressing the successes throughout the unit’s first year. Laura knew there were many, as she and Bill had spent hours poring over the program, getting the funding and grants approved, forming a student recruitment policy that suited Laura’s sensitivities to the impressionable youths in her school as well as Bill’s needs.
They gelled well together: Bill didn’t glorify war or the military life, but he’d explained it was a possible career path for those who were suited for it. He swore never to make promises of future success in any of the armed forces nor to invite recruiters into his classroom. Laura was grateful the cadets had him for a role model.
Zak, Felix, Kara, Karl, and Felix’s friend Louis had been among the first to sign up, and they’d quickly risen to command staff, along with Kendra Shaw and Anastasia Dualla. Kara had become the company commander, the highest ranking officer in the unit. It was a move that had surprised many of her former teachers but a wise choice that Laura and Bill each supported 100%.
When he’d been mulling over the candidates for the position, Kara and Felix had been on the short list. Bill had sat awake for hours trying to decide.
“What do you think, honey?” Bill asked finally, when he joined her in their bed.
“Hmm. Felix is a fine cadet. He knows all the rules and regs. Follows commands perfectly, but I’m not sure he has that leadership quality.”
“And Kara?”
“Kara’s Kara. She’ll mess up because she’s a risk-taker. The other cadets will follow her, but they won’t do it blindly. And it’ll give her an opportunity to grow.”
He kissed Laura’s hairline. She hummed in pleasure at the contact. “I think you’re right. She’ll thrive in the position.”
“And she’ll have us to turn to if she needs it.” She pulled him against her. “When’s the promotion?”
“I’ll do it tomorrow.”
“I’d like to be there.”
“Of course, Principal Roslin. I’ll send the memo first thing.”
“Thank you, Commander Adama.”
They were right. Kara had thrived in her role, and Bill wrote her a glowing recommendation letter, as did Laura for the NROTC scholarship. They were hopeful, but if it didn’t pan out, she could still attend school and enroll in the program. Her inheritance from Socrata would fund a lot of her education, and Bill and Laura had already decided to help her where they could. Giving her a home was certainly a start, and they were thrilled to have her around.
Laura felt a kick. Judy had been doing that much more of late. Judy kicked and moved so much and so hard that those around Laura noticed. Dr. Cottle said it was the baby’s way of announcing its presence. I know you’re here, sweetie, and I can’t wait to meet you. She hadn’t known she wanted children until she met Bill Adama, and then she’d been worried it was too late. The discovery that it wasn’t too late had been as welcome a surprise as it was shocking--and was often uncomfortable.
She didn’t fit into her suits anymore, but the maternity pants and blouses worked well enough. The faculty and staff were supportive, as were the students. That probably had to do with the many regime changes that had gone on since she’d taken over as Principal. Compared to Richard Adar and the former Vice Principal Thomas Zarek, Laura knew she was a popular choice, except among Zarek’s supporters, but his supporters had become quiet after she asked him to take over the philosophy classes. There would be little trouble from his corner anymore, Dr. Baltar was happy to stick with physics - he’d even been appreciative when she’d taken the other classes away from him, spreading them to the new faculty members she’d hired.
Anyway, no one seemed to mind she was walking around with a basketball sized stomach. Of course, that invited the legions of people who insisted on feeling her stomach. It was a reality she knew enough to accept, having watched Sandra deal with the same phenomenon. Still, she was over it, longing for the days when her pregnancy was in the past tense, when she could go back to being Laura. There would be fewer people to annoy her soon, as there were only a few more weeks of school. Then she’d spend her summer preparing for their new arrival, and she’d have maternity leave in the fall.
Romo was spending more time with her, learning her job, so he could take over during her leave. He was a quiet man and a bit strange, but he was sharp and honest. He was someone she felt she could trust with the school, and he had already been a godsend during the early days of her pregnancy.
Bill was concluding his speech. She knew it by heart, he’d rehearsed it so many times in the last few days. “And without further ado, I present the original Colonial High School NJROTC cadets.”
That meant it was time for the awards. Everyone would receive the Longevity ribbon for completing a year. She had glanced at the awards’ list, though, and it was very impressive. Several of her Colonial Runners were up for academic and leadership awards, as were some of the other promising cadets--the future leaders of the unit.
Laura, Sam, Billy, and Romo, as well as the rest of the audience, clapped respectfully as the cadets were called to the podium to receive their awards. She listened intently as each name was called. Then there was a rustling in the aisle, so she turned to the sound. It was a young man with blue eyes. Bill’s blue eyes. She’d seen the picture Bill kept in his wallet enough times to identify the newcomer. It was her stepson Lee. She smiled at him, not at all sure how it would go over, but his presence alone gave her hope. “Lee.”
He nodded. “I’m here to support my brother Zak.”
“Of course you are. Come, have a seat.”
Without anyone asking, Romo vacated his seat, taking the one next to him. She thought he muttered a ‘good luck,’ but she couldn’t be sure. Lee maneuvered around Laura’s long legs and protruding stomach to get to his seat.
She offered her hand for him to shake once he was seated. “I’m Laura Roslin-Adama. I’ve heard so much about you, Lee.”
He nodded and accepted her hand, shaking it. “Likewise, ma’am. Zak won’t shut up about you.” There was no malice in his tone as he said it. Whatever Bill thought about his oldest son, the young man clearly loved his brother. He gestured to her stomach. “I guess that’s my younger...”
“Sister. Judy.” She smiled. “After my mother.”
“I, um, always wanted a little sister.”
“I’m glad. She could use a pair of brothers.” She giggled. “If she’s anything like I was, she’ll be a handful. But she’s been blessed with a large extended family.”
He cleared his throat. “Is there, um, any room for me in it?”
She reached across the chair to place her hand on her stepson’s arm. “Always. Whatever you need, we’re here.”
“Just like that?”
She nodded. “Your father taught me that.”
“My father. I don’t...we have...it’s complicated.”
She hummed. “Always is in families. Let me give you a hint - don’t make it over-complicated. Just give the Old Man a hug, and the rest will work itself out.”
“Thanks...um, what should I call you?”
“Laura’s fine for now.”
“You’d let me call you ‘mom’?”
She nodded. “If you’re comfortable with it, sure. Kara and Zak do.”
“Kara?”
“My, uh, daughter, essentially. Your father and I took her in.”
He nodded. “I’m beginning to see what you mean about this family. It’s...nice.”
She beamed at him. “You have no idea, Lee.”
///////////////////////////////////////////////
In the end, her oldest stepson took her advice. After the ceremony, he gave his brother a congratulatory hug, and then he slowly approached his father. “Dad.”
Bill gave a small smile. “Son.”
Then Lee tentatively put his arms around his father, and Bill pulled him in even tighter, giving him a bear hug.
Seeing they were working things out, Laura turned to her Colonial Runners. Kara held up her Top Gun trophy, before throwing her arms around Laura, holding the trophy loosely against Laura’s back. “Did you know about this, mom?”
“Of course. Where do you think he got the eligibility information?”
“Is it wrong I’m more excited about this than my graduation?”
Laura shook her head. “This is more of a family, isn’t it? I’ll still be proud to hand you your diploma, honey.”
Kara nodded. “Is that Lee with Dad?”
“It is.” Laura smiled. “A very nice surprise too.”
Kara shrugged. “Just as long as I don’t have to share my room.”
Laura just laughed. Bursting with love--and probably hormones.
They stood there for a moment, but then Kara supported Laura’s back, as they walked off the stage and sat down in the front row. Laura squeezed her daughter’s hand. “Thanks for that.”
Kara nodded. “I figured you’d be getting achy.”
“Yeah, all the time now.”
“The Old Man better take care of you tonight, then.”
“Starbuck!”
Kara shrugged. “Just sayin’. I meant a backrub, anyway.”
Laura laughed. “I think I’ll be well cared for, thank you.”
Kara snorted and Laura squeezed her hand tighter. Together they watched the three Adama men talking on the stage near the podium. It was difficult to tell there had ever been a rift between Lee and Bill. Judy kicked again. If their family kept expanding, Kara might need to share her room.
Next Installment by the lovely afrakaday (in which Judy Adama enters the world)
The Littlest Fan by afrakaday (in which the Adama clan get into March Madness, led by Judy Adama)
The first Installment of the Ikeaverse!Puppy
Rating: T
Word Count: ~1700
Pairing: A/R
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Summary: It's the first end-of-year NJROTC ceremony and the beginning of several changes for the Adama family...
A/N: Thanks to lanalucy for the beta. *hugs*
A/N2: This is part of an open 'verse, which begins with " Normaling"
Laura sat next to Vice Principal Romo Lampkin in the front row of the auditorium. Billy and Sam sat on her other side. It was the first Awards Ceremony for the school’s NJROTC program. Bill was standing at the podium, looking very spiffy in his Dress Whites. He was the MC, getting over his apparent fear of public speaking, (a major inconsistency in his character that she found completely adorable) addressing the successes throughout the unit’s first year. Laura knew there were many, as she and Bill had spent hours poring over the program, getting the funding and grants approved, forming a student recruitment policy that suited Laura’s sensitivities to the impressionable youths in her school as well as Bill’s needs.
They gelled well together: Bill didn’t glorify war or the military life, but he’d explained it was a possible career path for those who were suited for it. He swore never to make promises of future success in any of the armed forces nor to invite recruiters into his classroom. Laura was grateful the cadets had him for a role model.
Zak, Felix, Kara, Karl, and Felix’s friend Louis had been among the first to sign up, and they’d quickly risen to command staff, along with Kendra Shaw and Anastasia Dualla. Kara had become the company commander, the highest ranking officer in the unit. It was a move that had surprised many of her former teachers but a wise choice that Laura and Bill each supported 100%.
When he’d been mulling over the candidates for the position, Kara and Felix had been on the short list. Bill had sat awake for hours trying to decide.
“What do you think, honey?” Bill asked finally, when he joined her in their bed.
“Hmm. Felix is a fine cadet. He knows all the rules and regs. Follows commands perfectly, but I’m not sure he has that leadership quality.”
“And Kara?”
“Kara’s Kara. She’ll mess up because she’s a risk-taker. The other cadets will follow her, but they won’t do it blindly. And it’ll give her an opportunity to grow.”
He kissed Laura’s hairline. She hummed in pleasure at the contact. “I think you’re right. She’ll thrive in the position.”
“And she’ll have us to turn to if she needs it.” She pulled him against her. “When’s the promotion?”
“I’ll do it tomorrow.”
“I’d like to be there.”
“Of course, Principal Roslin. I’ll send the memo first thing.”
“Thank you, Commander Adama.”
They were right. Kara had thrived in her role, and Bill wrote her a glowing recommendation letter, as did Laura for the NROTC scholarship. They were hopeful, but if it didn’t pan out, she could still attend school and enroll in the program. Her inheritance from Socrata would fund a lot of her education, and Bill and Laura had already decided to help her where they could. Giving her a home was certainly a start, and they were thrilled to have her around.
Laura felt a kick. Judy had been doing that much more of late. Judy kicked and moved so much and so hard that those around Laura noticed. Dr. Cottle said it was the baby’s way of announcing its presence. I know you’re here, sweetie, and I can’t wait to meet you. She hadn’t known she wanted children until she met Bill Adama, and then she’d been worried it was too late. The discovery that it wasn’t too late had been as welcome a surprise as it was shocking--and was often uncomfortable.
She didn’t fit into her suits anymore, but the maternity pants and blouses worked well enough. The faculty and staff were supportive, as were the students. That probably had to do with the many regime changes that had gone on since she’d taken over as Principal. Compared to Richard Adar and the former Vice Principal Thomas Zarek, Laura knew she was a popular choice, except among Zarek’s supporters, but his supporters had become quiet after she asked him to take over the philosophy classes. There would be little trouble from his corner anymore, Dr. Baltar was happy to stick with physics - he’d even been appreciative when she’d taken the other classes away from him, spreading them to the new faculty members she’d hired.
Anyway, no one seemed to mind she was walking around with a basketball sized stomach. Of course, that invited the legions of people who insisted on feeling her stomach. It was a reality she knew enough to accept, having watched Sandra deal with the same phenomenon. Still, she was over it, longing for the days when her pregnancy was in the past tense, when she could go back to being Laura. There would be fewer people to annoy her soon, as there were only a few more weeks of school. Then she’d spend her summer preparing for their new arrival, and she’d have maternity leave in the fall.
Romo was spending more time with her, learning her job, so he could take over during her leave. He was a quiet man and a bit strange, but he was sharp and honest. He was someone she felt she could trust with the school, and he had already been a godsend during the early days of her pregnancy.
Bill was concluding his speech. She knew it by heart, he’d rehearsed it so many times in the last few days. “And without further ado, I present the original Colonial High School NJROTC cadets.”
That meant it was time for the awards. Everyone would receive the Longevity ribbon for completing a year. She had glanced at the awards’ list, though, and it was very impressive. Several of her Colonial Runners were up for academic and leadership awards, as were some of the other promising cadets--the future leaders of the unit.
Laura, Sam, Billy, and Romo, as well as the rest of the audience, clapped respectfully as the cadets were called to the podium to receive their awards. She listened intently as each name was called. Then there was a rustling in the aisle, so she turned to the sound. It was a young man with blue eyes. Bill’s blue eyes. She’d seen the picture Bill kept in his wallet enough times to identify the newcomer. It was her stepson Lee. She smiled at him, not at all sure how it would go over, but his presence alone gave her hope. “Lee.”
He nodded. “I’m here to support my brother Zak.”
“Of course you are. Come, have a seat.”
Without anyone asking, Romo vacated his seat, taking the one next to him. She thought he muttered a ‘good luck,’ but she couldn’t be sure. Lee maneuvered around Laura’s long legs and protruding stomach to get to his seat.
She offered her hand for him to shake once he was seated. “I’m Laura Roslin-Adama. I’ve heard so much about you, Lee.”
He nodded and accepted her hand, shaking it. “Likewise, ma’am. Zak won’t shut up about you.” There was no malice in his tone as he said it. Whatever Bill thought about his oldest son, the young man clearly loved his brother. He gestured to her stomach. “I guess that’s my younger...”
“Sister. Judy.” She smiled. “After my mother.”
“I, um, always wanted a little sister.”
“I’m glad. She could use a pair of brothers.” She giggled. “If she’s anything like I was, she’ll be a handful. But she’s been blessed with a large extended family.”
He cleared his throat. “Is there, um, any room for me in it?”
She reached across the chair to place her hand on her stepson’s arm. “Always. Whatever you need, we’re here.”
“Just like that?”
She nodded. “Your father taught me that.”
“My father. I don’t...we have...it’s complicated.”
She hummed. “Always is in families. Let me give you a hint - don’t make it over-complicated. Just give the Old Man a hug, and the rest will work itself out.”
“Thanks...um, what should I call you?”
“Laura’s fine for now.”
“You’d let me call you ‘mom’?”
She nodded. “If you’re comfortable with it, sure. Kara and Zak do.”
“Kara?”
“My, uh, daughter, essentially. Your father and I took her in.”
He nodded. “I’m beginning to see what you mean about this family. It’s...nice.”
She beamed at him. “You have no idea, Lee.”
///////////////////////////////////////////////
In the end, her oldest stepson took her advice. After the ceremony, he gave his brother a congratulatory hug, and then he slowly approached his father. “Dad.”
Bill gave a small smile. “Son.”
Then Lee tentatively put his arms around his father, and Bill pulled him in even tighter, giving him a bear hug.
Seeing they were working things out, Laura turned to her Colonial Runners. Kara held up her Top Gun trophy, before throwing her arms around Laura, holding the trophy loosely against Laura’s back. “Did you know about this, mom?”
“Of course. Where do you think he got the eligibility information?”
“Is it wrong I’m more excited about this than my graduation?”
Laura shook her head. “This is more of a family, isn’t it? I’ll still be proud to hand you your diploma, honey.”
Kara nodded. “Is that Lee with Dad?”
“It is.” Laura smiled. “A very nice surprise too.”
Kara shrugged. “Just as long as I don’t have to share my room.”
Laura just laughed. Bursting with love--and probably hormones.
They stood there for a moment, but then Kara supported Laura’s back, as they walked off the stage and sat down in the front row. Laura squeezed her daughter’s hand. “Thanks for that.”
Kara nodded. “I figured you’d be getting achy.”
“Yeah, all the time now.”
“The Old Man better take care of you tonight, then.”
“Starbuck!”
Kara shrugged. “Just sayin’. I meant a backrub, anyway.”
Laura laughed. “I think I’ll be well cared for, thank you.”
Kara snorted and Laura squeezed her hand tighter. Together they watched the three Adama men talking on the stage near the podium. It was difficult to tell there had ever been a rift between Lee and Bill. Judy kicked again. If their family kept expanding, Kara might need to share her room.
Next Installment by the lovely afrakaday (in which Judy Adama enters the world)
The Littlest Fan by afrakaday (in which the Adama clan get into March Madness, led by Judy Adama)
The first Installment of the Ikeaverse!Puppy