Billy and Laura is a relationship on All American, portrayed by Taye Diggs and Monet Mazur.
History[]
At the beginning of the series, Billy and Laura had been married for almost two decades and together they had twins Jordan and Olivia. They initially had a happy relationship, despite the fact that they were an interracial couple, having worked hard to keep their lives together and be good parents to their children: Laura always supported Billy though his football career and coaching job and Billy always supported Laura with her political campaigns. Despite their flaws and through thick and thin, they always loved each other.
However, everything fell apart in "Best Kept Secret" when Billy told Laura that he had an affair with Grace many years before, during a moment of deep emotional vulnerability. Laura was understandably heartbroken and devastated, resolving that she pretty much wanted nothing to do with Billy anymore. She started to constantly push him away and tried to keep their interactions very brief after finding out the truth. Billy then decided to talk to Laura at the end of "Hard Knock Life", telling her that she was the love of his life and that he wanted them to get back to what they had before. Laura was hesitant but ultimately decided to try some couple therapy. While talking to the therapist in "Coming Home", they both slowly started to understand where each was coming from. After knowing the details of Billy's affair, Laura was even more hurt, but after hearing the twins talk about how they would always be there for each other, she decided to hear Billy out. He told her how much she meant to him, apologizing for what he did and telling her that he would do anything to get back to what they had: after hearing him saying this, Laura seemed to soften her position and even kissed him. However, this all was short lived as therapy actually made Laura realize that she had to move on with her life, giving a heartbroken Billy separation papers to sign. Resigned to accept his wife's ultimate decision, Billy decided to definitively move out from the family mansion and go live elsewhere, much to both his and Laura's heartbreak.
Even though their marriage seemed to have come to an end, the two settled into an amicable relationship, showing that they still had deep respect and support for each other. However, as time went on and things calmed down, the two of them started to grow closer again and rebuild what they had, finally getting back together in "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)", when they even renewed their vows. From then on, their marriage went back to be stronger than ever as they eventually decided to move from Beverly Hills to South Crenshaw when Billy was offered to become principal at South Crenshaw High. However, all of a sudden a tragedy struck Billy and Laura to disrupt their rekindled happiness: when his team's bus crashed, Billy stayed behind to carry one of his players to safety, but unfortunately he died in his place. Laura, as well as Jordan, Olivia and both Beverly and South Crenshaw communities, was devastated by his loss and it took her quite some time to grieve him and adjust her new life as a widow. Thanks to her family's help, however, she was eventually able to recover and make peace with his passing away, cherishing her and Billy's love for each other and what they created together forever.
