Free at Last!

AN: This story was previously called Beach Stowaway; it was removed because I used song lyrics from a song outside of the US. I have edited some of the story to change the plot. I got a review from Caskett93 because she said it was similar to her story A Promise.

AU: This story takes place a little while after Veronica was asked by Logan to help find his mom. They decide to leave after things get way out of control with Logan's dad.

Prologue:

****Undisclosed Location****

Logan

"I am live standing outside of Oscar Wining Actor Aaron Echoll's home in Neptune, California where he is to make a press conference. He made one a few weeks ago after his wife Lynn Echoll's committed suicide by jumping off of the Coronado Bridge," a woman in a cheap suit is saying as I sit beside Veronica in the very uncomfortable airline chairs. We were watching the news passing time until our flight left. As I stare at the screen I can see my dad walking down the long drive way toward the gate. It wasn't too long ago that he forced me to take that same journey for him to comment about my mother. Oh the sweet memories!

"Thank you for coming. I have just found out that my son Logan Echoll's 17 has disappeared. I really don't understand why bad things are happening to my family, but I am worried for his safe return," he is talking as I see Trina walk up behind him. Man she is just like him anything to get the press to do a story or photo shoot. The two of them are playing the reporters. I tune the rest of the report out as I look at the tiny blonde beside me.

"We will now be loading seats 1 through 6," the airline lady says in a heavy accent.

"Ready," I ask.

"Yes," she says as she grabs her items. I walk ahead of her.

"Mr. Lester," the woman says as I hand her my boarding pass, ID and passport. "Enjoy, your flight," she half smiles as I take my items back, and walk down the hallway to the waiting plane. Veronica is two people behind me, but when I sit down I watch her.

Veronica excuses herself to the restroom before the flight takes off. We aren't sitting next to each other, but from my seat I can see her clearly. The older woman who is seated next to me starts talking about her cats as I watch a new woman sit down in the seat Veronica was once seated in. She turns to look in my direction, and I know that is my cue. I politely excuse myself from the woman and head to the restroom.

Once inside I quickly change out of the outfit I had on into something more coastal. I put on a pair of jeans with a Hawaiian shirt. I pull out tennis shoes and socks from my carry on. I took the blonde wig off revealing the dark brown hair that I had dyed at the motel, and put it in the bag along with my clothes. The last thing I do is put in the blue contacts back on that Veronica had gotten me. I smile looking in the mirror because I no longer looked like Aaron Echoll's son, but someone else. It was a good call when Veronica asked me to not shave. I had a slight 5 o'clock shadow that was slightly lighter than my hair.

I place the small bag inside of Veronica's carryon, and sat down beside the woman. Veronica looks back at me and smiled. She looked so different with auburn hair and pink streak. She had curled it slightly before putting the wig on. She had pulled half of it up into a messy pony tail leaving the streak out. She had put in contacts changing her eyes to a greenish blue. They reminded me of the ocean. Her smile was what got me; she now had fake braces on her teeth. She no longer looked like the innocent Sheriff's daughter, but a whole new person. I lean back into the seat to enjoy the trip to our new home. It felt good to be getting free. Yes, Free at Last!

****LoVe****

Lianne (A couple of days after Veronica and Logan left)

I saw her blonde hair before I really saw her face, but it was definitely the one person I hadn't wanted to get caught up in this cat and mouse game.

"Mom," she says as she takes in my utter distressed look.

"Veronica, it's not safe for you here. I don't know how you found me, but you need to leave," I snap toward her as I look over my shoulder. I had been doing that for so long now it was a habit. I was scared to death of what could happen to my daughter, which I left in Neptune, California. I left her for her own good. I left to protect her and her sister, but here she was.

"Where are you going?" she questions as I get up. I needed to see my other baby.

"I have to go, Veronica go home," I snap as she continues to follow me. She helps keeping a steady hand on my arm as I stumble toward my motel room. Thank god I was smart enough to get a room on the first floor. "Go, now," I say jerking my arm out of her grasp. I look over my shoulder again to see the man that I have been hiding from for so long. He had followed me. He hadn't seen us just yet. Veronica could get out of this unharmed and maybe just maybe so could her sister.

"Um, who is this," Veronica asks as the little girl looks up toward us as we entered the small room.

"That's your sister," I say as I pick her up.

"What do you mean my sister? Mom what did you do," she snaps as someone knocks on the door.

"Veronica, there's no time to talk about that. I saw Clarence Weidman outside, you need to go," I say as I push her sister into her arms, then rush about gathering up her things. There was no way he was getting her. "Take care of her, everything you'll need is in the bag. Promise me you'll keep her safe," I say as I plead with my eyes. I wasn't lying everything Veronica would need was in the bag; her birth certificate, and what little things she had were all in a small gym bag.

"I promise," she says as she tucks her into her side. "What's her name?" she asks as I hear the banging growing louder.

"Grace, now go before he breaks down the door," I say as I watch them go into the bathroom. Yes, she was smart. I watch as she gets out the small window closing it before I open the door.

"Lianne Mars, where is she?" Clarence demands from me.

"Veronica is at home, where she belongs," I fain innocence.

"You know damn well I'm not talking about Veronica. Where is Grace?" he yells as I catch sight of Veronica's blonde hair near the edge of the parking lot heading toward the café across the street. She would keep them safe. I would be fine.

****LoVe****