CHAPTER 1

* The Echolls*

Logan Echolls was sitting in his home office that was located in his huge house in the 909 zip code only 3 blocks from were his childhood house used to be. Logan was trying to write his third novel. His first two novels sold millions and put him on the top of the best sellers list. His first book Growing Up Echolls, which he wrote in three months while Veronica was away on her big FBI internship and not speaking to him, was a big success. It seemed everyone was still interested in Aaron Echolls, but many were shocked in what they read. None more then his sister Trina, who was not happy with his first book and proceeded to tell everyone on every talk show or any magazine that would pay money.

However, his first novel's success wasn't the biggest news story of the year for him. When Veronica finally showed up at his hotel room at the end of the summer, she told him that she was pregnant and just walked out, leaving him stunned.

When his second novel came out at the end of his junior year, it was the epic love story that just had to be written. Once Epic LoVe came out, the only talking everyone was doing was about the ending of his book in which he proposes to his epic love and mother of his son. All this he accomplished before he was out of college. Now a husband and a father of two at 33 years old, he finds himself concentrating more on his favorite family picture. He couldn't believe he and Veronica were married for almost thirteen years. What was even harder to believe is that they have two kids Logan (Lo), who's twelve and his spitting image, or the little fish as his Veronica so lovingly calls him. Then there's Lynn his baby girl. He finally understood why Keith was so overprotective. His little ten year old Lynn had daddy wrapped around her pretty little finger. He was lost in thought when he heard a voice from the door.

"That better not be a picture of some girl you met on your book tour!"

Logan laughed and looked up. "Nope. It just happens to be of my three favorite people in the whole world," he told Veronica as she came into the room.

Veronica walked closer and sat on his lap. "Oh ya? Do I know them?" she asked.

He held the picture out of her reach for a second and said, "That info has a price!"

Veronica smiled. "Oh ya? And what would that be?"

He looked at her and said, "I'll settle for a kiss."

"Well, that I can do." She gave him a kiss.

He grinned and showed her the picture of them at the beach. Veronica smiled at her husband. He could be so sweet sometimes. "Now why would that be your favorite picture?"

He looked at her and pointed to his son in the photo. "Look at Lo`s face. He was so excited about surfing."

She laughed and pointed to her four year old daughter at the time in the picture. "Look at Lynn. She hates the beach."

"Yea, but she's so happy in this picture-just like her mommy," Logan said.

She thought for a second. "Yea, it was a great day. Hey, babe, I um," her voice trailed off, uncertain.

He looked his wife in the eyes and asked, "Is something wrong?"

Veronica took a deep breath and handed him the blue stick from her hand. "Is that what I think it is?" he asked, trying to contain his excitement.

She nodded her head yes. "It's positive."

He smiled and said, "I can see that. Are you sure?"

"I haven't seen a doctor yet, but I took six tests," she confessed.

He stood up and swung her around. She laughed. "Someone's happy," she remarked, looking down at his obvious joy.

"How could you think I wouldn't be?" he asked, sitting her down on her feet.

"After we had Lynn, we agreed we were done having kids," Veronica reminded him.

"Yea, well, looks like we were wrong," he replied with a happy grin. Just as he said that, they heard screaming from down stairs. Logan looked at his wife and smiled. "Your kids are arguing."

"Oh, my kids? When they're misbehaving they're mine, but when Lo won his surfing competition it was 'My amazing son'," she said, mimicking him.

"Yep, we're a team. You get the fighting," Logan said with a smirk.

"Ah, no, I don't think so," she said as she grabbed his hand to pull him with her. "Come on, Daddy."

Logan groaned and followed his wife down to their living room where the two kids were fighting over the TVs remote. In his best angry father voice demanded, "What is going on in here?" Lynn looked up at him with her big blue eyes that reminded him so much of her mom's, but what made him laugh to himself was at ten she already had that head tilt her mom perfected.

"Daddy, I'm trying to do my homework for government, which is to watch the news. And Lo," she stopped to stick her tongue at her brother, "won't let me. He rather play video games."

Lo rolled his eyes. "Come on! You were watching The Clue, the mystery channel, not the news!" he said defensively.

Logan looked at his son. "Did you finish your homework?" he asked him.

"Yes, Dad," he answered.

Logan smiled at him and said, "Then let's go see Uncle Dick at his shop, and let your sister do her homework with your mom. Your new board should be ready by now." Before he even finished his sentence, his son was half way to the car.

Veronica laughed. "I guess that settles it," she said, walking with her husband to the front door. They kissed at the door, but both smiled when Lo hit the horn from the car.

Lynn groaned in annoyance, "Mom!" from the couch.

Veronica reached up to whisper in her husbands ear, "Are your sure you want to do this all over again with a third one?"

He kissed her again and whispered, "A forth, fifth, sixth.." As he closed the door, he looked back one more time and laughingly added, "Seventh." He gave a final salute and left.

Lynn looked at her mom confused, "Seventh what, Mom?" she asked her mom.

Veronica shook her head. "Nothing, Lynn baby. What's your assignment about?"

"We have to watch the news and write a Who, What, When, Where, and Why to discuss in class." she explained.

Veronica sat down on the couch next to her daughter. "Okay, well, then maybe you should have it on the news then," she said as she turned to channel 10.

The five o'clock news reporter was saying, "We have breaking news coming about the fugitive, billionaire kidnapper that was finally found after 14 years. Full story after these commercials."

Veronica quickly grabbed the remote again and pressed the record button on their DVR as a photo of a man she thought she would never see again flashed on the screen.

*Casablancas Surf Shop*

Logan and Lo walked into Casabancas Surf Shop to witness one of his best friends doing what he does best: talking about his surf boards and surfing. Dick looked up as the bell rang and said, "Hey, Lo, I have the board in the back. It came out so cool. Ricky's back there. Go tell him to show you." Once Lo was out of ear shot, he looked at Logan. "You will never guess what I just heard on the radio."

Logan laughed. "What? Is the world coming to an end 'cause I think we have time."

Dick shook his head. "No, dude. They finally caught up with Duncan," Dick shared.

Logan looked like someone punched him in the gut as he said, "When?"

"Last night in Australia," he replied. "The Radio said he's on his way back here as we speak. Right into Sheriff Mars very own sheriff's department."

Logan turned even whiter. "This is not good, Dick. You know Veronica. She is going to want to help him."

Dick looked at his friend. "Dude, she's changed a lot since Lynn was kidnapped by that crazy bomber guy. She retired because of it."

Logan looked up again and said, "I know and that whole ordeal nearly destroyed us."

Dick nodded and replied, "She loves you, Logan. Duncan can't change that even if she does help him."

Logan laughed as his cell phone rang Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing". "Looks like we will find out," he replied as he answered the phone.

Lo and Ricky in back of Casablancas surf.*

Lo walked in behind his best friend, Ricky, who was waxing a customer's surf board while listening to a book from his iPod. Lo smiled to himself and yelled, "Ricky!"

Ricky jumped so high the wax fell all over the floor and surf board. He looked at his best friend who's laughing so hard he's crying. "Dude, not funny! I almost had a heart attack!"

Lo stopped laughing. "I'm sorry, but your face was perfect!"

Ricky looked at him, clearly not amused and said, "You are so finishing the board. You know I hate this surf stuff!"

Lo looked serious and said, "Sorry. Just tell your dad you don't like surfing."

Ricky shook his head. "That would kill him. What are you doing here? I thought you had homework to finish?"

Lo shrugged. "Finished it. Your dad said my new board came in, so Dad brought me over."

Ricky nodded. "Right there," he said as he pointed to a white cover.

Lo walked over and pulled off the cover. "Awesome! Thanks."

Ricky looked around and asked, "Where's Lynn?"

Lo shook his head. "Home doing homework still with my mom. Just tell her you like her already instead of moping and stalking."

Ricky looked at his friend. "I can't 'cause she won't feel the same. I'm not like you, Lo. Everyone loves you. You have this vortex that draws people in."

Lo laughed. "If you say so, bro. See you at school tomorrow," he said with a wave goodbye. He turned and carried the board out front. As he was walking out heard Ricky yell, "Dude, you we're going to finish the board!"

He yelled back, "Sorry! No time! Bye!" He left before Ricky could chase him down.

* Mars & Fennels*

Like every other Sunday, Alicia Mars was sitting in her back yard watching her husband play basketball with her youngest son waiting for the rest of her big family to get to their family BBQ. She couldn't believe what her life had become. She was a wife to a good man who loved her and her two sons like they were his own as she did his daughter. She would have never of thought when she first moved here to give Wallace and Darrell a better life, she would meet Keith Mars or that she would be a grandmother of four. Her relationship with Keith wasn't always easy. The first time they dated his ex wife had suddenly appeared back into his life and stole $50,000 from Keith and his daughter, Veronica. However, that all changed when she got a surprising phone call from Veronica.

Flashback: Alicia was sitting at her desk at Kane software when her cell phone rang. She looked at the caller id and saw Veronica's name. She pressed the answer button and said, "Hi ,Veronica. Wallace isn't with me, sweetie."

It sounded like Veronica was taking a deep breath when she said, "I know I just talked to him earlier. I was hoping I could talk to you about something.

Alicia thought she heard a tinge of desperation in her voice and said, "Sure, honey. Is everything okay with your internship?"

"Yes and no, but that's not what I wanted to talk to you about." Veronica thought for a second and started talking really fast. "I think I'm pregnant and I don't know what to do."

Alicia was trying to make sense of what she just said, but she couldn't. "Honey, calm down and repeat that, please."

Veronica started again and tried not to blurt it out again. "I'm late, and I think I'm pregnant. I have no idea what I'm going to do. I can't tell my dad because he'll freak out. Wallace wasn't much better. It was kind of his idea to call you. I'm sorry to have bothered you, I shouldn't have called."

"No, it's okay. Are you sure?" Alicia replied.

"Yes," Veronica said softly then continued, "I went to the doctor here for my physical, and they took blood. I'm not that far along, but I'm pregnant. I have been doing desk duty here."

Alicia thought for a second and asked, "Have you told the father yet?" Her only reply was "no" so she pushed a little more. "You have to tell him. It's his responsibility too-unless you're not going to keep this baby. But even so, he has a right to know."

Veronica was starting to cry again. "I can't tell him either. We didn't exactly leave things on a good note. He's been calling, but I just can't pick up. I don't think I should do this over the phone."

"So you are going to keep this baby? I mean that's what you decided?" Alicia asked. When the line went silent, she said, "Veronica?"

Veronica taking another big breath and said with a strong voice said, "I am."

Alicia smiled and said, "Well, that's great. Congratulations. " She waited a second and continued, "You know your dad would love to hear he's going to be a grandpa." When she didn't reply, Alicia continued, "The sooner you tell him the better it will be. Not to mention the baby's father. Can I ask who the father is?"

Veronica answered, "It's Logan's, but I can't tell him over the phone." Veronica laughed to herself and said, "I can't tell him at all, but I know I should, and I will in person when I get back." Alicia was about to say something about how she should tell him now but thought better of it. Then Veronica said, "I should go, but thank you so much. I feel so much better talking it out with you. Thank you for listening. It's not like I can call my own mom.

Alicia smiled. "It's okay. I'm here if you need to talk." Then in her mom's voice she scolded. "Call your dad and tell him."

End of Flashback

Alicia sat there remembering that phone call that brought her and Veronica closer. It also brought her and Keith closer because she ran into him at the mall when she was looking for a gift to send to Veronica. He was so intensely looking at a newborn outfit that said, "I didn't do it. No one saw me. I want to talk to Grandpa." She laughed to herself and walked up to him and said, "Now that is a great choice, Grandpa even if you weren't sheriff."

Keith laughed at her comment but answered, "Grandpa. I'm really going to be a grandpa." He thought for a second and said, "Can I take you to lunch? Veronica told me how you helped her, and I'd really like to thank you."

Alicia shook her head. "Lunch would be great, but you don't have to thank me. It was my pleasure."

Who would have thought that one lunch would turn into a marriage? Even as she thought that, her five year old granddaughter was tugging on her arm. "Grandma! Grandma! Are you okay?"

"Yes, honey. Where's your daddy?"

The little girl looked up again. "Outside getting the stuff out of the car for the BBQ."

Alicia stood up. "Okay, Angelia. Baby, go play with Uncle Darrel, T, and Grandpa, and I'll go help daddy." She walked out front as the little girl skipped to her grandfather.

Outside she saw her son grabbing bags out of his car and asked, "Can I help?"

"No, Mom. I got it, thanks." She followed him into the kitchen. Wallace put the stuff down on the table. "Where's Logan, V, and the kids?"

Alicia replied, "Your sister's on her way. They had to stop and pick up Lynn from dance and Lo from baseball."

He nodded, "Okay."

She continued, "They're playing basketball outside if you want to go play. I'll start getting the stuff for the grill out." As she watched Wallace go out the back door, she heard Veronica come through the front door. "Dad, where are you?"

Alicia walked out to the living room "He's outside," she replied, giving her a hug as Lynn and Lo ran outside. Alicia laughed watching them. "Where's Logan?"

"Outside getting stuff from the trunk," Veronica said.

Wallace saw the kids run outside into the backyard. Realizing Veronica had arrived, he went into talk to Veronica about the whole Duncan returning thing. However, he changed his mind and instead said, "I'll go help him."

Veronica replied, "Thank you," to his back as he waved.

Outside, he saw Logan grab a couple bags from the trunk. "How many people does V think she's feeding?" Wallace asked.

Logan laughed. "An army."

Wallace sat on the bumper and asked, "How are you and Veronica handling the whole Duncan getting caught thing?"

Logan shrugged. "She won't talk about him. All she'll say is she wants to see him." As they talked Veronica came outside to see what was holding them up.

She came behind Logan and put her hand around him from behind and kissed his back. "Hey, you two. Dad wants to start the grill."

Wallace picked up the last of the bags and said, "Okay. We're coming."

*The Fall of Kane*

Keith was sitting at his desk on Monday morning when he heard a knock on his door. "Come in."

Deputy Leo opened the door and said, "Sheriff, Mr. and Miss Kane are here. The car just drove up with Mr. Kane and the girl. The reporters are all camped out in the front. The FBI is in interrogation room one."

Keith got up from his desk and walked around towards the door and said, "Okay, let's get this over with then. We need to get Duncan in fast and as easy as we can and make sure Lilly's face is covered. She's been through enough."

Leo nodded and left the office. Keith watched him leave and inhaled and exhaled then looked up and said to Amy, the new receptionist, "Okay let them in."

Amy smiled at him. "Are you sure? Mrs. Kane seems like a bitch. She's been yelling since she got here how about we are treating her son."

Keith laughed. "I'm ready. Let them in."

Amy walked up to the Kanes and as nice as she could and said, "The Sheriff is ready for you."

Cellist Kane got up and walked to the door yelling, "It's about time! Do you know who we are?"

Keith looked up from the file cabinet were he was reading Duncan's case file that he had to give the FBI and shook Jake's hand. "Mr. and Mrs. Kane. It's nice to see you again. I wish it was on better terms."

Jake smiled back and said, "Thank you, Keith. How's Veronica doing these days?"

Keith smiled and showed them the latest picture of Logan, Veronica, and the kids. "She's doing great. In fact, we just learned last night I'm going to be a grandfather again. She's having their third child."

Jake tried his best to smile. "That's great you must be thrilled."

Celeste, however, was tired of hearing all this and asked, "When can we see Duncan?"

For the first time since they got to the station, Keith looked at her and replied, "As soon as my deputies get him inside. We had to take more precautions because of reporters and your granddaughter."

As they talked, they heard that same girl yell in a scared tone from outside, "Can I take this thing off my face now? I want my daddy."

Leo reached down and took off her mask. "Sorry, sweetie, but it's better for you if they don't know what you look like yet. That's why we took you in from the back and not the front with your dad."

Celeste and Jake ran out of the office and came face to face with an almost 14 year old Lilly. "Sweetheart, look at you!" Celeste said. For once, a genuine smile was on her face. Lilly looked at them and asked, "Who are you?" just as her dad came in the front door.

"My parents, baby," Duncan said. Lilly ran to her dad, who was in handcuffs.

As Celeste saw her son's hands, she had a fit. "Why is my son in cuffs?" she demanded angrily.

Two FBI agents were right behind him and heard the question. One said, "'Cause he's a kidnaper who's been on the run for thirteen-no wait it is fourteen years. I'd say he's a flight risk, Ma'am."

One of the agents shook Keith's hand, "Thank you for the use of your department, Sheriff." He turned to the deputy and said, "Can you please bring Mr. Kane into interrogation room one? My partner is waiting for him." He turned to the Kanes and said, "You can see him soon. Then we can discuss the custody of your granddaughter."

Just as he walked into the room, Meg's parents came through the Sheriff's department door. "We were informed you found our granddaughter?" Meg's dad asked.

They all turned around, but Celeste was the first to speak. "NO! NO! You are not getting near my granddaughter! We are taking custody. Our lawyers already secured it."

As both couples argued, Keith looked at the scared little girl, and he saw his daughter. He bent down a little to speak with her. "You must be hungry. How about we order a pizza?"

Lilly looked up at the Sheriff and answered, "Thank you, sir."

While Keith and Lilly were in his office ordering dinner, a women came running through the door right in the middle of the grandparents arguing. "Where are my husband and daughter?" the woman asked.

* Inside interrogations room 1*

The agents sat down across from Duncan and handed him a note pad. "Okay, we have read you your rights. Now we would like you to write down your side of the story, starting with how you got away with it in the first place. Start with names and dates.

Duncan took the note pad and scribbled two words down on it and handed it back to the agents. Agent Reid shook and his head and handed the pad to agent McCoy, who read the two words out loud. "Bite me."

Agent Reid said, "Okay, Mr. Kane. Let's get real. We're going to find out the whole truth.

Duncan looked him in the eyes and asked, "Where is my lawyer?"

CHAPTER END