Title: The Healing Process 1/6
Pairing/Character: Logan/Veronica, Keith, Aaron
Word Count: 870
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Logan and Veronica deal with Aaron's acquittal.
Spoilers: Through 2.21
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Rob Thomas.

Chapter 1

Veronica could not believe what just happened. Did Aaron Echolls really got acquitted? She could not believe her ears when she heard the verdict. She had been waiting for that moment for such a long timer. For a moment when Aaron Echolls would hear that he would be spending the rest of his life in jail. She had longed to see the expression on his face when he would be pronouned guilty, when he would realize that he would never be a free man again. But it didn't happen. She was the one who had to realize that Aaron Echolls was indeed a free man again. As soon as the jury pronounced him as "not guilty", he was was free to go around and keep hurting people just like he always did. Veronica could not believe that he was gonna get away with Lilly's murder. After everything he put her and his own family through, he was just gonna go into the world like nothing ever happened.

She looked at him getting into his limo. He sent her an evil wink and more than anything in the world she wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off his face. She caught a glimpse of Logan who seemed to be just as shocked as she was about his father getting acquitted. She hated the fact that she couldn't just go over to him and talk and find out how he's doing. So much has happened and she wasn't sure how to approach things between them. She wanted to be there for him, but she couldn't forget the morning after the alterna prom and what she saw in Logan's room. She hated what she felt when she saw Kendall with Logan, but what she hated more was ot being there for Logan. She could see how much he was hurting and the pain in his eyes was killing her as well.

"You ok?" she suddenly felt someone touching her shoulder. She turned around and saw her dad with a concerned look on his face. She knew he hated all this as much as she did.

"I imagine myself sticking his head on a pole and smashing it against the wall. That doesn't mean I"m ok, does it?"

Keith couldn't help but smile. "I guess not. But I don't blame you for your reaction. I'm not a fan of the guy myself, you know that."

"Yeah I do." she sighed and one more time looked at the spot where Aaron's limo diappeared a few seconds ago. Then she looked to where Logan was standing a seond ago, but he was now gone. She couldn't help but feel concerned.

"Hey, how about we get home and I will fix you something extraordinary to eat?" Keith suggested and Veronica felt that just going home and hanging out with her dad might be a good idea, that it might somehow make things easier.

"Sounds like a plan." she smiled weakly and the two of them started heading towards Keith's car.

The way home went awfully quite as neither of them knew what they were supposed to say or do. Keith knew that there were millions of thoughts going through Veronica's head, but for some reason she wasn't willing to share them just yet.

Once they got home and inside the apartment Veronica seemed to feel a little bit more comfortable and inclined to talk about everything that has been on her mind.

"I can't believe this is happening, dad, I just can't." she said sitting down on the couch. Today was supposed to be the day when justice is finally served. I can't believe they let him go. I can't believe they let Lilly's murderer go." she said as single tears started rolling down her cheeks. Keith sat down next to her and put her arm around her.

"I know, sweetheart, I know." he stroked her hair and for a while they just sat there contemplating what had happened.

Veronica was the first one to break the silence. "So how about that extraordinary something to eat?" she winked at Keith.

"O right." he rose from the couch and started checking the fridge and the cupboards in the kitchen. "I'm sorry honey, but the only thing I can do with this stuff is an extraordinary spaghetti."

"So much for your promises." she laughed.

"Well if you didn't forget to go shopping, maybe there would be something to eat in this house."

"It doesn't matter. Spaghetti would be fine. As long as it's extraordinary."

"Oh it will be, I promise." he smiled and noticed a strange expression on Veronica's face. It wasn't sadness or anger, although he knew very well that she felt that too. "What is it Veronica?" he finally asked.

"Nothing, I'm just glad I have you." sha said and sent him a loving look from the couch.

"And you always will. Always." he smiled and looked at her in a way that let her know that she was the most precious thing in the world to him. And she was so glad that she had him to comfort her, but couldn't help feeling that there is someone else out there who needs even more comforting.