Title: Resolution
Author: ophelia2007
Pairing: LoVe. Eventually.
Summary: A few months after solving the Hearst rape mystery, Veronica disappeared from Hearst and Neptune. Sixteen years on, someone finally finds her. Unfortunately, some things have changed.
Rating: T, just for language.
Disclaimer: basically, I own nothing. I really really wish I did though. We would've seen Angry!Logan! in a cell with Mercer if I owned something. And LoVe would just be permanent, with no glitches, flaws or imperfections. Ohhhh how I wish I owned something. sob
A/N: The only thing that differs between this fic and the show (up to 3.09) is that Mercer did rape Veronica. But you don't really need to know that yet. Oh, and I don't like this first chapter much. It's more of a scene-setting thing. Next chapter better. Promise.

Chapter One

"Breakfast time, honey!" Veronica screamed to the sixteen year old who was just waking upstairs.
There was a five minute delay before Lilly Mars dawdled downstairs, dressed in tight jeans and a low-cut top. Veronica almost laughed when she saw her – the similarities between her daughter and her namesake were often more than coincidental, and somewhat disconcerting.
"Come on, eat then school," she urged, though she knew her daughter needed no encouragement. Within three minutes, the pile of pancakes and lagoon of maple syrup had been consumed, and Lilly could be seen acting as a whirlwind: storming to her bedroom to find her school books, then back down stairs to find her car keys, before disappearing behind a cloud of dirty exhaust fumes as she drove to school.

Veronica, in contrast, spent more time with breakfast, showered and arrived at her office with twenty minutes to spare before her nine o'clock appointment. She passed her neon sign declaring "Mars", one of the only similarities between her father's and her own offices. The main difference was their location: Keith's back in Neptune, Veronica's in Seattle. Though she had originally only seen being a PI to last until the end of her college days, those days had ended before she had finished her course. Eventually being a full time PI had sufficed.

Sixteen years later, she had set up a series of offices, each time training an apprentice, of sorts. The arrangement had suited her: she had a successful, nationwide business, and she was able to move locations when she became bored or unhappy in the place she was. The only place she never returned to was, naturally, Neptune.

Though it was a frequent cause of friction between her and her father, Keith was aware that Neptune may not be the best place for either his daughter or granddaughter. News had always travelled quickly in the small Californian town, especially when it concerned the Mars family. Sixteen years ago, 2007, his daughter had 'mysteriously' disappeared after being involved in solving the Hearst rape crimes. Neither her friends nor boyfriend had any idea as to where she had gone. Keith's little girl had run to him as soon as she found out. She was eighteen and pregnant.

Most wouldn't mind continuing their college education and carrying a child. Veronica had been adamant: she'd only do one and she'd have the baby. It had half broken Keith's heart, and half made him the proudest, happiest father in the world to witness his only daughter deciding to follow his profession and become a mother.

It hadn't taken Veronica long to leave Neptune, either. She grew tired of hearing her father explain that his daughter wasn't there, and she moved to her own apartment two hours away, four months into her pregnancy. She lived modestly, and managed to do a little of the light, simple work for her father. She saved all the money she could, so that she was able to move.

Wisconsin was the chosen destination. After renting the smallest, cheapest office she could, Veronica set up Mars Incorporated. Though business was slow to begin with, she eventually became swamped and took on an apprentice. From there, her very own PI company had taken off.

Now, she was here: thirty five, her own house in the 'nice' side of town. Her daughter, her pride and joy, was happy, popular and studious. She thought of a time where she herself had been in that situation: sweet sixteen and untouchable. It was a beautiful place to be, and she hoped that history would never repeat itself.

She eyed her surroundings. Her décor was completely different to her father's: clean, cream walls and blue comfy chairs were features. It was sleek but not unfriendly, and she was pleased. She glanced at the large silver clock on the wall. 8.55, she had five minutes to check who wanted her services and make a bet with herself as to what he wanted.

She looked at the man's name twice. Dan Nanucke. It sounded foreign in some way, perhaps European. Maybe he was looking for a family member, someone he had lost. She logged on to PryingEyez to run his name through the database, looking for obvious people he'd want to find. Her confused state occurred when she could find him nowhere. She looked at the name again. Dan Nanucke. It seemed foreign, yet somehow very familiar.

She was about to dig a little deeper when the door to her main office opened. Immediately she looked up, wondering who this apparently non-existent man was. Upon first glance, he was everything she had once left behind: bleached blonde hair, tanned skin, shell necklace, board shorts. Yes, here stood a prime specimen of a surfer. What was a surfer doing in Seattle?!

"I'm looking for someone. Is this the right place?" The thick Australian accent threw her, both because she was expecting an American, and because this may well be the reason he couldn't be found on PryingEyez. Quickly she regained her composure.
"Unlikely. There are well over six billion people in the world. Your odds for finding the right person by complete chance are about... a googolplex to one," she smiled. "Who you looking for?"
"Veronica Mars," he stated simply.
"Woah. You're the luckiest man alive and that was my easiest job ever. You got me," she flashed a smile again, trying to put the nervous-looking man at ease. "You would be Mr Nanucke, I assume? Can I get you a coffee?"
"Please, Mrs Mars, call me Dan. And thank you but no."
"Technically, I'm Miss Mars; but please, call me Veronica. Have a seat and let's talk about why you're here," she signalled to the chair facing her desk.
"So my friend, Hansel, his girlfriend disappeared. In short, I need her found," Dan shrugged.
Veronica smiled, "Okay. I need you to give me as much detail about both her and him as you can. Where and when was she last seen? Are the police involved?"
Her client looked sheepish, "They're not, no. She went missing a little over sixteen years ago. My friend's name is Hansel Cogoll. Unfortunately, I know very little about her."
"I see. Why's that? And why, if you don't mind me asking, are you looking for her now?" Veronica was to say the least, utterly confused.
"I've been living in Australia for nearly twenty years. And Hansel… well, he's in denial. He doesn't want to admit that the reason he hasn't had a relationship since is that this girl hurt him so much. I'd just like to find her, so he can hear what happened and why it happened from her side. Right now, he just blames himself…" he trailed off, feeling guilty for making his friend sound so pathetic. Veronica just nodded, trying to understand.
"That doesn't really explain why you're looking now…"
"One of our friends is having a "30th" birthday party. She's invited our whole senior year. It would mean so much to Hansel if he could just take her as his date, or see her there. Just so he knows she's okay," Dan smiled weakly.
"Is there any way I can meet with Mr Cogoll?" Veronica asked, hopefully.
"Not really. He doesn't often leave his house. He used to be the life and soul, y'know? Now he barely even has a soul."
"What about family? Parents, siblings…?"
"Her mom disappeared years ago. Her dad is, I'm told, vastly overprotective of our daughter and won't say a word to anyone about her," Dan shrugged. "I'm sorry, I'm not much help."
"Don't worry, I've solved cases on less information than this. What about old school friends?"
"There was this one guy. Here, I have his details. And this girl," he handed two business cards to Veronica, who took them both with barely a glance.
"Thanks, Mr Nanucke. How about I take your number down and call you the minute I've got something?"
"Yeah, that'd be helpful. Thanks, Miss Mars. By the way, how much will I end up owing you?"
"$2500 per day. I know, it's expensive, but Mars Inc. really is the best."
"Woah. I was at high school with a PI; she didn't charge anywhere near that much…" he began.
"Well, she was a teenager, which would probably explain it. And of course, inflation has a lot to answer for." Veronica extended her right hand to shake his, "I'll be in touch."

Half an hour after Dan had left, Veronica glanced at the contact cards given to her. Simply designed, they declared her worst nightmares in bright black print: Wallace Fennel and Cindy Casablancas. She had heard from her father that Mac had married Dick, and there it was, confirmed. Quickly, Veronica looked at Dan's name again and confirmed what she had already worked out: Dan Nanucke could be reordered to read Duncan Kane. And, even worse, Hansel Cogoll read Logan Echolls. Fuck.

So, feedback, please?