Disclaimer: I sadly don't own Veronica Mars.

A/N: The italics are VMVO in case you couldn't tell. I also think it's about damn time Piz grows a backbone, don't you? Time to go out with a bang, buddy.

Ch. 1 – Saviors and Surfers

Nothing says 'desperately trying to save my relationship' like a picnic on the beach. Now I'm not normally one to put much stock in something so cliché, but it seems like a nice, normal thing to do and that's what I've been trying to do lately. Have a normal, healthy relationship. It's not something I'm used to, so that's why I agreed to this whole picnic on the beach thing. It also doesn't help that the closer I get to leaving for the summer, the more sullen Piz becomes.

Veronica watched in amusement as Piz prepared their perfect picnic spot. He laid down a checkered blanket (where had he even found that?) and put the basket of food down in the middle. Veronica scanned the beach to see what all was going on. She had to be aware of her surroundings at all times, after all. Of course, that meant that she was bound to spot him. Standing by the edge of the water with his surfboard in hand was Logan. Her gaze lingered a second too long and he managed to see her too. She said a quick mental prayer that he wouldn't try to come over since she was clearly on a date. Somehow he managed to show good judgment and simply smiled at her and waved. She waved back with an impressed grin and turned back to Piz, who was looking at her like a hurt puppy.

Oh boy. Time for some damage control.

A quick kiss and a question about his upcoming internship later, Veronica and Piz were back in date mode. She was trying to devote all of her attention to Piz, but she kept finding herself gazing toward the water and getting lost in her own thoughts, like how strange it is that the sun rises over the east coast instead of setting. She was getting nervous about her own internship, but it was something she didn't want to talk to Piz about because it would put him in a bad mood to think about her leaving. She turned her attention back to Piz, who was still rambling about his future in radio.

"So when I have my own show on a real radio station, I'm going to let the interns have more air time, because that's what an internship should really be about." Piz said, looking to Veronica for agreement.

"Yeah, it's all about the experience" she replied trying to sound supportive.

Piz smiled in relief that she agreed with him and continued his one-sided conversation. Veronica glanced back toward the water and her eyes caught a surfer. She immediately recognized the form, even from far away. Of course it was Logan. Suddenly she found the water sport strangely appealing. The concentration needed to stay up would probably make her mind stop racing, if only for a minute. She looked back at Piz and found him packing up his stuff.

"What's wrong? Where are we going?" she asked, confused. She had only zoned out for a second. What had she missed?

"I'm leaving. I can't do this anymore. I thought I could, but I can't. I'm just done" he said forcefully.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Piz" she replied truthfully. She was unnerved by the anger she detected in his voice.

"It's never going to change. He's always going to come to your rescue; even when it's not his place anymore. And you're going to go all moony-eyed when he does."

Piz was starting to talk louder and Veronica tried to cut in and explain herself, but he wouldn't give her a chance.

"Don't even try to deny it. I saw the way you looked at him after he kicked some other guy's ass in your honor. I was standing right there Veronica. I'm not stupid. Even now you look at him and the rest of the world disappears and I'm over it. You're still in love with him and the whole world knows it."

He was practically yelling now and Veronica felt tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to think of a way to make things better, but she just couldn't. Piz finally stood up and started to walk away. She stood up after him and yelled back.

"You can't just leave me here. We rode together." It was a last ditch effort on her part and Piz did not look sympathetic.

"I'm sure your savior will come to your rescue" he shouted before turning back around and walking away for good.

Veronica just stood there watching him walk away, silent tears trickling slowly down her cheeks. She didn't know what to do next. People were gawking at her and she wanted to disappear, but she couldn't move.

So much for normal, kiddos.

Logan had always loved surfing. It used to be a great way to get chicks, but he wasn't so concerned with that these days. Everything in the world made sense when you caught a perfect wave and let it carry you to shore. It was freeing. Until you were back on land, that is. He looked around to see where on the beach his wave had taken him so he could find his way back. This was typical enough, except usually Veronica wasn't on shore having a lame ass picnic with her lame ass boyfriend. Actually, Logan didn't really have a problem with Piz other than jealousy, but the green eyed monster is a bitch and makes people act all kinds of crazy. Case in point, Logan's life.

He found her easy enough, but things did not look well in paradise. He saw Piz stand up and start walking away. Veronica stood up and said something to him that made him turn around, but her voice was carried away by the wind. Piz yelled something back, but all Logan heard was the word savior. Wasn't it a little early in the afternoon for a debate about religion? He watched as Piz walked away and Veronica just stood there. Was Piz coming back or not?

Veronica was trying to move. Really, she was. But she didn't know where to go. She could call Wallace or Mac to come get her, but that would mean she had to explain what just happened. She didn't know if she could do that.

"Veronica."

The voice came from behind her and she willed her tears to stop before she turned around, but as soon as she saw his face they only fell harder. He wrapped his arms around her protectively and held her tight. She started to laugh.

Great, now I sound like a crazed hyena. Could this day get any worse? Uh-oh, aren't those the famous last words you aren't ever supposed to speak? Quick, someone find me some wood to knock on.

Logan pulled back enough to see Veronica's face.

"Are you laughing or crying?" he asked with genuine concern.

"Both" she answered before taking a deep breath.

"Okay, let's start with the crying. What did Piz say to you to make you cry?" he asked trying to keep the venom out of his voice so she wouldn't get defensive.

"He broke up with me," she said a lot calmer than she expected to. She broke away from Logan and sat down on the blanket. He followed her lead and waited for her to continue. "He has this crazy idea that I'm still in love with you and he says he can't deal with the fact that you'll never stop trying to rescue me."

"So why were you laughing?" he asked nervously.

"Because he was right; he called you my savior and said you would come to rescue me if he left me here."

"So was he right about everything, or just about me?"

"I'm pretty sure you know the answer to that already. The question is, what are we going to do about it? All I want is a normal, healthy relationship, but I can't have that because I'm still in love with you," she confessed.

"I don't know about normal, but we can try for healthy can't we?" he asked hopefully.

"We've tried to make it work so many times and it never does. I can't keep going back and forth with you. It hurts too much."

"What if we just go forward then? The hundredth time's the charm, right?"

Sometimes you just have to give in to the universe and brace yourself for the fallout. It's too bad Logan doesn't remember his epic relationship speech, because I'm starting to think it was spot on. Bring on the bloodshed.