Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars. The show and all its characters belong to its appropriate owners.The lyrics used are the property of the fabulous group Lifehouse and I claim nothing. I was merely inspired by a particular track and honored it. I do own the cousins and family of Weevil except for those mentioned in the show.

Author's Note: I sped up the process for this chapter because I know nothing about law or murder trials. I tend to be too busy ogling Chris Melon on Law and Order: SVU to pay any attention to the trials.

Rating: R cause of well, da smut. It's always da smut.

Spoilers: Anything goes considering I had to rewrite the whole thing due to the finale.

Pairings: WeeVer, some LoVe and Lilly/Weevil but believe me, WeeVer all the way.

Summary: Taking that final step will change everything.

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Chapter One: Hanging by a Moment

desperate for changing

starving for truth

closer to where I started

chasing after you lifehouse, hanging by a moment, track one

When he gets the frantic phone call from Keith Mars, he's already pulling on his jacket and grabbing his keys. The older man's voice is filled with worry and stress so he merely tells him that he'll call him back when he's found her. He calls his boys out and soon, all of the PCH bike club is driving through town looking for a tiny blonde girl that has been through more shit than even he can comprehend.

He gets the call from Felix, who tells him that she's down at the beach and "she don't look good". So he calls off the search and drives his bike down to the beach, pausing long enough to swing by his grandmother's and grab a blanket since the nights have become cooler.

He finds her sitting in the sand, the wind whipping her hair all over the place, and she's shivering in her thin night shirt and jeans. He walks down and drapes the blanket over her, saying, "Your dad had my boys and I looking for you for two hours now."

She doesn't answer him and he doesn't expect her too so he continues adding, "Fennel went looking for you too. Told him to go home when I found him checking out the high school. He's a good kid but he's not too bright, is he?"

She says nothing merely closes her eyes and he frowns as he takes her in; the dark circles, the pale skin and he shakes his head as he takes her face in his hand and turns her to look at him. Sadness fills him and he whispers, "Jesus, V. What are you doing to yourself?"

She doesn't say anything but her face crumples and suddenly she is in his arms, sobbing as her tiny form trembles, and he cradles her to his chest, rocking her from side to side as his mind races and he remembers that morning and how the verdict was to be announced in a few hours. Sighing, he stands, Veronica wrapping her arms around his neck and carries her to his bike.

When he manages to convince her to hold onto him, the sun is starting to tip over the horizon and he can feel the lack of sleep catching up to him. He pulls up to the apartment complex and carries the half asleep blonde to her door. No one answers, so he pats her down and finds a set of keys in her front pocket.

He carries her into the apartment and shushes Backup, who whimpers in distress at the sight of his mistress sleeping in the youth's arms. Gently, he sets her on the couch and covers her with the blanket but she catches his wrist as he begins to get up and leave.

"Stay," she pleads and he pauses to look at her, knowing that if he does it will change this relationship that they've managed to keep platonic. He's only a man after all and he isn't blind to her beauty...

"All right," he says and she curls up against him they drift off to sleep.

--

Veronica awakens with a start, her mouth opening in a yawn as she opens her eyes. She frowns briefly and sits up to see Weevil in her kitchen, making coffee. He turns to look at her and says, "Hey."

She swallows and shoves a lock of hair behind her ear. "Hey."

He comes over to the couch and hands her a cup of coffee. She takes it gratefully and sips at it as he says, "Figured I'd stay until you woke up. Didn't want you to think I'd just left."

She smiles. "Thank you," she whispers and Weevil shrugs as he turns to the television which is turned on but low on volume. As they watch the TV, the news begins and she reaches for the remote, turning it up.

They sit together and listen as the trial for Aaron Echolls continues. The verdict is to be decided today and Veronica can feel her heart constrict in her chest as she closes her eyes, remembering how her testimony had been so hard and painful. How facing Aaron and everyone else had been complete hell for her and how she had spent hours working with the prosecutor to convict him...

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you come to a decision?"

The judge's voice snaps her back to reality and she tenses up as Weevil leans forward. The woman on the television, a woman with dark brown and ordinary features, stands and holds a piece of a paper in her hand.

"We have your honor."

"All right," the judge says. "On the charge of attempted murder in the first degree by Aaron Echolls against one Veronica Mars, how do you find?"

"Guilty."

"On the charge of assault by Aaron Echolls against one Keith Mars, how do you find?"

"Guilty."

"On the charge of sexually abusing a minor underneath the age of eighteen, how do you find?"

"Guilty.

"On the charge of conducting a sexual affair with a minor underneath the age of eighteen, how do you find?"

"Guilty."

"On the charge of murder in the first degree by Aaron Echolls against Lillian Elizabeth Kane-"

Weevil's hands clench. Her breath catches.

"How do you find?"

"Guilty, your Honor."

And then there is silence. Veronica's ears are ringing as Weevil's hands drop to dangle between his legs. She closes her eyes as tears slide down her face and she leans forward, burying her face into hands, tangling her fingers into her hair. She shudders as she hears Weevil murmuring something in Spanish and looks up to see Logan's face on the television.

His eyes are cold and blank as he watches his father being led away. Her heart clenches for him but she doesn't keep watching as she turns to look at Weevil.

"It's over," she says and smiles.

Next Chapter Two: Trying...