Title:Love Makes the Ride Worthwhile
Author: rowanceleste
Pairing/Character: (Logan/Veronica, mentions of Logan/Parker and Veronica/Piz, ensemble)
Rating:PG
Summary: Set at the beginning of sophomore year at Hearst. A new year can mean new beginnings.

Spoilers/Warnings: Spoilers up to 3x21 The Bitch is Back. Needless to say, just because Veronica was at Quantico and Logan wasn't, it doesn't mean they were out of touch. Did you really think that look meant anything other than it could neverbe over between them?

Author's Note: You should know me by now if you've read my fic. If you're looking for Logan/Veronica to end up with anyone, but each other…keep looking because you won't find that in my fic! This is my lj comm"vmsanta" present for the lovely lj user: "freezing82" . I hope you had a Merry Christmas and this will be the start of your wonderful New Year! Skimmed by the lovely lj user: "inthevast", although I didn't have time for a full beta. All mistakes are mine.

Franklin P. Jones:"Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile."

"So have you had that 'awkward encounter' yet?" Logan asks as he reaches over Veronica's shoulder to grab a French fry before dropping down into the seat next to her.

"Do you mean this awkward encounter or were you referring to something else?" Unable to suppress her smirk, she pushes her basket of fries towards Logan. She eyes his faint tan and grabs a French fry for herself. "For some reason, I didn't think you and Dick would be back today."

A look of mock hurt crosses Logan's face. "You wound me, Mars. Did you really think Dick or I would miss the first day of fall semester at this fine institute of higher learning?"

Holding up her hands as if balancing a scale, she shrugs. "I don't know. An extra day of sun and surfing versus coming back today, when your classes don't even start until tomorrow? Call me crazy, but I thought surfing would win out." Smiling, she continues to stare at him, absorbing his carefree, relaxed posture before he quirks an eyebrow at her.

"Do I have ketchup on my face or something?" Wiping the side of his mouth, he grins, an unspoken question on his face as she shakes her head.

"No. I'm just glad you're back," Veronica admits, a smile still on her face. Noting the suddenly serious expression on Logan's face, she shifts awkwardly.

"You should have come down after your internship was over. Brief phone calls and texting just don't cut it. Dick maybe blonde, but it's not the same thing, believe me." Logan smirks lightly, covering the seriousness of his words. "Not to mention, that note you left on my bedside table didn't say much. I kind of expected to wake up with you in my arms, not just hugging a 'Veronica-scented' pillow after you jumped my bones."

Veronica shrugs helplessly. She looked Logan in the eye before glancing away awkwardly. "I think Dick needed the 1 on 1 BFF time with you, without your…without me hogging your time and attention."

Threading his fingers through Veronica's, he waits for her to look at him. "Was 'girlfriend' the word you were looking for?" Tugging lightly on her hand, he pulls her into his lap, angling her body, so they still faced each other.

She glares slightly, pulling her hand free to poke him in the chest. "You know we're not dating, Logan. I may not know what this is, but we promised each other we wouldn't just rush into things again, remember? It's too important." Seeing the understanding in his eyes, she gestures between them as she confesses, "I don't want to screw this, us, up again, which is why we need to take things slow."

"We're not going to screw this up. Besides, we're epic, remember?"

"I'd just as soon minimize the ruined lives and bloodshed, if it's all the same to you." Pulling out of his arms, she sits down next to him, offering him another French fry in response to the pout on his face.

"So, if we're not dating…what exactly was it that we did before you left for your internship and after you broke up with Piz?" Logan asks.

Veronica pauses for a moment, before blushing faintly. "That was an aberration."

Quirking an eyebrow in response, Logan leans back in his chair. "Do you plan to have those kinds of aberrations often?"

"Is that what you want?" Veronica asks hesitantly.

Logan looks around at the empty chairs nearby, before shaking his head. He shrugs in response to the look of surprise on Veronica's face. "If we're not dating, then it's probably best if we refrain from 'that which leads to the post-coital bliss' portion of our relationship," he states, his hands gesturing briefly. He traces the faint initials made in the surface of the table. "I don't think I can handle a 'friends with benefits' type of arrangement, you know?" Glancing up momentarily, he adds, "When I thought you and Piz…" Logan swallows before continuing, "Anyway, let's just say that jealousy may have played a factor in my response when I confronted him about the whole tape thing."

Veronica waits for Logan to look up again, before admitting. "Considering that I almost cubed Madison's car last year and we weren't even dating when you had sex with her, I'd have to agree that 'friends with benefits' probably wouldn't work for us."

A look of surprise crosses Logan's face. "You almost cubed Madison's car?" He whistles in admiration. "Wow."

Shrugging, Veronica idly drags a French fry through her ketchup. "Let's just say it was a low point for me."

Logan snickers softly, before raising his hands at Veronica's glare. "Sorry, I don't mean to bring up bad memories, but I would have loved to see Madison's face after you cubed her car." Ignoring her eye roll, he grunts slightly as Veronica punches him in the arm. "So how's your Dad doing after the Sheriff's race?" he asks, changing the subject.

"Oh, you know. He's saying that being sheriff would have cramped his style anyway." A brief smirk crosses Veronica's face. "He did seem a lot more cheerful after those photos came out with Sheriff Van Lowe 'serving' Jasmine from The Seventh Veil, in his office, however."

Unable to resist, Logan replies, "I hope he also was 'protecting' her, since the world isn't ready for little Van Lowes." He eyed Veronica speculatively. "I take it you have no idea how someone managed to take compromising photographs from within the Sheriff's office?"

Veronica smiles innocently. "As I told Sheriff Van Lowe, I have no idea who could have taken those pictures. I'm sure there was vision damage caused though." She toys with her salad, her hand tingling in response as Logan begins to trace gentle patterns across her skin. Finding no way to make the question less awkward, she blurts out, "Have you heard from Parker lately?"

Logan glances up from his focus on Veronica's hand. He grimaces slightly. "No. I think I probably top her 'persona non grata' list. I'm guessing she transferred to University of Colorado at Boulder since Mac asked me to send a few movies Parker left at my place to an address there. I take it you haven't heard from her either?"

"No. According to Mac, Parker isn't ready to talk to me yet, but she's not mad at me." Veronica shrugs helplessly. "Maybe I should have said something to her?"

Snorting, Logan rolls his eyes. "Like what? I think my ex-boyfriend is still in love with me. You probably shouldn't date him?" He takes Veronica's hand, rubbing his fingers over her knuckles until she looked at him. "You don't have anything to feel guilty about…Parker and I had fun, but we didn't get serious." Knowing she wouldn't ask, he admits, "Between what Parker went through and me being hung up on you, we never even had sex. It was fun and sweet." He shrugs. "She was one of the few people I knew that actually liked me for me, you know? Anyway, I guess she got in deeper than I thought. I didn't mean to hurt her," he confesses.

"You do somehow manage to worm your way under a girl's skin," Veronica states wryly as she looks into his eyes. She smiles back as a boyish grin settles on his face.

"I guess it's just my charm and good looks," he responds with a teasing grin.

"Among other things." She holds up a hand as he opens his mouth. "No, I'm not going to go into details. Your head still needs to fit inside your Range Rover," she retorts.

Logan glances towards the radio station. "So, have you talked to Stosh since you broke up?" He smirks slightly, trying to mask his dislike.

Veronica rolls her eyes. "I haven't talked to Piz, no. According to Wallace, Piz decided it would probably be best if they didn't live together this year, but I know they're living on the same floor. I haven't even seen Wallace, but he did manage to score a single room this year."

"Is Wallace still mad at you for breaking up with Piz?" Logan asks, concern coloring his voice.

"No, although Wallace said he's going to dedicate his first semester to helping Piz find a woman that's hot and emotionally available," Veronica states, using air quotes for emphasis. "Apparently Wallace feels a little guilty since he told Piz that he had warned him after Piz confessed I had broken up with him."

"Probably not what Piz wanted to hear," Logan states wryly, as Veronica intertwines their fingers. "Wallace is right though. He should have known better," he adds, trying not to sound too antagonistic as draws a heart in the ketchup.

"So…" Veronica draws out slowly. "Parker's in Colorado and Piz isn't going to be roommates with Wallace this year. Does that mean things might actually go smoothly for us?"

Logan raises an eyebrow. "I guess that depends on whether or not you plan on running headlong into danger without help."

Veronica shakes her head and raises the fingers of her other hand in scout's honor. "I've learned my lesson. I can't promise stay out of trouble, but I think I can compromise on trying to give full disclosure as long as you promise not to sic any body guards on me."

"I promise that I'll be the only one guarding your body, although I'll draft Wallace and Backup if necessary," Logan responds. Waiting to make sure Veronica was done; he picks up her tray and takes it towards the trash, their fingers still intertwined as Veronica walks next to him. Putting down the tray he moves his arm around her shoulder, before bumping her hip. "So what's next, Sherlock? Any cases or are you just doing the college student thing today?"

"Actually, now that you're here, I was kind of thinking of a marathon?" She tugs Logan towards the food court exit and explains. "What do you think about some good company and a little Coen brothers? Fargo, O Brother Where Art Thou, Big Lebowski, Barton Fink? Mac said she'd bring the popcorn and Wallace was going to bring the Twizzlers and the Sour Patch Kids. We were thinking my place, but your TV is bigger than mine. What do you say?" She asks, giving him a kiss, before continuing to tug him towards her car.

Pretending to ponder for a moment, Logan her kisses back before lifting her down the steps as she giggles. "As long as you promise that Mac isn't going to toss popcorn at Dick all night, you've got yourself a deal."

Veronica grins back, "I think we can come to some sort of arrangement."