A/N: This is another new multi-chapter story. It's an AU, wherein it was discovered that Veronica was actually Jake Kane's daughter very, very early in her childhood. I have the first three chapters written, but only this first one typed so far. The next couple chapters should be coming along soon. Enjoy. R&R! Thanks! -Mac

Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars.

One

"Lilly!" Veronica called out as she headed down the hall toward Lilly's bedroom. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Veronica stopped in front of Lilly's door and knocked three times in quick succession. "We'll be late to school if you don't get out here now."

The door swung open to reveal a half dressed Lilly and Veronica was assaulted by the full volume of the music pounding from Lilly's stereo speakers. Maybe Veronica would have been surprised to see Lilly clad in only a bra and miniskirt, if she hadn't been privy to the same sight everyday this week. Such was the routine on the first week of a new year. As a senior, Lilly had little to no motivation to find her way to school on time, even if it was at the expense of tardiness for the two juniors that rode with her to campus.

"Come on, Vee," Lilly scoffed as she turned back toward her bed. She left the door open and Veronica watched as Lilly picked up the tank top lying on her bed. As she pulled the shirt on over her head, Lilly continued, "Do you think there is a single teacher at Neptune High that would mark a Kane late?"

"No," Veronica answered, even though the answer made her roll her eyes, "but I, unlike you, actually enjoy earning my grades and perfect attendance record."

"And wherever did you acquire such a moral compass, my dear sister?"

Lilly smirked as she turned toward Veronica. She smoothed out her tank and grabbed her purse from where it hung off the corner of her bed. She started toward the door, but stopped again as she passed her vanity mirror. She leaned forward and wiped at the corner of her lips, perfecting her makeup by removing the nonexistent lipstick smudges. Puckering her lips at the mirror, Lilly gave her reflection one last look before joining Veronica in the doorway.

"I obviously didn't learn it by example," Veronica responded as Lilly passed by and headed down the hall.

"Of course not," Lilly agreed. "I've been trying to rid you of it since puberty to no avail. Now where's Donut?"

"He's in the car," Veronica said. "He sent me in to get you to hurry up."

"Lilly Kane does not hurry anywhere," Lilly said as she reached the end of the hall. "The world waits on pins and needles for Lilly Kane."

"I'll remember that," Veronica rolled her eyes as she followed Lilly out the front door to where Duncan had the car idling.

Lilly climbed into the passenger seat, leaving Veronica to hop into the backseat. Veronica slid to the center seat so she could lean over the center console between Duncan and Lilly.

"What took you girls so long?" Duncan asked.

"If you're going to complain, next time you go in for her Duncan," Veronica patted her brother on the shoulder.

Duncan looked back at Veronica briefly before he shifted in to drive and started down the driveway. "Yeah, if Lilly promises that next time she'll be wearing a shirt."

"What? Is the sight of your sister in her bra too much for your virgin eyes?" Lilly raised an eyebrow as a smirk formed on her lips. "Logan appreciated the view."

"Logan doesn't share our genetic code," Duncan shot back. "And when the hell did Logan see you in your bra?"

Lilly put up her hands as if weighing the difference, "Bra, bikini, it's all the same."

"I don't know if the average, red-blooded, teenage boy would agree," Veronica cut in, "but I've heard the only view Logan is taking in is Caitlin Ford's."

"Rumor," Lilly shook her head. "It has to be. Tell her Donut. Logan would not stoop so low as Caitlin Ford."

"I don't know the guy all that well yet, Lills," Duncan said. "But as an average, red-blooded, teenage boy, I wouldn't be surprised if he went for her."

"What is so great about Caitlin Ford that makes guys fall over her? Her sluttiness borders on gross."

"At the risk of stating the obvious," Veronica said, "She's easy?"

Duncan waved a hand back at Veronica, "Exactly."

Lilly turned toward Duncan, her face taking on a serious expression, "Duncan, you must promise me that you will never let Caitlin Ford near your no-no parts," the expression slipped and Lilly burst into laughter. A moment later she recomposed herself, "But seriously, you'll catch something that can't be cleared up by antibiotics."

Duncan snickered, "No worries. She's not exactly on my To-Do list."

"Moral of the story," Lilly continued, twisting around in her seat to look at Veronica in the backseat, "Always practice safe sex. See? That's good advice. I don't know why everyone thinks I'm such a bad influence on you two."

Veronica recalled the earlier conversation from the hallway and how it contradicted Lilly's last statement, but didn't say anything. She had to pick her battles when it came to her sister. Lilly contradicted herself when it suited her or the conversation. It was just the way that Lilly was wired. She wanted to persuade Veronica to indulge in all the vain, immoral and decadent activities in which Lilly herself partook, but she also liked to project the innocent and naïve image, which Veronica had naturally, toward authority figures. To the three's father, Jake Kane, and Veronica's mother and Lilly and Duncan's stepmother, Lianne, both the girls were pure, untouched angels—just as Lilly liked it. To Celest, Lilly and Duncan's biological mother, Lilly liked to flaunt her sexual escapades and irresponsibility for reasons not obvious to her siblings. That was just the way it was with Lilly. A person was never sure which side of Lilly he or she was going to get. As her sister, Veronica had gotten used to it.

It was Duncan who ultimately spoke up sarcastically, "Where ever would anyone get that idea?"

"Okay, so I try to get you and Vee to loosen up and have fun. Is that such a bad thing?" Lilly raised an eyebrow.

"No, Lilly, you're a good sister," Veronica said.

"Thank you, Veronica," Lilly smiled at her sister over her shoulder.

"You'd be an even better sister if you could get us to school on time at least once this year," Veronica added as Duncan pulled the car into a parking space in Neptune High's student lot.

"You're hilarious, Veronica," Lilly rolled her eyes, "really."

The three got out of the car and crossed the lot to the main building. They were a good ten minutes past the bell and they were the only stragglers still in the hall when they entered the building. They were about to part ways to go to their first classes when a figure crossed their path.

"Well if it isn't the Three Kanes. Late again, I see."

Veronica groaned to herself, "Great."

"I'll handle it," Lilly whispered to Veronica. She smiled as she turned toward the figure blocking their way. "Principal Clemmons. How are you on this beautiful day?"

"It's not going to work, Miss Kane," Clemmons crossed his arms. "I'm disappointed in the three of you. Classes have only been in session for a week."

"I swear, we can explain," Lilly said calmly. "Once you hear our excuse, you'll understand how vital it was that we were late."

Clemmons looked unconvinced to Veronica, but he waved Lilly on, "Alright miss Kane, astound me."

"Well, you know how my sister and I are on the Pep Squad—pretty important members too, since I'm the captain. Anyway, we're supposed to meet with most of the girls at lunch today to go over our fundraising plans for the semester. All week I've been brainstorming ideas. Earning money for our school is a top priority for me. We were almost here this morning and we would have been on time, but I realized I had left all my notes at home. We had to go back for them. We couldn't let the Pep Squad down. The girls look up to me and Veronica."

"And your brother? What's his part in this?" Clemmons nodded toward Duncan. "Has he decided to join the Pep Squad as well?"

"No, no. Duncan just drives us to school," Lilly answered. "Anyone else would have made us come to school without the notes, but not Duncan. He sacrificed being on time in the name of school spirit."

Duncan raised a clenched fist and cheered halfheartedly, "Go Pirates."

"Show me the notes," Clemmons reached out a hand and moved his fingers in a 'give them to me' gesture.

Lilly swung her bag off her shoulder and pulled out a notebook covered in Sharpie doodles and handed it to Principal Clemmons. "They're a few pages in, behind my English notes."

Clemmons flipped through the notebook. When he found the page, he read it and then thumbed past the pages after it that continued the list. "These are extensive."

"The success of this school is of upmost importance," Lilly said passionately. "I wouldn't disgrace these halls by not taking my fundraising duties seriously."

Clemmons snapped the notebook closed and handed it back to Lilly. "Your school spirit should be commended. Now get to class before I have to make an example of you three."

"Thank you, sir," Lilly smiled brightly as she sidled past Principal Clemmons and continued down the hall.

Veronica smiled sheepishly as she and Duncan followed after Lilly.

Rounding the corner, out of sight of their principal, Lilly turned back to her siblings, "Am I good? Or am I good?"

"You're good, Lilly," Veronica agreed. "I'm glad the brainstorming you had me and Meg do came in handy, but isn't our meeting on Monday?"

"Of course," Lilly nodded, "but Clemmons doesn't know that."

"Okay, well, I'm off to class," Duncan broke in, backing away from his sisters in the direction of his class. "You coming, Vee?"

Veronica nodded.

"Wait," Lilly called out suddenly when the two were a few steps away, bring their attention back to her. "Is Logan in that class with you two?"

"Yeah," Duncan said. "Why?"

"You should invite him over for a little get together at our place tonight," Lilly suggested.

"Why?" Duncan repeated.

"You said you don't know him very well yet," Lilly said. "We need to remedy that."

"I'm going to hop in with Duncan here," Veronica frowned, "Why?"

"The son of Aaron Echolls should not be dallying with only Caitlin Ford. He should connect himself with the most powerful of names at this school. He can entertain himself with Caitlin and the other 09ers, but he should be part of the Kane's inner circle."

"I'll invite him," Duncan agreed, "but I'm going to leave out all the stuff you just said that would make me look like a psycho stalker, if you don't mind."

"Just get him there," Lilly said firmly and turned on her heel to head in the direction of her own class.

Duncan shook his head slightly as he and Veronica began walking to their class again. "She makes it impossible to say no to her."

"No?" Veronica said incredulously, "No? What is this 'no' you refer to? No doesn't exist in Lilly Kane's vocabulary and if it does, it's just another word for yes."

They paused outside the door to their classroom and Duncan asked, "Do you think he'll say yes?"

"Of course," Veronica said as she placed her hand on the doorknob, "Who says no to a Kane?"