"Well, hello." Her reply, firm and sharp, sounded far more antagonistic than welcome.
He inhaled, bracing himself inwardly while maintaining his outward grin.
Can't let her think I've lost my cool, can I?
"And here I was thinking that the system was supposed to place me with people I didn't know." He winked as he sauntered over, hands in pockets. "Not ones I've known - in more ways than one."
He knew for a fact that she wanted to slap him.
But somehow, she didn't.
He quirked his brows at her haughty ones. "Lost your sense of humor, Miss - uhm, Mason?"
"Maybe," she finally spoke again, eyes icy, "because I don't think pranks involving my superiors are funny, Logan."
"Luke, madame," he corrected. "And what makes you think this is a prank?"
"Why would the venerable Logan Echolls be in witness protection?"
"Because he gave his testimony against Liam Fitzpatrick," he grunted, displeased.
She stared at him wide-eyed.
Well, that shut her up.
He let the surprise sink in for a moment, waiting until she released a very long sigh.
"Well?" He ventured.
"What did you know about them?"
"They were blackmailing Trina."
"So she's also in - "
"Nope, couldn't 'give up her heritage.'"
"Okay, but what happens to the real Logan Echolls?"
"Fled to Eastern Europe, apparently."
"And that's why you're here as - "
"Luke Erickson," he stated matter-of-factly. He cocked his head. "Has a ring to it, don't you think?"
He could see the realization dawning on her face.
"So I'm supposed to be protecting - you?"
He shrugged. "Not that I know of. They told me I'd be assigned with another girl to ease into the program together. Made sense to me."
He looked her straight in the eye. "Unless this is your trick to meet me again?"
"Ha," she scoffed, eyes suddenly darting everywhere. "Like I would need an elaborate scheme to track you down."
"Nope," he replied. He leaned as close as possible without touching her. "But maybe you needed a reason to keep me around."
The fiery glare she shot him was interrupted by the sound of a loud doorbell.
They both perked up and faced the door. Logan passed her a wary glance, found her still coping with the situation, and proceeded towards the entrance at her nod. He pulled the front door open.
He frowned.
They're gonna send us grandma agents?
"Hi!" The woman, plump and crowned with grey hair, greeted him cheerfully. She lifted the plate of cookies in her hands. "Welcome to the neighborhood."
"Hi," he responded, still frowning. "My name is Luke. And you are - "
"Oh, just call me Mrs. Browning, sweetie. I live three houses down. Saw you and your, uhm, wife settling in today. Just wanted to welcome you with a plate of warm cookies. Young women don't always know their way around a kitchen, you know." Her accent and deportment were verifiable textbook grandma.
Well, my young woman does.
He hesitated at choosing a course of action. Getting to know the neighbors would help their goal of blending in. But the more people saw him - the more likely they'd recognize him from the tabloids.
Guess I do have to look into plastic surgery sometime.
"Honey, who is it?" Veronica's voice hit him from the back.
And suddenly, recognizing the priceless opportunity at hand, he broke into a wide grin.
"Thank you, Mrs. Browning," he replied politely, taking the plate of cookies off her hands. "My girlfriend and I thank you so much for your warm welcome."
He shifted backwards as he spoke, then he used an arm to pull Veronica forward until she stood next to him.
"Mrs. Browning, this is Vanessa."
Veronica nodded in acknowledgment at the introduction, fake smile perfectly installed.
She seems cooperative enough.
"And Vanessa, this is - "
"Why isn't she lovely!" The old lady exclaimed, grabbing Veronica by the wrists. "I thought I saw a pretty woman through the window earlier today. I can't believe it! Where are you all from? How long have you been married? I can't believe this neighborhood is finally getting some young blood. The people - "
"Mrs. Browning," Logan interrupted. He reached over to take Veronica's hands away from hers and into his, the cookies safely resting on the ledge beside the door. "My girlfriend and I are rather tired from all the moving today. Perhaps we could get more acquainted next time? Vanessa and I were looking forward to some quiet time alone tonight."
Veronica shot him a 'we are?' look. He ignored it.
"Time alone?" The old woman continued. "But sir, given that you're only dating, it would be rather inappropriate to."
And Logan promptly shocked both women by pulling Veronica into his arms and crashing his lips on to hers.
She stilled for a second, but he held firm.
And probably from a lack of choice, she kissed him back. He smiled, kissed her for another few seconds, and released her.
If looks could kill...
He grinned sheepishly at her before turning to face a highly mortified Mrs. Browning. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I am simply so taken by my girlfriend that I - "
"Right, right." The lady finally found her tongue. "I will - get going."
She scurried off without another word.
Ouch!
He felt a pinch on his side that hurt so much it must have left a mark.
In his peripheral vision, Veronica stormed into the house and up the stairs.
The meaty smell of a well-done lasagna wafted luxuriously to the landing. Her fingers hugged the wooden bannister with stubborn resolution. She closed her eyes, decisively denying how watery they were growing.
Why did I have to cook that?
It wasn't hard to deduce what Logan had done after her dramatic exit two hours ago. It's not exactly difficult to put a tray into the oven. She knew it wasn't his fault. He had tried to get her attention, but she had been the one hiding resolutely behind the bedroom door. After an hour of unanswered apologies through a locked door, what else was a hungry guy supposed to do but cook dinner?
She bit her lip.
He doesn't know, Veronica.
She gulped - her teeth marking her bottom lip and her eyes letting loose a couple of tears.
He doesn't know.
He didn't know how much of a significance homemade lasagna had become over the past two years. He didn't know it was the last meal she had shared with her father. He didn't know how she had always made it in his honor, how she would -
She gasped as the tears finally refused to keep dammed away. She brought her hands to her mouth, her hands vainly suppressing the sobs as the tears drowned her cheeks. She closed her eyes as she backed away from the bannister to lean against the wall. She threw the back of her head against the firm surface.
They say time would heal.
But she had a feeling it never would.
"Veronica?"
She lowered herself to sit on the landing. She blinked.
Can't let him see me like -
"Veronica?"
His voice was closer. Its warmth matching the whiffs of lasagna with surprising accord.
She faced away from his approach. Every limb wanted to run, but every breath forced her to stay.
Get it together, Veronica!
She could kill herself when a sob escaped. She bit her knuckles, fingers fisted.
It wasn't the first time she'd missed her father. But somehow, this intensity hadn't occurred in a very, very long time.
She felt Logan kneel down behind her, and she shifted out of reach.
Because after running away for years from anything that remotely reminded her of Neptune - here was Logan Echolls in the flesh. And suddenly, there's no place like home.
He lifted his hand, and he dropped it. Then he lifted it again, hovering it awkwardly in the vicinity of her shoulder, before he put it down again.
Because after his idiotic move that afternoon, had he any reason to expect she would give him the time of day?
Logan breathed in.
Finding Veronica just when he had resigned himself to lifelong isolation had been a surprise.
Who am I kidding? A huge surprise.
But it had been the most glorious light at the end of a tunnel.
"Veronica?" He tried to get her attention again, his heart clenching at her sorrow. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, okay?"
She kept sobbing. He sighed.
After making sure his testimony had kept Trina's aggressors locked away, he'd accepted his lot in life. He would leave behind the glitz and glamor, locking his trust funds into a secret federal account. He'd ease into the program with his assigned partner and they would break up as planned. Then he would lead a small existence at some unknown town, never being Logan Echolls ever again.
Until his very heart-blood showed up in his new home.
He refocused on Veronica's shaking form, somewhat relieved that her earlier sobs had been replaced by the occasion sniff.
"Vee?"
Surprising him yet again, she turn slowly to face him, opened her arms, and launched herself into his chest - all in one motion.
This is real, this is real.
He fought the urge to kiss her forehead. Wordlessly, he pulled her closer.
"I'm sorry, Veronica, I - " he spoke in spurts, "I shouldn't have done that - I thought I was having fun - but it's stupid - it's really stupid - and I - "
She shushed him with a squeeze, and his lungs emptied entirely.
Definitely been training as an agent.
He hesitated before speaking again. "Uhm, Veronica?"
"Dad," came her muffled reply.
"Dad?" Logan blinked. His head spun.
Hadn't he heard that Keith -
His eyes grew a tad misty at the realization. "Did I say something to remind you, Vee? I'm sorry - I didn't know. Was it - "
"Luzun," she mumbled into his apron.
He frowned and nudged her gently to see her face. "Luzun?"
"Lazza - Lasagna," she made out at last, sad eyes posed two inches from his.
He took in her gaze, thoughts racing in double-time analysis. He used his hands to brace her neck. "It reminds you of him."
She nods, vulnerability fast disappearing.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."
She shrugged and looked away, but her face stayed between his fingers.
"I made it," she muttered helplessly.
Never interrupt a Veronica-Mars-being-reasonable moment.
He nodded. "Does lasagna - does it always - "
She answered by shaking her head. "Just today."
"Oh."
They exchanged glances silently for another two seconds before she came to her senses and shrunk away. He lowered his hands accordingly.
"So, uhm - was I the reason?" He continued the previous conversation.
She looked down at her hands quietly at first, but looked right back with a smirk. "You always think it's about you, don't you?"
Defensive rushed over. "No, no - of course not. I just mean that - if I'm causing you discomfort in any way - "
Like I obviously did this afternoon.
He sighed. This was hard. "If that's the case - then I'll ask for a transfer, okay? I don't want to be the reason you're having a hard time. I mean it."
He looked her straight in the eye.
She looked back.
Then she gave a sad smile.
He patiently waited.
"How about this," she said, voice finally even, "This whole WITSEC thing - it's not fun, and it's not first choice for anybody."
She paused. He waited some more.
"So I dunno - " She shrugged at him, eyes everywhere. "If the two of us could work together and, like, act normal. Maybe we - maybe we could treat it like a fresh start?"
The guarded hope in her eyes meant everything.
"As long as everybody keeps their hands - and lips - off of everybody else," she added dryly.
He had to stifle a chuckle.
"Yes, of course. I - I really am sorry about that."
She lowered her lashes in quiet response.
"So - fresh start?" He just had to confirm.
She looked up, and with a hint of a smile, gave a small nod.
"So, Vanessa Mason." He pushed himself to his feet, voice and confidence restored. "Lasagna's in the kitchen. You in?"
And, of course, she never said no to food.
A/N: Thank you so much for the overwhelming first chapter support! I hope the rest of the story does not disappoint. Sorry for the angst in this chapter. They needed to get on the same page before they can move forward :)
I promise I am working on Teachers Lounge. It's just that those chapters are way, way, way longer than these. Thanks always to my faithful beta irma66. She tolerates my writing in all their shapes and forms, hehe :) I hope you liked this chapter!