Chapter Notes

*trigger warning: discussion of rape (canon)

Thanks for everyone who liked my teaser Chapter 1. Now that it's summer, I'm not getting as much time to write, so my updates are going to be slower. Hope you stick with me!

"What are you doing here?" Veronica asked hesitantly. She could feel every part of her body tense as she fought to stay upright. Instinctually, she moved her hand off the chair and placed it protectively on top of her baby bump.

Duncan's eyes moved from her face to her stomach and back to her face again. "I'm home. For good." He said quietly, his face turning serious. "May I sit?"

Veronica nodded and she slid herself into her chair, grateful to get off her feet. Duncan dropped himself into the chair across from her. They stared at each other for a moment; a bell jar falling over the two. Veronica inspected Duncan; his skin was darker and he had deep lines from being out in the sun. His solid jaw had lost it's youthful fullness and now it was chiselled and lean. But it was his eyes that sent a shiver through Veronica; it was like looking at glass, cold and hollow. Was it from a life on the run? Being a single parent all these years? Or had his tragic family finally brought him down too?

When he began talking suddenly, Veronica jumped a bit in her chair. "So I guess congratulations are in order. I saw online that you and Logan got married a few months back."

Logan. His name snapped her out of her trance. Her touchstone; her safe place. Logan. "Yes. We only had twenty people at our wedding and somehow the paparazzi still managed to get a photo."

Duncan nodded. "Well, it was good to see you both looking so happy." An expression passed over his face that Veronica couldn't place before a tight smile appeared. "I set up alerts on my computer for Neptune when I got established so I could at least feel like I was near 'home'. And so I could cringe every time Madison Sinclair was mentioned in a society column."

Veronica couldn't help but let out a small laugh. In the years since High School, Madison had married rich and had tried to become part of the Neptune social scene. However, all the photos of her in the society section of the newspaper made her look like she was photo bombing her own fundraisers and functions. A long time ago...she must have really pissed off someone at the Neptune Register.

"There was a great one last week where she hosted a garden party and the only photo of her was her hat and forehead peeking out behind someone taller. But they tagged her anyway." Veronica giggled, letting her guard down for a moment before dropping her voice again. "So tell me, how is Lilly. She must be...how old?"

This time when he smiled his eyes lit up, making Veronica feel more at ease. "Lilly is now 15 years old and she is just an amazing kid! She sings, she dances, she surfs. She's kind and smart and funny." He looked down at the table. "I can't believe some days that she is mine." He looked up at Veronica softly. "I know that you may be worried about seeing me after...what happened with my family...but please don't be." He sat back in his chair and rested his hands in his lap. "If I had stayed with Jake and Celeste, I am positive that Lilly would have just...She would have become another rich, spoiled brat." He sighed. "Truth of the matter was that C.W. and my dad had negotiated a deal for us to come back months ago. But in Australia, we lived a simple life. I bought a surf shop and we lived in the apartment above it. Lilly went to a good school with nice friends. We had a great life."

Veronica could feel the emotion rising in her. "I'm so glad to hear that." She said. "Meg would be happy to know she is turning out so well."

Duncan's smile disappeared as he nodded. "I hope it will continue here. We are moving back to Neptune permanently so I can manage Kane Enterprises now that my dad..." His voice trailing.

Veronica closed her eyes momentarily as she flashed to Jake's lifeless body, Celeste poised to shoot again. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes again. "I'm sorry for your loss." She whispered.

Duncan shrugged. "Is it pathetic to say I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner? They used to think we couldn't hear them argue, but my mother ruined many, many vases over the years, throwing them at my dad. How do you not hear that?" His expression softened a little as he looked at Veronica. "Even if I could have stayed, I wouldn't have wanted Lilly around that."

Veronica rubbed her belly gently behind the table and looked down. This baby was going to get a very different childhood than she and Logan experienced. "I guess we all just want what's best for our children." She said.

Duncan's eyes got bigger. "You mean you're..." He said hesitantly.

Veronica smiled. She felt her eyes get a bit watery as she spoke. "Yes. I'm pregnant. 12 weeks this week." She suddenly felt the urge to wrap her bump in bubble wrap.

"Wow." Duncan intoned. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I never thought you wanted kids."

Veronica shrugged. "I didn't. Until Logan and I got together again. And then suddenly I couldn't wait to get pregnant."

"So this was planned." He said, a caustic tone making its way into his voice.

Veronica raised an eyebrow. Her mood changed drastically. The little shift in his tone, and she wanted to go for the jugular. "Well, sort of planned." She offered breezily waiving her hand in the air dramatically. "We were going to try this year, but then, on our way to our honeymoon, the airline lost my luggage with the birth-control. Combine that with a hell of a lot of sex and...whoops!" She pointed her index fingers in the air and dropped them to her belly.

Duncan frowned. He obviously thought it was too much information, but Veronica was sure it was just the right amount. There was an awkward silence as Duncan decided how to handle the situation. Veronica saw her opportunity and took it. "Well.." She started and rose from her seat. "...it was good seeing you Duncan, but I am exhausted and really need to get home for a nap. You know...pregnancy and all..." She walked past him and opened her office door. "I guess Logan and I will see you around."

Duncan stood, his eyes clouded over again. He walked to the door, deciding what to do in his head. When he reached her, he placed his hand gently on her shoulder. Veronica felt like it was covered in knives. "I will see you around. Tell Logan I said 'Hello.'" He said. She nodded up at him and he released her, skulking from the room. She watched him walk straight past Sandy and Mac at the front desk, without even looking at them, and slip out the front door.

Mac's neck snapped towards Veronica. "Was that..." She hissed down the hallway.

Veronica looked at her friend and let out a deep sigh. "It was. That, ladies, was the elusive Duncan Kane."

Mac came down the hall and followed Veronica back into her office. "Are you okay?" She asked.

Veronica leaned against her desk and contemplated the question. "No. I'm not. I'm tired and hungry and emotionally drained."

Mac walked around the desk and gathered Veronica's briefcase and jacket. She then walked back to her friend. "Come on, baby mama. Let's get you upstairs and tucked in to bed. Can't have you falling asleep here."

Veronica smiled at her friend. "Normally, I would fight you on this but I'm too tired. Let's go." She said and the two women made there way upstairs together.

It took Veronica a moment to realize where she was. Groggily, she sat up in the bed and looked around the room. Guest room. Shelly Pomeroy's. Looking down, she was still in a white dress, the straps broken. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She put her hand down on her stomach. It started to move. Looking down again, she watched as it grew bigger and bigger before her eyes.

"No No No...not this..." She began to whisper, tears coming to her eyes. She heard a noise and looked up. Duncan was standing in the doorway, staring down at her.

"I always knew you would want to have my baby." He said seriously and started to walk towards her.

Veronica shoved her body back against the headboard and held up her hands. "No! I don't want this. I don't want you. I don't want your baby. Stay away from me!" She began screaming, hoping someone would hear.

Duncan sat on the edge of the bed and reached out his hand. "But Veronica, last night was so beautiful. You didn't make a sound. You just let me do whatever I wanted to, just like you knew you should. And look...it was so perfect we conceived a baby!" He said in earnest, reaching out to try and touch her.

She slapped at his hand. "I didn't want to sleep with you last night. I don't want your baby. Please leave me alone." She hid her face in her hands. "I want Logan. I want our baby. Please. I want to go home.

"I want to go home." She slowly slid down and lay on the bed, curling herself in a protective ball.

"Logan..." She cried quietly.

"Our baby..."

"Veronica." Came a voice beside her. It wasn't Logan, but it sounded familiar. Safe. She opened her eyes and there was Mac, crouched beside her as Veronica lay on the couch.

"Mac." She croaked and threw her arms around her; Veronica's entire body was shaking. Mac shifted herself to take the weight of her friend. "I was so scared, Mac."

"It was just a dream, Veronica. You're okay." She said and patted her back reassuringly.

Veronica let herself be comforted for a minute more before she sat up slowly. Last she remembered, Mac had insisted on staying with her and the two decided to "girls night" it with pizza, ice cream, and Pitch Perfect on Netflix. She must have fallen asleep sometime just after the opening credits. Mac rocked back on her knees away from Veronica slightly. "Do you want me to call Logan to come home?" She asked quietly.

Veronica shook her head. "I'll be fine. Duncan showing up was just kind of..." She tapered off, not knowing the exact words to describe what she was feeling.

"Off-putting?" Mac volunteered. "Creepy? Scary? Disturbing? Stop me when I get it."

Veronica rubbed her face with her hands to rid herself of the tears on her face. She sat up and sat cross-legged. "All of the above?"

Mac crawled up next to her and put her arm around her. "Not everyday your ex-boyfriend-slash-rapist traipses through your office door."

Veronica's head snapped toward Mac. "Why would you..." She started.

Mac raised her hand, stopping her words at her lips. "Veronica, I love you. You are my best friend. But when you told me the story, years ago, of how Duncan had sex with you when you were unconscious, I did think you were delusional for not thinking he raped you. Just the fact that he could remember what happened and you didn't, told me all I needed to know." She reached out and took her hand. "I know that you try and compartmentalize what happened to you with Cassidy, but it's pretty obvious from your reaction today that Duncan freaks you out, on a very subliminal level."

For the second time today, Veronica sat in shock. When she heard the words repeated back to her, she began to realize the magnitude of the revelation. "But why would I date him if he raped me?" She asked herself out loud.

Mac shrugged and looked her friend in the eye. "Why do people in abusive relationships stay with their partners? Why do abused children still spend the holidays with their abusive families when they are adults? Why do the people who hire us to find out if their spouse is cheating, stay with the spouse long after the infidelity?" She responded. "Only those people know why. It's their baggage to carry."

Veronica felt tears coming to her eyes again. "Promise you won't say anything to anyone." She said quietly.

Mac leaned over and hugged her again. "Who am I going to tell? Wallace? He and I talked about this years ago, and he came to the same conclusion I did. Logan? That's up to you to talk to him about." She answered and pulled out of the hug.

"What about Sandy?" Veronica sniffed and wiped her eyes.

Mac laughed. "When Sandy and I are alone we don't talk about you. Unless it's to complain about what a terrible boss you are, Bond."

Veronica snorted through her tears. "Well, I'm glad my employees are happy together."

"We are happy." She said with a big smile. "Thanks for finding me my first serious girlfriend."

"No problem. Just don't break up. Our office is too small for two ex's to work together." Veronica chided her friend. She reached for Mac's hand again. "Thank you for staying with me this evening. I hate to be so needy but is there any way you can stay the night? I'd kind of feel better if someone was around."

Mac reached out and patted Veronica's belly. "No problem. I'll help take care of you and the Peanut while Logan is gone. Just let me call Sandy to tell her and get her to bring a change of my clothes to work tomorrow."

"Thank you." She said quietly. "This little kid is going to be pretty lucky to get you as an Aunty."

Mac hopped off the couch and walked to her purse for her phone. She smiled as she dialled her phone number and Sandy answered. Slowly, she began pacing to the far end of the loft, so she could have a private conversation with her girlfriend.

Veronica's stomach twisted as she thought about Mac's words. Her mind wandered back to Duncan and the sheer terror she felt in seeing him again. She had to admit, that there was a part of her that was glad to see him leave, all those years ago. When he left, she put all of her thoughts and emotions that were part of their relationship, in a little pink box, and she buried it deep down inside of her. She kept no mementoes or trinkets from him, tossing them all in the trash soon after he left. She was content to wipe him from her mind. But now, the pink box opened and lo and behold, it was overflowing with ugliness.

She closed her eyes, concentrating on her breathing momentarily, in an effort to refocus her thoughts. Logan. The baby. Their family. Their home. Their business. Her life was going so well. She wasn't going to let Duncan back in to ruin things.

Mac flopped down beside her on the couch, snapping her out of her head. "Sandy said she will come over tomorrow morning and make breakfast for us, since she knows we would both just eat cereal and drink coffee."

Veronica snorted a laugh. "She's right. And I don't even get the 'coffee' part anymore."

Mac patted Veronica's shoulder. "We'd better tuck you and baby in for the night, so you are happy and relaxed again for tomorrow." She stood up and offered her hand to Veronica. Feeling like she weighed a thousand pounds, Veronica rose slowly and let her friend drag her off to bed.