In a World

Summary: Exploring the 'what ifs' that could have happened if Lilly Kane hadn't been murdered, and her secrets – and others – had come out anyway. Pairings: Lilly/Logan, past Duncan/Veronica, eventual Logan/Veronica

Rated: M

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to 'Veronica Mars'.

Chapter 2

"Hey, Cinderella, it's time to wake up. You've gotta get home before you turn into a pumpkin."

Veronica sleepily batted at the hand that was shaking her gently, "Mmm no."

"How is she sleeping on the floor?" Lilly laughed softly.

"It's Veronica", Duncan rolled his eyes. "She can sleep anywhere."

Logan just grinned. She looked like a cute puppy when she was waking up. "Verrrronica", he murmured teasingly.

"'M sleepin'", she mumbled irritably.

"Yeah, and we've gotta get you home before you turn into a pumpkin", he repeated.

"Pumpkin?" she finally blinked her eyes open at him inquisitively. "Are we doing pet names now?"

He laughed. "Wake up, slo-mo. I'm gonna drive you home."

"Tired", she sighed wearily, but she rubbed her eyes and sat up, making an attempt to focus. "What time is it?"

"Ah, we're onto full, coherent sentences now." Logan stood up and held out a hand to pull her to her feet. "It's nine forty-five."

"I wanna know why Logan is the only one who doesn't have to duck your limbs to wake you up", Lilly asked with a bit of amusement.

Veronica rolled her eyes at her best friend. How many times have they had this conversation over the years? "Because you still jump on me, and Duncan always shakes the bed like an earthquake even though you both know damn well that I don't like being startled awake", she said dryly. "You two are nuts. Logan usually just waves coffee under my nose... or bacon."

"Maybe we should have given you coffee earlier. What self-respecting teenager falls asleep by eight o'clock?" Lilly shook her head.

"A tired one?" Veronica said ruefully. "Sorry for being lame."

"Come on, Ronnie. I've already got your stuff in the car", Logan said.

"Your car?" she frowned. "How did Big Bird get here?"

Logan rolled his eyes, ignoring the moniker he couldn't get her to drop once she saw the X-terra. "I walked over and got it."

She sighed. "Okay. I give up. Being your other girlfriend is exhausting though", Veronica teased.

"You're tellin' me", he quipped.

Veronica rolled her eyes. "Go kiss your girlfriend", she ordered, giving him a little shove.

0

"So?" Logan looked over at her when he stopped at a red light. "You got any ideas about what we should do for homecoming this year?"

"Hmm", Veronica mused. "Maybe something that doesn't involve the cops this time?"

"Where's the fun in that?"

"We did have fun", she said wistfully glancing out the window as they continued through the intersection. "But we might actually have to go to prom this year", she muttered before letting the silence settled.

"What?" Logan asked after several minutes had passed.

"What, what?" she asked quietly.

"You're making that awkward face."

That made her laugh. "I have an awkward face? I should probably get rid of that."

"So, what's up?"

"Just wondering what the awkward factor- oh god, I do have an awkward face", she groaned, interrupting herself before shaking her head.

"Awkward factor of what? And can we stop saying 'awkward'?" he rolled his eyes.

"Of our homecoming foursome potentially turning into a six-some", she muttered.

"You've thought about that too, huh?"

"Yeah. Either that or Duncan has a date – because you know he will – and I will undoubtedly get to play the part of the squeaky fifth wheel. So fun!" she cheered sarcastically.

"Come on. If Duncan decides to finally swim in the dating pool just for homecoming, I'll find you a date, alright?"

"Uh, hell no. We both know I'm way too evolved for your friends", she said dryly.

"Ah, yes. You're the liberated cavewoman."

"Darn tootin'."

"Okay, fine, Miss High Standard", he rolled his eyes. "You, me, Lilly on a threesome date. Lilly will think it's awesome."

Veronica glared. "I'm trying really hard not to fan that flame with her. She doesn't need any more kinky ideas. And I don't really want to listen to the rumors spike more than they already are."

"What rumors?"

"What, you haven't heard?" she asked blandly. "Apparently, you guys only let me hang around even after Duncan and I broke up because I give such amazing head."

The screech of brakes made her curse as they pulled over.

"What!?"

"Dammit, Logan", she growled, rubbing her knee that had hit the dashboard. "Brake checks aren't actually funny."

"How long?"

"How long have I been sucking you off? Well, the timestamp varies depending on who you talk to-"

"Jesus, Veronica. Quit screwing around."

Veronica raised a pointed eyebrow. "It's all good things apparently. I've heard I have a mouth like a Hoover."

He sighed. "Ronnie… Why haven't I heard any of this?"

"Now, I'm just spit-balling here, but I'm guessing it's because at school, my friend, you live in a nice little bubble where you are king. And while most assume I have to earn my keep, they also think I'm some kind of pet that amuses you." She leaned over the console to loudly whisper, "No one wants to be banished from the kingdom."

"Off with their heads", he declared darkly.

"Logan-"

"Who was it?"

"Who started the rumors? Geez, how the hell should I know? They're your friends."

"This ends here."

"Please, just leave it alone. I don't need you to go on some wild, knock-out, punching spree to defend my virtue."

"No punching. Just threats of punching", he said tensely.

She groaned. "Logan, I'm serious. Do not make this a crusade. It's just going to draw more attention to the situation."

"Situation? You mean the situation where I'm not throwing you in the backseat to have my way with you right this second?"

"Yes, that situation. And can you at least pretend to be tactful?"

"Or the situation where you're not on your knees in the backseat so I can cram my-"

"Logan! Enough!" she shouted. Veronica rubbed her forehead irritably. "God, could you pull back on your over-protective instincts just a little bit and stop being a bastard?"

"Veronica… I'm not angry at you", he said quietly.

"Good thing, considering I didn't do anything wrong", she said flatly.

He forced a smirk. "May I suggest make-up sex?"

"May I suggest you choke your chicken by yourself?" she quipped sweetly. "Actually I'd settle for making it to my intended destination before curfew if you don't mind."

"Hey. I'm sorry."

"But?" she asked knowingly.

"You should have told me."

"You know I don't like help."

"I think in this case, you're going to have to let that go", he said seriously.

"Why me?" she complained. "You should let it go."

"Because I said so?"

"Try again."

"It's not just about you."

"You can't stop people from talking, Logan. It doesn't work that way. And you would never have heard anything if I hadn't-"

"I'm going to take care of it", he interrupted firmly.

She gave up. "You're really giving me the Rulebook Ultimatum?"

"We all agreed on the rules and the four of us signed our initials in blood", he snarked, only half jokingly.

"That was three years ago! And I thought all those candles were a bit much."

"We keep our promises to each other, okay? Nothing else matters."

"Logan-"

"Veronica, just agree, alright? It'll make my job easier."

"Okay", she said a bit warily. "But seriously, don't get yourself into trouble."

"You drive a hard bargain, Mars."

"I mean it. We don't want you to get carted off to Australia." His father was leaving soon to film his newest awful movie about beach bunnies in Australia, and his mother had agreed to spend a few weeks on site to play the role of supportive wife and answer a few questions for the press. Logan had gotten out of it because it was during the school year and his father's over-whelming concern about his son's education looked great on camera. Logan had been forced to agree to stay under the radar while his parents were away, or he would be ordered onto a plane to spend time with them on set as well.

"Okay", he agreed quietly.

"Thank you."

"Any other secrets you want to drop on me tonight?"Logan raised an eyebrow.

Her head tilted. "I'm thinking about getting a summer job?"

He groaned and pulled away from the curb. "You're killing me; you get that, right?"

Veronica just laughed.

It was a several minutes before she said anything else.

"Oh, Logan, I totally forgot", she was trying not to smirk. She had juicy gossip. "We were talking about homecoming earlier… I'm pretty sure Duncan is thinking about asking Meg."

"Meg Manning?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes", she nodded, eyes widened emphatically.

"Donut sure does have a thing for good girls", Logan muttered under his breath.

"I think he should go for it."

"Really?"

"We broke up months ago. And it isn't like we're going to get back together", she shrugged. "It's almost not awkward anymore. If he wants to go with her, he should ask her."

"You're really okay with that?" he asked seriously.

"I am. And you can tell him I said so if it comes up. I think he needs a push… "

"You know he's probably only worried about hurting you."

Veronica nodded. "I know. I do intend to talk to him, but if you get to it first, it's not a big deal. Maybe we should double team him at lunch tomorrow while he's pretending not to make googly eyes at her when she's not paying attention."

"You think he really likes her?"

"Yeah, I do. He's been giving her the puppy face for over a week now. How the hell have you missed it?"

"Okay, we'll help Donut catch another good girl", Logan said dryly. "Poor boy is never getting laid."

"Logan!"

He flashed a grin when she slapped his shoulder.

"Now I just gotta go find me a man", Veronica sighed dramatically, twirling her hair around her finger.

"You know any guy you go out with has to go through me first, right?" Logan said seriously.

"Dammit, I will never have a boyfriend again", she huffed playfully.

"Not 'til you're married", he quipped.

"Anything you say, dad", she said, voice laced with heavy sarcasm.

He grimaced, "Point taken."

0

Veronica glanced at the dashboard clock when Logan finally pulled up outside her house. She had twelve minutes to spare until her curfew.

"So, uh, you want a kiss goodnight?" he teased, wagging his eyebrows. "Give you something to think about while you're in bed-"

"Unnecessary", she insisted, covering his mouth her hand before he finished his suggestion. "My spank bank is full."

"Oh, do tell", he grinned, shoving her hand away gently.

Her head tilted thoughtfully. "Hmm… Brad Pitt, the guy on that Calvin Klein commercial…" She leaned forward like she was planning to share a secret, "Your ass in your favorite pair of jeans."

He gaped at her wordlessly.

She laughed and kissed his cheek quickly. "Night, Logan."

"Do you want a ride in the morning?" he asked, after shaking his head roughly.

Veronica eyed him thoughtfully. "I'll text you later. I have to talk to my dad. I'll probably be driving Mom's car while she's gone. He said he's not paying insurance for the driver to be intoxicated… plus a few choice expletives."

Logan let out a rough laugh that was anything but humorous. "I'll bet."

She nodded slightly and unbuckled her seatbelt, and grabbed her bag from the floor by her feet. "I'd better go inside."

He caught her arm before she got out of the car. "If you need me, you call. Period."

She sighed irritably, "Alright."

He scowled. "Don't do that. You don't get to be the deflective one in this relationship. I call you", Logan reminded pointedly. "You know damn well, you're house is not more screwed up than mine."

Her mouth tightened before she shifted uncomfortably. "Okay", she muttered softly. "I got it."

"Thank you."

She smiled tensely, but nodded before getting out and shutting the door. She walked quickly up the driveway and up the front porch steps. Logan didn't pull away until she got her key in the deadbolt, and the door opened. She turned to wave and he beeped his horn once before driving down the street a bit more aggressively than necessary for the suburbs. Veronica rolled her eyes. She was just grateful that he wasn't driving around in a sports car like an asshole.

"Dad?" she calls as she walks through the living room.

Veronica is in the kitchen pouring herself a glass of ice tea when she finally gets a response as her father comes down the hallway.

"Have I told you how much I like Logan?" he queries jovially. "He's not dating my daughter, and he always makes sure you're home on time."

She buried a grin. "Yeah, and I would have been here ten minutes ago if he hadn't pulled over so we could have an argument."

"Ah, did he try to make you walk home again?" Keith mused.

"Logan? Logan Echolls?" Veronica says incredulously. "The guy who won't knowingly let me walk the two blocks from his house to the Kane's by myself in broad daylight unless he's on the other end of my cell phone? He'd tie me up and throw me in the backseat before he'd let me walk anywhere, much less in the dark."

"Nice to know there's still some chivalry in the world."

"Dad", she chuckled exasperatedly.

"That's my name."

She groaned, but stepped into the offered hug.

"How are you doin', kiddo?"

Veronica sighed. "I'm alright. You?"

He kissed the top of her head. "I'm just worried about you."

"I'm fine, Dad, really." She didn't want to say that she was relieved that her mother wasn't in their home right now – because it sounded awful – but she was. It was a load of stress off her shoulders not having to worry about her mother's mental state for a while.

"I'm sorry about the way things turned out, honey."

She shook her head and stepped back. "It's not your fault, Dad."

"The rehab clinic said that we could call in a month to see if she can have visitors. If you want to go see her then… just let me know, alright."

"Let's see what happens", Veronica said quietly.

"You have school tomorrow", Keith said, changing the subject.

"Astute observation, Sherriff", she teased. "About this so called 'day of enforced institutional learning'… do I need a ride in the morning?" she asked carefully.

He chuckled, and reached on top of the refrigerator and held out her mother's car keys. "I suppose you're asking for these?"

"Well", she grimaced, "it seems silly to let the poor car just rust in the driveway."

"That does sound silly", he mused. "Promise not to crash the car."

Veronica rolled her eyes and held up her right hand. "I promise not to crash the car."

He shrugged and handed over the set of keys to the Camry, "Good enough for me. Now go get some sleep."

She laughed softly. "Thank you."

She was halfway to her bedroom when she heard him call, "How do you feel about pancakes for breakfast?"

"Favorable!" she answered.

00

A/N: Thank you to everyone who left a review for the first chapter! I'm glad it caught your attention. I hope this one goes over just as well. I think I replied to everyone, but if I missed you, or you are not logged in, and I can't, I appreciate the reviews! Let me know what you think about this one!