Mistletoe and Bygones

The warm glow of the Christmas lights filled the Mars apartment. Veronica stepped back and admired her work. She loved the way the different colored lights reflected off the walls, the entire room just felt cozy and peaceful.

"You've got to be kidding me!! Make the pass already!!"

Her father broke the peaceful spell as he yelled - she assumed - at the football player on the television screen. He sat on the couch, the last of the tree lights, he was suppose to be untangling, in his lap. Eyes glued to the television.

Beside him was Logan with an amused smile on his face. As well watching the television, well somewhat at least - he also had watched Veronica as she hummed Christmas carols to herself and decorated the tree. She had even found a little Santa hat to wear. She looked adorable and he couldn't wait to be alone with her later. She could leave the hat on.

"You know, when I asked the two of you to help me with the Christmas decorations, I didn't have anything involving college football in mind." She scolded, but her happy smile betrayed the effect.

This was actually how it went every year. She decorated and her father watched football while working on the same string of lights. This year was a bit different and new because Logan was there. At least he had finished his string of lights.

"I'm almost done, honey." Keith had answered her absently, before yelling an enthusiastic 'Come on Ref!' at the TV.

Logan left Keith on the couch and joined Veronica by the tree. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and kissed the top of her head.

"I love the smell of the tree." He told her, "We never had a real tree growing up. My mom would always hire some company to come in and decorate the place. I would leave to go to school in the morning and by the time I got home the house was covered. It looked like Christmas stopped by and threw up all over place - all fake and cold."

Veronica leaned back into him as he spoke. He rested his chin on her head. She was the perfect height. He often noticed how well they just fit together.

"This is really great! I'm glad that you asked me to come today. I finally get to see what a real Christmas tree looks like!"

She turned to look up at him as he said the last few words. Veronica knew that Logan's memories of Christmas past were neither holly nor jolly. This year she was determined to change that. She was so happy he was going to be spending Christmas with them.

She ran a hand gently down the side of his face, "I'm really glad you came." She kissed him quickly, "I needed someone to carry the tree! Can't depend on the Old Man to get it up here!" she teased them both with a smile.

"I'm watching football, I'm not deaf." Keith called from the couch.

Logan grabbed her waist and tickled her; she let out small shriek and ran down the hall. Logan followed and caught her easily by her bedroom door. Taking this quick moment out of Keith's direct line of sight, Logan pinned Veronica gently against the wall and kissed her deeply.

"You're driving me crazy in that hat." he whispered in her ear, his voice low. He whispered what he wanted to do later, his lips caressed the skin on her neck as he spoke. Her breath quickened, her heart pumped a little faster and her cheeks flushed.

Their eyes met, desire reflected. She went to kiss him again, but Keith's voice called out.

"I'm watching football, still in the house and it's too quiet down there.!"

They both appeared at the edge of the hallway and looked in at Keith, innocent smiles on their faces.

"Sorry Dad." Veronica pointed to the ceiling. There hung a small shrub with little white pedals, "Blame it on the mistletoe."

"Think Alterna-Prom, but a Christmas party!" Dick was trying to convince Logan. "Dude, come on!!"

"Have it at the frat house, Dude!" Logan shot back. He actually liked the idea. After being at Veronica's with her father the other day, he definitely felt in the X-mas mood and was thinking of asking Veronica to decorate the suite with him.

He was only giving Dick a hard time because, well, it was fun. He let a few more minutes pass with Dick pleading and then gave in.

"Okay, fine. I'll have a Christmas party. But I get final say on the guest list."

"Absolutely!" Dick grinned, "I'm definitely bringing the Party Pig!"

Veronica walked into Logan's suite to find him sitting on the couch, surrounded by bags of Christmas decorations, "I got your message. What's all this?"

She sat beside him. Before answering her, he pulled her to him for a kiss.

"Well, I was hoping that you'd help me by adding a little Mars Christmas magic in here." Logan pecked her cheek and reached into a bag to his right. "I even got you this to wear." He handed her a little Santa hat, a sly and sexy smile played on his lips.

She laughed, taking the hat. "What is it with you and this hat?"

He helped her put it on her head. She loved how he looked at her.

"I like you in the hat." he kissed her neck, "I like you ... in maybe just the hat?"

Veronica laughed lightly. Her fingers stroked the back of his shoulders, "Maybe later."

She untangled herself from his arms and sprung up from the couch, "First, let's get the magic started!"

As they unpacked the bags, Logan told Veronica about the party. How Dick had begged him for it. She got the impression he was surprised when she told him she thought it was a great idea.

"As long as I can have Wallace and Mac here with me." was her only stipulation.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

Veronica walked across the campus. With most students gone for the holiday, it was eerie in its silence.

She was there to pick up Wallace and then get some last minute shopping done. She just needed to make a quick detour by the Admin building hoping to sneak into the record room. Before the bet running student aide returned from break - she wanted to know everything about him.

Seeing a ladder propped against the wall, Veronica looked up to see Weevil looking down.

"Hello up there!" she called.

"Hey, V." he answered as he climbed down. Once on the ground, he looked back up to the top. "I feel like going door to door to apologize for the windows I egged in my youth."

"Gez, you have that kinda spare time?" Veronica joked with a smile. "Eggs, huh?" She crinkled her nose as the smell hit her. "Nasty!" she declared.

"Yeah, they've been up there since the night the Dean ... " Weevil trailed off.

Veronica nodded looking up at the window. "Those determined and wily Lilith House girls."

"At least they got caught in the act!" Weevil laughed, "From what I heard, Campus Security was patrolling and there they were."

Veronica perked up with this information, so the Lilith House girls were caught outside here the night the Dean was murdered. "Is that so? Did you happen to hear what time that was?"

Weevil shook his head, narrowed his eyes and looked at her. He recognized the change in Veronica with that question. She was suddenly all business. "You working a case, V? About the Dean?"

"I'm interested in some leads, unanswered questions." Veronica made a mental note to check with the campus security office to find out what time the girls had been caught with egg on their hands.

"You don't think that he killed himself, do you?"

"No, I really don't."

"Neither do I."

"Weevil, do you remember seeing anything odd - that morning or the days leading up to it? Anything strange about the Dean's behavior? The people around him in the office?"

Weevil thought for a moment, "Yeah, one thing. It was a few days before .. I was there fixing the cable, there was a big fight on that night - the Dean didn't want to miss it. When I was leaving, the secretary Cora was pleading with a man to put out his cigar. I caught a glimpse as I walked out the door and it was Mel."

"Mel?" Veronica asked, she as sure that she didn't know any Mels.

"I don't know a last name and I hadn't seen him in years. He used to run a little underground casino action out of the backroom at The Road Hog. Rumor was he moved up to 'better' things."

From Weevil's tone, she got the impression that 'better' wasn't feeding the poor or curing cancer.

Veronica saw the possible link, "Do you know if he ever took bets on boxing?"

Weevil shrugged, "Yeah, it's likely ..." Weevil saw it too, a light sparked in his eyes. "Do you think that the Dean was betting?"

"I know he was using a student aide to place bets for him at that dorm room casino." Veronica confided. "I wondered if he placed any other bets around town. With this new info, it seems like a possibility - at least, something worth looking into."

"This is a bad, bad guy Veronica." Weevil stressed.

"All the more reason to check him out. Bad, bad guys are usually the kind that commit murder." Veronica answered, crossing her arms across her chest.

Weevil could see she was determined and he knew from past experience, she wasn't just going to forget this. "Let me ask around a bit ... I have a few contacts that may know something ... let me see what I can find out. It'll be fun, like when I worked for your dad."

"Well, I usually like to do my own re-con work ..." She knew Weevil would be able to get into places she could never access and could see he was eager to help. He had really enjoyed working for her father and was pretty good from what Keith told her.

"Okay, you can be my inside man." She also knew that he was doing it to keep her away from danger. "Thanks."

He gave another shrug, "It's no problem. I liked the Dean, he was really decent to me. I'm happy to help you find whoever's responsible."

They started walking towards the front of the building.

"What are you doing over the holiday?" she asked.

"Oh you know, I'm going to hop in my big red sleigh ..."

"Pimped out?" Veronica added.

"Naturally," Weevil nodded with smile. "Then bring toys and Christmas joy to all the good girls and boys around the world. You're still at the same address, right?"

Veronica laughed, "Well, in that case. This year, for Christmas ... Oh, should I be sitting on your lap for this? ... I want ..."

"A pony." Weevil finished.

"You did get my letter!" she nudged him with her shoulder.

It was an unlikely friendship: The ex-con, former leader of a bike gang and the only daughter of the former Sheriff - who had arrested the biker once or twice in the past.

It was one of the few friendships Veronica had. A short while ago it was a friendship in jeopardy. Veronica had let her trust issues cloud her faith in Weevil's recent efforts to go straight and leave his life of crime behind. It led to a nasty blow out.

They had said quick apologizes a week after the fight, but in her own recent soul searching with Logan and trust, Veronica was focused to examine the other relationships in her life.

Weevil, even as the badass Biker, had always looked out for her. She knew she had Lily to thank for that. It was her death that eventually brought them together as friends. It was like he picked up protecting her where Lily left off.

"Well, we're having a party, 'Tis the season and all." Veronica already knew the answer to her coming question, but she wanted to ask it anyway. "I would like it, if you could come? Bring a date - some little hottie you have on the side. Friday night."

"We're having?" Weevil questioned.

"Yeah. We're ... Um, Mac - you know Mac - had the funky blue streaked hair, a whiz with computers … and Wallace. You remember Wallace, you duck-taped him to the flag pole once." She looked at Weevil in a reminiscent manner, hand on his shoulder, "Good times, good times..."

She could tell he wasn't really buying her little 'song and dance'.

"And …. Logan." Veronica hated the dark shadow that passed over Weevil's face at hearing Logan's name. She knew that through the years, the two had been both enemies and allies - More the former than the latter, unfortunately.

The grudge between them was deep and filled with many reasons. She just hoped that one day; Weevil wouldn't look at her with such disappointment for her choice to stay with him.

Weevil was about to say something cutting about Logan, to start their usual sparring, but thought different when he saw Veronica's expression and the look in her eyes - a silent pleading.

Something inside told him to let it be for today, "Thanks, V, but I think I'll pass. I got some plans already lined up Friday."

Veronica stood surveying the crowded suite. She actually had to admit that the party was going quite well. Dick had invited a mix of Logan and his fellow 09ers home for x-mas and college friends still in town. With a little arm-twisting she had managed to get Mac out of her house. She even looked like she as having a good time - currently standing over by the stereo looking through Logan's CD collection with Piz.

When Veronica had called Wallace to tell him about the party, Piz was still at the dorm. He apparently missed his flight and couldn't get another - some long and strange story involving a cab driver and a chicken, but Veronica had lost interest half way through.

So here he was in Neptune for Christmas and taking refuge at Wallace's house. There was no way she could avoid inviting him. Besides, he wasn't a bad guy. True he was a little wound up, but when mellowed he wasn't so bad. He was quirky, or at least that is what she told Logan earlier when she broke the news Piz was coming. She got the definite vibe that Logan was not Piz's biggest fan.

"He's just such a spaz." Logan had said.

"He's quirky." Veronica countered, "It has a certain humor."

Logan ran his fingers threw his hair, "I also don't like the way he looks at you."

"The way he looks at me?" Veronica raised her delicate eyebrows with the question.

"You know what I mean ... the way he looks at you. You probably don't see it, he only does it when he thinks no ones watching." Logan had seen it a few times now. How Piz looked at Veronica - sometimes with longing puppy-dog eyes and other times with desire. Logan didn't like either of the looks very much.

Veronica had laughed. She had noticed slightly that Piz might have a little crush on her. It was the whole sexy, covert spy thing. Guys just really got off on the idea of a female 007. But the idea of her and Piz was indeed laughable. Nice guy, but not the guy for her.

"Trust me," She smiled at Logan seductively, sliding closer to sit on Logan's lap. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about."

"You," He kissed her softly. "I trust. Him, I do not."

"I just spend the last 10 minutes trying to get away from Madison Sinclair. She's going on and on about how much she loves going to school in Paris!" Wallace shook his head coming to a stop in front of Veronica, "With her jet-lag, she must have mistaken me for someone who actually gives a damn!"

Veronica chuckled, she could see Madison had attached herself to Dick, who was now looking for an escape route.

"She may be loving school in Paris, but not as much as she's loving the croissants! Talk about your freshman 15!" Veronica whispered to Wallace with a wicked grin.

If it had been anyone other than Madison, Veronica would have felt bad for making such a comment. Luckily, her conscience was free and clear on this one.

Wallace laughed and added a "Meow!" to her comment.

Logan stepped out onto the patio to get some fresh air. There was a surprising amount of people and he was having a good time mingling. Mostly he enjoyed watching Veronica as she moved around the room. She was always the observer and he could see she was having fun people watching, exchanging whispered comments back and forth with Wallace or Mac.

Standing by the rail, looking out over the view stood Piz.

"Hey, Piz." Logan said standing beside him to look out as well.

"Hey Logan. Nice place! Great party!" Piz gave a goofy smile.

"Thanks." Logan took the moment alone to have a little chat, "You seem like a nice guy, Piz. You're 'quirky'. It carries a certain humor, apparently."

"Um, thanks." Piz answered unsure where Logan was going with this. He looked nervously from Logan to the landscape, "You're a pretty okay guy yourself."

Logan smiled at him, but nothing about the smile made Piz feel comfortable.

"Great, good to hear!" Logan looked out over the view for a moment himself, and then turned his attention back to Piz.

"So now that we've become such great friends," as he said that last word, Logan reached over and gave Piz a playful, but forceful, punch on the shoulder. "I wanted to have a little friendly chat with you."

Piz gave nervous goofy laugh as he rubbed his shoulder, "A chat. Sure. I mean, I'm pretty good at the chatting. I have a radio show, maybe you've heard it? No? Well, next week ..." He started to ramble.

"I actually ..." Logan cut in, "Already had a topic in mind."

"Oh, well, of course you did." Piz was silently wishing that someone - anyone would come back out on the patio right now. "What's on your mind?"

"Veronica." Logan was watching Piz closely now, his dark eyes narrowing.

"Veronica?" Piz questioned, his voice breaking a little.

"Yeah, you know about this tall ..." Logan held his hand up to just under his chin, "Blond, brilliant, spunky as hell Veronica."

Piz looked a little pale and Logan almost laughed. Running his hands through his hair he sighed. He decided he was just going to come right out with it.

"I'm a jealous guy, Piz. It's true, I can admit it." Logan shrugged. "I've seen the way that you look at Veronica. I guess I can't really blame you. I, of course, get it - she's incredible.

"There once was a point in time, though, when I would have just punched your lights out for it." Logan's face wasn't altogether unpleasant as he spoke, but there was dark shadow there in his features.

Piz was trying to keep a cool face, but the uncertainty of what was going to happen next was wearing him down. He remained silent and waited.

"I'm not going to do that though, Piz." Logan flashed another smile, Piz looked a little relieved. "You see, I have taken on a new policy to use my words before my fists."

"I think that's a good policy." Piz weakly offered, his mouth dry.

Logan nodded, "So, here it goes, Piz. Veronica and I have been through a lot together. More than you could even imagine or begin to understand. She is the single most important thing in my life and there is no way I am ever letting her go again. Not without one helluva fight!"

Logan didn't raise his voice at all as he spoke. He kept a seemingly even tone, though there was no way you could miss the danger behind the voice.

Piz gulped. It was true, from the moment he opened his dorm room door and saw Veronica Mars standing there, he was attracted to her. He thought that he had hid that attraction pretty well. He was apparently wrong. And the worst possible person - besides Veronica herself - was the one to have noticed it. He wondered if he should bother to deny it ... just keep his mouth shut ...

"I bring this up to you now because I don't want it to get out of hand. You live with Wallace and you're a new friend to Veronica. I wouldn't want your little infatuation to affect that - or your newfound friendship with me. Would you?"

Piz shook his head no - he realized that he was holding his breath.

"Great!" Logan was satisfied at how this conversation had gone. "Marvelous! See you back in there, Friend!"

He turned and left Piz standing on the patio alone once again.

From where Veronica stood she could see two potentially bad situations unfolding.

On her left: Logan and Piz were standing on the patio, having what appeared to be a normal conversation. At least, Logan's body language suggested that, the look on Piz's face lead her to believe that things were not as they appeared.

On her right: Mac and Dick were engaged in a heated discussion. Well, Mac was engaged in a heated discussion, she was gesturing with her hands and obviously very upset - her voice was low, Veronica could not make out what she was saying. Dick was looking at her, almost like he was ashamed of himself. Something, Veronica noted, she had never ever seen before.

She looked back at the patio just in time to see Logan turn from Piz, a rather contented smile on his face, and come back in.

"There she is!" Logan gushed spotting her, "The apple of my eye! The spring in my step!" He did a little jump as he came towards her, enfolding her in his arms and planted a quick kiss.

Veronica smiled and checked his hands, as if inspecting for something.

"No marks, cuts ... no blood ..." she mumbled.

"Nope, none of the above. Don't you know - I use my words now." Logan kissed her again, deeply. When they pulled apart, a little breathless, Veronica saw an unmistakable naughty look in his dark eyes. "Meet me under the mistletoe later and I'll save the use of my hands for ..."

He never got to finish that statement.

"Just stop it Dick!!" Mac yelled, causing all heads in the room to turn in their direction.

"Mac, I'm .." Dick started but was cut off abruptly when Mac slapped him and ran out of the room.

Dick held his face for a stunned moment, then slowly realized that everyone was looking. For a second it looked like he was going to say something, but he just turned and ran the opposite direction of Mac.

Veronica and Logan looked back to each other with the same questioning expression.

"I'm gonna ... " Veronica started.

"Yeah, me too." Logan agreed. After another quick kiss, they parted to go after their respective friends.

--

"Mac?"

Veronica slid down the wall to sit beside Mac on the tilted bathroom floor.

"I know, how dramatic! The big slap scene in front of a room full of strangers! I feel like such a soap opera!" Mac exclaimed, wiping her eyes.

"Nah, for it to be a soap opera you would have needed to throw your drink in his face first, yelled 'You bastardཀ You slept with my mother!' - Then the slap.! Veronica smiled gently. "Want to tell me what happened?"

Mac shrugged, "I had gotten used to it, you know? The looks he gave me, the horrible things he would say to me."

Veronica nodded, knowing all too well what she meant. She had seen the way that Dick treated Mac and he was especially mean to her.

"I just tuned him out. It didn't matter. I just didn't expect this from him."

"What did he say, Mac?"

"That he was sorry." Mac looked at Veronica, confusion in her eyes. "He apologized for the things he said and done!"

"That bastard!" Veronica firmly stated, "How dare he apologize! I'm going to go throw a drink in his face for you!"

Mac cracked a smile. She knew that Veronica wasn't mocking her - not in a malicious way at least. Mac, herself, knew how silly she sounded.

"I'm serious. Saying that he's sorry! Where does he get off?!" Veronica continued, outrage in her voice, but a smile on her face.

Mac's smile widened, "Okay, stop. It is kind of silly, but I've just gotten so used to hating him. I can't hate him if he apologizes, if he looks at me like he really means it..." She sighed, "It was just easier to think of Dick as some mindless robot, programmed to try and hump anything with breasts and a heartbeat."

"That's the Dick I know and loathe." Veronica quipped.

"Well, I just saw another side of Dick and I actually felt sorry for this side. He kept asking if we could be bygones. It made me so angry, so I slapped him." Mac sighed again.

"Not that I don't believe he deserved the slap, trust me I do, and if you'd let me - I would go throw a drink in his face..." another gentle smile. "But I must say that Dick has been having a hard time. Logan told me about it some and how worried he has been. I think that Dick Casablancas has been playing the same old role, but his character deep down has changed."

"So we forgive him? Just like that?" Mac's tears were all gone, her anger ebbing.

"No, not that easily, but maybe we give him a chance?" Veronica offered, "I think that both of you have gone through a lot this last year and the grief you both feel comes from the same root cause."

Mac's eyes looked sad again, but no tears. "Cassidy."

Veronica nodded, "Both of you thought he was someone else, someone special to each of you. Then he was gone and you never got to be angry at him for the lies, just at each other."

Mac couldn't deny the sense Veronica made. "I didn't know you were taking psychology?"

"Unfortunately, all that was self taught. I remember a time when Logan and I treated each other much worse for a reason quite similar." Veronica stood and held a hand out for Mac.

She took it and Veronica pulled her up.

"Oh God," Mac looked fearfully at Veronica, "If I ever want to date Dick ..."

"I'll commit you myself." Veronica promised with a smile.