Hello Marshmallows! Thank you to everyone who has left a review. You don't understand how incredibly motivating and helpful that is! I hope that this next instalment will bring you joy as you read! I know, I know… We are almost all LoVe fans ( nikatsu, you feel me)… It gets hard to stick with storyline and plotline of the VMars story when you know she HAS to end up with Piz during this time period. I decided that I would write in a way that sticks to the actual plotline of Rob Thomas' Veronica story. With that, I have to keep her with Piz for the time being. BUT hopefully there's just enough angst and tension with Logan and Veronica, that it'll keep you motivated to read! Thanks for everything lovelies!

Britt

Chapter 3

Logan was feeling very buzzed, and for the first time in a while, happy. Wallace had warmed up to him, and was helping him rate "the ladies" at the 09'er. It was Logan's first real "guy night" that he had outside of his Navy comrades. It helped that Wallace made Logan feel just an inch closer to Veronica.

Logan had been very careful to keep his mouth shut about the perky blonde. He knew once he mentioned her name, Wallace would assume that he was only invited there for an information dump. So he had let Wallace rant about his new job at Neptune High, and how he hadn't been laid in three months. Logan listened. It was nice to have someone complaining about real things, and not about the bitch who wore the same designer dress on the red carpet as Carrie.

"Alright, Logan. You've waited long enough. Just ask," Wallace said raising his eyebrows.

"Whatever do you mean?" Logan asked with fake modesty.

"We both know this social call wasn't solely for male bonding."

"Honestly, Wallace, I have no idea what you're speaking of. We are here for the beer, the music, and the ladies!" Logan lifted his beer in the air and smiled at the well-endowed redhead sitting beside Wallace. She gave a flirtatious smile back. Wallace smiled and shook his head.

"Well, that's something I can stand behind!" he said taking a large drink. Logan watched as Wallace turned his attention to the redhead. "I'm Wallace, what's your name?" The girl answered, but Logan wasn't listening. He was kicking himself and his pride. He should have just asked Wallace what they all knew he wanted to ask. How was she?

vvVvv

"Okay, so let's be clear, you must tell your father that he is missed dearly, and that I expect him to come visit as soon as it is possible." Piz sat on Veronica's bed as she packed up her clothes for her trip to California.

"He'll be happy to hear that," she said throwing her underwear into the suitcase.

"Why would you need these?" Piz laughed taking out one of her fancy pairs of underwear she had packed.

"Piznarski, you never know when you may get laid! Gotta keep myself looking good!" she laughed back as she yanked them from his grip. She caught a glimpse of what seemed like momentary jealousy in Piz's face before he smiled up at her.

"This is very true. Have to be ready," he replied.

"Stosh, I'm totally kidding! They're just the first things I grabbed," Veronica laughed. He smiled and nodded. "He's coming here for Christmas, you know, my dad." Piz's face lightened up.

"Well, it'll be good to see him. That is, if I'm going to…?"

"Of course, he'll be happy to see you again. He still mentions you from time to time. He likes to say, 'Remember Piz, I liked Piz. Good man.' I kid you not."

She wasn't lying. Keith had always liked Piz and did bring him up. When he had heard that she and Piz had started talking again, he tried to hide his excitement, but Veronica knew how Keith felt without him expressing it. He though Piz was good for her. He was safe, he was nice, and he wouldn't break her like Logan had. Logan had tried to bond with Keith through the years, but he never quite had Keith's trust. Piz had been an instant hit, and it was evident where Keith's alliances were, even if he would never impose that on her.

"Well, I hope you have a good time while you're there. Don't miss me too much," Piz said standing. He walked over to her and gave her a hug and a kiss on the top of her head. Veronica's stomach fluttered. It wasn't butterflies. It was a feeling of excitement and anxiety. She really wanted to just let go and give in, but it just didn't feel right. Not yet, at least.

"I'll try," she responded, trying to mask the guilt she was feeling. He didn't seem to notice because he smiled and headed out the door.

"Alright, well I'll see you when you get back." He disappeared, and a few minutes later she heard to apartment's door close. She breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't know why she felt the way she did. Piz was the good guy. Why couldn't she just accept that and be okay with the fact that there didn't need to be fireworks and bloodshed?

Epic… bloodshed… I don't have time for that anymore. I am a grown woman…

…A grown woman still in love with her high school sweetheart, and she knew it.

vvVvv

"Hey, baby. When did I fall asleep?" Carrie asked as she walked down the stairs the next morning. Logan was up cooking brunch for the two of them. He looked up to see her in one of his white tee shirts. Her hair was freshly combed and her smeared makeup was magically gone from her smiling face.

"Sleep? That's what it's called these days?" Logan said with little emotion.

"Oh come on, Logan. I was just having fun. Something you should try more often," she purred. Carrie approached him timidly and slipped her arms around his waist. She looked up with him with playful eyes.

"I actually did try some of that 'fun' you speak of. Went out after I bought you home." She tensed up with his confession.

"What do you mean, 'went out,'?" she asked. Her voice was harsher and irritated.

"With an old friend from high school," he looked at her smiling, "Perhaps you remember him, Wallace Fennel?"

"The basketball player who followed Veronica around like a puppy?"

"That would be the one!"

"You were never friends with him," she argued, "He was one of the pieces of trash that Neptune High took in as charity." She was clearly speaking about the lack of money Wallace had growing up.

"Ah, the kind spirited Carrie Bishop, ladies and gents!"

"Bonnie. I've told you a million times, Logan. Call me Bonnie."

Logan grunted and nodded his head as if to just remember that request. Truth was, he hated calling her Bonnie. It was weird. He could care less that the media and her fans referred to her by her stage name, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. It made her less real to him. She only ever threw a fit about being called Carrie when she was trying to pick a fight, and Logan wasn't in the mood to bring out Carrie's claws.

"So, Bonnie," he tried again, "should I expect you for dinner?"

"I'm going to stay here today. I have a killer headache," she yawned. He smiled as he watched her eat a piece of bacon she had stolen off the plate. "What?" she asked batting her eyelashes.

"Nothing. I just miss this. You and me…" he paused and considered whether he would ask the next part, "…Are we happy with what we're doing here? Are you happy?" She sighed. He knew that he had annoyed her by his questioned, but he needed to know.

"I am. But I've always said, if you aren't happy anymore, I won't ever stop you from going. You're either with me or not. I don't have time for your emotional ass to play games with me." Her words were harsh and he knew she was trying to get a rise out of him.

"Okay," was all he said back. She smiled, believing she had won this battle, and continued munching on her bacon.

vvVvv

Logan paced the floor as he debated whether he would call Wallace again or not. He figured that if he called a second night in a row, he would be pushing his luck, and boundaries, with him. Carrie was nowhere to be found. He had called her at least twenty times, and left at least twelve messages on her voice mail.

Gia had picked her up around four in the afternoon, so he was fairly certain he wouldn't see her again tonight. He promised himself that he wouldn't waste his entire night searching for his drugged out girlfriend. He knew Gia would watch out for her, she always did.

Logan stopped pacing and sat down at his bar. He stared at his phone. Begging it to ring. He wanted to see her face pop up on his screen. Even after all these years, he held some hope that one day she would just call him. She could yell, curse, cry… be drunk, for all he cared. Just to hear her voice again would be worth it. That sarcastic, ridiculous voice that he had grown to love.

"Logan Echolls! For me? You shouldn't have!" Veronica had said with her playful voice. She had opened up a random gift that Logan had picked up for her in Mexico. It was an ugly tee shirt that said, "Wasted in Mexico." He knew that she would get a kick out of it. She hated whenever he went.

"I had it custom made for you," Logan responded with his dry humor. He smirked and peeked at her. She closed her eyes and held the shirt to her chest.

"It must have cost you a fortune."

"It made a significant dent in my millions, but I think I should be okay," he laughed. She smiled at him, and then her face grew serious.

"I love you, you know."

His cold heart melted each time she ever uttered those words.

"I love you too, Veronica Mars."

Logan turned his phone in his hands a few times before he decided to call Wallace. He had to admit, he felt a little childish calling Wallace again, but he didn't care anymore.

"Uh, hello?" came Wallace's distracted voice. There was a lot of noise coming from the background.

"Hey, is this a bad time?" he asked.

"Guys, you better not start the game without me!" Wallace yelled to whoever he was with. "Naw, I have a little bit of time, what's up?"

"You know what…" Logan was cut short from a voice he heard speaking to Wallace. That familiar voice. His stomach lurched. "…I'll call back later," he managed.

"Yeah, sounds good, Logan. How about I call you tomorrow?"

"Alright, man."

They said their goodbyes and Logan tossed his phone onto his counter. She was home. His brain immediately started plotting ways that he could accidently run into her.

Don't do that to her. His brain argued. She has her own life. Let her go. Let her be. His heart didn't quite feel the same way. He wanted to get in his car now and head to Neptune. He would drive around all night until he found where she was. Don't be stupid. If you showed up at the door of the place she was at, she would think you were a psychopath. Or would she? She was used to his emotional outbursts. Would she really be so surprised that he rushed to see her?

He rubbed his temples, trying to calm his racing mind. She would be there tomorrow. He decided to sleep on it. He would decide what to do when his brain wasn't mush.

Slowly he made his way to the couch. He laid down, flipping his TV to a channel that was playing Ocean's Eleven. Closing his eyes, he felt sleep rush over him like an ocean.

vvVvv

Veronica heard Logan's name come from Wallace's mouth. She was sure of it. Had Wallace been talking to Logan on the phone? She thought it was weird that Wallace would have any sort of connection to Logan now. She was too embarrassed to ask her best friend about it, so she acted as if she hadn't heard anything.

Mac and Wallace had joined her and her dad for a game night at The Mar's. Keith and Mac were in deep discussion about how Mac's graduate schooling was going, and Wallace was "fetching some libations for the group." He had used that little line when his cell started to ring. Veronica, being Veronica, wanted to know who was calling him, so she had discreetly followed him into the kitchen. She had originally assumed it was a mystery girl calling him, but when she heard him say Logan's name, there was something that told her it wasn't a girl named Logan.

Veronica had quickly rushed back to the table, face flushed which was returned with a quizzical look from Mac. Veronica avoided her stare, and Wallace made his way back with a beer for him and Keith.

"Hey! What about us, Fennel? What do the ladies have to do for a drink?" Mac demanded. Wallace looked at her and placed his hands over his heart.

"Well, with all the talk of equal opportunity, I thought it would be just wrong for me, as a man, to assume you can't handle yourselves!" he joked.

Mac slapped his arm playfully and pushed her chair back, "Well, in that case, I guess I better go get myself something to drink. Veronica, didn't you say you needed to show me something?"

Veronica furrowed her brow. Not that she could remember… She stood and followed her friend into the kitchen.

"Sooo," she said turning to Veronica. "Who called him? I wanted to follow him too, but you beat me to it!"

"You know, I couldn't tell," Veronica lied. Mac put her hands on her hips. Clearly she wasn't convinced.

"Veronica. You've solved murders. I don't believe you."

Veronica paused before asking, "Do you know why he would be talking to Logan?"

"Logan? As in Echolls, Logan?" Mac seemed pretty shocked. Veronica decided that she must be just out of the loop as she was.

"I'm pretty sure that's who called," Veronica admitted. Mac smiled , shaking her head.

"Weird."

"That's what I thought! But I'm not going to ask him. Plus, it doesn't even matter. That's all part of my history. I'm not looking back."

Mac just smirked and nodded her head. Veronica hated when she did that.

"Seriously!" Veronica insisted.

"Whatever you say, Veronica," Mac laughed. She handed Veronica a beer from the fridge, and they both made their way back to the table.