Veronica stretched as the last tendrils of sleep slipped away. First she noticed the delicious tenderness her body felt. Next she realized there was someone next to her. The events from the night before flooded her mind. Instead of panic Veronica found herself relieved at her bed fellow. Was that right even though they were on the floor?
She gazed at the Latino Adonis slumbering next to her and wondered if she should let him sleep, goodness knows he deserves it, or wake him.
As if to answer her own question her stomach growls notifying her of its emptiness. Well I did skip dinner last night. Instead of waking him she gets up donning his wife beater and boxers. Quietly making her way out to the kitchen she decides on what to make for breakfast. After gathering all her ingredients and setting up her mison plas, she began to work on not burning it. Coffee brewed and the kitchen slowly filled with the sounds of bacon and eggs pan frying and the smells of toast and home style hash browns with peppers and onions.
She even put on music to cook to ,not too loud so she didn't disturb Eli.
Just as she was serving their portions out Eli emerged from her room wrapped in a sheet. "Woke up alone Mars, thought you mighta left, till I smelled coffee." He smiles at her dressed in his clothes. "Comfy?" He inquires. As she sets down the dishes of food she smiles impishly "Immensely".
They settled companionably at the counter to eat. Both famished from exerted energy and no supper, they ate in relative silence. The only sounds were their forks and plates and the radio in the background.
As they finished Weevil took their plates and started to clean up."You don't have to do that. I would have." "Nonsense Mami, abuela raised me with better manners. You cooked so I clean." He replied. "Besides it looks like we need to take a walk… Backup just woke up. I'm surprised he didn't bother with us last night."
Veronica giggled and scratched the recently awoken canine behind the ears. "Well he likes you. The only pcher he didn't like was Thumper, remember. " she was referring to the night across from the Camelot when thumper got too close to the Lebaron. "Oh that's right… he never could keep his head on straight. If Backup hadn't already punished him, I was going to." Weevil Chuckled.
After the dishes were done they both got dressed, Veronica returned the articles of clothing she purloined before donning her own. Backup got antsy and brought his leash to Eli as they headed to the door. "See he likes you. Even Wallace doesn't get begged for a walk." Weevil looked shocked momentarily before smiling and patting backup on the head. They walked to Dog Beach and just relaxed and tossed a ball for their furry companion.
"So V, I'm glad you understood my music choice last night. I chose it hoping you would. Besides the PCHers I only had two people really have my back, mi Abuela and you. No matter the jam or trouble that dogged me…. even that issue with the credit cards, you had faith I didn't do it. She raised me for the better part of my life." Weevil looked at Veronica with such sincerity. "You know I noticed you even before Lily… ever since you would share a juice box with me at the station or just sit with me as I waited on your dad and abuela to finish up with my release. But I never dared to ask you out or nothin' cause I knew you were to sweet and pure back then. " Veronica scoffed but smiled ruefully remembering how naive she was back then.
" I was such a naive girl, I mean I knew crime and all the ugliness we fight these days happen. If the town wasn't bad Dad wouldn't be a former sheriff, or a P.I. But unlike the 09'ers that deserve to be in a cell…. I never felt unsafe or at risk with you. I know you are no Boy Scout *chuckles* otherwise we wouldn't have woke up on my bedroom floor. But honestly I never was scared when you were around. Even before… when I was still rainbows and ponies. You have always been Eli. Weevil was just who you showed others. "
He hugged her close to his side. " I never knew what happened, what changed to bring out your harder side. I saw you on Friday at school still bubbly and sweet, and Monday you hard this edge, your hair was short and you grew isolated. I didn't know til the night of the Grand… once you knew who it was why didn't you come to me Veronica? I'd have helped somehow, even woulda just held your hand as you confronted him. I know you wanted to bring lawful justice and I'd have even respected that rather than deal the brand of justice I usually used to give."
Tears welled in her eyes and slowly fell. " I was so focused on figuring it out and who was involved that I never even thought to ask. I was so ashamed of the not knowing… as much as I hate or hated the ones who contributed to what happened… I couldn't just talk about it. Even Dad doesn't know much of it. He doesn't know. He knows I went to the party that night, and the graffiti Madison put on my car, but not the GHB, not the salt lick, not Beaver, not …. Duncan. Only the graffiti and my arrival home after dawn." She sobbed and curled in on herself. Eli stroked her back till he heard…"Wait Duncan? What happened? " Veronica whispered" he found me in the bed after Beaver left, he was wasted and roofied , just not as bad as me. He crawled up on me… he had me too. Even with what he was thinking might be true about me at the time." Weevil had a look of pure horror at what the pretty boy had done. "What do you mean, what he thought was true?" "My mom was his dads high school sweetheart. Celeste stole him from Mom… but they had an affair my whole life… Duncan broke up with me when he discovered it. He thought that I was his sister! But he and Lily never told me they knew. I uncovered it myself when I was trying to figure out why Mom left town and who killed Lily. Dad and I did a dna test. I am a Mars not a Kane. But Duncan didn't know that back then."
"Dios mio, V! You mean he? But that's! So that's why… " Eli just pulled her closer and pressed kisses to the crown of her head. "I know that got cleared up between you but it still taints it huh? That he didn't know and still went ahead…. if he wasn't a dad and only god knows where…. I'd give him a piece of my mind. I remember you freaking at one point last year. You were in your car crying looked like you had just driven from the 09. I didn't want you upset but wasn't sure if I could help. You had just confronted him?" Veronica nodded and sniffled. "I never could figure it out… what your big case was. I could see threads of the web you unraveled but only when you let me help. Do Mac and Wallace know this too? "
Her reply was a shrug and a small nod. " They heard on the rooftop… along with Logan. Even he didn't know. He thought the night of Shelley Pomeroy's party I was just too wasted to care. He didn't know the GHB he gave Dick for Madison ended up in the drink I had… it WAS Madison's but she gave it to me after spitting in it. I ended up searching for someone to help me but they all thought I was trying to get hot and heavy… then they pumped me full of bear and shots. At Logan's suggestion. He knows his part in all of it now. He has tried to be the Logan we grew up knowing, but after all the bullying and bullshit that ship sailed. He even tried to claim that hurting me like that makes him feel worse knowing how bad I had it, than knowing he is the son of a pedophillic murderer. Can you believe that? Even Duncan punched him for that."
"Mac is still traumatized from what Beav did to her that night let alone the jump or what he did to me, so we avoid it. And Wallace is helping out his mom and babysitting his brother. So we barely talk. I basically have been at the office or home… or at work at the coffee shop. Last night was the first escape from the cycle." She gives a sly grin. "So karaoke huh? Any other songs you favor?"
Weevil ducks his head a bit and even blushes." Yeah I go every once in a while. I have a wide variety of song choices I like. Johnny cash - George Michael… some Mexican music too. I can rock and roll or croon with the better of them, at least I hope. Not many people who know me even know I sing."
"Well you can sing for me anytime, vato. Like I said last night with a voice like yours, no one can touch your reputation." She gave him her million megawatt smile and kissed him. "Besides it just adds more to the things I enjoy knowing about My Eli."
"Yours huh? I like the sound of that" he smiles and pulls her close again. "If I'm yours that makes you mine right?"
"Absolutely it does. Now come on let's go back and I'll make us some lunch." Veronica called Backup and after taking Eli's hand they ambled back to her apartment.
A/N I know a bit heavy but I felt he needed to know and the whole conversation shows just how much they trust each other. Not just on the streets for their favors but with real personal issues. And thank you for waiting so patiently for me to return to this story. I had mental, medical and family issues that needed my attention. I didn't abandon my writing but it did take a back burner for the last year
