CHAPTER FOUR

"Logan?" She snuggled closer and kissed his neck. His mmm was a little testy and translated to: I can hear you, but if you stop talking, I can continue sleeping. Veronica smiled. They'd hardly seen each other all week. She'd been following the trophy wife around at night and he'd been off flying planes during the day. "I had a dream."

"It's have a dream and we're not at the Lincoln monument, Veronica Luther King." Even half asleep, he's quippy. He frowned, opened his eyes and turned his head. "A bad dream? I thought they were gone?"

"They are," she assured him. "It wasn't that kind of dream and it wasn't last night."

He glanced at the clock, "you're waking me up at sex on a Saturday for dream analysis?"

She arched a brow at him, "sex?"

"Mmm hmm, that's what you call a Freudian slip and you know…" He cradled her hips, lifted her off the bed and positioned her on top of him. "…Freud said it's all about sex."

"A distant relative of yours I'm sure." Veronica leaned forward and kissed him. "Wyatt will be up soon and I want to tell you about my dream."

"I'd like to show you mine." She waited for him to be serious. He sighed, took his hands off her and put them behind his head. "I'm all ears."

She shifted her body lower with a slow rotation of her hips, "all ears?"

"Are you going to do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips?"

"Well, you know my hips don't lie." Logan sat up and slid his arms around her waist before crushing their mouths together. Her dream was momentarily forgotten in the taste of him and the feel of his hands as they moved up her back and tangled in her hair. A soft moan parted her lips and he deepened the kiss. Tugging her head back, he lowered his mouth to her neck. She shook her head, "talk first."

He fell back on the mattress taking her with him. Veronica rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. She loved having him home and being able to wake up with him every morning. Sometimes there was this disquieting voice in her mind insisting they were too happy and she panicked at the thought. "Hey, enough of that," he caressed her cheek, "tell me about your dream."

She rested her chin on his chest so she could see his face. "How do you always know?" His arm tightened around her and he smiled; silly question Veronica. Kissing his cheek, she rested her head back on his shoulder. "It was the night before high school graduation and it was a great dream. My dad was still sheriff and my parents were together and happy."

"A little wish fulfillment?"

"Enough psychoanalysis Siggy," she took his hand and laced their fingers together, "when I got to school you were there with Duncan and Dick. Lilly was still alive; she was going to Vassar and home for Duncan's graduation."

"So were you and Duncan planning to get married before or after you finished Stanford?"

"I wasn't with Duncan," Veronica lifted her head and met his gaze, "I was with you." Surprised didn't begin to describe his expression; he looked astounded. "I'm not always," she shook her head, "I'm never good at telling you how I feel, but my heart has always known that you're it for me; the one, my one."

Logan cupped her face, "I love you Veronica Mars."

"Echolls." He pressed their foreheads together and kissed her nose. Veronica placed her palms on his chest and pushed him down to the mattress. "Now it's only sex-thirty and we," a long, lingering kiss, "might have time for a little sexual development." She kissed her way down his chest, across his stomach and disappeared under the blankets.

"I see we're starting with the oral stage." A rustling sound came from the baby monitor and Veronica popped her head out from beneath the sheets; finger pressed to her lips to shush him. His voice dropped to a whisper, "I'm not the loud one."

"No, but you are the talker." Silence reigned from the monitor. Toddlers and foreplay- mutually exclusive. She wriggled out of her bikini briefs, positioned herself above him and wrapped her hand around the base of his cock; slowly sinking down the hard length of him.

Slow was not the speed he wanted. His hips jerked off the mattress, burying himself deep inside and causing her to moan. Logan's hand covered her mouth, "loud one."

She nipped at his fingers and he moved his hand, "talker." Gripping her hips, he moved her up and down in time with his thrusts; establishing a hard and frantic pace. Another loud moan fell from her lips and he swallowed it with his mouth. Letting go of her hips, his hands slid up her skin under her sleep shirt and cupped her breasts; his thumbs sweeping back and forth across their sensitive peaks.

"Mama?" The sleepy cry from the baby monitor propelled them to move faster. Logan's hand dipped between their bodies; his thumb finding and circling her clit. Veronica clung to his shoulders, her nails leaving tiny crescents in his skin and tossed her head back. Almost there. Another, "mama," from the baby monitor; this one a little more alert than the last.

His fingers and mouth found all the right spots; playing her with a practiced ease that made her body thrum. She bit his shoulder to keep from crying out as her body convulsed around him. Logan rolled them over; thrusting harder and faster, pushing her deep into the mattress. With a final jerk of his hips his body shuddered and he collapsed on top of her. They lay there panting and sated while they waited for their heart rates to slow. His mouth covered hers in a gentle kiss. "Is the baby gate up?"

Veronica blinked. She heard his question, but she was having a hard time processing the words. "Uh…I think so." He smiled before lowering his head and giving her another long, unyielding kiss. Finally, he rolled away and got out of bed, searching the sheets for his boxers. He gave up on the search and pulled a clean pair of sweatpants from the dresser. "Where are you going?"

"To get our daughter."

"Right, Wyatt, baby gate." His answering smile was smug and she threw a pillow at him, which he caught and tossed back on the bed. They'd turned Wyatt's crib into a toddler bed, but to keep her from wandering out of her baby-safe room during the night, they kept a baby gate across her door. It was only a matter of minutes before their daughter's tiny feet would hit the floor on the other side of that gate and be running into the kitchen looking for breakfast, but Veronica didn't want to get up. She rolled over and buried her face in Logan's pillow, inhaling his scent.

He'd left the bedroom door open and their hallway conversation made its way to her. "Morning jellybean; ready for breakfast?"

"Up Daddy," there was the rattle of the gate as he lifted her over it, "where Mama?"

"She's still sleeping."

"No."

A soft chuckle from Logan, "you're right she's awake, but she's still in bed."

"Me go get." There were some days where she was perfectly content having Daddy all to herself and she wanted him to do everything; no Daddy do, but there were times when all she wanted was Veronica. Apparently now was one of them. She ducked under the covers, found her underwear and tugged them on just in time for Wyatt's arrival on their bed. "Mama," she wrapped her arms around Veronica and buried her face in her chest with a sigh.

"Good morning sweet pea," she snuggled her closer and showered kisses on top of her head. Mornings were the best. Wyatt was still sleepy enough to let Veronica hold her really tight without squirming away in her constant desire to be exploring everything and anything.

"I want to cuddle too."

"Okay Daddy," Wyatt patted the mattress next to them, "you too."

Logan joined them on the bed and gathered them both in his arms, "perfection." His eyes were closed; features relaxed and a content smile on his face. Serene. There was no denying she loved all the parts that went into making him Logan, but this was a side of him she never would've believed possible. Some of it was the security of her not running, of her standing still long enough to let him love her, but most of it was because of Wyatt. For the first time in his life he had someone who loved him unconditionally and who he loved the same way, without limit or boundaries.

"No cry Mama."

His eyes popped open and searched her face, "Mommy's just happy jellybean."

"She's also hungry." Twin stares; one blue, the other brown and matching grins, but his was more mocking. "Pregnant remember?"

"And what's your excuse for all the other times?"

"You're just jealous that all this," she ran her hands slowly over her body and his gaze darkened, "comes naturally. While you have to work for all that," she pointed to the chiseled chest and washboard abs. "Now who wants French toast?"

"Me!" Wyatt scrambled over Logan and off the bed with Veronica right behind her.

He sighed, "what I want is to stay in bed all day."

Pausing on her way from the room, she leaned against the doorjamb. "Do you want me to call Duncan and cancel? Because I will." The two important messages from Duncan on Monday were about their plans for today. Celeste was having some kind of thing tonight, which required the presence of both Duncan and Laurel so he wanted to change their dinner to a lunch with an afternoon at Belmont Park. Logan said it was fine, but he didn't look fine.

"No; Wyatt's looking forward to the carousel and I promised her mini-golf and ice cream."

"We can do those things on our own."

He shook his head, climbed out of bed and then made it with precision. You can take the man out of the Navy, but you can't take the Navy out of the man. Logan often joked that a considerable amount of recruit training involved learning nothing but how to wear your uniform, iron your uniform, fold your uniform and stow your uniform, which was immediately followed by how to make your bed and then how to make your bed again and, if you were lucky, how to make it again. "Go cook breakfast Veronica."

"Sir, yes, sir." She saluted him and he laughed.

"We don't have time to play recruit and commander right now," he leered at her, "but maybe later? I can make you drop and give me…"

"Twenty?"

"I was thinking of something dirtier."

Veronica smiled, "I know, sir." She gave him another salute, did an about-face and marched down the hall. The kitchen was empty. "Wyatt?" Giggles from inside lured her into the living room. She was very good at hiding, but not so good at keeping quiet or staying hidden. "Hmm, I wonder where she went." More laughter from behind the sofa gave away her position. She liked it when Veronica pretended to look for her in things and places she couldn't possibly be, "is she inside this cup? No. What about behind…this painting? Nope. Is she in the television?" Veronica knocked on the screen. In the reflection of the television she could see Wyatt peering around the corner of the sofa and she quickly turned around, "there she is."

She started running down the hall laughing and Veronica gave chase. Logan caught her and spun her in the air. "Are you looking for this tiny one here?"

"I am and I believe she was in store for some…tickle time."

"Roger that." He disappeared into the bedroom to mess up that finely made bed with tickle time. To the sounds of her delighted squeals and his baritone laughter, Veronica started breakfast. They were going to meet Duncan and Laurel at eleven when the park opened and then have lunch at the WaveHouse Beach Club. Wyatt might be looking forward to the carousel, but Logan wanted to check out the Flow Barrel; a ten foot wave machine with a perfect tubing wave.

While the thick slices of bread soaked in a mixture of eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt, she called Mac. "You remember that I'm childless right, which means I don't have to be up this early on a Saturday."

She grinned, "and yet you are."

"Because I'm on my way into work."

"Well your boss wants you to play hooky with her today." It was probably a dumb plan, but the addition of Mac to their day might help relieve some of the tension she could already see forming between the three of them.

"You aren't my boss for the day; I'm on my way to Kane Software."

Veronica frowned, "on a Saturday?"

"Says the original workaholic."

"Recovering workaholic." She melted butter in the frying pan. "Is Lisa going in to work with you?"

"She's picking me up." So far her father had been right. The only thing Mac was doing was writing code and eating lunch with one of the other programmers, Nigel. Lisa went into work with her every morning and Keith was picking her up at night while Lisa stayed behind to shred the day's paper. "I would much rather be spending the day with you."

"Liar." Mac was enjoying her work on this project; a little too much if you ask me. "Wyatt will miss you."

"Now you're just playing dirty."

"Eh, you call it dirty; I call it bribing with cuteness."

"Lisa's here; tell the munchkin I'll come see her tomorrow; not you, her."

Veronica smiled. "I'll be here too you know; in case you forgot, I live here."

"Fine I'll see you, but I won't talk to you and I'll be there for lunch so make something good… on second thought, have Logan cook."

"You're so funny…not." She hung up the phone and finished frying the French toast. "Breakfast's ready." Wyatt was dressed in faded denim overalls with white polka dots, a pink long-sleeved tee shirt and her white and pink sneakers. Logan had put her hair in pigtails and tied each with a pink bow. Veronica put the syrup away and sprinkled the French toast with powdered sugar. Easier clean up. "Where's Daddy?"

"Chower." Veronica started to lift her into her booster chair and she vehemently shook her head, "me do." Using her foot to steady the chair, she let Wyatt climb into her booster seat on her own. My dad was right again; it all goes by too fast. After putting Logan's plate in the warming drawer, she joined Wyatt at the table to eat her own breakfast.

"Did you have fun with Nana Dot this week?" An exaggerated nod before she launched into her story about the tide pools; me saw cwabs. It was clearly the highlight of her week since it was all she wanted to talk about after they went on Tuesday. "What else did you see?"

"Tea lug." Sea slug. Their day of flying on Monday was about Logan finding a plane to teach others, which he deemed perfectly safe for Wyatt. Tuesday he went to fly fighter jets. Jake knew the pilots at a company in LA where you could fly in an L-39 Albatross and he worked it out for Logan to take it up on his own. Veronica frowned. Only four months and he's missing it. "No sad face."

"Who has a sad face and why?"

"Mama," Wyatt pointed at Veronica. Thanks for throwing me under the bus kid. She smiled and turned to Logan. His narrowed gaze and cynical smirk said he didn't believe the forced smile.

"I left your breakfast in the oven." She stood on her toes, delivered a hasty peck on his jaw and scurried out of the room, "going to get ready."

Veronica lingered in the shower hoping that by the time she returned to the kitchen all talk of her sad face would be forgotten. Donning a pair of black leggings and a red empire-waist babydoll top, which definitely made her look more pregnant than she was, she slipped on a pair of sneakers and went to get her family. "Ready to go?"

Logan studied her appearance like she was an exhibit in a museum. "Why the rush?" He smirked, "are you hungry again?"

"It's not me; it's Ethan."

"Hayley is the size of an avocado and I'm pretty sure it's Mommy who wants to eat." He draped his arms around her middle and used his palms to smooth down her shirt outlining the tiny bump.

"I'm telling you it's a boy this time."

"Nope," he kissed her neck, "it's another girl." Logan dropped his arms and went to collect Wyatt. "Let's go jellybean."

Veronica promised she wouldn't be one of those parents who only listened to children's music; unfortunately, Logan made no such promise and their car ride was filled with the not-so-dulcet sounds of such classics as The Wheels on the Bus and Monkeys on the Bed. The only thing that made it bearable was hearing Wyatt sing along and finding out that Logan knew all the words. She grinned. "Is this Wyatt's CD or yours?"

"Mine. I really like if you're happy and you know it kiss your wife." He put the car in park and leaned over the center console to kiss her. It started as sweet as his words, but quickly escalated. If Wyatt wasn't in the backseat we would be. Reluctantly, he pulled away from her, "is it too late to go home?"

Without waiting for an answer, he got out of the car. He got the stroller and diaper bag from the trunk before taking Wyatt out of her car seat. She eyed the stroller like it was a straightjacket, "me walk."

Logan looked at the crowd and back to their very small daughter. Veronica knew he was about to protest and interrupted him, "fine, but you have to hold my hand." He didn't argue, but he wasn't happy and he didn't return the stroller to the trunk.

Duncan and Laurel were waiting for them at the entrance to Tiki Town Adventure Golf. She could see the resemblance to Meg; the downturned brown eyes, the heart-shaped face and the long blonde hair, but her sullen expression was all Duncan. "Laurel this is Logan and Veronica." She just stared at them.

"It's nice to meet you Laurel."

A slight nod at Veronica's words and then her gaze moved to Logan who remained silent. "So what am I supposed to call you guys anyway?"

He shrugged, "Logan and Veronica works for me."

Wyatt was staring at the Giant Dipper with a mixture of fear and amazement. Veronica turned her around, "this is Wyatt."

A wide smile crossed Laurel's face, Meg's smile. She dropped to her knees so they were at eye level, "hey Wyatt, cool name; I'm Laurel."

Wyatt's face scrunched up as she tried to figure out how to say it. She gave up on the beginning part and settled for, "ell."

"Close enough," she took Wyatt's hand and they started to head inside.

A bemused chuckle from Duncan, "I guess we're going in."

Logan took out his wallet and paid for everyone, "okay jellybean what color do you want to be?"

"Boo." He gave her the blue golf club and ball and then turned to Laurel who selected purple.

Logan looked at Veronica, smirk firmly in place. "Gee, I don't know if they make a club short enough for you."

She rolled her eyes, "just be prepared to lose Echolls."

"Can we bet on that?" There was no mistaking the glint in his eyes.

"Sure. If you win; I'll…" she batted her eyes at him, "drop and give you twenty." It took him no time at all to remember their earlier conversation; his grin was almost as dirty as her inflection on the word twenty. "But since you're not going to win, what do I get?"

He waggled his eyebrows, "I'll drop and give you twenty."

"I don't know…I think I'd rather have ice cream." His mouth dropped open and she bit her lip to keep from laughing. "I'll keep score so you can't cheat."

Logan plucked the paper out of her hands, "we'll let Duncan keep score." He passed the paper and pencil to Duncan who was watching them with a baffled expression.

While the words were innocent, the suggestive tone was hard to miss and Duncan wasn't stupid so his dazed appearance probably had more to do with them as a couple. Again she could almost hear Lilly; clue in Donut, they're married and have sex…probably great sex. Veronica turned away before they saw her smile. Apparently, one afternoon at their house wasn't enough for the idea of "Logan and Veronica" to fully penetrate. She frowned. What exactly was Duncan hoping to find when he came home?