Sorry this is a tad late. I've been busy.

Thanks for reviewing last chapter.

I do not own these characters (except Richie Casablancas)

Thanks for reading


The day ended with nothing more than dead ends and frustration. Around five-thirty, Logan bid Keith and Leo good-bye, patted himself on the back for successfully avoiding Veronica all day, and headed home to take a quick shower and change. He actually debated whether to fake sick or not, but knew Mac would see right through his lie. Since they opened M N & E, her bullshit detector became sharper than either his or Weevil's.

After donning a pair of faded jeans, a semi-clean t-shirt, and a suede jacket, he left his apartment again. He never bothered locking the door; he didn't have anything of value to steal, and he barely spent enough time outside of sleuthing to go shopping for anything other than the essentials. Besides, if someone were to try to break in just to send him a message, they'd be better off throwing a rock through M N & E's window.

It took him twenty minutes to get to Mac and Dick's place. They lived in a small, blue house in the suburbs. Dick had wanted a huge, party mansion, but Mac had been vehemently against allowing Richie to grow up in that kind of environment. Secretly, Logan was glad Mac won that argument.

He parked against the sidewalk, making sure he wasn't going to get blocked in, and got out of his car. He spotted Weevil's truck, parked behind Mac's Nova, but Dick's Hummer was missing. Either the blond forgot to get something, or someone called him into the surf shop. Both were very likely (especially with the new guy Dick had hired for his shop), and Logan was certain he'd hear about it when his friend returned home.

Logan started towards the front door, his hands buried deep in his jacket's pockets. He figured he could visit for a few minutes, give a couple noncommittal shrugs when asked direct questions, and be back at the office to continue investigating the case by seven. Mac wouldn't be happy with his abrupt exit, but he would be perfectly entitled to remind her that in just 12 hours she'd be just as absorbed in the case as he was.

With a plan in mind, he extracted his right hand and knocked on the door. He heard little feet scampering behind the door and soon it swung open; a small, blue-eyed blond standing before him, beaming.

"Me did it," he exclaimed jumping up and down. "Mama, me did it."

"Yes you did," Mac praised coming up behind her son. She scooped him up and met Logan's eyes. "Did you tell Logan you opened the door?"

"I open door, Unca Lo'an!" Richie exclaimed turning his head to face Logan.

He gave the kid a small smile and said, "I see that."

"Down Mama," the little boy suddenly whined, reaching for the floor. Mac placed him on his feet, and he grabbed Logan's hand. "Come see toys. C'mon!"

"I told you he missed you," she stated softly. He gave her a forced smile and allowed himself to be dragged into the living room.

Weevil was sitting on the couch, sipping a beer, while his girlfriend Carmen sat next to him, chatting to a girl sitting across from her. "Hey L, I knew Mac would get you here," Weevil said, a relaxed smile on his face.

"She's a persistent one," Logan replied softly, sitting down in the chair that Richie attempted to push him in. "Where's Dick?"

"Mr. Mac's working late," Weevil responded draining the last dregs of his beer.

"It's been three years and you still call him that?" Mac questioned sitting on the arm of the chair Logan occupied.

"It's the truth."

"So, Ophelia how's school?" Logan asked, forcing himself to make small talk, accepting the race car Richie handed him. He didn't even remember the last time he talked to Weevil's niece, but he knew it was before she left for college.

"It's great," she replied smiling. "I'm majoring in journalism."

"She's going to be like that chick from The Today show or Diane Sawyer," Weevil commented sounding like a doting dad. In a way, he was Ophelia's dad since he adopted her seven years ago. He had been the only thing standing in the way of her growing up in the system.

"Uncle Eli, stop it," Ophelia said humbly. "I'm not even sure if I want to do things on camera or if I just want to write."

"Whatever you chose, you know we'll be proud of you," Carmen stated patting Ophelia's hand. She blushed, but couldn't quite mask her smile. Carmen turned to Logan. "So, any new cases?"

Logan opened his mouth to answer, but Mac cut him off. "Actually, we decided not to talk shop until tomorrow."

"So, there is a new case?" Weevil stated sitting up. "Does this have anything to do…?"

"Hey, guys, look who I found wandering around outside," a new voice said and the entire group turned to see Dick standing in the living room's entryway with Veronica at his side. Logan threw Mac a sharp look, but she refused to look at him. He knew he should have played sick.


Forty-five minutes earlier…

"I shouldn't go," Veronica said awkwardly running a brush through her hair with her left hand.

"Veronica, the case isn't going anywhere, and I can assure you that your father won't give up on it," Alicia responded from the bathroom's doorway.

"I know, but I just, you know…" Veronica trailed off, toying with her brush. She sighed, putting her brush down. "At least I'll get to see Mac again. I haven't talked to her in forever."

"She's been pretty busy," Alicia stated as she and Veronica walked out of the bathroom. "You know, with the PI business and the boys."

"Boys?" Veronica was fairly certain her father had only mentioned one kid.

"Dick and Richie."

"Ah." That made more sense. "So, their son's named Richie?"

"That little boy should be lucky Mac's his mother. Dick wanted to name him Mini Dick."

Veronica wrinkled her nose at that piece of information. "What's Richie like?"

"He's so smart, a little eccentric at times; a bit like Mac. She's even started teaching him about computers. Since he's two, he hasn't learned much, but he seems interested."

"Did he inherit anything from Dick?"

"Blond hair," Alicia replied shrugging. Veronica smiled, shaking her head.

"How did they…?"

"...end up together?" Veronica nodded. Alicia leaned against her kitchen counter, a smile on her face. "Dick opened a surf shop a few years ago with another guy he met in college. Things were going good until money started disappearing. So, Dick hired Mac to track the money.

"I think it was because they spent so much time together. They worked on the case for over a week and when Mac found his money, Dick asked her out and she agreed. They may be an odd couple, but they're cute together."

Veronica nodded, thinking over what Alicia had just said. In a way, it reminded her of how she and Logan started dating in high school. He had hired her to find his mother; they spent a lot of time together, and things just kind of fell into place from there. Though, Mac and Dick had a much better ending than Logan and herself.

Veronica gave her head a little shake and decided to change the subject. "What about Weevil?" The last time she had spoken to Weevil had been the day she left for Virginia. It was just a quick good-bye, outside of Mars Investigation, right before her father took her to the airport.

"Weevil has been working with Mac and Logan."

"Yeah, I heard. How exactly did that come to be? Last I checked, Weevil and Logan had an iffy sort of relationship and Mac and Weevil didn't exactly spend a lot of time together."

"Things changed Veronica. Plus, they're not exactly in high school anymore. As for Mac, she's not exactly the same girl you knew back then either. You may have left, but life still went on," Alicia stated lightly, giving Veronica a small, patient smile. She checked her watch. "We should head out before you're late."

"Okay," Veronica said and followed her step-mother out of the house. She hated that she needed a ride, it made her feel fifteen again, but with her arm and the painkillers she knew she wasn't going to get far if she drove herself.

They drove in relative silence for the first half of the ride, but when Veronica took her cell phone out to check for any new messages Alicia smiled and shook her head. "You're almost as bad as your father. You know, sometimes I find him passed out on the couch, still in his uniform."

"And that doesn't bother you?" Veronica asked curiously. She remembered how much it bothered her mother when Keith was sheriff the first time.

"I get a little jumpy when the phone rings, but other than that I'm glad he's doing something he loves," Alicia replied stopping at a red light. She glanced over at Veronica and said, "He's glad you're back. He gets about as jumpy as I do when the phone rings."

"There's no need to worry about little ol' me," Veronica retorted softly, shrugging her uninjured shoulder. "I generally bounce back."

"Uh-huh," Alicia muttered driving through the newly turned green light. "Wallace called this morning. I told him you were back in town. He said he'd try and drive down sometimes soon. He really missed you."

"And I've missed him, too. I missed everyone."

"You could call more," her step-mother suggested lightly.

"Sometimes I wish I did call more," Veronica admitted quietly and they fell silent the rest of the drive.

Alicia parked behind a familiar Range Rover. "Call me when you need me to come and get you," she said putting her car into park.

"I will," Veronica replied. "Thanks for the ride, Alicia."

"Anytime Veronica."

Veronica got out of the car and shut the door. She waved at Alicia and watched as the older woman put the car in drive and drove away. For a split second, she almost chased her down, but knew she couldn't act like a two year old. So what if Logan was there already. They were two, mature adults that could easily spend a few hours around each other.

She squared her shoulders and made to turn and head towards the house, but froze when she heard a familiar voice say, "Holy shit is that who I think it is or am I hallucinating?"

"If I say you're hallucinating will I get a cookie?" Veronica snarked back, turning to meet Dick's familiar blue eyes.

"Why am I not surprised you haven't changed?"

"Why am I surprised you have?"

Dick had changed. He may still wear his hair surfer shaggy and don flip-flops instead of shoes with support, but there was just something about his demeanor that Veronica couldn't remember from high school or college; something that screamed 'I am an adult now.' She wasn't sure if it was Mac, Richie, or himself that made him grow up, but Veronica didn't care. This was a Dick Casablancas that she could try to forgive for being a mega jackass (not to mention a major catalyst in her rape) if she really put forth the effort.

"Whatever, everyone's inside," Dick said nodding towards the door. "Macky told me she invited you, and then warned me about being nice. So, you wanna come inside or just stand out here? I mean, you'd make a really hot lawn ornament."

"I'm not sure whether to be offended or honored," Veronica commented drily.

Dick just shook his head and started towards the door. Taking a deep breath, Veronica slowly followed him, glancing back at Logan's vehicle. She faced down bad guys, had her life threatened, had been shot recently, all without breaking much of a sweat or messing up her hair. She could handle an ex-boyfriend.

"Before we go in," Dick said turning to face her, block the doorway, "there's something I need to tell you; a piece of advice."

"You're giving me advice? When did the world end?" Veronica joked, but Dick didn't crack a smile. She sighed, but gestured for him to continue.

"You really messed Logan up when you left, and it took him a while to get his life even remotely close to together, so please just leave him alone while you're here. That is all I ask." Dick turned away from Veronica and opened the door.

"Hey, guys, look who I found wandering around outside," Dick announced as he led Veronica into the living room. The entire group looked their way, Veronica sensing the tension as her eyes met Logan's.

"Daddy!" A little blond boy exclaimed, breaking the heavy silence up, and raced towards Dick, abandoning Logan's side.

"Hey Munchkin," Dick replied scooping the little boy up.

"Me opened door," Richie informed his father, giving him a huge grin.

"You did? And who was knocking?"

"Unca Lo'an," Richie replied pointing at Logan. "We's playing."

"What were you playing?"

"Cars."

Veronica hated to admit it, but Dick was almost a natural with kids. It might stem from the fact that he acted like a child for most of his life, or it could just be because Richie was his own kid. She wasn't sure, but what she did know was he was better with kids than she'd ever be.

Once the conversation ended, the group looked towards Veronica again. She smiled and said, "Hey guys, long time no see."

"Hey Veronica," a woman greeted first, sitting next to Weevil. It took Veronica a moment to realize that it was Carmen.

"Hey, I haven't seen you since graduation," Veronica responded giving her a smile. She recalled helping Carmen out during their junior year, after her boyfriend threatened to send an inexplicit video of her out to everyone. Too bad he succeeded. Fortunately for that asshole, Carmen had a big heart and didn't get revenge on him. If it had been up to Veronica, that button would have been pressed and that website would have been viewed by everyone. "Are you two…?" she gestured between Carmen and Weevil.

"For about two years now," Carmen responded with a smile. "I needed my car fixed, Eli offered to do it for free, and well…" she shrugged, glancing over at Weevil. "What about you? Anyone special in your life?"

Veronica's eyes flicked to Logan for a quarter of a second before she smiled and said, "Boy, I haven't been on a date in seven years."

"And who…?"

"Veronica, you remember Ophelia," Weevil stated, interrupting Carmen's questioning. He gestured to the girl sitting across from him.

"Ah, the money thief," Veronica joked earning a sly smile from Weevil that didn't quite reach his eyes. "How could I forget? It's very nice to see you again."

"Likewise," Ophelia responded though Veronica would have to be deaf to miss the icy tone in her voice.

Choosing to ignore the hostility, she turned to Richie, who was still in Dick's arms. "You must be Richie."

"Who you?" the boy asked curiously.

"I'm Veronica," she responded with a smile.

"Ronica?"

"Close enough." She turned to Mac, who was studying her closely, and said, "You have a very nice home."

"Thank you," Mac replied softly.

"It's very… homey."

An awkward silence fell over the group. Veronica rocked back on her heels, thinking of something else to say, trying hard not to look Logan's way. It was Richie that broke the silence again. "You have owie." He pointed at the sling holding Veronica's arm.

"Yeah, I do," she stated unsure just how much to tell the kid. She was pretty certain saying she got shot was out of the question, but she didn't exactly want to lie to the kid either, so she opted to not elaborate.

"I got owie," Richie informed her and showed her a small scrap on his hand. "I felled and got owie."

"Dick, maybe you should start the grill now," Mac suggested looking towards her husband.

"That's a good idea, babe. Here, kiddo, go to your mom," Dick said handing Richie off to Mac. "Weeves, Logan you want to come help?"

"Why not," Weevil replied getting to his feet, eyeing the room cautiously. "Some help may actually save your patio."

"That was one time, and the fire went out," Dick stated over his shoulder as he walked towards the kitchen.

Silently Logan stood and followed the other guys, barely looking Veronica's way. She almost followed him, but thought better of it and moved towards the couch. She noticed the look Ophelia threw her before getting to her feet and muttering something about getting another drink. She headed towards the kitchen without sparing the others a second glance.

"I really like that painting," Veronica stated pointing at an abstract piece of artwork hanging by the door.

"Oh, uh, thanks. It's a really bad art project I made a few years ago. I went through this weird art phase after I broke up with Max. Dick was the one who put it up. He called it…" she trailed off, her face turning red, and shook her head. "So, uh, what about you? Where do you live?"

"I live in New York as of right now," Veronica replied meeting Mac's eyes. "Before then it was Chicago, then Los Angeles for about a month, then Nevada, then Virginia…"

"Jeez, you get around," Carmen commented with a smile.

"It's the job. I'm sent where they need me. I've had several partners. Dixon has been my longest partner." She turned to her old friends. "What about you two? I've only heard about the past decade from my dad and Alicia."

"Well, I'm a lawyer," Carmen said quickly. "I usually clean up McCormack's messes, but sometimes we help each other."

"Cliff's still a lawyer? I'd of thought he'd be retired by now, living on an island somewhere."

"That was the plan until he was robbed again. By another hooker," Mac stated bouncing Richie on her knee.

"When will he learn?"

Another long silence filled the room. Veronica wondered if the entire dinner would be like this; random spouts of forced humor and long silences; maybe some more hostility from Weevil's niece while Logan completely ignored her.

Suddenly she wished the dinner was already over.