"Italian?" Veronica said with a large grin as they were seated at their table.

"I must admit, I have an unfair advantage on this first date."

"Is this a date?"

"Has it been so long since someone took you on a date that you don't recognize one, Mars?"

"Aww. Now, there's that fabulous Logan snarkiness I've been missing!"

"So, you admit you missed me?" He raised an eyebrow. Veronica eyed him, carefully calculating her next sentence.

"What I meant was, do you consider this a date and not just two friends catching up over dinner?"

"Veronica," Logan reached across the table and grabbed her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles, gently. She met his intense stare with trepidation and excitement. "I can see in your eyes that you feel it too."

"What are you talking about?" Oh, God, the sparks. Why the sparks? I can't do this again. Oh, please don't let go.

"The best I can describe it? Sparks." He admitted. Did he just say SPARKS? "And that's just from holding your hand." He quickly let go and began playing with the candleholder. "So, what are you gonna get? Fettuccine Alfredo?"

"That, or…"

"Lasagna?" He asked with a grin. She just nodded her head sheepishly. "Good."

"Why good?"

"'Cause that's what I ordered for you when I called ahead." Just as he said that, a gentleman in a black apron placed her plate in front of her, then placed Logan's Chicken Parmesan in front of him. "Thanks, Louie." The man smiled and walked away.

"Wait, when did you call ahead?"

"Before I got to your place."

"But, we were talking forever. How is the food not cold?"

"I texted him while you were getting your coat."

"Logan, you texted the waiter?"

"No, I texted Louie, the chef slash part-owner." He watched her as a curious expression grew on her face. God I love when she crinkles her forehead like that. "Whom I have known since I was a kid. This was my mom's favorite restaurant. We came here a lot before we moved to Neptune."

"Why did you say Fettuccine?"

"Veronica, eat up! You don't want it to get cold, and I want Louie to be able to go home sometime tonight."

"He's not staying open late just for us, is he?"

"Let me have SOME mystery, Detective Mars." He took a large bite and watched her as she could no longer resist the lasagna in front of her.

"That might be the best lasagna I've ever had." She sighed as she stared at her empty plate.

"I'm glad you like it."

"How was your chicken?"

"Perfection, as usual." He said calmly. "My compliments to the Chef." He added so that Louie could hear him.

"You got it, boss!" Louie chuckled. "Dessert?"

"Please!" Logan smiled illusively.

"Dessert too? You're just pulling out all the stops tonight, aren't you?" Veronica half teased. When Louie placed a giant dish in front of them and cleared away their dinner plates, Veronica's jaw dropped. "Waffles and Ice Cream?!" She gazed at Logan in utter amazement.

"One of the top sellers here, actually."

"Logan…" She couldn't quite catch her breath, or come up with rational thought.

"It's named after you. We call it 'Earth to Mars Waffles'."

"We?"

"The ice cream's melting." He dug into the dessert with his spoon. She quickly followed suit.

"What do you mean 'We'?" Veronica questioned, mouth full of waffle. "And why'd he call you boss? And GOD, this is SOO good."

"I kind of own half of this place."

"Kind of?" She stated incredulously. "How does one kind of own half of a restaurant?"

"I'm just the money. Well, and I helped with some of the menu choices a little."

"You named a dessert after me?"

"Well, you introduced me to the dessert, so it was only fair."

"Are any of the dishes named after Madison?" Why in GOD'S NAME DID I JUST SAY THAT?! I am such a bitch sometimes. God, Veronica, WAY TO LET IT GO, ALREADY. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.

Logan looked visibly affronted for a moment, then let it pass. "No." He said shortly. "Though, I did for a moment consider naming it 'Fruits de la Sinclair'." He admitted and crossed his arms over his chest in challenge.

Her eyes widened a bit as she thought about what he said. Then she put her hands over her face as she got it and she succumbed to giggling. Am I really giggling like a schoolgirl? "Fruits de la Mer." She smiled. "You're allergic to Shellfish." He nodded and smiled when he realized she'd gotten his meaning and at the thought that she remembered something so personal about him. "See, you're not the only one who remembers." She smiled fondly.

"I hoped as much."

"I'm still mad at you. You left me." She attempted to regain her former angry ex-girlfriend mojo.

"And here we are on and amazingly romantic date. How's my apology going so far?"

"It's a start, I suppose." She stated, coyly. If I were standing right now, I'd be a pool of goo on the floor.

"Then, I'd better step up and start using my A game." Man, she is so beautiful. It's like I can't even remember my name when I look in her eyes. How in the world can I step up my game? "Hey, Louie! We're gonna get going. Thanks for waiting!" Logan stood up and bowed to Veronica. "Milady." He offered his hand to help her up. She took it reluctantly. Instead of entwining their fingers like he used to, he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. She could feel his muscles through his sleeve and she flushed a bit. He led her into the kitchen and through the back door. She gasped as she realized they were overlooking the ocean. He walked her down a winding flight of wooden stairs and when they reached the bottom, he paused.

"You won't be able to walk in those." She fumbled as she realized he meant for her to take off her heels. Once the shoes were off, she shrank by three inches. "That's more like it" Did I just say that out loud? I'm such a spaz. Pull it together, Logan. He grabbed her heels out of her left hand and led her down the beach for about five minutes before he stopped. "My mom brought me here." He stopped suddenly. Why in the hell did I bring her here? What am I doing? How is it possible that I am still choked up about this?

Veronica looked up at him and saw the tears glistening in his eyes. She let go of his arm and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Logan."

"She brought me here after the first time he hit me." He interrupted her attempt at soothing him. Veronica's hand moved involuntarily to cover her mouth in sorrow, surprise, and disgust. Tears now pooled in her eyes as well. He continued, "She said, 'Baby, you will always be safe here'." He wiped the tears away from his face. "Six weeks later we moved to Neptune."

Veronica wrapped her arms tightly around him and this time, he hugged back. He lowered his head to rest it on top of hers, taking in the smell of her shampoo. "You're the only one I've ever told this to." He realized as he spoke into her hair. "The only person I've ever brought here."

"Why me, Logan?" She mumbled into his chest.

"Because being with you is like being back here. When I'm with you, I feel safe."

Her tears streamed down her face now. She moved to look up at him. "Me too." She admitted more freely than she anticipated. She grabbed the sides of his face and pulled it down to hers with urgency. Her light kiss on his lips was like the seal breaking on the dam. They kissed furiously, and he wiped at her tears when he didn't have his hands wrapped in her hair. His tongue eagerly explored the inside of her mouth until they could no longer breathe and pushed apart slightly to gasp.

"What are we doing?" She exclaimed, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

"What we do best?" Logan offered as he tenderly twisted her hair in his fingers. She sighed with a smile.

"If hand holding was sparks, that was definitely fireworks." She seceded. He nodded and pulled her back into a kiss.