Story so far: Wallace becomes a father and ends up raising his son. Veronica comes back from a year in Virginia to help him. Veronica's return to Neptune strains the relationship between Parker and Logan. They end up breaking up. Logan is invited to a Mars/Fennell party and Wallace tells him that he belongs in their family. He sends Logan a picture that Veronica took at the party. Logan looks at the picture and realizes Veronica loves him....

Logan comes home and kicks off his shoes by the door. He hears a noise and looks down the hallway towards the kitchen. He smiles as he sees Matthew crawling towards him. He reaches down and picks him up lifting him high in the air.

Logan can't help but laugh at Matthew's giggle. He says, 'You are getting heavy Matthew."

He carries Matthew into the kitchen where he can hear Veronica working. He walks into the kitchen and stops. Veronica has her back turned to him. She is at the stove bent over peering into the oven. Logan can smell the lasagna. He looks over and sees the table set for four and the high chair in one corner of the table. He sees Veronica has already put the salad out.

Veronica stands and turns to look at Logan holding Matthew. She smiles at the picture Logan makes holding Matthew.

Logan looks at her loving the soft look on her face when she sees him and Matthew. He walks over to her and leans in to kiss her. He puts a hand behind her head to deepen the kiss.

He smiles into her mouth when he hears a male voice says, "Hey, hey not in front of the impressionable child."

Logan pulls away and looks over at Wallace who has walked into the kitchen. Matthew seeing his father says, "Da" and holds out his arms in excitement. Wallace walks over and takes his son from Logan and kisses him hello.

Logan asks, "How was your last exam?"

Wallace looking at his son answers, "Not too bad but I am glad it is over."

Logan and Veronica nod in agreement both having finished their last exam yesterday. Wallace looks over at the table and says, "Are we waiting for Dick?"

Veronica nods and tells him, "He called and he's on his way home. Supper will be ready in about fifteen minutes."

Wallace nods and says, "Matthew and I will go and watch some sports center." He leaves the kitchen and goes into the living room. Wallace is asking Matthew how their fantasy baseball team is doing.

Logan and Veronica smile at Wallace's conversation with his son.

Logan turns back to Veronica and pulls her close to him. He says, "Have I told you how sexy you look in that apron?"

Veronica twines her arms around his neck and lowers her voice, "Yes, but a girl can't get enough of hearing she looks sexy."

She pulls his head down so she can kiss him.

They are interrupted by the door from the garage to the kitchen opening and a voice saying, "God you two! I can't even walk in without having to see you two going at it."

Veronica pulls away from Logan a little and smiles. She looks over at Dick and says, "Supper is in a few minutes. How was your last exam?"

Dick exuberantly cheers, "I'm free for four months." Logan and Veronica smile at his obvious happiness.

They hear a noise in the doorway and look as Matthew hearing Dick come home has crawled to the kitchen. Dick seeing Matthew goes over and swoops him up saying, "Hey little dude. How are you doing today?" He carries him into the living room where Wallace is watching TV.

Veronica and Logan hear Dick talking to Wallace. Veronica leans up and kisses Logan gently. She says, "I am going to put the garlic toast in the oven. Supper will be in about ten minutes."

Logan nods and heads to the living room to sit with Wallace, Dick and Matthew. He stands in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. He looks in the living room and sees Wallace, Dick and Matthew on the couch watching TV. He looks at all the pictures on the walls that Veronica has put up. He smells the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. He looks back and sees Veronica putting the garlic toast into the oven and then watches as she gets Matthew's food out of the fridge and starts to get it ready.

Logan feels the emotions rise in his chest as he looks around his house. It is a real home.

***

Logan had looked at the picture Wallace sent him for about one hour. Then he had driven over to where Veronica worked. He had waited for Veronica to finish. When she came out of work, he was standing in front of her car. He had looked at her and said, "It's time we really talked Veronica."

She had seen the determined expression on his face and had nodded.

They had driven to the beach. It was a fitting place for their conversation. So many of their memories were from the beach.

They had talked; really talked.

They talked about everything from Lilly to Duncan to their parents to Madison to Derek to Parker. It had been a long and open discussion.

For the first time in their relationship they talked without anger, without sarcasm, without blame, without evasion, without hiding and without running. This was the talk that they needed to set the foundation for future communication.

Honesty, acceptance and love cleansed the old wounds and true healing began. It was a conversation that could only take place between two people who understood that life and love were not easy. They were hard work and at times could be almost more than one person could bear. That was why you surrounded yourself with people who saw you but liked you anyways. If you were lucky; if you were really lucky, you met the person who truly loved you and you truly loved.

Logan had understood Veronica had obligations to help with Matthew and Wallace. He had earnestly told her that they were a great bonus to getting back with her. She had looked puzzled at him and he had explained, "I'll be getting a family."

Veronica looked at Logan and saw what she needed to see. Logan wasn't just reacting to life anymore. He was growing up. He was truly ready for them.

Logan had looked at Veronica and had seen what he needed to see. Veronica wasn't afraid of loving anymore. She was growing up. She was truly ready for them.

Logan had asked Wallace and Veronica to move in with him. Wallace had quickly agreed. He knew that Logan needed family and he knew that Veronica needed Logan.

As a bonus, Logan owns a big house on the beach. Having more adults around would make it easier to care for Matthew. Matthew would get his own bedroom. There was a den with a computer to study in. There was a weight room which was handy for Wallace to use.

Logan had refused money for rent or utilities stating the house was already paid for and it was better for Matthew to have Wallace and Veronica working less hours.

Dick had surprisingly stayed. Although he never said, Logan knew Dick liked having people at home who expected him and cared about him. They had become a family.

The Mars/Fennell clan had extended its arms to Logan and Dick. It was something Dick and Logan had never had before.

Keith was like a surrogate father to them. He was a steadying influence. He had taken an interest in their lives and had been happy to give them guidance. Dick loved sports and he and Keith had bonded. For Keith's birthday Dick had bought him box seats to a Padres game. Keith had taken Dick with him. They had a blast. Logan had especially liked having a father who was proud of him and one he could talk to. Logan and Dick had both basked in Keith's love and had loved him back.

Alicia was like a mother to both of them and was quick to hug them or call them and tell them if she was upset with them. They loved her and they loved having a mother. Wallace and Veronica laughed when both Logan and Dick immediately quieted down just with a look from their mother.

Dick and Logan were good uncles to Matthew and Matthew flourished having so many people who loved him and cared for him. Matthew's toy room was full of toys that his 'uncles' felt he 'needed' for proper physical and emotional growth.

Wallace had come home one day to find workers putting up a fence around the pool area. He had asked Logan about the fence. Logan had shrugged and said he read where drowning was a leading cause of death in toddlers. Wallace had smiled realizing that Logan had plans for Wallace and Matthew to be there for a long time.

Dick had bought Matthew a surfing outfit that matched his and had insisted that they get their picture together. Veronica had laughed when she gave Dick a framed copy of the picture and he had gotten a little teary. That picture had a place of honor on his bedside table. Dick had no problems being seen pushing Matthew in the stroller or carrying him across campus. Dick claimed that Matthew was a chick magnet but they all knew the truth was Dick liked being an uncle.

Logan looked at Veronica working in the kitchen and was filled with love. He had never been so happy.

He had surprised Veronica with a romantic dinner on a boat. He had rented the whole boat. They had taken a romantic bay cruise. They had a great four course dinner with champagne to celebrate their special night away from everyone. Logan had hired a band just for them. They had danced together. When they arrived back in port, he had taken her up on the top deck. He had proposed to her under the blanket of stars with their song being played by the band downstairs.

She had smiled tearfully at him and had immediately accepted. Fireworks had gone off and their family had come onto the boat to congratulate them and watch the fireworks with them. Logan had been touched at how happy Keith, Alicia, Wallace, Dick, Mac, Max, Darrell and the others had been. Veronica had been so surprised and it had been a wonderful night.

In less than a month, they would be married. Then they were going on a month's vacation to Europe. There was so much Logan wanted to show Veronica and he knew she would love taking pictures of all the places they were going to visit and the things they were going to see.

Dick was staying back to help Wallace with Matthew. Surprisingly Mac was moving in for the summer. She was doing an internship at Kane Software and didn't want to move back home. Darrell was also moving in for the summer to help. Wallace was taking summer school so he could graduate with his class. Matthew's mother was coming to Neptune to visit Matthew. She was going to stay for a few weeks. All in all it was going to be a busy summer.

Sometimes Logan wanted to pinch himself to make sure it was all real. Being with Veronica was everything Logan dreamed about and more. She was no body's fool and just pushy enough to keep things interesting. She was flirty, suggestive and definitely kept him busy in their bedroom. Best of all she was caring, thoughtful and loving.

Logan had found a place in life where he belonged.

He had a family.

He was a son, brother, friend, uncle and soon would be a husband.

Logan Echolls was home.

****

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