WEEVIL by Darlinginmyway

"What's up, boss? Ain't you got some fancy thing to go to today? Why you here?"

"My name's still on the building, right? I didn't know I needed your permission, Marco."

Marco wiped his hands on the rag hanging at his waist. "Hey, it's no problem with me, boss. Just didn't want you to miss Richie Rich's big day or nothing."

Weevil gritted his teeth, feinting toward Marco like he was going to hit him, enjoying the way the other man stumbled back quickly.

"I got some paperwork to do since you knuckleheads don't know how to file things properly."

"Maybe you should hire someone to help you with that, Eli," a new voice called out. Weevil turned to see Nina walking toward them, her coveralls at least three times too big for her frame.

It only took two weeks being the only woman in Weevil's garage to put all the men there with big mouths and sexist opinions in their places. Weevil almost instantly liked her, she reminded him very much of Veronica back in their high school days.

Marco bit his lip and walked away, keeping the opinion churning around his head to himself.

"I can handle it," Weevil said with a vague smile. Before the separation Jade took care of the business side of Weevil's garage, being the go-between for distributors and the like and letting him manage the floor and his employees. She'd been damn good at it, and to be honest, he was struggling. He'd much rather have spent a few more hours with his daughter than come to the shop and manage things he couldn't give a damn about.

"My cousin's good with numbers and stuff," Nina continued, ignoring Weevil's claim. "She'd be happy for the job."

"I got it Nina," Weevil stated again, "but thank you."

Nina shrugged and walked off, but Weevil knew it wasn't the last he'd be hearing about it.

He climbed the stairs to his office that overlooked the garage floor. Being cooped up in his office when there were cars he could be working on -engines he could be dismantling and reassembling, grease on his hands and coveralls, restorations- really gnawed away at him.

He didn't like the paperwork, and it wasn't that he was incapable, or thought it had to be Jade's job, but she'd been so much better at it than him-methodical and thorough to a fault.

He sighed and sat down in the custom chair he'd purchased for Jade, looking over the inventory sheets for the week prior, trying to see what was low, and what was still necessary. He needed to digitize the process to help him out, but he didn't have the time to devote to doing that and making sure the knuckleheads that worked for him didn't run his shop into the ground.

Weevil spent another hour on the paperwork before setting it aside, vowing to come back to it another day. He looked over at the invitation that sat on his desk: Veronica and Logan finally getting married and he was going to be able to bear witness to that.

He shook his head in disbelief, skeptical, but cautiously happy for the two of them. I wonder if a warning would be out of line.

His reverie was broken by yelling coming from the garage floor. He stood up quickly and walked to the big bay window that was half open.

"Yo boss," Nina's voice filtered up to him. "You better get down here!"

XXXX

Weevil did his best to shake off the remains of his anger as he drove to meet up with Logan's crew at The Humidor. Running the garage from afar was starting to wear on his employees, some of whom required constant supervision, and some of whom just didn't know how to play well with others. He'd left Nina to babysit, much to the chagrin of the men working for him, but he didn't care. She was the most levelheaded and straightforward.

With her in charge, he knew he'd at least have a shop standing when he returned.

He couldn't believe he was the balancing force in so many people's lives.

Weevil played with the radio dial, unable to settle on one thing as he drove to the cigar lounge. So much in his life was different, and yet...these people, these same people from high school (some of whom he could do without) were still around in some way or another.

He didn't fit in with the Echolls and Casablancases of the world, and yet he still got pulled into their sphere.

There was no one to blame that on but Veronica. He got to participate in their world, but he wasn't a part of it, and for the past few years, he hadn't minded, but now, he was in it. A part of Veronica and Logan's day. He got to spend the day participating in a life that he himself had lost. And it stung a little, but he'd push through.

He'd do almost anything for Veronica, so he supposed that he could play nice for a few hours even if he was going to be around Dick Casablancas.

Weevil parked outside the modern looking building and got out of his car, spotting Wallace not far from him.

"Wallace," Weevil said, holding out his hand to the other man as he drew near.

"Weevil," Wallace responded, his face alight with obvious happiness. Sometimes Weevil envied Wallace's almost unshakeable optimism. "It's good to see you, man. How you been?"

Weevil shrugged. "Been busy with the shop. How 'bout you? Is teaching everything you hoped it would be?"

"Oh yeah, you remember the glory days of Neptune High. It's even worse from the other side."

"Probably for you," Weevil started, "because you were the perfect student. I bet I could whip those kids into shape in no time."

"Listen man, any time you want to drop by, you just let me know, alright?" Wallace clapped him lightly on the back and chuckled.

They reached the door of the lounge and Weevil pulled one open, the strong smell of tobacco and leather hitting him as the air wafted past.

The whole place screamed 'old money' and for a moment, Weevil was annoyed, but then he remembered, it wasn't his day, he was just along for the ride. Large leather couches and high-back leather chairs around mahogany tables. Red and brown brick walls set off the glass case of cigars at the end of the long room, and a dark wood and glass bar helped complete the image of opulence.

It was overwhelming, but typical.

"Weevs," he heard as he walked into the lobby area. "Glad you could make it, man."

Weevil refrained from rolling his eyes and took Logan's proffered hand.

"Richie," Weevil replied, no heat at all in his tone. "I'm surprised the warden let you do this. I figured she'd have a strict code of conduct for you for the day."

"Funny. You're a regular comedian," Logan shot back. He seemed lighter to Weevil, less wound up, but still a little on edge.

"You getting cold feet?"

Logan frowned, shaking his head. "Not even a little. I'm ready." He stared over Weevil's shoulder lost in thought.

"Will you stop mooning over Veronica?" Dick Casablancas' voice broke in. Weevil gritted his teeth and refrained from scoffing at the other man. Of all the people from high school that Weevil had formed an amicable acquaintance with, Dick never managed to be one of them.

"Aww, leave him alone; he's allowed to act like a lovesick teenager on his wedding day," a man Weevil assumed was friends with Logan said.

"Well, what's his excuse every other day?" Wallace added.

Weevil took distinct enjoyment in watching Logan squirm for a moment. "Yeah, boy's got it bad."

"Alright, alright," Logan started, "let's go sit down." The men started to slowly follow Dick and Logan toward the back of the lounge where the large glass case of cigars was on display.

"Hey," the man Weevil didn't recognize from earlier spoke, offering his hand. "I'm Jake, I fly-well, I guess flew-with Logan."

"Eli Navarro. I had the displeasure of going to high school with these guys."

"And Hearst, lest we forget our glory days," Logan interjected.

"I'd rather not remember those days, if you don't mind," Weevil replied, sending a hard look Logan's way.

The men sat at a large round table, their view of the bar pretty complete.

"I know the manager of this place," Dick began, "they usually don't do set menus, but I figured something pretty light since the menu tonight is killer. Compliments of me."

"You didn't even wait for an opportunity for me to mention that, Dick," Logan scoffed.

Before anyone could say anything else, a tall tiered tray of hearty steak sandwiches on rye, cold cut prosciutto and salami, and hard cheeses was set in the middle of their table.

Weevil shook his head wondering what he was expecting instead.

"Dig in, fellas," Dick encouraged. "There's a dessert round too. You should definitely eat, Logan. I know you're concerned about your girlish figure, but it'll probably be a while before you eat tonight. Trust me, I've done a lot of weddings."

The men dug in with gusto, not politely waiting for anyone to move out of the way. They ate in silence for a few moments, enjoying the good food and atmosphere.

"So," Jake started, reaching toward the tray of mini-gherkins that'd been placed on the table. "This is a motley crew, Mouth. How'd you all manage to meet one another?"

"Well," Wallace piped up, "Weevil's gang taped me to a flagpole naked on my first day at Neptune High."

Weevil winced slightly at the memory before a grin broke over his face. "Yeah, not one of my prouder moments, Wally, but you know what was?"

"Uh oh," Dick said under his breath.

"Watching lover boy over here go bash in the future Mrs' headlights."

Jake's mouth dropped open a bit, as he turned his head toward Logan. "Mouth?"

"I was an asshole, Jake-"

"Was?" Weevil interjected lightly, no real malice in his tone. He knew Logan wasn't the same guy, but who could resist a good story?

"Your boy over here," Weevil said, pointing to Logan, "he wasn't really good at playing nice. He took a tire iron to V's car. Bashed in her headlights. Real son of a bitch this guy was. Good thing I came along, too. It was really satisfying to hit you that day, man."

Jake looked around the assembled group, a slight look of horror on his face. "So, you," he pointed to Weevil, "put Wallace on a flagpole, and apparently beat up Logan-"

"Beat up is not an accurate term," Logan cut in.

"Pretty sure I kicked your ass, Richie," Weevil returned.

"I don't know about that," Wallace interjected, "but I do know that's when the looks of longing and smoldering from Logan towards V began. The most intensive foreplay ever."

Weevil snickered as he watched Logan sink down a little in his chair, gratified at the moment that he was a little less composed.

"Let's go pick some cigars, shall we?" Logan said, shooting up from his chair and walking to the big glass walk-in cigar case behind them.

The remainder of lunch was spent in more good-natured ribbing, but Weevil started to see the little ticks of discomfort in Logan, and nearly called him out on his obvious relief when Dick told him they needed to stay on schedule.

"I do not want to be on the receiving end of Veronica Mars' anger today," Dick said.

"Try any day, man," Wallace replied.

The men started to filter out of the bar, when Weevil held Logan back for a moment.

"Listen," Weevil began, his own discomfort coming off of him in waves. "I know it's not really the day to bring it up, but you've got to let me pay back this loan. The garage is making good money now, and I-"

"Weevil." Logan shook his head at him. "It's not a loan, man. I don't expect anything back. It's the very least I could do."

"Look, I'm not a charity case, alright—"

"I don't think that," Logan replied. "I know about the times during the intervening years where you saved my ass and didn't tell anybody. And I know it probably wasn't really for me."

Weevil shrugged. "She wouldn't have been okay if something happened to you."

"Yeah, well, she wouldn't be okay if something happened to you either. So the money was my very, very small contribution to keeping the future Mrs. Echolls happy."

"She's letting you call her that?"

"Not a chance. So don't tell her, okay?"

Weevil grinned a little, looking out toward the parking lot. It chafed to know that Logan was a little closer to getting everything to complete his picture-perfect life.

Of course, being accused of murder and an addict weren't terribly bright spots, but he pulled through. The Logan and Veronica saga was about to enter a new phase—ones with vows exchanged and a precocious little girl—a life he'd had until it all fell apart.

It stung in a way that Weevil wished he could let go of, but he just wasn't there yet.

"Is Jade coming to the wedding?" Logan asked, and for a moment it stopped Weevil in his tracks.

"Uh, I don't know," Weevil said, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. Logan already knew most of the details of his relationship with Jade, and sometimes it still surprised him what a sympathetic listener Logan could be; but, today wasn't the time for talking about a failed marriage and all the strife it had caused. "I asked her before, and she said no, but I'm going to try again."

"I'm sorry about-well-everything." Logan studied him for a moment. "So no chance for reconciliation?"

Weevil scoffed. "This ain't a fairytale man. Anyway, it's not about me today, you just worry about making sure you're where you need to be, alright?"

Logan nodded and held out his hand to Weevil. He took Logan's offered hand and smiled a little.

"Good luck, Weevs," Logan said, smiling, "Don't be late, Veronica'll kill you."

XXXX

On the drive back to Neptune, Weevil tried to play out how the scene would go with Jade. As of two days ago, she had no intention of going to Veronica and Logan's wedding with him.

And act like a happy couple when that's not the case at all? No thanks, not for all your love of Veronica Mars, she'd said to him.

He gripped the steering wheel tighter as the thoughts flooded him. He didn't want to give up time with his daughter, but there was no way he'd be able to manage Valentina on his own during the wedding and not going simply wasn't an option.

Veronica would kill him.

He pulled his car around the backside of the the garage, resisting the urge to peek in at his employees. He heard the sounds of drills and loud chatter, and he knew that if anything went wrong, Nina could handle it, and if it was dire, she'd call.

He went up the back stairs to his new apartment over the shop. With Logan's loan and being able to buy the entire building, Weevil, for the first time ever, was living someplace rent and mortgage free.

Not that he got out of having to still worry about Jade and Valentina, but that extra bit of income going towards his daughter and soon to be ex-wife didn't hurt so much.

The apartment was one long loft space that had all the amenities he needed, but lacked any real feeling of home.

It worked for him though, and provided ample space for Valentina to run around and play when he had her. It certainly didn't feel like home, but it was comfortable, and it was his.

He quickly showered, getting rid of any lingering cigar smell, and dressed with care, double checking his coat pocket for the envelope with his wedding gift, and then setting back out on the road to his old home.

He pulled up in the driveway a few moments later and sat in his car for a beat to order his thoughts.

It'd be nice to spend time with you again. He thought that would make a nice opener. Something to help soften the frosty veneer that Jade wore—one he didn't really blame her for. He'd screwed up and that had consequences.

He walked from his car to the door, slowly, going over all the things he wanted to say to her.

He rang the bell and waited, delighting in the muffled 'daddy!' he heard through the door.

"Valentina, wait, mija." Jade opened the door a little, and Weevil saw Valentina's face peeking around the corner.

"Hello mi niña hermosa," Weevil said. "You been good for your mommy?"

Valentina nodded furiously barely waiting for Jade to open the door all the way before flying into her father's arms.

Weevil picked her up, reveling in her giggles and happy smiles, his heart a little less empty with her in his arms.

He closed his eyes and breathed deep. "Kiss?" he asked Valentina.

She giggled and grabbed his face, kissing him through her giggles. "Besos."

"That's right! Good girl." He looked over at Jade who stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, a neutral expression on her face.

She was dressed casually, but still looked as beautiful as ever.

"Didn't change your mind?" Weevil asked cautiously. "I'd really like you to go with me, Jade."

She huffed a little and turned, walking into the house. Weevil followed behind her, Valentina babbling happily in his arms.

"You just want someone there to take care of Valentina," Jade spoke from the edge of the kitchen.

"That's not all I want," Weevil started, figuring denying that would probably make her annoyed with him. "I think we'd have a good time together. We used to. I—" he hesitated for a moment, then continued. "I miss us being a family, Jade."

"Eli..."

"Please. It's just for the rest of the day. We used to—before anything else, we were friends. And I miss that. I miss how easy it was being around you."

He watched a number of emotions cycle across Jade's face and he waited. He hoped it'd be enough to soften her a little, make the afternoon bearable.

"Fine," she sighed. "It's just today, though Eli. I don't think that—"

"Yeah, no," he interrupted, not wanting to hear that he didn't still have a chance to stop the divorce proceedings. "I get it. Thank you."

She nodded at him and extended her arms to Valentina, who quickly left her father's embrace for her mother's.

"Come on, querida, we need to get ready for a party."

XXXX

The drive to the wedding site was stilted and awkward, only broken up by the occasional murmurs of Valentina from the backseat. Weevil had insisted Jade and Valentina ride with him, for practical reasons of course, but sitting in heavy silence seemed worse than sitting alone and checking his rearview mirror every few minutes to make sure she was still near him.

He sighed heavily and fiddled with the radio dial, a sunny, frivolous pop tune easing between the layers of awkwardness.

When they reached the wedding venue, Weevil could actually feel Jade shutting down. He tried to look at her in the passenger seat—arms crossed, face devoid of any real emotion, her lips in a thin line.

He tried not to audibly sigh, but figured he failed by the sharp turn of Jade's head toward him.

"Pretty site," she said, dispassionately. "Crazy what a lot of money can get you, right?"

"I prefer where we got married," he replied and apparently it was the wrong thing to say, because she wasted no time rolling her eyes and getting out of the car. She went around to the back to release Valentina from her seatbelt, her movements sharp and perfunctory.

Jade took Valentina's hand and walked around the car, stopping to look back at Weevil.

"You could've told me that it was a beach wedding, Eli."

Weevil paused, confused. He was sure he'd mentioned it. "Uh-"

"I'm in heels, Eli."

"Sorry," he replied, chagrined once he realized why she'd looked at him the way she did.

"Not to worry," a voice from beside them called. Weevil didn't recognize the woman, but she had a kind, warm smile that brightened when she look toward Valentina. She handed a small tote bag to Jade. "There are flip flops in there you can use. Should make it a little easier on you."

"Thank you," Jade replied, and the woman smiled warmly, walking back toward the entrance of the restaurant.

"Come here, sweetheart," Weevil said, holding his arms out to his daughter. Valentina sighed as her body fell into her father's arms, totally contented.

Weevil waited patiently beside Jade as she grabbed the pair of flip flops from the bag to change into. He watched her frown grow a little as she looked down at them, but when she looked up, her face was clear again.

"Let's go."

There weren't any assigned seats beyond those near where the ceremony would take place. Weevil followed Jade to the second to last row to the right of the center aisle.

After they were seated, the woman he recognized from earlier came around handing out more little tote bags. "The mini-beach balls are for tossing when they go down the aisle," she said smiling down at a sleepy Valentina before bustling off toward the other guests.

Weevil looked around as people filled in seats, some he recognized and others he didn't, but judging by the amount of uniforms, they must have been friends with Logan.

Valentina started to nod off in his arms, but he didn't mind too much. He missed the days when she was a baby, always ready to nap in his arms, but he especially found himself missing the ability to be around her all the time and not just four days a week.

Weevil watched as Logan took his place at the end of the aisle, looking put together and solid in his dress uniform. Weevil shook his head a little at the look he recognized on Logan's face.

He'd had it on his own once.

When the ceremony began, Weevil barely held in a laugh as he watched Wyatt come out with Mac, then run back inside, then out again with her stuffed bunny. She looked lost until she saw her father at the end of the aisle.

Weevil was struck by how unlikely it was that the Logan he'd once known was such a doting father.

Then again, similar things could be said about him, too.

Valentina was heavy in his arms when he stood to watch Keith walk Veronica down the aisle to Logan. Weevil turned to see Logan smiling-beaming-as Veronica walked toward him, a happy, smiling Wyatt in his arms.

The ceremony was mostly a blur for him, as he got lost in the memories of his own day, sitting beside the woman he didn't really want to let go of. Jade sat still and quiet beside him during the ceremony, her silence obvious amongst the sea of sniffles and laughs that surrounded them.

As the couple left the ceremony and tiny beach balls were being thrown their way, Valentina started to stir from her nap.

"Man, can you sleep, kiddo," Weevil joked as he nuzzled her cheek lightly. Valentina smacked her lips a little and grabbed her father's face pulling him down for a kiss.

"Let me take her," Jade said. Guests were slowly filing out of their chairs and heading back toward the restaurant for cocktails. "I'm going to take her to potty, you can go get a drink."

"I can take her."

"It's fine, Eli. Go be with your friends."

Weevil watched Jade and Valentina slowly make their way back through the sand and up to the restaurant.

XXXX

Weevil milled around the cocktail hour, not really staying too long in any one conversation. He wanted more to be near Jade and Valentina, but his daughter had gotten a sudden burst of energy, so Jade took her out close to the edge of the restaurant to let her run around. He'd asked Jade if she wanted him to tag along, but she'd said no again, and while he wanted to ignore that and do it anyway, pissing her off at the moment seemed more likely than anything else.

He sidled up to the bar and ordered a beer, turning to watch the groups of revelers.

"Hey man," Wallace said, sidling up to him.

"Hey," Weevil replied, his eyes drifting towards where he could just make out Jade following behind a frolicking Valentina.

"How'd you manage to get Jade to agree to come?"

Weevil shrugged. "Through force of will, I guess. So far, I'm pretty sure she's wishing she was any place else."

Wallace clapped Weevil on the back. "I'm sorry, but hey! The night is still young, there's gonna be dancing and all that. It's a party, maybe she'll come around."

"Whatever you say."

XXXX

Weevil pulled out Jade's chair, sliding it back in slowly as she sat. He took his seat beside her, Valentina hanging over his shoulder, waving at someone who was waving at her.

They watched as Logan and Veronica came in and danced their first dance. Jade sat with her back straight, no obvious emotion on her face, her fingers resting lightly on top of the table.

When their dance finished, Weevil looked across the table to see Norris Clayton and a woman he recognized from Mars Investigations, but whose name escaped him at the moment.

"Eli Navarro," Norris said lightly. "I didn't realize you'd be here."

"I didn't realize you'd be here, either, but then again, should've figured Veronica has a friend or two down at the Sheriff's Department."

Norris inclined his head and moved his gaze toward Jade.

"Oh, this is-" Weevil faltered for a moment. Jade was still his wife, albeit estranged, but was that necessary to point out in their current setting? "This is my daughter, Valentina," Weevil said first, "and my wife, Jade."

Norris nodded. "It's nice to meet you Jade and Valentina." Valentina smiled and waved at him, making Norris laugh and wave back.

"How do you know Eli?" Jade asked, a little bit of wariness obvious in her tone. Given all the problems Weevil'd had with the Sheriff's department, he wasn't surprised. Jade perhaps didn't want to still be married to him, but she still seemed pretty protective.

"Eli and I went to Neptune together."

"Ah," Jade said shortly. "I didn't realize that Veronica and Logan kept so many of their friends from high school."

"Well," Norris started easily, grabbing his fork and pushing his salad around his plate. "Veronica has a...way about her. She's special. It's hard to shake her."

"So I've gathered," Jade gave a wan smile, turning her attention back toward the front of the space where Keith Mars just stood to give his toast.

Weevil's eyes tracked over to Norris and he shook his head at the man, not really sure if any message he was trying to send made it through.

Weevil did his best to block out whatever nonsense Dick had to say in his toast, but took enjoyment in watching an increasingly nervous Logan stare at his friend. Veronica looked ready to throwdown, and Weevil actually hoped for it. Maybe it would give him the opportunity to think about something other than the waves of discontent pouring off his wife.

XXXX

Weevil chose the filet for himself, while Jade chose the chicken. Each of them cut up pieces of their entrees for Valentina, not ordering her an entire meal because they knew she was too picky to finish everything that came on the plate.

Conversation at their table was stilted, even after Lisa-yes, that's her name!-joined in, trying to coax a leery Jade into talking.

"So," Norris began, completely ignoring the mood, or not caring, "what's the last thing Veronica had you do for her?"

Jade's fork slipped a little in her hand before she set it down with a slight clink on the side of the plate.

"Uh," Weevil started uneasily. "Nothing too major, man, you know how Veronica can be." He could feel Jade's eyes on him and avoided turning in her direction.

"That's for sure," Norris chuckled, completely missing the mood shift. "But Veronica is one of the best people I know. Don't tell her that, she'd definitely use that against me. But, I wouldn't be where I am today if she hadn't helped me out all those years ago."

"Yeah," Weevil agreed. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

Norris nodded along, he knew enough about Weevil and his case, and what had happened to not need him to expound any further.

"I guess we both owe a lot to Veronica, then," Norris said, raising his glass to Weevil.

Jade made a derisive sound beside him and Weevil watched as Norris' eyes cut toward Jade.

"Yes, Saint Veronica to the rescue," Jade muttered, picking up her glass of wine and taking a healthy sip.

Weevil felt his shoulders drop a little at the grimace that crossed Norris' face. He shook his head at the other man, trying to tell him not to worry about it.

Weevil caught the movement of the bride and groom out of the corner of his eye. He picked up his fork and started shoveling food with a little more gusto than necessary in hopes of avoiding conversation. Jade was already on edge, not at all helped by the ebullience of everyone around them.

"Easy there Weevs," Logan's voice sounded beside him, "it's not chow time in the joint."

Weevil smirked at Logan. "Really? It tastes just the same."

He felt more than heard Jade's exasperated sigh. Weevil turned to her and saw her face set in an angry glare; however, it wasn't directed at him—but Veronica and Logan.

"Thank you for coming," Logan said, and Weevil heard all the humor fall from his voice. "Are you having a good time?"

Weevil rolled his eyes and sent up a silent prayer that Jade wouldn't actually say how she felt.

"Congratulations," Jade murmured in a tone just this side of frosty.

"Thank you," Veronica replied with a small smile. She cut her eyes to Weevil, and her smile softened a little, head tilting slightly. Weevil bit back a grimace. "We'll leave you all to your dinner. Thank you for coming."

Veronica and Logan left and the mood at the table darkened considerably.

"Excuse me for a moment," Jade said, not waiting for a reply. Norris tried to stand as she quickly exited the table.

"Man, I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"Don't worry about it," Weevil interrupted, holding onto Valentina a little tighter.

XXXX

Once the dance floor was opened to everyone, nothing could stop Valentina Navarro from wanting to get out there and jump up and down. She drew smiles and warm laughter with her effervescence, and he only hoped that she would be easier to put to sleep when the evening ended.

Weevil walked them back to their table, determined to at least try to get Jade out of the funk that was over her.

"Would you like to dance?" Weevil asked Jade as he returned to the table with a semi-exhausted Valentina, laying her down across his vacated seat and the one beside it.

"Who's going to watch Valentina?" Jade replied.

"Oh, I don't mind watching her," Lisa cut in. "That is, if you're going to-"

"Thank you, Lisa," Weevil said, wasting no time pulling Jade from her seat and walking her to the dance floor. He pulled her close, but not too close, his right hand coming to rest in the middle of her back while his left gripped her right out at their sides.

They swayed silently for a little while. He was content to just have her in his arms again, until she spoke.

"Eli," Jade started looking up at him. "Look, I know I haven't been the best company today and I'm sorry for that. These are your friends and I know you're happy for them, but I can't help but think so much of my life has been interrupted by Veronica Mars. And I'm-" she paused briefly, looking away. "I hope you don't think that this is going to change anything. I don't want to get back together. We'll be amicable because Valentina adores you and I would never ruin her image of you, but-this shouldn't have happened. I shouldn't have come with you today. I'm sorry."

Weevil didn't have much hope, but what he did have faded quickly and steadily, like air being let out of a balloon.

"Alright," he replied. "That's fine, Jade. I mean-hell-it's not fine, but if that's the way you want it, then I guess I'll just have to…"

"Eli-"

"No, it's alright." He backed away from her as the song ended and the announcement was made for the cake cutting. "We'll go after this, okay?"

Jade nodded at him as they made their way back to their table. He picked up a-once again-sleepy Valentina, and held her close as he watched Veronica turn her head into Logan's shoulder, tears making themselves known on her face.

He watched them cut the cake together, smiling and happy, and enjoying a life he'd once had.

XXXX

Weevil slowly made his way toward the bride and groom, cutting in before they could make their way down the dessert bar.

"Never thought I'd see this day," Weevil teased, "but I'm glad I did. I'm happy for you, V."

Veronica beamed up at him and hugged him. He looked over her shoulder and nodded toward Logan, understanding clear between them.

"Thank you for coming today, Eli," Veronica spoke softly. "And I'm so sorry about-"

"Nope," Weevil interrupted. "None of that. You two, I swear. It's your day, have fun. Eat some good dessert for me. We're heading home."

Weevil did his best to ignore Veronica's small frown and the direction of her eyes.

"Seriously, V. Go and enjoy the rest of your night, and I'm-I'm happy for you. And I wish you all the good things, yeah?"

"Thanks, Weevs," Logan said, clapping him on the back. "Have a safe trip back, man."

Weevil nodded and turned from the newlyweds to where his soon-to-be-ex-wife stood at the front entrance, Valentina draped over her shoulder.

He looked back briefly and saw Logan and Veronica standing close to one another, Logan lowering his head to kiss the tip of Veronica's nose.

He did his best to shake away the envy, knowing that their story hadn't been easy, but wishing he got to have his fairytale ending, too.