So I didn't have internet last week so here's the long overdue chapter. But it was worth the wait because something big happens in this chapter. Thanks as usual to all my reviewers. I hope you guys are enjoying reading this as much as I am writing it.

As always, ready, enjoy and review.

I'm usually an honest person. Well, I mean when it doesn't involve a case. But for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to tell Piz about Logan's kiss. Really, it wasn't important but it was still eating me up inside.

Once inside Piz's room that afternoon, all I could do was show the sonogram picture.

"I don't see it," Piz turned the picture to look at it from every angle.

I took the picture out of his hand, turning it upright and traced the outline of my baby, "It's right there!"

After I pointed it out, he studied it cautiously, seemingly taking in every nook and cranny, "Wow."

"I know," I maneuvered the picture out of his hand to study it again myself. Piz began massaging my shoulders as I stayed glued to the picture.

"Don't tell me you two are looking at dirty pictures," I hadn't even noticed Wallace walked in until he spoke, "In broad daylight?!"

"Oh Papa bear," He cringed at the old nickname as I bounded across the room, "I'm here to share the wealth."

He looked on questioningly, "Is this some kind of abstract, white people art that us black folk don't get?"

I laughed, pointing out the head, "No, Brown Bear, that's my baby."

He didn't even make a comment at the newest nickname because he too was engulfed in my baby, "Well hot damn."

"Well boys, I must be going now to show this to my Daddy-o," Piz came over and kissed my cheek as I made my way to the door, "Bye guys."

I swung the door of the apartment open and paused in the door frame for dramatic effect.

"Hello, dear daughter of mine," My dad smiled from the stove, looking at me unaffected.

Disappointed in his lack of interest in my life, I slumped into the apartment, closing the door behind me, "Aren't you going to ask me how my day was?"

"I thought I'd give you some time to breathe," He shook his head, stirring the pot in front of him, "How was your day darling?"

"Well," I sat on the stool letting my bag dropped to the floor next to it, "I went to class, ate some grade A Hearst food, got my first sonogram, hung out with the boyfriend. Ya know, the usual."

He stopped stirring, "Was there supervision during this boyfriend hang out?"

"Seeing as I'm already knocked up, we have all the unprotected sex we want," I smiled, watching as he tensed up. Crossing the short distance between the stove and the island, he took deep breaths.

Gripping the counter tightly he finally answered, "I'm not finding that funny."

"Don't worry Dad, Wallace was there," I reassured him, "Besides Piz and I haven't even done that."

I noticed my slipup but I hoped that my dad didn't because he would know what that meant. And if his little princess was going to have a baby, it better be with someone like Stosh Piznarski, not Logan Echolls.

"So where is this sonogram picture?" He lightened up. I guess he wasn't as sharp as he let on to be. From my jacket pocket I pulled out the picture that hadn't left my side since the doctor gave Logan and I our copies, "Hm. Looks like a good looking kid."

I laughed, "Like you can tell. I just can't believe that is in here."

My father followed my hand to my stomach with his eyes, "And you're taking care of yourself? Vitamins? Taking it easy? No cases?"

I pulled out my bottle of prenatal vitamins and jiggled them around, "I've locked up the office for now."

He nodded taking the picture over to the refrigerator. Taking a magnet off the side, he hung the picture on the door and stood back to admire it.

"Ah, some families hang their kids report cards on the fridge," I got up to stand next to him, "But not us."

"Let's face it honey," He put an arm around my shoulders, "We've never been the most conventional family."

Together, we finished the last preparations for dinner. I set the places on the island and Dad continued stirring whatever was in the pot. Pouring water into two glasses, I sat and waited for my dad to be done. Dumping slop into each of our plates I couldn't help but stare questioningly at my plate.

"It's edible," My dad assured me, "I promise."

I waited for him to take a bite before I dove into my own plate. I was surprised at how hungry I was.

"I know I've said this before," He broke the silence that had fallen between us as I shoveled the food into my mouth, "But Stosh is a really good kid."

I nodded in confirmation, "I know he is."

"Have you talked to Logan?" He asked, and I shifted in my seat, "What are his intentions?"

He had caught on. Taking a deep breath I tried to explain the strained relationship between Logan and I, "He came to the doctor's with me today. He's been really good about it all."

"Ha!" My dad's reaction startled me, "He's been good about it all? You, you've been really good about this. But what I mean is what are his intentions regarding the baby?"

I put my fork down, "His exact words were 'If you're having this baby, so I am'. So that's where we're at. Two people, having a baby. That's it."

Turning his attention back to his full plate of food, I knew he was judging. My response might even warrant him a visit to Logan's. Damn me and my big mouth.

"We're not getting back together," I tried to explain further, "Like you said before, we've never done anything conventionally."

"Its just," My father sighed, lowering his voice, "This isn't how I pictured all this. You're my baby girl. I've spent my whole life protecting you and I can't do anything about this."

That broke my heart. My dad would never say that I've ever been a disappointment, but this was a close as it would get. I wish I had been more careful for his sake. I wish I got better grades for him. I had told him that he was my hero, and he truly was.

I got off my stool and ran over to him, wrapping my arms around him, and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"You are the best father ever," I spoke close to his ear, "My choices are my choices. My mistakes are my mistakes. But it is because of you that I am so good at handling things. You're my rock, my hero. I love you, Dad."

"I love you too," He closed his eyes, soaking in the moment, "Oh, and you're the best daughter ever too."

In my mind, images flashed with all the times my father had saved me. He'd always been there, whether I thought I needed him or not. And most of the time, I had put myself in a bad situation. I made a mental note to stop that.

Then, I realized I was crying. Not heart wrenching sobs, but the silent kind of cry. Tears ran down my face and dropped onto my shirt. I was never one to cry unless it was something really heavy, but lately I had caught myself crying for no reason at all. These cursed hormones. Or maybe I am a marshmallow.

I turned in early that night because it had been a pretty emotionally draining day. Fully refreshed in the morning, I headed to campus with a smile plastered on my face. I was in a good mood for once, and I wasn't going to question things.

"Hey Veronica, over here," Piz smiled from the table he was saving in the cafeteria.

"Hi honey," I semi-skipped over to him, placing a quick kiss on his lips. I watched as his eyebrows furrowed at my curious behavior, "What?"

He laughed, "You're overly chipper today."

The smile faded from my face, "What a girl can't be happy?"

"A girl, yes," Piz pondered, "But you are not a girl. You're Veronica Mars."

My mouth dropped open, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, nothing!" He realized he was digging himself a deeper hole, "It's just I haven't seen you happy in a while. But I'm glad you're happy. I'm happy, you're happy."

"Good," I smiled again, stealing a fry from his plate.

"Veronica," The hair stood up on the back of my neck at the sound of his voice, "I need to talk to you."

I turned and saw Logan standing, shifting in place. Now my smile was completely wiped from my face.

I lowered my voice hoping it would stay steady, "I don't want to talk to you."

He leaned on the table, getting low enough to look me in the eyes, "Veronica, I'm sorry about yesterday, but please come talk to me."

"I said," I got a little louder, attracting attention from the few people around us, "That I don't want to talk to you."

He slammed his fists on the table, "Dammit Veronica, I'm not playing these games with you."

"Alright, Logan," Piz stood up, "She said she doesn't want to talk to you. Leave it at that."

"This doesn't concern you," Logan turned his attention from Piz back to me, "I was a jerk. I know that. But you just have to listen to me."

"Are you deaf, man?" Piz said slightly laughing. I'd never seen him so tough. Talk about out of character.

"Listen, Piz," I could tell Logan was getting angry, "I'm talking to Veronica here. I don't want any trouble with you. Besides we both know how that plays out."

"Don't threaten me," Piz stepped towards Logan, but suddenly softened up meeting Logan's hard gaze, "And last time was a surprise attack. You caught me off guard. But next time, I'll be ready."

"Ha!" I could tell Logan couldn't believe his ears, "Seriously man, don't get involved."

"I am involved, okay?" Piz said defiantly, "Veronica's my girlfriend and if she doesn't want to talk to someone, she doesn't have to."

"You know what?" Logan backed up, "I'll come find you when you're watchdog isn't around. And I thought I had to worry about Backup."

I met Logan's gaze before he turned around and walked out onto the quad. He was truly hurting. I was hurting him. Unintentionally, but I was. So he kissed me. Did that really warrant me avoiding him? Or maybe that's just how Logan and I worked. There had been many times in the past that a kiss had followed by a couple days of avoidance. He should understand that.

"Logan!" I yelled at him, but he was already out the double doors. I settled back into my seat. I was definitely not happy anymore.

"Veronica," Piz said in a whisper, sitting down next to me.

I didn't look at him but I did answer, "What the hell was that?"

"I don't know," He shook his head, "I just wanted to protect you."

"Piz," I pat his arm, "You know as well as I do that you're not Mr. Tough Guy."

"Seriously, Veronica?" Piz's face began turning red, "What you really mean is, 'Piz, you're not Logan'."

"Wh-" I started but Piz cut me off.

"I see the way you look at him," He shook his head, calming down, "Maybe I'm just jealous that you've never looked at me like that. But hey, a guy can dream right?"

"Piz, stop," I tried to compute what he was saying.

"It's okay, Veronica," Piz pursed his lips, nodding his head, "I get it."

"Get what, Piz," I asked switching into panic mode, "Because I don't."

He held my hand, "It's just, you don't feel the same way that I feel about you. But it's okay."

"How can you say that?" I felt the tears. I didn't want to cry. I didn't want him to know that this was affecting me but that familiar lump came anyway, "If I didn't care about you, why would we still be together?"

"I don't know," His voice was raw and honest. I had almost forgotten how innocent he was, "But I see it now and I don't want to be that guy."

"What guy?" I choked, "A good guy? A great guy? What guy, Piz?"

"The guy who got in your way," He sighed, "I love you, but you love Logan."

My mouth dropped open, "I loved Logan. Past tense! Can we please not do this here?"

People were staring. I probably looked like a crying, desperate mess on top of everything else the campus thought of me. I didn't need to add to my reputation.

"There's nothing left to say Veronica," He stood up to leave, "I hope we can still be frie-"

"Don't say that," I stood too, my whole body quaking, "You don't have to say it."

He reached out towards me but I pulled away, "I really do want to be friends again, like before."

"I just," And here's where I completely lost it, "Can't."

I turned and walked briskly from the lunch room. I couldn't believe I had just been dumped. It didn't help that he was one of the nicest guys I'd ever dated, falling in a category with Leo and Duncan. And that made me cry even more, because again, I failed at the whole relationship thing.

I fumbled in my bag for my keys, cursing as they fell to the ground. Bending down, I picked them up and hurried down the stairs to the bottom level of the parking garage. I was just in time to see Logan kicking his flat, again, tires.

"You've got to be kidding me!" He yelled dialing his on his cell phone.

I wiped away my tears, focusing on the problem at hand, "Didn't you get that towed yesterday?"

"Yeah," He answered before he realized it was me, "And they replaced the tires but low and behold, they have been slashed."

"Got any enemies?" I slipped right back into PI mode, needing this distraction from real life.

He smiled. We both knew that Logan had enemies. It seemed to be his daily mission but that wasn't going to solve the case. I was.

I pulled my camera from my bag and took pictures of his car and tires, trying to get the scene from every angle to maximize the possibilities for clues.

"Do you always park in the same spot?" I thought about how this had happened two days in a row.

He shook his head, "I tried to get Dean O'Dell to get me a spot right out front that said 'The best student ever, Logan Echolls, parks here' but he died before he could sign off on it."

I didn't find it funny in the least and he mumbled a sorry as I circled his car. I stopped by the passenger side, something catching my eye. There was a blinking red light tucked above the tire.

"Well, I know how they found your car," I held up the tracking device, "Now we just have to find out who's tracking you?"

"I'm coming with you," Logan spoke catching up to me as I took the tracker to my car.

"No, you're not," I slammed the door behind me, locking the others while rolling down the window a crack.

He leaned his hands on the roof, "Veronica, I don't want you taking any cases. Its too dangerous."

"This is far from dangerous," I tried to reason with him, "And you don't dictate my life."

"You're kidding me right?" Logan laughed that nervous laugh he always did when I didn't see his side, "You're carrying my baby. I will dictate anything and everything."

"I need this distraction," I pleaded, "And I promise I'll bring Backup."

"Veronica Mars," He shook his head, stepping away from my car. Taking that as my approval, I drove away before he could change his mind.

Okay so I know the break-up scene didn't go as many of you might have wanted, but I wanted to leave Piz with some dignity. I really wanted to get this chapter up so I will respond individually to all the reviews next chapter. So review.