Author's note: It's been years since I last updated this story, and for all of you who have reviewed in the past – years ago, as well as more recently – I am so sorry. I stopped writing this story a couple of years ago simply because of a lack of inspiration, as well as having dealt with a few deaths in my family. But, with the Kickstarter-campaign happening and everything surrounding that, I started thinking more about maybe starting this story back up again. And then the movie finally happened, and I couldn't get Veronica Mars out of my head. So, here is another chapter, a small continuation on the story I started so very long ago. I can't promise that I will update again soon, but I promise I will update A LOT sooner that what I've managed to do this time. Thank you all for reviewing, it'll be interesting to see if any of you still want to read this story.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Veronica Mars, cause if I did, Piz wouldn't even exist.

Summary: This is pre-series, takes place right after Shelley's party, and deals with everything that happened after that. This is my take on things.


Nine hours, fifty-two minutes and 48 seconds. That's how long ago it had been since Keith's world had come crashing down for what seemed to be the millionth time in only a few months. But this time it was serious. This time it was to do with something bigger than him, bigger than being a sheriff and bigger than any scandal to ever come out of Neptune. This time it only revolved around Veronica. His baby was sick, and scared, and there was nothing that Keith could do about it. Suffice to say, he hadn't gotten much sleep for the past nine hours.

While talking to Dr Petersen last night, Veronica had been given an emergency appointment to see a specialist this morning. After that she had ended up falling asleep in his arms while they were both still on the couch. Keith realized that she must have been completely worn-out from having to keep this to herself all this time, and he ended up putting her to bed, just like he'd used to when she was little.

His little girl wasn't so little anymore, but that didn't mean he wouldn't do anything to protect her. Any obstacle thrown her way he would take care of from now on, so that she could focus on getting better. This was one fight he wasn't willing to lose.

It had been nine minutes since the bell rang. Logan knew that because he had been staring at the clock on the wall ever since. Veronica is never late. Something must have happened. She's never late. I need to get out of this chair; I need to make sure she's ok.

"Mr Wu? Can I get a hall pass? My bladder is absolutely bursting."

"Thanks for the over-share, Mr Echolls. And no, you may not. You're only 10 minutes into your first class of the day. I'm sure even you could've been a little more forthcoming."

"Actually, I was Mr Wu, it's just I've currently got this bladder issue and unless I go to the toilet on a regular basis I just…"

"That's enough, Mr Echolls. I expect you back in your chair in five minutes time, or you'll get detention."

Logan practically jumped out of his chair and was out of the classroom faster than the physics-loving Mr Wu could list the qualities of subatomic particles.

If she's not in school, something must have happened. Give me detention if you want Mr Wu, I'm not staying here another minute until I know she's ok.

It didn't take long for Logan to get to his car, and before he knew it he was parked outside Veronica's apartment complex and half-running to her door. He had only been there once before. Before everything happened and broke them apart. It didn't take long for the door to open once he knocked, revealing a shocked Veronica on the other side.

"Logan, what are you doing here?"

"You didn't show up for school."

"So? That doesn't give you the right to come to my house. In fact, it's none of your business whether I go to school or not. I could drop out of high school and join the Peace Corps, it still wouldn't be any concern of yours." Veronica replied, annoyance radiating off of her.

"I was worried. I thought sometimes might have happened, cause you're never later."

"I'm late plenty of times, most often because of something your cronies have done to my car. I don't need you to worry."

Logan took a step closer, leaving him too close for comfort had they been strangers, however not intimidating Veronica in the least.

"I don't care how long it'll take Veronica, I will show you that I still care about you."

Veronica's eyes soften, albeit just a little, as she took a step back and opened the door further.

"At least come inside, if anyone saw you here it wouldn't do either of our reputations any good."


As Veronica exited the bathroom, which she only entered in the first place because she refused to show Logan that him being there had affected her in the least, she turned to him sitting on the couch with a frown on her face.

"So, Logan, what is it you want to know? We'll have to make this quick as I'm sure dad will be back any minute."

"I don't know where to start… How about you tell me where you were this morning? Or if you've told your dad that you're sick yet? Or maybe we should finally talk about how you almost jumped off a bridge?"

Logan's face didn't show any amusement. Veronica could count on one hand the times she had seen him as serious, and truth be told it scared her a little, because she knew then that he would be unrelenting. She really didn't have a choice but to sit down next to him, and tell him – the person who she never knew whether he was a friend or foe – everything about her biggest fears.

"I saw a specialist this morning. That's why I wasn't at school. I told my dad, and he arranged an appointment. I have what is known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and they want to start treatment immediately. My dad is out getting the drugs that I have to take, before I start chemotherapy." Veronica looked down at her hands, noticing that her hands were shaking from the fear that she felt about what she was going to have to go through.

"When do you start? I'll be there if you just tell me when and where." Logan's eyebrows were tightly pushed together which caused his forehead to display wrinkles that normally were absent from the carefree life that Logan chose to lead. At least out in public.

"You can't be there Logan, my dad's going to be there, and I'm pretty he'd kill you if he saw you. In fact, you really shouldn't even be here."

"Have you told him about what I've done? To you I mean?" Logan could only just barely look Veronica in the eyes.

"No. But he's a PI, I think he knows more than enough." Veronica replied with a smirk of her own.

"Do you forgive me?"

"Not even close." Veronica's smile vanished as soon as it had appeared.

"Will you ever?"

"Maybe. If you earn it, and if you show me that the Logan I once knew is still in there somewhere. If you do that I might consider forgiving you for what you've done to me these past few months."

"I know you hate me, and you have every right to Ronnie, but I'm not going anywhere, so you're going to have to keep me in the loop about everything concerning your treatment. Or I will stalk you 24/7. You know I'm capable." Logan said with a smirk.

"Oh I know, I've been stalked by you before, remember?"


[Flashback to Logan waiting for Veronica outside her house, freshman year, the morning after their kiss in the pool.]

As soon as Veronica opens her front door, she knows Logan is there without even having to look up. It's like she is drawn to his very presence, like he is fire and she is the moth drawn to his flame. He's been waiting outside her house every morning for the previous two days, and she's barely managed to run past him to the bus. But today she feels like she has no choice but to acknowledge the fact that he is there.

As she hurries down the steps, she tries to get away. "I'm late Logan, the bus is going to drive around the corner any minute."

"I'll give you a ride."

"That's OK, I'll just see you at school."

"Get in the car Veronica." As soon as he says her name, instead of Ronnie – his term of endearment – she knows there's no point in arguing with him so she gets in his car with a deep sigh.

"We have to talk about what happened Ronnie."

"I don't know what you mean…"

"Yes, you do. We kissed. There, I said it. So stop beating around the bush. We're having this conversation, right here, right now."

"I get it Logan, it was a mistake, you don't have to explain yourself."

"It wasn't a mistake. You think it was a mistake?" There's a slight quiver in his voice as he utters the word mistake, and Veronica can't help but to look up. His eyes are all nerves, exactly mirroring what her beating heart is desperately trying not to convey.

"No," she says, a slight smile in the corner of her mouth.

"No?" Logan smirks, confidence back as if it had never left at all.

"No."

"Good. I'm glad we can agree on something Ronnie. So, what now?"

"I... I don't know." Her nerves are back in full swing.

"Well, how about we keep this between the two of us?"

He doesn't want anyone to know Veronica; you could've figured that out yourself. He's so far out of your league. You're not even an 09er for real.

"At least, until I can take you out on a proper date." His head is bent down, but he still manages to look at her through his eyelashes, and completely disarm her.

"You want to take me out on a date?" The look on Veronica's face all shock.

"Of course I do! What, you don't think I go around kissing girls at random, do you Ronnie?" His smirk keeps growing wider.

"You don't? Cause I could've sworn your reputation says otherwise." Veronica teases.

"Fine, I may be a bit of a ladies man. But not all of them are my best friend."

How can he be so confident one minute, and then completely melt my heart with that sweet tone the next?

"Well, you're my best friend too. Although, you are a bit of a stalker. Don't think I haven't seen you sitting out here every morning since 6.45am for the past few days."

"Oh, you've seen me? I could've sworn you didn't considering you ran so fast to the bus." Logan teases before he gets serious again. "I guess I just didn't want to miss you. We really needed to talk."

"And what would've been the harm in missing me? You still would've seen me at school? We could've talked there."

"It's different there. At least here I wouldn't have to share you with anyone else." Logan said shyly.

"Well, I'm all yours now Logan Echolls." Veronica smiled.

"You better be." Logan smirked, as he bent towards her ever so slightly.

Oh my god, he's going to kiss me. Again. Logan Echolls, my best friend, is about to kiss me.

"Veronica?" Logan asked, his voice taking on a raspier tone than before, and much more serious.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to kiss you. Again."

"Oh. Ok." Veronica swallowed.

Logan looked her deep in the eyes for a second, before he once again closed the gap between them. Unlike the last time, which had resulted in Veronica running away from his house in nothing but her bathing suit, with Logan shouting her name as she got away, they both stayed this time. As the kiss ended they looked into each other's eyes for a few second before they both started laughing.

"Ok then. Miss Mars, can I have the abundant pleasure of driving you to school?" Logan half-smiled, half-smirked, as he placed a light kiss on top of her hand.

My smirk. Veronica thought to herself.

"Yes, Mr Echolls, you may."

This will be our secret, for now. Until Logan Echolls, my best friend, the most popular freshman in school, takes me on a date.

However much their kisses may have been a secret, neither could hide their smiles from their friends as they arrived and walked next to each other through the school parking lot.

[End of flashback.]