First of all, an apology, for taking so long to get this out. I got sick again- apparently, this just isn't my year. Who's for 2007??? Yeah!
Anyway, I'm well enough to write, and holy mother, have I been writing. I'm already halfway through the chapter after this one, so the next update will take less time, I promise.
Also, I've been really worried about this chapter, and some of the actions of the characters, especially Veronica. Then I cried my way through 'Spit and Eggs', and decided I didn't care if it was out of character because it's my story. I could have Wallace fall in love with a duck, and nobody could complain. Well, you could, but you get my point. I hope.
Raedos- oh, your reviews are never too long! I actually jump with delight when I see your name next to a review. There's a bit of Mac/Dick in this chapter, and plenty in the next! Thank you for all your comments, they really make writing this story so much fun.
BuffyBc- I'm glad you find my inability to be nice to strangers amusing! So do I, although my friends have issues with it...
Kaleena Mason- No, laughing at Duncan makes no one a bad person! I'm really happy you loved it so much! Hope this chapter is as good.
Redbanker- hee, don't worry, being sick is definitely helping me write! More for you guys, hey?I love reactions like that, knowing that people laugh out loud is really great for my writing confidence!
LoVe23- Thank you! Glad I made you laugh! It makes my day hearing that!
SnowWhite213- So, see any cat-hunting VM fans? Hmm, don't know where you could get a hard copy of Wallace's Rules, unless I wrote one without realising...lol. DEFINITELY using that rul, i love it. I'll work it into the next chapter! Thanks!
On to the Chapter!
Veronica awoke slowly the next morning, curved into Logan's arm. She smiled at him, even though he was sleeping. He looked so beautiful. She knew by the light that is was later than the 7am wake-up they'd promised themselves, in order to be ready on time, but staring at Logan, Veronica couldn't care less.
It was only the thought of Natalie Jate that forced Veronica out of bed. She opted to shower before waking Logan, knowing her self-control dissipated whenever she looked into his puppy-dog eyes. One of the reasons Logan had almost talked her into getting an actual puppy was because Veronica wanted some sort of illusion of control over the residents in this apartment.
With Logan, Veronica knew she could get him to do anything for her, but she also knew it would take only one wounded look from him to crumble her resolve on most issues. With a real puppy, she knew she had slightly better chances of maintaining dignity, and authority.
She thought about her boyfriend as she dressed. Logan had somehow wormed his way into her heart and taken up permanent residence over the past year and a bit. Veronica realised with each passing day that it grew harder to spend time away from him. Like a drug that sucked you in and left you dependent on each fix, being with Logan gave her an impossible high.
Veronica had, for months, been waiting for the day when she became too dependent, and unable to function away from him. She'd mentioned her fears to her father a month ago when both their respective partners were otherwise detained, and the Mars' were sharing a quiet dinner. Keith had surprised her with a smile.
"Honey, this last year, which should have been the most heart-breaking year ever for me, as I've watched you fall more in love with that boy, has been the most amazing year of my life."
She'd frowned, but he pressed on.
"I've watched you grow and mature into this amazing, beautiful young woman I can't believe I had a role in creating. You suffered so much those last years of high school- lost so much innocence, trust, naivety and belief. Logan- Logan, of all people, has restored that. Maybe not the naivety or innocence, but the belief, the trust. You're looking at the world with less cynicism, you're less jaded. You smile. You laugh. You tell me you love me more often. You let people in, let them touch you. Let them love you."
Veronica's eyes had filled with tears as he continued.
"And, as much as I'd like to believe it was my formidable parenting techniques- I have to admit it was Logan. He- he's fixed you. Whatever it was that broke when Aaron killed Lilly, he's fixed somehow. You're not the old Veronica, of course, but you are who you were always supposed to be. The nightmares you lived don't show as clearly on your face these days." Keith had began to tear up also.
"He loves you. If you guys are a little dependent on each other, then that's ok. You need that trust, that dependency, to survive your past, the both of you. Veronica, honey, when Logan looks at you, he sees the future."
Veronica had broken down, sobbing. "I see the future too, Daddy. I'm just scared I'll lose him, and won't survive it."
Keith had hugged her, crying himself. "Just don't let go of him, honey. Logan isn't going anywhere. You just hold onto that boy, Veronica, and make sure you don't lose him."
Veronica stood over Logan, watching him sleep again. She crawled onto the bed, on all fours above him.
"Logan, sweetie. Wake up. We're late, of course."
Logan stirred, opening his eyes to look at her. A small grin tugged at his mouth.
"Good morning, sunshine. You should have woken me."
Veronica shook her head, smiling at him.
"Yeah, then we really would have been late. Now, go shower. We have to go, soon."
Logan pouted, but sat up, kissing her cheek.
"Whatever you say, snookums." He waited for her to climb off him before standing and making his way to the ensuite.
Veronica called out to him before he shut the door.
"I love you, Logan."
He glanced over his shoulder with a questioning grin. Veronica shrugged. "I just felt like saying it."
Logan blew her a kiss.
"I love you too. Wanna join me?"
Veronica was tempted, but managed to shake her head.
"Love to, but we got a murder and blackmailing to solve, my dear. Now, mush. Dad is expecting us in, ah, ten minutes. Oh. Damn. Hurry."
Logan nodded, walking to the shower. He left the bathroom door open intentionally, an invitation if she wanted it. She did, damnit, but they didn't have the time. She'd make it up to both of them later.
Ten minutes later, Logan was showered and dressed. Veronica had barely managed to keep herself out of the shower, but now they were on the way to the parking lot. Logan stood quietly next to her in the elevator, thoughtful. It worried Veronica.
"Um, darling…what are you thinkin' 'bout?" She asked lightly. Logan bobbed his head a few times.
"Ah, you know, just whatever. Duncan." He admitted seeing her look. Veronica raised an eyebrow, inviting an explanation. Logan puffed out his cheeks.
"Just- he's in love with you, right? It's not gone away for him. No matter how you feel," He shrugged slightly, the only outward evidence that he still felt uneasy about her feelings for her ex, "Duncan still believes, somehow, that you two are…still Veronica and Duncan, or whatever. And since he's been back, and it's over a year now, he hasn't moved on."
Veronica opened her mouth to protest, but her mind closed in on Duncan's admission last night. He was cheating on his girlfriend, which was not something the old Duncan would have contemplated. He'd gone out of his way to find a girlfriend who was as physically and mentally different to Veronica possible. Yet, he had cheated on her with a girl who, despite her death being set up like Lilly's, looked strikingly similar to Veronica, the Veronica of the Lilly days.
Logan watched her like a hawk as these thoughts passed through her mind. Knowing Logan, and she did, he was probably reading her thoughts from her face. She smiled at him, reaching for his hand as the elevator pinged open.
They stepped outside, automatically closing the distance between them, flowing smoothly as they moved from hand holding to arms wrapped about each other's waist.
Veronica continued the conversation.
"You're right.' She began, hurrying before he thought up any witty retort to that admission. "He is still clinging to something that died a long time ago, but that doesn't affect us, or the case."
Logan brightened at the 'us' momentarily, before his face darkened enough to concern Veronica.
"That girl might have died because of him, Ronnie. Her parents may have been very important employees- but it would make more sense to cripple the power from the inside-out, wouldn't it? Strike at the centre by hurting those nearest and dearest?"
Veronica fought down an inappropriate smile. There were more than one reason she loved this guy, but now wasn't the time to stroke his ego by telling him how clever he was.
"Exactly. The note may have said they killed that poor girl because it hurt those Jake needs, but if Duncan was sleeping with her, that makes it a whole different ball game. It's hit two of the groups they were targeting."
"People you need, and people you love. Does that mean we can cross the both out?"
Veronica shook her head slowly. "I'm not sure, but I think caution is key here. We can't make assumptions, then have innocent people die." They reached the car, separating to climb into their respective seats. They joined hands once more when they were seated and buckled in, as though the touch was a lifeline. Sitting in the car, racing towards an apartment filled with people under threat, whilst discussing an unsolved murder, perhaps it was.
"Ok, so we'll stick with the theory that the blackmailers have two more people lined up for murder. Is our next move to figure out who they are, or who the blackmailers are?"
Veronica did grin this time, to Logan's confusion.
"You're getting good at this, honey. Almost too good. But, it's a yes to both. Dad will be in charge of one lead, and us the other. Plus, the second letter is coming today. That will give us more clues. Once we know what these people want, it will be easier to determine how desperate they are, and what they're willing to do for it."
"They already killed one girl. I don't think there is much they wouldn't do." Logan said, his tone bleak. Veronica squeezed his hand.
"It's up to us to figure this out before they can do anything. Before they hurt anyone else."
Logan nodded shortly, once, and increased the pressure on her hand. He swallowed a few times before speaking.
"I'm not letting you out of my sight, Veronica. Not til we get these guys. I know, I know you'll hate that, but-" His voice cracked with the fear inside him, "I couldn't live, Ronnie, I couldn't live, with myself if you died, if you got hurt-" He was cut off by her hand over his mouth. Just a single finger curling over his lips to tell him to hush. He glanced at her as he drove, relieved to see a gentle smile.
"I know, Logan, I know. I understand." She said quietly. "I couldn't live without you, either." Logan heard the tears in her voice, but her face was still clear when he glanced at her once more.
"We'll do this together, even if we'll fight and bicker. I wasn't planning on letting you go more than five feet from me, so it works out fine." She made her tone light to belay the underlying fear and seriousness of her words.
Logan stroked her hand with his thumb in small, reassuring circles.
"Well, if that's the only thing we agree on today, I'm happy." He murmured, eyes on the road.
"Me too." Veronica whispered back, but the words they both heard were 'I love you'.
They each had a small list of people they cared for deeply, and the two lists were comprised of mostly the same people- Keith, Wallace. Veronica could add Mac to her list, and Logan had Dick, although truth be told, Logan included Mac on his list for Veronica, and vice-versa.
That, perhaps sadly, was where the lists ended. Neither of them would think to add Duncan, their relationship with the young father just hadn't reached the importance it once had since his return. Logan might consider Trina, but the again they just weren't that close. Veronica wouldn't even think of her mother, not anymore.
On the top of their little lists, however, was each other. Losing anyone from their list would devastate them, but losing each other would destroy them. They had both come from families broken beyond repair, but together they had built a little family of their own. Yes, Keith was apart of that, a important part, but Veronica and Logan had built themselves into a little box that shut out the world that had hurt them so much.
Gradually, they were opening the lid to peek out at all the people who loved them, but it was still their safety net, the place they retreated when the world looked too bleak, too painful. It may have alarmed Veronica when she'd first voiced her concerns to her father that night, but today it was a fact she drew comfort from.
Logan was the person she could turn to, no matter what, and be loved. She wasn't sure when she had passed that torch from her father to Logan, but she had, and there was no looking back.
Every little girl had to move out of Daddy's arms, and Veronica felt little regret that it was Logan she looked to now. If anything, it had improved her relationship with Keith, as it lifted the pressure off Keith to be the one person she trusted, and let them share a normal, loving parent-child relationship.
The car pulled up outside Duncan's building. The couple climbed out, returning to their close embrace once more as they walked inside. Once in the elevator, Veronica pulled Logan's head down to hers, securing him in a gentle, sweet kiss. They remained like that for the entire trip, barely moving their mouths, just revelling in the light sensation.
If Veronica had been less cynical about such things, she might have recognised it as a sort of ritual, a calming rite before charging into battle. Whether she chose to think of it at that, it still distracted both of them enough that they forgot the difference between their apartment and Duncan's- this elevator opened directly into Duncan's suite. They'd paged up to him so those inside could clear them to access the rooms, but forgotten it as they kissed.
So as the doors slid open, the couple were too intent on their kiss to noticed the room full of people waiting for them.
Wallace cleared his throat.
"Hey, hey, rule no.105! No PDA, people." Logan and Veronica jumped apart guiltily, still managing to hold hands. Veronica fought down a blush as she took in the group staring at them. She didn't have to look at Logan to know he was in no way embarrassed. She could practically feel the grin in his eyes.
Wallace was standing with Keith, who smiled in a resigned way and nodded at them. Jake stood near him, holding himself uncomfortably.
Duncan stood to one side, holding Lilly, who was almost two. She squealed as she saw Logan and Veronica, arms waving enthusiastically. Helena stood next to them, eyes red-rimmed, which Veronica took as a sign that Duncan had told her the truth. She barely had time to wonder why Helena was still here, before a cold voice spoke up closer to her. She sighed and turned to face Celeste Kane.
"Well, Veronica. Can you tear yourself from your boyfriend long enough to help my family, or shall we rethink our decision to let you have this job?"
Glad to see the ice-bitch was still the same, Veronica thought.
"I don't know," She smiled sweetly. "Can you stay out of my way long enough to let the only people in this town willing to help your family do their jobs?"
Celeste's eyes narrowed, but her husband spoke up before she could respond.
"Quiet, Celeste. Leave Veronica alone. She hasn't even had a chance to start working yet. Besides," he added with a slight smile and a wry tone, "That seemed to be a fairly typical entrance to a room for these two." Veronica did blush slightly now, as Logan slipped his arm around her middle. He grinned at Jake. Veronica recovered enough to think of response, but Logan beat her to the punch.
"Ah, very quick there, Jake, although be thankful you haven't barged into our apartment yet- the stories I could tell-ooof" Veronica whacked his stomach.
"Stories you could tell, but for some reason won't, will you, honeybuns?"
Logan grinned at her schmop-ily. "Wouldn't dream of it, suparlips."
Wallace made a gagging sound, but he was grinning. He was of course a member of many of the stories Logan referred to- any time anyone had walked in on Logan and Veronica in various stages of undress or the like. Keith pulled a face as he too recalled some moments.
But only Duncan looked truly troubled by his memories.
Jake chuckled, mostly at the banter between the young couple. Celeste looked like someone had offered her some dog shit to eat- but then again, that was how she always looked.
Veronica moved towards her father, switching into business mode now that Logan had successfully relaxed the atmosphere of the room. Logan was still wrapped around her so he came too.
"We came up with two fronts- one, find the blackmailer, two, identify the next victims. I thought Logan and I would cover one, while you took the other?"
Keith nodded at his daughter, smiling, proud. "I want you two on the possible vics. I'll cover the perps, ok?" he eyed her daughter to make sure she understood. He didn't want her endangering herself anymore than she needed too. Veronica pouted, but nodded. She would be more useful locating possible victims, anyway.
"Has the letter arrived yet?" She asked, glancing at Jake, who nodded.
"Same guy, same ice-creamery allegedly sending it." He said, as Keith pulled an envelope from his pocket.
Veronica took it, pulling the pages out. Logan read over her shoulder once more, resting his head next to her neck. Celeste noticed and frowned.
"Why is he reading it? Only people on the case should be-"
"He is on the case." Veronica said coolly, mildly. Celeste glared at them.
"Logan is not a professional. Just because you can't control your bedroom lusts, doesn't mean he gets to trail you around like a puppy."
Veronica calmly handed the pages to Logan. She stared at Celeste levelly.
"Logan has been working with Mars Investigations for a year now. He is my assistant, my partner, whatever. Just because he's my boyfriend too doesn't change the fact that he is very good at his job."
Celeste sneered. "I'm sure he's very good, else you would have tired of someone like him already."
Logan felt more than saw the anger explode in his little girlfriend as she took in the meaning behind Celeste's words. He tightened his grip on her, unsure what she might do. As it turned out, she had a word-lashing planned, nothing physical.
"Don't. Ever. Talk. About him that way." Her voice was flat, empty, but Logan could feel the tremors that ran under her skin.
"Don't think that I won't walk out of here right now, if you refuse to stop baiting me. My father's help you will have, but One. More. Word from you, and Logan and I leave."
"You wouldn't." Duncan protested. Veronica turned flat angry eyes on him.
"One more comment about my relationship with Logan, from anyone, and I will. We will" She asserted, glancing at Logan. She looked back at Celeste, who frowned.
"You would walk away from a murder investigation for him?"
"If I discovered something important, then I would tell my father, but yes, I would walk out the door right now for him."
Celeste looked honestly confused.
"But you're- you. Veronica Mars," and the words were still slightly scathing, "woman who solves all. You don't walk away, from anything. Nothing is too important to you."
Veronica met the woman's cold eyes clearly.
"One thing is." She didn't have to specify. Celeste held her gaze for a minute, then dropped her eyes. Veronica had won, for now.
Jake, Keith and Wallace had watched the exchange with interest.
"You were right, she is like a pit bull about Logan." Jake mentioned to Keith, who nodded.
"That's my girl. Always sticking with what she believes in. It might be instinct to catch the bad guys, but Logan seems to transcend that instinct." Wallace agreed.
"V's always chased down every bad guy she's come across, but the only person who can talk her down mid-chase is Logan. He gets her, you know? Like, she'll be ready to plunge into danger, and Logan will say something, and they can figure out a, ah, safer way to deal with the issue. Of course, sometimes a takes a roaring fight to get either of them to see reason, but no couple's perfect."
Keith chuckled, remembering a few doozies he had witnessed. They fought much as they always had- with passion, fiery words biting where it hurt, but their fights burned quicker these days. Usually they could transfer that fire into energy for the case ahead, or if they were fighting about something non-case related- well, Keith always left quickly, because Veronica and Logan tended to forget anyone else existed during those fights. Who knew what they might accidentally reveal in those moments.
For now, though, they were calmly reading the letter, in full business mode.
It consisted of two sheets of the same page used last time. The first page merely read 'one billion dollars transferred to the account below by Saturday.' It was currently Wednesday. The second page was a copy of the last page of the first letter- people you know. Not a threat, a promise.
Logan was distractedly pressing kisses into Veronica's neck as he mulled over the information in his head. Veronica was silent too, as she processed it all. Keith watched them mentally outlining their plans, and sighed, pleased. He was training them well.
"People you know- we need to cover business associates and personal friends, of all three Kane's." Veronica led off. Logan picked up the thread.
"A list of people important enough to affect them personally. The first death was personal as well as professional, I think that's going to continue with this one."
Veronica nodded, agreeing.
"These people are good. They will have already picked a person, location and time. I'm willing to bet they will strike before the deadline. A sort of 'we're still serious' statement. We'll need police back-up for this, Dad."
"Protection." Logan summarised. Keith nodded.
"Lamb will be, for want of a better word, investigating Natalie Jate's death. If we come forward with information that others are in danger, he'll listen enough to watch anyone we mention. No mentioning of the actual blackmailing, of course."
Logan and Veronica nodded their understanding. Keith turned to the waiting group.
"Ok, I'm spending the day tracking the delivery company that couriered the letters, and the ice-creamery. Veronica and Logan will be at the office. Wallace, you can attend classes as usual, listen out for rumours, you never know what people might be saying. Take to encourage them away from the truth, ok?"
Wallace nodded.
"All the Kane's in this room- stay here. It's the safest place I can think of for now. You have our cell numbers, call if anything odd happens. Helena, you better go with Wallace to class."
The girl looked like she might protest, but a look from Duncan silenced her. Veronica was frowning.
"Actually, Dad, Logan and I will go to Hearst for the morning. I want to interview Natalie's teachers, find out what she was doing before she died. I'm guessing Lamb isn't volunteering that information?"
Keith nodded.
"Ok, but be at the office at 1.00pm, for a regroup."
Veronica and Logan headed to the elevator door. Duncan stepped forward, Lily still in his arms.
"Veronica, I need to talk to you." He said quietly. Veronica looked at him, her expression neutral.
"Sorry, Duncan, but we need to leave now." She and Logan walked into the elevator, Logan strangely quiet. He pressed the button, facing the group of people who stared back at them with a mixture of expressions. As the doors began to slide shut, he suddenly broke into a cheek-splitting grin.
"And now for our departing scene!" He announced, swinging Veronica into his arms, and kissing her soundly as the doors shut. Wallace, Jake and Keith burst out laughing at the look on Veronica's face, while Celeste, Duncan and Helena gaped after them.
"There is a young woman dead, and my family is in danger, and that- that young man treats the situation, like- like-" Celeste spluttered indignantly.
"Like he remembers what it is to live, perhaps?" Keith suggested dryly. Celeste glowered at him.
"A murder investigation and blackmail attempt is no place for jokes and carrying-on." She snapped. Keith rolled his eyes.
"But jokes and carrying-on is very much apart of Veronica and Logan's life, and I'm not going to ask them to stop." Keith replied evenly.
"Come on, Celeste, those kids have seen a lot over the years." Jake said tiredly. "Just- leave it alone, ok?"
His wife sniffed and turned away from him, facing Duncan.
"I, for one, am so happy you never got back together with Veronica. She and Logan deserve each other."
Duncan stared at his mother with glassy eyes. Helena suddenly burst into tears, and ran out of the room. Duncan handed Lilly to Celeste, and took off after her. Wallace looked puzzled.
"What was that?" He asked no one in particular. Keith shook his head.
"Don't worry about it, Wallace." He muttered. Veronica had informed him of Duncan's admission late last night, but he didn't think the information should be shared. If Duncan had unwittingly caused the death of an innocent woman because of his on-going infatuation with Veronica, then he would be suffering enough guilt without the general public giving him their two-cents.
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"Logan!" Veronica spluttered once the doors had shut and her boyfriend had released her. Logan cocked his head, innocence written all over his face. She wagged a finger at him.
"In-a-pro-pri-ate!" She clipped out each syllable. Logan shrugged.
"Still, the look on Celeste's face." That drew a smile from Veronica. Logan pulled her close once more, pressing a light-as-a-feather kiss to her forehead.
"Besides," He murmured into her skin, "I haven't had the chance to touch you today." His voice was low, and made Veronica shiver despite the warmth of his body down the line of hers. She sighed as his hand crept under her shirt, and moved slowly up and down her back, his fingers barely making contact with her skin. She burrowed her face into his chest.
"Not every couple our age has sex everyday." She reminded him, ignoring the longing in her own voice.
"Not every couple our age lives together." He shot back, his voice lower, if that was possible.
"We made love less than 12 hours ago!" She protested weakly.
"We had dinner less than 12 hours ago, and you're hardly going to refuse food today, are you?"
"I don't want dinner right now, it's barely 11am."
"What about lunch?" Something in his tone made her think he wasn't referring to food, per se. Veronica shook her head, trying to clear it of thoughts more suited to darkened bedrooms than fluorescent-lit elevators.
"One day, this will end, right? The constant need to touch each other, like newlyweds? No relationship stays in this honeymoon stage forever." She babbled into his chest. Logan pulled his hand out from her shirt, just as the doors pinged open, and another couple stepped in as they exited into the lobby. He waited til they had cleared the open space, and were walking towards his car before answering.
"I don't know." He said truthfully. "Because, it's not always about the sex, is it? If it were, then we'd be fine, just rooting like bunnies each night."
Veronica laughed at his metaphor, but stopped when she saw the seriousness on his face.
"It's not just about the sex." He repeated, glancing down at their intertwined hands- such an automatic reaction, neither had consciously noticed it. "It's about touching you, feeling the warmth of you, the aliveness of you. We saw too many people die, too young."
His voice was soft, cold from memories of darker days, sadder times. "Maybe we just feel the need to reassure ourselves, to say, 'hey, we're still here, still alive', or something. I dunno, maybe it's just who we are, maybe we'd be the same even if everything else hadn't happened."
Veronica was silent as she took in his words on the drive to the campus. They parked the car, but Veronica drew Logan to her side before they charged off investigating.
"You think we'd have gotten together if Lilly hadn't died, if Duncan hadn't broken up with me?"
She asked quietly. Logan shrugged, a roll of his shoulders that spoke volumes.
"No, yes, maybe. I hope so. Lilly and I weren't forever, I knew that when I left that note in her car. You and Duncan weren't either, for many reasons. I thought you were hot, but loving you? Never on my agenda. Not back then. I don't know if I could have felt this-" He touched her hand to his heart, "for that Veronica."
Veronica nodded, understanding.
"But then again." Logan paused. "You and Duncan weren't going to be forever, so who knows. Lilly and me ending, that was always going to mess with our little circle. Maybe we would have gotten together, once the Kane's were done messing with our heads."
"A sort of banding-together?" Veronica smiled. "The cast-offs clinging together, recreating a lost world?" There was laughter in her voice. Logan matched that with a grin.
"Yeah, something like that. I could see us doing that, the social pariahs of Neptune having a world-wind love affair to end all love affairs. Riding off into the sunset, happily ever-after and all that."
Veronica giggled. "Sounds romantic. I suppose you'd have a white steed?"
Logan shook his head, his grin spreading.
"No way, baby. A black one- that's what all the girls like these days."
Veronica raised an eyebrow, a smirk twitching at her lips.
"Oh? When did you become an expert on what the girls like 'these days'?"
Logan smirked, tracing one finger down her face.
"Wallace keeps me informed. In case I ever want to be a 'playa' again. His words, not mine."
Veronica rolled her eyes.
"That BFF of mine is a bad influence on you. Which doesn't even begin to make sense." She frowned.
"Don't worry about it, sugarpuss. I'm not interested, anyway. I don't think I'll ever need that sort of information."
"No? You won't?"
"Nope. Not planning on ever leaving you, so no." That made Veronica smile.
"Lets go catch some bad guys. Then we get to go back to lying in bed holding hands, and spending all day on the couch, watching each other."
Logan smiled softly, then glanced about comically.
"Hey, hey, hey, keep that shit quiet. Can't have the guys know I'm really a girl at heart."
"Don't worry about hiding it, dude. We, like, totally know you're whipped." Logan winced, but the gleam of laughter didn't really leave his eyes as he turned to face Dick.
"Hey, man. What are you doing?"
Dick gestured hysterically behind him. "Like, going to college? Duh. What are you doing? You don't have classes now."
Veronica frowned. "Neither do you. What are you up to?"
Dick looked defensive. "Hey, blonde one, I, like, live on campus, you know? I totally belong here." Logan coughed, disguising a laugh at the thought of Dick 'belonging' in college. Dick didn't notice, although Veronica's amused glance made him want to laugh again.
His girlfriend turned away from him suddenly, a familiar glint in her eyes.
"This isn't your end of campus. In fact, it's nowhere near your dorm." Dick had the grace to blush, as Veronica clicked.
"You were visiting Mac!" She crowed, glancing at the building next to them, which happened to hold Mac's dorm.
"So," She prodded. "Spill. What's happening?"
"Ah, nothing, dude. Dudette. We were just, like, um, talking or whatever." He muttered, going bright red. Logan smirked.
"Don't worry about hiding it, dude." He mimicked. "We, like, totally know you're whipped." Veronica suppressed a giggle.
"Dick, you and Mac have had this- thing, for months now. I'm glad you're both finally admitting it."
Dick visibly brightened.
"Yeah, ah, sure, dude- Veronica, I mean. So, I, like- have to go now, so you two have fun- or sex, or whatever."
He waved vaguely and walked away. Veronica shook her head.
"Glad to see someone's acting normal.' She muttered, taking Logan's hand. They smiled at each other, walking towards the nearest building- containing not only Mac's dorm room, but two of Natalie Jate's closest friends.
They had taken no more than five steps when a blur of movement slammed into Veronica face-on. Only Logan's hand, and quick reflex's as he grabbed her kept Veronica from hitting the ground. The blur picked herself up from the ground, grinning shamed-facedly at Veronica, who grinned back.
"Sorry, V. I was in a hurry." Mac said, dusting herself off. Veronica laughed.
"Duh. Running after Dick, were you?"
Mac went to protest, then stopped, shrugging.
"Yeah, ok. He asked me out."
Logan grinned, and clapped his hands excitedly, jumping once.
"Oh, yay! So, like, are we going on double-dates now? To the movies first, or the carnival?" He asked in a high-pitched squeal. Veronica rolled her eyes, struggling not to laugh at her boyfriends antics.
"Ignore him, I don't like taking him out in public anyway. But, later- we talk. Ok?"
Mac nodded.
"Aye, aye, Captain. Bye, Logan." She said to the young man, who curled his fingers girlishly at her.
"What?' He asked, in response to his girlfriend's look. "What?"
She said nothing, just grabbed his shirt and pulled him close, gazing at him for a moment, then releasing him abruptly. Logan looked confused.
"Was that your new version of telling me to grow up? Cause, I have to say, Ronnie- it ain't the best you got."
Veronica shook her head, a smile slipping onto her face.
"No, I was just reminding myself how much I love you."
Logan frowned, then shrugged philosophically. "Okie-dokie. Can't argue with that, I suppose. Of course, I don't understand, but hey."
They linked hands once more, moving inside to tackle the first of the interviews.
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Logan and Veronica hurried into Mars Investigations, almost toppling through the door in their haste. Keith looked up from his spot at Veronica's desk, eyebrows high.
"You two couldn't, I don't know, ever consider just walking into a room, could you? You know, just for a change?"
Veronica mock-glared at him. "But, Dad, we have a reputation to uphold here!"
"Yeah," Logan joined in, "if we don't have our dramatic entrances, then what do we have?" He sighed, shaking his head sadly.
"What legacy would we leave for the children? Those future generations who will rely on stories of our inability to walk through a doorway." He continued mournfully. Veronica played along, putting a hand over his wrist, an expression of sorrow on her face. Keith struggled not to laugh, then gave in.
"Alright, uphold that tradition. Now, what information did you gather?"
Veronica pulled out her notes.
"Natalie was killed early in the morning, probably five hours before she was found. The courtyard she was in had been blocked off because of a water leak until minutes before Logan and I walked out, which is why it took so long for her to be found. All her friends say she had been out at a party the night before. No one remembers her leaving with anyone, but I can say that she did nothing out of the ordinary, so I have no leads on the way the perps are going to get the next victim."
She looked depressed, as did Logan. They were taking this hard, despite the banter and constant joking, which were in reality just a means to coping. Keith sighed, angry and upset that these two were being dragged into this hell once more.
He'd have done anything to get them out, but underneath the depression on their faces was a steel that told him they would not rest til they had solved this terrible mystery.
He spread his hands across the desk.
"Ok, guys, good job anyway. Go home, take the rest of the day off."
Veronica shook her head furiously.
"Take the rest of the day off? Dad, these psycho's are going to kill two more people before Saturday! We have to catch them, we have to search every lead now, we have to save-"
"Save the world, honey? That's what you want to do, I get that, but the only thing left to do today is check out the people who own the ice-creamery, and I don't need you to do that. Go home, Veronica. Tomorrow, you can work out who you think the next victims will be, and we will arrange protection."
Strangely, Veronica didn't argue anymore. She stood, taking Logan's hand as he too stood.
"Tomorrow, then, Dad." Was all she said. Logan shrugged at Keith, just as baffled. The couple left silently, walking quickly to the car. Logan glanced at his petite girlfriend.
"So, this is where we go charging into investigation-mode, and get the bad guys by ourselves, right?" He queried. Veronica shook her head. Logan frowned.
"You're not going anywhere by yourself, Veronica. We made a promise." Veronica stroked his hand reassuringly.
"Nope, not going anywhere by myself."
Logan sighed with frustration.
"Then what are we doing? Veronica Mars does not just sit back like this and let anyone tell her what to do."
Logan was caught between mild anger and confusion.
"Logan, sweetie, relax. I'm not going to do anything stupid." The look on his face said he didn't believe her.
"Really! I'm not!' She insisted, a smile growing on her face. Logan responded with one of his own, unable to stay mad when she looked at him like that.
"So what are we doing till tomorrow, then?" He asked, swinging her closer playfully. Veronica stretched up and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Oh, I dunno what you're going to do, but my boyfriend? Has totally been nagging me for sex all day. So, I thought I'd give in, and spend the next twelve hours in the bathtub at our home."
Logan's grin spread as they reached the car. He pulled Veronica against him, leaning into the front door.
"Sounds like a lucky man, this boyfriend of yours. Is he really good enough to last twelve hours with you?"
Veronica smirked, circling his neck with her arms.
"Oh, he's amazing. We've been together so long, he knows exactly what I like. There's only one thing that disappoints me."
Logan raised his eyebrows, slightly alarmed.
"Oh? What's that?"
"The memory I have of a summer long ago. I broke up with him, when I could have been sleeping with him. I must have been a complete idiot to do that."
Logan smiled at her.
"I'm sure he deserved it. And you got back together, right? Everything's fine now."
"More than fine. Perfect. Wonderful. Exactly how it should be. How it's always going to be."
Logan had to swallow a few times to speak past the lump in his throat.
"Forever, huh? Sounds like a commitment."
"We'd been getting married if he would get around to proposing." Veronica stared at him, her gaze steady and unafraid. Logan was desperately trying to maintain his position in the guy's club by not crying then and there.
"Maybe he was worried you'd say no. Veronica Mars is a very independent woman." He whispered.
"Not without him. I love him." Veronica whispered back, tears of her own gathering in her eyes.
"Maybe he thought you were too young. And maybe your father took him aside one weekend and told him not til you were both at least 21."
"My father said what to you?" Veronica said indignantly, whipping her head around to glare at the building they had just exited. Logan turned her back to face him.
"Hey, you ruined the game!" He joked. Veronica gave him a look.
"This isn't a game, my love. This is real."
"I know. And I do want to marry you, I'd do it right now if I could. This very second." He stated. Veronica beamed, feeling slightly giddy.
"But Keith made me promise. He wants us to wait, and I understand. We both turn twenty-one next year anyway."
Veronica nodded.
"Then will you propose to me?"
Logan couldn't stop the tears now.
"Yes." He whispered. "I already brought the ring."
Veronica gaped at him.
"When?"
"Two months ago. When I was visiting Trina that time. I walked past a shop and saw it. I just walked in and brought it, without thinking. It, I dunno, just seemed right. I was going to wait til your birthday to show you."
Almost before he had finished speaking, Veronica's lips had found his, in a heated kiss that grew until Logan was fairly certain they were breaking all sorts of public decency laws. Not that he minded.
Eventually, the need for oxygen forced them apart, if only by inches. Veronica breathed heavily, fighting to form words.
"Let's, um, let's" She tried again, "Let's go home."
Logan nodded his agreement, then frowned suddenly.
"You get in the car, Ronnie, I left my wallet in the office. I'll be right back." He kissed her hard, handed her the keys, and bolted back inside.
Keith looked up in surprise.
"Logan? Is something wrong?" He asked the nervous-looking young man. Logan ran a hand through his hair.
"Before you kill me, it wasn't my fault, exactly." He blurted out. Keith raised his eyebrows, and put his pen down.
"I see. Do you mind explaining what isn't your fault?"
Logan ran his hand through his hair again. "Well, she started the conversation. And you have to know how hard it is to lie to her. And she brought it up out of nowhere. Because I had the ring, and I wasn't going to tell her, but it sort of slipped out when she told me to propose to her. Only I didn't mean to mention anything but she looked so happy, and she said she loved me, and wanted to be together forever, and no one's ever said that to me, so I just said it, and now I have to propose, but you're going to kill me first."
Logan looked ready to continue babbling, but Keith put his hand up, silencing him. Keith stood up, moving over to stand in front of the decidedly-pale Logan.
"Ok. What I've been able to determine from that…statement…is that Veronica brought up marriage, and you told her about the ring, and now she's expecting a proposal soon, but you believe I'm going to shoot you for not waiting til the agreed age. Right?"
Logan nodded furiously, looking at the ground. Keith chuckled, putting a hand on Logan's shoulder.
"Logan, son. I'm not going to shoot you."
Logan looked up, eyes wide.
"But…you're Keith Mars…and Veronica's your daughter…and I'm Logan."
Keith struggled not to laugh at him.
"Yes, Logan, all of that is true. But I'm still not going to shoot you. Veronica loves you, for better or worse, and you love her."
Logan nodded his agreement so fast Keith was sure his head would come off.
"So, I'm not going to shoot you. I'm going to let you propose, and get married after your birthdays."
Logan's expression was a mixture of relief and surprise.
"Th-thank you. Thank you. Thank you." He stuttered.
Keith smiled, and put his other hand on Logan's other shoulder.
"You're family, Logan. We don't shoot family."
Logan looked down, unable to handle the emotion he felt at Keith's words.
"I, uh, better get back to Veronica. She'll be getting impatient."
Keith smiled.
"Yes. Not to mention the perfect proposal she'll be waiting for."
Logan looked alarmed, realising what he had gotten himself into.
"On second thoughts, I think we can wait. She won't mind. We'll wait. I mean, we live together. We sleep together. We don't need to get married soon." He was panicking.
Keith shook his head at Logan's over-sharing.
"Logan, you could toss the ring at her, and she'd still say yes. I'm not saying do that, because she'd also hurt you, but don't panic about this. Just wait for the perfect moment."
Logan nodded, his whole body radiating nervous energy.
"Ok. Ok. See you, Keith. Perfect moment, waiting for perfect moment." He muttered, walking out.
Keith shook his head.
"Can't wait for his reception speech." He laughed out loud.
Veronica was frowning when Logan reached the car.
"What, did you throw your wallet behind the filing cabinets, and had to move all of them to retrieve it?" She asked, a little put out.
Logan grinned, and kissed her nose.
"Nope, just half of them"
Veronica pouted, unable to stay mad. "Take me home."
"Your wish is my command, oh lover mine." Logan declared, starting the engine.
"Oh, and Veronica?" She turned to face him. "Don't bother tearing our home apart looking for the ring. I've hidden it somewhere else."
Veronica spluttered her innocence, to which Logan laughed.
"I know you, Ronnie. You couldn't resist looking for it, now that you know. So it's lucky I hid it somewhere safe."
"You know, that shows a disturbing lack of faith in me, future-fiancé of mine." She muttered darkly.
"No, just a good understanding of you, future wife-to-be."
"I'll still find it."
"No, you won't."
"Yes, I will."
"No, you really won't."
"I will."
"You won't."
"I will!"
"Nope."
"Just drive already."
"See, I win. You won't."
"And you won't be getting sex if you don't shut up."
"You only make that threat when you know you've lost."
"I hate you."
"I love you."