Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate the feedback. Many readers have mentioned that they would like to know more of what Logan is thinking and feeling. I have been trying to add more of that aspect but I have to admit that I'm having trouble writing Logan. I love him as a character, but I'm having trouble! Also, I apologize if the story is moving slowly – I'll try to move it along quicker.

Also, about the dinner scene in the last chapter – the more I thought about it and the more I read the opinions of my loyal readers, the more I realized it was probably too much of a stretch. Thanks again for your comments – please keep them coming!

Chapter 11 -- The Master Key

Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Mornings at the Echolls household had never been so hectic. Emma and Lynnie needed to be ready for school – Andrew and McKenzie dressed and fed – Henry walked, and Veronica needed to be out the door to meet her father at the sheriff's office. Chloe was a saving grace after only two days – she had Lilly dressed and at the breakfast table by the time Veronica and the kids were there. Logan joined them and they ate before Logan took the two oldest kids to school and Maggie took the boys to their playgroup.

Veronica put on her jewelry while listening to Chloe explain what she had planned for the day. The young woman was ambitious and understood Logan and Veronica's wishes when it came to Lilly – she was to be engaged and encouraged. After Chloe explained her plans for the day, Veronica had to help her cross a few things off the list and remind the girl that Lilly tired easily. They would head for the park with Henry and then return to the house for lunch. Lilly had an appointment with Olivia, her psychiatrist, at 2pm and then Chloe planned to take her out again but Veronica mentioned that she was usually tired in the evening. Once Veronica knew where Lilly would be all day, she kissed her friend's cheek, promised to see her soon, and headed out the door.

The drive from home to Mars Investigations was one Veronica felt she could make in her sleep. However, in deference to Logan's wishes – she always used the hands-free option while she drove.

"Hey, babe," Logan said, answering almost immediately.

"Hey," she returned, "we didn't have a chance to talk this morning."

"What's on your mind?"

"Remember when we were married?"

"Quite fondly," he answered. "You were in that angelic white number with that blue ribbon thing—"

"Seriously – remember when you agreed to counseling?"

"I don't think I'd remember that," Logan said, "what are you trying to tell me?"

"I want to go see a counselor. Now. Today if possible."

"Veronica, we're going to be fine—"

"I know," she answered. "But I really need to do this. We need help and I think it's time we looked for it. We both pretend we know what we're doing – but we don't!"

"If it's important to you, I'll be there – text me the time and place – I'll see you soon."

"I love you," she said softly, parking her car in front of the office.

"Me you," he responded. "Be safe today." After hanging up with Logan, Veronica dialed the number for the marriage counselor her dad always suggested for clients who wanted to reconcile with their cheating spouses; if Keith thought she was good, that was enough for Veronica. She was happy to find they had an opening that day and texted Logan the information before heading into the office. Their marriage had been much smoother than their dating relationship. Once Logan possessed the reassurance that she wasn't going anywhere, he stopped doing some of the immature things they had once fought over. Once her life was tied to his, Veronica stopped putting herself in danger so often. It still happened, but with much less frequency.

She finished up her last batch of phone calls and inquiries just before lunch so she arrived at the therapists office a few minutes early. Logan was there already, waiting patiently while flipping through a magazine. "Hey," he said, smiling up at her.

"Hey," she answered, dropping down next to him and kissing him. "Do you think our lives will ever be uncomplicated?"

"Veronica, love – I don't think you could handle uncomplicated," he teased. They sat together, her hand resting in his, until the door opened and a woman came out, introducing herself as Dr. Caroline Mira and asking them to come in. She was an older woman – in her mid to late fifties – wearing a beautiful pants suit in deep purple and her silvery blond hair pulled back into a neat twist.

Veronica had explained a bit on the phone but Dr. Mira – she asked them to call her Caroline – requested that they tell her a bit about themselves. Logan went first, his nerves wracked – he knew he had to speak or he would be crawling out of his skin. He had seen therapists before and never successfully; but he was determined to give it a try if it was what Veronica wanted.

"We've been married for 11 years," Logan started. "We have four kids. I run a real estate company with my best friend and Veronica is a private investigator – a very talented one, in fact. We first met in middle school and were friends in high school when Veronica's best friend Lilly was also my first serious girlfriend." He took a deep breath, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how much information to share. If they got into too much detail, this woman might consider them certifiable.

Veronica took over and explained about Lilly's supposed murder and her exile from the 09ers. Logan interrupted and admitted to treating her badly. "She reminded me of Lilly," he admitted. "They spent so much time together – after Lilly died, I couldn't face Veronica because it made me think of Lilly. And I knew how much pain Veronica was in – I couldn't deal with anyone's pain but my own. It was selfish."

"You were fifteen," Caroline reminded him gently. "Selfish was part of your job description. It sounds as though you two have been through a lot together. In life, in relationships, it's okay to make mistakes – it's how we handle them that defines who we are. I think you're making a wise and responsible choice to come together and work through your differences – it sounds as though you have a lot to fight for."

"Oh, we haven't even gotten to the problem," Veronica said, shaking her head. "We don't really have differences, really—"

"Not differences," Logan agreed. "It's really a more specific problem. Lilly's not dead. Somehow, her family used the attack – My dad is the one who was tried for her murder, by the way – her family used the attack to take her out of the country and hide her away. She's been drugged and mute and practically an invalid for the past 15 years."

"We found her and brought her into our home," Veronica continued. "She's been with us for a little over a week."

"That must have been a difficult decision—"

"Not at all," Logan argued.

"No," Veronica said, at the same time. She continued. "There was no alternative. We both love Lilly unconditionally. She needs help – and attention – and it doesn't matter," she said firmly. "We are her family now. We love her and it was never a question whether or not we would be the ones to care for her."

"That is a lot of responsibility to take on, regardless of how you feel for a person."

"We wouldn't have it any other way," Logan replied. They spent the remainder of their hour talking about Lilly, her problems, and the kids. Although they hadn't touched on the subject Veronica had been fretting over, she still felt better when they left the office, having scheduled another appointment for the following week.

"I need to do something," Logan said, mulling over his sandwich.

"Like what?" Veronica asked, pausing her fork in midair to turn her attention to him.

"Those people – they promise to take care of people – look what they did – or at least let happen – to Lilly. Someone should pay."

Veronica shook her head. "Lilly needs us – and you being in a Mexican jail is not going to help matters. Once she's talking, we'll see what we can do about bringing a case against the home. Right now, we need to concentrate on Lilly."

"How can you be happy letting them get away with what they did?"

"You're the one who taught me that revenge isn't everything," Veronica reminded him. "It's not more important than our family – or our marriage. Please let it go – at least for now." Their eyes locked momentarily but Logan remained silent. He knew his options were few; they had promised one another long ago that vengeance and impulsiveness were bad habits they needed to break; their future together depended on it.

That afternoon, Cliff called and told her he wanted to speak with her and Logan about the legalities of their situation. "V, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Cliff said, sitting down across from Logan and Veronica. Lilly was sitting nearby, pretending not to pay attention. Logan had brought her to the office, not wanting the children to overhear whatever Cliff had to tell them. Keith stood in the doorway, ready to lend his opinion. "You and Logan have no legal right to be providing care for Miss Kane. The good news," he continued, "is that the Kane family also forfeited those rights."

"How?" Logan asked.

"There is no registration paperwork from the home in Mexico but Keith traced the accounts that were paying for room and board – they came from the Kane estate. It means they knew where she was and they abandoned her. If the court would find her unable to care for herself, the state of California would be charged with her care."

"What does that mean?" Logan prodded, wishing he would get to the point.

"It means that you have no right to claim Lilly if her family comes looking for her – but their case would also be weak."

"What can we do?" Veronica asked.

"The best case would be for her to get to the point where a judge would consider her competent for herself – then she can choose to live wherever and with whomever she so pleases."

"I'm afraid I have bad news of my own," Keith said, "I might as well pile it on while we have this paltry atmosphere – I have been watching for news of Jake. He's been seen in the country."

"What does that matter?" Logan asked, his voice defiant.

"Jake Kane hasn't been seen in the US since Celeste died," Veronica said, her voice hollow. She reached out a hand and took Lilly's, squeezing it reassuringly.

They were worried about Jake – none of them wanted to battle the Kane family again. They had no energy left and they only wanted what was best for Lilly. Cliff promised to keep digging into the law, trying to find ways to keep Lilly with Veronica and Logan even if she wasn't considered competent. Keith would keep watching Jake's movements and digging through files, trying to find out why they had dumped their only daughter in a dirty, dangerous home. Veronica and Logan left together, taking Lilly home where they shared dinner with the four Echolls children.