A/N – Just a bit of pwp to see if I can write anything that isn't work related these days. The characters you know and love aren't mine – but you knew that.

Chapter 12

He was getting married today.

Veronica rolled over again, and woke to find her face being licked. She frowned as much from the dog intent on cleaning her skin as from the lack of Logan. Focusing on the clock, it was 7:00AM. There was a rose in a small vase and a note propped against it. She pushed her dog off her, and sat up, reaching for the note. Even in her waking state, she appreciated the feel of the heavy card stock in her fingers, and the strong masculine pen strokes across its surface.

Good morning Bobcat, in case I am not there when you wake up, I ran out for a few necessities. Chet has been taken care of. Make sure you are dressed when you come outside, and I will have breakfast ready for you soon.

Love, Logan

Veronica smiled. She could get use to breakfast service again, though she wasn't so sure what was with his warning to be dressed. Stretching, she decided a quick shower would be in order. She entered the master bath, and brushed her teeth as the water warmed up for the shower. Her grin deepened as she noticed an additional My Little Pony toothbrush in the holder.

Logan had been busy already this morning. He had checked several things off his lists, thankful for the power of a Black AmEx, an Ombudsman who was a true romantic, and his own complete lack of shame when it came to calling in favors at obscene hours of the morning. After that, he went to work in Veronica's kitchen. He was unsurprised to find it well stocked with baking materials, and take out containers, but containing little in the way of staples. Chet had wandered in and taken a deep drink from her bowl in the kitchen and laid down to watch him bang around. He grabbed her leash and took her to the green designated dog space just past the parking lot, keeping Veronica's front door in sight at all times. Smiling, he plucked a rose from the bush by her door before walking back inside.

After that he found Veronica's new set of keys, made sure Chet had settled back down in the bedroom, placed the rose and a note where Veronica would be sure to see them, and he went to the store. Last night he had saw a Vons on his way into his neighborhood and he retraced his drive. From the time he had gotten into his car, he had been on his phone constantly. As Logan pulled into the grocery store parking lot, he felt his stomach cramp. What if I am doing the wrong thing? I want this so much, but what I want, and what Veronica want might be two different things. We will have to find some time to talk today. I don't want to make her regret anything, but I don't want to lose any more time. Logan shook off the unease, and went into the store.

He went down the aisles, picked up ingredients for breakfast and a few other meal staples. He tossed in a bag of dog food, and a bouquet of pink and white lilies. Logan couldn't help but think back to the days of the pink Veronica, all sweetness and soft curves, and their Lilly, all wildness, living with the reckless abandon of a youth too unrestrained. He liked to think that Lilly always would have approved of them being together. That he brought out the red satin in Veronica, and that Veronica calmed his insecurity. This time Lilly, this time, I am not going to mess it up.

Pulling back into the parking lot at Veronica's condo, he saw the door to a dark F-150 open. Step and M.B. got out and walked towards his yellow jeep. "Yo, Bard, you wake us up this early, you better have coffee." Step's baritone carried across the lot, his eyes were bloodshot, and he clearly hadn't shaved yet this morning.

"Dude, I can't thank you enough for showing up. Tell Katie I owe her one." Logan reached back in the jeep and pulled out the coffee carrier from Starbucks, he handed paper cups to Step and M.B.

"Oh, the make-up didn't go so well last night, so I actually owe you one for getting me out of there. Katie decided that we were ready to take the "next step" as she described it, and made me look at houses online all night. I wouldn't be surprised if I was still there this morning, that we would be closing escrow tonight."

M.B. contented himself with a grunt of satisfaction as he took a long swallow of his coffee and fell into step behind Bard and Step. Logan, let the two men into the condo, as he gave a bit more explanation as to why he had dragged them there.

Veronica was just tugging her t-shirt over her head, when she caught a delicious whiff. She burst out of the bedroom, "Bacon!"

Logan's smile grew large, "and there is my girl!" He had just finished putting plates out on the kitchen bar, and two large sets of shoulders turned around and stared at Veronica in frank appreciation.

Veronica raised her eyebrows at the three men. "Considering there is bacon, I am going to skip the questions about why my kitchen is crammed with particularly large male specimens. There is bacon, right"

Logan slid some onto her plate, "and pancakes, eggs, and coffee. There is a lot to take care of today."

Veronica snagged a piece of bacon off of Logan's plate. "I am sure you are going to explain to me what that all is."

Logan tried to grab a piece of bacon off Veronica's plate to replace his pilfered pork, but was deflected by a well-placed fork. He grinned. "Well, I seem to remember you made me three promises yesterday, and I intend on holding you to them all. Also, you have a roommate that you need to rid yourself of. So, I being a man of action, have made an action plan, and enlisted reinforcements. Veronica, this is Step and M.B."

Veronica smiled, then pursed her lips, "Call signs?"

Step grinned, "Yes ma'am, you'll have to forgive Bard here, I am not sure he actually knows our real names. Captain Benjamin Barrett, call sign Step." At this he ran a hand through his short hair, "Short for Red Headed Step Child."

M.B. felt their eyes on him, so he spoke, "First Lieutenant, Jeff Pepper, call sign M.B." He went back to his coffee.

Step laughed, "M.B. gets a little shy around ladies. His real call sign is Milton Berle."

Veronica's eyes inadvertently flicked downward, and then awkwardly back up to M.B.'s face. M.B. flushed, "You are such a dick Step."

Step dissolved into full laughter at this point, "Uhm, still talking about you buddy."

Veronica took pity on the blushing man, and focused on Logan, "Bard?"

"Short for Shakespeare, when I was in flight school, I may have had a flair for the dramatic."

At that Veronica laughed, "May…" She looked at the two strangers, and the one man that she knew better than any other, and was surprised at how contented she felt, how easy this was, and how unlike anything she could have imagined. Logan looked at Veronica, and felt much of the same.