The seatbelt lights turn off with a ding and Logan pulls me closer to him, trying to comfort my fretting nerves. I've never been a big fan of flights. There's just something about being up 30,000 feet in the sky that seems plumb unnatural. There are some butterflies in my stomach that I just can't stifle. I don't know if it's from my fright of airplanes or the fact that Logan's got me tight in his arms. I'd like to hope it's the latter.

There's a movie on the screen and Logan's watching it. Noticing my tired eyes, he gently tells me to get some sleep, it'd be easier that way. I can't sleep when I'm that nervous. Instead of sleeping, I lean into him, taking in the synchronicity of our beating hearts as he rubs lazy circles on my side.

The neon sign outside of Brooklyn Dan's is burning out. I can see it as it flickers and Logan and I are waiting hand in hand across the street in apprehension. I went to visit Jackie last summer and we'd gabbed for thirty minutes straight before her mom hassled her to get back to work.

"Let's do this." I murmur and lead him across the street. We stride in and take two barstools at the counter. Jackie is checking out her last customer at the cash register with a cheesy smile. All the while, she's flipping him off from behind and under the counter.

The place is clear, which might be a good thing.

"Oh my God!" She squeals and leads us over to a booth. We all sit down.

I look around and shrug. "You're not gonna get into trouble this time?"

"I'm closing. I can stay here as long as I want." She says and seems effortlessly cool. I've always envied that about her.

We chat for a while and then we get to the tough stuff.

"How's Wallace?"

How should I answer that exactly, Jackie? Tell you he's broken, that he hasn't had a serious relationship since you left him for Paris? No, I'll let Wallace keep his dignity.

"He's good." Keeping it simple and noncommittal is the best option.

"Oh." She remarks guiltily. Suddenly she looks me in the eye. "That bad?" I give a curt nod and she segues to another topic. "I've been saving up. Gonna visit Neptune soon. I haven't even talked to my dad since before Graduation." She shakes her head in a quiet frustration and my heart pains slightly for her.

I glance over at Logan and he's biting his lip as if he's trying to say something, but can't get up the courage. I give him a curious look and he simply shakes his head.

There's a knock on the door and Jackie nods the shivering man in. He's dressed in a navy wool coat and jeans with a white fleece scarf. He sits down at our booth and we all look at him quizzically. "Hey, guys."

With a simple sentence, everything makes sense. "Damn. In the flesh." Jackie says in a low whisper. A different flesh, it seems. Duncan is no longer himself. He's tan and lean with slightly bleached hair and black-framed glasses. He's lost weight, I'm not sure if its from his year on the run or from his diet. He still has that childlike glimmer in his eyes. I offer up a genuine smile.

"DK." Logan and Duncan high five. Jackie simply shakes her head in surprise.

"Where's Lilly?" I ask, furrowing my brow.

"It was tough enough getting me here." He scoffs and then notes, "She's back home staying with my girlfriend Clara."

"Dude, what's the deal with the glasses? You look all artsy." Logan frowns.

"They helped my disguise, I usually wear contacts now, and you'd never expect this, but I am sort of artsy." We all look at him in shock. "I write, finger paint with Lilly, and whittle on occasion." He gives us all a crooked grin.

"You sure we can handle this?" I whisper to Logan while Duncan's in the bathroom.

"What? Sharing a hotel room with him?" Logan asks briskly.

"…with two beds. I assumed it'd be us in one and him in another. Doesn't that strike you as slightly awkward?" I frown.

"You scared he's maybe still holding a candle for you?" He teases me and gently strokes my cheek.

I roll my eyes. "Fine, whatever. Be a jackass." I cross my arms and give him a dirty look. It's not as if I expect Duncan to go all moony for me, but we were definitely still all hot and heavy when he left, and I'm not quite sure where it ended exactly. I'm in love with Logan fully and completely faithful, but it's still an odd situation. At least Duncan's got some Australian girl waiting on him.

Duncan comes out and says "Y'all ready?"

"You know it." I say cheerfully.

There's a hollow knock on the suite door and I open my eyes in an instant. Who is it? Did the FBI find out about Duncan? A million scenarios are running through my head and I'm sweating terribly. I sit straight up in bed and Logan groans.

"Someone's at the door." I say in a husky whisper.

He's immediately alert. "I'll get it." He stretches and leaves to get the door.

"Duncan…" I whisper harshly and shake his shoulder. "Wake up."

Meanwhile, I hear a deep throaty voice. Clarence Wiedman. "Mr. Echolls…" False alarm. I enter the front room in my pajamas and yawn. "Ah, of course, Ms. Mars. I should have known."

"Wiedman." At this recognition, Logan ushers him in and closes the door, locking it securely.

"I know Duncan's here. He and I have some business to go over." His voice is serious and monotone, like usual.

Soon, Logan and I are waiting in the front room while Duncan and Wiedman are discussing something very serious in the bedroom. We're watching television.

"Rocky and Bullwinkle." I say with a slight squeal and lean into him.

"Whatsamatta U?" He jokes with a bright smile and I kiss his cheek lightly. Suddenly, Wiedman exits the bedroom.

"I'll go over the details with you later, Mr. Kane."

Duncan gives him a slight nod from the doorway, and his expression is somber.

"Dude, what the hell?" Logan asks bluntly as Clarence leaves. Duncan collapses on the couch nearest to us and rubs his forehead in frustration.

"I'm coming home." He says quietly, his expression never brightening.

"Shouldn't that be something you're actually excited about?" I ask anxiously.

"Not under the circumstances. No." He glares at me.

"Duncan, what happened?" I ask and Logan simply watches as we interact.

"The Mannings put Grace in the hospital. Lizzie turned them in for child abuse."

"How bad-?" My voice is quivering. I've always wished we could've helped Grace more. But, without a conviction from Lamb, we'd gotten nowhere.

"She's in a coma." He says with finality and shakes his head. "Somehow, your dad got all my charges dropped."

"But the FBI took it up. How-?" I shake my head in confusion, wracking my brain. "Why do I even ask myself these things? He's a miracle worker."

After a near week of museum tours, shopping (me haggling down in Chinatown for handbag…not a pretty sight), and multiple visits to local hot spots, we've decided we've had our fill of New York, at least for the time being. Duncan's taking a flight back to Australia to get everything squared away and he intends on being back by mid-January with Lilly, the younger, and Clara in tow. As for Logan and I, we're lazily waiting at our gate for departure. I listen to the CNN anchor drone on about politics as Logan does a word search.

"Hey, gang." Someone sits down across from us. Jackie.

"You're on this flight?" My throat closes up nervously.

"I told you I was saving up." She smiles.

"You, uh, haven't told Wallace about this development, have you?" I ask apprehensively and she shakes her head defiantly in response. "Rock, meet hard place." I snap my finger in frustration.

"I'm not trying to put you in an awkward position, Veronica." She says simply and honestly.

"I know." I reply with a weak smile.

Logan's still circling his words on the word search, pretending he's missed our somewhat heart to heart.

While Logan and I relaxed in first class (thank you, Dad), Jackie attempted to overcome the time change in coach.

Once we all arrive back in California, we wait at baggage claim.

"I think I'll go to the party tonight." Jackie muses. She'd been around when I'd taken audience to Wallace's party plans this past week and she'd even had to stifle her giggles at my glaring annoyance.

"Jackie…" I trail off in warning.

Logan simply shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair. He's been quiet for a while now.

Jackie gives me a firm look.

"Fine." I reply.

We all drive back extremely awkwardly to Neptune and finally let Jackie off at her father's. She's going to meet us at the apartment a little later.

As soon as we're on the main road I turn down the radio. "What's been up with you?"

"Oh you know, came back from this awesome trip-" He adopts a surfer voice and I interrupt him.

"No. Every time Jackie's around you get this weird faraway look, like you're guilty or something…" I cross my arms uncomfortably. "Was there more to you two than a drunken dance at Homecoming?" I'd like to hope there wasn't, but one can never be too sure.

"God, Veronica. How can you even ask me that?" He starts to speed, I assume to take out his frustration. "After all we've been through, you still don't trust me…"

"Stop it, Logan!" I yell. "Of course I do. It's just a simple question. Pull over." His jaw sets and he reluctantly skids as he pulls over. "Now, seriously. Tell me."

"Jackie and I never ever had anything going. She danced with me that night. And let me also mention, that she was pretty wrecked on something…"

"Okay." I pause "That still doesn't answer my question as to why you've been so broody."

He takes a deep intake of breath and finally replies. "Terrence is a doorman at a casino now…and it's not even a good one. I doubt Jackie even knows, considering her sunny disposition." He runs his hand through his hair again and I sink in my seat.

"Lobo." I say finally and he nods. "Did you-?"

"Fake I.D. Again…part of my last bout of teenage rebellion. A little gambling. Nothing major. I didn't dip into my trust fund or anything." He pulls away from the curb as our conversation becomes mellower.

"Thank God for that." I grumble.

We finally end up at the apartments and he lets me out. I kiss him quickly on the cheek and we discuss our plans for later. As I enter the apartment, I see my dad at our table, stirring some oatmeal, despite the fact that it's well past lunchtime.

"Hey, father of mine." I pull out a chair and sit down.

"How was your trip?" He asks politely and takes a spoonful of oatmeal.

"Good. A lot of quality time." I pause and suddenly smile "Speaking of, that's one thing we're severely lacking."

"Is this some attempt to get me to fork over your present?" He cocks an eyebrow and grins.

"Meh." I shrug. "It's worth a try, right?" I joke. He reaches into his briefcase and pulls out a large manilla envelope. Not to be overdone, it's simply got my name written in curly script on the front. He hands it over and I flip it over, upside down, and on and on. Suddenly with a curious expression, I open it up. Paperwork? If that's his idea of season's greetings, I'm going to be so disappointed. As I peer through it, I notice it's my name on the Mars Investigations letterhead instead of his. Mine? Really?

I look at him with a dropped jaw. "Dad-"

"I'm apparently a shoe-in in the emergency recall, unopposed again. Plus, you've got your license now…"

"Thank you so much." I squeal then retract with a serious concern. "I can't do it full time…"

"Hire a receptionist."

"Will do." I smile. I've already got one in mind. My fingers hit a small card in the envelope. It's a gift certificate to the spa. A token girly present. God love him.

Troy answers the door with the party full swing. To my relief, it's just a Dr. Pepper in his hand. He's much less iffy, and much more easy going now. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.

"Hello, ladies…" He uncomfortably notes Logan's presence. "…and gents. Welcome to Casa de Fennell." Logan puts his arm possessively around my waist. Troy looks Jackie up and down, letting his curiosity get the best of him. "And who might you be?"

"This is my friend Jackie." I reply as she crosses her arms awkwardly.

"Hello, friend." He wiggles his eyebrow and she frowns.

"Where's Wallace?" I finally ask as Logan rolls his eyes at Troy's antics.

"He's, uh, in the back with that chick Jolene." He points to the back with his thumb. At this, Jackie traipses off and my gut knots in worry. Logan gingerly takes my hand and squeezes it.

"Baby, let's dance." He whispers in my ear and I can't help but smile.

He leads me out onto the dance floor. After a few minutes of "pop, lock, and dropping it" and old-fashioned bumping and grinding, we're through. We collapse on Wallace's couch, next to a couple who should probably get a room, maybe one in Timbuktu? Just, please, please, get away from us.

Logan gets up to get a drink, a non-alcoholic one, he swears. I should hope so. He's driving, after all. Max plops down into Logan's empty seat, nursing a beer.

"So, they're together now?" He asks glumly, nodding his head to the direction of an apparently now fighting Dick and Mac. But, really, when are they ever not fighting? I mean honestly, they fight more than Logan and I do, and everyone knows that we fight quite often.

"Yes." I say simply. "Take one part jackass, one part computer genius, and you've got a chaos-laden couple." I joke simply, trying to cheer him up.

He nods and sips again. Either he's feeling really guilty about dumping her, or she completely shattered him when she dumped him. I'm not really quite sure who did the actual dumping in this situation. I can see his visible wince as Dick and Mac finally fall into a quick embrace. Maybe, they're "epic" too. Maybe. Maybe not.

There's more to come. Obviously. Hope y'all liked it. Reviews are forever appreciated :)