Free At Last

Chapter 20: Tight Matters

Veronica

It has been almost a week since Aaron Echolls was released from jail. Everyone has been walking around moping or half-living it was so sad to see just how far we have all fallen since our freedom has been jeopardized once again. Logan was currently hiding out in our room with Lynn and Gracie. Duncan was with Meg in their room while the rest of our wayward friends were out and about. I was currently sitting in the 2nd floor office area looking through assignments to finish up for classes.

I was deep in thought when I felt someone entering my space. I know it could only be my dad or Logan. I didn't turn around to see who it was, but I knew exactly who it was a moment later when I heard his voice.

"Hey," Logan says as I finally turn to look at him. He looked haggard and tired.

"How are you doing?" I question him as he gives me a small smile. I move toward him on the sofa and look down at Lynn in his arms. He was so amazing with her; always so gentle and holding her in the all the right places. I knew he worried about how he was going to be once he became a father, but we learned long ago how amazing he was while we were away and we had Gracie.

"I'm doing better. I just worry about you and our family," he says honestly playing with my hand that was on our daughter. I laid my head on his shoulder.

"I know you do, but you need to remember that he can't hurt us unless we let him," I say with a soft kiss to his forehead as I take Lynn from him.

"What does that mean?" he questions as I stand up about to move around him.

"We have all the power, but if we hideaway and let him wide then he takes it from us," I say as I realize the words I was saying because that was exactly what we had been doing.

"Veronica," he mutters as he stands up to follow me.

"Logan, all I am saying is we don't have to let him win any longer. We can make a stand and live our lives," I continue as I walk down the stairs.

"That's easier said than done," he half snaps.

"What do you mean?" I now question as I turn around to face him.

"What do I mean? He murdered Lilly in cold blood. He drove my mother to commit suicide. He tried to kill us. He beat me. He hurt Trina. Do you want me to continue listing all the charges against him?" he half yells at me. I knew this was coming it was all to calm. The storm is hitting right now.

"I know he did all those things Logan, but we can't hide or pretend that there isn't a life outside of this house," I snap back at him.

"You don't understand," he mutters as he goes to turn away from me.

"I don't understand. Are you seriously using that line on me? He tries to kill me by placing me in a freezer and then starting a fire in the house where I was. Don't you ever think I don't understand?" I yell at him as he turns back around to face me with tears in his eyes.

"I know," he mumbles as he walks away. I notice my dad standing in the hallway that led to the basement.

"Everything alright," he questions as I just turn away from him. I walk into the kitchen area and pull on of the premade bottles out and heat it up.

"I'm not in the mood," I say grumpily as I feel my dad placing his hand on my arm.

"Veronica," he starts, but the timer goes off on the stove and I pull the bottle out and test it before walking toward the back door to the beach. I open and close the door walking out onto the porch before making my way to the barrier of the beach and our yard. I grab the blankets that were hanging on the railing and walk out into the sun. I half lay a blanket on one of the chaises under an umbrella and lay down pulling the other blanket over my bare legs.

"Why are things so different?" I ask my baby as her eyes just peer up at me while she sucks her bottle. I laugh as I think of what I was doing. "You know your daddy loves you very much," I whisper as I kiss her little fingers.

"It's a beautiful day isn't it," comes a voice I would love to never hear again.

"What are you doing here?" I ask as I scramble to my feet jostling Lynn in the process.

"It's a free beach Veronica. I can enjoy the beach if I want to," he sneers at me.

"You aren't suppose to be out of your hotel room," I say trying to find the best way of getting away from him.

"I thought you were smarter than that. I am Aaron Echolls, no one is going to tell me what I can or cannot do," he sneers at me again laughing his mechanical laugh.

"What do you want?" I say as I am fumbling with my phone in my pocket trying to dial Logan without looking at what I was doing.

"What do I want? I want the last year to be erased from my life. I want my son to be at home with me and away from you. I want my freaking life back. You stole everything away from me. You and that bitch Lilly Kane. All she had to do was keep her mouth shut, but no she thought she could blackmail me," he yells at me as I struggle to keep my mind from going into over drive.

***LoVe***

Logan

I hated walking away from Veronica like I did, but she was right. We were all hiding out due to my fear. I hadn't even thought of it like that, but it was absolutely true. Veronica was right I was hiding away afraid of the one man who all I ever wanted was his love and effection. I was pondering what her words meant when my phone rang.

"Hello," I said as I looked at the caller ID to see it was Veronica, but I only heard muffled voices. I leave the bedroom to see if she was downstairs still, but I didn't see her. I saw Duncan and Meg sitting on one of the loveseats, Wallace and Dick on the couch with Gracie, but no Veronica.

"Logan, man how are you," dick says as he stands up, but I was looking for Veronica.

"Have you seen Veronica?" I ask as I see Keith point toward the beach. I walk to the window to see if she was out there when my blood began to boil. "You've got to be freaking kidding me," I snap as I go to the patio doors and out them.

"Get away from her," I yell as I see her turn toward my voice. I also noticed her backing up.

"Logan, son," Aaron snaps at me as I join my wife.

"You have no right to be here," I yell startling Veronica slightly and our daughter.

"Careful son we wouldn't want you to turn into your old man. I watched my father beat on my mother and me all of my life. It's in the genes son," he snarles at Logan.

"He's nothing like you. He is a great father. You know nothing," Veronica yells at him as I push her more behind me.

"Lynn thought so too, until I finally snapped and slapped her," he laughs as I tighten my fists.

"Logan," Veornica says softly as she reaches for one of my hands.

"Awe, how sweet," Aaron says as I finally see Keith coming up behind him.

"What do you think you are doing here?" He demands as Aaron turns around.

"I came to see my son and granddaughter. I mean Keith you hog them all the time," he snarles at him as I see a twitch in Keith's eyebrow.

"I don't hog them. They are my children and I am protecting them from serial creeps like you. I want you to leave now before I call the cops," he says grimly.

"Last I recalled this was a public beach," Aaron says smiling.

"Yes it is, but you are currently standing on private beach property. There are markers that show all around," he says as I notice another man coming toward us.

"I paid for this house and rightfully I can be on the property," Aaron yells as I see the man wearing a Deputy outfit.

"Keith, Logan Veronica everything alright the silent alarm was triggered," the Deputy asks as he notices who was with us.

"Deputy Aaron was just leaving," I finally say as I stand firm.

"I knew the moment your mother said she was pregnant you would be a problem. I tried to get her to get rid of you, but she wouldn't," Aaron says as I move away from Veronica slightly.

"If you ever come never Veronica, our daughter or Trina and her son again I will make sure that you never make that mistake again," I snap at him as I turn around to see the worried expression on Veronica's face.

"Who the hell do you think you are boy?" I hear Aaron yelling as I walk away with Veronica and Lynn. I don't stop or look back at the yelling match that was continuing with Keith and the Deputy.

"You want to lie down," Veronica asks as we enter the patio door, but I only shake my head no.

"I think we should live our life," I finally say as she leads me toward our friends. Yes, today was a changing point in our lives, but Veronica was right about us hiding away. After seeing him here with her I knew her words were so much clearer to me. I couldn't let him win. If I let him win I wouldn't be able to fully be free from him. I also meant my words if he ever came near us again he would regret it. I'd have to see Jake Kane at some point.

"Are you guys up for a night on the town?" Dick asks as I look toward Veronica who smiles at me.

"Sure," I finally say smiling back.

"I'll see if dad can watch the little ones," Veronica says as she goes to stand up, but I pull her back toward me.

"You know your dad would love to watch the kids," I smirk at her as she laughs.

"You two are so hopeless," Duncan mutters as I see how wrapped up he was with Meg.

"Really because from where I am sitting Meg has you just as wrapped as I have Logan," Veronica says as Meg looks up to Duncan and he kisses her softly.

"Yes, I do," Meg says as she chuckles when he pulls her closer. Of course going out was just one thing that would affect all of us later, but it felt good to just be able to hang out and enjoy a night with friends and family? As we were headed into a movie we all took notice of the people around us making sure we were all together. It's still strange to see Duncan with Meg, Dick with Mac and Wallace all with Veronica and me. Yet, at the same time it felt right. We had friends who would stand with us if we needed them to, and they had become our family through it all.

As the movie began I realized that it was alright to be worried, but it was what I did to keep my sanity that really mattered. I looked over to Veronica who was watching the movie. I decided that I would try not to worry about the unknown, but to live in the present. Yes, I would live for the here and now. Whatever happens tomorrow will be tomorrow's problem.