I told you that I wouldn't make you wait long. The first story, "Tear Away the Mask" was published December 21, 2010. It was the first thing I ever wrote, and it's still one of my favorite things. Your enthusiasm for it and the series is what's kept this story alive. This final sequel was written for the fans more than a strong desire on my part. So if it doesn't seem as complex or developed as the others, that's probably why. It's mostly just a continuation of the previous story.
Epilogue: Love Survives
*****Five Years Later*****
"Sara, get Wally and Cindy's bags and take them downstairs!" Veronica called out.
"Where are they, Mommy?" Sara asked.
"They're in here," Veronica said.
"She can't drag both of them downstairs," Logan said from the bathroom.
"They're not heavy and on wheels," Veronica countered as she shoved a pair of shoes into her own bag and tried to zip it.
"I'll help you, sweetie," Logan said, grabbing the pink carry-on's handle.
"Thank you, Daddy," Sara said, smiling up at her father.
It was hard to believe Sara would be starting kindergarten in the fall. Of course, she would be older than most Kindergarteners since she turned six in the fall. The past five years had flown by. They had spent two and a half years in Chicago getting their graduate degrees. She'd given birth to their first son there. They had named him Wallace Eli Echolls, but called him Wally. He was three now. It hadn't been easy finishing her master's while pregnant, but she'd gotten it done in two and a half years. Logan, of course, was a big help. He finished his in two years, and he did most of the child-rearing, so she could finish up her thesis.
She got a job profiling with the F.B.I. soon after her graduation in D. C. They'd spent a half a year in a too small condo. However, when Dick and Mac got tired of apartment living in Fort Meade, which was only about forty minutes from D.C., both couples decided to by a house near one another. Greenbelt, Maryland was halfway between both her and Mac's jobs. Dick and Logan were business moguls, Dick more than Logan since he was a freelance writer for several prominent newspapers. Dick spent more time managing Faces various locations with Trina's help. They now had offices in Chicago, Orlando, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. Trina had started the ones in Chicago and New York. Currently, she was living with Richie back in New York. Since they were in commuting distances from New York, Trina was back managing the first office she opened. She had gotten married a year ago and had a little girl that was two months old. Her husband was a broker; her celebrity chasing days were really behind her.
"Ronnie, get that skinny ass down here!" Dick yelled.
"I'm coming!" Veronica called back. They were heading to Neptune. Her dad was very excited since everyone would be there. She grabbed her purse and the handle of her luggage.
Logan had their baby in his arms. Their youngest daughter Cindy Anne Echolls was a year and starting to walk. "Dad's going to be so excited to see Cindy walking!" Veronica said, smiling at her dark angel. Unlike, her first two, Cindy was dark haired like her name sake. Well, she had darker hair than her siblings, but it wasn't the dark brown shade of Mac's. It was a medium shade, matching her brown eyes that she'd inherited from her father.
"He's seen her walking on those videos you posted, right?" Dick asked as he grabbed Wally up in his arms.
"It's not the same thing, Dick," Veronica said. "Or did you forget that your dad finds a reason to fly in to town every other month to see your kids?"
Mac and Dick had waited two years before starting a family. Dick had been overjoyed when they had gotten pregnant a month after Veronica got pregnant with Wally. However, when Mac found out she was having twins, Dick reached a whole new level of happiness, only to be surpassed by having identical twin boys. Naturally, they were named Dick and Cassidy. Of course, Mac refused to have them called by their first names, so they were called Logan and Kane, their middle names. Dick had negotiated two pregnancies from Mac, so having twins was an added bonus for him. He got two kids and still got to knock her up one more time. The second time Mac got pregnant first, giving birth to their little girl three months before Veronica had Cindy. Veronica and Logan hadn't wanted to get pregnant until they bought their bigger house. The best friends loved that their kids had built-in best friends their own ages. They named Mac's youngest Kristen.
The airport pick-up van was parked on the street in front of their house. Mac already had her three kids in the car and was standing by the door. "Are we ready to get this show on the road?" Mac asked, grinning.
"We're ready," Veronica said. It was nice to be heading home for a good occasion.
Several hours later, they drove up to the Kane mansion. Veronica still had trouble believing that her mother and Jake were actually married even after four years. The man had been glued to her mother's side ever since she'd managed to survive the brutal attack by Meg's insaneo father. Although she was in a wheelchair for life, Jake remained devoted to Leanne. How could Veronica hold a grudge? Her kids called him Grandpa Kane, and her mother was very happy.
Stuart Manning made things easier for everyone by confessing to the kidnapping and murder of Celeste Kane even if he never confessed to his involvement in Lamb's murders. He received life in prison. After his wife divorced him, getting all his money, he committed suicide a year after his arrest.
No one was disappointed in his end, and Rose and his daughters no longer gave the man much thought. Jake and Duncan allowed Rose back into Lily's life without restriction after the man was dead.
"Is Lily going to be here?" Sara asked excitedly.
"I'm sure she will be if she's not," Veronica assured her daughter. Lily had just finished fifth grade, and she still had the sweetness that reminded Veronica so much of Meg. However, her bold personality was all her Aunt Lilly. To Sara, Lily was everything she aspired to be.
Duncan and Parker did arrive a short time later. A year after they were married, they bought their own house not too far away. Parker did exactly as she planned and taught first grade for two years before getting pregnant with their first child, a daughter. Her son was Kristen's age. Then named their daughter, Amy and their son Gabriel.
It was a loud and boisterous dinner as Keith and Alicia joined them. For some, it might be strange that Keith and Leanne were willing to share dinners even after their remarriages. However, love for Veronica and their grandchildren bound them together with ties that would never be severed. Leanne felt the same affection and respect that she'd always felt for Keith and had gratitude that he never held her past against her. Alicia treated her with respect, and the two women spent enough time together to be real friends.
"I can't believe Weevil actually did it," Dick said as he passed a dish to Mac.
"I can't believe Jason finally got his way," Logan said. "I didn't think Weevil would ever move to Chicago. He didn't when we lived there."
"Well, he and Jazmin married a year ago," Veronica reminded them. "She's ready to have a baby and promised her dad that all children would be raised near him."
"A future mob boss," Dick said with a snicker.
Veronica glared at him, glancing at the kids, who were at a nearby children only table. Lily was lady of that table and held all the kid's attention. Jake even had servants feeding the babies, so the guests could visit. All their friends' children knew each other, and she didn't want gossip like that to get back to Jazmin.
"You know that Weevil would never let his kids get mixed up in that kind of stuff," Veronica said loyally.
"Not to mention Jazmin," Mac added.
"Jason won't be following in his dad's footprints," Logan said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Jazmin is already pregnant," Alicia commented.
"She won't be pregnant alone," Veronica said, looking meaningfully at Alicia.
Keith caught the look and grinned. "Do you have an announcement to make, honey?" he asked.
Veronica grimaced. "No, Dad, I told you that Cindy was the last one," she said.
"Things happen, sweetheart," Keith said.
"Sorry, Dad," Logan said. "But unless she cheats on me, I won't be knocking her up again."
"She made Logan get snipped," Dick revealed, snickering.
"The only reason you didn't is because I wasn't going to take any chances. Your swimmers would probably survive a vasectomy!" Mac said. She had gotten her tubes tied after her last pregnancy, not ever wanting to get pregnant again. Veronica and she both agreed that three was enough.
"So who's pregnant?" Parker asked.
"I think Thea is," Veronica said.
Alicia's eyes lit up. "Really? How do you know?" she asked.
"Wallace has been asking me too many questions about parenthood," Veronica said. Thea was finishing up her first-year residency at Chicago Med, specializing in emergency care. Her trips watching her dad give life saving medical care in overseas had influenced her to focus on trauma care.
"I thought she was going to wait until her residency was done?" Parker said.
"Well, things do happen," Veronica said with a shrug. "And she did complete the first year, which they say is the hardest."
"I can't believe they're pregnant and Wallace hasn't said anything yet," Alicia said, frowning.
"She's a doctor," Keith said. "She will wait until the second trimester to announce it."
"I have to wait months to find out if I'm having a grandchild?" Alicia asked in dismay.
"Don't worry. You can corner them tomorrow," Keith said, patting her hand. They were flying in on the red-eye.
"What about Daisy?" Parker asked. "Is she coming tomorrow?"
The group was silent a minute, all of them a bit uncomfortable with the one couple that didn't yet have their happily ever after. Two years ago, Daisy had moved to Chicago to go to graduate school at the University of Chicago, specializing in forensics. A year later, she and Jason were broken up and neither one was talking.
Veronica shook her head. "She couldn't get away. She spoke to Weevil, and he's fine. He thinks everyone is overreacting by showing up here anyway," she said, smiling.
"I can't believe that super-sleuth, Veronica Mars still hasn't cracked that case," Duncan said. "You still don't know why they broke up?"
"Daisy won't talk," Veronica said, feeling sad about the distance between the two friends.
"Jazmin told me that Jason wouldn't even tell her what happened, but that he was devastated," Mac shared.
"It must be really bad if he's not telling his twin," Dick remarked. "He must've done something he's too ashamed to admit."
"If he cheated on her, Daisy would've said. She's got a wicked temper," Veronica reminded them.
"Daisy could've been the one that cheated," Duncan remarked.
"I can't see Daisy straying. She's too loyal," Parker said.
"Sometime, couples just can't make it work," Leanne said. "It's not always just one thing. Even if there's a lot of love."
"I don't get that," Dick said. "Love should fix all the bad stuff."
"It does heal a lot of wounds," Mac agreed.
"Maybe they just need time," Parker said. "They'll figure it out."
"The fact that Daisy hasn't left Chicago has to mean something," Duncan pointed out.
"That's a good point," Veronica said. She hoped her friends got their happy ending. The two didn't just have love between them but passion. Jason and Daisy were like Logan and Veronica, unable to keep their hands off each other even when they were broken up during that first big break up.
"If it's meant to be, they'll find their way," Keith said.
"I agree," Leanne said, smiling at Jake.
"Well, if Jason is all emo-Piz tomorrow, I'm going to give him a hard time," Dick announced.
"We wouldn't want you to be any other way," Duncan said, grinning at his friend.
Jason and Dick were never close friends like Logan and Jason because Dick was both intimidated and confused by Jason. Jason never fit in any of Dick's preconceived world views. Also, Jason was too attractive, and Dick was always suspicious of his good looks and his father, who still scared the hell out of Dick. However, Dick was friends enough with Jason to tease him.
"Did you hear, Veronica, that Piz is engaged?" Parker said.
"No," Veronica said. "Who's the girl?"
"Hannah Griffith," Parker said with a smug look.
"What?" Logan asked, shocked.
"She's a model in New York and Piz is a successful DJ there. Their paths crossed," Parker explained. "Piz told me that the Neptune connection was what broke the ice."
"They bonded over shared Veronica-Logan misery," Duncan added laughing.
"Dude, I can't believe you let her talk to her ex," Dick said in disapproval.
"He doesn't let me do anything," Parker said in an icy tone.
"Parker is allowed to be friends with her ex since I made mine godmother to my daughter," Duncan reminded Dick.
"We only stay friends on Facebook and exchange info on occasion," Parker said. "I've not seen him in years."
"I saw him two years ago," Veronica said. "I actually saw him when he was doing a live recording from Faces in their New York location."
"So I gave him the vehicle to meet Hannah?" Logan said in bemusement.
"That's irony," Duncan said, laughing.
"Well, I glad for him," Veronica said. "She's not too bad even if she grew up to be a bit of a homewrecker."
"Not fair," Logan defended. "She was lonely and thought I was single. She didn't set out to wreck any home."
"Dude, it's not a good idea to defend kissing your ex to your wife," Dick said.
"What?" Keith said, looking alarmed.
Veronica groaned and threw a roll at Dick. "We have got to get you that muzzle!" she exclaimed.
Mac laughed, giving Dick a loving look. She had grown to appreciate his lack of filter. With Dick, you always knew where you stood.
It was good catching up and being with family. Tomorrow they would see the rest of their friends and family.
*****The Next Day*****
Weevil couldn't believe the fuss his friends were making. They were all in town to see him. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it. He was more touched than he'd ever admit, but he was also embarrassed.
Jasmin came behind him as he was putting on his tie. Her arms went around him. "You look so handsome!" she told him. They had been married a year, but he was still surprised that she was his in every way. Soon they would leave Neptune behind and start a new life. His grandmother and brothers were ready to move with him, so he would only be leaving the sunshine behind.
"Thanks," he said.
"Are you ready?" Jason asked coming into his bedroom without knocking.
"You could knock," Weevil said, giving his best friend a sour look.
"I could," Jason said with an unapologetic grin.
"I can't believe all our friends came! We're having dinner at Dick's house," Jazmin said.
"Is his dad in town?" Weevil asked. He'd lived in that house for two years, but he never felt at home there.
"Yes, he came home when he heard his grandchildren were in town," Jazmin said, laughing.
"You just wait until you start giving our parents grandchildren," Jason said. "They'll be much worse."
"Or you could if you'd make up with Daisy," Jazmin said, hoping he'd finally tell her.
All humor left Jason's face and he said, "That's never happening, so let it go. She and I are over forever."
"I just don't get why it's over. Why you won't tell me. You tell me everything," Jazmin said for the hundredth time. If she didn't know firsthand that Daisy was equally heartbroken, she'd want to hurt the woman who hurt her twin. But Daisy was equally hurt by the break up, and like Jason, Daisy wouldn't say what happened to anyone—not even Veronica knew the full story.
"Some things are too horrible to voice," Jason said, his voice full of bitterness. Daisy had destroyed him, and he would never forgive her for what she had done.
"Don't," Eli said to her, shaking his head. Jason had told him why he and Daisy broke up, and he promised to not share it with anyone, not even Jazmin. They both knew Jazmin would never be able to keep it to herself and her rage would know no end.
Soon, they were able to shake off the grim mood her prodding brought as friends arrived. Veronica, Logan, Dick, and Mac showed up without any of the kids.
"Where's your kids?" he asked.
"Both sets of my parents insisted they have time with them," Mac said.
"Mom has mine, and then Charlie is taking Sara for the night," Veronica said.
"I want to see them before you go," Weevil told them.
"So are you pregnant yet?" Dick asked Jazmin in that tackles way of his.
"What?" Jazmin asked, surprised.
"Are you knocked up? It's been a year. You guys have been together for like six," Dick said. "Have a baby already. It's the coolest thing ever!"
"You say that 'cause you get to do all the fun stuff," Mac said. "I had to carry twins and get as fat as a house. I was on bed rest for two months!"
"But we got double the pleasure!" Dick insisted.
"I got two little fiends tearing their way out of my insides!" Mac said.
Jason laughed. "I really miss you guys," he said.
"We miss you," Mac said, hugging him.
Dick glared, grabbed her hand. "No hugging on guys hotter than me, remember?" he reminded her.
Everyone laughed.
"When you guys move to Chicago, the flight to D.C. is much shorter than the one from here," Veronica said. "I hope we'll get to see each other more."
"We will," Jazmin assured her.
Less than an hour later, they all cheered as Weevil got the recognition he'd worked hard for.
"Eli Navarro, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice," the Dean announced.
Eli, forever known as Weevil by his friends, walked across stage to accept his diploma. His friends and family had somehow taken over the first three rows in front of the stage. It had taken him a long time, but even after Jason stopped asking and prodding, he decided to continue his education. The look of pride on his grandmother's face made him glad he did. This time, no police were coming to arrest him during the ceremony. Although he owned a successful business and soon would have a lucrative job as head of the Jaleno family's security, getting a college degree meant the most to Lettie. It proved to her more than an thing that he really was the man she wanted him to be.
In spite of himself, Weevil felt proud of his accomplishment. Dick's smirk at dinner celebrating his success didn't even annoy him. He had taken a long time to graduate, but school was never his priority. His work and his woman were—his family always came first. But this was something he decided to do for validation, for curiosity's sake even. He was glad he did.
No longer was he Weevil the former gangbanger and street thug. Now, he was Eli Navarro, college graduate, business owner, husband. One day soon, he would add father to his list of titles.
The love that he had sown into the lives of all in the room had blossomed and evolved over the years. He looked at Veronica, his best female friend, who had grown and changed almost as much as he. Logan, who hadn't really changed as much as stepped out of the shadow of his father's hated legacy, had become a true friend. The one who surprised him the most, however, was Dick Casablancas. If Felix could see him now, he'd be both impressed and horrified. Not only had he embraced his enemies, he come to love and respect them all—even Dick. Dick, though, had become like a brother to him.
Life was funny that way. Full of surprises and people who refused to be who you believed them to be. Old prejudices and bigotry were ripped away when the crucibles and tragedies pressed you down. Standing through it all, though, was the love.
Love survives. It heals and repairs.
He looked at Jason, who was never happy anymore. One day, Eli thought, it would heal him, too.
Veronica held out her hand to Weevil, who took it, letting her draw him into the conversation.
She was bursting with pride and joy. Weevil had come so far. They all had.
She could hear Lilly laughing.
The bad boys are always the most fun.
But she was wrong about Logan and Weevil. Neither was bad. They were the best men she knew.
"Eli, did you tell Jazmin you were naming your first kid Echo? Logan's name is taken by Dick and Mac's boy and Richie, so we decided a gender-neutral name like that would be perfect," Veronica informed him, using his real name for the first time ever.
The room was quite a half a minute at both her use of his first name and her comment registered. Then the remarks and jokes began.
"Echo Navarro has a great ring to it!" Dick declared excited. He looked at Jazmin. "Time to get knocked up!"
Leave it to his bossy female best friend to have planned his kids name before they were even pregnant. Eli threw his head back and laughed.
*****The End*****
Well, this is the end of the very long road. This saga is finally over. When you miss Veronica Mars, reread this series from the beginning. Forgive the writing mistakes and just enjoy the ride. I do like my version than the movie version, which weakly developed our beloved supporting cast, in my opinion. I can't thank you all enough for following this story over the years. Your enthusiasm is what kept it alive.
I can hear you asking, "What happened with Daisy? What did she do? You have to tell me!" Well, I'm not. One day, I might pick the story up again. Or I might write the story in an actual book. Their story is not yet done. I could decide to do a short companion piece one day. If not, imagine what it could've been!
Forgive me for cutting this last tale so short. Sorry, I didn't get to ALL the characters, but I did tell you what was going on with them all. I hope you were satisfied.
For those that love my stories, sorry, I won't be writing anymore Veronica Mars stories unless I get around to writing my BTVS/VM crossover. Mostly, these days I want to write BTVS crossover stories. I'm obsessed. If you don't like or have never watched BTVS, watch season 2 of it and you might get hooked. Thanks for everything. Here's your final chance to review.
Amy Click