I apologize in advance to anyone expecting a full wedding scene, but I just couldn't do that...
I thought for purposes of this fic it was just better to leave to the imagination. They aren't a sappy sort, so I think it would be simple and no-frills. But I will allude to it, just to give you something ;)
Chapter 29: It's Not the End
"I'm pretty sure that's the last of it," Veronica said with a smile.
"First thing on the agenda when we get back is his and hers massages. I'm sore in muscles I didn't even know I had," Logan sighed.
"Oh, well, maybe I can help with that..." Veronica said with a devilish grin and eased her hands over Logan's arms.
"I doubt your dad would be especially thrilled to walk in on that little scenario," Logan smiled.
"Hey, I'm a married woman now. He needs to respect the vows."
"Yeah, okay," Logan said sliding out of her grasp and towards the living room, "I'll just play it safe if you don't mind. Married or not - he totes a gun."
Veronica laughed and followed Logan out of their bedroom.
They were packing everything up and would be leaving for Virginia in the morning. Tonight was revelry. One last hoorah with their friends before leaving Neptune behind.
Somewhere lost in the events of the past year, Veronica had left her dream of Stanford behind. Kind of like a child gives up his favorite blankie. She realized her life and her dreams had grown up a bit.
She was trading cardinal for blue and gray. She was offered a scholarship to Georgetown, and she was sure that her "friends" at the Bureau had something to do with that. It wasn't even surprising to her that she would have the opportunity to participate in a work-study program that allowed her to receive college credit and a stipend for working hours "learning about social justice through introductory experiences at the Federal Bureau of Investigations". She actually laughed out loud when she read that line. She wasn't sure if being the bait in a live field-op qualified as introductory. And if it did, she wasn't all that anxious to see what the intermediate-level was like.
She was actually dreading going back to the bureau just a tiny bit. Since this summer had been filled with wedding, honeymoon, and now moving, she hadn't spent a full three months "in training", and she was even more certain all that they would see to it that she made up for it. Fuller, Nacombe, and Ford pretty much alluded to as much at the wedding. She wasn't sure if she was more surprised that Logan had actually sent them an invitation or that they actually showed up. Even Special Agent Fuller had sent a card. They actually seemed genuinely eager to work with her again. Maybe they didn't hate her as much as she thought.
"Well, there goes the moving truck," Keith said forlornly. He was sad that Veronica was leaving him. He would miss her. He would even miss Logan. He'd gotten kind of used to having him around the last year. But he was very happy that she was growing up and moving on with her life. He knew that a degree from Georgetown could be huge for her future. Maybe he could convince her to go to law school and step on the other side of the law. It might not keep her out of harm's way, but it couldn't hurt.
"Hopefully, by the time we arrive in Virginia, everything will be unpacked and in place," Logan smiled, folding his hands, very proud of himself for arranging the movers to handle everything from packing and loading the heavy stuff to unpacking everything in Virginia. Since they were already fully furnished there, it wasn't a massive amount to accomplish. Mostly, it was just all their clothes and the rest of the stuff Logan had in storage plus all the wedding presents.
"Look what a little money will accomplish. Imagine just how powerful you'll be with an education, too," Veronica teased.
"You have everything all set at George Mason?" Keith asked.
"Yep. Don't know if they are ready for Logan Echolls, but I am ready for them," Logan smirked.
"I'm really proud of how hard you worked this year, Logan. You'll do just fine," Keith said, giving a positive nod with his comments.
Logan smiled. He was speechless. It still didn't top the wedding day speech, but he was still shocked every time Keith Mars paid him a compliment.
...
...wedding day, 2 months ago...
"So, Logan, no cold feet yet?"
"No, Mr Mars. As much as I'm sure you would love for me to run away right about now...not going anywhere," Logan joked.
"So...about that talk I wanted to have..."
Logan groaned inwardly. Over the past year, he and Keith had learned to get along quite nicely. He still felt very strange living under the same roof as the Sheriff who's daughter he was dating, but he was learning to adjust. And Keith had been more than hospitable. In fact, he was downright welcoming. Even when he'd asked for Keith's blessing to marry Veronica (not withstanding the fact that they were already engaged and he'd technically proposed months earlier...) Keith was more than civil. But Logan knew there was no way he could escape this at some point. He expected that sooner or later he would be threatened within an inch of his life by Keith if he ever hurt Veronica. He took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.
"Yes, sir," he said tentatively.
"You and I haven't always seen eye-to-eye, Logan," Keith started. "But I think we've gotten to a pretty good place in the past year, don't you?'
"Yes, I think so," Logan agreed.
"I could stand here and read you the riot act and tell you that if you ever hurt my daughter I'd kill you in 15 different ways...but I think we're past all that."
Logan just stared. Keith patted him on the back and motioned for him to sit down in the chair across from the seat on the couch that he took.
"You haven't always been my favorite person. I think you know that. You were a punk rich kid that had a really shitty childhood and a lot of really deep crap to deal with in your teenage years. Then, you treated Veronica like crap and I really wanted to hate you for all that," Keith said somberly.
Logan lowered his head. The guilt from how he had treated Veronica during the worst time in their lives still lingered.
"But I've come to see a different side of you. You've sort of grown up and left all that behind. I think you and Veronica did that together. I used to think you were bad for her, but now I see that you were good for each other. You helped her mature just as much as she helped you, I think."
"I...I.." Logan stammered.
"I've sort of enjoyed having you around. This last year has been kind of fun. It's nice to have someone else in the house. And I must admit, my waistline has enjoyed it, too."
Keith circled his belly. Logan had become quite a good cook. Since he seemed to have the most free time, he cooked most of the meals.
"I can't remember the last time Veronica and I actually sat down to a home-cooked meal more than 1 or 2 nights a week. But, it's more than just that. We've...well...we feel like a family. And I'm grateful for that, Logan. I just wanted to say thank you. I'm going to miss having you two around all the time."
"Keith, I'm just stunned. I really don't know what to say," Logan finally said.
"You don't need to say anything, Logan. I just wanted you to know."
"Thank you, Keith. Not just for saying all that, but for giving me a chance. Thank you for making me a part of your family."
...
...back to the present...
"Hello? Earth to Logan..."
"Huh?" Logan snapped out of his daze.
"I said we should get dressed if we're going to meet Wallace at five. Where were you just now?" Veronica asked quizzically.
Logan smiled. He'd never told Veronica of his and Keith's conversation on their wedding day. That was just between them.
"Just took a walk down memory lane, that's all," Logan smiled.
Veronica just looked at him as if he had two heads.
"Okay, then..." and she turned to go change.
...
"Are you sure about this, Logan?" Veronica asked for the fifth time as they rode the elevator up to the penthouse.
"Come on, Veronica. Old times sake and all?"
"Yes, but Dick..."
"...ah...the way every sentence should begin..."
"Logan!" Veronica huffed, now irritated.
"I know, I know. Dick throwing a going-away party for us, on the surface, seems a bit ill-advised, but..."
"But?" Veronica waited.
"BUT-Mac helped out. I'm sure she wouldn't let him be a total idiot about it."
"I still don't know how those two managed to be in the same air space for fifteen minutes, let alone plan a party together."
"Well, honestly, I think Mac did the planning and Dick was...well, Dick...but I told you, he's really making an effort to grow up a bit. Once he had time to deal with Cassidy's death, I think he finally snapped out of it and started trying to move on. Plus, he was a total ass to Mac and he's trying hard to make it up to her."
"Fine, I'll give it an hour. But if it's as bad as I think it's going to be, I'm..."
"Yes, yes, I know. You're running out the door screaming. I got it," Logan smiled as the elevator doors opened.
Veronica was shocked to see that the hall leading to the penthouse was strangely normal. There was no confetti everywhere. There were no mostly-naked women hanging out in the hall and no strong odor of alcohol lingering. She was now terrified. Logan opened the door and Veronica fully expected hell to have manifested itself right there in the middle of the living room-
But there was just her friends. There were a modest amount of balloons and streamers. There was a banner that read, "We'll Miss You" and no overpowering alcoholic stench. And, much to her shock, there was only a couple of handfuls of people in the room - not the multitude of strippers, hookers, and otherwise unsavory college fiends she figured Dick would have invited. The crowd cheered as they walked in and Wallace and Mac stood close to greet them. Veronica caught Logan's gaze. While his lips didn't move, she could hear "I told you so" loud and clear in his eyes. She rolled hers at him and followed Mac further into the room. Someone turned up the music and she soon forgot her threat of leaving after an hour.
They had a wonderful time that night with their friends. It made leaving them all the harder, but Veronica knew that she and Logan were ready for the next step. They were ready to leave Neptune and everything in their past behind. They were ready for their future. They ended their revelry that night far sooner than either would have liked, but there was a fairly early cross-country flight the next day. Logan had, thankfully, including the transportation of the vehicles in with the moving. They could, at least, relax on the plane for the long trip.
...
After all too short of a night's sleep, they got up the next day and gathered their carry-ons to head to the airport. Keith was driving them, where Mac and Wallace would be waiting to say their goodbyes.
"You know, Dad, I could really use a decent cup of coffee before we get to the airport. Airport coffee is yuck."
"Sure, honey. We'll stop at the coffee house across from the station on the way to the airport. It has the best in town."
"A coffee shop across from a police station. There is a joke there, I'm sure, but I'll just let it go..." Veronica teased.
"A good idea, tiny one," Keith teased.
Keith pulled up outside the coffee shop and Veronica went in to get their orders.
She was just turning to leave when she bumped into an "old friend".
"Veronica Mars."
"Madison Sinclair. Aren't you on the wrong side of town?"
"Everyone knows this place as the best macchiato in town. Usually, there isn't as much riff-raff."
"Oh, I am so going to miss these little encounters. It's a shame I won't be running into you again."
"Are you finally being exiled? Wonderful," Madison snipped.
"Actually, I'm finally leaving you and the rest of this pretentious place behind. I'm moving away. Far away."
"What exciting news. I should have thrown a going away party."
"Oh, we had one. I guess Dick forgot to invite you. Hmmph," Veronica sneered.
"Dick? Since when are you and Dick friends?"
"Since Dick decided to stop being one. I guess you haven't heard from him in a while. Not surprising," Veronica grinned.
"Dick is SO high school. He was just a phase," Madison dismissed her.
"The many phases of Madison Sinclair," Veronica muttered. "Well, this has been fun, but I have people waiting."
"People? Since when do you have people, Veronica Mars?" Madison snarked.
"It's not Mars anymore, Madison," Veronica seethed. She held up her ring finger in a rather suggestive way, showing off the enormous rock and diamond wedding band that adorned it.
Madison stood open-mouthed, gaping at the large stone.
"Boy, you really have lost touch with the pulse of Neptune gossip, huh? I guess your invitation got lost in the mail. Then again, it was really a small ceremony. Just friends and family. We really didn't want to deal with paparazzi everywhere," Veronica added, being overly dramatic just because she enjoyed rubbing Madison's nose in it.
"Paparazzi? Why would paparazzi care about Veronica Mars' wedding?"
"Oh, they wouldn't. But they would salivate to attend Logan Echolls's wedding," Veronica sneered.
Again, Madison stood gaping. Just about that time Logan walked in.
"Everything ok, honey?" he asked Veronica, barely noticing Madison standing across from her.
"Sorry, sweetie," Veronica replied, a little too sweetly. "Just catching up with our old friend Madison, here."
Turning back to Madison, she added, "It was really great catching up with you, Madison, but we have a flight to catch. Have a nice life."
As Veronica ducked under Logan's outstretched arm holding open the door of the coffee shop, she could almost see Madison standing there, wide-eyed and gaping mouth. She could feel the heat of Madison's hatred aimed at her. Veronica was way over this childish crap, but she couldn't help but feeling a small victory. For all the years and all the crap she endured because of Madison Sinclair and other bitches just like her, Veronica couldn't help but feel just a little bit vindicated.
...
"This coffee reminds me of the B and B. They have the best coffee there," Veronica smiled.
"I can't wait to come try it," Keith said.
"It's a great place, Keith. You'd really enjoy it. There's a lot to do around there. You should take a few weeks vacation and just come enjoy Virginia."
"I might just have to take you up on that, Logan."
As they rode on to the airport, Veronica closed her eyes and imagined the flurry of the last few weeks. She had been so worked up for the wedding and finals that she had made herself sick. And after she scared everyone to death, she felt incredibly guilty and stupid for stressing out so much. She had to admit, if only to Mac, that she was nervous about the wedding. She was afraid that Logan had changed so much and matured so much over the last year and she hadn't. She was worried that Logan would no longer want her. She was worried that she couldn't change - couldn't move past all her old ways. Mac comforted her and reassured her that there was no one else in the world Logan could ever love but her.
"But he's grown so much, Mac. What if I can't change like that?"
"He hasn't changed, Veronica. He's still Logan. He's just a better version of himself."
"What if there is no better version of me?" she worried.
"Veronica, he fell in love with you when you were at your worst - your most vulnerable. You've already changed. We all have. He doesn't expect you not to be you. I know you are tired of hearing this, but you really are just overreacting."
"I know, I know. I'm just...I'm just being me, I guess."
"Yes, Veronica, you are. And we all love you. Just the way you are. Especially, Logan."
After her talk with Mac she felt reassured. The whole trip down the aisle, she still had butterflies, but once she looked into Logan's eyes, she knew that she had nothing to fear. She was right where she belonged. They both were.
Her dad's voice snapped her back to reality.
"Here we are. Domestic terminal drop-off."
"Thanks, Dad. We'll call you when we get in."
"See you in a few weeks, Keith. We'll go fishing. I know this great little spot near the B and B."
"Looking forward to it, Logan. Veronica - be good."
"Oh, Dad. Don't be silly," she grinned.
"You're right," Keith smiled. "Just be you."
Logan grabbed his and Veronica's bags with one hand and her hand with his other. He gave it a little squeeze and smiled down at her.
"You ready, Mrs Echolls?"
"Ready, Mr Echolls."
"Then let's do this."
Veronica smiled. Her life had been full of ups and downs, highs and lows, good and bad. And she was sure that there was still bad to come, but she knew now that she could handle it. The two of them together could handle it. Life had been quite the roller coaster for them. But it sure had been a helluva ride.
