A/N This is it. The last chapter. Thank you all for reading and giving me your feedback throughout this journey. I'm a fairly private person as some might have noticed from the lack in my profile, but I thought I'd share a bit of how this all came to be. Back before pandemics I used to have a really long commute. I'm an avid reader, but I can't read on a bus without getting carsick but weirdly I can watch tv shows and movies. So to destress after long days at the office, heading home to my second job as a mom to two foster kids, I would pick a show to watch, doling it out one episode at a time. In November of last year, I finally got hulu and stumbled across Veronica Mars. I missed it when it originally aired because I was living in Japan at the time. I watched the first three seasons and then got the movie, then I had to see if there was more and found the books. Finally after all of that I watched the dreaded 4th season. And everything just felt unfinished. All of this coincided with a stay at home order and some dicey homeschooling while working 16 hour days as part of the pandemic response. There was no place to really escape and I was surrounded by people constantly which is not easy for me. I started reading VM fanfic, spending hours diving through probably thousands of stories by now. And I wanted to add my own spin on what should have or could have been. I haven't written for pleasure in so long and this was a return to a part of myself that I had long forgotten. I already have several other ideas in the works, so this won't be the last you hear of me I hope.

Anyways, I really do appreciate everyone who has stuck with this story. And especially thanks to SmilesP, AmyPC, and Katye76 for introducing me to the VM Fic Club on discord. It's been great to connect with so many others who share my passion for this fandom.

Chapter 28 - Epilogue

One year later

Veronica

It's been a crazy year and I'm in my final stretch at law school. I did an internship with the district attorney's office in Neptune last summer and it solidified my desire to pursue justice from that avenue. I've been so busy that I've barely had any time for my friends or my dad so I'm glad it's finally winter break and I can go home and just relax for a few days. I'm really looking forward to finally having a real Christmas without all of the drama that marked last year.

Next year will bring the bar, decisions, but for now, I have one more winter break to just enjoy and not worry about the future. I finished packing my bag, glad that I decided to fly this year rather than drive. It will mean more time with Mac, Wallace, my dad, and even Dick. I still can't believe that Mac and Dick are still an item. Some things just defy understanding I guess. They're happy though it was touch and go there for a while when I finally told Logan about Dick's part in my rape that night at Shelly's party. I never wanted to tell him, but we were trying to be honest with one another about everything. When Logan asked me why I hated Dick so much, I finally admitted to myself and to him that I didn't hate him, not who he is today, but the guy who was stupid enough to tuant his brother, left me there with a murderer or rapist, him I hate.

I've come to terms with a lot of things. You would think that after nearly four years of therapy I was all fixed, but there's a deep well to the trauma that I never properly processed. Dick was one of those things as was Madison. The two of them were at the top of my hate list when we were in high school because of that party. Somewhere along the line though I came to the realization that while I still hate Madison because she's just an awful person, what happened to me that night wasn't her fault. She didn't know her drink was dosed with GHB. While I doubt that would have stopped what she did, she can't be blamed for something that she wasn't even aware of. Craig also annoyingly pointed out that if she hadn't given me the drink then she would have been the one who was raped because when you take away a woman's right to consent, its rape plain and simple. Something that I tried so hard to pretend wasn't the truth leading to so many mistakes including Duncan Kane.

Forgiving Dick was harder, understanding that he was just an idiot and didn't think his brother was capable of doing something so heinous. He didn't know what Cassidy did to me. When I told Logan what had really happened, he went a little crazy. I think what saved Dick was the fact that he didn't know and when he found out...well, it was heartbreaking to see.

Flashback

"Why Veronica? Why do you hate him so much? He's my best friend, your best friend's boyfriend. I know he was an asshole in highschool but he's changed. Why are you still avoiding him?" Logan is pushing when I refuse to agree to plans with Dick again. I can take him in small doses but being home for the summer means way too much Dick for my taste.

"Because it's his fault. He put me in that room, he told Cassidy to take advantage of me. Because of him, his brother raped me." I cried. I never wanted to tell Logan. Dick was his only friend for so long. He had people who hung around him constantly, but for the longest time, Dick was the only one who truly cared about him. Fuck, he saved his life when he would have died, wehn I wasn't there. For that I'd take this secret to my grave, but Logan won't let me avoid this conversation anymore and I can't lie to him anymore.

Looking at Logan's face, I knew, I just knew that I had been right to keep this secret for so long. Logan looks like he wants to kill someone or kill himself. He doesn't say a word, just gets up and leaves the house. I run after him, trying to get his attention because I know he's going to confront Dick about this and it's not going to end well.

I can't get him to stop, but he at least doesn't stop me when I follow him as he makes his way to Dick's house.

Dick opened the door, smiling, "Hey Dude and the light of his life who I fully support." The smile fades as he notices how red Logan's face is, a sure sign that he's passed into that scary kind of rage that he so rarely lets out.

Logan doesn't even give him a chance to know what's going on before he punches him. Dick isn't a small guy though and while he's not much for fighting, he's been Logan's sparring partner many times, helping him to channel his rage.

In between punches, with me trying to get Logan to stop, Dick finally asks why.

"You fucking left her there." Another punch to Dick's stomach. "You told him to fuck her. She was fucking unconcious and you left your sick brother there with her."

Dick pushes Logan back, finding a strength to hold him off at the mention of his brother. "What did he do?" Dick roars, tears already welling up in his eyes.

That was another reason I didn't want to tell. I may not like Dick, but he's a human being and he was hurt by Cassidy too. He lost his brother and I know from Logan that he blamed himself for how everything turned out.

It's not me that answers though, it's Logan roaring the words at Dick even as he tries to hurt him physically as much as he can. "He raped her."

Dick stopped trying to defend himself and just collapsed on the ground. I grabbed Logan's arm.

"Enough. Just stop Logan. This isn't your fight." I told him. His rage was finally dissipating and he just glared at me and Dick before walking away in disgust.

I kneeled down by Dick to see how hurt he was. He grabbed my hand.

"Ronnie, it's not true, is it? He didn't do that. Please tell me he didn't do that." Dick is crying in earnest now. I hear a scoff behind me letting me know that Logan hasn't gone far and is listening to our conversation, probably making sure that Dick doesn't hurt me too. He can be so predictable when it comes to me.

I focus on Dick, "He did. He told me the night he died. He gave me chlamydia."

"I left him there. I taunted him. I didn't think he would actually do it. Ronnie, I wouldn't have left him if I thought he would ever do that to you. I was just messing with him. I swear I wouldn't have let him, not to you or anyone."

I can feel my residual anger at this broken man leave my body. It wasn't his fault. He did stupid things, but who hasn't. He was a victim like the rest of us. He didn't know what Cassidy was capable of. No one wants to believe that kind of thing about someone that they love.

"It's not your fault Dick. Cassidy made that choice on his own. He didn't have to listen to you. You've been such a good friend to Logan all these years when I wasn't there and couldn't be with him. I know you wouldn't have let him if you had known."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Dick is weeping, broken.

End Flashback

It took awhile for Logan and Dick to get past that, but eventually they moved past. Logan never told me why he finally was able to forgive Dick and I didn't ask, I was just glad that he had his friend back. Dick's still not my favorite person, but he's loyal and has a good heart when he's not hiding it under his surfer persona. We'll probably never be best friends, but I don't mind spending time with him when I'm home.

My flight leaves in three hours, and with the new security protocols if I don't leave now, I may not make the flight. I look around the apartment making sure that I haven't forgotten anything.

"Ready to go, sugarpuss?"

His arms wind around my waist and he kisses the side of my head, breathing in my scent. I feel that peaceful feeling that comes only from Logan engulf me. He knows how nervous I am before traveling, always with my lists and triple checking everything even though as he says we can just buy anything we've forgotten.

"Yep, checked everything thrice. We should be good to go." I say leaning back into him. He reluctantly lets me go and grabs our bags.

"Let's go then, only a few more hours and we'll be home." He smiles, looking around our apartment. "Our other home." he amends.

I smile, following him out to the car. Wherever he is, that's home.

Logan

If someone had told me a year ago that not only would I get a chance to rekindle my relationship with Veronica Mars, but that she would have agreed to live with me only a few short months after we got back to school, I would have told them that they were crazy.

Our year together hasn't been without its fair share of ups and downs. Neither of us were really prepared for living with someone else and it was a lot of adjustment and using those new found communication skills.

As I walk down to the car, I can't help but think about the fight and the aftermath of the fight that led us to where we are now, living together, sharing our lives. We'd been back at school for a few months when the strain of long distance,even if it was only an hour, conflicting schedules and old issues started to surface.

Flashback

I drove down to Stanford to spend the weekend with Veronica. I was trying to see her as much as possible, but I couldn't neglect my schoolwork and neither could she. Still I missed having her with me all the time. I could tell that she was starting to get distant when we talked. At first I just thought that she was in a hurry because of school and work. Then when I couldn't make it down last weekend to see her because of a project for one of my classes, she said she was fine, but she only called me once while I was with my study group and then avoided my calls for several days afterwards.

We had promised to be honest with each other, but she wasn't sharing. I was not going to make the same mistake that I made once upon a time and just let this go. Back at Hearst, if I had talked to her about seeing her ignore my phone call when she said we were fine, maybe we could have avoided the breakup and all the aftermath. Instead, I hid from her, she hid from me and then I felt like I had to let her go before I ended up in an endless cycle. I refused to do that this time. We would talk and if meant that we fought, so be it.

I got to her apartment, she wasn't home so I sat in front of the door, waiting for her. After about an hour, she came up the steps, but she wasn't alone. There was some guy with her, carrying her bag, laughing at something she said. She saw me sitting there, but instead of the smile I had grown accustomed to seeing, she frowned and turned to her friend.

"Thanks for the help Matt. I really appreciate it. Looks like I have some company so raincheck?" She said to him.

"Sure, anytime." He smiled at her and she fucking smiled back at him, like I wasn't standing there waiting for her. The two of them ignored me. This fucking asshole hugged her and then left. She stood there staring after him before walking past me to unlock the door. She turned to me once and said "Coming?"

"Veronica." I started as soon as we were in the apartment but she cut me off.

"No, Logan. You don't get to do this. Matt is a friend of mine and we were studying. I'm not going to entertain any of the jealous thoughts in your head." She snarled.

"What the fuck Veronica. What is going on? You've been distant for a week now and avoiding my calls. And now you're with some guy who you didn't even bother introducing me to. I thought we weren't doing this anymore." I can feel my anger rising. So what, so I'm jealous. That guy clearly liked her and she doesn't have the best track record in noticing that sort of thing or telling these guys off.

"Doing what Logan? I called you this weekend, but you were too busy to talk. Well I'm busy too." She stood there, chest heaving and my mind went to what we should have been doing. We shoudln't be having some stupid fight for no real reason, she should already be bent over that table behind her, three orgasms deep by this point. My body responds to the thought, but the look on her face tells me that she would not welcome any advances from me right now. I just don't understand what I did that she's so mad at me for. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.

"I have no idea. Why are we fighting? I really don't understand why you're so mad at me. What did I do?" I ask, frustrated but trying to keep control of my temper.

She looks at me and her shoulders slump. "I don't know. I really wanted to see you last weekend, I needed to see you, but you were busy and when I called…"

"When you called what?" She looks away from me and I grab her chin, forcing her to look at me. "Veronica, you have to tell me. What?"

"I heard girls and music and I guess I just sort of had a flashback to before. You used to just cancel plans on me. It just felt really familiar and I started thinking." She tells me sadly.

"Veronica, you should have just talked to me. I wanted to see you last weekend too. I would have been here but I had to do that project for school. Those girls you heard are just part of my study group, we had some music on while we worked. That's it." I told her.

"It's not the first time." She whispers.

"What's not the first time?" I ask.

"I've called before and you're out." She takes a deep breath. "Logan, I don't want to be that girlfriend, the one who needs to know where her boyfriend is all the time. I trust you and I know you wouldn't cheat on me. I know that. I just feel like I'm not part of your life really. We're both so busy and we only have so much time to talk or text. I just feel like I only get pieces of you and that's too familiar. And then I find myself doing the same things I did in college before, getting worried about what you're doing, who you're talking to. I know that it's not the same, but I can't seem to make my brain shut up."

"Then move in with me. At least then when I go out with friends, you could be with me or at least have the chance to be with me. We could wake up together, go to sleep together. I miss you all the time." I hold her hands looking into her eyes. "Please, Veronica, haven't we spent enough time apart?"

I can tell that she's struggling with her answer. I think a part of her wants to say yes, but that cautious part, the one that doesn't want to admit to needing someone else is fighting it. We're still going to be busy even living together, but at least if we're not an hour apart we will have more time rather than these stolen weekends. Hell if we had been living together last weekend, I could have done my project, she could have worked, and then we could have spent the entire night together. I'm tired of only seeing her on the weekends because we're both too tired by the time the day ends to make the trek to one another. We tried it a few times the first few weeks or so, but it was too much for both of us.

Finally, she seems to come to a conclusion and nods.

"Is that a yes?" I ask, wanting to be sure.

"Yes. I want that too." She says smiling at me.

I picked her up and kissed her, her legs automatically wrapping around my waist. She pulled back slightly dazed, "shouldn't we talk about it?"

I leaned forward to capture her lips again, breathing against them "no more talking." We kissed deeply, our connection flaring up between us, leaving us both breathless and wanting. I ran a hand up to caress her breast and she gasped. I wanted her so bad, it had been two weeks since I last saw her. She was already tugging at my shirt and I paused to rip it off before helping her out of her shirt and bra. I had so many choices here, but my first thought when I came in seemed like the best. I walked us to the table and set her down, kneeling to remove her shoes. She looked at me with open arousal.

I reached up to undo the button on her jeans slowly, watching her watch me. I slid her jeans off her legs taking in her white silk panties.

"These will have to go." I said as I nuzzled my nose into her thigh. I looked up and saw her biting her lip, waiting to see what I had planned. I hooked a finger on either side and slid the panties off, then gently pushed her knees apart opening her up to me. "I've missed you." I breathed before I ran my tongue up and down her folds, finally stopping at her clit, sucking it gently for a second. Above me, Veronica's breaths were coming in pants, my name being whispered every so often as I continued my assault on her, lapping up her juices. Finally, I sucked on her clit and gave a little bite and she came.

"Logan, oh god, Logan." she growled, her hands twisted in my hair holding me tight to her.

"Look, no hands." I smirked against her and she pulled my hair tighter. Fuck, she knew what that did to me. I had planned to continue with my hands this time, but as always she was turning my plans inside out. I was desperate to be in her and feel her coming around me. I pulled her down off the table and turned her around, gently pushing on her back to let her know what I wanted. She complied eagerly, holding onto the sides of the tables as I pushed my pants down.

I ran a finger up her center, checking that she was still ready and she pushed back against me. I leaned over her back, kissing her ear and down her neck while still gently teasing her with my finger. She mewed at me, her hips bucking back against me. I slipped a second finger in and found the spot I was looking for. I rubbed her g-spot hard, my other hand coming down to flick her clit. She came loudly, legs starting to buckle. I wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her up as I thrust in her.

"Oh god, Veronica, so fucking good." She was still spasming around me; my shallow thrusts prolonging her orgasm. I waited until she came down and was able to stand without me holding her up before I increased the depth and speed of my thrusts.

"Harder." she gasped. This was a new part of our sex life. Before Veronica was responsive, amazing, a willing participant, but she never told me what she wanted, not in words. I had to watch her closely to figure out what she wanted, but now, now she is vocal, telling me exactly what she wants. That sexy bossiness that used to get me so damn hard is in our bedroom, or the kitchen, or the shower, or the floor, or the wall, or that one time in the back of my car. I fucking loved it and she knew it.

I thrust harder, grabbing her hair in a ponytail and pulling her back against me so her back is arched and I can reach her mouth with mine. I can feel her impending orgasm and I reach down to press on her clit. Her whole body bucks as she comes. I relish the feel of her pussy pulsing all around me. Three months ago, I wouldn't have even made it to her orgasm, but a steady diet of Veronica has my stamina back to where it was. Still there's one thing that gets me every time.

"I love you Logan." She says and I'm coming hard.

"You minx." I say when I can breath again. "You did that on purpose." She just gives me an innocent look, letting me slide out of her before she turns around to wrap her arms around me.

"I love you." She says again.

"I love you, but you know what it does to me when you say that when I'm in you." I grouch at her. 'I was trying for a record there."

"We have the rest of tonight." She purrs, nibbling on the shell of my ear. I shiver, already feeling my erection starting to return. "And tomorrow, we can find a place for us to live."

Fuck that might almost be as good as hearing her say I love you.

End Flashback

Now, as we sit in the plane, ready to fly home for the holidays, I think about the box hidden in my carryon. Hiding anything from Veronica is never easy, but I want this to be a surprise. I meant what I said that night. We wasted too much time over stupid shit, and I'm ready for our lives to be one. I can't help but be nervous though about her answer. We've come so far, maybe I am rushing things. I don't really have a plan, but if the right moment presents itself, I'm totally fucking asking Veronica Mars to marry me, for real this time.

Although we have a car at the condo we share when we're home, Keith still insisted on picking us up from the airport and taking us to dinner before dropping us at the condo. With classes and everything, we're cutting it close Christmas Eve and this is the only night he can have us all to himself before the rest of our group descends.

"How was the flight?" He asks as he pulls away from the airport.

"It was fine. A little bumpy." Veronica grimaces. She's never been a big fan of flying. "How'd your case go?"

Keith had been working a missing person case, a teenage girl who ran away from home after her step-dad raped her. It was a sad story and I had offered to help her once she was found. I had some contacts at the local rape crisis center, having volunteered there in college, and thought maybe they could help her work through the trauma before it swallowed her whole.

"I found her. She's with her dad since her mom still refuses to leave that piece of shit. Logan, thanks for the contact information, I think it will really help both her and her father process what's happened." He glances at Veronica, thinking about how they had to deal with something similar and she smiles at him. "I'm really glad you're both home. It's been way too long."

"We only left in August and you came to us for Thanksgiving." I remind him.

"See, too long." He laughs.

It's still surreal to me how much this man has done for me when he had no reason. It's even more that he's accepted me for me and as the man for his daughter. He didn't even bat an eye when we said we were moving in together and at Thanksgiving, he gave me his blessing with tears in his eyes, telling me that he'd be proud to have me truly as his son. I will freely admit that the memory of that still makes me tear up.

Dinner is quiet, good food, good company, lots of laughter as Veronica and I regale Keith with stories from school and our new puppy. All too soon, he's dropping us off with the promise of seeing us bright and early (or for Veronica, around ten) to start our Christmas Eve celebration.

Veronica and I immediately fall into our Neptune bed, exhausted from a long day of travel and catching up. The bed is fairly new since I refused to sleep in my old one after Madison had been in it. I suggested burning it, but Veronica thought it made more sense to donate it to the local shelter since none of them would have the same associations with it that we did.

Veronica snuggled into me yawning and I kissed the top of her head. I held her close as she fell asleep and then followed closely. My last thought before I fell asleep was "the cuddling is a very close second to the sex."

The next day, we made up for our exhaustion the night before, Veronica waking me up, biting on my nipples. After a very pleasant hour in bed, we continued in the shower, taking the time to soap each other thoroughly, wringing every single moan and gasp from each other. My legs were shaking by the time we were done and Veronica took another five minutes before she could string a coherent sentence together.

After a quick breakfast since our morning exercise took so long, we headed over to Keiths.

Mac, Dick, and Wallace were already there, enjoying coffee waiting on us before decorating the tree. The whole day was perfect. We cooked, laughed, ate until we couldn't eat anymore before settling down to watch A Christmas Story.

Veronica mouthed along with the words of the movie, playing with my hand that was in her lap, her head against my shoulder. It was everything to me. I was surrounded by my family, in love with the girl of my dreams. As I looked at each of our friends and Keith, I realized that this was the moment. The movie was ending and everyone was getting up to stretch before we started the next one. I took Veronica's hand and dragged her under the mistletoe that Dick had hung by the tree.

There in the soft light of the twinkle lights I kissed her softly.

"Veronica, I love you." I whispered.

"I love you." She smiled at me, gazing up at me with that love clearly in her eyes.

"Marry me." I said, taking her left hand from around my neck and pulling the ring out with my other hand. I held it up and she stared at me in surprise.

I knew everyone was staring at us, but I didn't care. I only had eyes for her. I waited anxiously, resisting the urge to run my hand over the back of my neck as time seemed to stretch on forever.

Finally, when I had given up any hope of an answer, she smiled. I held my breath.

"Yes." She answered and I slipped the ring on her finger, dropping a kiss on it as it slid home. I picked her up, spinning her around as we kissed. Vaguely I heard the others shouting congratulations, but I only had eyes for Veronica. Finally, I put her down, leaning down for just one more kiss.

"You said yes." I am still surprised.

"Logan, you're what I need." She says. "I need my life to be with you. I love you."

"Veronica Mars, I love you so much. I can't wait to spend my life with you."

We've been through so much to get here. While my speech senior year didn't turn out as I hoped, it really was prophetic. Spanning years, continents, lives ruined, bloodshed. But we picked up all the pieces, alone and together, and built something that will last the ages. We truly are epic.